Good Morning, Reading Public School Community,

As we continue to transition out of the pandemic, we would like to communicate to you two opportunities throughout the summer where families will be able to access food on a weekly basis.  Both of these programs are meant to complement each other and are not in competition with each other. 

1.                     Reading Public Schools Food Distribution Program Through the USDA

We will be continuing our food distribution program throughout the summer.  As part of the USDA Seamless Summer Program, we will be providing 7 breakfasts and 7 lunches for each child in a family, ages 0-22.  The food will include fresh fruits and vegetables, along with perishable items.  Food Distribution will be every Tuesday, beginning on June 22^nd, from 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon at the bridge at Reading Memorial High School near the Hawke Field House.  For further information, please contact School Nutrition Director Danielle Collins at Danielle.Collins@reading.k12.ma.us.

II.                  St. Vincent de Paul Society Fifth Annual Summer Food Distribution Program

The Reading Conference of the Society of St Vincent de Paul is pleased to invite you to share in our fifth annual summer food program.  This free program serves the families of any students who are at risk of hunger during this very difficult financial time.  Every family who joins this program will receive a supply of free, high quality, nutritious and non-perishable food each week during the summer months…oh, and some new recipes, too.

Here’s how to join:

  1. Register your family with us by answering the following three questions:

      A. Your last name 

      B. The number of children in your family

      C. The address in Reading to which your groceries should be delivered

  2. Send this information to St. Vincent de Paul Society on line at

      st.agnes.reading.svdp@gmail.com by Thursday, June 10, 2021.

Weekly deliveries will be made on Wednesday late afternoon from June 16 through August 18.

You will receive a weekly email on the day of delivery which will advise you of the approximate time you can expect your groceries. At this point, if you wish to cancel this delivery just send notice via return email.  Please also use this email to discuss any comments or concerns you may have with this free service during the summer.

Your groceries will be delivered to the address in Reading as noted above.  Please state which outside door to leave these bags and if you wish the delivery person to ring the bell.  To be certain that all the groceries are delivered in a timely way, the driver is on a very strict schedule and so is not able to enter your home.  

VERY IMPORTANT NOTICE:

Although we are sensitive to friends with food allergies, we are not prepared to modify the contents of the bags to meet everyone’s personal needs.  Just as you would shop in a store, we ask you to select the items for your family.  If there is something you cannot use, please pass it on to someone else or deposit it into the Reading Food Pantry collection bin at your local supermarket. 

Best wishes for a very healthy and happy summer,

Alicia Gallagher

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

John Doherty

Superintendent

Reading Public Schools

82 Oakland Road

Reading, Massachusetts 01867

781-944-5800

John.doherty@reading.k12.ma.us

Good Morning, Reading Public School Community,

I hope you are doing well and enjoying your long weekend.  We are now in the home stretch with just 15 school days to go!  I want to thank you for everything you have done to get us to this point.  Please take time to enjoy these remaining 15 days.  It is a year we will never forget.

Here is Spring Update 11.  Have a great weekend!

1. Health Data-This past week, we had the following positive cases:
   • One positive case at RMHS, no close contacts
   • One positive case at Coolidge, 6 students quarantined.
   • One positive case at Barrows, 18 students quarantined

In addition, we had no positive pools this week for the very first time since we started pool testing!

2. Vaccinations- In School Vaccinations
   • We had a very successful set of vaccination clinics this past week at Parker, Coolidge, and RMHS where a total of 184 students were vaccinated.  A special thanks goes out to our Director of Nurses Mary Giuliana and the Reading Fire Department for all of their assistance during these clinics.
   • In addition, we have over 600 RMHS students (exclusive of above numbers) who have now been vaccinated.  That is close to 60%.

3. New DESE Guidelines Released-On May 27^th, DESE released new health and safety guidelines for the remainder of this year and next year.  I have attached those guidelines and the updated guidelines for graduation.  The main points for the health and safety guidelines are as follows:

• Through the end of the 2020-21 school year: The core mitigation strategies that districts and schools have used all year will remain in place through the end of the school year, except for outdoor masking. Most other guidance also remains in place with a few exceptions.

