Reading Elementary Rockets Report

Dear Reading Elementary "Rockets" Families & Community Members,

This is also a busy week at Reading Elementary, and we really hope you'll join us for the important events below. Your presence and voice are always appreciated!

Kudos and heartfelt thanks to:

The parents who volunteered and were interviewed by the Educational Quality Review team that visited RES last Tuesday and Wednesday.
Community member, Jane Cleveland for volunteering to help out in our library.
Students - Lilly, Joey, Lydia, Olivia, Vera, and Cy who helped tour our visitors around the school Tues. and Wed.

Other Items of Interest:

Act 46 Community Forum - Please plan to attend this community forum on Tuesday, November 15, 2016, at Reading Elementary School at 6 PM. Dinner and childcare will be available if you pre-register HERE. This is a very important information that will outline dramatic effects on this school and community. Please spread the word and be there to get a complete picture of this important law. As it stands now, the proposed plan includes both Barnard and Reading being only a Pre-K - 2 school with our 3-6th graders heading to Woodstock Elementary effective as soon as the 2018-19 school year. (OUR current 1st - 4th graders could be bussed to Woodstock if the proposed plan is approved. Barnard's students would go to Prosper Valley School for Gr. 3-6.)

All School Morning Meetings - Starting Monday, Nov. 14, we will be starting with morning meetings everyday beginning at 7:45 in the Multi-Purpose Room. Parents are welcome to join us for this valued school tradition.

Ski Runner Details - Information packets and forms will be coming home in the next week. PLEASE check your students' backpacks. Please note the following dates. In the past the PTO paid 40% of the fee, but this year has not been decided on yet.

Where: Suicide Six Ski Area Base Lodge

When Fridays 1/6, 1/13, 1/20, 1/27, 2/3, 2/10, 2/17, 3/10 (2:00 – 4:00 PM)

Fee: $75 until 12/01/16 OR $85 after 12/01/2016

There is NO program Feb. 24 due to Presidents Week, or March 3th due to the Special Olympics. Registration opens October 5, 2016. Registration closes December 18, 2016.

Coming Soon - In December we will be having after school clubs on Wednesdays. Time and offerings will be sent home before Thanksgiving!

NEWS FROM THE READING PTO by Jessica Seaman

Just a quick email to let everyone know that the PTO will be holding it's November meeting and round # 2 of board elections on Monday, November 14th at 6:00 PM at RES. This is a date AND time change, as we usually meet on the third Monday and have been meeting at 7pm to accommodate various members' fall sports schedules.

As you know, we are holding our board elections again, since no one accepted nominations for the positions of Chair or Secretary. If you are interested in running for one of these positions, OR you'd like to volunteer to be a classroom parent member of the Board, please come to this meeting!!! If you'd like more information about the PTO feel free to email either myself, Boolie Sluka or Wade Mullins. Many thanks and have a good week!

MESSAGE FROM OUR TEACHERS:

From Mrs. Collins, Gr. 5/6:

PIE DAY

3-6 grade Pie Factory Extravaganza, Friday, November 18

Goal= 50 apple pies

Volunteers Needed - 4-6 parent volunteers to help assemble pies during the day and help clean up when we are done.

4 -6 parent volunteers to bake pies in the afternoon until they are done
and finish cleaning the kitchen.
4-6 parent volunteers to sell pies on Saturday

Ingredients Needed.

LOTS of apples (500) (Approximately 25 apples per student)

25 packages of frozen piecrusts in tin pans for the bottoms (They come in 2-packs.) 2 packages per student
25 packages of “Pillsbury” type rolled piecrusts for the tops (They come in 2-packs) 2 packages per student

Five 4-lb. bags of sugar
Cinnamon (a bunch)
5 lbs. butter

From Mrs. Pam Boyer-Sheldon, Kindergarten Teacher:

The Rainbow Chaser Kindergarten would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our wonderful Reading community! Our school flourishes due to everyone working together. The classroom community has been extremely busy making connections between family, school, and our neighbors.

We have learned the important roles that rules play in our world and the reason they exist. In our neighborhood we have made connections with the Reading Fire Department, the Post Office and our delightful friends at the Reading Town Library. The classroom focus this fall involved broadening academic skills, the forest nonliving and living parts, and ways we can make a difference in our world. Please ask us for more details. We love to share our adventures in learning.

