RES PRINCIPAL'S BLOG - ROCKETS REPORT - Sun., Feb. 25, 2018

Dear Reading Elementary "Rockets" Families & Community Members:

It's that messy time of year when snow (and ice) still covers the playground but temperatures start rising.  Please have your students still bring their "winter gear" even though the days are getting warmer!  Thanks!  Think Spring!  

Kudos and heartfelt thanks to:

• Sue Molder for baking cookies for the skiers and all the parents who help out at Ski Runners.
• The parents and community members who bought raffle tickets!
• Everyone who came to the Mama Mia dinner! 

Other Items of Interest:  

Ski Runners - This will be our 7th of 8 Fridays.  We will leave at 1 PM.   We're hoping there's still snow!  If there's a change, we'll let you know!

Intra-District Choice -  There was an e-mail that came out to families regarding intra-district choice. (I didn't get one so I can't forward to you.)  Here's the website link for information if that's something you're interested in.

After-School Program - We will definitely have an after-school program next school year.  I will be graduating in August from all my classes.  Information about the program will be coming out in May.  

All Day Pre-K - Starting in the 2018-19 school, all day Pre-K will be available.  The afternoons will be tuition based, but it's an alternative for families.  

Message from the SU:  Attention Voting Public:

We strongly encourage the voters from all participating towns to attend the General Information Meeting at the WUHSMS on Wed., February 27, 2018, at 7:00 PM.

Additionally, we also welcome you to attend the upcoming school board meetings in February, which will focus on the budget and the tax implications for each town. Those meetings will take place at the individual schools on the following dates:

• Reading Elementary School: Wednesday, February 28 @ 6:00 PM

OTHER WAYS TO HELP READING SCHOOL   

• Sign up to be the Reading representative on the SU's Profile of a Graduate committee!  We are the only district without one!

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., Feb. 26, 2018 -  Chicken Burrito, Oranges, Iceberg Lettuce w/Tomatoes, Beans:  Breakfast:  Oatmeal and the Regulars
• Tues., Feb. 27, 2018 -  Shephard's Pie, Pear, Mixed Green Salad  Breakfast:  Hard Boiled Eggs & the Regulars
• Wed., Feb. 28,  2018 -  Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Tomato Soup, Melon, Rainbow Peppers, Cucumbers, Whole Grain Bread; Breakfast:  Pancakes and the Regulars
• Thurs., March 1, 2018 - Fish Plate, Applesauce, Pears & Potatoes;  Breakfast:  Hard Boiled Eggs and the Regulars
• Fri., March 2, 2018 - Spaghetti Pizza, Apples, Spinach & Carrots;  Breakfast: Bagel w/Cream Cheese & the Regulars

Happening this Week:

• Mon., Feb. 26
• Art w/ Mrs. Kaija
• School starts at 7:30 AM
• Tues., Feb. 27 -
• PE is the Special - students need to bring tennis shoes!  
• Wed., Feb. 28 - 
• Spanish is the Special
• Gr. 3-5 INV. FOREST CENTER - 2 - 4 PM
• Board Meeting 6 PM
• Thurs., Mar. 1
• Music is the Special
• Fri., March 2 - 
• Library Tech is the Special - please send in library books.  
• Ski Runners - Students leave school at 12:55 PM.  

Mark Your Calendar/Upcoming Events:     

• Saturday, March 3 - Town Meeting at RES
• Monday, March 5 - School Closed - Staff Inservice
• Tuesday, March 6 - School Closed - Town Meeting Day
• Wed., March 7 - 
• School starts at 7:30 AM
• Summer Program Expo - Woodstock Elementary - 3:30 – 6:00 pm.
• Fri., March 9- LAST Ski Runners
• Wed., March 14 - 
• RES PTO Meeting 6 PM
• Thurs., March 15 - 8:30 AM Coffee Hour w/the Superintendent
• Wed., March 21 - Puppets in Education/Bullying Prevention Field Trip
• Mon., April 16 - Fri., April 20 - School Closed - Spring Break

Thoughts to Ponder: 

LIFE AT READING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL:

RES PRINCIPAL'S BLOG - ROCKETS REPORT - Sun., Feb. 11, 2018

Dear Reading Elementary "Rockets" Families & Community Members:

Hopefully, we'll see you later tonight at the Mama Mia Dinner!  This is the last blog until Sun., Feb. 25, as we will be off on winter break next week!  

