The Week of January 23th
January 23, 2022
PARA TRADUCIR: Para la versión en español, haga clic aquí para abrir en su navegador. Luego haga clic en el ícono de la persona en el círculo en la parte inferior izquierda y seleccione "Traducir Newsletter" para traducir.
DEAR WOLFPACK COMMUNITY --
6th Grade parents can hop onto the Friends of Reed 6th Grade Informational Pali Trip Zoom session tonight, Sunday, January 23 at 5 PM to learn more about the Pali Institute Overnight opportunity for 6th Grade Students ONLY.
Plus, Reed MS is celebrating Kindness Challenge Week this week! Students will participate in different activities each day to spread kindness around our school and community!
Also this week...
- January 25 at 9 AM there will be a Parent Workshop on the Importance of Regular Attendance
- Wednesday, January 26 at 9 AM there will be an English Learner Parent Master Plan Options Meeting
- Thursday, January 27 at 9 AM Principal Friedman will hold our January Coffee with the Principal
Another week brings more COVID protocol changes! Starting MONDAY, students will need to wear well-fitting, non-cloth masks of multiple layers with a nose wire! Masks will be available at each gate in and in each classroom for students who need it. Additionally, there are changes to close contact notifications as well. Plus, also starting MONDAY, January 24th there are some big changes to Local District Northeast COVID testing sites. Keep scrolling so you can be up-to-date on all the latest!
Keep reading for all the other news: Staff Lounge updates (before & after pics), Annual Giving updates, and more!
Have a great week!
Parisa Stepanek - Friends of Reed President info@friendsofreed.org
Jenna Schwartz - PTSA President wrmsptsapres@gmail.com
LIMITED OPPORTUNITY - 6TH GRADE OVERNIGHT TRIP
We are excited to offer all Reed 6th Grade students a chance to attend Pali Institute during Spring Break, April 13-15. This is an overnight trip organized by Reed parents and assisted by Friends of Reed. This trip is not affiliated with nor sponsored by LAUSD.
Educational overnight trips are an incredible time of bonding and learning for our students. We are making this experience available even though LAUSD has not yet restarted this aspect of their pre-Covid programming.
COST & LIMITATIONS:
- Space is limited to the first 50 students who commit and complete their payment.
- The cost per child is $365, and does not include transportation to and from the site --we will be organizing carpools. Unfortunately, there is no financial aid available for this trip.
- All attendees MUST be fully vaccinated to participate.
HOW TO SIGN UP: A Google Form found at www.friendsofreed.org/6th-grade indicating your intent to participate is due JANUARY 23, 2022.
MORE INFORMATION:
In the meantime, here are some websites and a sample itinerary for your information.
Click here to view our brochure
Click here to view our list of classes
Click here for our Standards guide for our list of classes
6TH GRADE TRIP INFORMATIONAL ZOOM MEETING - JANUARY 23
Please join us for an informational Zoom this Sunday, January 23rd at 5pm to discuss the upcoming 6th grade trip to Pali Institute.
Join Zoom Meeting: Meeting ID: 891 7801 9062; Passcode: 535343
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89178019062?pwd=QnFsa1lTN0tsOW9WSkMzOEpxUXVmdz09
GREAT KINDNESS CHALLENGE WEEK!
- Monday: Compliment a teacher, classmate or staff member. These compliments will be read out loud during morning announcements all week long.
- Tuesday: Solo Cup Messages Along Sarah Gate and Staff Parking Lot
- Wednesday: Kindness Matters Pencils will be distributed to all students during homeroom
- Thursday: Kindness Notes Posted Around Campus
- Friday: Be Kind Spirit Day and Be Kind To Your Campus. Wear clothing with positive messages. Homerooms will be given a designated area on campus to pick up trash.
Share how you are participating at #KindnessMatters
ANNUAL GIVING DONATIONS
Thanks to your Annual Giving donations, Friends of Reed will be announcing plans for several campus beautification projects at the next PTSA/FoR meeting on February 9, 2022.
We are still $11,000 short of our $50,000 goal, but it's not too late to give! Click the button below to donate at any level today!
STAFF LOUNGE UPDATE
Thanks to donations of items and time from Reed parents and our Reed parent groups, this weekend the Staff/teacher lounge got an update!!
- Everything was thoroughly washed & cleaned, and the lounge got a coffee/tea center, snacks, office supplies, and more to come!
- See the photos before for some Before/After magic!
This is an ONGOING and YEAR-LONG project! Want to contribute and make a difference for these amazing humans that are doing their best for our kids every day? Here's what you can do...
