Jaguar Tracks
December 20th
Dear JE families,
This week, we will will have a school-wide Pajama day on Thursday. Your students are welcome to wear their favorite PJs as they enjoy holiday parties and fun read alouds.
Upcoming Events:
December
23: Spirit Day - Pajama Day! 2:45 dismissal for all students
24-31: Winter recess; No school for students
Thank you all for your continued support and communication,
Caitlin Shelburne
Coding in Library
Celebrating students with a Golden Ticket at recess!
Kindergarten Class wishes our Cafeteria Staff Happy Holidays
February Vacation Academy
We are thrilled to offer February Vacation Academies for students at all levels across our district. This is a great opportunity to support our students. These Vacation Academies will be taught by some of our amazing RPS staff and are aimed at accelerating learning for our students in a fun and engaging atmosphere. Click here to learn more about the programs and to express interest in having your student attend.
As you can see in this flyer, we will offer the following programs:
- Grades 3-5 Academic Vacation Camp
- Middle School Math Academy
- High School MCAS Preparation
- High School PSAT/SAT Preparation
We hope you will consider taking advantage of this great learning opportunity for your student!
Attendance Matters!
We certainly understand that there is a potential increase in absences due to illness this year due to Covid. We appreciate your vigilance and support in helping to keep everyone safe. We also have seen an increase in unexcused absences, especially around extended vacations. We are required to share your children's' absences and tardy data. You will be receiving a letter in the coming weeks if your child has more than 5 unexcused absences and we are requesting communication on how we can work together to make sure your child is attending school regularly. It's important that we set your children up for success, especially as the past few years have been unpredictable, and attending school regularly is essential to student success. Please reach out with any questions.
RPS Health Update from the District
Our district school nurses will be enjoying some much-needed time off as they celebrate the holidays with their families next week. Please take note of the following important information to help you if you have questions during the winter break as they will be on vacation along with the rest of our staff.
What are the recent COVID-19 related trends in our schools?
This document shared at our 12/16 School Committee meeting outlines the week-by-week case counts in our schools, student/staff vaccination data, and in-school transmission counts.
What if I am or my family are exposed to someone with COVID-19?
If you are fully vaccinated and asymptomatic, you do not need to quarantine. If you develop symptoms, especially fever, muscle aches, shortness of breath or loss of taste and smell, you should get a PCR test. If you are a close contact (have been within 6 feet for more than 15 minutes inside with an infectious individual) and are unvaccinated, you should quarantine per the DPH guidance.
What symptoms should I be looking for?
Here is a health screening with specific symptoms.
Where can I get a test?
Register here for Project Beacon, free COVID testing.
What is the travel guidance?
Here is CDC travel guidance. We respectfully ask that families consider the health and safety of all of our students and staff and follow the travel guidance put in place by the CDC.
Where can my child get a vaccine?
Here is a link to local vaccination site availability, or sign up for our next Reading Public Schools vaccination clinic here (January 7th at Coolidge).
How do I reach Reading Public Health?
Here is the link to Reading Public Health. You can reach a Public Health Nurse at #781-942-6653.
From the Health Office:
As this Friday is Christmas Eve and there is no school, we will not be offering pooled testing at Killam.
Our testing program is provided to support in school learning, and we will resume the week of January 3rd.
If a student (or staff) is fully vaccinated and asymptomatic, they do not need to test or quarantine, and do not participate in test and stay. Test and Stay is a DESE protocol and we follow the DESE/DPH guidelines. We will notify the families of close contacts so that they are aware and can monitor for symptoms. Any asymptomatic students can participate in pooled testing.
If any individual, including staff, tests positive and is in school when considered infectious, all close contacts are notified. Depending on the situation, the whole class may be considered close contacts.
We have been made aware of positive cases that due to timing are not considered in school exposure, so class notification is not necessary. However, the cases are added to our weekly COVID data.
Please check our COVID-19 FAQ for questions that you may have.
Bridget Heos Book Orders
There’s still time to order books by visiting author Bridget Heos. Whitelam Books has graciously extended our deadline to December 22. If you’re interested in placing an order, please send your forms in by Wednesday.
Please see the attached book order form for details. All books will receive a signed bookplate from Ms. Heos.
Please note that book purchases will be available after the winter vacation in January 2022.
Visit Ms. Heos’ website to learn more about her books.
http:/www.authorbridgetheos.com/
Please contact the library media teacher, Karen Ghirardi, with any questions at karen.ghirardi@reading.k12.ma.us .
Thank you Joshua Eaton PTO for supporting this enrichment reading event.
Bridget Heos Book Order FormLost & Found
Our Lost & Found bin is filling up quickly! Please have your child be sure to check for any lost or missing items. Make sure ALL outerwear is labeled with your child’s name. We will be sorting through the items over vacation. Anything that is labeled with a name will be returned, anything that is NOT labeled will be donated to a local charity organization. Thank you!
From the Desk of the PTO
Happy Holidays!
Thank you to the Room Parents and Volunteer Coordinators for planning fun holiday activities in the classrooms this month!
We hope everyone has a wonderful winter break and we look forward to scheduling many fun activities in the second half of the year! Stay tuned because we will be reaching out in the new year for more volunteers!
Our next PTO general meeting is in February. Please reach out with any questions.
Cheers!
Meredith and Natalie
PTO co-presidents
Joshua Eaton Website
Have you visited our website? We encourage all of you to familiarize yourself with our Joshua Eaton website www.reading.k12.ma.us/joshuaeaton. Here you will find all pertinent school information including:
· School Calendar with important dates and events
· Jaguar Tracks Newsletters
· Staff list and contact information
· Forms (Including CORI, Dismissal, etc…)
· PTO information
· Health Office Information
· Curriculum Information
· School Handbook
…and more!
This is your “Go-To” place for all JE information!! Our website is updated regularly, so stop by and take a peek!!