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Winter Hybrid Update 7

Good Morning, Reading Public School Staff and Families,

I hope that you are surviving this very cold weekend.  Here is Winter Hybrid Update #7.

  • COVID-19 Information:  We had a total of 10 cases this past week.  Below are the cases by level:
    •   3 RMHS students-There was no in school exposure and no athletics exposure.  No students or staff were quarantined.
    •   1 Coolidge student-There was no in school exposure and no students or staff were quarantined.
    •   4 Parker students-There was three classes of students that were exposed.  33 students and no staff were quarantined.
    •   5 Wood End students-All unrelated.  There was one class that was exposed.  9 students and 1 staff member were quarantined.
  • Community Forum This Week on Pooled Testing and Other Hybrid Updates-The Reading Public Schools is planning on moving forward with pooled testing in the near future as an additional mitigation step for all staff and students.  We will be holding staff and community forums this week to present what pooled testing is and also any other winter hybrid updates.  The community updates will be held on Zoom and will be at the following dates and times:
  • Potential Snow Storm for Monday Afternoon/Tuesday-The current forecast for our area is predicting that snow will begin tomorrow afternoon at approximately 1:00-3:00 p.m. and will continue into the evening and Tuesday morning.  If school is impacted on Tuesday due to inclement weather, it will be a snow day and not a remote day.  We will keep you updated if conditions change.
  • Second Semester/Third Quarter for Secondary Schools starts Tomorrow-Second Semester and Third Quarter begins tomorrow for our middle schools and RMHS.  In addition, elementary schools will switch art and music classes. 
  • CDC Article on Reopening Schools-This week, you may have seen the CDC study on reopening schools  and accompanying articles.  It is important to continue to emphasize that the reason why in school transmissions are much lower than the rest of the community is because of all of the mitigation steps that our schools are taking.  This includes the 6 foot distancing, hand sanitizing, cohorts, cleaning and disinfecting, mask wearing, updated ventilation and upgraded filters, and staying home when a person has symptoms.  We are excited that we will now be adding pooled testing to those mitigation strategies.
  • SEPAC Information– Please join the SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Council) at our next business meeting on Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at 7:00 PM! New business for this meeting includes an update from our reading/literacy subcommittee and a brief presentation by Alice Gomez, School Psychologist, on community resources, followed by a parent discussion regarding the same. Please join us for this presentation and discussion and feel free to share any additional resources that you think other parents may find helpful. All are welcome!  This meeting will be held virtually, via Zoom. Join us for our next VIRTUAL SEPAC MEETING on Tuesday, February 9th at 7 PM. Meeting link: Join Zoom Meeting . Please also join us for our next VIRTUAL Reading and Literacy Subcommittee Meetingon Tuesday, February 2nd at 7PM.  Meeting link: https://readingpsma.zoom.us/j/87835232197  All are welcome and ENCOURAGED to attend!
  • Opportunity for Therapy- The Reading Coalition for Prevention & Support has partnered with Doc Wayne to bring an exciting youth therapeutic program to Reading students ages 5-18. If you are looking for individual therapy for your child or are interested in learning more about group therapy, please join Doc Wayne and the Reading Coalition for a virtual information session. Sessions will be hosted on:

Using a theoretical curriculum, which incorporates social-emotional learning and life skills, Doc Wayne offers innovative mental health programming. In addition to traditional individual therapy, Doc Wayne offers unique group therapeutic programs. Through these groups students:

  • Have the opportunity and needed supports to become resilient and regulated individuals with positive adult and peer relationships
  • Create positive relationships with teammates, friends, and family members
  • Become confident and competent members of their schools and larger communities
  • Achieve their highest level of academic success

Please see the attached PDF for additional information on Doc Wayne. All of Doc Wayne’s programming is being offered via telehealth due to COVID-19.

doc-wayne_readingDownload

If you have any questions please contact Sammy Salkin, Outreach Coordinator, Reading Coalition for Prevention & Support at ssalkin@ci.reading.ma.us.

Have a great week ahead!

John Doherty

Superintendent

Reading Public Schools

82 Oakland Road

Reading, Massachusetts 01867

781-944-5800

John.doherty@reading.k12.ma.us

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