construction update

Construction Update:
Newport Construction is expected to pass Edgemont Avenue this week. Once they make it pass Edgemont Avenue, school traffic exiting Edgemont onto West will only be able to turn left. All school traffic trying to access Arcadia Avenue will have to do so from the West, Willow, and Summer side.

A learning principal

I am away at the Massachusetts Elementary School Principals Association conference- learning and growing as a principal! Yesterday we heard from state commissioner Mitchell Chester and then from Dr. Rob Evans around managing change.  Today we are hearing from author Douglas Stone around giving and receiving feedback. I'm also attending sessions around problem solving team models, professional learning structures from teachers, school improvement, intervention supports and structures, and social emotional learning for students.  Great learning!

Road Construction Update

Week of May 25th:

Installation of drainage structures and pipe (starting at Arcadia and heading south along West St)

Installation of utility poles throughout project

 

Week of June 1st:

Continue installation of drainage structures and pipe (projected to end near Palmer Hill Ave.)

Continue installation of utility poles and transferring cable throughout project

 

Week of June 8th:

Continue installation of drainage structures and pipe (projected to end near King St.)

Continue installation of utility poles and transferring cable throughout project

 

Weather-permitting

 

NOTES:

-The Summer Ave-Woburn St detour will be used during normal work times (7am-3pm)

-Northbound school traffic will be detoured to King St-Summer Ave to access Arcadia from the north.  All Edgemont St traffic will have to turn south on West St until Newport is beyond Edgemont; then Edgemont traffic will have to turn north on West.

 

Enrichment opportunities at Barrows

Ms. E's class attends the 3rd grade Saugus iron works field trip.

Kindergarten students enjoy a visit from School Resource Officer Muolo during their community helpers unit.

Memorial Day, Flag donation

Thank you to our extended Barrows Community (grandparents of Allie and Meaghan Zurcher) for their donation of a memorial flag.  We will hang it proudly in remembrance of US veterans.

On behalf of the entire Barrows community, thank you to all veterans for your service and to the families of those who have lost a service member, we appreciate your sacrifice.

Road Construction Update

The Reading Police Department contacted me this morning and requested that I share some traffic pattern information with you to help mitigate confusion and aid in the safety and flow of pick up and drop off. The construction zone on West Street has advanced south of Arcadia Avenue. For the next 2 to 4 weeks construction will continue to advance towards Edgemont Avenue. During this phase of the project the contractor will begin at 7:00 a.m. and West Street will be blocked off at King Street. As a result, all vehicles coming to the school should enter from Arcadia Avenue via Summer Avenue or Willow Street. All vehicles exiting the school should do so from Edgemont Avenue and take a right onto West Street. There will be police detail officers and signage posted in the area to assist with traffic. Again, this pattern will remain in effect for the next 2 to 4 weeks. Thank you kindly for your attention to this matter. Any questions, please contact the Reading Police Department at (781) 944-1212.

Barrows Annual Fun Run & Ice Cream Social!

A successful day was had by all at the 2015 Fun Run and ice cream social.  The weather was looking a bit sketchy, but just before the race the rain cleared up and left us with perfect conditions for our event.

• Thank you to Sarah Atwood for her work in organizing this event.
• Thank you to ALL the Barrows staff members for donating their time to provide safe supervision during this community tradition.
• Thank you to our PTO and co-chairs Tara Herlihy and Lauren Dahm for organizing a wonderful ice cream social.
• Thank you to School Resource Officer Mike Muolo for leading off each race today

Congrats to all runners for their participation!
Check out more pictures here:  http://share.shutterfly.com/share/received/welcome.sfly?fid=ef9e7b3d520ba86fbcfd7207a7b1fe91&sid=0AZN2bZozbMW7DWg

Road Construction Update

FYI – Newport Construction will be south of Arcadia Avenue by Tuesday 5/19. Arcadia Avenue will be open, however some folks may have to go around (Summer to West) to gain access. The crew will be on West, in between Arcadia and Edgemont for the next several days. The crew will be blocking West Street.

Ice Cream Social & Fun Run

Dear Barrows Families,
This is to let you know that we are planning for the Fun Run and Ice Cream Social to take place as planned, tomorrow afternoon (5/19) at 3:30.  Based on current weather reports it looks as if any precipitation should have passed before our 3:30pm start time.  We will review the weather forecast again early tomorrow morning and if there are any dramatic changes to the forecast we will let you know as early as we can if we need to consider a rain date reschedule.

The Ice Cream Social (Grades K-5) will begin around 3:15 and the Fun Run (grades 3-5) starts at 3:30pm.

Please remember, this is a PTO event, so we will not have access to the school-based medicines.  If your child requires an inhaler for sporting events or epi-pen please plan accordingly to bring your home inhaler or epi-pen to be held by a parent.
Thank you!

Modular Construction Information

 
Please see the letter from Dr. Doherty below my note for more information.

The modular installation will begin during the last week of May. This is a good thing because the projected timeline has them complete before the start of school (with this start date it has them completed by mid/late August.) For our site it creates challenges for us for this last month of school because it will be an active construction area. They have to dig trenches from 2 points in the school into the blacktop to connect the various utilities to the modulars as well as install the foundations for them. The working area essentially covers the entire blacktop, closing it for the last month of the school year. I am hoping to meet with the contractors to gain clarity on their timelines as well as where they will be blocking off the back areas. This will obviously have an impact on outdoor recess, field days, and drop-off and pick-up routines. I am hoping to gain clarity from them about how wide the construction area will be so I can get more information to you. There is a possibility that outdoor recess may be very limited for the last month of the school year due to this work. This is all the information I have right now. I will keep you updated as I gain more information and can provide more specifics (dates, exits, etc.) Thank you for your patience during this construction project so we can provide learning spaces for all our Barrows students!



A message from READING SCHOOL DISTRICT

 Good Morning, Barrows, Eaton, and Killam Families,

I hope all is well and you are enjoying your spring. This is the first of many emails that we will be sending parents on the progress of the modular classroom construction that will be occurring over the next few months. As you are aware, Town Meeting voted to support the construction of two modular classrooms at each of three of our elementary schools (Barrows, Eaton, and Killam) in order to accommodate the additional classroom space needs at these locations. These modular classrooms will be the home of some of the kindergarten classes at each school and will be furnished to meet the needs of our kindergarten students.

Recently, we went out to bid for the modular design and construction and Vanguard Construction Company was awarded the bid. Vanguard has extensive experience in modular classroom construction. Vanguard has developed a construction timeline which shows completion of the modular classrooms for the start of the 2015-16 school year. In order for that completion to occur, construction will need to begin during the week of May 24. Unfortunately, this means that certain parts of the back of each school, including play areas, and possibly playgrounds will not be accessible to students for the last month of the 2014-2015 school year.

We are working with Vanguard to ensure a safe environment for our students and staff during the construction phase of the project. Your building principal will be providing more details on the plans for outside activities during the last month of the school year.

Thank you for your patience during this project. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your building principal or the Reading Public Schools Administration Office at 781-944-5800.
Take care.

Road Construction Update

In accordance with Article 2.4 of the Town of Reading’s Traffic and Parking Regulations, the Chief will be imposing temporary no parking regulations on both sides of Summer Avenue from Woburn Street to Willow Street and on both sides of Arcadia Avenue from West Street to Edgemont Avenue.  These no parking regulations will remain in effect as necessary between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

 

With respect to Summer Avenue, this action is necessary due to the large volume of traffic being dispersed onto the Summer Avenue from the road construction project on West Street.

 

On Arcadia Avenue, this action is also necessary to keep the school traffic coming off West Street flowing smoothly in both directions.

benefits of school gardens

http://www.tolerance.org/blog/common-ground

Barrows Open House

Thank you for another wonderful community event! A successful Barrows Open House 2015
Pictures here:
http://share.shutterfly.com/share/received/welcome.sfly?fid=91b2c4c7046575035b2f2841c4d4a52e&sid=0AZN2bZozbMW7DPA

 

 

 

Barrows Wellness Assembly

What a GREAT day we had today!  This morning Barrows enjoyed our first ever "wellness" assembly.  Our day kicked off with a walk-to-school day, followed by health and wellness stations for our all-school assembly.  Students travelled with their 'book buddy' classes and experienced a variety of health and wellness activities including jump roping, hula hooping, nutrition relay races, recycling toss, and 'fitness dice' challenge.  Barrows students worked so hard, showed wonderful respect and effort at every stop.

We could not have held this event without our amazing volunteers.  Thank you to; Jennifer Sewall, Daisy Giunta, Jennifer May, Danielle Whitmer, Catarina Cipriani, Pamela Bureau Morris, Annika Scanlon, Karen Johnson, Kelly Trahan, Jen Hamilton, Gail Ronayne,  Kristin Steenbruggen, Jenn Romboli, Kate Grant, Dianne Ferguson, Maria Georgopoulos, Dan Malone, Lori Marcotte, Laura La Francesca, Heather Stepler, Melissa Foley, Kelly Healey, and Carolyn Beaulieu       

Also, a big "Thank You" to our Wellness, Allergy, Safety, and Health (WASH) committee for their efforts in planning and organizing the event today. Thank you WASH committee members; Heather McClain, Christine Rose, Dianne Ferguson, Karen Johnson, Kate Grant, and Lori Marcotte.  Also, thank you to Assistant Principal Carina Becker for her support in organizing the Walk To School activities and the events today.

Check out pictures here (more to be added soon!):  http://share.shutterfly.com/share/received/welcome.sfly?fid=8d233ef9a781de6fc7e45aad1e0cdff4&sid=0AZN2bZozbMW7DHg

Road Construction Update

After hearing from parents today about the challenges getting to Barrows I reached out to our Reading Safety Officer for more information. Please see the information he shared below;

The construction will be completed at 2:30 today and the roadway will be opened. As for the future, the recommended route for school parents throughout the school day (during the detour), is King Street to West Street. I will instruct the detail Officers to remove the barrier King at West. The crew has an understanding that work will be completed prior to the end of the school day or the work will be suspended until school is out, as not to interfere with school traffic. Most importantly, that during the school day (while the detour is in effect), intermittent school traffic shall use the route – Summer to King to West to Edgemont.

 

The detour is expected to last 6 weeks. The location of the work zone will dictate changes in the traffic pattern.  For now, the ½ day Kindergarten parents should use the following route: King to West to Edgemont. Additionally, on regularly scheduled early release days (Wednesdays), parents should use the following route: King to West to Arcadia.