The Starburst
Home of the Shining Stars
Greetings, Barrows Families,
What a fun and busy week at Barrows! Our kindergarten and first-grade students welcomed a very special visit from the Reading Fire Department and their Safe House, where they learned important ways to stay safe around smoke and fire. We also enjoyed a visit from the RMHS Drama Club, who gave us a sneak peek at their upcoming production of The SpongeBob Musical! The storyline is so much fun, and the talent was fantastic. If your family would like to see the full show, check out the information below for November performances!
Our classroom teachers also participated in Instructional Rounds, observing their colleagues in action and then coming together for thoughtful, collaborative conversations about how we can continue to strengthen our instruction. Our building is filled with knowledgeable, skilled, and dedicated educators who work together every day to provide our students with high-quality instruction, high expectations, and plenty of care.
And what better way to wrap up the week than with one of Barrows' favorite traditions? The Monster Mash was a spook-tacular success!
We want to give an extra-large thank you to Bridget Maley and Whitney McBride, our PTO co-presidents and Monster Mash coordinators, for bringing another amazing event to life! Planning an event of this size is no small feat, and we are so grateful for the time, energy, creativity, and enthusiasm they—and our many incredible volunteers and donors—conjured up for the 2026 Monster Mash. You helped make this event a real treat for our Barrows community! Be sure to scroll down and enjoy the many photos capturing all the Halloween fun.
Staff Stopover: Meet Our Barrows Tutors
In this week's edition of our Staff Stopover, we are excited to introduce our five wonderful Barrows tutors and give you a glimpse into the people behind this important work.
At Barrows, we know that all students learn and grow at different paces. Along the way, students may encounter concepts or skills that require a little extra practice before they feel confident moving forward. Our tutors play an important role in providing this support through Tier 2 interventions, which target specific skills students are working to strengthen. Whether in reading, writing, or math, our tutors work closely with classroom teachers and specialists to provide targeted instruction, often in one-on-one or small-group settings. They may also support learning in the classroom or step in to cover a classroom when needed, but our preference is to have them working directly with students in small groups whenever possible.
We see the difference this work makes every day! Our tutors help students build skills, strengthen their confidence, and experience those exciting “I get it!” moments. We are so fortunate to have them as part of our Barrows team!
A Few Important Reminders
Honoring Our Veterans: Does your Shining Star have a veteran in the family whom you would like to honor this Veterans Day? Check out Mrs. Becker's announcement below for details.
Fall Conference Sign-Ups: Teachers will email families on Monday, October 26, with sign-up times for fall conferences. Families are asked to select from the available time slots. Please note that alternate conference times outside the district-scheduled options cannot be accommodated.
New This Year: Costume Day! Get those costumes ready! Students are invited to wear a school-appropriate costume on Friday, October 30. To keep the day safe, comfortable, and focused on learning, please follow these guidelines:
No inflatable costumes, masks, makeup, or face paint.
No fake weapons or props of any kind.
Costumes must allow students to participate comfortably in classroom activities, run and play at recess, and take part in PE.
Please choose costumes that are appropriate for an elementary school setting and are not scary. We want all our Shining Stars to feel safe and comfortable throughout the day!
A helpful tip: Keep it simple! Anything that can be easily removed or misplaced may not make it home, and we want everyone ready for a fun Halloween weekend. Thank you for helping us keep Costume Day fun, safe, and manageable for everyone!
Next week promises to be another busy week filled with learning and fun! Please help your Shining Star start each day ready to learn by sticking to consistent bedtime routines and encouraging healthy meals and snacks. Let's save the sugar rush (and crash!) for the weekend!
Warmly,
Alissa & Annemarie
Meet our Barrows Tutors!
Meet Jen Furey
This is my fifth year working at Barrows, but I was a Barrows parent for eight years before joining the staff! Outside of school, I’m a busy mom of two teenagers and spend lots of time cheering them on at volleyball games and on the golf course. I also love being outdoors and reading whenever I get the chance. At Barrows, I work primarily with kindergarten and first-grade students in small groups, focusing on the specific literacy skills they need to practice and strengthen. I love working with this age group because students are so curious and excited to learn—and I get plenty of hugs along the way!
Meet Heidi Cates
I have been working at Barrows for approximately 12 years, and I love helping students discover what they are capable of accomplishing. I primarily support second-grade students, working with small groups on targeted skills in phonics, reading fluency, writing, and math. I also support students in the classroom and work with first graders during math instruction, providing extra practice or an additional challenge when needed. Outside of school, I enjoy exploring different arts and crafts. If I weren't working in education, I might have pursued photography or videography! One of the most rewarding parts of my work is seeing a student's face light up when something finally clicks or watching their confidence grow as they complete something they once thought was too difficult.
