Good Morning,

There will be a School Committee meeting this evening at 7:00 p.m. on Microsoft Teams.  The link to the meeting is below.

The School Committee will not be reading emails publicly during the meeting.  Theose emails will be put in the next School Committee packet.  If you would like to give public input, use the live chat feature on the Microsoft Teams link below. 

https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_YWM2ZTBmM2YtZjdlNi00MDNkLThjZmQtZWMyYzRkNjU2ZDhl%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%226b81bca4-cd59-4341-a904-ea2ff758fe2a%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%220201fbad-7d69-4c02-99db-cffbb16751d6%22%2c%22IsBroadcastMeeting%22%3atrue%7d

This is a community notice from the Town of Reading.

Tomorrow, Tuesday, September 29, the town will hold a flu clinic at the Coolidge Middle School gym at 89 Birch Meadow Drive, from 4PM to 6PM.
Please note that this flu clinic is for Adults, not children and youth. Families should contact their primary care physicians or review other local resources, such as pharmacies, for flu shots for children and youth.

Please bring your insurance card. The vaccine is just $15 without insurance.

Please wear your mask and follow social distancing guidelines when on site.

For more information please visit ReadingMA.gov

Good Afternoon Reading Public School Staff and Families,

I hope you are doing well and enjoying this beautiful weekend.  Here are some updates:

1. Racial Incidents in RMHS Zoom Classes- This past week, there were several incidents of racist speech targeting our black and brown students at RMHS through the Zoom platform and on social media.  In each situation, an individual entered Zoom classroom sessions and proceeded to use the “N” word and subjected the teacher and students to racist verbal attacks.  The incidents were reported to administration, and we are currently carrying out an investigation. At this time, we do not know who the individual is or how they gained access to the Zoom classroom sessions.  As a precautionary measure, we have now mandated waiting rooms on all zoom accounts so that teachers invite only their students into the classrooms.   We are also reminding students not to share zoom links with others, especially on social media.

RMHS Principal Kate Boynton will be sending out further information to the RMHS community on this incident. As Superintendent of Schools, I am appalled at this type of behavior and I apologize to the families of color in our school community and to our teachers who were subjected to these incidents.These comments are hurtful and have a negative impact on our classrooms, our school culture, and our community.This type of behavior is not acceptable in our classrooms or in our community.

Our district has focused the last few years on racial equity and social justice.Several of our schools are participating in book discussions on this topic.The District Leadership Team and the Reading School Committee are discussing the book, Everyday Anti-Racism, Getting Real About Race in Schools.As part of our 10 days of training, METCO Director Grant Hightower presented to our staff about racial bias.

We know that we have a long way to go, as evidenced by this incident, however, we will continue to have the difficult conversations and focus on this work.

2. Phase In-As I mentioned at the School Committee meeting on Thursday evening, Grades 1, 2, 6, 7, and 8 will be phased in to a hybrid model, beginning on Tuesday, October 13^th.  Cohort B will be in person for that week.  Because the completion date of the modular classrooms at Birch Meadow have been delayed a few days, the phase in date for Birch Meadow will look a little different.  We will be communicating more information to Birch Meadow families in the next few days.

Dependent on filling vacancies of both teachers and paraeducators, we are still planning for the phase in of Grades 3-5 and 9-12 to be at the end of October. We will continue to keep you updated if circumstances change.

3. Student Absences-As we continue with remote learning, we want to continue to emphasize the importance of student attendance.  Remote learning days count as school days and the attendance guidelines put out by DESE emphasize that these days are to count the same as in person school days.  Here is some additional information regarding student absences:

Please let the school know if your child is exhibiting any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19.

If a child is on a remote week and calls in sick, but can access the lessons (attendance shows they were present), they are not marked absent.

Very similar to previous school years, if a student is in an in-person week and calls out sick, we will not be offering remote access for that student absence.

We will not be able to provide livestreaming or links for students to attend special education services on the days absent.

If a child is absent because they are quarantining or waiting for a COVID test results, the student can have access to the recorded live Zoom lessons at the end of the day.

4. Virtual Back to School Nights-Our schools will be holding virtual back to school nights, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on the following evenings:

Elementary Schools-October 15^th

Middle Schools-October 22^nd

High School and RISE Preschool-October 29^th

Sessions will be recorded.Principals will be sending out more information with the virtual links in their newsletters.

