Reading Elementary Rockets Report: RES PRINCIPAL'S BLOG

Dear Reading Elementary "Rockets" Parents & Community Members,

It was a beautiful community day on Saturday. We certainly appreciate all those who came to the Yard Sale and either rented a table or purchased items from a vendor. It was chilly but heart-warming!

Beautiful poem and drawing by Ms. Evans!

Kudos and heartfelt thanks to:

The PTO for providing pizza and salad for "Back to School" Open House.
All of you who came to Back to School Night1
All of you who helped out with the Community Yard Sale.

Other Items of Interest:

Act 46 Update - The next WCSU Act 46 Study Committee Meeting will be at 6:30 pm on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016 at the WCSU Office.

Act 46 Community Forum - Please plan to attend this community forum on November 15, 2016, at Reading Elementary School at 6 PM. 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.

Help Your Child Learn to Think - Check out this article from the George E. Lucas Educational Foundation for some suggestions on how to improve your children's critical thinking skills.

Pumpkin Raffle - Get ready for the fifth annual RES PTO pumpkin raffle. Each of our classes will decorate one pumpkin to be raffled off on the morning of the Leaf Peeper Breakfast on October 23. Children will bring home tickets to sell soon: $1 each or 6/$5. Celebrate all the silliness and spookiness of Halloween and help raise funds to support school activities such as field trips and swim lessons.

Pre-K Request - Pre-k would like to make a fire engine out of a big box. If anyone has an empty appliance box that we could have, it would be greatly appreciated and put to good use. Or, does anyone know of a nearby resource (store, etc.) where I could possibly get one? Thank you!

Picture Day - Due to a scheduling conflict with the VT Agency of Ed. commitments, school picture day has had to be rescheduled to Thurs., Nov. 10, and all pictures will be in in time for holiday gift giving. Thank you for your support and understanding. Picture envelopes will be coming home the last week of October.

MESSAGES FROM OUR TEACHERS -

From Greg LaBella:
PE at Reading - Our initial activity is designed to foster cooperation and working together, so my traditional opening unit is parachute play. A favorite for the children, which cumulates with two favorite parachute games, cat and mouse for the primary grades and SHARK ATTACK for the older students.

Along with parachute play are movement stations which after a class or two turns into an obstacle (mini ninja warrior) course.

We are nearing the end of the first game type unit caller "The Kings Land" and "Save the Animals". This progression of run and chase games focused on decision making, field awareness, positioning and of course, teamwork. This simple activity teaches the basic fundamentals and strategies used in most team sports. Now we are on to our soccer, our first sport unit, while we integrate aerobic fitness training into each PE class.

From Mrs. Kaija:

Art classes may be officially scheduled on Tuesdays at RES, but art is happening all around the building every day. Just look at one of Ms. Heather’s artfully arranged lunch plates, chalk drawings on the playground, Grade ½ “Nature Hunt” math equations or Kindergarten science diagrams portraying trees in each season to get a sense of just a few of the creative endeavors that caught my eye at school last week. Any opportunity for students to express their thinking in a creative visual format allows brains to build new skills, cement learning and grow confidence.

Artsonia.com is an online student art gallery that features the artwork of all RES students. Parents who choose to participate are able to enjoy published images of their child’s artwork and share them with other family members, as desired. If you are not able to access your student’s account on www.artsonia.com, please let me know. As I tell all families, there are few things in life that are a WIN-WIN-WIN scenario, but Artsonia is one of them. I am able to view a student’s entire cumulative artistic portfolio (PK-6) for assessment purposes, family members near and far can see what a student creates and, IF a family chooses to purchase a gift from the site, RES receives 20% in the form of art supply gift certificates. Last year, we made more than $180 as a school community—thank you for augmenting the art budget!

A few upcoming arts-related events with our loyal community partner, The Reading Public Library and Librarian, Tony Pikramenos:

Tuesday, October 18—Lavender Sachets, 10:30-11:15 am--Kindergarten students will walk to the library during art class to sew sachets and fill them with lavender grown and harvested on the front walk of the library.
Saturday, October 22—Make-a-Plate Workshop, 10 am-2 pm—Anyone in the community is welcome to draw a circular design that will be turned into a wonderful keepsake plate. My kitchen cupboard is full of great memories of my kids’ artistic efforts through the years. These plates will be ready around Thanksgiving and make terrific gifts for all ages. The library subsidizes a portion of the cost of each plate, so the price is very reasonable. Join us!
Tuesday, October 25—Halloween Pumpkin Carving, 8:15-2:30 pm—Each of the classes, K, ½, ¾, 5/6 will walk to the library during their regular art time to carve pumpkins for display at Reading’s Fright Night on Saturday, October 29. The pumpkins were planted by Mrs. Drinker’s first and second graders last spring behind the Reading Firehouse. Adult helpers for each class are welcome and encouraged! Please let your student’s teacher know if you are able to assist with this project. Thanks for your support. Take heart in art, Lisa Kaija, lkaija@wcsu.net
MORE FROM OTHER TEACHERS NEXT WEEK!

OTHER WAYS TO HELP READING SCHOOL -

ASK YOUR FRIENDS/OUT-OF-TOWN RELATIVES/CO-WORKERS FOR BTFE!

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., Oct. 10 - NO SCHOOL!
Tues., Oct. 11 - Chicken Vegetable Curry; Whole Grain Rice, Apples, Spinach Salad w/Shredded Carrots; Breakfast: Oatmeal & Hardboiled Eggs - The Regulars
Wed., Oct. 12 - Black Beans & Cheese Quesadilla, Whole Grain Tortilla, Cottage Cheese, Orange, Iceberg Lettuce & Avocados/beans; Breakfast: French Toast & Egg Sandwich
Thurs., Oct. 13 - Turkey Meatloaf, Whole Grain Panzanella, Pears, Pears; Breakfast - Cream of Wheat & Hard Boiled Eggs - the Regulars
Fri., Oct. 14 - Beef & Broccoli, Whole Grain 3 Grain Medley; Pineapple, Broccoli; Breakfast - Cheesy Eggs with Toast - the Regulars