Birch Meadow Update

Hello Birch Meadow Families, Guardians, and Caregivers,

What a great start to the school year! It has been wonderful to see our school community settling into the rhythm of a new year. Kindergarten students had their first full days this week, and there has been so much excitement - with very few tears (well, at least from the students!). 😊

I’ve loved getting into classrooms and seeing the beginning of so many classroom communities taking shape. There is already so much learning happening, along with students getting to know one another, learning routines, and figuring out what it means to be part of the Birch Meadow community.

We’ve also had lots of opportunities to recognize students who are already showing our Birch Meadow Core Values - being Present, Safe, Kind, Responsible, and Respectful. It has been especially fun to see these values showing up in so many different ways throughout the school.

September 16 - Back to School Night UPDATED SCHEDULE

We have made a small change to the Back to School Night schedule for Wednesday. Please note the updated times below, which are slightly different from the schedule shared in our previous newsletter. This event is for adults only.

5:15–5:30 PM Admin Welcome for K–2 Families

5:30–6:00 PM Kindergarten-Grade 2 Classroom Presentations

5:45–6:00 PM Admin Welcome for Grades 3–5 Families

6:00–6:30 PM Grades 3–5 Classroom Presentations

Thank you for the partnership you’ve shown in helping us get the year off to such a positive start. We are excited for all that is ahead and look forward to seeing you Wednesday evening!

Warmly,

Lisa Azzarito

September 16th Back to School Night **UPDATED SCHEDULE ABOVE**

September 14th-18th Scholastic Book Fair

September 28th School Picture Day

Rolling Drop-Off: Please stay in your vehicle, pull all the way forward, and have students exit on the right hand side. For rolling drop-off to work smoothly, students need to be able to exit the vehicle independently. Thank you for helping us keep the line moving and get everyone in on time!

Dismissal: Dismissal is 2:45 PM Monday - Thursday and 12:45 PM on Fridays. Please do not park in the traffic circle; this area needs to remain clear for buses and vans.

Safety: Staff parking lots, the drop-off circle, and crosswalks must remain clear. Please park along the street when needed. And a reminder that although we love our furry friends, dogs should remain off school property.

Report absences/tardies to BMeabsences@reading.k12.ma.us OR call (781) 944-2335. Please give your child's name, teacher, reason for absence and expected date/time of return.

If your student arrives late you should walk them to the front door and ring the buzzer, then proceed to the front office to check them in.

EVERY YEAR, parents/guardians MUST log in to the Parent PlusPortal to review, update, and confirm all important contact information.

If you are a returning parent/guardian, please log in to your PlusPortal account and click the FORMS tab at the top to review and confirm the information for each student: PlusPortal If you are a new parent/guardian, you should have received a separate email with your PlusPortal login information. Having trouble accessing your account? Please reach out to our School Administrative Secretary, Di Owens, at Di.owens@reading.k12.ma.us.

The portal is also used by teachers and the school office to communicate important information with families, so please make sure your account is set up and that your contact information is kept up to date.

Thank you for your patience as we got our online breakfast ordering system up and running! The system is now working, and breakfast orders for Kindergarten and Grade 1 students should be placed ahead of time. If your child would like or need breakfast, it should be ordered in advance and will be delivered directly to their classroom. Students in K and Grade 1 will not go to the breakfast carts to select breakfast items.

Join Reading METCO for our Salsa Night Thursday 10/15/26. This event is open to all Reading/Boston resident families and RPS staff. Sign up HERE

Hispanic Heritage Month Salsa Night
Date: Thursday, October 15 | 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Location: Coolidge Middle School Cafeteria

Celebrate Hispanic culture with us!
4:30 PM – 5:30 PM: Enjoy Spanish-inspired food and mingle with students, parents, and faculty.
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM: Beginner-friendly Salsa dance class—no experience needed!

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). Reading SEPAC IS OPEN TO ALL parents/caregivers, not only families who have a child with special needs as we offer various opportunities to connect with other families and provide learning experiences. To learn more about Reading SEPAC, please visit our website: Reading SEPAC Website'

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