Saturday, September 8, 2018

RES PRINCIPAL'S BLOG - ROCKETS REPORT - Sun., Sept. 9, 2018

Dear Reading Elementary "Rockets" Families & Community Members:

We've now had seven days of school, so we're still settling into routines!  It's so wonderful to have five days this week to really settle in and hopefully without the high temperatures of the last few weeks!  We look forward to seeing your student at 7:30 AM Monday!  



Kudos and heartfelt thanks to:
  • PTO members who attended the PTO meeting Wed. night.  
  • All of you who have sent in your forms!
Other Items of Interest:

1st Day Forms - Please send in any forms that came down the first day!  They contain important safety information that we need!  Thanks!

Reading After School Program - Payment is only needed a week in advance, even though you sign up for other days within the session.  Reading Runners will be run through the After school program.  Please complete the form and return.  

Reading RunnersThe “Reading Runners” is an elementary cross-country running team which is part of the Reading After School Program.  Any interested grade K-6 students are welcome to join the team. We practice twice each week on Mondays and Wednesdays from 2:45-4:00 pm. We will start practice on Monday, September 10.  We will compete in four regional events, two at Kurn Hattin Homes in Westminster, VT and two in Putney, VT sponsored by The Grammar School.  The dates are as follows:
Wednesday, Sept. 19—Kurn Hattin Homes, WestminsterWednesday, Sept. 26—Green Mtn, Orchards, Putney; Wednesday, Oct. 3—Kurn Hattin Homes, Westminster; Wednesday, Oct. 17, The Grammar School, Putney Grammar School, Putney.  We will definitely need parent volunteers to provide snacks for practices and to drive to running competitions. Runners need sneakers, shorts, water bootle and snack! Please read this flier regarding Reading Runners. Students will need to have completed the after school program form to participate.

Soccer Opportunity - Message from nearby Cavendish Recreation Director, Terry O'Brien:  I am reaching out today to all Reading residents interested in their children participating in the Cavendish Recreation soccer program.  
We offer:
  • K/pre K co-ed instructional team with some competition included on Wed-Sat at Greven Field.
  • Gr. 1/2(likely co-ed) on Tuesday-Thursday and some Saturday games at Greven Field, including a league wide jamboree on Oct. 13.
  • Gr. 3/4 Girls and boys teams, generally Tues-Thur and some Saturdays. Home field is Fletcher Field.
  • Gr. 5/6 Girls and boys teams, generally Mon-Wed and some Saturdays, also at Fletcher Field.
  • Practice times will vary according to our volunteer coaches and field availability.  Games are normally at 5:00 and 6:00 during the week and Saturday mornings.
  • If your child chooses to participate, there will be no shortage of playing time and excellent qualified coaching.  Though we always will take players from other towns without a program, we especially welcome them this year as our own enrollment is a bit lower than normal , and we want to ensure a viable team for each level.
  • If you have any questions, please contact me through any means stated on the Registration Form.  Once registered,you will also be given a medical waiver form to fill out. Sign up form HERE.  

♪ Happy New School Year from the Music Department 
How exciting it is to announce that instrument lessons for grades 4, 5, and 6 begin on Thursday September 13, 2018.  Please have your child ready for their lessons.  This includes their instrument, Essential Element Book, and a pencil.  Please email me at cmorton@wcsu.net if you have any questions.
Thank you,
Christine Morton
Music Teacher

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 Mr. Drost 
Hello Friends & Families, I would like to introduce myself as your child's Physical Education teacher. My goal is to teach your child about the importance of physical activity on there growing bodies. I use exercises,aerobic conditioning, flexibility,gross motor development and cooperative games in each of my classes. This years P.E. day will be on Mondays. Please have your child come to class with the appropriate clothing and foot wear (sneakers). I love to be outdoors as often as possible (suns out we are out) conditions allowing. If your child has outgrown there older sneakers, I wish to create a sneaker box to store those sneakers in so kids may borrow them on days when they may have forgotten to bring in there proper foot wear. So if you have older and clean sneakers you can donate them to the sneaker box.I look forward to getting to know your child and I promise you they will have fun in every class. If you have any questions or concerns this school year please contact me. Have a great year!  Coach Glenn  PS due to the Holiday this past week I was in on Tuesday for our first day of PE.

A Message from Ms. Curran
Hello. My name is Libby Curran and this is my second year at Reading. I am the Special Education teacher and also do intervention with children from Kindergarten up to 6th grade. I have taught for more than 25 years in Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts, but Reading School really feels like home. I love reading, gardening, kayaking and skiing. I live in Wilmot, New Hampshire, with my husband, Tim, and our dog Cassidy. We have two grown children and are expecting our first grand daughter in October. 

A Message from Mrs. Kaija
One of the best parts of each week for me is Wednesday, when I work with the thoughtful, creative and enthusiastic students at RES. I started teaching as a “volunteer” Integrated Visual Arts Teacher at RES in 2004 when a former principal decided that Art and Music did not require dedicated teachers. The two positions were eventually reinstated. All five of my children attended Reading Elementary School, so I am invested in its sustainability and success.

I especially enjoy working with the classroom teachers to design art projects that enhance and enrich the math, literacy, science and social studies units they are teaching. Here’s an idea of how we’ll start the year in Visual Arts:

Pre-K—Process, not product! (painting, scissor skills, introduction to clay, etc.)
Grades K/1—Using different media (pastels, tempera, watercolor pencils, clay, papier mache)
Grades 2/3/4—“Weather Art”--painted images of various types of weather
Grades 5/6—Introduction to Nature Photography (observation skills, “Rule of Thirds”, focus, perspective)

I wholeheartedly welcome volunteers in art classes on Wednesdays!  Please contact me with questions, concerns and your ideas at lkaija@wcsu.net.

OTHER WAYS TO HELP READING SCHOOL 
  • Offer to teach a course in the After School program - share your skills! 
BREAKFAST & LUNCH &  MENU FOR NEXT WEEK: 





Happening this Week:
  • Mon., Sept. 10 - 
    • PE - Students should wear tennis shoes!
    • 6 PM - WCUD/WCSU Board Meeting 6 -8 PM
  • Tues., Sept. 11 - Library/Tech
  • Wed., Sept. 12 - 
    • Art
  • Thurs., Sept. 13 - Music - Band starts!
  • Fri., Sept. 14 - Spanish
Mark Your Calendar/Upcoming Events:    
  • Wed., Sept. 26 - Back to School Open House - 5:30 - 6:30 PM
  • Wed., Oct. 3 - Picture Day
  • Mon., Oct. 8 - NO SCHOOL
  • Tues.,Oct. 9  - "Web of Life" Field Trip Gr. 6 begins
Thoughts to Ponder: 

























LIFE AT READING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL:






















Sunday, September 2, 2018

RES PRINCIPAL'S BLOG - ROCKETS REPORT - Sun., Sept. 2, 2018

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.comand 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 
  • Offer to teach a course in the After School program - share your skills! 
LUNCH & BREAKFAST MENU FOR NEXT WEEK: 




Happening this Week:
  • Mon., Sept. 3 - Labor Day- NO SCHOOL!
  • Tues., Sept. 4 - PE - Students should wear tennis shoes!
  • Wed., Sept. 5 - 
    • Art
    • PTO Meeting 6 PM - RES Library
  • Thurs., Sept. 6 - Music - no band yet
  • Fri., Sept. 7 - Spanish
Mark Your Calendar/Upcoming Events:    
  • Wed., Sept. 26 - Back to School Open House - 5:30 - 6:30 PM
  • Wed., Oct. 3 - Picture Day
  • Mon., Oct. 8 - NO SCHOOL
  • Tues.,Oct. 9  - "Web of Life" Field Trip Gr. 6 begins
Thoughts to Ponder: 





LIFE AT READING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL:

Photos shared by Abby Rowlee:


















Other photos of life around RES:



















Sunday, August 26, 2018

RES PRINCIPAL'S BLOG - ROCKETS REPORT - Sun., Aug. 26, 2018

Dear Reading Elementary "Rockets" Families & Community Members,




         Wed., August 29 
PTO Breakfast 7:20 - 7:40 PM
Morning Circle 7:40 AM

Kudos and heartfelt thanks to:
  • The PTO for hosting the 1st day breakfast!  
Other Items of Interest:   

Reading Afterschool Program -  Students who will be attending the 1st day must have completed registration forms submitted prior to attending after school.  Please check out the attached sign-up form for more information.  Space is limited, so please send in your forms as soon as possible.

Since we are a licensed agency, we have specific forms that are different than school registration forms that must be filled out.  These will be sent home with the student after we receive your registration form.  The registration form will allow them to participate this week.  

Current Enrollment & Classrooms (36 K-6; 16 PK:  52 students - as of today.)
We welcome a new 2nd grader and a pre-school student who joined us last week!  

WCUD Board Meeting - Mon., Aug. 27, 2018, 6:00 PM - WUHSMS Teagle Library. Agenda here.

Bus Routes - Please see links here: Reading AM and Reading PM.  

School Hours - 
















FOOD SERVICE NEWS

Details can be found HERE regarding the payment procedures, including an online payment option.  

According to our District Food Service Director, there is NO snack provided this year, but a "grab and go" breakfast is available to purchase.  Please send snacks for your child or encourage them to get a "bag breakfast."  

*August  & September Breakfast Menu
*August Lunch Menu
*September Lunch Menu

Please complete the Free and Reduced Application to help our school with additional funding options.

OTHER WAYS TO HELP READING SCHOOL   
  • Get involved with the PTO!  
  • Teach a workshop at next year's after school program!
Mark Your Calendar/Upcoming Events:
  • Mon., Aug. 27 -Pre-K Orientation/Open House 5:30 - 6:30 PM
  • Wed., Aug. 29 - 
    • 1st Day of School 2018-19 - PTO Breakfast!
    • Special - Art with Mrs. Kaija
    • Afterschool Program 2:20 - 5:30 PM
  • Thurs., Aug. 30
    • Special - Music with Mrs. Morton
  • Fri., Aug. 31 
    • Special - Spanish with Mrs. Liebley
  • Mon., Sept. 3 - NO SCHOOL - Labor Day

  • Thursday, September 27 5:30 - 6:30 PM
Thoughts to Ponder: 





Sunday, August 19, 2018

RES PRINCIPAL'S BLOG - ROCKETS REPORT - Sun., Aug. 19, 2018

Dear Reading Elementary "Rockets" Families & Community Members,

This is the first blog of the new school year!  I hope all of you had an amazing summer!  We've missed the students and it will be good to see them soon!  We don't

For those of you new to this, you will receive this every Sunday by 5 PM with the updates for the upcoming week.  We don't like cluttering your e-mail with lots of e-mails and your recycled bins with paper newsletters, so we try and put all the school news in this every week for easy reference!  No other elementary school in our district has this type of weekly blog, and I appreciate your kind comments, suggestions and input.  I welcome photos and news to share, please send it to me with "BLOG" in the subject line.  



         Wed., August 29

Kudos and heartfelt thanks to:
  • Darci Blanchard & Wade Mullins for helping out at the July yard sale!  
Other Items of Interest:   

Reading Afterschool Program - Reading Elementary School is a licensed after school program meaning families can apply for state assistance for child care.  For families' convenience, our program will be open on the 1st day of school!  

Mrs. Knight is the director and Pam Boyer Sheldon is the other lead staff member director.  Mrs. Vanessa Maxham has stepped up to be the assistant director for our program.  We are still looking for program teachers and community members to fill our program schedule throughout the year.  We have an exciting year planned!  If you'd like to help, please contact Cathy Knight at cknight@wcsu.net or her cell at 802-779-5577.  Please check out the attached sign-up form for more information.  A detailed program will be coming home in the first day packet 8/29/18.  

Current Enrollment & Classrooms (35 K-6; 16 PK:  51 students)
  • Preschool - 3 & 4 yr. olds (16 students) - Mrs. Faulkner; Amy Harkins-Paraeducator
  • Kindergarten & 1st Grade (10 students) - Mrs. Boyer Sheldon
  • Second, Third & Fourth Grade (15 students) - Mrs. Jen Mayo; Paraeducator TBA
  • Fifth & Sixth - (11 students) - Mrs. Patty Collins
Staffing:
  • Full-Time Principal - Mrs. Knight
  • Admin. Asst. - Mrs. Hatt
  • Special Ed. - Libby Curran
  • PE Teacher - Glen Drost (Mon.)
  • Nurse - TBA (Mrs. Chick has taken a full-time position at another school.)
  • Librarian/Ed. Tech Specialist - Mrs. Knight (Tues.)
  • Art - Mrs. Kaija (Wed.)
  • Music/Band - Mrs. Morton (Thurs.)
  • Spanish - Mrs. Liebley (Fri.)
  • Guidance - Mrs. Jill Tofferi (TBA)
We welcome Mr. Glen Drost who lives in Brownsville and hails from Springfield's Elm Hill Elementary.  We sadly say farewell to Mrs. Chick who has taken a full time position at another school.  We believe we have a nurse from another WCUD school lined up, so more news next week.

School Hours: Will be announced next blog, waiting on bus route confirmation.

WCUD Board Meeting - Mon., Aug. 27, 2018, 6:00 PM - WUHSMS Teagle Library. Agenda not published yet.


FOOD SERVICE LETTER:

This year our food service will be part of the WCUD School Nutrition Program directed by Gretchen Czaja, the former WES food service director.  We sadly say farewell to Heather Evans who served us fabulous meals for several years and wish her the absolute best!  Our new cook at Reading Elementary is a Woodstock & Culinary tech graduate, Paitra Martin.  Welcome Paitra!  Below is a letter from Gretchen with this year's prices.  It can also be found on the school's website!  I will be sending out menus with next week's blog!  

OTHER WAYS TO HELP READING SCHOOL   
  • Get involved with the PTO!  
  • Teach a workshop at next year's after school program!
Mark Your Calendar/Upcoming Events:
  • Mon., Aug. 27 -Pre-K Orientation/Open House 5:30 - 6:30 PM
  • Wed., Aug. 29 - 
    • 1st Day of School 2018-19 - PTO Breakfast!
    • Afterschool Program 2:20 - 5:30 PM

    Thursday, September 27 5:30 - 6:30 PM
Thoughts to Ponder: