What are school hours?
  • First bell at 8:15 AM
  • Start of Day Bell at 8:25 AM
  • Full Day Kindergarten and Grades 1 to 5 8:25 – 2:45 Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
  • Every Friday is a 12:45 dismissal for all students
What are arrival procedures?

Drop-off

  • Parents may decide to drop their child off in the front of the school any time after 8:10am. Drivers stay in cars and students exit independently (Kiss & Go Line).
  • Parents/guardians may decide to park their car on the street and walk with their child to wait on the blacktop any time after 8:10am. Please be sure you’re not parking in a manner that blocks neighbor driveways, fire hydrants, or is in a posted “No Parking” area.
  • At 8:15am students may enter the building at a buzzer door or with their teacher.
  • Students arriving after 8:25 a.m. need to enter and sign in at the main office. Students are considered tardy if they are not in their classroom by 8:25 a.m.

Front Door

  • Students may enter through the front door utilizing the buzzer at 8:15 a.m. If a child is participating in a before-school activity, they should use the buzzer at the front door only.
What are dismissal procedures?
  • Dismissal is at 2:45 Monday through Thursday.
  • Dismissal is at 12:45 on Friday.
  • All students are dismissed out onto the blacktop area.
  • Changes in dismissal should be communicated to the classroom teacher via note or email.
  • If your dismissal routine changes unexpectedly during the day, please call the office and let us know. We will get a message to your child through their classroom teacher(s).
How do I know if my child is too sick to come to school?

Please do not send your child to school if they have any of the following:

  • Fever of 100 degrees or higher. A child with a fever should not return until they have been fever free without a fever reducer such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen for 24 hours.
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • They have been treated with antibiotics for an infectious illness for fewer than 24 hours.

If you are unsure, please reach out to Nurse Adams, 781-942-9166

What if my child wants to buy lunch?
What is the policy for allergies at snacks or lunch?

Classrooms with allergy restrictions are notified at the beginning of the school year with a letter from the nurse. Further information about allergy guidelines and the district wellness policy can be found here: http\://reading.schoolblocks.com/food-services-4f8d79b4

What do I need to do if my child will be absent from school?

1. When your child will be absent or late, please call the absentee line (781-942-9166) before 8:15 a.m., giving the information requested on the recording. Your call will be recorded. The absentee line is available 24 hours a day.

2. The recorded messages will be compared to the school’s absentee list for that day. In the event that your child’s name is on the school’s absentee list and a call has not been received, we will:

  1. Call your home.
  1. If verification is not received from home, we will refer to the list of names you have supplied to the school on your child’s emergency card, and call the names in the order given to verify your child’s absence.
  1. If verification is still not received after the above attempts have been made, we call the Reading Police Department.

A written excuse is required for any student who has been absent. This note should be turned in on the day the student returns to school. A student who had been absent due to a prolonged illness or a communicable disease (such as: strep throat, conjunctivitis, lice, etc.) should be checked by the school nurse when returning to school.

Written notice of a planned absence of more than five school days must be submitted to your child’s teacher at least one week in advance. Children will be provided with make-up work upon their return.

Can I distribute invitations at school for my child’s birthday?

Invitations to birthday parties should be distributed outside of school. Please respect this school rule. Teachers are not permitted to email invitations for families.

What is available for childcare before and after school?

The Reading Extended Day Program operates before and after school care onsite at all Reading Public Schools. To find out information about the before and after school care at Barrows, visit the Extended Day Program website at Extended Day on District Website

How are expected behaviors taught at Barrows?

Expected behaviors are explicitly taught through whole school and individual classroom lessons. Behaviors are reinforced through positive recognition. Please view our student handbook for more information.

Can I visit or volunteer at the school during school hours?
  • Yes. We welcome parents & guardians to volunteer during scheduled times of the school day. Classroom teachers will provide more information about opportuniites to be a mystery reader, helper at centers, parties or field trip chaperones.
  • CORI forms must be filled out prior to ANY volunteering takes place.
  • Be a Cafeteria Volunteer

Sign up to help in the cafeteria during lunch periods (11am - 12:35pm). The cafeteria is fully staffed, but can always use a couple extra hands to help with opening up packages, milk cartons, moving through lunch line efficiently. Please note that all volunteers must have a completed CORI (complete 1 week prior to volunteering) on file prior to volunteering and unfortunately non school aged children will not be allowed to join with the volunteer. If you are interested in volunteering please use the Sign Up Genius to sign up for the day or days you would like to help out: [Parent/Guardian Help at Lunc](https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094FA8AD2EA2FC1-parentguardian)

  • Be a Library Volunteer Sign up with this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E45ACA62FA0F58-46931336-winterspring#/ and Mrs. Becker will reach out to you with a training date. Like all other volunteer opportunities at Barrows you must have an up-to-date and completed CORI