Vocational School Students Helping Repair Fire Damage

Woodshop area damaged in January fire expected to be back in use around the start of the next school year.

Back in January, firefighters from Wakefield and four surrounding communities put out a fire at Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School—which has students from Reading—that left significant damage to the woodshop area and which at one point had flames showing from the roof. The fire-damaged area is expected to be ready for the start of the next school year - and some current electrical and carpentry students will have the distinction of having worked to repair their own school. According to Principal David DiBarri, the roof was repaired shortly after the fire to prevent further damage from the elements. More comprehensive repairs are still in the bidding process, he added. DiBarri also showed one area, which can be seen in the …

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Reading Public Schools Discusses Preschool and Kindergarten Options

School Committee Chairman Karen Janowski has released the following statement on behalf of the Reading School Committee and Reading Public Schools.

Letter: Chuck Robinson for Re-Election to School Committee

The Reading School Committee member writes a letter in support of his re-election campaign.

Hello Friends and Neighbors, My name is Chuck Robinson and I am running for re-election to the School Committee because, with four children currently at each level (elementary, middle and high school) of the Reading Public Schools, I have a vested interest in continuing to improve our schools and the quality of the education we deliver to our children I am completing my second three-year term, during which I have served as Chairman and Vice Chairman half of that time. My election six years ago followed nine years as a member of the Finance Committee, which has served the Committee and Community well as it prepared me with a unique understanding of the school budget and the budget process. And, my understanding of the wider scope of the …

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You Ask... Patch Answers

When is the New Last Day of School?

Find out when the new last day of school is.

Welcome to You Ask... Patch Answers where we answer readers questions. We recently received questions about the last day of school in Reading. Patch readers want to know when schools will be dismissed for the summer. Here's your answer. According to Superintendent John Doherty, the last day of school is June 25. Reading has already used the four snow days built into the school calendar, and then some. If the schools in town were never closed throughout the year due to inclement weather or another reason, the last day of school would be June 18. However, with the blizzard of 2013, Hurricane Sandy and smaller snow storms, the last day of school is currently June 25. 

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Should Stand-Alone Honors Nights Be Scrapped?

One nearby school district thinks so.

Ipswich school officials have decided to fold the district's Middle School Honors Night into a wider school assembly this year, saying it made students who weren't honored feel left out, the Salem News reported this week. The Ipswich Middle School principal reportedly sent parents a letter explaining the decision, saying having an exclusive honors night can be emotionally damaging and can impact a student's academic growth. "The honors night, which can be a great sense of pride for the recipients’ families, can also be devastating to a child who has worked extremely hard in a difficult class but who, despite growth, has not been able to maintain a high grade point average,” the principal's letter read, according to the Salem News. Instead…

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Barrows Elementary Principal Retiring in June

Barrows Principal Karen Callan plans to retire at the end of the school year.

The search is on for a new prinicpal at the Barrows School. Current Principal Karen Callan has plans to retire at the end of the school year, according to the Daily Times Chronicle. The School Committee reviewed and approved the process of finding a new principal Monday night, the Chronicle said. Superintendent John Doherty hopes to have the search completed by the end of May, he told Patch.  Elizabeth Conway, Human Resources Administrator-Facilitator; Alison Elmer, Director of Student Services- District Administrator; Cathy Giles, Principal, Killam-Administrator; Eric Sprung, Principal, Birch Meadow-Administrators; three teachers; a member of the support staff; and three parents will make up the screening committee for the new prinicpal, …

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Reading Public Schools, Austin Prep Closed Tuesday

Schools will be closed due to the winter storm passing through Massachusetts.

Tell the kids they can roll over and go back to sleep: Reading Public Schools and Austin Preparatory School will be closed today, Tuesday, March 19 due to the winter storm. The latest National Weather Service forecast for Reading calls for snow before noon, then snow and sleet between noon and 1 p.m., then rain and snow after 1 p.m. A total daytime snow and sleet accumulation of 3 to 5 inches is possible, with a high temperature near 37.

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RMHS Students Win Northeast District Massachusetts History Competition

Kate Mignosa won first place for an individual exhibit.

Reading Memorial High School sophomores and juniors competed in the Northeast National History Day (NHD) contest earlier this month, according to a Daily Times Chronicle article. According to the article, over half a million students participate in NHD. For their entries, students choose a theme, conduct research, analyze and draw conclusions about a topics significance in history, the article said.  The following students won at the Northeast District Massachusetts History Competition earlier this month at Beverly High School and they will represent RMHS at the Massachusetts History Day State Competition on April 6, the article stated. 1st Place Individual Exhibit: Kate Mignosa The Opening of the First Formal Training School for Nurses in…

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Reading Public Schools Closed Friday

It's another snow day for the students of Reading.

  The snow days just keep piling up. Reading Public Schools will be closed Friday. For breaking Reading news as it happens, sign up for Reading Patch email alerts.

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