Reading Elementary Rockets Report: RES PRINCIPAL'S BLOG - ROCKETS REPORT

Dear Reading Elementary "Rockets" Families & Community Members:

Just a reminder about school hours:

Bussers arrive at 7:15 AM.
Breakfast starts at 7:20 AM.
If you want your child to have breakfast, please have your child come between 7:20 and 7:30 AM. Breakfast ends at 7:40 AM.
We start to "circle up" for our morning meeting at 7:45 AM and head to classes around 7:55 AM.
Students being picked up or walking are dismissed at 2:35 PM, and bussers are dismissed at 2:40 PM.
Thanks for helping your child be prompt and in attendance every day!

Kudos and heartfelt thanks to:

The Mama Mia Chefs Boolie, Jess, and Tatianna who cooked up some yummy food for the annual PTO event.
The Mama Mia volunteers - Esther Allen, Kate Allen, Lisa Foley, Darci Blanchard, Pam Boyer-Sheldon, Jen Mayo, Beth Ann Drinker, Kathi Faulkner, Wade Mullins, child care helpers - Leah and Taylor, AND anyone else who helped make the evening successful!
All the families and local residents who attended the event and bought raffle tickets!
All of the local residents who voted "no" to the proposed WCSU Act 46 plan that would have significantly affected RES and Reading.
Ski Runner drivers and coaches.

Other Items of Interest:

Summer Soak - Summer SOAK is a four-week full-day summer program that is offered by the WCSU. This year, SOAK runs from July 3rd-July 28th, 2017. SOAK offers academic, service learning, and enrichment activities at the middle/high school campus. Activities that are offered typically include things like mountain biking, lego robotics, art programs, swimming, building rockets, theater, and many more. By providing this four-week program, we hope to achieve the goal of improving students’ academic achievement while providing a variety of enriching opportunities. Summer SOAK online activity registration accounts can be started now, and health forms, subsidy forms, and participation forms are available to start getting a jump on registration. All forms can be downloaded here: http://summersoak.com/info/ Forms are also attached to this email.

Online registration for SOAK programs opens March 13th.

More about SOAK:

-Breakfast, lunch and transportation will be provided.

-The cost is the same as last year, $250 for the four-week session, or $125 for two weeks. Scholarships and subsidy available.

-Summer SOAK will begin on July 3rd, and will run for four weeks, from 8:30-3:30 (with no SOAK on July 4th).

-Registration opens online March 13th 2017, and that is when you will be able to see the individual sessions that are available. To register, you will need to set up an account at www.summersoak.com if you have not already done so. Erin Klocek can help with the registration. Call 457-2522 or email her eklocek@wcsu.net You can also get in touch with Sherry Sousa, SOAK Program Director, at the WCSU Central Office at 457-1213 x1081.

WCSU Band Showcase - You are invited to attend (the fifth annual) on Tuesday March 14th, with a snow date of Wednesday March 15th. WUHS/MS main gymnasium, thanks to Athletic Director Justin Wardwell.The schedule for the after school event is:

2:45-3:15 HS and MS band students setup the gymnasium.

3:15-3:30 Elementary band students will arrive after school to get to know Mr. Henderson and rehearse as a combined elementary group. All elementary band instructors will be present. Parents should plan to drop their elementary student off and return at the time indicated below. (if students need to arrive earlier than 3:15 to meet a personal transportation issue, they may)

3:30-5:00 Elementary band students rehearse under the direction of Mr. Henderson, band director of WUHS/MS bands.

5:00 HS and MS band students will join the elementary students while all enjoy a snack break. Snack will be provided at this time.

5:15 HS and MS band students will rehearse with the ES students, forming one awesome WCSU mass band (last year 150 students strong..!)

6:00 parents will return to enjoy the WCSU mass band perform their combined work at 6:10. The community is welcome!

6:30 the event will conclude so that families can get home for the remainder of the evening.

7:00 gymnasium cleaned and ready for an evening activity.

We'd like to remind students and families that this is a once a year event, and encourage that it be considered an important opportunity in the context of other reoccurring commitments and activities.

Some great music has been carefully selected for the event, and sent to all the elementary school band instructors. We are all looking forward to another great showcase! The number one goal by far, is to build camaraderie and reinforce excitement about the overall band experience with the students, parents and teachers. The targeted result is a 4-12 continuum in the band program based on strong retention and commitment. And we will make some nice music too! We are again very excited about this, the previous years have been such a success. Thank you for all your encouragement!

Afterschool Programs - Our winter session of Afterschool has ended. There is no after school this Wed., but we plan to start again Wed., March 22 and continue through the Wed. AFTER spring break.

Do You Know An RES Alumni? - Our library media/tech classes are conducting a survey and creating a digital living history to represent the past and present of Reading Elementary School and we need your help! Did you attend Reading Elementary School? Do you know someone who did? If you did, then please complete the survey and ask other alumni, to complete the attached SURVEY. Students will be researching their town and school history and preserving it digitally. Check out what we've done so far at RES PAST AND PRESENT.

OTHER WAYS TO HELP READING SCHOOL

Come to a Reading Elementary School Board Meeting!
Come read to the students or volunteer to help in the library!

LUNCH & BREAKFAST MENU FOR THIS WEEK:

Please send in your payment if you have not already done so. Lunch accounts should be paid in full each month. Thank you!

Mon., March 12 - *Whole Wheat Spaghetti w/Meat Sauce, Applesauce, Mixed Green Salad, (*This is a change from the published menu.) Breakfast: Fried Egg- The Regulars
Tues., March 13 - Fish Sticks, Melon, Coleslaw, Whole Grain Rice, Breakfast: Oatmeal - The Regulars
Wed., Mar. 7 - Gardener's Pie, Beet Chips, Grapes - German Pancake & The Regulars
Thurs,, Mar. 8 - Chicken Noodle Soup, Pears, Broccoli; Breakfast: Oatmeal & Hard Boiled Egg - The Regulars
Fri., Mar. 9 - Corned Beef Dinner, Potatoes, Carrots, Cabbage, Whole Grain Roll ; Breakfast: Scrambled Egg - The Regulars