Kudos and heartfelt thanks to:

• The Mama Mia chefs!
• Esther Allen for decorating the multi-purpose room!
• Sue Mulder for all her help with Ski Runners!
• Everyone who donated to the baskets!  

Other Items of Interest:  

Mama Mia Dinner and Valentines Day Baskets - Please send in raffle tickets for Mama Mia.  Here's the letter from the PTO if you didn't get it.  Here's the invite to give to family and friends!  There's a sign-up sheet in the lobby if you'd like to volunteer!

Ski Runners - This will be our 5th of 8 Fridays.  We will leave at 1 PM.   

PBIS - We continue with the following school-wide celebrations:

• T - Twin day!  Tues., Feb. 13
• Totally Filled Celebration - Movie and Popcorn - Fri., Feb. 16 - 9:45  - 11:45 AM

Sickness - We have had several cases of strep throat, flu, cold, sore throat, etc. at school.  We are taking extra precautions to sterilize all handrails, etc.  Please don't hesitate to keep your child home if they are are not feeling well.  As a parent, you can insist to your medical care provider that they are seen.  I've heard that several practices are "putting off appointments."  Too many children have died across the country due to flu this year.  

If your child is diagnosed with something contagious, please let us know so we can notify parents.   The nurse will send out any e-mails to all parents should they need to be notified.  At this point, we would be sending out hourly notices.  It's that time of year where germs abound.  Spring will come eventually!  In the meantime, please encourage handwashing!  

Message from the SU:  Attention Voting Public:

We strongly encourage the voters from all participating towns to attend the General Information Meeting at the WUHSMS on February 27, 2018, at 7:00 PM.

Additionally, we also welcome you to attend the upcoming school board meetings in February, which will focus on the budget and the tax implications for each town. Those meetings will take place at the individual schools on the following dates:

• Reading Elementary School: Wednesday, February 28 @ 6:00 PM

OTHER WAYS TO HELP READING SCHOOL   

• Sign up to be the Reading representative on the SU's Profile of a Graduate committee!  
• Send in Box Tops for Education! 
• Buy a raffle ticket or two sheets full for the Valentine's Basket Raffle!

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., Feb. 12, 2018 - Brown Sugar Chicken, Melon, Broccoli, Carrots, Whole Wheat Couscous:  Breakfast:  Oatmeal and the Regulars
• Tues., Feb. 13, 2018 -   Roast Beef Sandwiches, Apples, Sweet Potatoes, Celery Breakfast:  Hard Boiled Eggs & the Regulars
• Wed., Feb. 14,  2018 -  Rice & Bean Casserole, Iceberg Lettuce; Breakfast:  Omelet w/Sausages and the Regulars
• Thurs., Feb. 15, 2018 - Turkey Sausage Hash, Spinach, WG English Muffin;  Breakfast:  Hard Boiled Eggs and the Regulars
• Fri., Feb. 16, 2018 - White Bean Kale Kielbasa Soup, Clementines, Whole Grain Corn Chips;  Breakfast: Bagel w/Cream Cheese & the Regulars

Happening this Week:

• Sun., Feb. 11 - Mama Mia Pizza Dinner 4 - 7 PM - JOIN US!  
• Mon., Feb. 12
• Art w/ Mrs. Kaija
• School starts at 7:30 AM
• Tues., Feb. 13 -
• PE is the Special - students need to bring tennis shoes!  
• Wed., Feb. 14 - 

• Spanish is the Special
• Gr. 3-5 INV. FOREST CENTER - 2 - 4 PM
• PTO Meeting 6 PM - Multipurpose Room
• Thurs., Feb. 15
• Music is the Special
• Fri., Feb. 16 - 
• Library Tech is the Special - please send in library books.  
• Ski Runners - Students leave school at 12:55 PM.  