Kindergarten is an active learning place. We are engaging in a variety of new experiences daily. Thank you to all the wonderful people that are helping to make this happen.

OTHER WAYS TO HELP READING SCHOOL -

-Come to a Reading Elementary School Board Meeting!

code is: 13970

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Share this post to get family, friends and neighbors to sign up, too. The more supporters we have, the more opportunities our school has to earn points whe

LUNCH & BREAKFAST MENU FOR THIS WEEK:

Lunch accounts should be paid in full each month. Please send in your payment if you have not already done so. If you need help complete the Free/Reduced Paperwork, we are here to help! ALL APPLICATIONS are kept confidential. Thank you!

Mon., Nov. 14 - Minestrone Soup Cottage Cheese Pears (mixed veg in soup) (whole grain pasta); Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs & Toast - The Regulars
Tues., Nov. 15 - Florida Chicken Tangerines Sweet Potato Whole Grain Rice; Breakfast: Hard Boiled Egg - The Regulars
Wed., Nov. 16 - Tofu Mac ‘n’ Cheese, Oranges, Spinach Salad w/Green Peas, whole grain pasta; Breakfast: Pancakes & Bacon - The Regulars
Thurs., Nov. 17 - Tuna Fish Whole Wheat Sandwiches, Grapes, Carrots, Potato Wedges; Breakfast - Hard Boiled Eggs - the Regulars
Fri., Nov.18 - Spaghetti Pizza, Apples, Iceberg Lettuce Shredded with Cherry Tomatoes & Cucumbers (whole grain pasta); Breakfast - German Pancake - the Regulars

Happening this Week:

Mon., Nov. 14 -

Library/Media Lessons - please send in your child's library books they checked out!
6 PM - RES PTO Meeting

Tues., Nov. 15 -

4 yr. old Preschoolers 7:45 AM - 11:45 AM
Act 46 Community Forum 6 PM - Dinner & Childcare - PLEASE RSVP HERE

Wed., Nov. 16 -

Both 4 and 3 yr. old preschoolers 7:45 - 11:45 AM
RES Board Meeting 6 PM

Thurs., Nov. 17 -

4 year old Pre-Schoolers 7:45 AM - 11:45 AM - SWIMMING!
WCSU Act 46 Study Committee Meeting at SU - 6:30 PM

Fri., Nov. 18 -

Pie baking day - volunteers needed!

Sat., Nov. 19 - Pie Sale

Thanksgiving Pie Sale At the Reading Town Hall

Saturday, November 19, 2016

8:00 am until 12:00 pm (or until they are sold out)

The Reading Elementary School students will be making their delicious pies for your enjoyment.Some of the flavors will be apple, pumpkin and coconut. Sponsored by the Reading PTO

Mark Your Calendar/Upcoming Events:

Tues., Nov. 22 -

Thanksgiving Community Feast - Gobble, Gobble!!

You’re Invited By the Reading Elementary Students

to attend their Annual Thanksgiving Luncheon Feast complete with turkey, potatoes and all of the fixings.

Tuesday, November 22 at the Reading Elementary School

There will be two seatings:

11:30 for the families of the PreK to 2nd grade students

12:00 for the families of the students in the grades 3 to 6

Community members are welcome at either seating.

Donations to defray the cost of the feast will be gratefully accepted at the door. PLEASE call Libbet to reserve your seat!

Wed., Nov. 23 - Fri., Nov. 23 - SCHOOL CLOSED - Thanksgiving
Thurs., Dec. 15 - Winter Choral Concert

Thoughts to Ponder:

LIFE AT READING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL:

Dear Reading Elementary "Rockets" Families & Community Members,

It's a busy week - Tues. and Wed. the AOE will be visiting, Tues. is Election Day, and Thursday is School Picture Day!

Education Quality Review Pilot Project

On November 8th-9th, a small team of educators from the Vermont Agency of Education and area school supervisory unions will be visiting RES (and all WCSU schools) as part of an AOE statewide pilot project. The aim of this project is to create a process for reviewing each supervisory union's progress towards the Vermont Education Quality Standards. The standards cover five areas: academic proficiency, high quality staffing, safe and healthy schools, personalization, and financial efficiency.

The team will review data, observe classes, and interview school community members to gather information about our progress. The result of this pilot will be a set of commendations and recommendations for our SU that address the five categories listed above.

