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

Dear Reading Elementary "Rockets" Families & Community Members:

"Circling up" that first day back to school with families, staff, and student was an amazing experience - the energy in the room was so full of love and excitement. What a wonderful three days we had last week! Smiling faces abounded as new students met current students, and new staff met current staff! We're all happy to be here and honored to be learning with your student!

Kudos and heartfelt thanks to:

PTO members - Darci Blanchard, Wade Mullins, and Kate Allen for shopping, preparing, serving and cleaning up the breakfast!
All the parents who came to "the 1st day breakfast" and stayed for morning circle!
Abby Rowlee for the amazing 1st day photos!
All who sent in their first day forms!

Other Items of Interest:

Food Service - Gretchen Czaka, District Food Service Director sent the following to our staff regarding some of the new procedures and so I am sharing it with you as you may have some of the same questions.

Can the students get Breakfast and a Grab and Go?

Students that get a regularly served breakfast and need a snack are expected to take an extra item at breakfast to cover them for snack. They cannot get a Grab & Go and regular breakfast.
Grab & Go's are for those students who are late and need a breakfast or for those who students who do not come to school with a snack and did not attend breakfast. I imagine you will get to know who those students are once the school year begins. Grab & Go's do not need to be pre-ordered!

Snack - This year snacks are NOT provided by the school. If you are sending your students with snacks, it would be helpful if you label it "snack" as some students are trying to eat everything as their snack and then they have have nothing left for lunch. Please remember to include ice packs inside your student's lunch bags as they are not refrigerated. Fruit and protein makes a great snack!

Hours - Students should arrive by 7:30 AM. Breakfast is served 7:15 - 7:30. Morning meeting begins at 7:35, and students go to class at 7:45 AM.

Reading After School Program - We had an awesome three days of after school last week! We still have a few openings and welcome your child to enroll. Payment is only needed a week in advance, even though you sign up for other days within the session.

Box Tops - We are collecting BOX TOPS. Please bring in your supply from the summer and ask your neighbors/family members to collect them for us!

2018-19 Student-Parent Handbook - In order to promote "sustainability" and save trees, we are not providing copies for each family. If you would like a hard copy of the handbook, please call and request one. It is published on the website.

Emergency School Communication - The emergency parent-school communication tool is through our Rediker Student Information System. When you receive phone calls from it, it will have a Woodstock phone number on it. I sent the blog and other parent communication out through "Blackboard Connect" so having your correct contact information is crucial.

Safety Drills - Practice make perfect - for safety's sake! We had a our first fire drill Friday, but AFTER Labor Day, we will practice our first lock down drill so all students can practice. If there is ever a serious concern, we will send you a BLACKBOARD message on your phone and your e-mail. If you arrive to the school during a drill, please allow us to complete it.

PTO - The AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases to the charitable organizations selected by customers. If you'd like to help, please go to smile.amazon.com, and choose "Reading Parent Teacher Organization Reading PTO" from the list of organizations. Every little bit helps our students!

TOOLS FOR SCHOOLS - How Tools for Schools Works - Price Chopper

OUR SCHOOL CODE IS - 13970 Register your AdvantEdge Card and designate a school at the Guest Services desk at your local Price Chopper, at your school, or online at pricechopper.com. Schools can redeem accumulated points for free supplies and equipment. Tell your friends, neighbors, co-workers to register their card and designate Reading Elementary! Thanks for your support!

Volunteer - We love community members involved in our school! Perhaps you can help "count" box tops, read in a classroom, plant flowers, share one of your skills with a classroom, or any number of other things! Feel free to e-mail Cathy Knight - cknight@wcsu.net with questions or call Sherry at 802-484-7230.

Parking & Drop-Off - Right in front of the school is a no-parking zone. If you pull up in front of the school, we ask that you drop off your students quickly. If you need to walk your students in, please park in the visitor spots or the loop.

Principal Meetings - Due to reduced staff this school year and the new after school program, Mrs. Knight is covering many duties so if you'd like to meet with her, please see Sherry to schedule an appointment. She can be reached on her cell, 802-779-5577, or her e-mail: cknight@wcsu.net.

Staff Bios - So we will highlighting various staff members each week so you can get to know who your child's education team is. Please see below:

A Message from Ms. Martin - RES Cook

My name is Paitra Martin and I will be the new lunch chef for Reading Elementary. I studied at Lakes Region Community College for two years and have been working at Cloudland Farm Restaurant for the past three years, I am looking forward to a change and can’t wait to work with the students. I plan to feed students nutritious foods and bring a smile to their faces in the cafeteria.

OTHER WAYS TO HELP READING SCHOOL