Wood End Wildcat News
September 18, 2023
**Please check the dates below and mark your calendars! **
Calendar Clarification
- Please note the early release day scheduled for Sept. 20th is for preschool students only (to accommodate their Back-to-School Night). September 20th is a regular school day for all students in kindergarten to grade 5.
Save the Date and Join our Wildcat Team (details below!)
- September 24 (Williams Syndrome Walk) and October 8 (Down Syndrome Walk)
Cafeteria: The Food Service Department is seeking substitute employees to assist on days when we have call outs, we as a department would greatly appreciate. Please contact Catherine Franzetti if interested, please contact catherine.franzetti@reading.k12.ma.us.
We respectfully ask you to partner with us by reminding your student that all student smartwatches (GizmoWatch, etc.) & cellphones must be powered off and remain in backpacks or teachers' desks during the entire school day. Students always have access to call home with the permission of their classroom teacher in case of an emergency. We want to help our students learn that we have many caring adults here during the day to help them navigate challenges and solve problems together.
Back to School Night Slides
Grade level Classroom Presentations
Specialists and Service Providers
NEW STAFF: Please Join me in welcoming Katie Moloney to the Wood End staff. Katie will be Wood End's occupational therapist. Information about Katie in the specialists/service provider slides!
RPS Student Handbook & Wood End Family Resource Guide: This handbook and this guide are distributed at the beginning of every academic year. It is the presumption of the administration and the school system that a parent and student will read and understand the two handbooks. Even if a parent or student does not return the sign/off acknowledgement form below, such presumption is made.
To DO:
- Complete this form indicating you have received the reviewed the RPS student handbook and the Wood End Family guide for each child in your family
Attendance Matters!
Curriculum Update
Through data analysis, we work to create flexible, differentiated learning groups that allow teachers to meet students where they are, set goals for growth, and provide targeted instruction.
Our tutors, reading specialist and assistant principal will support this work. They will work with small groups of students in classrooms to target student needs in both reading and math. Students may work in their own classroom, in Ms. Foresman's classroom, or they may work in another grade level classroom with grade-level peers. All groups are flexible and will change many times throughout the school year.
We look forward to the year ahead with your children and celebrating their growth along the way. It's one of the best parts of elementary school!
Hispanic Heritage Month Begins Sept 15
FUN FACT: “In September of 1968, Congress authorized President Lyndon B. Johnson to proclaim National Hispanic Heritage Week observed during the week that included Sept. 15 and Sept. 16. In 1989, it was expanded to a month long celebration (Sept. 15-Oct. 15). The start date is significant because it is the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on Sept. 16 and Sept. 18, respectively.”
Introducing Our Wood End PTO Board
We have some amazing parents who have taken on leadership roles to keep our very active PTO up & running. We are so grateful for their willingness to provide our community with many opportunities to volunteer and support our students and families. Our PTO has been involved in coordinating fundraising events, book fairs, enrichment programs, school supplies, teacher appreciation events, flamingo flocking, and restaurant nights, just to name a few, to make Wood End the special community it is today. If you are interested in becoming more involved in our PTO, please reach out to any of our board members.
- Laura Brandt - Co-President
- Emily McNaughton - Co-President
- Andrea Freeman and Dave Scannell - Events and Fundraising Coordinators
- Steff Keilty - Room Parent Coordinator
- Bridget Briere & Sarah Henic - Enrichment Coordinators
- Linda Liang - Secretary
- Kristen Godsoe - Treasurer
VISION AND HEARING SCREENINGS STARTING SOON
The nurse office will soon begin our mandated hearing and vision screening for grades K-3 and the Preschool vision screening. In October, we will also do the vision screening for 4th and 5th grades. Please email the nurse office if you prefer to have your child opt out of school vision or hearing screening. Even though the pediatrician's do some screening, we have found that school screening can help with the early detection of many treatable conditions. We want to help your child learn best and I try to make school screenings quick, calm, and a good experience for the students.
School Medical Policies below!
LATEST NEWS FROM SEPAC
SEPAC 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
Upcoming Events (see flyers for details):
Tuesday, Sept 19th, 5-7PM
Lynn Lyons - Internationally recognized expert on anxiety
Helping Your Family’s Emotional Health: Practical Skills and Solutions for Managing Anxiety, Enhancing Flexibility, and Creating Wellbeing
In-person at PARKER MIDDLE SCHOOL (note location change)
Thursday, Oct 5th, 9AM
Team Chair Meet and Greet at Central Office
Come join us to meet your team chair and student service leadership in person. This is a great opportunity to foster a good relationship outside of the virtual world and the demands of IEP meetings.
Refreshments will be served. We hope to see you there!
Location: Central Office at RMHS. Entrance next to RISE pre-school
Reading Public Schools is a METCO District
"Since its founding during the peak of the Civil Rights Movement, the METCO program has enrolled tens of thousands of Boston students of color in predominately white school districts, creating the opportunity for those districts to experience the advantages of learning and working in a racially and ethnically diverse setting."
SAVE the DATE and JOIN OUR TEAM
LIBRARY RESOURCES
At the Reading Public Library, there are 10 different kits that address different needs that people in the community may experience (e.g. Grief, anxiety, trauma, etc.). You can request a kit through the online library catalog or check it out in person. Kits contain a variety of materials that are accessible to kids, teens, and/or adults, as well as a resource packet with lists of community resources and activities. Each kit also contains a notebook where others who have used the kit can leave words of support.
Upcoming Events:
September
18: Picture Day
19: Lynn Lyons Event (5-7pm), Indian festival of Ganesh Chaturthi.
20: PTO meeting LINK HERE
22: Spirit Day: Wear blue and/or lime green for Williams Syndrome
24: Williams Syndrome Walk at Franklin Park Zoo
25: Yom Kippur, PTO dues drive Kick-Off (more information to come)
27: Wildcat Wednesday, wear your Wildcat Gear
29: Restaurant Night at the Mandarin
October
3: 5th grade MOS field trip, Fire SAFE House gr. K-2 (in school)
4: Walk to School Wednesday
5: Team Chair Meet and Greet 9am @ Central Office (RMHS)
6: Spirit Day: Wear blue and yellow for Down Syndrome
8: Down Syndrome Walk in Wakefield
9: Indigenous Peoples' Day; No School
13: White Cane Day-- Spirit Day: Wear White today!
17: 3rd grade Parker Tavern field trip
20: PTO Sponsored Halloween Event
31: Halloween
November
7: No School- Teacher in-service day
10: No School
Principal Schwartz
Wood End Resource Guide/Handbook
Email: nicole.schwartz@reading.k12.ma.us
Website: http://www.reading.k12.ma.us/woodend/
Location: 85 Sunset Rock Lane, Reading, MA, United States
Phone: 781-942-5420