Meet Bethany Gordon
This is my fifth year at Barrows and my seventeenth year in education. When I'm not at school, you'll probably find me cheering on my nine-year-old twins at a baseball game or enjoying a long weekend walk around Reading. I often spot familiar little faces popping out from their backyards to say hello! This year, I support third-grade students in and out of the classroom, providing extra practice in reading and math through small-group instruction. I work closely with our reading specialist, Erin Gibson, and math coach, Lana Montero, to connect our tutoring support to classroom learning and students' individual goals. My favorite part of being a tutor is working alongside such a dedicated team of educators to help students become capable, confident, and compassionate members of our community.
Michele Chiappini
Hello, Barrows families! I have worked in education for 19 years and am in my seventh year at Barrows. Outside of school, I love being a grandmother, reading, hiking, traveling, sailing, and gardening. I also love to bake! My interest in baking even helped spark my decision to study chemistry, and I still enjoy trying new recipes, sharing family favorites, and perfecting my next version of a scone. At Barrows, I enjoy learning alongside our amazing Shining Stars, both in the classroom and in small groups, as we find the strategies that work best for each student. My favorite moments are the “lightbulb moments,” when a concept finally makes sense, and the successes that come from trying again in a different way.
Meet Nancy O'Brien
This is my third year at Barrows, and I love helping students develop the skills and confidence they need to succeed. I'm a mom, coach, and teacher, and my family of five children keeps life busy—our youngest is now a high school senior! We love watching and participating in sports, so weekends often mean rushing from one sporting event to another on Saturdays and watching football on Sundays. At Barrows, I work with fourth- and fifth-grade students, supporting them in writing, reading, and math fluency. The most rewarding part of my role is helping students strengthen their skills so they can feel more confident in their own abilities.
We are so fortunate to have our amazong tutor as part of our Barrows team. Their work makes a meaningful difference in helping our students build skills, grow in confidence, and keep moving forward. Please join me in celebrating these wonderful educators and the important support they provide to our Shining Stars!
Is a member of your family a Veteran? Help Barrows honor those that served our country. Two options - We are inviting Veterans to be part of our assembly on Tuesday November 10th at 8:30 OR you can send us a photo and information and it will be included in the assembly. Either way please email carina.becker@reading.k12.ma.us to register your Veteran in order to be recognized at the assembly. Please do this no later than Friday November 6th.
You will need to share the following information:
Barrows student/students and their teacher
Veteran’s Name
Branch
Rank
Please include a photo of the Veteran
Will they be in person for the assembly or just recognized?
***If you shared this information last year, please just email and remind me! I have it saved. ***
Reach out to carina.becker@reading.k12.ma.us with any questions.
Barrows Upcoming Dates
⭐💙Wednesday, October 28th:🌍🛫 United Nations All-School Assembly! Students are encouraged to wear Travel Apparel or Barrows Spirit Wear/Colors & Barrows Girls on the Move 2-mile race 3:20 pm (come cheer them on!)
Friday, October 30th: Costume Day at Barrows
Wednesday, November 4th: ⭐💙 Barrows Spirit Wednesday--wear blue & yellow or Barrows Spirit Gear⭐💙
Tuesday, November 10th: Barrows Veterans Day Assembly, Wear Red, White & Blue 🔴🤍💙
Wednesday, November 11th: NO SCHOOL- Veterans Day
Tuesday, November 17th: PTO Meeting 7pm (library & zoom)
Wednesday, November 18th: ⭐💙 Barrows Spirit Wednesday--wear blue & yellow or Barrows Spirit Gear⭐💙
Thursday, November 19th: Early Release for Conferences 12:45 pm
Friday, November 20th: Conference Day (no school for students)
Wednesday, November 25th: Early Release (11 am)
Thursday & Friday, November 26th-27th: NO SCHOOL- Thanksgiving Break
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
The Food Service Department continues to offer breakfast and lunch to all elementary schools! All first meals, including breakfast and lunch, are free for all students! If your child would like a second breakfast or lunch, these are available for purchase at $1.50 for breakfast and $2.75 for lunch. Additionally, our cafeterias offer a variety of snacks and a la carte items that can be purchased separately.
The cafeteria offers a special snack or treat for $1 every Friday at lunch for students in grades 2-5!
