Wednesday, August 23, 2017

More (more) new staff join Barrows

Dear Barrows Community;

We are excited to continue to welcome new staff to our Barrows Campus.  Today I am introducing you to our newest staff member, Joan Duffy.  She is joining our team as a 3rd teacher in our special education learning center.  Please check out her introduction video below;
Please join me in welcoming Ms. Duffy to our Barrows Shining Stars community!

Love, Mrs. Leonard

Wednesday, August 16, 2017

MORE New Staff at Barrows!

Dear Barrows Community;

We are excited to continue to welcome new staff to our Barrows Campus.  Today I will showcase 2 more of our newest staff members.  Please check out their introduction videos below;

We are excited to welcome both Ms. Jacobs and Mr. Dittman to our Barrows Shining Stars community!

Love, Mrs. Leonard

Friday, August 11, 2017

Barrows Summer Reading Challenge

Barrows’ Summer Reading Challenge

Please select a book from the Reading in Reading booklist forhttp://www.readingpl.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/reading-in-reading-booklist.pdf elementary school students prepared by librarians at the Reading Public Library

 After you have read the book visit https://goo.gl/forms/2N58WlRUfFHywmuz1 to answer the questions and submit your entries into the Barrows’ Summer Reading raffle! All entries are due by September 1, 2017 and winners (one per grade) will be announced at the September assembly. Prizes will include a pizza lunch or a book.

Reading Public Library




The Summer Reading Program began on Friday, June 16, 2017.   On Friday, June 2nd Ms. Fischer and Ms. Wettergreen, children’s librarians from the Reading Public Library, visited Barrows and spoke to the children about the summer reading program.  Please stop by the library to register for the program.  More information can be found at http://www.readingpl.org/kids/summerreading/

Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program

        

Step 2: Bring the completed Summer Reading Journal  to your local B&N store before September 5, 2017.
Step 3: Choose a FREE BOOK from a featured list (found on the Summer Reading Journal).
Please visit the website for more information. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/b/summer-reading/_/N-rs9


Massachusetts Children’s Book Award Program


              

  
Barrows’ 4th and 5th grade students are eligible to participate in the 2018 Massachusetts Children’s Book Award Program (MCBA).  Students currently in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade were given a book mark listing the 2018 nominees.  We have three copies of each of the 25 titles thanks to the generosity and support of the Barrows’ PTO. Additionally, the Reading Public Library has print and electronic copies of each of the 25 titles.  For more information about the program and for a Master List please visit https://www.salemstate.edu/academics/colleges-and-schools/school-education/community

Family Book Talk


Are you looking for a fun way to connect around literacy this summer? Check out this great challenge - a Family Book Talk. Make a family video about some of your favorite books, then post it to our Barrows social media (Facebook or Twitter) with the hashtags #BarrowsShiningStars #FamilyBookTalk
Check out more information about Family Book Talks (along with some hints!) here:  https://www.bradgustafson.com/single-post/2017/06/10/FamilyBookTalk






Have fun reading!

New Staff at Barrows!

Dear Barrows Community;

We are excited to be welcoming new staff to our Barrows Campus.  Today I will showcase 2 of our newest staff members.  Please check out their introduction videos below;

* Vittoria Penna, 2nd grade https://flipgrid.com/1a3ad6
* Katie Jones, 5th grade  https://flipgrid.com/4951ba

These candidates both rose to the top of rigorous interview processes that included many qualified candidates.  Please join me in giving them a warm welcome to our Barrows Shining Stars community!

Love, Mrs. Leonard

------------------------------------------------------
Heather Leonard, Principal
Barrows Elementary School
16 Edgemont Ave, Reading
781-942-9166

Follow Barrows on Twitter and Facebook


Wednesday, August 9, 2017

Seeking Barrows Shining Star Scientists...

Dear Barrows Shining Star Scientists – its that time again!
We need you!

I need your help because I have eggs that need a “butterfly-sitter” to watch over and take care of until they hatch into caterpillars, turn into a chrysalis, and finally transform into a butterfly. This is a really cool way to see this life cycle up-close and personal! Are you interested?  Here is what you would need:

A small container with a top that you can poke a hole into: 
 










A “pet pen” that can close – either a plastic style or mesh style will work!
    
 











A grown-up that is willing to help you find *Milkweed and *nectar flowers to cut as food sources as your butterfly grows!
Related imageImage result for monarch on flower

That’s it!  If you’re able and interested, come by Barrows Thursday 8/10 or Friday morning 8/11 (or send me an email: Heather.leonard@reading.k12.ma.us and I will set up a time for pick up at Barrows.)

One of our Barrows Families (The Granara family) volunteered to butterfly-sit last summer, and caught both of these AMAZING videos - the butterfly turning into a chrysalis and then emerging... both events that happen pretty quickly and are hard to capture on video - thank you for sharing!


As many of our students know from their experiences over the last 2 years, my family and I have become very invested in saving and supporting the Monarch Butterfly population. It is an awesome process to watch, but also contributes to a population in need.

Did you know that only 2-10% of eggs laid in the wild survive? Some scientists have filed a petition for endangered species act protection for the Monarch and its habitat in 2014. Monarchs are important pollinators for our gardens.  My family has found many monarch butterfly eggs/caterpillars to protect and keep safe until they become butterflies – then we release them into the wild!  This is why I need the help of our Shining Star Scientists!


Can you believe that they go from this:
(egg)














To this (caterpillar)













To this (Monarch butterfly)!




Just amazing!