Sunday, December 31, 2017

RES PRINCIPAL'S BLOG - ROCKETS REPORT - Sun., Dec. 31, 2017

Dear Reading Elementary "Rockets" Families & Community Members:

I hope you each had a fabulous holiday break!  It's hard to believe this is the last blog of 2017 - the year flew by!




Kudos and heartfelt thanks to:
  • All of you who purchased books through the Scholastic Book Fair!
  • Esther Allen for helping with the snowflake bazaar!  
  • Those of you who donated items to the Snowflake Bazaar
  • Those of you who brought the staff "goodies" the last week!  
Other Items of Interest:  

Winter Sports - Ski Runners begins Friday, Jan. 12 and will be extended one week further into March.     If you have not already signed up your child, then please do so. Here is the link to the letter and forms.   If you need a paper form, please contact me - sign ups are strictly online this year.  If there is a parent out there who would be willing to help coordinate the transportation, please contact me.   Here is the scholarship application.  Please let me know when you have signed up.  Details about transportation will be sent out Thursday.  

Book Fair - The Book Fair closes this week, but is open from 7 - 9 AM, and 2:30 - 3 PM on the following days.  If you'd like to volunteer, please contact Mrs. Hatt.
  • Wednesday, Jan 3
  • Thurs., Jan. 4 
OTHER WAYS TO HELP READING SCHOOL   
  • Send in Box Tops for Education! 
  • Read to some of our students!
  • Sign up for Price Chopper School Tools - check out the homepage!
LUNCH & BREAKFAST MENU FOR NEXT WEEK: 

Is your lunch account current?  All accounts should be paid in full each month.    Thank you for helping us keep our costs down! 

***Breakfast is served from 7:15 - 7:30 AM only. ****
  • Wed., Jan. 4, 2018 - French Toast Bake, Melon, Peas, Potatoes, ; Breakfast:  Oatmeal and the Regulars
  • Thurs., Jan. 5, 2018 - Turkey Rice Soup, Pears, Spinach, Carrots; Breakfast:  Hard Boiled Eggs and the Regulars
  • Fri., Jan. 6, 2018 - Wholegrain Fish Tacos, Apples, Coleslaw; Breakfast:  Scrambled Eggs  & the Regulars
Happening this Week:
  • Mon., Jan. 1 - NO SCHOOL
    • Happy New Year!
  • Tues., Jan. 2 - NO SCHOOL
    • Students at inservice in Woodstock.
    • Wed., Jan. 3 - 
      • Spanish is the Special
      • Book Fair open
    • Thurs., Jan. 4
      • Music is the Special
      • Book Fair 
    • Fri., Jan. 5
      • Library Tech is the Special - please send in library books.  
      Mark Your Calendar/Upcoming Events:    
      • Fri., Jan. 12 - Ski Runners begins - Students leave at 1:15 PM.  
      • Mon., Jan. 15 - SCHOOL CLOSED - Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
      • Wed., Jan. 18 - RES Board Meeting
      Thoughts to Ponder: 








      LIFE AT READING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL:










      Sunday, December 17, 2017

      RES PRINCIPAL'S BLOG - ROCKETS REPORT - Sun., Dec. 17, 2017

      Dear Reading Elementary "Rockets" Families & Community Members:

      What a fantastic concert Thursday evening!  The puppets were so unique and the students really knew the songs!  If anyone has photos to share, could you please send them to me so I can post in the blog?  


      Kudos and heartfelt thanks to:
      • All of you who attended the concert Thursday evening!
      • Everyone who has sent in items for the Snowflake Bazaar!
      • All of you who helped put chairs up at the Town Hall!
      Other Items of Interest:  

      Puppets in Education  - Due to the weather, the field trip was postponed and has been rescheduled for Wed., March 21, 2017. We hope you'll be able to join us on this field trip!  

      Winter Sports - We received all but two surveys from families.  Based on the results, the majority of families would prefer to do Ski Runners. The hours have changed this year, so students that participate will be losing a minimal amount of class time.  I have reached out to the coordinator and he is willing to accept the late registrations.  Transportation is still a challenge but I hope to have those details worked out Monday.  If you have not already signed up your child, then please do so. Here is the link to the letter and forms.   If you need a paper form, please contact me - sign ups are strictly online this year.  If there is a parent out there who would be willing to help coordinate the transportation, please contact me.  Ski Runners is scheduled to begin Fri., Jan. 5.  Here is the scholarship application.  Please let me know when you have signed up.  