If you would like your student to purchase a weekly treat, please make sure funds are available in their lunch account. Cash will not be accepted for individual treat purchases on Fridays.
How to Add Money to Your Student’s Lunch Account:
Create a LinQ Connect account to add funds online: https://www.schoolnutritionandfitness.com/index.php?sid=1701802399965&page=prepaidacct
Send cash or a check to the Barrows Cafeteria with your student’s name. Please make checks payable to the Town of Reading.
*if you are having trouble adding funds, please email Julianna Moccaldi, julianna.moccaldi@reading.k12.ma.us
Reading Public Schools Food Service/Lunch Menus: https://www.schoolnutritionandfitness.com/index.php?sid=1701802399965&page=menus
Do you need financial support including but not limted to our food services, then please complete the following forms on this page: https://www.schoolnutritionandfitness.com/index.php?sid=1701802399965&page=lunchapps
Next PTO Meeting: Tuesday, November 17th at 7:00pm in the LIbrary and on Zoom!
Mrs. Gallegos will review the Barrows School Improvement Plan
MONSTER MASH WAS A SMASH! 👻🎃
Thank you to everyone who joined us in their most creative costumes for an afternoon of Trunk-or-Treats, crafts, games, music and lots of Halloween fun! 🎨🍬🕷️
🧡 We couldn’t have done it without all our amazing volunteers! Whether you helped with a Trunk-or-Treat, crafts, games, setup, cleanup, or anything in between, we are so thankful for your help!
🍭Congrats to our amazing raffle basket winners! 🎁 Our Classroom Family Reps did a fantastic job putting together some highly sought after raffle baskets for our Barrows Community.
🎶 Shout out to Barrows’ own DJ Axis Pro for volunteering to spin the best beats for our costumed kids this year! Thank you to our community sponsors: SNL Youth Academy for our custom treat bags, Katie Latham Real Estate for ALL of our candy and snacks, and Women’s League of Reading for our bonus raffle basket!
Wishing everyone a very happy and haunted Halloween next week!
🎃 Cheer on Girls on the Move at the Pumpkin Trot! 🏃♀️
Come show your support for our Girls on the Move participants at their Pumpkin Trot on Wednesday, October 28th from 3:20–4:00 PM at Barrows! Let’s cheer on these amazing runners as they put their hard work and determination into action. Bring your enthusiasm and school spirit to help make this a fun and memorable event for everyone. We hope to see you there!
🍎 Support Our PTO with Calareso’s Gift Certificates! Starting Oct 26th 🍎
Get into Fall fun and get a head start on holiday shopping while supporting our school! Starting October 26th, Calareso’s gift certificates are available for $10 each, sold in books of 5 or 10, with 25% of sales going back to the PTO.
Use your certificates to shop for beautiful fall decorations, enjoy some of the best apple cider doughnuts around, or save them to put toward your Christmas tree in a few short months! 🎃🍩🎄
Order forms have been sent home in your child’s backpack. Please return all order forms and payment to the PTO by November 13th.
📞 Stay Connected with Tin Can!
Looking for a kid-friendly way to keep your student connected? Did your student ask for a phone for a holiday gift? Consider going screen-free instead with a Tin Can Home Phone! Tin Can phones (yes, with a twisty-cord!) are designed just for kids, with built-in safety features like approved callers and quiet hours. Plus with Wi-Fi built right in for easy setup, Tin Can makes staying connected simple and safe!
🎉 Exclusive offer for the Barrows community: Get $20 off each Tin Can device purchased through this link!
Check out this great offer and help your student stay connected! ❤️
OTIS SPUNKMEYER FALL FUNDRAISER WRAP UP!
Thanks to your incredible support, we raised more than $10,000 this year!
Items not shipped home will be delivered to Barrows and available for pickup on either Friday, November 13th or Friday, November 20th, from 12:45 PM to 2:00 PM.
Grand Prize Drawing: Students who sell 10 or more items will be entered into a drawing for our grand prize: a travel suitcase filled with fun travel-themed goodies!
If you have any questions, please contact:
Lori Barcikowski – LoriBarcikowski@yahoo.com
Meghan Dribin – megdribin@gmail.com
🏒 Let’s Go River Hawks! 🏒
Join Barrows families at the Tsongas Center on December 28th as the UMass Lowell River Hawks take on the Holy Cross Crusaders! It’s a great chance to enjoy some exciting college hockey, cheer on the home team, and have some fun together over winter break. After the game, enjoy a postgame open skate! Bring your own skates or rent a pair at the arena.
