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Wood End Wildcat News

August 24, 2026

Wood EndWildcat NewsAugust 24, 2026
We are beyond excited to welcome our Wildcats back to school in just a few days. We are counting down the days to the first day of school and can't wait until our halls are filled with smiles, laughter and the positive energy our Wildcats bring to our school. It will be a year of adventure, learning and fun!

Join the PTO and Principal Schwartz at Whitelam Books on Monday, 8/31

Principal Schwartz will be reading from 7:00 - 7:30 ! A portion of all book sales will be given to the PTO to support our school!

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**Please check the dates and information below and mark your calendars! ** **Please check the dates and information below and mark your calendars! **

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TO DO: In order for us to ensure your child gets dismissed safely, please complete this Form to indicate how your child will get home from school each day. Return the completed form to Lisa Finigan at lisa.finigan@reading.k12.ma.us. Please complete a form for EACH child.

** Form also linked in the button Below.**


Please talk with your student(s) before the first day of school to confirm how they will be picked up. It is extremely important that you complete this form as this is communicated with your student's teacher(s) and reviewed with students before they leave for the day.


School Hours Full day K-5:

  • Monday -Thursday: 8:15 - 2:45
  • Friday: 8:15 - 12:45
Dismissal Form

Arrival and Dismissal Procedures Arrival and Dismissal Procedures

ARRIVAL on a Typical Day: OUTDOOR LINE UP

Students will line up in their designated spots behind the cone with their teacher's name. Students will enter the building at 8:10.

  • Grade K-5: Front of the building behind the cone with their teacher's name


ARRIVAL during Inclement Weather: Students can gather under the front awning. At 8:10 students will enter the building.


  • Grades K and 1: Through Door 13
  • Grades 2 through 5: Will enter through the front door and into the gym. Students will line up behind the cone with their teacher's name and wait for their teacher to come down to escort them to classrooms.


Follow these guidelines if you are participating in rolling car drop-off of a child at the front of the building:


  1. Pull up as far as you can in the driveway prior to letting your child exit the car.
  2. Drivers STAY IN THE CARE and children exit on the sidewalk side of the car.
  3. If your child is unable to get out of the car independently, please park in a street parking space and walk them in.
  4. Do not pass cars in the driveway.
  5. Students will find their class line up after getting out of the car.



DISMISSAL


Placard Pick Up: FAQ below

  • Please be sure you have your family placard easily visible on the RIGHT SIDE of your vehicle.
  • PLEASE REMAIN IN YOUR VEHICLES


Caregiver Pick Up at door:

  • Kindergarten: Front of the building- Door 13
  • First Grade: Front right of the building- Door 12
  • Grades 2 and 3: Door 6 by the upper playground
  • Grades 4 and 5: Main Entrance


As a safety reminder, the staff parking lot is for staff only. We respectfully ask that caregivers park along the streets if not using PLACARD pick up.


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.

Arrival/Pick Up Procedures
Wood End Placard FAQ

New Family Meet & Greet, August 31

All new families, including all our incoming kindergarten families, are invited to attend an informal meet & greet, Popsicles on the Playground on Monday, August 31 from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. on the upper playground.


This is an opportunity to meet families and classmates, ask questions, and enjoy a summer treat as we welcome you to the Wood End community. All new families are welcome and siblings are encouraged to join us! We hope to see you there!

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School Supplies 2026-2027 School Supplies 2026-2027

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While we are happy to say that we were able to purchase many school supplies for our students, below are grade level supply lists for some remaining items for families to purchase.

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Portal Activation: New families will be receiving emails with instructions on how to activate your portals next week. It is very important that you activate your portal as soon as possible as this is your link to your child and their classroom. Also, any parent/guardian with an inactive portal will receive the same email.
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Students need new medicine orders for each new school year. The summer is an ideal time to start this paperwork. Families can use this attached form for parent permission and doctor's orders. We also accept medication orders that a doctor writes on their own form. If you think your child would occasionally need Tylenol or Motrin, we need a doctor's order to give this in elementary school. For medicine safety, a parent or guardian needs to bring the medicine directly to the nurse to sign it into school. Please do not send medicines in their backpack.


School Medical Policies below!

School Medical Policies
Medication Administration Form
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Introducing Our Wood End PTO

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 @ woodendpto@gmail.com .

PTO General Meeting Schedule


  • September 23 @ 4pm: LINK HERE
  • November 17 @ 8:15 (In person)
  • January 13 @ 7pm: LINK HERE
  • March 17 @ 7pm: LINK HERE
  • May 12 @ 7pm: LINK HERE
  • June 9 @ 8:15 (In Person)
PTO WELCOME PACKET
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LATEST NEWS FROM SEPAC

Latest Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) Update


SEPAC WEBSITE!

Click here for the NEW, IMPROVED READING SEPAC WEBSITE, an incredible resource for parents/caregivers of all children, especially those with diverse learning profiles. We strongly urge you to visit it soon, and often. Short on time? Here’s a very brief video to give you a sense of what’s there in just over one minute.


About Reading 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 supports).

SEPAC WEBPAGE

Join SEPAC's mailing list

Follow SEPAC on Facebook

Follow SEPAC on Instagram

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Reading Public Schools is a METCO District

METCO unites suburban towns with Boston to engage in a reciprocal learning partnership in support of all students. Because of this, every child who attends school in Reading Public Schools is a METCO student and every parent or guardian who has a student in RPS is a part of the METCO community.


"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."

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Upcoming Events:

August

24; SEPAC sponsored Popsicles on the Playground 2pm

31: Popsicles on the Playground for New Families (3-4 pm)


September

2: First day of school for students Grades 1-5

2-3: Pre K and K Orientation

4: No School

7: No school, Labor Day

8: First day of school for RISE Preschool & Kindergarten

11: Family Pizza Field Night from 5-7 pm on the lower playground/field

16: Elementary Open Houses in Evening (details to follow as the date approaches)

21: PTO Dues Kick Off

23: PTO meeting


October

Calareso's Farmstand Fundraiser

12: Columbus Day; No School

13: Professional Day; No School for students

23: PTO Sponsored Halloween Event 6-8


November

11: Veteran's Day; No School

19: Early Release; Family-Teacher Conferences

20: No School for Students; Family-Teacher Conferences

25: Early Release @11am

26-27: No School; Thanksgiving

30: Giving Tree Kick Off


December

5-6: REF Festival of Trees

11: PTO Sponsored MOvie Night 6-8

14-18: Penguin Patch Holiday Shopping for Students in School

23: Early Release

24-Jan 1: Winter Break; No School


February

5: PTO sponsored Adult Social


March

Book Fair and Calareso's Farmstand Fundraiser


April

2: PTO sponsored Movie Night 6-8


May

3-7: teacher Appreciation

Reading Public Schools Calendar 2026-2027

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Principal Schwartz

Please save my email address and reach out with questions, comments or thoughts. My door is always open!


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


Wood End Resource Guide/Handbook

District Handbook

Nicole Schwartz
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