• Summer school and other summer programs: DESE will not issue separate guidance for summer school programs. For summer programs, districts and schools are encouraged to follow the health and safety guidance from DESE currently in place for in-person learning this spring.

• Fall 2021 school reopening: For the fall, all districts and schools will be required to be in-person, full-time, five days a week, and all DESE health and safety requirements will be lifted. This includes all physical distancing requirements. We will collaborate with the Department of Public Health (DPH) to issue any additional health and safety recommendations over the summer (e.g., masks for elementary school students). We will provide any updates to districts and schools as we receive them.

• Districts will no longer be able to offer remote learning as a standard learning model-As noted above, districts and schools will be required to be in-person, full-time, five days a week this fall. Pathways that existed prior to the pandemic for offering virtual learning to individual students in limited cases will remain available to districts and schools. These include home/hospital tutoring programs due to a documented medical condition,3 single district virtual schools, and other narrow circumstances.

4. MIAA Update Guidelines (For High School Sports)- The MIAA Sports Medicine Committee (SMC) met Friday, May 28, 2021 to review and discuss the DESE updates and Governor Baker’s changes. The SMC voted in the affirmative to follow the DESE guidance, effective May 29, 2021, outdoor mask/facial covering requirements for educators: “fully vaccinated educators do not have to wear masks when outdoors and unvaccinated educators are encouraged to wear masks when outdoors, in alignment with the state masking advisory. To clarify, the SMC vote includes adult participants (i.e. coaches, officials, athletic trainers) in the same category as educators. You may view DESE guidance HERE.

5. Student Services Office Hours for the Remainder of the School Year-The Student Services Department is holding office hours at the following dates and times:

• Wednesday, 6/2/21 @ 9-10 am
• Thursday, 6/10/21 @ 11-12 pm
• Tuesday, 6/15/21 @12-1 pm

Please use the DOODLE Poll below to sign up for an Office Hours time:

https://doodle.com/poll/zzayw2kufrdv5xiq?utm_source=poll&utm_medium=link

6. SEPAC Meeting on Tuesday, June 8^th–There will be a meeting of the Reading Special Education Parent Advisory Council on Tuesday, June 8^th on Zoom.  You can access the meeting at the link below.  The meeting will include a meet and greet with all of the new administrators including Superintendent Tom Milaschewski, Assistant Superintendent Sarah Hardy, RMHS Principal Kevin Tracey, and Joshua Eaton Principal Caitlin Shelburne.

https://readingpsma.zoom.us/j/83007242726

7. SEPAC Workshop on June 15^th–Reading SEPAC and Reading Public Schools will host a workshop, Understanding the Process of Assessing for Reading Disabilities, on Tuesday, June 15^th at7:00 p.m. on Zoom.  You can access the link here:  https://readingpsma.zoom.us/j/87037078496.  This is the second in a series of community reading trainings.  As part of this training, participants will learn about:

• Understanding the Process of Assessing for Reading Disabilities
• Understanding the Referral Process
• Understanding Reading Assessments for Specific Constructs/Assessment Sensitivity
• Using Reading Assessment Data to Drive Instruction/Progress Monitoring (Aimlines)
• The Crafting Minds Special Education Graphic Organizer for Assessment Results

The presenters for the workshop will be:

• Shana Goldwyn, PhD – Team Chairperson: Killam Elementary/Joshua Eaton Elementary
• Renee Limauro, MS, CCC-SLP – Team Chairperson: Reading Memorial High School
• Auriana Musselman, M.Ed. – LEAD Teacher, Parker Middle School

8. SEPAC Survey-The Reading Public Schools Special Education Parent Advisory Council would like your feedback on future topics for SEPAC meetings and workshops.  Please complete this quick survey no later than Friday, June 4th.    https://forms.gle/VtqY7nditk1Nqsxg7 

Good Morning,

There will be a meeting of the Reading School Committee this evening at 7:00 p.m. on Microsoft Teams.  The SC will begin at 6:00 p.m. with an Executive Session and then proceed to a public hearing on School Choice at 7:00 p.m.

