Reading High School Back to School Letter

Dear Reading High School Families,

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you and your child to Reading High School for the 2023-2024 school year! The beginning of the school year is one of our favorite times and we can’t wait to embark on a new year full of relationship building, excellent academic and extracurricular experiences, and personal growth. 

Our teachers and staff are ready to greet all incoming students and make our newest high school students feel welcome and excited to learn. At Reading High School our goal is to provide a high-quality education in a welcoming school environment where everyone feels safe, cared for, appreciated, and understood. We believe all students can achieve at high levels when given the appropriate support. We are committed to ensuring every student has access to everything they need to be successful.  

We’ve collected important back-to-school information in this letter. All this information, and more, is on our website at www.readingsd.org/backtoschool .  We encourage you to explore our website, follow us on social media, and familiarize yourself with important dates and requirements that will help us all achieve a successful start to the school year!

 

IMPORTANT DATES

9th Grade Orientation Events will be held from 8:30 am-1:30 pm 

• Monday, August 14 , 2023
  Rising 9th graders from Southern Middle School and Southwest Middle School

• Wednesday, August 16, 2023
  Rising 9th graders from Central Middle School

• Thursday, August 17, 2023
  Rising 9th graders from Northwest Middle School

• Friday, August 18, 2023
  Rising 9th graders from Northeast Middle School

 

Wednesday, August 23, 2023

Open House 6:00 to 8:00 PM

 

Monday, August 28, 2023

First Day of School

 

First Day Schedule RHS Main Campus:

Breakfast and lunch will NOT be provided on the first day of school.  Breakfast and lunch will be served beginning Tuesday, August 29.

 

PLEASE NOTE:  Students in low incidence Special Education classrooms will be attending a full day of school on Monday, August 28.  Those students  WILL receive breakfast and lunch on the first day of school.

 

First Day Schedule RKAA Thomas Ford, RKAA City Line and RKAA Glenside:

All RKAA Students will report for a full day of school from 9:20 AM to 4:05 PM.  Breakfast and lunch will be served.

CTC will begin on Tuesday, August 29.

 

Friday, September 2 and Monday, September 5, 2023
Labor Day Holiday - School Closed

 

Tuesday, September 6, 2023
School Reopens

 

REGULAR SCHOOL HOURS
RHS Main Campus

7:30 AM to 2:40 PM (Doors open at 7:10 AM for all students)

Breakfast served everyday beginning at 6:45 AM

 

RKAA Campuses (Thomas Ford, Glenside and City Line)

9:20 AM to 4:05 APM

 

DRESS CODE
All students will be expected to follow Reading School District's dress code for grades 9-12 as outlined on page 54 of the student code of conduct. 

 

MEDICAL FACE MASKS
Students and staff are no longer permitted to wear face masks to school unless they have a medical note from a doctor that has been reviewed and cleared by the school nurse.  Acceptable masks include reusable cloth and disposable surgical masks (including higher quality masks such as KN95). Other forms of face coverings that obscure student identities, such as ski masks, are NOT acceptable. 

 

BUSING AND TRANSPORTATION
If your child is eligible for transportation, you will receive an email from the Reading School District Transportation Office in mid-August 2023. To contact the Transportation Office, call 484-258-7057 or visit www.readingsd.org/transportation.

 

MANDATORY SCHOOL IMMUNIZATIONS
During the pandemic, many students missed their regular childhood immunizations. Pennsylvania state law mandates that every child must be fully immunized to attend school, and if students do not meet the requirements, they are not allowed to attend school. The state encourages all families to schedule an appointment with their child’s pediatrician this summer to discuss necessary vaccines and get proof of immunization.

To help our families meet immunization requirements, Reading School District is hosting free summer and fall vaccine clinics! Spots are limited. Please see the list of required vaccines on our website and sign up for a vaccine clinic appointment today at readingsd.org/immunizations. 

 

SCHOOL COMMUNICATIONS
Our school website is readingsd.org/rhs.

We use Remind to communicate directly with students & families, and the school district uses a  mass notification system to communicate with families on a regular basis, including emergencies. You will receive more information about how to connect with your child’s teacher and our school during our Open House (Wed. August 24).

Please make sure your address, phone number, and contact information are kept up-to-date in the Home Access Center throughout the school year. We want to make sure you receive all important communications from RHS and the District.

If you have any questions prior to the start of the school year, please contact our main office at 610.371.5705, visit our website readingsd.org/rhs or visit the District’s Back To School information page at readingsd.org/backtoschool.

I look forward to building a strong partnership with you. Together we can ensure your child achieves great success and has a wonderful school experience during the 2023-2024 school year!

Sincerely,

Jessica Di Blasi,

Acting Principal