JW Killam Principal's Corner
Ms. Leveque's Weekly Newsletter
From the Desk of Ms. Leveque
It is bittersweet to write this final full newsletter of the 2019-2020 school year. When we gathered together for our first day of school in August, none of us would have predicted we would be where we are today. Yet, we have accomplished incredible things this year! Our students and staff have grown in their academic and empathy skills these past ten months. More than ever, this has been accomplished with a home-school partnership, as you have taken over the oversight of your child's education since March. Usually the last week of school is filled with hot classrooms, unbound enthusiasm, some tears, and a countdown until the final moment when we are released at 11am that last day of school. Perhaps you are experiencing this at home. Regardless of your setting, it is an accomplishment to complete a school year and realize our students are moving one step forward. As we prepare for next year, we know it will be different. We still have many unknowns as we await information from Commissioner Riley, Governor Baker, and the CDC. Yet we know that we will be welcoming back our students in some capacity and our teachers are thrilled to be doing so! As we receive information and are planned, the RPS will send updates to the school community during the summer months.
With the end of a year, we have a few goodbyes to say. Mrs. Truesdale, a teacher in our Therapeutic Support Program, and Mrs. Gallant, our music teacher, are moving onto different settings. Their enthusiasm for the field and love of the students will be missed. We also say goodbye to Mrs. Callahan, who has done an outstanding job supporting our main office and jumping in to help with any task that was needed. Finally, we wish Mrs. Gotsell well, a paraeducator in our Therapeutic Support Program, as she enters retirement after 20 years in the RPS. These dedicated professionals have been bright lights in our school and we will miss them dearly. We wish everyone well in the future.
I am dedicating this newsletter to our Fifth Grade Class of 2020! They have bright futures ahead as they move on from Killam to Middle School. This week, the staff will be celebrating their accomplishments and giving them the send off they deserve. They are a kind, articulate, fun-loving, and accomplished set of individuals. We know they have much more to contribute to society and we are so proud of them!
Upcoming Events:
1. Fifth Grade Virtual Moving On Events, June 16th and 17th: Fifth Grade families received an email invitation. The pre-recorded Moving On Memory Celebration will be emailed to 5th Graders on June 16th. The 5th Grade final rolling car send-off will be at 2 pm at Killam on June 17th. We are thrilled to be celebrating the class of 2020 with our Fifth Grade students!
2. Virtual Current K-4 Moving Up Videos, June 18th: Students will receive a warm hello from next year's teachers and hear about what they will be learning about in the upcoming year. These pre-recorded videos will be posted on your child's Google Classroom.
3. Last Day of School: Friday, June 19th at 11 am.
4. Class Teacher Assignments: Students will learn of their teacher in the summer. As Dr. Doherty stated, we recognize that our structure may look different next fall and we need to be nimble with this process.
Missing the Killam students and wishing a happy, healthy summer vacation!
Stay well,
Ms. Leveque
Lost and Found
Google Classroom During Summer
Lexia Over the Summer
If you would like to continue using Lexia, an online reading program, over the summer, note that the company is making a few changes. This this change only affects those who have Lexia downloaded to their desktop. The first time a family goes to the browser version, they will need to enter "teacher email" which is home@reading.k12.ma.us. After initial setup, they won't need to do that again. Student log in and passwords remain the same.
Click here to find out instructions from Lexia.
Resources for Talking with Children about Equity, Bias and Racism
Julia Hendrix and the Birch Meadow Elementary School have been at the forefront of leading the elementary charge to confront our biases, and work towards anti-racism. The Birch Meadow Staff has compiled the following resources for families on how to begin this process at home. The Killam staff thanks them for sharing this information and taking a stand. We stand together with members of the black and brown community.
Click here to access the resources.
Additionally, Sesame Street is hosting a “town hall” for kids and families this Saturday at 10am for kids and families and will discuss how to stand up to racism and embrace diversity. To learn more, go here: https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/02/us/cnn-sesame-street-standing-up-to-racism/index.html
PTO Corner-- School Supply Kits and Final Reminders
School Supply Kits
Every year, the Killam PTO sets up an easy way to order school supply kits for families. Rather than getting a list of materials and going to Target or Amazon to buy them, you order online the supplies are delivered to your child's classroom for the first day of school. This is a super easy way to check one thing off your summer to-do list and avoid extra trips to the store. Go to https://1stdayschoolsupplies.com/ to order now. The deadline to order is July 1.
A few changes for this year:
- The PTO has eliminated the small amount extra we raise from the kits as an effort to reduce costs for families. This year school kits will not be a PTO fundraiser. Please though consider donating to the PTO in the fall by paying dues if you are able.
- If you would like a school kit but would rather pay for it in late August (or if you cannot afford one due to financial hardship), please contact Principal Leveque with your name, your child’s name, and their grade. She will keep this information private but will communicate with the PTO how many additional kits we should order and pay for per grade, then in the first couple of days of school, you may pay for the kit for your child in the Killam office.
PTO Directory
Please register for the Killam School Directory (AtoZ Connect) today to get connected with your child’s future classmates, room parents, and to receive valuable PTO emails on school-wide events. When room parents send out class emails, their source of contact info is AtoZ Connect, so if your child is not registered up on there, you will be missing out on emails about in-class enrichments, celebrations, teacher gifts, Killam gear ordering, etc. You can download the AtoZ Connect App on a phone or go to AtoZConnect.com on a computer to join - it's super easy! Just click on "sign up" and search by the school zip code (01867), the select Killam from the list.
PTO Social Media
We also post info to Facebook at Killam School PTO, Reading MA, please join/like us! Please feel free to contact Jen Kane, our PTO secretary if you need help or have questions: jwksecretary@gmail.com.
Middle School Information
5th grade students! Be on the lookout early next week (June 14th) for a special email from each of the middle schools. Within this email will be a special video message from the 6th grade teachers, as well as some Q&A answered by current 6th graders. Students will get a preview of who they will be working with next year!
Summer Reading
Check out these links for summer reading information!
The first is a website with all of the information about summer reading, how to access the titles electronic copies from the Reading Public Library and some other reading resources. https://sites.google.com/reading.k12.ma.us/coolidgesummerreading/home
The second is a short video tutorial explaining how to use the website and it's resources.
Video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1R0DpMIzrZpwa4w7gbh2D5DtqXRo4x_6I/view?usp=sharing
MiddleSchoolSummerReadingVideo.webm
drive.google.com
Specialists' Corner
As specialists continue to think creatively about how to engage with our children, their schedules will be posted for easy access in multiple locations. Besides Google Classrooms, we'll be posting in the Principal Weekly Newsletter and here on the Killam website.
We are excited to announce that the specialists now have a Google Classroom page. The page is linked in your child's Grade Level Classroom page. The code to enter is: kpezgng
Week of June 14th:
Art with Mrs. Hussey
Think Outside the Box Challenge
As we wrap up our wacky school year and get ready for summer, join me to make Surprise Shark Creations next week.
You will need:
Scissors
Glue stick
Coloring materials
Paper
When you finish your artwork, I hope you will post it on our Draw-along Sharing Padlet for all to enjoy.
https://padlet.com/amyhussey/qkjb1q6rdxi3jmwy
Think Outside the Box Challenge
Print this week’s Challenge Page and complete the drawing. Post your creation to our Creativity Challenge Padlet https://padlet.com/amyhussey/3quf61htas5ntive to share and be entered in our weekly raffle. One lucky artist will get a trip to the art studio treasure chest whenever we can be together in person. If you are a fifth-grade winner, come back to visit next year and claim your prize! Winners will be drawn on Thursday at 5:00 PM and announced in Ms. Leveque’s newsletter on Fridays.