      Book Fair - The Book Fair is open from 7 - 9 AM, and 2:30 - 6 PM on the following days.  If you'd like to volunteer, please contact Mrs. Hatt.
      • Monday, Dec. 18
      • Thurs., Dec. 20
      • Fri., Dec. 21
      Blog - Since there is no school next week, the next blog will be published Sun., Dec. 30.  
      OTHER WAYS TO HELP READING SCHOOL   
      • Send in Box Tops for Education! 
      • Read to some of our students!
      • Sign up for Price Chopper School Tools - check out the homepage!
      LUNCH & BREAKFAST MENU FOR NEXT WEEK: 

      Is your lunch account current?  All accounts should be paid in full each month.    Thank you for helping us keep our costs down! 

      ***Breakfast is served from 7:15 - 7:30 AM only. ****
      • Mon., Dec.18, 2017 - Barbecue Turkey Cups, Melon, Sweet Potatoes, Iceberg Lettuce; WG Biscuit; Breakfast:   Oatmeal & The Regulars
      • Tues., Dec. 19, 2017 -Beef N Broccoli, Tangerines, Cole Slaw, Whole Grain Rice; Breakfast:  Hard Boiled Eggs & the Regulars
      • Wed., Dec. 20, 2017 - Tofu Mac and Cheese, Apples, Peas, Tomatoes, ; Breakfast:  Bagels & Cream Cheese and the Regulars
      • Thurs., Dec. 21, 2017 - Corn Chowder, Turkey Slices, Pears, Spinach, Corn Chips; Breakfast:  Hard Boiled Eggs and the Regulars
      • Fri., Dec. 22, 2017 - Cheesy Noodles & Ground Turkey, Oranges, Romaine Lettuce, Zucchini; Breakfast:  Fried Eggs  & the Regulars
      Happening this Week:
      • Mon., Dec. 18
        • Art is the Special
        • Book Fair 2:30 - 6 PM - No morning times due to meetings.  
      • Tues., Dec. 19
        • PE - students should wear or bring tennis shoes and appropriate clothes
        • Wed., Dec.20 - 
          • Spanish is the Special
          • Snowflake Bazaar
          • Board Meeting 6 PM
        • Thurs., Dec. 21
          • Music is the Special
          • Book Fair 7-9 AM; 2:30 - 6 PM
        • Fri., Dec. 22
          • Library Tech is the Special - please send in library books.  
          • Book Fair 7-9 AM; 2:30 - 5 PM.
          Mark Your Calendar/Upcoming Events:    
          • Mon., Dec. 25 - Tues., Jan. 2  - SCHOOL CLOSED - Happy Holidays!
          • Wed., Jan. 3 - School reopens!
          • Fri., Jan. 5 - Ski Runners begins - Students leave at 1:15 PM.  
          • Mon., Jan. 15 - SCHOOL CLOSED - Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
          • Wed., Jan. 18 - RES Board Meeting
          Thoughts to Ponder: 










          LIFE AT READING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL:


          Bowling in PE

          The 1st measurable snow of the season


          Each puppet was unique to each child!  


          Sunday, December 10, 2017

          RES PRINCIPAL'S BLOG - ROCKETS REPORT - Sun., Dec. 10, 2017

          Dear Reading Elementary "Rockets" Families & Community Members:




          Kudos and heartfelt thanks to:
          • The families who have their lunch accounts current!
          • The families who helped put chairs up Sunday at Ms. Ledoux's concert!
          • All of you for bringing your child to school on time and ready to learn!
          Other Items of Interest:  

          Puppets in Education - On Wed., Dec. 13, students will be traveling in a school to nearby Weathersfield School for a puppet show on bullying prevention. The students are attending in this order and parents are welcome to attend.




          There is a "Keep the Conversation Going" flyer that will be coming home to each family.   Please review this important information with your child.  




          Winter Sports -  We are still waiting on surveys to come back so we can make final arrangements.  

          PBIS Celebrations - The RES Student Council met and decided on the next few celebrations.  We'll announce more in the next blog!
          • Congrats to our students who completely filled the "rocket" with respect tiles again!  Students will have "Choice Recess" this Friday, Dec. 15, meaning they can go outside for recess or choose to stay in and color seasonal sheets!
          News from Mrs. Grenier - Students should be able to safely run and exercise during physical education class.  Your help is needed to remind your student to bring tennis shoes if they are choosing to wear boots to school!  Mrs. Grenier will send home the following note if they do not come to class prepared.   Please Mrs. Grenier at:   rgrenier@wcsu.net with questions. 


          Gr. 3/4 News - Gr. 3/4 is currently participating in the district-wide science curriculum on invertebrates.  This is one of the most exciting and enjoyable animals to incorporate into a science curriculum.   Families should know that Madagascar hissing cockroaches (MHCs)  are:  kept in a  cage, do not bite, are easy to handle, produce little odor compared to many terrarium animals, have a fascinating social structure, are easy to breed, teach, etc.  They are here for a short time!  Please contact Mrs. Mayo if you have any questions.