The link to the meeting is below.

https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_MGNkZmQyNzAtNjFmMi00YzgwLWFiNGEtY2M2MTdlNGIxZWMx%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%226b81bca4-cd59-4341-a904-ea2ff758fe2a%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22c0e8c5d3-a82a-4511-9dc1-a9f6080ccbc3%22%2c%22IsBroadcastMeeting%22%3atrue%7d&btype=a&role=a

Thanks.

John Doherty

Superintendent

Reading Public Schools

82 Oakland Road

Reading, Massachusetts 01867

781-944-5800

John.doherty@reading.k12.ma.us

Good Morning, Reading Public School Community,

I am pleased to announce that Caitlin Shelburne has been appointed as the next Principal for the Joshua Eaton Elementary School.  Caitlin is currently the Principal and Senior Director of Curriculum and Instruction of the Making Waves Academy in Richmond, California.  She has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Vermont and a Master of Arts from University of California at Berkeley.  She has a strong elementary literacy background with the Lawrence Public Schools where she taught Grade 5 and instructed ESL students in Grades 3, 4, and 5.  She is the recipient of the Timothy Shiner Ally Award in 2012 from the University of Vermont and the Sontag Prize in Urban Education for Teaching Excellence from 2013-16.

Caitlin will begin on July 1^st and will be visiting the school in the near future.

Please welcome Caitlin Shelburne to the Joshua Eaton Elementary School!

John Doherty

Superintendent

Reading Public Schools

82 Oakland Road

Reading, Massachusetts 01867

781-944-5800

John.doherty@reading.k12.ma.us

Good Morning, Reading Public School Community,

I hope that you are enjoying this beautiful weekend.  Here is Spring Update #10.  Have a great day!

• May 28^th Inservice Day-This is a reminder that May 28th is an Inservice Day for staff and will not be a day of school, except for Birch Meadow.  Birch Meadow will have a regular day of school with a Friday schedule because of the additional day that was given to them in October.  If you have any questions, please contact your building principal.

• Health Information-We have some very good news in that our positive cases are decreasing significantly!  This week we had the following:
  • One positive case at Coolidge, 6 students quarantined.
  • To date, we have completed 2,294 pool tests with 23 positive pool results, including one this week.
  • We are also pleased to announce that 588 RMHS students have had at least one dose of the vaccine.  That is close to 50%.
  • We are also holding clinics at Coolidge, Parker, and RMHS this week for students 12 years and older.  Information went out on Friday with the link to register.

• Birch Meadow and Joshua Eaton Principal Searches-We are finalizing the decisions for both the Birch Meadow and Joshua Eaton Principal Searches.  Our goal is to have information communicated to the community early this week. 

• Congratulations to RISE Preschool!- Congratulations to R.I.S.E. Preschool on being selected as an exemplar preschool for addressing the social-emotional and mental health needs of children.  The National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations (NCPMI) on behalf of The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) requested states to identify local programs that implemented the Pyramid Model with success.  R.I.S.E. Preschool was selected as an exemplar Pyramid Model Preschool for Massachusetts.  Here are some of the accomplishments that were highlighted:
  • All 11 classrooms are implementing Positive Behavior Supports (PBS) with fidelity measured by Teaching Pyramid Observation Tool.  All classrooms are at 80% or above.  
  • The program works in partnership with community preschools.  
  • Amid COVID restrictions, social emotional behavior supports have continued with social emotional direct lessons taught with all deliveries of instruction.  
  • The R.I.S.E. Building Leadership Team meets monthly to review data and program goals.  This Team includes the director, classroom teacher, paraprofessional, related service provider, district data coach, district behavior coach, internal R.I.S.E. coach, external DESE coach and a parent.  
  • Program-wide educator goals are tied to family engagement with a focus on social emotional and mental health of children. 

