Principal's Update

*Brrr… it’s been a cold one! We hope everyone has found ways to stay warm and cozy this weekend as winter reminds us it’s still very much here. Go Pats! 🧣🏈 Here’s hoping for a great game and a fun end to the weekend!

*Thank you to our families for your continued patience and cooperation during arrival and dismissal as we navigate challenging winter conditions. With the large amounts of snow on the ground, we truly appreciate everyone’s thoughtfulness in keeping students safe and traffic flowing smoothly. As a reminder, please do not park in the faculty parking lot or block the entrance during arrival and dismissal times. Your support helps ensure a safe and efficient process for all.

*February is Black History Month, a time to honor and celebrate the achievements, contributions, and lasting impact of Black Americans throughout history. Throughout the month, students have been learning about influential Black historical figures by hearing daily facts shared during our morning announcements. These brief spotlights are helping spark curiosity, build knowledge, and encourage meaningful conversations about history, leadership, and perseverance.

*Monday, 2/9 marks the 100th day of school! This is an exciting milestone for our students as they celebrate 100 days of learning, growing, and working hard together. Some classrooms may be planning special activities or celebrations to mark the day, so please be on the lookout for communication from your child’s teacher with any specific details.

-Dr. B

February 9th: The 100th Day of School

February 16th - 20th: February Break

March 4th: Teacher InService: No School

School Hours:

Monday-Thursday, 8:15 AM - 2:45 PM

Friday, 8:15 AM - 12:45 PM

*Students must be in class by 8:25 to be counted as on-time and present.

April 6th and 7th: Grade 5 ELA

April 8th and 9th: Grades 3 & 4 ELA

May 11th and 12th: Grade 5 Math

May 13th and 14th: Grades 3 & 4 Math

May 18th and 19th: Grade 5 Science

As the weather gets colder, please help your child come to school dressed for outdoor time. We spend time outside for arrival and recess on most days, even when it’s chilly, and students will head outside in the clothing they wear to school.

Children are welcome to play in the snow when they have snow pants, gloves or mittens, snow boots, and a winter jacket. If your family needs help with winter clothing, please don’t hesitate to reach out—we’re happy to support.

Please remember to give the reason for your child’s absence. This allows the nurse to keep track of health issues and alert classroom families of communicable illnesses where medical follow-up is needed. Your child’s absence is considered unexcused unless a reason is given.

Please do not send your child to school if they have any of the following:

• Fever (100 or higher). Students should be fever free for 24 hours without Tylenol/ibuprofen
• Vomiting or diarrhea within the past 24 hours
• Flu like symptoms such as chills, cough, congestion, body aches or fatigue
• Infectious illnesses (strep throat) treated with antibiotics for less than 12 hours

Portal Reminder: During the winter months, we often see an increase in student illnesses. please take a moment to make sure your phone numbers and email addresses are up to date in the parent portal. We also appreciate you checking that your emergency contacts are current. Thank you for partnering with us to keep our students healthy and safe.

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.

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 send an email to SEPACReading@gmail.com