JW Killam Principal's Corner
Ms. Leveque's Weekly Newsletter
From the Desk of Ms. Leveque
RETURN TO IN PERSON SCHOOLING UPDATE:
We continue to prepare schedules and make facilities plans for the return to in person schooling on April 5th.
This week, I sent out letters regarding where we are in the preparation for the return to school. Should there be updates, I will communicate with the community. To read the newsletters, click below.
-Kindergarten Families Newsletter
-Fully Remote Families Newsletter
In preparation for the full return to in-person learning on April 5th, there are some potential schedule changes to your child's Friday remote learning these upcoming weeks.
- Friday, March 19th: The school day will remain 8:30-11am.
Teachers have the option to change their teaching schedule to the following: All teachers can keep their schedule as is OR they can teach synchronously from 8:30am to 10:00am and post an asynchronous lesson for 10-11am (Special Education will teach “live” until 11:00 am if that is the current schedule). Your child's Google Classroom will reflect the schedule for that day. Teachers will be working in their classrooms the remainder of the day to prepare for the transition. - Friday, March 26th: There is no school for students as this is a professional development day. There will be a mix of professional development and time preparing for April 5th.
- Friday, April 2nd: Same schedule as March 19th.
VACCINES:
We are excited that vaccine appointments are opening up for our teaching staff! Please note that our staff are encouraged to take any available appointment so you may see more asynchronous work over the next few weeks as staff are heading to their appointments.
SCHOOL PICTURES:
This is our final week of school pictures. We are once again working with O'Connor Studios to set up dates for our students to have their school pictures taken. Due to the COVID restrictions we need to follow, we are planning to have two separate weeks to ensure everyone has an opportunity to have their photo taken. We are taking individual photos this year but not class photos due to social distancing. We will have all students in Cohort A and Mrs. Wheaton's kindergarten class on Wednesday, March 24.
Fully Remote students will have an opportunity to come in after school on March 24th from 3-4pm if they want to participate. If you are a fully remote family and wish for your child to have a school photo taken, please email our school administrative assistant, Jackie Maglio.
COVID POOL TESTING STUDENT SOCIAL STORY AND VIDEO:
As we begin rolling out pool testing with students, we wanted to share a Killam specific social story and video to help your child understand the procedures. Students who have been signed up to be Covid tested will be accompanied by a staff and will step out of their classrooms to take the test. We have a wonderful group of nurturing individuals, led by our own Sharon Grottkau, in helping think about our students emotional and physical needs throughout this testing process.
Stay well,
Ms. Leveque
Read Across America Killam Engagement - we love to read!
Killam Upcoming Dates
Week of March 21st: Cohort A week
Wednesday, March 24th: Individual pictures for students in Cohort A and Mrs. Wheaton's kindergarten class; Students who are fully remote who have signed up.
Friday, March 26th: No School. Professional Development Day for staff
-Term II report cards emailed home
Hybrid In-person Weeks Staggered Dismissal:
-Grades One and Two: 2:35pm
-Grades Three and Four: 2:40pm
-Kindergarten and Grade Five: 2:45pm
-All students taking the bus or attending Extended Day will be monitored by Killam staff until picked up.
-Remote learning weeks end at 2:45, Grades K-5
Attention 5th Grade Families: RPS Middle School Transition Night
Save the date! March 29 at 6:30 pm - Middle School Transition Night for Grade 5 Families
The Parker and Coolidge Middle School principals will host informational Zoom meetings for students and their families to hear about the transition and what middle school is like. Zoom links will be sent out prior to March 29. Stay tuned!
Grades 3-5 MCAS Testing 2021
The Department of Education has notified schools that the elementary MCAS dates have moved to May 10-June 11. Below is the Killam MCAS schedule.
Building Safety Project at Killam
Massachusetts Art Education Association Exhibit
You are cordially invited to visit the Massachusetts Art Education Association’s state-wide virtual exhibit, Art Connects Us, featuring work by six of our own J.W. Killam artists!
Congratulations to Aria Valentino, Giada Wolfe, Leah Casper, Antonio Lane, Bodhi Nijssen, and Curran Healy.
Click HERE to enjoy the show.