5. Remote Learning Reminders-As described in the Acceptable Use Policy, parents and students should adhere to the following remote learning guidelines.

• The District strictly prohibits screenshots, pictures, downloading, audio/video recording and distribution of any virtual educational experience by students or parents in order to protect student privacy, proactively prevent potential cyberbullying, prevent the distribution of copyrighted materials and comply with Massachusetts law.   Please note that in Massachusetts, it is illegal to audio record another person through any medium without his or her knowledge.
• The District has made good faith efforts to ensure virtual platforms used comply with child Internet protection and confidentiality laws and do not sell, use or disclose any personally identifiable information or data for commercial purposes or to third parties. There are potential risks for Internet interruptions, unauthorized interruption by third party and technical difficulties. You can minimize the risk of breaches in confidentiality by not sharing any links, user name and passwords provided used for virtual opportunities access.  
• Students, and where appropriate parents/guardians, agree to engage in virtual educational experiences dressed appropriately, in a quiet, private area to the extent practicable given the circumstances, in order to minimize background noise and distractions and to protect the integrity of student engagement as well as student confidentiality.  It is the expectation that students use appropriate backgrounds for their virtual calls.
• The laws that protect the privacy and confidentiality of your child’s personally identifiable information apply to virtual educational opportunities just as they do during an in-person services. Parents/guardians and other household members who normally are not privy to day-to-day classroom and group service discussions agree to respect and keep confidential any personal or private information (e.g. disability status) inadvertently discovered about other students due to proximity of virtual education.

Have a great rest of the weekend and week ahead.

John F. Doherty

Superintendent

Reading Public Schools

82 Oakland Road

Reading, MA 01867

781-944-5800

Good Evening, Reading Public School Community

There will be a School Committee meeting on Thursday (tomorrow) at 7:00 p.m. on Microsoft Teams.  The link to the meeting is below.

https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_NzcwYjZhMDItNDJiNy00Y2ZjLTk2MjktMjkyMTI0YjZjYjcz%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%226b81bca4-cd59-4341-a904-ea2ff758fe2a%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%226ba7ff3f-8843-4420-abef-cb31933a3bf1%22%2c%22IsBroadcastMeeting%22%3atrue%7d

To make public comment, you will need to use the live chat feature on Teams.  Emails sent to the School Committee will be posted in the next SC packet.

Thanks.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, Sept. 21, 2020

Media Contact: Taylor O’Neil

Phone: 617-993-0003

Email: taylor@jgpr.net

Reading Police Seeking to Identify Man in Vehicle Who Approached Young Girl

READING — Chief David Clark reports that the Reading Police Department is seeking to identify and speak with a man who allegedly attempted to lure an 11-year-old girl into his car while she walked her dog.

At approximately 2:20 p.m., the Reading Police Department received a report that an 11-year-old girl was walking her dog near the corner of Lilah Lane and Thomas Drive when she was approached by a man she did not know who was driving a dark grey sedan and told her to get into his car.

The girl refused and then ran down the street to a neighbor’s house to ask for help. The girl was able to make it safely to her mother without further incident.

The man is described as a white male, approximately 60-years-old, heavyset with black and white hair. The dark grey sedan he was driving had a dent and scratches near the rear driver’s side.

Officers searched the area for the vehicle but were unable to locate it. The Reading Police Department notified police in surrounding communities to be on the lookout for a man inside of a vehicle fitting the description given.

The incident is under investigation by the Reading Police Department. Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact the Reading Police Department at 781-944-1212.

Good Afternoon, Reading Public Schools Families and Staff,

I hope that you are enjoying this beautiful weekend.  Here is the latest Fall Reopening Update:

• First Full Week of School-After a week of orientation, kindergarten screening, book distribution, remote learning, and Preschool, our first full week of school begins this week.  Kindergarten, Preschool, and High Needs students will be in person.  All other classes will be remote.  We want to thank our staff for all of the time and effort that they have put into their remote and in person learning experiences for our students.

• Next Step in Phase In Process-We are beginning to move forward with the next steps in our phase in process.  Grades 6, 7, and 8 will begin the hybrid learning model on Tuesday, October 13^th.  This is a Cohort B in person week.  Principal Shankland and Principal Marchant will be communicating more information regarding this transition.

In addition, we are also working on phasing in Grade 1, followed by Grade 2 and we hope to have those grades phased in hybrid in the next few weeks.  We are finalizing a few staffing areas to make that happen.  Once we have further details, we will communicate that information out to you.

• Superintendent Virtual Office Hours-Now that we have begun the school year, we will be restarting the Superintendent Virtual Office Hours.  Office hours will be scheduled in 20 minutes blocks of time on Microsoft Teams. If you would like to schedule an office hour, please complete this link.  

• Back to School Nights-We are in the process of scheduling virtual Back to School Nights for each school.  These will be during the month of October.  More details to come.

• Masks-As more and more students begin to come into the schools, this is a reminder that the wearing of masks/face coverings is required of all students and staff in the Reading Public Schools.    As we have mentioned in previous communication, neck gaiters, bandanas, hand knitted masks, and masks with valves are not acceptable due to it lack of effectiveness. 

• Friday Disinfecting-As required by our DESE remote learning plan, Friday is an extensive cleaning day in our schools.  This cleaning process will begin this Friday.  We will be using a disinfectant misting machine in all of our classrooms, bathrooms and common areas of each school.  This cleaning and disinfecting will allow for 72 hours of ventilation prior to students and staff coming to school on Monday.

I hope this information helps.  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me, other central office administrators, or your building principals.

Have a great rest of the weekend and week ahead.

John F. Doherty, Ed.D.

Superintendent

Reading Public Schools

781-944-5800

John.doherty@reading.k12.ma.us

Over the next several days, there will be teachers, students, and their families who will be celebrating and observing two major religious Jewish holidays where they will be missing school.  During this time, families will be attending temple services and gathering with families, either in person or remotely, during the evening hours.  The full School Committee Policy, IMDA and the implementation regulations, IMDA-R are found here. For planning purposes, the following upcoming holidays are recognized by the Reading Public Schools as major religious holidays:   Rosh Hashanah:   Begins at sundown on Friday, September 18th and ends at sundown on Sunday, September 20th.      Yom Kippur:  Begins at sundown on Sunday, September 27th and ends at sundown on Monday, September 28th.   State and federal laws require schools to make reasonable accommodation to the religious needs of students in observance of holy days. With respect to students, Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 151C, section 2B reads in relevant part as follows:   “Any student in an educational or vocational training institution…who is unable, because of his religious beliefs, to attend classes or to participate in any examination, study or work requirement on a particular day shall be excused from any such examination or study or work requirement, and shall be provided with an opportunity to make up such examination, study or work requirement which he may have missed because of such absence on any particular day….No adverse or prejudicial effects shall result to any student because of his availing himself of the provisions of this section.” As a result, the following accommodations will be in place for ALL students on the following dates:   -No assignments will be due for any student the day of or the day after the Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur holidays.  Therefore, there will be no assignments due in any classroom in the Reading Public Schools on September 21st, 28th, and 29th . -No tests or quizzes will be scheduled on the days of Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur.  Therefore, there will be no tests or quizzes scheduled on September 28th. -No one-time events such as field trips, music performances, theatre plays and productions, auditions, and back to school functions will be scheduled on the days or eves of Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur.  Therefore, there will be no one-time events scheduled on September 19th (evening), September 20th, September 21st, September27th and September 28th.     Absences on Religious Holidays-Parents and students (if age appropriate) are encouraged to notify the school in advance when their child will be not be attending school because of religious or ethnic observance.   Discrimination against any student, because of such individual’s religious/ethnic belief or practice, or any absence based on said belief or practice is prohibited.  Any pupil absent from school because of a religious holiday may not be deprived of any award or eligibility or opportunity to compete for any award because of such absence;Students whose conscientious observance of a religious or ethnic holiday conflicts with participating in a school-scheduled event such as tryouts, athletic contests, theatricals, or concerts, will not be required to participate nor penalized for their non-participation;Any absence because of religious or ethnic holiday must be recorded as an excused absence for religious observance in the school register or in any group or class attendance record.Parents should follow the normal procedures when their child is going to be absent to observe the religious holiday and call the parent verification system at the school on the day of the absence or notify the school in advance by email, written note, or phone.  If a child is to receive an excused absence for religious observance, the parent must indicate that information in the correspondence with the school.   If you have any questions, please contact your building principal.