- AMAZON WISH LIST: Purchase items at https://amzn.to/3GVpSqb and mail to Jenna Schwartz
- VENMO: Contribute ($ any amount!) by to @jenna-schwartz-9 and if you want it to be in honor of a specific teacher or staff member, please put that in the "notes"
- DONATE: Donate NEW and sealed individually wrapped KN94 or N95 masks or packages of wipes directly to your teachers with your kids.
- THANK: Have your child email their teachers a thank you note!
- SHARE: Share with any family who may want to help out as well.
Thank you to everyone for your support!!
PARENT WORKSHOPS & MEETINGS
COVID PROTOCOLS, UPDATES & NEWS
Update from Interim Superintendant Megan K. Reilly
In-school case rates dropped 7% since our baseline testing and current rates of students and staff are half of those in the general community due to the safety measures in place. We continue to be diligent and agile in creating the safest learning environments and therefore will implement the following protocols beginning Monday, January 24:
Ongoing Weekly Testing Through February: Testing will continue for students and employees, regardless of vaccination status.
Anyone who has had a positive COVID-19 test in the previous 90 days is exempt from the weekly, in-school PCR testing.
Upgraded Masks: Students will be required to wear a non-cloth mask with a nose wire at all times, including while participating in athletic activities.
Schools will provide surgical-style masks for students and employees if they need them.
TK-12 Close Contacts Will Remain On Campus: In accordance with Los Angeles County Public Health (LACDPH) Guidelines, all students and employees on campus will be treated as if they are a close contact, and will remain on campus as long as they remain asymptomatic and participate in the weekly testing.
Families will not receive individual close contact notifications but can review daily case count updates for their school online at achieve.lausd.net/covidreportcard.
These students can participate in sports and before- and after-school programs, as long as they do not have any symptoms, continue testing negative, and wear a well-fitted mask during these activities.
If a student develops symptoms or tests positive, they must isolate immediately and follow home isolation protocols.
This change does not apply to Early Education students, including preschool, ETK, and PALS students. These students will quarantine at home unless they have recovered from COVID-19 in the last 90 days.
At-Home Close Contacts: As a reminder, students exposed to COVID-19 outside of school must still participate in at-home quarantine unless they are fully vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19 in the last 90 days, in which case they will remain on campus. Please visit achieve.lausd.net/spring2022 for the latest guidance.
Los Angeles Unified families, you are crucial in our effort to keep our school communities safe. Monitoring your child for symptoms of COVID-19 and taking them to get vaccinated are two essential ways you can help keep our schools healthy and as stable as possible. For our latest mobile vaccination clinic schedules, which offer booster shots and doses for individuals 5 and older, please visit achieve.lausd.net/covidvaccineappt.
Los Angeles Unified continues to follow the latest guidance from LACDPH. This guidance ensures that our schools are as safe as possible for students and employees. We monitor school conditions daily. For more information, visit achieve.lausd.net/spring2022.
We thank you for your continued partnership and support.
Warmly,
Megan K. Reilly
UPGRADED MASK REQUIREMENT
Masking will be required at all times, indoors and outdoors. Students will be required to wear a non-cloth mask with a nose wire at all times, including while participating in athletic activities.
Schools will provide surgical-style masks for students and employees if they need them.
Here is a quick video on how to "Knot and Tuck" surgical or surgical style masks to improve fit and protection!
PST FLOW CHART TO THE RESCUE!
Thanks to Parents Supporting Teachers for this easier-to-follow flow chart explaining what to do for COVID situations per LAUSD's latest guidelines...
4 FREE RAPID COVID TESTS
Residential households in the U.S. can order one set of 4 free at-home tests from USPS.com. Here’s what you need to know about your order:
- Limit of one order per residential address
- One order includes 4 individual rapid antigen COVID-19 tests
- Orders will ship free starting in late January
Enter your name, address and email at www.usps.com/covidtest to request a shipment. It is live now.
COVID TESTING:
TESTING BY APPOINTMENT AT STATIONARY SITES
>> Schedule your appointment today!
While appointments are encouraged, no appointment is needed for Los Angeles Unified COVID-19 tests. PCR STATIONARY TESTING SITES ARE OPEN 7:15AM - 6:00PM. YOU CAN MAKE APPOINTMENTS OR WALK UP TO THESE SITES. For Local District Northeast, the sites are:
- Monlux Elementary School, 6051 Bellaire Ave, North Hollywood, 91606
Pacoima MS, 9919 Laurel Canyon Blvd., Pacoima 91331
East Valley Skills Center, 8601 Arleta Ave, Sun Valley, 91352 - SYMPTOMATIC
Plus, also starting MONDAY, January 24th there are some big changes to Local District Northeast COVID testing sites. Pacoima will NOT be a symptomatic testing site. It will become a regular walk-in site like Monlux. The NEW drive-through PCR symptomatic site will be East Valley Skills Center, 8601 Arleta Ave, Sun Valley, 91352.
