Killam Principal's Corner

Hey Killam Families!

The time has finally come! We are down to the final few days of summer and are so excited to welcome your students back to Killam next week!

In this newsletter, you’ll find important information about arrival and dismissal, building project updates, and much more. Please please take a few minutes to review these updates prior to school starting.

I also want to draw your attention to the tours we are offering this Thursday for new families and Kindergarten families at 8:15 am and 1:00 pm (see below). If you’re interested and available, we’d love to see you!

I am so excited to kick off our All Hands on Deck: Building Our Future Together theme this year. That truly includes everyone: our students, staff, and families supporting from home. I know it is going to be a wonderful and successful year at Killam, and I am so grateful for your continued partnership! Let's absolutely rock-et!!

Looking forward to all that is ahead!

Lindsey Fulton, Principal

The first week of school is always exciting and it’s also completely normal for children to feel a little nervous! Change and the unknown can bring lots of different emotions, even for adults. Our children often take their cues from us, so approaching the start of school with calm, confidence, and positivity can go a long way in helping them feel secure and ready.

During the first week of school…

• Extra adults will be available to support students, especially our younger learners and during arrival and dismissal.
• Classrooms will spend time explicitly teaching and practicing routines, procedures, and expectations.
• Students will revisit our Killam Core Values and expectations for shared spaces, including the cafeteria, hallways, recess, and more.
• Plenty of time will be dedicated to building strong, welcoming classroom communities and helping students feel connected.
• Children may come home extra tired—that is completely normal! Consider giving them some downtime and space to decompress after a busy school day.
• Arrival and dismissal may take a little extra time at first, but these routines naturally become smoother and more efficient after the first few days.

Most importantly, we will meet each child where they are and help them settle into the year with plenty of patience, encouragement, and care.

It is almost time for your kindergartener to join us! We know this is an exciting, but also sentimental time for many families. We are here to support you and your child each step along the way.

Kindergarten officially starts on Tuesday, September 8th (full day).

Kindergarten Orientation is either Wednesday, September 2nd or Thursday, September 3rd based off your child's assigned time slot. Our secretary, Jaculen Maglio shared these orientation times and requested confirmation mid- August. If you have not received a time slot, please email her ASAP at jaculen.maglio@reading.k12.ma.us.

Kindergarten Orientation is a window of time where you will drop your child off with their classroom teacher and classroom paraeducator. Parents/guardians should plan to wait outside of the school building during this time, go on an errand, etc. Only 5-8 students attend at a time, allowing connections and more 1:1 time for students and educators alike. Your kindergartener will be in their classroom and also do a scavenger hunt around the school. We ask that you are prompt dropping them off and with dismissal time, so they don't miss anything!

On the first day of school, we will have additional adults supporting K! We also welcome you to attend the Popsicle with Principals Event Monday to connect with more families.

Feel free to send me an email if you have any questions! lindsey.fulton@reading.k12.ma.us

The project is truly off and underway! The construction team has been busy with tree removal, the temporary staff lot, and pedestrian pathway. A few things for you to know:

1. Collaboration and Sharing of Information: I meet twice a week and informally much more with various stakeholders involved with the project. This includes Reading Fire, Reading Police, Town Hall, the KSBP Committee, our superintendent, Town Planning Board, our project managers, architect team, construction team, and more.. We are consistently discussing next steps, student safety, project progress, and more. You are welcome to ask me any questions you may have. I will answer them to best I can during the school week and loop in necessary stakeholders as well!

2. Staff Lot: A temporary staff parking lot has been created at the top right of the Killam drive off of Charles Street. This is strictly staff parking. We ask that you respectfully do not enter or block the exit to this lot.

3. Pedestrian Walkway: A pedestrian walkway is being worked on between Haverhill Street and the front of the school building. The path is closest to the Sawtelle House and will run parallel yet separate from the construction site. I have been promised this will be complete by day one of school, but will share any updates as necessary.

4. Recess: Recess will take place in the courtyard and area to the left of the school building. We have acquired a bunch of equipment and more will be added throughout the year. Each grade level will have a deck box (only to be accessed during school hours) which includes various sports equipment, balls, Slammo, jump ropes, giant connect 4, outdoor jenga, tumble blocks, etc. We have also installed basketball hoops and a large gaga pit.. (I'm stoked for!). In the upcoming weeks, we will add more four square blocks, hopscotch, soccer nets, and more! Teachers will be "teaching" our students how to play these games and use recess equipment in the first few days of school. This is a great expansion on our theme from last year of "Discovery Mode". Our students are so creative and imaginative-- we are excited to see this space flourish with new games and ideas throughout the year.

5. Safety: No students, family members, or staff should be entering the construction site at anytime. Gates will be closed during the school day, so there is no access from the school side. I have met with Reading Police and Fire to review updated emergency evacuation protocols, in which staff will be trained in prior to the first day of school. Our contract also protects our space, so that no workers will be in the Killam building or parking lot without prior approval. As we get closer to demolition and other elements of the project that may pose safety questions, I will provide more information.

Please let me know if you have any questions and I hope this provides some valuable insights!- Lindsey Fulton

• Killam doors for arrival open at 8:15 am. This includes applicable classroom doors and the front/main doors. There is no supervision of students prior to 8:15 am.
• Doors close for arrival at 8:25 am. Students arriving after 8:25 am will be marked tardy and must sign in at the main office.
• We are asking that you sign your child into the office if they are late. This is a new practice this school year.
• Students taking the bus will be greeted upon arrival and brought to the cafeteria by staff. Bus routes should be shared by Central office within the next 36 hours.
• A school map will not be published by the school, but staff will be available to help outside the first few days!

Due to the construction project:

• Exterior doors to Pegoraro, C.Rice, Hogan, Mead, Schultes, Nawrocki, Wheaton, and A.Rice are not accessible as normal for arrival and dismissal.
• Pegoraro and C.Rice families should enter through the "old back recess doors" on the RIGHT side. This door will be labeled and staff will be on duty to support.
• Wheaton and A.Rice families should enter through the "old back recess doors" on the LEFT side. This door will be labeled and staff will be on duty to support.
• Nawrocki, Schultes, Leveille, McGinnity will enter through the "old RISE recess doors", which you'll see near a little courtyard area on the right side of the school building (parking lot side). This door will be labeled and staff will be on duty to support.
• Hogan will enter/exit through Stanley's door.
• Mead will enter/exit through McGuire's door.

• All doors remain the same for dismissal procedures as arrival. Please read above.

• Dismissal is at 2:45 pm Monday- Thursday and 12:45 pm Fridays.

• We understand that once in a while something happens and you are running late. If so, please contact the main office- not your child's teacher, so we can be informed. Late students should be picked up from the main office. We expect this does not happen on a regular basis, to respect the time of the Killam staff.

• Please do not block neighborhood driveways or enter the staff lot/front loop during dismissal.

If your child is going to be absent..

• Either call (781) 944-7831 OR email jwkabsences@reading.k12.ma.us prior to school starts

• State your child's first and last name, classroom, and reason for the absence

• If a reason is not provided or you do not inform the school of your child's absence, we will contact you via phone message.

• We encourage that you inform your child's classroom teacher when possible as well.

• Attendance matters! Your child should be in school daily to ensure they don't miss key content! Attendance letters are sent to families each reporting period if your child's absences exceed a % of the school year.

All students are welcome to join us for either daily. If you would like to add money to your child's account for an extra snack or lunch, please see the website below.

Items served daily/commonly:

Breakfast- cereal, granola bars, smoothies or yogurt, a hot option

Lunch- bento box/crackers/cheese, hot lunch option, sunbutter and jelly, sunbutter and fluff, ham and cheese, turkey and cheese, milk, juice

• healthy snack
• refillable water bottle (labeled)
• lunch box (if bringing from home)
• dress in layers- the building is currently quite warm
• if you ordered a school supply box, it will be on your child's desk on day one. If you are sending your child in with school supplies, they are welcome to bring it day one in their backpacks or you can drop off Monday or Tuesday.
• a smile :)

Monday, August 31st- Popsicles with the Principals

Wednesday, September 2nd- 1st Day of School Gr 1-5

Wednesday, September 2nd- K Orientation Sessions

Thursday, September 3rd- K Orientation Sessions

Friday, September 4th- No School

Next Week:

Monday, September 7th- No School

Tuesday, September 8th- First Day of Kindergarten! (full day)

Friday, September 11th- New Family Breakfast (right after arrival!)

Save the Date:

Wednesday, September 16th- Back to School Night 5:30-6:30 pm

Thursday, September 17th- School Picture Day

Please note- brands are ones that match the school supply box kits, but other brands are fine as well! Students will also need a backpack, a labeled water bottle, and lunch box if bringing from home!