The Starburstd
Home of the Shining Stars
Dear Barrows Families,
As we head into April vacation, I want to wish everyone a wonderful and well-deserved break! For those traveling, we hope you have safe and smooth journeys. For those staying close to home, I hope you are able to enjoy some rest, family time, and (fingers crossed!) some warm spring weather. We look forward to welcoming all of our students back to school on Monday, April 27th.
When we return, we will have just 8 weeks (and one day) of school left—important weeks filled with continued learning, growth, and FUN. Please make every effort to schedule appointments and trips outside of school hours whenever possible so students can make the most of this final stretch of the year.
I also want to take a moment to recognize our students for the seriousness and effort they brought to MCAS over the last two weeks. They worked hard, stayed focused, and truly showed what they know and can do in ELA. We are so proud of their efforts and the growth they’ve demonstrated all year. A special shout-out to our third graders for successfully completing their first round of MCAS—great job! We will continue with Math MCAS one week after we return from break.
We’re excited to continue into Week 3 of our Principal’s Nonfiction GROW YOUR KNOWLEDGE GARDEN Reading Challenge! Student response forms are already rolling in—thank you for supporting this important work at home. In fact, I’ve been so impressed with the interesting nonfiction facts students are sharing that I’ll continue using some of them as Tuesday Trivia questions for the remainder of the school year!
We encourage all students to participate by exploring nonfiction texts through our school library or the Reading Public Library. Ask your child what fascinating facts and topics they are discovering! All recording sheets are due by May 1. Here is the printable link for the challenge (K–2 & 3–5 combined): Nonfiction Principal Challenge
Finally, this is your final reminder to complete the Optional Family Class Placement Form if you have not already done so. The form is due by Sunday, April 26, as we will begin creating class lists the following week. After this date, it becomes very difficult to make changes. Optional Family Class Placement Form
Please note:
- Current fifth grade families: Middle school placements are handled at the middle school level. Please do not complete this form.
- Families with incoming kindergarteners: Placement and screening information will be shared separately. Please do not complete this form.
Thank you for your continued partnership and support. Wishing you all a safe, restful, and enjoyable April vacation!
Keep shining,
Alissa
We continue to offer free breakfast and lunch to all students!
The Food Service Department continues to offer breakfast to all elementary schools!
All first meals, including breakfast and lunch, are free for all students!
If your child would like a second breakfast or lunch, these are available for purchase at $1.50 for breakfast and $2.75 for lunch. Additionally, our cafeterias offer a variety of snacks and a la carte items that can be purchased separately. Our Department looks forward to a fantastic year filled with fresh new foods and the energy from a healthy start to the day! We are excited to serve this incredible community and ensure every student has access to nutritious meals throughout the upcoming school year.
PIN #s for Breakfast, Lunch, and purchasing snacks.
All Reading Public School students are assigned a PIN number that they must use to get breakfast, lunch, or snacks. Please help your child memorize their PIN number. Although we provide free breakfast and lunch to all students, we ask that families send in a healthy snack for their students each day. If they forget their snack, they may purchase one in the cafeteria.
It is also important for families that may need financial support including but not limted to our food services to complete the following forms on this page: https://www.schoolnutritionandfitness.com/index.php?sid=1701802399965&page=lunchapps
Meet Mr. Turner...
Assistant Principal for the Day
Kindergarten Teacher for the Day!
Bring your Grown Up to your PE Class !
⭐🤝WELCOME TO THE PTO BOARD FOR 2026/2027!
We’re excited to welcome Kaitlin Camadeco, as our new Secretary, and Kelsey Lawrence, as our new Social Media Coordinator starting in the 2026–2027 school year. Thank you to everyone who stepped up to offer their time and support for these two positions. Rest assured we have many leadership chair positions ready for anyone looking to get more involved in the PTO for the coming school year!
🌱 BARROWS GARDEN CLEAN-UP | LET’S DIG IN!
We’re looking for a few more volunteers to lend a hand over April break—Saturday, April 18 from 9am-11am (rain date: April 19)—for a little spring clean-up of the raised beds on the Grade 1 Patio area. Friends, families, and kids are all welcome—the more, the merrier! 💛 Sign up here!
We’ve received a grant to partner with Backyard Growers to create an inclusive school garden featuring vegetables, pollinator plants, and sensory-rich plantings for students to explore and enjoy. 🌱 Designed with raised beds and adaptive elements, the garden will be accessible to individuals of all abilities and will include hands-on workshops and activities for students, educators, and families. With edible crops, fragrant herbs, and textured plantings, this space will serve as a living classroom and wellness area—inviting everyone to touch, taste, and explore.
🍕 RESTAURANT DAY AT NELLA’S | APRIL 30
Mark your calendars for Thursday, April 30 and plan to dine out for a great cause! 🎉All day long (11am - 8pm), 15% of sales at Nella’s will be donated back to Barrows! Tell your friends and neighbors!
🥗 Grab lunch 🍕 Enjoy dinner …or treat yourself to both! 😄
It’s an easy (and delicious!) way to support our school community! 💛
🌟👕 Show Your Barrows Pride — Design Our Next Spirit Shirt!
Think you've got the write stuff? ✏️ The Barrows Spirit Shirt Design Contest is officially ON — and we want YOUR creativity front and center!