NEW - TESTING TO RELEASE FROM ISOLATION/AT-HOME QUARANTINE
If you have tested positive for COVID-19 and you are asymptomatic, and you wish to take a rapid antigen test on or after Day 5 of your isolation period to return early to work or school, please visit a designated site Monday to Friday, 7:15 AM to 4:30 PM. There are also select Saturday dates available. Sites are walk-in only (no appointments).Valley sites in bold.
- Holmes MS
- West Valley Occupational Center, 6200 Winnetka Ave., Woodland Hills 91367
- Edison Middle School, 6500 Hooper Ave., Los Angeles 90001
- San Pedro MST Center
- Woodrow Wilson High School, 4500 Multnomah St., Los Angeles 90032
- Legacy LC
- Daniel Webster Middle School, 11330 Graham Pl., Los Angeles 90064
- Virginia Rd. ES
- LD Central Office
- Virgil MS
- Maclay MS Wellness Center, 12540 Pierce St., Pacoima 91331
- *NEW* - Columbus Ave. Elementary, 6700 Columbus Ave, Van Nuys, 91405
STARTING MONDAY, there is also a second shortened isolation testing site for Local District Northeast at Columbus Ave. Elementary, 6700 Columbus Ave, Van Nuys, 91405. This site, like Mcclay Wellness are for students/employees who are positive with no symptoms and need a rapid test to shorten isolation. Those who are under at-home quarantine orders may also visit these sites if they are asymptomatic.
HOW TO UPLOAD YOUR CHILD'S VACCINATION, BOOSTER, OR MEDICAL EXEMPTION
Vaccinations remain a key element in reducing the impact of COVID-19 on individuals and communities, and will be required for students 12 and older at the start of the Fall 2022 semester. Anyone 5 years or older is eligible for the two-dose Pfizer vaccine. Booster shots are available for anyone 12 and older, at least five months after their second dose. For information on available vaccination sites, please visit lausd.net/covidvaccineappt.
CALENDAR
2/23rd - 6th Grade Pali Trip Info. Meeting at 5pm
1/24 - 1/28 - Great Kindness Challenge Week
1/25 - Parent Workshop at 9 AM - Importance of Regular Attendance
1/26 - English Learner Parent Master Plan Options Meeting at 9 AM
1/27 - Coffee with the Principal at 9 AM
FEBRUARY: BLACK HISTORY MONTH
2/8 - ELAC Meeting at 9 AM; SDM Meeting at 3 PM; FIHP Meeting at 7 PM
2/9 - PTSA/Friends of Reed Meeting at 7 PM
2/14 - Valentine's Day
2/15 - SSC Meeting at 3 PM
2/21 - NO SCHOOL for Presidents' Day
2/24 - Coffee with the Principal at 9 AM
View and subscribe to the FULL and updated Reed calendar (works best from a desktop computer). Use this calendar URL to add to your Google Calendar: webcal://reedms.com/servlet/ICalServlet?id=0
OTHER WAYS TO SUPPORT THE SCHOOL
AMAZON SMILE
AmazonSmile is available on your web browser and can be activated in the Amazon Shopping app for iOS and Android. Select "Walter Reed Middle School PTA-PTSA"
RALPH'S REWARDS
Register your Rewards Card at www.ralphs.com. Scroll to the bottom of the page & under Community, click on Kroger Community Rewards. Enroll with "Walter Reed Middle School/Friends of Reed".
FARM FRESH TO YOU
Use the promo code: REEDFRESH when you sign up for home delivery and 10% of sales will be donated back to Reed! Visit farmfreshtoyou.com to sign up.
CONNECT - FOLLOW - COMMUNICATE
Reed MS - OFFICIAL ACCOUNTS
Website: https://reedms.com/
Instagram: @ReedMiddleSchool
Facebook: @MiddleReed
Twitter: @MiddleReed
ASB (Associated Student Body) on TikTok @walterreedasb
Friends of Reed
Website: https://www.friendsofreed.org/
Email: info@friendsofreed.org
Facebook: @FriendsofReed
Instagram: @Friendso
Add reedms@ch2v.com to your contacts to avoid emails going to Junk Mail