Jaguar Tracks for Families
November 23, 2020
From the Office of Mrs. Ippolito
Dear Joshua Eaton Families,
Happy Thanksgiving to all of our Joshua Eaton families!
This week we welcomed back our Cohort A fourth and fifth graders. They have started their back to school experience so well. I know we are so happy to see the student's smiling faces.
Term 1 Report Cards will be going home through the portal on December 18th.
Just for family information, Term 2 is from December 7, 2020, until March 11, 2021, as it stands right now. Report cards will be sent home on March 26th.
Thank you so much to our families for following the safety guidelines! It is important for everyone to work together to help keep our students and staff safe.
Thank you also to our families, especially the PTO, for providing the staff with treats for both cohorts, as well as, supplying K-cups for the staff lounge. Everyone very much appreciates it!!
Be well and stay safe!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Ippolito, Principal
Joshua Eaton
Important Dates
- Nov. 23rd - Grade 4 & 5, Cohort B begins; Mrs. Callan, Ms. Johnston
- Nov. 25th - 1/2 day 11:00 dismissal
- Nov. 26th - Happy Thanksgiving
- Nov. 27th - No School
- December 3rd - Term 1 ends
- December 7th - Term 2 begins
- December 9th - Cohort B Grs 4 & 5 Picture Day
- December 17th - Cohort A - Grs 4 & 5 Picture Day
PTO CORNER
A Fun Way to Say Thank You!
In this unusual school year, the PTO has begun reimagining ways to support our school community. On Friday's Conference Day, the PTO provided in-school Staff with a treat cart! This was such a fun way to support our teachers and staff that we will definitely bring it back again - be on the lookout for a Signup Genius in the future!
PTO Meeting Follow-Up
Thank you to all who attended our general meeting on Tuesday night! If you have more ideas or suggestions of ways we can support our school or the JE community, we want to hear from you! Please reach out to me at any time: jeptopresident@gmail.com. The PTO is a wonderful way to connect with parents and staff alike, and we encourage anyone, who is willing and able to volunteer, to join us! As always, we are thankful for our staff and parent community!
-Amber Hunt, JE PTO President
Direct Donation Drive
Our PTO Enrichment Chairs have been hard at work looking for ways to provide fun enrichment opportunities to our students, in a virtual model. We are able to fund some opportunities with revenue remaining from last years' budget, but we still actively need donations. Many of the enrichment programs maintain the same cost, even though they are not in-person.
Although the PTO anticipates spending approx. $100 per child this year (see detailed breakdown in attached donation form), given the circumstances, we propose a donation of $50 per student in order to maintain our ability to fund enrichment and teacher support.
As different activities re-open, our PTO will draw from donations and monies received through fundraising. Donations can be given using the QR Code provided, Venmo, Paypal or checks. Any and all donations are greatly appreciated! Our direct donation drive will remain open all year - so please feel free to donate as you are able. Thank you for your support!
BOOK FAIR IS COMING!!!
Save the Date: The Book Fair is Coming!
The PTO is happy to announce that the annual Book Fair will run from Nov 25 - Dec 8. We are looking forward to a different, but exciting, Fair this year!
There will be two ways to shop the Fair: 1) the regular online site or 2) the virtual 360 fair set up in a gymnasium. Details on access will follow shortly. All orders will be shipped directly to your home (orders over $25 will ship for free, on BOOKS only)! A big thank you to parent volunteer, Nicole O'Leary, who is coordinating this popular event.
Joshua Eaton News
Student Absences - IMPORTANT
There are two ways to do that prior to 7:45 am of the morning the student is absent:
1. Call 781-942-9161, Dial 1 - leave a message
2. Email jeeabsences@reading.k12.ma.us
Theme of the Week: Compassion
Please feel free to share this read-aloud, Kindness is Cooler Mrs. Ruler. with your child(ren) at home!
JE School Supply Pick-Up - Next Pick-up December 3rd
District Guidelines
Switching from Hybrid to Remote or Remote to Hybrid
Families may request to switch from hybrid to remote at the end of a marking period. If there are extenuating circumstances during a marking period where a family is requesting to shift to remote, they may do so if there are openings in the remote classrooms. Once a family shifts to remote, they need to remain in remote until the end of the marking period.
Families may request to shift from remote to hybrid at the end of a marking period. Requests will be honored if there is enough space in a classroom.
Please note that if a student is high needs and is receiving in-person instruction daily, we do not recommend that student shift to remote instruction.
Remote Guidelines for In-Person Students Who Are Absent From School
Below are the remote criteria that will be used when students who are in person during a particular week are absent from school.
Students will have live remote access under the following conditions:
- He/she is quarantined due to testing positive for COVID-19.
- He/she is quarantined due to being in close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19.
- He/she is being quarantined for being out of state and is waiting for a negative COVID test per DPH guidelines.
- He/she is showing symptoms of COVID-19 and is awaiting test results.
- He/she has another medical condition that prevents them from coming to school.