Please feel free to greet the EQR team if you are at RES during their visit.

Kudos and heartfelt thanks to:

Chaperones on the Montpelier Gr. 3/4 Trip.

Other Items of Interest:

Parents and Students to be Interviewed - I am writing to ask if you give permission for your child to participate on a RES student interview panel on Tuesday OR Wed. as part of the Vermont Agency of Education (AOE) site visit who will be conducting an Education Quality Review (EQR) of each supervisory union in order to determine the effectiveness of the Education Quality Standards. Windsor Central Supervisory Union, along with 19 other SUs in Vermont, were selected to pilot the AOE’s processes in measuring the quality standards.

The parent interview panel is one portion of the EQR. Visitors will also observe classrooms, interview students and teachers, and peruse artifacts such as newsletters to parents, faculty meeting minutes, staff and parent handbooks, policies surrounding student supports, hiring of personnel, and financial efficiencies within the supervisory union. All of this will take place over the course of two days, November 8th and 9th.

The interviewers will consist of educators from nearby school districts who have also participated as a host school in the EQR process. Ann Koop, Principal at Barnard and I were recently on a visiting team to Rutland Southwest Supervisory Union . It was a very positive experience and provided us with insights to other methods and processes that may or may not be beneficial to the RES community.
If you are able to participate on the parent interview panel next Tues. afternoon or Wednesday morning, please RSVP yes or no via this email by Mon., Nov. 7. I understand work schedules take priority so please do not feel obligated to attend.

Act 46 Community Forum - Please plan to attend this community forum on Tuesday, November 15, 2016, at Reading Elementary School at 6 PM. Dinner and childcare will be available if you pre-register. This is a very important information that will outline dramatic effects on this school and community. Please spread the word and be there to get a complete picture of this important law. As it stands now, the proposed plan includes both Barnard and Reading being only a Pre-K - 2 school with our 3-6th graders heading to Woodstock Elementary effective as soon as the 2018-19 school year. (OUR current 1st - 4th graders could be bussed to Woodstock if the proposed plan is approved. Barnard's students would go to Prosper Valley School for Gr. 3-6.)

Picture Day - School picture day IS Thurs., Nov. 10, and all pictures will be in in time for holiday gift giving. Pre-K Parents of 3 yr. olds are asked to bring them in special for pictures that day - that was the only available day. Thank you for your support and understanding. Picture envelopes came home last week - please check your child's book bag.

Family Folders - PLEASE send in your folders that are sent home to families from Teacher Libbet. This is a major way to "reuse" and keep communication current. Please send them in if you haven't done so.

Emergency Call Alert - We had a "test" phone call last Tuesday night. If you did not receive a call, please let Libbet know ASAP.

Ski Runner Details - Information packets and forms will be coming home in the next week. PLEASE check your students' backpacks. Please note the following dates. In the past the PTO paid 40% of the fee, but this year has not been decided on yet.

Where: Suicide Six Ski Area Base Lodge

When Fridays 1/6, 1/13, 1/20, 1/27, 2/3, 2/10, 2/17, 3/10 (2:00 – 4:00 PM)

Fee: $75 until 12/01/16 OR $85 after 12/01/2016

There is NO program Feb. 24 due to Presidents Week, or March 3th due to the Special Olympics. Registration opens October 5, 2016. Registration closes December 18, 2016.

Coming Soon - In December we will be having after school clubs on Wednesdays. Time and offerings will be sent home before Thanksgiving!

MESSAGE FROM OUR TEACHERS:

From Ms. Kathi Faulkner, Pre- K Teacher:

I sent out emails on Friday to set up family conferences during the month of November. For planning purposes, I would appreciate you responding in the next few days, if you have not already responded. Thank you.

We will be wrapping up our “fire safety” unit this week and then move into “weather”. The Happy Hound Helper will have the job of reporting the weather added as a responsibility soon. We will preface that with a weather theme to learn about our different types of weather.

We have a visit from Hannah from VINS this Tuesday, 11/8. The topic is “wheels and pulleys” and we will not be going outside for this activity.

Our, guidance counselor, Ms. L., has begun working with pre-k students on Wednesday mornings on social skills. This is done during a circle time with the whole group.

Reminder: No school on Friday in honor of our veterans. We will also have no swimming lessons this week; we will resume them next week.