Principal's Corner

It was wonderful seeing so many of you at Back to School Night! As we move forward this year, I look forward to sharing and incorporating some of our key initiatives and work that directly supports high-level teaching and learning.

This Thursday is School Picture Day. Picture Day forms went home on Friday. You can also order pictures using the online form noted below. Students will take individual photos and a class photo. We ask that you please try to send the form in before or on picture day. Students who are absent can have pictures taken on retake day.

We also have our first PTO Meeting Tuesday night at 7:00 PM at the Reading Public Library! Please consider joining us to learn about this year's plans for field trips, enrichments, gear, and so much more!

Warm regards,
Lindsey Fulton, Principal

Please complete the online emergency and district forms by 10/1 in Plus Portals!

*to access CLICK FORMS at the top of the browser (see pic below). Please email jaculen.maglio@reading.k12.ma.us if you need assistance logging into the portal.

There are 3 forms:

1.Reading Public Schools Pupil Information Form sent to the primary contact of the student to update demographic and emergency contact information, and indicate yes or no to permissions such as using online tools/allowing photos online, etc. which are tracked by office staff.

2. Contact Information Update Form: This is sent to all contacts of the student to update contact information including email, address, etc.

3. 2024/2025 Parent/Guardian Technology Agreement Form also known as the PCUP. This is our Acceptable Use Policy broken down in detail.

• No dogs are allowed on school property 🐕

• Only staff vehicles are allowed on the right side of the building. No cars are allowed to park in this area for AM drop-off or at pick up time. No vehicles are allowed in the front loop during bus dismissal from 2:45-3:10 PM as well.

This Week:

Tuesday, September 17th- PTO Meeting @Reading Public Library 7 PM

Thursday, September 19th- Picture Day!

Next Week:

Wednesday, September 25th and Thursday, September 26th- 5th Grade Field Trips

Friday, September 27th- Family Picnic 6:00-7:30 PM

Save the date:

Friday, October 25th- Fall Costume Parade (tentatively for 9 AM)

Applying Art Skills in ALL areas of our Lives with Mrs. Hussey

Third, fourth, and fifth grade artists kicked off their year in the studio by applying the Studio Habits of Mind to a team building cup pyramid challenge. Students quickly reviewed the Studio Habits of Mind and then worked with their table team to use 4 strings tied to a rubber band to arrange 6 cups into a pyramid. The catch was they could ONLY touch the string! Many groups were able to apply the life skills of Envisioning, Expressing, Stretching and Exploring, Engaging and Persisting, Observing, and Reflecting to meet the challenge. Halfway through the period, groups shared out how they applied the Studio Habits to be successful. We wrapped up the lesson reflecting on how developing these habits of mind can be applied to our artwork AND all areas of our lives. Click here to learn more about the Studio Habits of Mind.

Fuel for School

The students are working and playing hard, and as we know, activities require fuel.

• Please make sure your child brings a healthy snack (check labels for allergens if your student’s classroom has an allergy restriction).
• Also, please make sure your child brings their water bottle every day. Make sure it is full and has a label with their name so that it won’t be lost.

Avoiding Head Lice

We sometimes see cases of head lice at school. Here is some information that may be helpful:

• Lice spread through head-to-head contact. They need a host to survive and do not live on surfaces for long.
• Remind your students to hang clothing such as coats and hats in their cubbies and not to share these items. They should also be reminded not to share hairbrushes, barrettes, and headbands.
• Posing for selfies with friends is another way lice may travel head-to-head.
• For students with long hair, it is recommended that hair be worn up or in a ponytail or braid.
• Get into the habit of checking your student’s head for nits or lice, especially if you notice that they are exhibiting behaviors such as scratching or complaining of itchiness.

If you do find any evidence of lice, please know that they do not spread disease and there are effective ways to get rid of the lice. If I suspect your child has lice while they are at school, I will call you to discuss treatment options. Use this link for more information about lice from the CDC.

To learn more about Reading SEPAC, please visit our website: Reading SEPAC Website

Should you wish to receive our monthly newsletter, please send an email to SEPACReading@gmail.com

Please note that Reading SEPAC IS OPEN TO ALL parents/caregivers and not only families who have a child with special needs as we offer various opportunities to connect with other families and provide learning experiences.

Tackling the Patterns of Anxiety, Depression and Avoidance:

Come join us virtually for a presentation by Lynn Lyons on Tackling the Patterns of Anxiety, Depression, and Avoidance. She will share the following. Registration is required for this event.

• Strategies for managing anxiety, moods, and social pressures, including school avoidance;

• Strategies for prevention and collaboration;

• What may make problems worse;

• What are better approaches

• Please click here to register for this virtual event with Lynn Lyons.

Team Chair Meet and Greet

In person on Wed., Sept 25th at the Reading Public Library

Refreshments provided. Registration requested.

Please click here to register

Past Events:

Recorded events that’s available on the Reading SEPAC Website:

The New IEP Presentation

MCAS & Students with Disabilities Presentation

Multi Tiered System of Support (MTSS) Presentation

• Review tiered system of supports and provide examples

• Outline effective communication channels with your team and school

***Should you wish to reach out to Reading SEPAC anonymously, please use this form

Email: lindsey.fulton@reading.k12.ma.us
Website: https://killam.reading.k12.ma.us/en-US
Location: 333 Charles Street, Reading, MA, USA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JWKillamSchool
Twitter: @smorenewsletter