Congratulations to the staff of RISE and Director Kelley Bostwick on this well-deserved recognition!

• SEPAC Survey-The Reading Public Schools Special Education Parent Advisory Council would like your feedback on future topics for SEPAC meetings and workshops.  Please complete this quick survey no later than Friday, June 4th.    https://forms.gle/VtqY7nditk1Nqsxg7 
• Updated Graduation Guidelines-Below is the updated graduation guidelines from DESE.  We will put out further detail once we get closer to the events.

Good Morning, Reading Public School Families,

The Reading Public Schools Special Education Parent Advisory Council would like your feedback on future topics for SEPAC meetings and workshops.  Please complete this quick survey no later than Friday, June 4th.

https://forms.gle/VtqY7nditk1Nqsxg7

Thank you in advance for your support!

Reading SEPAC

Good Morning, Joshua Eaton Community

First and foremost, I want to thank the Joshua Eaton Screening Committee for their hard work and flexibility in the process.  They have done an amazing job. 

I am pleased to announce that we have two finalists for the Joshua Eaton Principal Positions.  The names are as follows:

Jessica Ekhomu-Assistant Principal, Tobin K-8 School, Roxbury Crossing MA

Caitlin Shelburne-Senior Director of Academic Instruction, Making Waves Academy, Richmond, CA

I have attached redacted copies of their resumes for your review. 

There will be an open microphone session for the Community on Wednesday, May 19^th from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.  The link and schedule are below:

https://readingpsma.zoom.us/j/87878936498

5:30-6:00 p.m.   Jessica Ekhomu

6:00-6:30 p.m.   Caitlin Shelburne

Please contact me if you have any questions.

John Doherty

Superintendent

Reading Public Schools

82 Oakland Road

Reading, Massachusetts 01867

781-944-5800

John.doherty@reading.k12.ma.us

Good Morning, Reading Public School Staff and Community,

Yesterday, Governor Baker issued several updates to the mask mandate and gathering limits for outdoor and indoor activities.  Those FAQs are below.

From a Reading Public Schools perspective, here is what will be followed, effective today.

• All FAQs listed below will be followed with the following modifications:
  • For students in PreK-5, recess and other activities must continue to be in cohorts of classes.  Please do not mix classrooms.
  • All High School sports will continue to follow the mask and physical distancing procedures until the MIAA  issues new guidelines.
• Because students may not have a place to store their mask during recess or outdoor activities, it is advised that students bring more than one mask to school each day.  As stated in the FAQs below, students and staff will still need to wear masks indoors and practice proper physical distancing procedures.
• As we get closer to end of the year events (i.e. graduation, proms, promotion ceremonies), we will issue further guidelines.

Please know that the health and safety of staff and students is our top priority.  We are following the guidance and science issued to us by DESE, DPH, and CDC and will continue to do that throughout the remainder of the school year.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mary Giuliana, your building principal, or myself.

Thanks and be safe.

Department of Elementary & Secondary Education

Frequently Asked Questions, Week of May 17, 2021

1. Do students have to wear masks while outdoors?
   On May 17th, 2021, after consultation with the MA COVID Command Center’s Medical Advisory Board, the Governor announced that given the low rate of outdoor transmission of COVID-19, students no longer have to wear masks when outdoors, even if distance cannot be maintained. Effective May 18, this guidance update applies to recess, physical education, youth sports, and outdoor learning environments. Adults must continue to wear masks outdoors if distancing cannot be maintained. At this time, adults and students must continue to wear masks indoors.
   
   After consultation with the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, it has been determined that close contacts who were exposed to a COVID-19 positive individual while outdoors at recess do not have to quarantine. DESE will issue an updated Protocols to Responding to COVID-19 Scenarios document accordingly.
   
