Blanchard's Blog

Congratulations!

2010-11-01T15:51:00.000-04:00

Blanchard has had two winners in recent writing contests!

Will Kendrick-Holmes, 5th grader, is a finalist in the "Compute the Future: Digital Citizenship" contest sponsored by the Muscogee County School District. He had to write an essay on digital citizenship. He was interviewed last week, in hopes of being the grand prize winner. We'll find out November 9th!

Sophie Murtey, 4th grader, won the elementary age group of the Barnes & Noble "Mystery at the Book Store" writing contest. She will receive a B & N prize pack and have her story e-published with the new PubIt self publishing service.

Blanchard is proud of it's winning writers!

November's Around the Corner!

2010-10-29T12:16:00.016-04:00

These short fall days are flying by and we are very busy here at Blanchard!

This past week has been Red Ribbon Week. We celebrated being drug free in many ways. As a treat, our music teacher and some student volunteers put together this really fantastic video.

The biggest celebration of the year will be Military Appreciation Day on November 4th. Come join us in a huge salute to our military families. This special program begins at 10 AM, but the festivities will happen all day long.

November is Aviation History Month. We'd love a volunteer or two to come share their aviation stories at the school. Ever piloted a plane? Work at an airport? Want to just read a story about flying? Come volunteer in the media center!

We have 3 fundraising opportunities this month. Monday, November 1 is Chili's Night. Eat lunch or dinner (or get a carryout) and say it is for Blanchard. We'll get a percentage of all Blanchard sales during the day. Friday, November 5 is Chick Fil-A Night. Join us at Chick-Fil-A on Bradley Park Drive from 5-8 PM. The school will benefit from all sales during those times. The PTA will continue to collect Box Tops for Education during the month of November. Our goal is to raise $500 dollars in box tops this month.

Other Dates for November:

November 2
Election Day

November 7
Daylight Savings Time Ends
(Set your clocks back one hour when you go to bed Saturday night.)

November 10
Progress Reports

November 11-Veteran's Day
NO SCHOOL

November 14-20
American Education Week

November 15
America Recycles Day

November 22-26-Thanksgiving Break
NO SCHOOL

November 30
Christmas Pictures

October Events

2010-10-05T16:27:00.004-04:00

October 7
End 1st Nine Weeks
Boy did that fly by!

October 12
Early Release Day
All students will dismiss at 12:30 PM.

October 13
Report Cards
Grades K-3 will receive the new Standards Based report card. Questions or concerns? Please arrange a conference with your child's teacher.

October 25
NO SCHOOL

October 29
Fall Festival
5-9 PM
Come join us for an evening of food, fun, and prizes sponsored by the Blanchard PTA!

We also have some important testing dates coming up for our 3rd and 4th graders. Please ensure your child has a good night's sleep and a healthy breakfast each day of testing.

October 19-21
3rd Grade-CogAT
(Cognitive Abilities Test)

October 26-29
3rd and 4th Grade-ITBS
(Iowa Test of Basic Skills)

If you would like more information on these two tests, please check out this link on the Muscogee County School District's web page.

Round 3--A Knockout!

2010-04-15T14:57:00.003-04:00

Round 3 is done...and this is the final round for grades 1 and 2. Today's math portion of the CRCT was a long haul, but all the students were working hard. The scratching of pencils, the turning of pages--you could almost hear the thinking as our students bubbled in answers one by one. We knocked out the math portion...woot!

Third, fourth and fifth grades will take up their no. 2 pencils again next Tuesday. Science is on the menu. Yum, yum! We're going to eat it up!

Have a great weekend...play hard, get lots of rest and we will too!

Round 2--ELA

2010-04-14T10:55:00.003-04:00

The scratching of no. 2 pencils in a room so quiet that the hum of the AC seems too loud ushers in round 2 of this year's CRCT test. The kids get a break from all those reading passages yesterday, by answering multiple choice question on all things English and Language Arts. My crew, at least, seems to think this section was easier than yesterday's. It is a nice break before gearing up for the all important Math test tomorrow.