In honor of Recovery Month please join the Reading Coalition for Prevention & Support in celebrating those in recovery and spreading awareness about substance use disorders and treatment options.

National Recovery Month is a national observance held every September to educate the public that substance use treatment and mental health services can enable those with mental and substance use disorders to live healthy and rewarding lives.

On Friday September 18^th we invite residents to drive by the Town Hall Parking Lot, located at 16 Lowell Street, between 11:30AM-1:00PM to collect a free Recovery Month Lawn Sign to display in their yard. Additionally, a limited number of Narcan dose kits will be available. Any resident who is interested in receiving a Narcan dose kit will receive on-site Narcan training. Available while supplies last.

During this drive-by event, Coalition staff will be masked and practicing social distancing. Participants in event are expected to follow current safety precautions to minimize COVID-19 risk.

If you have questions, or are interested in receiving a Lawn Sign but are unable to participate in the drive by event and need to schedule an alternative pick-up time, please contact Coalition Outreach Coordinator Samantha Salkin at ssalkin@ci.reading.ma.us.

Good Afternoon, Reading Public School Families,

This Fall Update contains important Fall Reopening Information for the start of the school year on September 15^th.  As we phase in more students into our schools, we will continue to send updated reopening information.  The Reading Public Schools Fall Reopening Update Page has all of the latest information regarding the Fall Reopening.

• First Day Fliers-There are several first day fliers and forms for you to review.  You can access them here.  
• School Opens on September 15^th–After six months, our buildings will be opening for our students.  We are very excited to have students back!  During this upcoming week, we will have several groups begin and we will begin our student orientation and book distribution.   On September 15^th, our high needs students and preschool students will begin in person.  Kindergarten screening and student orientation for Grades 1-12 will begin on this day as well.  Your building principals will send out further detail.
• Health Information-Please review the following health information from Director of Nurses Mary Giuliana.  For any student that will be coming to school, please review the following health screening : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QVnPqBwo0v4cbKUzRW6o1jRx3h7Sz6aO4Qsxgv3OJ84/edit?usp=sharing before coming to school each day and please notify your school nurse if your child has any health concerns we should be aware of while they are in the building.We have also attached an opt out form for the use of hand sanitizer.  
• Videoconferencing Protocols and Procedures-With the increase emphasis on remote learning and videoconferencing, the Reading Public Schools has developed videoconferencing protocols and procedures.  You can access those and the updated Acceptable Use Policy, here. 
• Food Distribution-The United States Department of Agriculture has extended the Seamless Food Distribution program for all students.  You can access the weekly dates and times for the distribution here.
• Playgrounds-Recess and having access to playgrounds are a very important part of our preschool and elementary student’s day.  To that end, we will have our playgrounds available for recess during the school day.   We are going to follow the following guidelines for playground use:

1. We will be following CDC guidelines (not DESE) which does not require frequent disinfecting.
2. Facilities will be constructing hand sanitizer stations for each playground. 
3. We will have students follow all mitigation safety protocols.
   1. Hand sanitizing before and after recess.
   2. Wear masks when using playground equipment.
   3. 6 feet physical distancing.

• Special Education Information-Please review the following information from Director of Student Services Dr. Jennifer Stys.
• School Calendar-The Reading Public School Calendar has been updated with color coded cohort A and B weeks.  You can access it here. Please note that once we phase into hybrid, we may have to switch to remote based on infection rates.  The cohort schedule on the calendar is to allow families to plan for the year.
• Attendance-As noted in the Reading Public Schools Fall Reopening Plan, we will be having a full school schedule with regular school hours, regardless if it is remote or in person.  Attendance for our in person, hybrid, or remote programs will be required for all students.  It is the expectation that parents will make best efforts for the student(s) to be present during live lessons.  Attendance will be taken each class period at the middle and high school level and once in the morning and once in the afternoon at the elementary school level. If your child is going to be out sick, either in person or remote, please call the absentee line of your child’s school.

John F. Doherty, Ed.D.

Superintendent

Reading Public Schools

781-944-5800

John.doherty@reading.k12.ma.us

Below is an updated Reading Public School Calendar. The updated calendar contains color coded Cohort A and B weeks for the entire school year.