   
2. Are students allowed to share objects (classroom materials or art supplies?)
   On May 17th, 2021, after consultation with the MA COVID Command Center’s Medical Advisory Board, the Governor announced that given the low likelihood of surface transmission of COVID-19, schools no longer have to avoid sharing objects. This includes classroom materials, items for physical education, or art supplies. Shared objects no longer have to be cleaned or disinfected between use and should follow the updated cleaning guidance outlined below.
   
   
3. How frequently do schools have to clean spaces or surfaces?
   Based on CDC guidance and updated information on the low likelihood of surface transmission, schools now only need to clean high touch surfaces (door handles, bus seats, drinking fountains) and shared objects within the school and on school transport vehicles once a day, excluding certain circumstances.[1] If schools are located in an area of high transmission of COVID-19, then they may consider cleaning more frequently, or cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and objects once a day. Similarly, for areas where masks are not worn (i.e., lunch areas), schools may consider cleaning surfaces between use. If a surface or object is visibly soiled, it should be immediately cleaned. If someone in the school in the past 24 hours has confirmed to have COVID-19, the spaces (i.e., classroom, bus and lunch area) they were in should be cleaned and disinfected. If disinfecting, ensure safe and correct use and storage of cleaning products, including storing products securely away from children.
   
   
4. Will the gathering limits for school events with outside participants change this spring?
   In alignment with state guidance, the gathering limits for school events with outside participants will be lifted starting May 29, 2021. The other health and safety measures, such as masking, distancing, and other protocols, outlined in DESE’s Supplemental Guidance for Student Groups and School Events for School Year 2020-2021(download) will still apply.
   
   
5. As the weather grows warmer, can schools and classrooms use air conditioning?

Schools should continue to maximize ventilation and air exchanges in schools and classrooms, even in warmer weather.  Schools should target 4-6 air exchanges per hour through any combination of ventilation and filtration by keeping doors open, using portable air purifiers, and/or keeping windows cracked open one or two inches.

For schools with centralized systems or in-room unit ventilators, they should continue to have those units bring in as much fresh air as possible into the classrooms and increase the level of filtration in the system. Keeping windows open a few inches and doors open for cross-ventilation or using portable air cleaners with HEPA filters are good strategies.

If individual window air conditioning is used, schools should be mindful that many individual AC units often only recirculate air; they may not provide any ventilation, they may only have low levels of filtration. These AC units can be used but they are not a substitute for achieving the recommended 4-6 air exchanges per hour. Fans may also be used in windows (e.g., facing outwards to facilitate ventilation). Fans should not blow directly on or towards individuals.

John Doherty

Superintendent

Reading Public Schools

82 Oakland Road

Reading, Massachusetts 01867

781-944-5800 John.doherty@reading.k12.ma.us

---

[1] https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/clean-disinfect-hygiene.html

Good Morning, Reading Public School Staff and Community,

I hope that you are enjoying this beautiful weekend.  Here is Spring Update #9.  Have a great day!

• All Mitigation Strategies Are Still in Effect-Even though the CDC has relaxed the mitigation steps for fully vaccinated individuals, all Reading Public School mitigation strategies are still in effect.  The population that we work with have not been vaccinated and we have had two instances in the last few weeks where a fully vaccinated staff member has tested positive for COVID.  Please continue to be diligent in following all of our mask, hand hygiene, and physical distancing protocols.  We appreciate your support!

• Health Updates-The following positive cases were reported this week in our schools:
  • 1 Parker Middle School Student, in person,  5 students quarantined
  • 7 RMHS students through pool testing and contact tracing (Reported as a State Epidemic Event). Six of the student were from the Girls Track Team and 45 students were quarantined.
  • 1 Joshua Eaton Student, in person, 20 students quarantined
  • 1 positive pool at Wood End, reflex testing identified positive, 22 students, 0 staff quarantined.
  • 1 positive student at Parker, 6 students quarantined, 0 staff.
  • 1 positive student at Eaton, 13 students quarantined 0 staff.
  • 1 positive student at Coolidge, 1 student quarantined, 0 staff.
  • 1 positive staff member at Joshua Eaton, 1 staff member and 17 students quarantined.

• Other Health Information-In addition to the above, we would like to report additional information on pool testing and vaccines.
  • We have conducted 2006 pool tests thus far, each pool with 5-10 individuals.  In those 2006 pools, 22 have tested positive.
  • Over 520 RMHS students have had at least one dose of the vaccine.

• Assistant Superintendent Appointment Announced-We are pleased to announce that Dr. Sarah Hardy has been appointed as the next Assistant Superintendent for Learning and Teaching in the Reading Public Schools.  Dr. Hardy is currently a Central Office administrator in the Stoneham Public Schools where she has done extensive work with staff in literacy and equity/social justice professional development.  She was previously an elementary principal in Stoneham.  Her education background includes a Doctorate of Education from Boston College, a CAGS and MEd from UMass Lowell, and a BA from Rivier College.  Dr. Hardy will begin on July 1^st.  Please welcome Dr. Sarah Hardy to the Reading Public Schools!

• Lynn Lyons Presentation on Tuesday-Reading Public Schools is presenting a free mental health training for Staff and Community Members.  Lynn Lyons Lynn Lyons is a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist in Concord, NH. She has been in private practice for 28 years specializing in the treatment of anxiety disorders in adults and children. Lynn travels internationally as a speaker and trainer on the subject of anxiety, its role in families, and the need for a preventative approach at home and in schools. She is a sought after expert, appearing in the New York Times, Time, NPR and Psychology Today.  To register for this workshop please click on the link below.

Lynn Lyons – Supporting Children (and Ourselves) with Anxiety, May 20 at 6:00-7:30 pm 

Registration Link for Workshop

• Kindergarten Screening Update-Kindergarten Screening for next year’s Kindergarten students will be held on Wednesday, September 1 and Thursday, September 2^nd.  There will be no kindergarten classes held on those two days.  Because of the Rosh Hashanah holiday on September 7 and 8, the first day of Kindergarten classes will be held on Thursday, September 9^th.  This change in the first day of school for kindergarten students is consistent with School Committee Policy IMDA on Religious Holiday Accommodations.

• Student Services Office Hours for the Remainder of the Year-The Student Services Office has posted their office hours for the remainder of the school year.  If you would like to meet with Assistant Superintendent for Student Services Dr. Jennifer Stys and Director of Special Education Allison Wright, the dates and link to sign up are below.

• Monday, 5/17/21 @ 12-1pm
• Tuesday, 5/25/21 @ 2-3pm
• Wednesday, 6/2/21 @ 9-10 am
• Thursday, 6/10/21 @ 11-12 pm
• Tuesday, 6/15/21 @12-1 pm
• Please use the DOODLE Poll below to sign up for an Office Hours time:  https://doodle.com/poll/zzayw2kufrdv5xiq?utm_source=poll&utm_medium=link

Good Evening,

There will be a meeting of the Reading School Committee this evening at 7:00 p.m. on Microsoft Teams.  For public comment, please use the live chat feature on the

Microsoft Teams link which will be posted on the Superintendent’s Blog and send out via Connect Ed prior to the meeting. In lieu of the live chat, you may send an email

in advance of the meeting to schoolcommittee@reading.k12.ma.us. This email will be included in the next packet.

The Teams link is below and the packet can be found here.

https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_Y2UyZjlkNGUtNTQwNC00NmRkLWFiZTMtMmViODE5ZTU4NDA1%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%226b81bca4-cd59-4341-a904-ea2ff758fe2a%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%222531492d-d04e-4fd5-be5b-3d8d1db00fbb%22%2c%22IsBroadcastMeeting%22%3atrue%7d&btype=a&role=a

Click to access school-committee-packet-5.13.21.pdf