Jaguar Tracks
September 7th, 2021
Dear JE families,
Welcome to the first Jaguar Tracks of September! Last week was the first week of school for grades 1-5, and in many ways, it felt like my first official week as principal of JE. I share a few reflections below with excitement:
- Our students were resilient, joyful, and eager to learn. They rose to the occasion and modeled our core values outside, in the hallways and classrooms. I spent time in lunches eager to learn more about your children and they came prepared with questions for me! I was humbled by their maturity and curiosity.
- Our staff intentionally taught and demonstrated our core values through art activities, read alouds, & positive redirection. As I walked through the hallways during our first week of school, I heard laughter, song, conversations and productive silence.
- Our families greeted students and staff at arrival with smiles, well wishes and a desire to be involved. It is evident that our parents, guardians and future jaguars help to "create the weather" at JE!
I feel incredibly grateful to be a part of this community and look forward to the days and weeks ahead. This Thursday, we will welcome our Kindergarteners, host curriculum night and our first PTO meeting of the school year.
Curriculum Night: Curriculum night is on Thursday 9/9 from 6:00-7:00. We look forward to welcoming parents and guardians to our school for this event!
- Grades 3-5: 6:00-6:30;
- Kindergarten-Grade 2: 6:30-7:00
- A principal message will be recorded & shared virtually.
- To support social distancing, this is an adult only event and to support the capacity of our classrooms, we encourage one adult per family to attend.
- If you are unable to attend in person, our teachers will email their slideshows or videos, so you will have access to the information shared.
9/9 & 9/10 Dismissal Times: Thursday is a 12:45 dismissal and Friday is a 2:45 dismissal.
Here's to a fantastic week #2!
In community,
Caitlin Shelburne, Principal
Quick Reminders:
Arrival: At 8:15, the bell will ring and teachers will begin putting up the quiet sign. We ask families who are still on the hardtop to support our timely transition into the building by also modeling the quiet sign. If it is raining out, your students will go right in to the building through door 6 and 7 (by the hardtop) between 8:10 and 8:15. Our staff will direct your students into the building.
Reporting Student Tardies & Absences: If your student will be be tardy or absent, this information MUST be reported to the school before 8:30 a.m. You can call our absentee phone line at 781-942-9161 and press “1” or email us at jeeabsences@reading.k12.ma.us. Please include your child’s name, teacher name, reason for absence and expected date of return. It is extremely important that we account for every child in a timely manner each day and your consistency is greatly appreciated.
Upcoming Dates
- Tuesday, September 6th-8th: Rosh Hashanah
- Thursday 9/9: 1st Day for Kindergarten, 12:45 dismissal for all students, Curriculum Night 6:00-7:00
- Friday, 9/10: 2:45 dismissal for all students (except for half day K, which will be dismissed at 11:30)
- Monday, September 13th: JE Back to School Picnic:
- Week of September 13th: Book Fair
- Wednesday, September 15th: Picture day for all JE students (class pictures outside and individual pictures in the gym)
Kindergarten Corner
Physical and Immunization Forms:
If you haven’t already done so, please submit a copy of your child’s most recent physical and immunization form. (State law requires that incoming kindergarteners have a physical completed within the past 12 months.) Also, if you have any other health related concerns or issues regarding your child (e.g., food allergy/asthma), please reach out to Mrs. Trevejo as soon as possible. She can be reached by email at elmy.trevejo@reading.k12.ma.us or via telephone at 781-942-9161.Upcoming Kindergarten Specific Dates:
- Thursday 9/9: 1st Day for Kindergarten and half day for all students. 12:45 dismissal (half day Kindergarten included)
- Friday 10/10: Full day Kindergarten Dismissed at 2:45. Half day Kindergarten dismissed at 11:30.
Kindergarten Arrival: Fusco's and Meagher's class will go in through door 6 and the modular classes will line up and go in to the modular.
From the Desk of the PTO
Back to School Picnic
Just a quick reminder that the Back to School Picnic will be held from 5:30-7:00 on September 13th, with a rain-date of the 14th. This is a fun event to kick off the new school year, and is a way for families and children to reconnect over the summer. Bring your own dinner and a blanket, and join us! The PTO will provide slush!
Please consider bringing your gently used books to donate to Mission of the Deeds.
Book Donation at Back-to-School Picnic
The PTO is collecting new and gently used children’s books to be donated to the Mission of Deeds. Please consider bringing a book or two to the Back-to-School Picnic on Monday, 9/13 to donate. Current authors appreciated. Books may be in English or Spanish and appropriate for children ages infant to middle school. The collection bin will be near the slush table. Thank you in advance for your contributions!
Wishing you a great 2nd week of school!
Best,
Alexis McDermott & Emily James
The SOS Volunteer Form and Room Parent Sign up!
The SOS Volunteer Form lists the different opportunities available for parents to help with PTO and school events. By checking the box for a particular event/activity, you will simply be included (among many others!) on our Volunteer Contact List so we can be in touch with details of how you can help with the event. Be sure to complete the entire form including if you are interested in being a room parent. Kindly complete the questionnaire and return via your child’s homework folder by Friday, Sept. 24. An online form is available here. With your help, we’re excited to start actively planning for the year.
Book Fair Week Monday, Sept 13 - Thursday, Sept 16 | JE Library
Kick off the school year by encouraging a love of reading!
The Book Fair will run from the Monday through Thursday, and students will have these 3 opportunities to shop loads of book titles:
1) a dedicated 1/2 hour to shop with their class during school hours;
2) during the Back-to-School Family Picnic on Monday September 13th.
3) at the online fair
We will also have 2 pre-sales this year:
1. Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Big Shot (release date 10/26)
2. Change Sings - A Children's Anthem (hardcover) (release date 9/21)
There will be order forms for both of these available at the sale :)
Families can shop our online fair from 9/8-9/21 at: Joshua Eaton Scholastic Book Fair - Fall 2021. They can also set up e-wallets for there child(ren) there. This helps to eliminate the worry of losing cash.
The Family Night during the Back to School Picnic will look a little different this year...We will be designating shopping times by grade levels as follows in order to keep the grow low(er) inside:
- K and 1st: 5:30-6:00
- 2nd and 3rd: 6-6:30
- 3rd-5th: 6:30-7
At the entry on family night, there will be a pocket chart with wishlists filled out by the staff. This is a great way to contribute to the classroom and help grow the classroom library. There will also be one for the school library so please take a look! There will also be blank gift certificates available and you can pick any amount to donate to a teacher or the library. Lastly, there will be a box at the register that you can donate any amount to using the All for Books program. The funds will be added up at the end of the fair and used to buy books for our school!
For the 5th graders, there will be a cart with any of the MCBA books that are available. Some of them have already started reading them!
Fliers are going home this Thursday and there will be a blank wishlist in there with e-wallet setup directions.
We can't make any of this happen without volunteers so please take a look here if you are interested in helping out: Book Fair Parent Volunteer Signup. **Please note that you must have an updated CORI on file in order to volunteer.
We can't wait to see everyone!