Killam Safety Reminders
Arrival:
Follow these guidelines if you are participating in rolling car drop-off a child at the front of the building:
- Pull up as far as you can in the driveway prior to letting your child exit the car.
- Drivers stay in the car and children exit on the sidewalk side of the car.
- If your child is unable to get out of the car independently, please park in a street parking space and walk them in.
- Do not pass cars in the driveway and it is a right turn only out of the driveway.
Dismissal:
At dismissal time, there is no live pick up in the driveway except for students who take the bus.
As a safety reminder, the staff parking lot is staff only. We've seen families parking there for dismissal and we respectfully ask that you park along the street. With our students exiting from their external doors in the parking lot, having cars drive in and out is not safe. Thanks for helping us out.
Dogs and Puppies on School Grounds
As much as we all love dogs and puppies and as much fun as it is walking them, School Committee policy prohibits dogs on school grounds. If you'd like to walk your dog as part of your pick up routine, the dog has to stay off school property. If you'd like your child to walk to you on the sidewalk or to the driveway entrances at dismissal so you can wait with your dog please make that plan with them.
The Jungle Book
Parker Drama is presenting The Jungle Book - livestreamed! - on Thursday, March 25 @ 6:30pm and Friday, March 26 @ 7:30pm.
One of literature's most enduring classics is brought vividly to the stage in this exciting adventure. Interspersed with the classic Mowgli tale is the equally intriguing story of a young Rudyard Kipling, who is sent from his home in Bombay to a British boarding school where he encounters his own "jungle," including people—both good and otherwise—who parallel many of the animal characters he created. Filled with excitement and humor, the play highlights the struggle of good versus evil, the worth of friendship, and the importance of loyalty and other values required for surviving the "law of the jungle."
Tickets are $10 per viewer and can be purchased at: https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/46795
Student Services Office Hours
Dear Families,
We hope everyone is feeling rested after February break and that you were able to spend some time with your families! As we move into the month of March, we wanted to share the Student Services Office Hours for the upcoming month. Please use the link to the DOODLE Poll to select a time to meet with us.
The purpose of Office Hours is to meet with the Director and Assistant Director of Student Services to ask questions, express concerns or to share personal experiences of your student. These are optional meetings and are not team meetings. We've enjoyed these opportunities and look forward to continuing connecting with families during office hours.
Prior to your scheduled time, a ZOOM link will be sent to you via email. Please be sure to include your email address when you sign up!
If you have any questions regarding Office Hours, please contact Allison Wright, Assistant Director of Student Services @ Allison.Wright@reading.k12.ma.us.
Office Hours for March 2021
- Thursday 3/18 @ 11:00-12:00 pm
- Monday 3/22 @ 10:30-11:30 am
- Wednesday 3/31 @ 9:00-10:00 am
Link to the Doodle Poll to sign up for Office Hours:
Thank you,
Jennifer Stys and Allison Wright
PTO Corner
Paint night update!
We are looking forward to paint night with Mrs. Hussey on Friday, March 26th at 6pm!
The paint night supply kits went home with Cohort B this week and will go home next week with Cohort A and Kindergarten. If you are fully remote, your paint kit was given to the teacher you listed on the registration form and will be with the weekly work they send home. Please check that all items listed below are in your kits. We recommend you put kits in a safe place until next week out of reach of small hands! If you find an item is missing from your kit, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can arrange to get that item to you before paint night. Please email us at: jwkpresidents@gmail.com with any questions.
The PTO does NOT have any extra kits to give away at this time. If you did not register for a kit you can still join us by purchasing the following supplies:
1 8x10 canvas
2 paint brushes (one thick bristle and one thin bristle)
1 piece of white chalk
1 paper plate to use as a paint palate
6 colors of acrylic paint in plastic snack bags (white, black, yellow, green, red and blue)
A special thanks to Reading Cooperative Bank for donating bags to put our kits in!
Calareso’s Farm Stand Fundraiser! 3/15/2021-4/5/2021
We are raising money for Killam PTO by shopping at Calareso’s Farm Stand and garden center! Simply purchase Calareso’s fundraising certificates through the Killam PTO and 25% of the purchases goes directly toward our school! They never expire, and can be used on any items at the store! Checks must be in by 4/5/2021. Fundraising certificates are $10 each and can be purchased individually or in books of 5 or 10. Payment may be either via Venmo @KillamPTO or by Check in your child’s folder. The PTO is planning on using the money to buy individual recess equipment for each class! E-mail jwkfundraising@gmail.com with any questions!