A few reminders for test days--

1. Get a good night's sleep.

2. Eat a healthy breakfast.

3. Arrive at school on time every day.

4.. Remain calm, cool, and alert.

Soar Blanchard Owls!

Rock That Test!

2010-04-13T09:34:00.008-04:00

While the birds are singing, bees are buzzing, flowers are blooming, and the pollen is falling, Blanchard is settling into the week with the CRCT. This is the required Criterion Reference Competency Test given to students in grades 1-5 each spring.

Blanchard students always perform well on this test, but each year teachers, students, and parents approach the testing with a touch of nerves and a little dread. High stakes testing is never easy, and even less so in these days of budget cuts and accountability.

So what can we do? The first thing to do is breathe. Yes, breathe. When we are calm and relaxed, everything seems a little better. Parents can really help by making a special effort to provide healthy, quality food during test time...especially a good breakfast on test days. Set bed times and limit tv and computer/game time during test days too. Providing 8 hours of sleep will go a long way to helping your child perform the best they can on the CRCT.

Are you breathing? Deep breath now. The Blanchard faculty and staff have prepared for this moment all year. Our teachers have taught from day one. Our administration and test coordinator have prepared the building and the testing materials for this important moment in the school year. We all need to remain calm and relaxed too. Our students will take their cue from us.

Students...are you breathing? Be calm, cool, and alert--that's your job. You've worked hard this year and learned a lot! We are so proud of you! During testing days (and all year too), please make a special effort to come to school on time. When you are late, it means that you will miss testing and have to sit around with little to do until it is time to go back to your room. Not fun. It also means that you will have to make up the test at another time. That's right, when your class is celebrating the end of testing, you might be stuck finishing a test. Yuck! Plus, coming in late messes up the whole, "I'm relaxed" thing. Come to school on time so that you can be calm, cool and alert....and ROCK THAT TEST!

The Blanchard Owls will rise to the challenge of the CRCT....never doubt it. Let's SOAR!

Happy New Year

2010-01-15T12:55:00.006-05:00

Well, 2010 is well underway and we are approaching our first holiday! I'd like to take a moment to remind everyone of a fantastic fundraising opportunity at our school...and it doesn't cost you anything! Just clip and save "Boxtops for Education" labels from specially marked products and bring them to our school. We get 10 cents a piece...and that adds up quickly!

Oh yes! Congratulations to Karen Blocker...winner of a copy of "Good to Great" by Jim Collins! Thanks for leaving a comment on our school blog.

What makes a school great?

2009-12-10T15:23:00.008-05:00

Blanchard's Leadership Team is beginning a book study after Christmas on Good To Great by Jim Collins. As the year ends and a new year looms on the horizon, I want to throw out the question:

What do you think makes a school great?

Leave your answer in the comments...and using a random number generator...I will choose a lucky winner to receive their own copy of Good to Great!

Golden Apples

2009-12-02T11:29:00.011-05:00

Congratualtions to Teresa Peirce, kindergarten teacher! She is this week's winner of the WRBL Golden Apple Award.

It was a morning of fun and excitement as Mr. Carlos Williams, Creative Services Manager of WRBL, came to Blanchard, rolling a camera, ready to present and film the award. One of the things that makes this award so wonderful, is that the Golden Apple nominations come from parents....or in this case a grandparent. It means an awful lot to a busy teacher to know that someone thought to take a moment and send in a nomination recognizing hard work and dedication in the classroom.

It means a lot to Blanchard that we have such an outstanding faculty working with families to make a difference each and every day.

Mrs. Peirce is extremely thankful for this award. "It is a privilege to be part of these children's lives," she commented during her interview. "It is an awesome responsibility to lay the foundations of learning in kindergarten. Being part of the Blanchard family is a wonderful experience because of the supportive administration, comraderie of teachers, and especially working in partnership with my paraprofessional, Ms. Dortch, in the classroom."

