Reed Newsletter • October 8, 2025

Run for Reed
Friday, October 10 at Blackie's Pasture

4:00pm-7:00pm  (details below)

PreK Parent Talk with Dr. Van Putten
Tuesday, October 14

8:30am-10:00am

Kindergarten Parent Talk with Dr. Van Putten
Tuesday, October 21

8:30am-10:00am

1st Grade Parent Talk with Dr. Van Putten
Tuesday, October 28

8:30am-10:00am

Reed School Halloween Parade
Friday, October 31

8:45am-9:15am (read below for details)

School Photo Makeup & Class Photo Day
Wednesday, November 5

Parent Teacher Conferences
November 10, 12, 13, 14

12:00pm Dismissal

Veterans Day (NO SCHOOL)
November 11

Reed PTA Meeting
Wednesday, November 12 

9:00am-10:00am in Room 10

Ruby Bridges Walk & Roll to School Day
Friday, November 14

2nd Grade Parent Talk with Dr. Van Putten
Tuesday, November 18

8:30am-10:00am

Thanksgiving Recess (NO SCHOOL)
November 24 - 28

2025-2026 Reed School Calendar

Dearest Reed Families,

Welcome to October!
With the beginning of the year clearly in our rearview mirror, this month marks the transition where teaching and learning shifts into a higher gear for all of our students. Art classes began this week with Ms. Caldwell, Community Time is introducing our Kimochi Friends, Reading Rockets and Math Clubs are in motion, and students are working towards learning goals in all aspects of the curriculum. From now, until our wind down at the end of May, all systems are GO! Your students are up for the challenge and I look forward to watching them Run for Reed this Friday, cheering from the sidelines! 

Halloween Fun at Reed
For those who celebrate Halloween, this special holiday is “creeping” up on us. We want to make sure that you have the most up-to-date information regarding Halloween festivities at Reed.  We have contingencies in place rain or shine, so join please plan to join us if you can!
 
General Halloween Guidelines
Costumes: Costumes are optional. Students may wear costumes to school.  Please be sure to select an appropriately themed costume for your child. Costumes may not include weapons, masks, or be overtly scary (this includes parents). Be mindful that our students are young and scary images can be overwhelming. After the parade, students will change into their regular clothing. Please pack a change of clothes in a labeled paper or plastic bag so costumes can make it home safely.
 
Classroom celebrations: Classroom celebrations have been scheduled at the discretion of the classroom teacher. All guests must sign in at the office before proceeding to the classrooms. Party activities and snacks have been arranged by the classroom teacher and the class event coordinator. Please do not send in extra candy or sweet treats for your child to share. Thank you. 
 
School Wide Parade: Our school-wide parade is scheduled for Friday, October 31 from 8:45am to 9:15ish on the blacktop. Parents, caregivers, and non school-age siblings are welcome! Parents must wait on the blacktop before the parade. Please do not escort your child to his/her classroom before or after the parade as teachers will lead students in their lines. Teachers will bring students down to the blacktop to form a large circle. Parents and guests will form an outer-circle.  This will allow for equal opportunity picture taking! Parents may not stand in the center of the circle or in front of the sound system, as this is reserved for students only.

Recent Lockdown Drill
Two weeks ago, Reed School was directed by law enforcement to lockdown during lunch recess. Staff did not hesitate, and students were immediately and safely escorted inside. The lockdown was over within minutes and while it was directed out of an abundance of caution and there had never been any direct threat to the school, the experience gave our staff and students the unique opportunity to practice this type of emergency during a recess period. Reed staff reviewed all drill protocols at our next staff meeting and also spent time revising procedures as necessary. 

What Caregivers Can Do re: Drills and Emergencies
While the majority of our Raccoons did not recognize the recent lockdown as anything out of the ordinary, we know that these events can be understandably frightening for students, staff and families alike. We always prepare and debrief students for drills and we encourage families to do the same. Here are some of the talking points and important resources we utilize:

• Just like practicing new things in school/sports, we practice what to do in case there is an emergency.
• For a shelter-in-place drill: Just like families lock the door and close the curtains at night, sometimes we may need to lock up our classrooms and stay inside for a while to be safe. *To note: we will typically frontload these drills by pretending there is smoke outside on the road and we need to stay inside to stay safe.
• We are quiet, calm and follow the directions of our trusted adults during drills/emergencies because they have practiced this many times and know how to keep us safe.
• Unexpected events can feel scary. This is totally normal, so talking about what you did and how you handled the situation with a trusted adult/caregiver afterwards is always important.
• Report a Concern Button - on the front of the Reed District website, there is a button that is reviewed during school hours. This is a great way to report something of concern. “If you see something, say something.” We are stronger together!

-Your Response as a Parent Matters:

• Remind students that school is full of caring adults
• Ensure your language is developmentally appropriate
• Maintain normal routines
• Here is a useful resource for families supporting their student after a true emergency or traumatic event: Helping Children Cope

-First Districtwide Safety Drill:

• Our first district wide safety drill will be October 16th and this will be our Earthquake Drill

I look forward to cheering on our running raccoons and visiting with our Reed School community at Run for Reed this Friday!

Warmly, 
Aubrey O’Connor & Staff

School Photos:

Please use the link below to order pictures online. Our final round of individual photos will be taken on November 5 for any interested families or if your student was unavailable, along with class photos.

Volunteer Opportunities

November 7:  Volunteers needed to cover morning yard supervision during a staff meeting. Please sign up HERE!

Spring 2026: Several Fridays remain to contribute coffee for our amazing Reed Teachers & Staff. Sign up HERE!

Walk & Roll to School

Kids who BUDDY UP this fall to walk (park and walk), bike, scooter, carpool, or ride the bus to school with friends - can be NOMINATED here by October 31 for a chance to win the Buddy Up Challenge for a $50.00 gift card. Habits are more likely to form with students who travel in groups of 2 or more to school. Plus, there’s safety in numbers.

Lost & Found

Missing a sweatshirt or water bottle? Check out our Reed Lost & Found Album and claim your items near the front gate! Outerwear (jackets, sweatshirts, sweaters) and water bottles are most likely to end up there, so label them with your child’s or family’s name.

Given the volume, we must donate all unclaimed items at the end of every month.

PTA Dues Are Now on Venmo!

We’re making it easier than ever to support our school community. The PTA now accepts Venmo for membership dues!

Scan the QR code below, and be sure to include your child’s school in the memo (no name necessary) If you have kiddos at multiple schools, please include each school.

Click to pay first, then you will be able to customize the note with your information.

OR

You can simply search for @rusdpta and follow the same steps.

Quick, simple, secure. The requested amount is $50 per child, however any amount is appreciated - we want you in the community!

Every membership makes a difference, and with Venmo, joining is just a few taps away. Let’s reach 100% together! Thank you for your patience and for being such an important part of our school community.

Raffle extended to October 10, so join today! Be a member, be a winner!

Reporting a Reed School Absence 

All students are expected to attend school on a consistent and on-time basis. If your child is going to be tardy, absent, or leave school early for any reason, please be sure to email OR call and notify the office:

reedattendance@reedschools.org

(415) 435-7840  extension #1

Please Provide the Following Information:

• First and last name of your child
• Your relationship to the child
• Teacher's name
• The reason for the absence or tardy

Appointments
If you need to pick your child up for an appointment, come to the front office and we will call the classroom. We do not pull children ahead of time, so allow extra time for us to find them. As a courtesy to the teacher, please email them so they know your child will be leaving early that day.

RUSD Mission & Vision: Each student will be challenged and inspired to reach their fullest intellectual, social-emotional and creative potential to positively impact the world.