Design forms went home this week, and entries are open to every student in the Barrows community. Here's what to keep in mind:
🎨 Designs must be one color
⭐ Include Barrows and/or our Shining Stars mascot
🚫 Keep it school-appropriate — no logos or copyrighted characters
💥 Make it bold and clear
Student Council will help narrow entries down to a handful of top contenders, and then the whole school gets to vote on the winning design. That's right — the next look on our grade-level spirit shirts could be yours! 👀
So sharpen those pencils and let your school spirit shine! ⭐🖍️
❤️ GIVE PINTS FOR HALF PINTS! ❤️
Join us for a blood drive on Thursday, May 28 from 10:00 AM–5:00 PM.
We’re so fortunate to have Boston Children’s Hospital just a short ride away—and even more grateful that they’ve helped several of our Shining Stars thrive. Now it’s our turn to give back! 💛 Every donation truly makes a difference, so please consider rolling up your sleeve and helping those in need. 🙌 Be sure to sign up HERE!
With appreciation,
The PTO Board
Bridget Maley & Whitney McBride, Co-Presidents
bridgetkaterimaley@gmail.com | whitkmcb@gmail.com
Rachel Daly, Treasurer
Alicia Curtin, Secretary
Alison Ethier, Social Media Coordinator
Follow Us!
📘Facebook: Barrows Elementary PTO
📷 Instagram: @barrowselementarypto
🔗 Linktree
⭐ SEPAC ANNUAL SURVEY
Forthcoming by email and next SEPAC Newsletter
In April be on the lookout for our annual SEPAC survey sent by email and within our next SEPAC newsletter.
⭐ SAVE THE DATE: BOWLING MEET-UP
May 15 (Fri) 2-4pm for Middle & High School Families @ Kings Bowling, 510 Market St, Lynnfield
May 22 or 29 TBD (Fri) 2-4pm Pre-school & Elementary Families @ Kings Bowling, 510 Market St, Lynnfield $20/pp includes shoe rental and 2-hours of bowling. Pay for your own food & drinks. Registration form is forthcoming in April.
Please note, this is a family meetup (not a drop-off event). A parent or adult guardian must remain with their child(ren) for supervision. Thank you.
Arrival
- Please drive slowly up Edgemont to keep everyone safe; remember, it is a ONE-WAY during the school day.
- Do not park in the indented section by the gym. This is the "kiss & go" area for a quick drop-off.
- Doors open at 8:15 and close at 8:25. Your child needs to be in their seat by 8:25 AM. If your child arrives to school after the doors have closed, they must come to the front door and be marked tardy.
- The Staff Parking Lot is for staff only and off limits to all pedestrians from arrival-dismissal for the safety of all. Please respect this important aspect of our campus.
Dismissal:
- At dismissal time, there is no live pick-up in the driveway except for students who take the bus. Kindergarteners exit the building at 2:40 PM. The rest of the students dismiss at 2:45 PM from the same doors they enter in the morning.
As a safety reminder, the staff parking lot is staff-only. We respectfully ask that caregivers park along the streets. With our students exiting from their external doors in the parking lot, having cars drive in and out is not safe. You need to walk around the school on the blacktop to the back. Thanks for helping us out.
Ready to Play the Best Way
Please do not have your children wear flip-flops. Sneakers are best, but flip-flops are dangerous when running at recess (and Crocs aren't great).
Dogs and Puppies on School Grounds
School Committee policy prohibits dogs on school grounds as much as we all love dogs and puppies and as much fun as it is walking them. 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.
Kids in grades K-7 can submit their own library card designs with the theme "Reading is Revolutionary" during the month of April. This theme celebrates our country's 250th anniversary and will also be the RPL's Summer Reading theme. One winner will be selected by our Library Board of Trustees and the winning design will be used as our limited edition library card in September for National Library Card Sign Up Month!
Please see the attached flyer and find additional details on the RPL website: https://readingpl.org/library-card-design-contest
An Important Reminder from Mrs. Atwood
Dear Barrows Families,
This is a friendly reminder that kids should wear sneakers on the days that they have Physical Education. I love Crocs too, but they don’t count as sneakers…even when they’re worn in sport mode! Thanks so much for your support with this safety matter.
Sarah Atwood
Happy Birthday! In honor of your child’s birthday, we invite you to donate books to our school library in their name. Each book donated will have a bookplate with a dedication. Students will be the first patron to check the books out of the library.
To streamline the process and have a birthday book program year round we have developed an Amazon wishlist. Follow this link for the wish list to choose your donations. Amazon Barrows Book Wish List.
Or scan this QR code to get the list.
Please be sure to include your child’s name and grade on the order. Orders can be shipped directly to the school, or brought in person.
Families are welcome to select titles from the list that they would like to see in our library. Birthday donations can range from a single book to 100 books! If there is a specific title you would like to donate please reach out to Mrs. Becker with your request.
Birthday donations are welcome anytime. If you have any questions at all please contact Mrs. Becker.
Please follow Art and Physical Education on Instagram!
You must request to follow these private accounts. We post images, reels and stories that give you a quick glimpse into your child’s day during these Special class times. Mrs. Hurley for Art can be found here @mrs.hurley_art and Mrs. Atwood for Physical Education can be found here @barrowspe
*If your Instagram name does not easily identify you, please send us a separate email so we know it’s you! For safety, we are careful about who we accept.*
Check-Out Artsonia!
Dear Barrows Families,
Another way you can support your child’s art is to join Artsonia. Artsonia is the world's largest collection of student art, published by teachers and students from around the world. Through Artsonia families can view student art online and leave comments. If you would like to join Artsonia keep your eye on your inbox; email invitations will be going out shortly! Thank you! Beth Hurley