To purchase fill out form here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1MJ8SZr5A4vfSh05Cqa52CBzcmW2vMjOzwkgjyKXqgsY/edit
EJ’s Dine-out
The March Dine-out at EJs grab and go pizza has been postponed to April 7th!
SEPAC Information
The SEPAC Community & Friends welcome your input and help to identify topics of high interest for future Special Education Parent Advisory Council presentations. Our goal is to build a stronger connection to not only the special education community and families, but the wider community as a whole. Learning together and building stronger relationships with all families creates a more accepting and informed community.
Please Email: michelesanphy@yahoo.com with your suggestions for presentation topics by Friday, April 2nd.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Connect with SEPAC by clicking these links:
· Join SEPAC's mailing list by emailing SEPACREADING@gmail.com
· Follow SEPAC on Facebook (please adjust settings so that you are sure to see our posts)
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.
Remote Access 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. This was shared by Dr. Doherty in a newsletter.
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.
Lunch Reminders
Mask Up Reading!
The Town of Reading 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 Public School Laptops
A friendly reminder that if you were loaned a laptop from RPS, it is expected that your child is bringing that device to school whenever they are in person. Thank you!
A Note from Food Services
Through the extension of the Seamless Summer Meal program, started in response to COVID-19, we are able to offer all Reading Public School Children FREE meals for the entire 2020-2021 school year.
What this means for your family–
- Your school-age children will receive a healthy breakfast (at Coolidge, Parker and RMHS only,) and lunch every school day, at no cost, in a safe and welcoming environment. This applies to students who are attending classes in school.
- Our other option for FREE meals for children, ages 0-21, is meal distribution. This includes remote learners, learnings participating in a hybrid learning mode, or any other children in your home. These meals will provide breakfast and lunch for each day, including weekends. Our meal distribution is provided under the bridge at Reading Memorial High School every Wednesday from 2:30 – 3:30 pm or Friday from 11:00 am – 12:00 noon.
This program allows Reading School District to provide the most nourishing and appetizing meals possible for your children. When your children eat school meals, it helps the school system by providing federal funds to the district. The more meals we serve, the more funding we receive, allowing us to focus on providing wonderful, nutritious meals for your family. If your children have never participated in school meals, consider trying the program this year!
If you have any questions please contact Danielle Collins, School Nutrition Director, at Danielle.Collins@Reading.k12.ma.us or 781-670-2822
Resources to Setup Your Child for Remote Learning
All information is listed under the Distance Learning Resources tab on the Killam Homepage.
Google Classroom
-How to Sign-in to Google Classroom
-How to Post Assignments in Google Classrooms
-How to View and Respond to Comments in Google Classroom
-Supporting your Child in Google Classroom
-Google – Teach from Anywhere: Google has established a website to help families and teachers (individual links) use Google and troubleshoot common problems, but all provide helpful hints. This is something teachers may want to share with families at some point. Click HERE to check it out!
Zoom
-How to Login to Zoom
Microsoft Teams
-How to Login to Microsoft Teams
SeeSaw
-How to Access SeeSaw through Google Classroom
Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Support Resources:
In an effort to streamline locations that you can access for support, we've included all the information in one centralized location. On the Behavioral Health page of the Reading Public School's District website, you will now find all Covid-19 related resources, broken down by categories (upper right hand corner of the page). We are fortunate to have access to an incredible array of resources and we hope this helps you navigate this unprecedented time. Each page is set up in the same format, and hyperlinks are included to help get you quickly to the information you need.
We have a secondary RPS Social-Emotional Learning Resource Center with additional materials.
School Presentations:
Building (Hybrid) Safety Procedures, October 2020 (Passcode: 2*7M=v9S)
About These Services
Ms. Sarah Leveque, Principal
Email: sarah.leveque@reading.k12.ma.us
Website: http://reading.k12.ma.us/killam/
Location: 333 Charles Street, Reading, MA, USA
Phone: 781-944-7831
Facebook: facebook.com/JWKillamSchool
Twitter: @Killamnews