Congratulations Mrs. Peirce! You make Blanchard rock!

If you are interested in nominating a teacher, please check out the WRBL web site.

3 Weeks and Counting

2009-11-30T16:07:00.003-05:00

This is one of the busiest times at our school. We are packing in a whole lot of learning, PLUS...a whole lot of activities to celebrate the season.

First and foremost, we are teaching. Blanchard has a high standard of excellence and as you walk through the school you will find busy students, work on display (come check out our new "Writing That Pops" board in the main hallway), and teachers teaching and planning.

It is also a tradition this time of year for Blanchard to give back to our community. We have an ongoing food drive for the Second Harvest Food Bank and the Salvation Army. The PTA is sponsoring a sock and underwear drive (brand new only, please) for the Sara Spano Clothing Bank. Our student government is leading this year's toy drive. Reaching out to our community is part of what makes us great.

One of our ongoing school fundraisers is our Blanchard Night @ Chili's Restaurant. Our next one is on Tuesday, December 1st. You can go any time of day...just give them the flyer and tell them you are there for Blanchard. The money raised goes directly into supporting students and education at our school.

The Blanchard Owl Chorus and a cast of students are busily preparing for our annual Christmas play, "A Storybook Christmas". This is always a lot of fun! They will perform at Shaw High School on Thursday, December 10th at 7:00 PM. Come join us-it's free!

So, you've been using the school library....what's next? Use your school library online! Mrs. Mitchell is hosting a workshop on Tuesday, December 15th at 2:00 PM. Come create your account and get acquainted with your virtual Destiny.

The PTA is gearing up for the traditional Secret Santa Shop. Your child will have a chance to shop for gifts for members of their family. Gift wrapping is free! Who knows, you may find a few Christmas gifts yourself. The shop will open Monday, December 7th at 9:30 AM. It ends on Friday, December 11th.

On our last day before the holiday, December 18th, Blanchard will host a spelling bee. Students in fourth and fifth grades will compete in a spell down to see who will go on to the district competition. Who knows how far they will get? Maybe state....maybe nationals! A special guest judge will be on hand to help us as we spell our way into the holiday.

Even Santa will make an appearance at our school! If you have a little one in PreK or Kindergarten, they will get to spend some time with the big guy...courtesy of the North Columbus Branch Library.

Whew....it was a lot just to type! Only 3 weeks left to fit it all in...but then we will have a nice long holiday. Come visit us....and join in the fun!

Remembering

2009-10-24T09:49:00.003-04:00

Loss is always hard...and the loss this past week of Mrs. Rutherford affects us deeply. With loss, it is always comforting to remember the good times spent with our loved one. I would like to invite you to share your thoughts and memories of Mrs. Rutherford.

Simply comment on the blog....and we can all remember Mrs. Rutherford with a smile on our lips and peace in our hearts.

It Is A Beginning

2009-10-22T11:22:00.002-04:00

We are beginning our Web 2.0 journey at Blanchard today. All faculty are invited to join us...and if a parent wants to join in...please come. We'd love to have you! Our first session is today at 4:00 PM in the media center. We will work through The 23 Things together in hopes of becoming more adept at the technology tools are students are beginning to use in our 21st century world.

This is certainly something you can do on your own...so if you can't make it today...go ahead with Week 1 and join us next week for the second part.

If you are a MCSD employee, you will be eligible for technology hours for the sessions you attend. Thank you BJ!

The 23 Things

2009-10-09T23:12:00.002-04:00

Confused about Web 2.0? Were you baffled by this year's technology writing contest topic? Dismayed to find out that we would be receiving podcasting equipment?

Wondering why your children and students think email is old fashioned?

The 23 Things and your media specialist will unravel the mysteries of Web 2.0. Start by checking out the site and post your comments and thoughts here at our blog. And remember...

DON'T PANIC.