Students will not have live remote access under the following situations:
- He/she is absent for any reason other than described above.
- He/she is quarantining for 10-14 days because of out of state travel as defined by the MDPH Travel Order and is not getting a COVID-test.
- He/she is going on a family vacation or other non-school activity during school days.
Please note that there may be extenuating circumstances in a school that would require a different action than above. These decisions are at the discretion of the building principal.
Anti-Racism Resource Directory for Families
MORNING DROP-OFF - Please read carefully for student safety!!!
MORNING TRAFFIC & PARKING at JE
Between 7:30 - 8:30 am:
- Oak Street is a right turn only between the hours of 7:30 am – 8:30 am. There is a right turn only sign at the bottom of Oak Street.
- There is a right-hand turn only out of the parking lot, however, the lot is only open to staff.
- Drop-off cars will be pulling into designated drop-off spaces on Summer Ave. in front of Joshua Eaton only coming from Summer Ave and Oak Street. OR if coming down Oak Street there are 4 drop-off spaces at a time. These are reserved for DROP & GO only. Parents, please pull all the way up to the farthest available space available.
Please be sure your children can exit the vehicle from the right side of the vehicle.
Parents who wish to walk with their children to their entrance door should find parking on nearby side streets. Everyone should be wearing a mask on school property to ensure everyone's safety and maintain social distance.
Our parking lot is closed between the hours of 8:05 -3:10, except for ½ day Kindergarten at 11:30. ∙ A special parking pass is required to use the faculty parking lot for those with a special need.
Our hope is that we can all work together to create a safe drop-off for our community and most of all, for our children.
Morning and Dismissal Procedures
From the Desk of Mrs. Trevejo, School Nurse
To our JE community –
I have been contacted my multiple families regarding the district’s travel policy. We strongly discourage travel for the holiday break. As we have said from the beginning, keeping our schools open will require full community support. If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out. (elmy.trevejo@reading.k12.ma.us or 781-779-4035)
Why you should think twice before traveling this holiday season - CNN
For those families that decide to travel outside of the state, upon return, students must quarantine for 14 days OR have a negative PCR COVID test within 72 hours of arrival back to Massachusetts. If you are unable to provide results within that time frame, students must quarantine for the full 14 days. I have attached a link to the state’s travel order. The state website contains information about which states are restricted. Currently, the only states that are deemed lower risk are New Hampshire, Hawaii, Vermont, and Maine.
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-travel-order
Flu shot documentation
Flu season has begun! Thank you to all those who have submitted their flu shot documentation. Remember, the deadline for the new state requirement is 12/31/2020. If you haven’t done so, please schedule to have your child vaccinated as soon as possible.
Cold weather gear
With the colder weather, please make sure that your children have appropriate clothing to support being outside. Please send in gloves/mittens, hats, and warm jackets. We are spending more time outside and making sure students are properly dressed is important!
Warm regards,
Mrs. Trevejo
Weather
Also, we have suspended the Weather Flag Day procedure because we would be unable to maintain social distancing for students from random classrooms when they arrive. So instead the teachers and staff on duty will be opening our exterior doors at 8:10 sharp. Thank you!
PE Weekly challenge with Ms. Cucinotta
MASK UP READING!!
The town asks residents to:
· Wear a mask or face covering whenever you are not at home or in your personal vehicle.
· Maintain social distancing, at least 6' from others.
· Observe the State's Stay-at-Home Advisory from 10PM – 5AM.
· Review the latest CDC Guidance.
· Get a flu shot.
· Talk about Covid precautions with household members, neighbors, friends, and colleagues.
· Stay home when you are experiencing symptoms.
· Don't hesitate to get a COVID-19 test (click here for testing sites).
If you have any questions, please contact our local Board of Health.
Reading SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Council)
Reading/Literacy Subcommittee is having its first meeting:
Tuesday, November 24th at 6:30 PM to discuss goals and action items.
Please join us via Zoom: https://readingpsma.zoom.us/j/84617190360;
All are welcome and ENCOURAGED to attend!
The mission of the Reading Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) is to work for the understanding of, respect for, and support of, all children with special needs in the community.
Thank you--
SEPAC BOARD
Superintendent Virtual Office Hours
- Now that we have begun the school year, we will be restarting the Superintendent Virtual Office Hours. Office hours will be scheduled in 20 minutes blocks of time on Microsoft Teams. If you would like to schedule an office hour, please complete this link.
Office of Student Services
Special Education Support
If you have any questions about your student’s IEP or services please reach out to our building Team Chairperson, Shana Goldwyn at Shana.Goldwyn@reading.k12.ma.us
Mrs. Ippolito, Principal
Mrs. Trevejo, School Nurse
Mrs. Greco, Administrative Assistant
Website: http://reading.k12.ma.us/joshuaeaton
Location: 365 Summer Avenue, Reading, MA, USA
Phone: 781-942-9161
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoshuaEatonSchool/
Twitter: @Mrs_Ippolito