This week’s “Think Outside the Box” lucky winner is Lucy Stetson in Mrs. Rice’s class!!!!! Congratulations Lucy, and thank you to ALL our entrants. Your creativity is so much fun to witness!
Live Sessions:
Third, Fourth, and Fifth Grade Live Art- Tuesday, June 16th from 10:00-10:30.
First and Second Live Art- Thursday, June 18th from 10:00-10:40
Library Media with Mrs. Adamo
Mrs. Adamo and my dog Charlie would love to share some stories with you! Please click this link on Tuesday, June 16th at 10:30 to join us for story time. For our last story time together, Charlie and his golden retriever cousin Bella will be sharing the Mo Willem’s classic Knufflebunny while Charlie will be dressed up like a bunny! If you miss any of Charlie’s story time fun, click on my Padlet to watch Charlie’s read aloud videos (and check out his adorable costumes!) https://padlet.com/kimberlyadamo/Bookmarks
Tune in to my Summer Reading Send Off on Thursday, June 18th at 10:30 to learn about all the fun summer reading programs available through the Reading Public Library, Scholastic Books, and Barnes and Nobles. Learn how to use many amazing free resources like Hoopla, Kanopy, Overdrive, and Libby to help you check out books all summer long from the comforts of your own home. For links to these free resources and many more, visit my Reading Resource Padlet at https://padlet.com/kimberlyadamo/27euuugyoimtw09t
Live Sessions:
Story time with Mrs. Adamo and Charlie, Tuesday, 10:30-11:00
Summer Reading Send Off
Thursday, 10:30-11:00
PE with Mrs. Snow
Great to see everyone this past week! Looking forward to our last live PE sessions with you! At our final live sessions, we will be reviewing what we have covered in previous sessions.
Please be prepared to share what you’d like to learn or practice in PE/health in the 2020-2021 school year.
Equipment needed for Monday and Wednesday PE lessons:
- 1-3 sock balls
- 6-10 plastic cups
- Space to safely move around in
Virtual High Five!
Mrs. Snow
Live Sessions:
K-2 PE Meeting – Monday, 10-10:30
3-5 PE Meeting – Wednesday, 10-10:30
Music with Ms. Gallant
Come to the last live session of the year for music!
VIRTUAL DANCE PARTY!
Monday June 15th
12:30pm
All grades welcome!
Live Sessions:
Music Check in with Ms. Gallant ALL GRADES, Monday at 12:30
Virtual Freeze Dance! Virtual Glue Dancing!
Fourth Annual Summer Groceries Program
The Reading Conference of Saint Vincent de Paul Society is pleased to invite you to share in the Fourth Annual Summer Groceries Program. As in previous years, this free program is being offered to families of students who participate in the National School Lunch Program in the Reading Public Schools during the academic year.
We have a limit of 40 participants this summer. These students will be selected on a first come first serve basis. If the program is already filled when you email us, please consider enrolling in the Reading Food Pantry at the Olde South United Methodist Church, 6 Salem St., Reading.
Groceries will be distributed on the ten Wednesdays of the summer starting on June 17, 2020 through August 19, 2020. This summer your groceries will be delivered to your home in Reading by our partners at the Knights of Columbus Organization.
Register your child(ren) with us by providing us the following information:
- The last name of the child(ren)
- Number of students in your family
- The address where you would like us to drop off these bag(s)
- Which OUTSIDE door you would like us to drop off these bag(s)
- Send this information to us via email at st.agnes.reading.svdp@gmail.com
VERY IMPORTANT NOTICE: Although we are very sensitive to friends with food allergies, we are not able to meet everyone’s personal needs. Just as you would shop in a store, we ask you to select the items for your family; and if there is something that you cannot use, please pass it on to someone else.
All the best wishes to you and your family for a safe and healthy summer,
Alicia Gallagher, Coordinator of Summer Lunch Program
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