Wood End Wildcat News

On Friday 10/30, WE WILL HAVE A SHORT FALL PARADE BEGINNING AT 9AM. Our PK-2 students will parade around the building and our 3-5 students will gather around different parts of the building and cheer them on.

Students will have the option to dress up in a costume, wear black and orange, wear their school spirit wear, or wear PJs (they can of course wear their regular clothing also!)

• Faces cannot be covered and students need to be able to participate in whatever activities are planned for the day (e.g., if it’s a PE day, they have to be able to participate in PE in their costume if they are dressed up).
• We will have an outdoor school-wide parade @ 9am (more details to come and families are welcome to attend)

Family & Community Corner | Reading Public Schools –

COMMUNITY CORNER HIGHLIGHT

Adopt-A-Family 2026 – Deadlines Are Approaching!

A Little Help Can Make a Big Difference This Holiday Season!

The Reading Adopt-A-Family Program is here to support families who may need extra assistance during the holidays. This wonderful community initiative provides Thanksgiving food baskets, Holiday/Christmas food baskets, and gifts for children ages 18 and younger.

The program is coordinated by the Reading Rotary Club and Reading Cares, with support from Reading Elder/Human Services, Reading DPW, and other community partners.

IMPORTANT DEADLINES – APPLY SOON!

October 31, 2026 – Thanksgiving Basket Applications

November 12, 2026 – Holiday/Christmas Assistance Applications

Who Can Apply?

Families who live in Reading or have children enrolled in Reading Public Schools may qualify if they meet the program's eligibility requirements, including proof of need and residency and having at least one child age 18 or younger.

All applications are handled confidentially. Families are assigned identification numbers to protect their privacy and dignity.

Want to Help a Family?

Individuals, families, businesses, community groups, and school organizations can participate by donating food baskets, purchasing gifts from children's wish lists, or making monetary contributions.

Would You Like to Donate Money Instead?

If you would love to support the Reading Adopt-A-Family Program but don't have time to shop for food or gifts this year, monetary donations are also welcome! ❤️

How to Donate:

Please make your check payable to Reading Rotary and mail it to:

Adopt-A-Family Program (AAF)
16 Lowell Street
Reading, MA 01867

Your generosity helps support local families during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Every contribution, big or small, can make a meaningful difference!

Questions? Contact ReadingAAF@gmail.com or call 781-942-6678.

Applications:

​AAF_Recipient_Forms (1).zip​

Applications are also available through Reading Town Hall and the Reading Food Pantry.

Need help completing the application or understanding the process?

Contact Taiana Pereira, Family Engagement Liaison, at taiana.pereira@reading.k12.ma.us. I am happy to help families navigate the application process .

No family should feel embarrassed about asking for help. Our community is stronger when we support one another! ❤️

Down Syndrome Awareness Month

• In the 1980s, the National Down Syndrom Society participated in the efforts to have October proclaimed Down Syndrome Awareness Month and this designation continues today. It’s a month to raise awareness and celebrate the individuals with Down syndrome.

• More information can be found here: https://mdsc.org/ and https://ndss.org/

Selective Mutism Awareness Month

• Organizations like the Selective Mutism Associations and others dedicated to mental health, including Selective Mutism, use October to raise awareness and educate people about Selective Mutism.
• More information can be found here: Selective Mutism Association (SMA)

Throughout the year, we will highlight different awareness topics.

September 15-October 15 is Hispanic Heritage Month.

October is National Down Syndrome Awareness Month and Selective Mutism Awareness Month.

As students explore themes of neurodiversity, disabilities, empathy, and what makes each of us unique during this month's SEL (Social and Emotional Learning) lessons, we encourage you to talk with your child about what they are learning and how it relates to their own experiences and understanding of others.

All five elementary schools in RPS dedicate a weekly 30-minute block to Social Emotional Learning (SEL). This year, with guidance from an RPS multidisciplinary curriculum team, we are excited to launch updated SEL lessons. This flier gives families a snapshot of what SEL looks like in grades K-5.

SEL is the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions.

Skills for Success: Unit 2 – Becoming a Successful Learner

During Unit 2 of our Skills for Success curriculum, students will explore what it means to be a successful learner! We know that learning isn't always easy, and that's okay! Our goal is to help students develop the executive functioning skills they need to navigate challenges, build independence, and persevere when things get difficult.

What will students be learning?

Throughout this unit, students will participate in lessons and activities focused on four key areas:

• Attention & Focus: Learning how to direct and redirect attention using "flashlight focus" (concentrating on one thing) and "floodlight focus" (seeing the bigger picture).

• The Learning Space: Understanding that learning can feel challenging or uncomfortable, and that frustration is a normal part of growing. Students will explore how learning can range from "easy peasy" to "heavy lifting" for their brains!

• Getting Started (Smart Start Strategies): Learning strategies to begin tasks that feel difficult or overwhelming, such as identifying the first step, reading directions, or simply picking up a pencil.

• Perseverance (Stick-With-It Strategies): Recognizing that perseverance isn't just about trying harder. It's about having tools to work through challenges, such as taking a different approach, using available resources, or returning to a tricky part later.

How can families support this learning at home?

You can reinforce these important skills through simple conversations and everyday routines!

• Normalize challenges. Remind your child that learning isn't always supposed to feel easy. Try saying, "It's okay that this feels hard. What strategy could help you?"

• Encourage independence. Before stepping in to help with homework, chores, or another task, ask, "What's one small step you can take to get started?"

• Practice focusing. During reading, games, or homework, ask, "Where is your flashlight pointing right now?" Help your child recognize when their attention drifts and practice bringing it back.

• Celebrate effort and strategies. Instead of focusing only on the finished product, recognize when your child gets started independently, refocuses, or tries a new approach.

• Build perseverance. When your child feels stuck, encourage them to choose a "Stick-With-It Strategy" rather than immediately giving up or relying on an adult to solve the problem.

Our biggest takeaway: Successful learners aren't students who find everything easy. They're students who develop the tools, confidence, and independence to work through challenges. By using consistent language and strategies at school and at home, we can help our students become increasingly confident and capable learners!

School’s and state’s expectations around attendance and why it matters so much for every student:

Why is attendance so important?

• Building strong connections with peers. Missing multiple days can make it harder to come back, as students feel they’ve missed out on social and academic opportunities.
• Providing the best opportunities for academic success. From core instruction to interventions, research shows a direct correlation between poor attendance and academic challenges.
• Establishing good habits for the future. Consistent routines now build lifelong responsibility.

It’s absolutely okay for students to come to school with a mild cold. Students should stay home if they have a fever, vomiting, or diarrhea (fever-free for 24 hours before returning).

A few reminders:

• If your child will be absent, please notify the main office by calling or emailing.
• If your child misses school for an appointment, please send in a doctor’s note.
• If a child is out sick for five or more days, a doctor’s note is required.
• Please avoid planning vacations during school days. We are fortunate to have many breaks built into the calendar!

To support your child’s energy and focus throughout the school day, we kindly ask that you send a snack with your child each day. Please avoid any allergens as they relate to your child's classroom (notice from Nurse Kristin went out if there are any classroom restrictions). Thank you for helping us promote healthy habits and a positive learning environment!

Throughout the year, you will see your students come home with PAWs.

Students who show our Core Values throughout the day may earn a PAW with some feedback on what they did and why they earned the PAW. This is an excellent reminder about the importance of being respectful, responsible, safe, honest, and engaged Wildcats! Students can use their PAWs to shop the PAW store once a month beginning in October.

Be sure to ask your student how they earned their PAW when they come home with one (or more)!

Students need new medicine orders for each new school year. The summer is an ideal time to start this paperwork. Families can use this attached form for parent permission and doctor's orders. We also accept medication orders that a doctor writes on their own form. If you think your child would occasionally need Tylenol or Motrin, we need a doctor's order to give this in elementary school. For medicine safety, a parent or guardian needs to bring the medicine directly to the nurse to sign it into school. Please do not send medicines in their backpack.

School Medical Policies below!

We have some amazing parents who have taken on leadership roles to keep our very active PTO up & running. We are so grateful for their willingness to provide our community with many opportunities to volunteer and support our students and families. Our PTO has been involved in coordinating fundraising events, book fairs, enrichment programs, school supplies, teacher appreciation events, flamingo flocking, and restaurant nights, just to name a few, to make Wood End the special community it is today. If you are interested in becoming more involved in our PTO, please reach out to any of our board members @ woodendpto@gmail.com .

PTO General Meeting Schedule

• November 17 @ 8:15 (In person)
• January 13 @ 7pm: LINK HERE
• March 17 @ 7pm: LINK HERE
• May 12 @ 7pm: LINK HERE
• June 9 @ 8:15 (In Person)

SEPAC WEBSITE!

Click here for the NEW, IMPROVED READING SEPAC WEBSITE, an incredible resource for parents/caregivers of all children, especially those with diverse learning profiles. We strongly urge you to visit it soon, and often. Short on time? Here’s a very brief video to give you a sense of what’s there in just over one minute.

About Reading SEPAC

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 supports).

SEPAC WEBPAGE

Join SEPAC's mailing list

Follow SEPAC on Facebook

Follow SEPAC on Instagram

"Since its founding during the peak of the Civil Rights Movement, the METCO program has enrolled tens of thousands of Boston students of color in predominately white school districts, creating the opportunity for those districts to experience the advantages of learning and working in a racially and ethnically diverse setting."

October

Calareso's Farmstand Fundraiser

21: Grade 3 Field Trip

23: PTO Sponsored Halloween Event 6-8

November

4: Grade 1 Discovery Museum Workshop

9: Grade 2 Discovery Museum Workshop

11: Veteran's Day; No School

19: Early Release; Family-Teacher Conferences

18: Grade K Discovery Museum Workshop

19: 12:45 Early Release : Conferences

20: No School for Students; Family-Teacher Conferences

25: Early Release @11am

26-27: No School; Thanksgiving

30: Giving Tree Kick Off

December

5-6: REF Festival of Trees

11: PTO Sponsored MOvie Night 6-8

14-18: Penguin Patch Holiday Shopping for Students in School

23: Early Release

24-Jan 1: Winter Break; No School

February

March

Book Fair and Calareso's Farmstand Fundraiser

13: PTO sponsored Adult Social

April

2: PTO sponsored Movie Night 6-8

May

3-7: teacher Appreciation

Reading Public Schools Calendar 2026-2027

Classroom Teachers

Preschool: Allison Nugent and Karen Stuart

Kindergarten & K Paras: Sarah Bielicki and Lisa Baker, Jane Roberts and Erin Ladd

Grade 1: Courtney Cadagan and Elena Raffa

Grade 2: Maureen Habeeb and Casey Melanson

Grade 3: Cynthia Walsh and Keri DiNapoli

Grade 4: Lindsey Tainsh and Hannah Hamaker

Grade 5: Emily Craffey/Juliana Connor and Ellen Commito

SEEM Staff: Judy Favro, Maureen Denning, Caitlin Smalls

Specialists

PE: Chris Bauer

Art: Christina Erb

Music: Maria Cepeda-Suarez and Holly Gallant

Librarian: Lisa Norcross

METCO Coordinator/ School Adjustment Counselor: Julian Lind

Reading Specialist: Stacey Foresman

Multilingual Learner (MLL): TBA

Tutors: Monica Acker and Betsy Hennenberry

Special Education

Team Chair: Melissa Forbes

EMBARC Program Coordinator: Kelly DiCato

Inclusion Specialist: Ashley Dennis

Special Education Teachers: Shannon McDonald, Victoria Lydon-Ruelos and Catherine Garvey

Paraeducators: Roberta Mcrae, Addison Caron, Trish Carney

School Psychologist: Ann Ozanian

Occupational Therapist: Name Brie Alman

Physical Therapist: Alysia Redard

Speech & Language Pathologists: Kaitlyn Rubin

EMBARC Team: Elene Hendrickson, Theresa Girardi, Kathy Mahoney, Katie Orsino, Alyssa Moschella, Kelly-Anne Miller, Kayla Donovan, and Sherry Demik

Cafeteria Manager: Marcia Seracuse

Office Staff

School Secretary: Lisa Finigan

School Nurse: Kristen Charest

General Education Paras: Jerri Donahue, Anne Lewis, Rose Solimini

Custodians: Chris Gonsalves, Eric Orsula

Assistant Principal: Jessica Hester

Principal: Nicole Schwartz

There is always something happening in our wonderful Reading community! I’m happy to share a few upcoming events and opportunities for you and your family to learn, connect, meet new people, and have some fun together.

Whether you are new to Reading or have called our community home for many years, you belong here. I encourage you to explore these opportunities, try something new, and stay connected with our schools and community.

Seasonal & Holiday Décor Swap — Reading Public Library

📅 Saturday, October 10 | 12:00–3:00 PM

📍 Community Room A & B

Families can “shop” for FREE, pre-loved seasonal and holiday decorations while supporting sustainability and giving items a second life.

No donation is required to participate.

Please note: No donations will be accepted on the day of the swap. Families are encouraged to bring a reusable bag and take home some treasures!

Connected Reading: An Open House for Our Community

📅 Tuesday, October 13 | 5:00–7:00 PM

📍 Reading Public Library

A wonderful opportunity for families—especially those who are new to Reading—to connect with our community.

Families can meet representatives from Reading Public Schools, Town departments, community organizations, youth and faith-based groups, and volunteer committees, while learning about local programs, resources, services, and events.

🎁 The first 50 families will receive a welcome bag!

Family Liaison Note: I strongly encourage our families, particularly families who are newer to Reading, to attend. This is a great opportunity to build connections and learn about resources available beyond the school building.

🗣️ Beginner English Class for Adults — Still Going!

📅 Tuesday evenings | 6:30–8:00 PM

The Library’s free Beginner English Class continues this fall! Adult learners can build confidence in speaking, listening, reading, and writing English.

Drop-ins are welcome.

⚠️ There is no class October 13 or October 27.

If you are looking for an opportunity to practice and improve your English, I encourage you to join us! This is a welcoming space to learn, practice, and build your confidence. Drop-ins are welcome

¡A Conversar! 🇪🇸 Spanish Conversation Group — Still Going!

The Library’s informal Spanish conversation group welcomes all levels, from beginners to advanced speakers.

Participants practice real-life Spanish through conversations about food, travel, shopping, recreation, and more. No registration is required.

If you would like to practice and strengthen your conversational Spanish, I encourage you to join us! Students, staff, parents, and community members are all welcome, and all language levels can participate. ¡Vamos conversar

https://bilh.findhelp.com/

BILH Find Help is a place to find free or low-cost services near you. Search for help to pay your bills, rent, buy food, and more. Type in your Zip Code to find programs near you.

Please save my email address and reach out with questions, comments or thoughts. My door is always open!

Email: nicole.schwartz@reading.k12.ma.us
Website: http://www.reading.k12.ma.us/woodend/
Location: 85 Sunset Rock Lane, Reading, MA, United States
Phone: 781-942-5420

Wood End Resource Guide/Handbook

District Handbook