          Library Books - Please check with your child and in their room for any overdue library books.   Notices will be sent home this week.  It's a great time to check out their bookshelves!  

          Winter Concert Info.
          • Dress - This concert is unique because students will be putting on a marionette/puppet show.  Students have been asked to wear dark clothes because they will be on stage and the puppets are the "stars."  If your family has already purchased a special outfit for the holiday concert, that is fine and your child should wear whatever you choose.  Dark clothes are recommended but not mandatory.  
          • "December Around the World" - Mrs. Morton and Mrs. Kaija chose this commercial music program to integrate with the artist-in-residence theme.  Mrs. Collins has pointed out that several of the holidays that are mentioned in the play do not actually occur in December, i.e. Chinese New Year which occurs in February and Ramadan which happens in May and June of 2018.  The students have done an amazing job with their puppets and sound wonderful!  It's quite a learning experience!  We hope to see you Thursday night at 6 PM - your children should arrive at 5:45 PM at the town hall!
          Winter Sports Survey - We are still waiting on winter surveys to be returned to make the final arrangements.  We hope to send out news no later than Wed.  PLEASE send in your survey if you have not done so.  

          Book Fair - We will be hosting a Scholastic Book Fair over the next two weeks at school.  Books can be ordered online and purchased at school.  The book fair notice will be coming home this week with all the details digitally and hard copy.  Books make great holiday gifts and teachers will have "wish lists" as well next week.  Please contact Mrs. Knight if you'd like to assist with this.

          OTHER WAYS TO HELP READING SCHOOL   
          • Send in Box Tops for Education! 
          • Read to some of our students!
          • Sign up for Price Chopper School Tools - check out the homepage!
          LUNCH & BREAKFAST MENU FOR NEXT WEEK: 

          Is your lunch account current?  All accounts should be paid in full each month.    Thank you for helping us keep our costs down! 

          Breakfast is served from 7:15 - 7:30 AM. 
          • Mon., Dec.11, 2017 - Turkey Dinner Hash, Grapes, Green Beans and Panzanella; Breakfast:   Oatmeal & The Regulars
          • Tues., Dec. 12, 2017 -Chicken Toes (drumsticks), Applesauce, Sweet Potatoes, Peas, Whole Grain Rice; Breakfast:  Hard Boiled Eggs & the Regulars
          • Wed., Dec. 13, 2017 - Black Bean and Corn Soup, Cheese Sticks, Pears, Spinach Salad, Whole Grain Corn Chips; Breakfast:  Pancakes and the Regulars
          • Thurs., Dec. 14, 2017 - Turkey Reuben Melts, Iceberg Lettuce, Melon, Carrots, Whole Grain Pita; Breakfast:  Hard Boiled Eggs and the Regulars
          • Fri., Dec. 15 - Pasta with Broccoli & Sausage, Apples, Rainbow Peppers, ; Breakfast:  Omelets  & the Regulars
          Happening this Week:
          • Mon., Dec. 11 
            • Art is the Special
            • Artist in Residence continues
          • Tues., Dec. 5
            • PE - students should wear or bring tennis shoes and appropriate clothes
            • Wed., Dec. 6 - 
              • Spanish is the Special
              • Puppets in Education/Bullying Awareness Field Trip to Weathersfield Elementary 8- Noon 
              • PTO Meeting 6 PM
            • Thurs., Dec. 7
              • Music is the Special, Artist in Residence here
              • Holiday Concert Town Hall 6 PM (Students should be there at 5:45 PM.)
            • Fri., Dec. 8
              • Library Tech is the Special - send in library books 
              • P. J. Day!  (Shoes required.)
              Mark Your Calendar/Upcoming Events:    
              • Wed., Dec. 20 - 
                • Snowflake Bazaar - more news to follow on this
                • RES Board Meeting 6 PM
              • Mon., Dec. 25 - Tues., Jan. 2  - SCHOOL CLOSED - Happy Holidays!
              • Mon., Jan. 15 - SCHOOL CLOSED - Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
              • Wed., Jan. 18 - RES Board Meeting
              Thoughts to Ponder: 






              LIFE AT READING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL:



















              Sunday, December 3, 2017

              RES PRINCIPAL'S BLOG - ROCKETS REPORT - Sun., Dec. 3, 2017

              Dear Reading Elementary "Rockets" Families & Community Members:


              Kudos and heartfelt thanks to:
              • Those parents who sent their Winter Survey back in.
              • The PTO who worked so hard on the fundraising letter!
              • The families who arrive at school by 7:30 AM!  
              Other Items of Interest:  

              5th/6th Grade Class News from Mrs. Collins - The fifth and sixth grade participated in Dreambox's Math Challenge.  We worked and competed cooperatively against other classrooms working to compile the greatest class average of lessons over a three week period of time.  The results are in.  The Explorers averaged 96.3 lessons placing 49th nationally against 9,307 other classrooms.  We were 6th out of 1,560 classes in the NorthEast and first in the state of Vermont.  We are quite proud of our accomplishments.  