Mark Your Calendar/Upcoming Events:     

• Mon., Feb. 19 - Fri., Feb. 23 - School Closed -Winter Break
• Wed., Feb. 28 - Board Meeting 6 PM
• Fri., March 2 - Ski Runners
• Wed., March 7 - Summer Program Expo - Woodstock Elementary - 3:30 – 6:00 pm.
• Fri., March 9- Ski Runners
• Wed., March 14 - 
• RES PTO Meeting 6 PM
• Wed., March 21 - Puppets in Education/Bullying Prevention Field Trip
• Mon., April 16 - Fri., April 20 - School Closed - Spring Break

Thoughts to Ponder: 

LIFE AT READING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL:

RES PRINCIPAL'S BLOG - ROCKETS REPORT - SUN., FEB. 4, 2018

Dear Reading Elementary "Rockets" Families & Community Members:

Go Patriots!  Think snow!  Thanks for all you do to support our awesome school!

Kudos and heartfelt thanks to:

• Sue Molder for taking and bringing back all the equipment for Ski Runners!
• The Maxhams, Abby Rowlee, and Kurt Allen for their help with Ski Runners on Friday!
• All of you who have sent things in your class baskets!  

Other Items of Interest:  

Mama Mia Dinner and Valentines Day Baskets - Please send in raffle tickets for Mama Mia.  Here's the letter from the PTO if you didn't get it.  Here's the invite to give to family and friends!  There's a sign-up sheet in the lobby if you'd like to volunteer!

Ski Runners - It was a VERY cold but successful week at Ski Runners!  Students need face masks or neck "cowls" if possible - their faces are really cold!  It's a fun time - hopefully you can come and join us!   Just a reminder to all that a "blue slip" received during the week means that a student is unable to attend skiing that week only.  Blue slips are given for three yellow slips in that week, physical aggression to a peer, major disrespect and defiance to a staff member, or other unsafe behaviors. The details of our discipline system can be found in the parent handbook in our updated website!  Please call with questions.  

PBIS - We continue with the following school-wide celebrations:

• P - PJ day!  - Wed., Feb. 7
• E - Eclectic/crazy hair day - Thurs., Feb. 8
• C - Cocoa day - Students will have cocoa at snack time! Fri., Feb. 9
• T - Twin day!  Tues., Feb. 13
• Totally Filled Celebration - Movie and Popcorn - Date TBA

Movie Time - The Innovation in Learning study group wants to invite you to an exciting community event taking place on Thursday, February 8th at the Woodstock Town Hall Theater.  We'll be showing the documentary "Most Likely to Succeed".  The film is a documentary connected to the book by the same title by Tony Wagner and Ted Dintersmith.  It makes an urgent call for the re-imagining of American education.  The showing of the film will be followed by a panel discussion.  Here are some details.

Documentary: “Most Likely to Succeed” (followed by panel discussion)

Date: Thursday, February 8th, 2018

Time: 7:00 pm @ Woodstock Town Hall Theater

7:00 pm - 8:30 pm - Introduction and Showing of “Most Likely to Succeed”

8:40 pm - 9:30 pm -  Panel Discussion: Re-imagining education to better equip students for the realities of the 21st century economy.

Message from Ms. B. - Kindergarten

Message from the SU:  Attention Voting Public!

Last year, the towns of Bridgewater, Killington, Reading, Plymouth, Pomfret, and Woodstock voted to join together to form a single school district. The new unified board began its work in September 2017, in partnership with our new superintendent Mary Beth Banios, who brings a wealth of experience and positive energy to the table. We are optimistic that the new governing structure will help maximize our potential to fulfill our charge: to ensure an excellent education for our students Pre-K through 12 while maintaining fiscal responsibility to our taxpayers.

The first major task of the new board has been to prepare a single budget for the 2018/2019 school year. This marks a change from the individual school budgets of years past. Likewise, the individual school boards will not be presenting at their local town hall meetings. With that said, this change in no way undermines the value we place on community engagement in the budget process. You will still have opportunities to learn more, ask questions, and engage in discussion in advance of voting day, when the budget will be voted on by Australian ballot.

We strongly encourage the voters from all participating towns to attend the General Information Meeting at the WUHSMS on February 27, 2018, at 7:00 PM.

Additionally, we also welcome you to attend the upcoming school board meetings in February, which will focus on the budget and the tax implications for each town. Those meetings will take place at the individual schools on the following dates:

• The Prosper Valley School: Monday, February 5 @ 6:30 PM 
• Killington Elementary School: Thursday, February 8 @ 8:15 AM 
• Woodstock Elementary School: Monday, February 12 @ 4:30 PM 
• Reading Elementary School: Wednesday, February 28 @ 6:00 PM

Thank you for your attention and support as we navigate change together, and strive to create and sustain an outstanding educational experience for all students!

Message from Mrs. Collins - Gr. 5/6 - Ice Cream Valentine's Day Basket - Read HERE.

OTHER WAYS TO HELP READING SCHOOL   

• Sign up to be the Reading representative on the SU's Profile of a Graduate committee!  
• Send in Box Tops for Education! 
• Buy a raffle ticket or two sheets full for the Valentine's Basket Raffle!

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., Feb. 5, 2018 -  Chicken Sesame noodles, Pineapple, Broccoli & Cauliflower:  Breakfast:  Oatmeal and the Regulars
• Tues., Feb. 6, 2018 -  Tuna Fish Sandwiches, Melon, Iceberg Lettuce w/Tomatoes;  Breakfast:  Hard Boiled Eggs & the Regulars
• Wed., Feb. 7,  2018 - Hummus Melts, Pears, Spinach Salad w/ Carrots; Breakfast:  English Muffin Bake and the Regulars
• Thurs., Feb. 8, 2018 - BBQ Turkey Cups, Oranges, Peas, Potatoes, Rice;  Breakfast:  Hard Boiled Eggs and the Regulars
• Fri., Feb. 9, 2018 - Sausage & Beans, Apples, Corn, Whole Grain Roll; Breakfast:  Fried Eggs & the Regulars

Happening this Week:

• Mon., Feb. 5
• Art w/ Mrs. Kaija
• School starts at 7:30 AM
• Tues., Feb. 6 -
• PE is the Special - students need to bring tennis shoes!  
• Wed., Feb. 7 - 
• Spanish is the Special
• 3-5 INV. FOREST CENTER - 2 - 4 PM
• PTO Meeting 6 PM - Multipurpose Room
• Thurs., Feb. 8
• Music is the Special
• Fri., Feb. 9
• Library Tech is the Special - please send in library books.  
• Ski Runners - Students leave school at 12:55 PM.  

Mark Your Calendar/Upcoming Events:     

• Sun., Feb. 11 - Mama Mia Pizza Dinner
• Fri., Feb. 16 -  Ski Runners
• Mon., Feb. 19 - Fri., Feb. 23 - School Closed -Winter Break
• Wed., Feb. 28 - Board Meeting 6 PM
• Fri., March 2 - Ski Runners
• Fri., March 9- Ski Runners
• Wed., March 14 - 
• Summer Program Expo - Woodstock Elementary - 3:30 – 6:00 pm.
• RES PTO Meeting 6 PM
• Wed., March 21 - Puppets in Education/Bullying Prevention Field Trip
• Mon., April 16 - Fri., April 20 - School Closed - Spring Break

Thoughts to Ponder: 

LIFE AT READING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: