Good Afternoon, Reading Public School Staff and Community,

I hope that you are having an enjoyable weekend.  Here is Weekly Winter Hybrid Update #5.

• COVID-19 Information-Below is the latest information on the COVID-19 cases for this week.  Our cases were lower this week and many students who tested positive were remote.  We believe a combination of our district going remote last week, combined with the work that families and staff are doing with preventative measures contributed to the lower numbers.  Thank you for your efforts.
  • 3 RMHS students tested positive.  All three students were remote and there was no in school exposure.  However, all three are in season athletes and, as a result, 9 other athletes had to quarantine.  Unfortunately, this results in one of our teams being quarantined until 1/21.
  • 2 Coolidge Middle School students tested positive.  Both students were remote and there was no in school exposure.
  • 4 Elementary Students (Eaton, Birch Meadow, Killam) test positive.  All four students were remote and there was no in school exposure.
  • 1 RMHS Staff Member test positive.  As a result, 4 staff members and 2 students have been quarantined.

• School Nurses Receive First Dose of Vaccine-We are pleased to announce that our school nurses have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccination along with our Reading first responders.  Our nurses will be assisting in administering the vaccine to the community and to the schools.

• Reading Public Schools Professional Development Day on Friday-This past Friday, Reading Public School staff participated in several workshops focused on “Resiliency and Support in COVID impacted classrooms.  The topics focused on several areas including:
  • Cultural Proficiency
  • Uncovering Implicit Bias
  • Difficult Conversations About Race and Racism
  • How to begin courageous conversations
  • Technology Professional Development
  • Mindfulness and Meditation
  • Youth Mental Health First Aid
  • Creating a trauma sensitive classroom
  • And More!

I want to thank Assistant Superintendent for Learning and Teaching Chris Kelley and the Professional Development Committee for their efforts in organizing this day.The work that was done on Friday aligns with one of our goals in our current district improvement plan that focuses on equity and social justice practices, as well as, the social and emotional well-being of all students.Public schools need to provide safe places for all students to have discussion and dialog about issues of public concern such as equity and social justice.These professional development days provide the support and training needed to have those discussions and dialog.As I mentioned in my message to the Community last week, I am proud of the work that our Principals and staff are doing on this important topic and I support their work.

• FY22 Public Hearing and School Committee Meeting on Budget-There will be a meeting of the Reading School Committee on Thursday, January 21^st, beginning at 7:00 p.m.  The meeting will begin with a public hearing on the FY22 budget and continue with the regular SC meeting agenda.  Because of the nature of the public hearing, this meeting will be on Zoom and RCTV at the following link below.

https://readingpsma.zoom.us/j/81055755789

• Email-Recently, you may have received an email from john doherty <fixreadingschools@yahoo.com> . I would like to make it clear that this email did not come from me nor is this email or the website affiliated with the Reading Public Schools.  We cannot guarantee if the contents of this email is safe to open.

Have a great rest of the weekend and week ahead!