Dear RUSD Community,
Your input is incredibly valuable, and we encourage you to share your thoughts and opinions through these short surveys included in today's Headline News. Every voice matters, and your feedback will help shape the future of our schools, ensuring they continue to thrive and adapt to the needs of our community.
Food Service
As you’re aware, Revolution Foods helped us to make a quick pivot mid-year as Dee’s stepped away. They are the largest food vendor in the state of California and also serve San Francisco. They are the food service solution through the end of the school year. However, we would like to gather back together to collaborate on possible long-term solutions. Here is a link to a survey. If you’d like to participate in our Food Service Task Force 2.0, please indicate it on this survey. If you’re not able to participate, but would like to ask questions or offer creative ideas, there is also an opportunity to do that in this survey. Let’s work together to come up with something great for our kids!
New Board Member Needed
Since Sherry Wangenheim is moving out of the area, it created an opening on the School Board. The Board will be interviewing candidates on February 6th, and appointing a new Board member to complete her term. If you are interested in learning more, please email me at rusdsuperintendent@reedschools.org. We can discuss the position or I can send the application packet. Applications are due February 3rd.
YouthTruth Survey
Please take 10-15 minutes per student to complete the YouthTruth survey. Here is the link. This is the main survey we use to understand climate and culture. We take direct action steps based on these results. Thank you for your time!
Reed School PreK & Kindergarten Registration is Open
PreK/Kindergarten online registration
is open for incoming students new to Reed School. If you have an incoming, age-eligible PreK or Kindergarten child, please register as soon as possible. Early registration is important so we can plan and secure staff and classrooms. Please pass this along to any friends and neighbors in the district. *Current students do not need to re-register and will remain automatically enrolled.
Inclusion & Belonging
This week in the library, students listened to stories that help us understand ADHD and the many ways people think, learn, move, and focus. Through books like Loud! by Rose Robbins, My Whirling Twirling Motor and My Wandering Dreaming Mind by Merriam Sarcia Saunders, I Think I Have the Wiggle Fidgets, ADY and Me, Sally Ann McFidgetottom, and Learning to Slow Down and Pay Attention, students explored what it can feel like to have lots of energy, big ideas, racing thoughts, or a body that wants to move.
These stories help normalize differences in attention and movement, while also highlighting strengths like creativity, curiosity, kindness, and problem-solving. Students talked about how everyone’s brain works differently and how understanding those differences helps us be more patient, supportive, and inclusive of one another. Here is a list of Disability Awareness books and resources that you can review with your child.
You might continue the conversation at home by asking:
- "What did you learn about how some kids’ brains work?”
-
"Did any of the characters remind you of yourself or someone you know?”
- “What are some things that help people focus or calm their bodies?”
- “Why is it important to be kind and patient when someone learns or moves differently?”
- “What is something special or strong about the way you think or learn?”
Thank you for partnering with us to help children understand that differences are a natural part of being human and that everyone deserves patience, respect, and a sense of belonging.
Requesting Feedback on Parent Education
We are fortunate to continue working with Dr. Allison Briscoe-Smith in designing future parent education opportunities. We would love your input so the presentations can be customized to the needs of our community. Please take 3 minutes to fill out this quick survey.
To review her previous parent education event, please refer to the information below:
Navigating the Hard Stuff: A Parent's Guide to Meaningful Conversations with Your Child
If you missed out last week on this parent ed event, we would like to share
this recording with you (please use this passcode: Zb$Bs@6y). Here are some great tools
to tackle those challenging conversations every parent faces. Whether it's discussing mental health, addressing difficult emotions, or navigating sensitive topics, this session will provide you with evidence-based strategies that work. Speaker: Dr. Allison Briscoe-Smith.
Kind regards,
Dr. Kimberly McGrath
Superintendent
Reed Union School District
"We are even stronger together!"