🎟️ Bonus for Barrows: $5 from every ticket purchased through our group goes directly back to the Barrows PTO. Grab your tickets here!
THANK YOU FOR VOLUNTEERING - CLASS FAMILY REPS!
Your Class Family Reps will be reaching out to you soon to coordinate class parties and raffle baskets, and can help you stay in-the-know about classroom news and activities. Add your contact information to the PTO Contact Form if you haven’t already (optional, as always!).
STAY IN THE KNOW! 📅
⏰We know back-to-school is an exciting—and busy—time! To help you stay organized, subscribe to the Barrows PTO syncable calendar. It works with most digital calendar apps (Google, Apple, Microsoft, even Skylight) and keeps all the important PTO events and school dates right at your fingertips.
FOLLOW US! 📷
🌈Are you following Barrows PTO on Facebook and Instagram yet? It’s the best way to get quick reminders about spirit days, events and all the fun happenings. Plus, it helps you stay connected and keep track of the busy school calendar—because we all know how easy it is to miss a date! Don’t miss out—follow us today and stay in the loop!
SAVE THAT LINK! 🌳
🔗Looking for that link that was in that email? What’s the website for the school lunch menu? It’s all on our linktree!
Bookmark it, save it to your home screen, grab it from our Instagram today!
With appreciation,
Your PTO Board
Bridget Maley & Whitney McBride, Co-Presidents
bridgetkaterimaley@gmail.com | whitkmcb@gmail.com
Rachel Daly, Treasurer
Kaitlin Camadeco, Secretary
Kelsey Lawrence, Social Media Coordinator
Meri Kimball, Enrichment Lead
Follow Us!
📘Facebook: Barrows Elementary PTO
📷 Instagram: @barrowselementarypto
🔗 Linktree
An Important Reminder from Mrs. Atwood
Dear Barrows Families,
This is a friendly reminder that kids should wear sneakers on the days that they have Physical Education. I love Crocs too, but they don’t count as sneakers…even when they’re worn in sport mode! Thanks so much for your support with this safety matter.
Sarah Atwood
Please follow Art and Physical Education on Instagram!
You must request to follow these private accounts. We post images, reels and stories that give you a quick glimpse into your child’s day during these Special class times. Mrs. Hurley for Art can be found here @mrs.hurley_art and Mrs. Atwood for Physical Education can be found here @barrowspe
*If your Instagram name does not easily identify you, please send us a separate email so we know it’s you! For safety, we are careful about who we accept.*
Check-Out Artsonia!
Dear Barrows Families,
Another way you can support your child’s art is to join Artsonia. Artsonia is the world's largest collection of student art, published by teachers and students from around the world. Through Artsonia families can view student art online and leave comments. If you would like to join Artsonia keep your eye on your inbox; email invitations will be going out shortly! Thank you! Beth Hurley
🗣️ Beginner English Class for Adults — Still Going!
🗣️ 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
Arrival
- Please drive slowly up Edgemont to keep everyone safe; remember, it is a ONE-WAY during the school day.
- Do not park in the indented section by the gym. This is the "kiss & go" area for a quick drop-off.
- Doors open at 8:15 and close at 8:25. Your child needs to be in their seat by 8:25 AM. If your child arrives to school after the doors have closed, they must come to the front door and be marked tardy.
- The Staff Parking Lot is for staff only and off limits to all pedestrians from arrival-dismissal for the safety of all. Please respect this important aspect of our campus.
Dismissal:
- At dismissal time, there is no live pick-up in the driveway except for students who take the bus. Kindergarteners exit the building at 2:40 PM. The rest of the students dismiss at 2:45 PM from the same doors they enter in the morning.
As a safety reminder, the staff parking lot is staff-only. We respectfully ask that caregivers park along the streets. With our students exiting from their external doors in the parking lot, having cars drive in and out is not safe. You need to walk around the school on the blacktop to the back. Thanks for helping us out.
Ready to Play the Best Way
Please do not have your children wear flip-flops. Sneakers are best, but flip-flops are dangerous when running at recess (and Crocs aren't great).
Dogs and Puppies on School Grounds
School Committee policy prohibits dogs on school grounds as much as we all love dogs and puppies and as much fun as it is walking them. If you'd like to walk your dog as part of your pick-up routine, the dog has to stay off school property. If you'd like your child to walk to you on the sidewalk or to the driveway entrances at dismissal so you can wait with your dog, please make that plan with them.
