Birch Meadow Newsflash
November 19, 2023
Notes From Dr. Burnham
*Driving wind and rain couldn't stop coaches Katherine Breen, Allison Kramer, Cindy Marte and our Girls on the Run team from tearing up the track at Suffolk Downs in Boston. Congratulations to all of our runners, and the exhausted parents who ran with them through what temporarily seemed like a hurricane Saturday morning (picture above).
*I had a blast with fourth-grade teacher Arielle Mucha and third-grade teacher Allison Kramer as we joined families in cheering on the Birch Meadow members of the Reading Youth Football Rockets as they took on the archrival Stoneham Spartans in the Super Bowl this past Sunday. A preview of future Thanksgiving Day games on the field by RMHS? Pictured above is Allison Kramer with student Miguel Pereira.
*What could be better than celebrating Thanksgiving with a Robot version of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade down the halls of Birch Meadow? I can't think of anything, that's for sure. Thank you to our Library and Media Specialist for coming up with this creative lesson!
*As we head into the holiday / winter travel season, I wanted to take a moment to reinforce the importance of student attendance with some reminders:
EVERY DAY COUNTS!
Massachusetts defines chronically absent students as those who miss 10% or more days of school (18 days). This includes both excused and unexcused days.
Students who have missed 5 days of school so far this year, or are absent 2 times a month, are on track to be chronically absent.
Poor attendance and frequent tardiness cause children to fall behind in critical school readiness, academic and social-emotional skill development.
Chronically absent students are less likely to read on grade level by the end of third grade.
WHAT FAMILIES CAN DO
Establish consistent bedtime and morning routines.
Develop backup plans for getting to school.
Schedule non-urgent appointments and extended trips when school is not in session.
Ask us for help when you need it. School staff, after-school program providers, and community partners are available to help address experiences that can make it challenging to attend school.
Birch Meadow PTO News
LINK TO PTO General Mtg Presentation Including School Improvement Slides
Calareso's Gift Certificate Distribution - Started on November 6th. If you have NOT gotten your gift certificate, please email BirchMeadowPTO@gmail.com.
Celtics Tickets Update - We are so thrilled with the success of our first ever Celtics Night. Tickets will be distributed (transferred via Ticketmaster) after Thanksgiving. For those who are going - pay attention to the Jumbotron during the FIRST quarter, FIRST timeout for a welcome message!
TURKEY TROT FUNDRAISING UPDATE
The kids have raised over $18,000 and won the first SEVEN prizes!
ALL SCHOOL REWARDS
• Reach $2,500: Pajama Day - won!
• Reach $5,000: Dance Party - won!
• Reach $7,500: Game Day - won!
• Reach $10,000: Movie day - won!
• Reach $12,500: Extra Recess - won!
• Reach $15,000: Dr. Burnham colors his hair rocket colors - won!
• Reach $20,000: Dandelions Ice Cream Day
• Reach $25,000: Each student receives Field Day shirt
Top Earning Grade: Rusty spends a Friday with the grade
Top Earning Class: Earns a Pizza Party for the full class
Top earning student has first pick of the following, followed by 2nd and 3rd
• Principal for the day
• Ride to school in fire truck
• Ride to school in police car
If you haven't already registered your child for the school-wide run, please do so ASAP HERE, This all-school event is scheduled for Tuesday, 11/21 @ 9am. This is NOT a race but rather a fun and healthy event for all. Whether your child walks, runs, or “trots” each child will participate!
You can sign up to volunteer HERE.
UPCOMING EVENTS
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER DATE REMINDERS
Tues. November 21st - Fun Run! Are you registered?
Wed. November 22nd - Early Release @ 11:00am
Thurs/Fri November 23rd & November 24th - No School - Thanksgiving Break
Thurs. December 7th - Early release @ 12:45. Teacher Conferences
Fri. December 8th - No School. Teacher Conferences
Fri. December 22nd - Early Release @ 11am.
December 25 - January 1 - Winter Break. School resumes Tues. Jan 2nd.
PARENT INFO NEEDED*
If you haven't updated your contact forms for this year - please do so ASAP. This important information often changes from year to year.
Start here: https://plusportals.com/readingpublicschools
Room Parent and Grade-level contact lists:
Please complete this form to have your name added to same-grade-level contact lists. The PTO will distribute contact lists later in the year.
A FEW VOLUNTEER SPOTS STILL OPEN!
Birch Meadow Enrichment & Event Volunteer Opportunities:
If you are interested in helping with any of our open volunteer opportunities below:
2nd Grade Enrichment (2 volunteers)
Restaurant Fundraiser Coordinator (1 volunteer)
Red Sox fundraiser Coordinator (1 volunteer)
Read-a-thon fundraiser support (1 volunteer)
BIRCH MERCH
CUSTOM NAME LABELS
MINTED STATIONARY & CARDS
Enjoy 20% off Minted cards & gift orders throughout the year, and Minted will donate 15% back to Birch PTO. Perfect for holiday cards!!
Use code: FUNDRAISEBIRCHMEADOW
The Special Education Parent Advisory Council works for the understanding of, respect for, and support of, all children with special needs in the community (including ALL children on IEPs or 504 plans and children who may require specialized support). Watch this brief introductory video to learn more!
Follow SEPAC on Facebook or Instagram
See our 2023-2024 Calendar of Events
SEPACsgiving was a great success. A huge thank you to Maria Morgan for organizing and hosting this wonderful series of events. Wishing everyone a happy Thanksgiving next week.
Upcoming events:
The Learning Center review process has been completed and Student Services will be presenting the findings at the school committee meeting on November 30th. This will be followed-up with a virtual presentation (The Learning Center Review Results) hosted by Reading SEPAC on Thursday 12/7 @ 7 pm to give parents an opportunity to learn more about the learning center, the review results, and to ask questions directly to Student Services. Zoom link: https://readingpsma.zoom.us/j/85297238312
SEPAC REF Tree:
Reading SEPAC is proud to once again participate in the Reading Education Foundation (REF) Festival of Trees which supports our schools. Every year our members have graciously helped us to reach this goal and we hope this year will be no different as it would not be possible without your help!
A big thank you to Alyssa Scaparotti for volunteering to create a tree for the REF Festival on behalf of Reading SEPAC. This year's theme will be Ice Cream Wonderland.
This is a wonderful opportunity to not only support two Reading volunteer groups, Reading SEPAC and REF, but also to help Reading SEPAC spread awareness of our mission to continue to make Reading a better place for children with disabilities and to support families.
Here's some ways to help and to get involved:
Donate items or help decorate the tree
We would gratefully accept contributions of decorations/gifts for the SEPAC tree.
Here's two lists, if you wish to contribute, please know that we would welcome anything that goes with the theme, no matter where it's from.
Items purchased off the Amazon wishlist have the option to be shipped directly to Allysa.
If you are able to help, we are beyond grateful. Please reach out if you'd like to help in any way not mentioned. Thank you!
Social Media Pages
Please "like" Birch Meadow Elementary PTO" Facebook page and follow our Instagram: @birch_meadow_pto