              Winter Sports -  We are still waiting on surveys to come back so we can make final arrangements.  

              Upcoming Field Trip - On Wed., Dec. 13, RES Students K-6 will be traveling to neighboring Weathersfield Elementary for a "Puppets in Education" workshop with a focus on bullying prevention and awareness.  Permission slips will be coming home this week.  This date was chosen last June, before the Artist in Residence dates were announced.  This is a wonderful grant-funded opportunity.  

              PBIS Celebrations - The RES Student Council met and decided on the next few celebrations.  We'll announce more in the next blog!
              • P - PJ Day - Fri., Dec. 8 - everyone wears PJ's - shoes required!
              Hour of Code - Our students are changing the future with an Hour of Code 
              We live in a world surrounded by technology. And we know that whatever field our students choose to go into as adults, their ability to succeed will increasingly depend on understanding how technology works. 
              But only a tiny fraction of us are learning how technology works. Fewer than half of all schools teach computer science.
              That’s why our entire school is joining in on the largest learning event in history: The Hour of Code, during Computer Science Education Week (December 4-10). More than 100 million students worldwide have already tried an Hour of Code.
              Our Hour of Code is making a statement that Reading Elementary is ready to teach these foundational 21st-century skills. To continue bringing programming activities to your students, we want to make our Hour of Code event huge. I encourage you to volunteer, reach out to local media, share the news on social media channels and consider hosting additional Hour of Code events in the community.  This is a chance to change the future of education in Reading, Vermont.  See http://hourofcode.com/us for details, and help spread the word.

              Kindness from Community Members  - Local community member crocheted over sixty hats for our students.  She brought in two large bags of beautiful handcrafted multi-colored caps.  The students will be receiving them this week, so please ask your student about them.  Thank you Ms. Ledoux!!!



              OTHER WAYS TO HELP READING SCHOOL   
              • Send in extra winter mittens - they're always needed!  
              • Read to some of our students!
              • Sign up for Price Chopper School Tools - check out the homepage!
              LUNCH & BREAKFAST MENU FOR NEXT WEEK: 

              Is your lunch account current?  All accounts should be paid in full each month.    Thank you for helping us keep our costs down! 
              • Mon., Dec. 4, 2017 - Fish Chowder, Oranges, Spinach with Carrots, WG Corn Chips; Breakfast:   Oatmeal & The Regulars
              • Tues., Dec. 5, 2017 -Chicken & Broccoli, Pineapple, Sweet Potatoes, WG Rice; Breakfast:  Hard Boiled Eggs & the Regulars
              • Wed., Dec. 6, 2017 - Vegetable Frittata, Melon, Peas, WG English Muffins; Breakfast:  German Pancake and the Regulars
              • Thurs., Dec. 7, 2017 - Green Mtn. Sausages, Apples, Baked Beans, Iceberg Lettuce, WG Roll; Breakfast:  Hard Boiled Eggs and the Regulars
              • Fri., Dec. 8 - Pita Pizza, Pears, Mixed Green Salad, Tomatoes; Breakfast:  Scrambled Eggs & the Regulars
              Happening this Week:
              • Mon., Dec. 4 - 
                • Art is the Special
                • Artist in Residence begins
              • Tues., Dec. 5
                • PE - students should wear or bring tennis shoes and appropriate clothes
                • Wed., Dec. 6 - 
                  • Spanish is the Special
                • Thurs., Dec. 7
                  • Music is the Special, Artist in Residence here
                • Fri., Dec. 8
                  • Library Tech is the Special - send in library books 
                  • P. J. Day!  (Shoes required.)
                  Mark Your Calendar/Upcoming Events:    
                  • Fri., Dec. 8 - 
                  • Wed., Dec. 13 - 
                    • Puppets in Education/Bullying Awareness Field Trip to Weathersfield Elementary 8- Noon 
                    • PTO Meeting 6 PM
                  • Thurs., Dec. 14 - Holiday Concert Town Hall 6 PM (Students should be there at 5:45 PM.)
                  • Wed., Dec. 20 - 
                    • Snowflake Bazaar - more news to follow on this
                    • RES Board Meeting 6 PM
                  • Mon., Dec. 25 - Tues., Jan. 2  - SCHOOL CLOSED - Happy Holidays!
                  • Mon., Jan. 15 - SCHOOL CLOSED - Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
                  • Wed., Jan. 18 - RES Board Meeting
                  Thoughts to Ponder: 



                  Sound familiar?




                  LIFE AT READING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: