Grace Lin Visits Blanchard

On Tuesday, November 25 each class at the Blanchard Memorial School met Grace Lin, celebrated children’s author and illustrator.  Ms. Lin shared her work, both words and illustrations with our students including reading, storytelling, drawing, and explaining about her books, her illustrations, and the elements of Chinese and American culture that influence her work.  Many thanks to the PTF for sponsoring this inspiring event.   Also, thank you to the staff of the Sargent Memorial Library for allowing us to use their meeting room – it was ideal.  

Grace Lin talks about the importance of dragons in Chinese culture. 

Grace Lin explains about how a book gets published.

The author and illustrator explains about which numbers have meaning in Chinese culture

Grace Lin shares her first book to our preschoolers and kindergarteners.

Grace Lin tells 5th and 6th graders about her novel, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon.

Grace Lin and Mrs. Long love reading!

Champ

Typically, after school I meet parents who are shuttling their children from band practice to sports practices and feeling very stressed about managing sports, music, homework and dinner in a day. I know how you feel.  I loved the time when my children were in elementary school but juggling all of their play dates and activities with the idea of helping to create a well-rounded child was exhausting!    

     Now that my children are seniors--a senior in college and a senior in high school- I listen to

their schedules, I worry about the pace of their schedules too.   Matt is on his college soccer team and runs a business selling used textbooks to students. Kristina is captain of her high school team, Vice President of the School Council and is a peer counselor. I know I taught them the value of hard work, ethics and integrity, and striving for achievement. But I wonder if I have taught them the value of balance and enjoying the moment.

     Often, I rely on my friend's dog, Champ, to act as one of my better teachers.  Champ is a large golden retriever with a specific opinion about how he lives his life.  I am fairly certain that Champ was a surfer dude in California or Hawaii in a former life. When my friend is out of town and I arrive to walk him, Champ does not jump up and down to greet me and circle animatedly at the door in anticipation of a walk as most dogs do.  No, Champ rolls over on the floor.

     "Come on, Champ, let's go for a walk!"

     Champ looks at me as if I am crazy. 'Dude' he seems to say with his large brown eyes, 'are you kidding me? Have you seen this floor? It's a great floor. Come on, take a look at this floor! '  He wiggles on his back. 'Sit down with me. You look a little stressed. Rub my belly. You'll

feel better.'

     "Champ, you need to go for a walk. You've been inside all morning."

     His eyes implore me.  'Karen, rub my belly. '  He wiggles some more as an invitation. I walk over and rub his belly.  He wiggles happily and seems to say, 'You feel better now don't you?'

    “Yes, Champ, yes I do,” I tell him.  The truth is I am usually exasperated.  I have things to do. I have allotted 30 minutes to walk him, not half a day.  "All right, Champ, a few more minutes and then we have to go out."  There is just Champ and myself in the house. Champ wins me over by his sheer 150 pound bulk.  He will not move from the floor and I can’t pull him out the door.  Eventually, I lie on the floor and talk to him and stop worrying about my to-do list.  Finally, we leave the house and start his walk. But Champ does not walk briskly like a typical golden retriever. He pads slowly, sniffing each bush and blade of grass individually. He greets every person with enthusiasm.  He invites everyone to pet him, rolling over on the ground if they do not sense his personal invitation. Every dog receives an individual ritual of greeting, whether that is sniffing each other or barking excitedly.  

     Taking Champ for a walk is less about walking and more about a personal journey of discovery in the day's delights.   Thanks, Champ for being an excellent teacher.  I am going to try to remember his lessons as we head into a particularly busy time of the year, and, if I forget, I can always borrow Champ to remind me of what is important.  

Bingo and Shopping: All for a Good Cause

On Friday, November 14, Blanchard held its annual Bingo Night with guest announcers for the all important numbers that would determine the winners.  It is so funny to see the children's intensity when the numbers are called out.  They shout happily when they have the number, groan audibly when they do not and are generally dismayed when the game ends because someone (else) has scored a Bingo. Thanks to the Girl Scouts who kept us all honest in our reporting of the numbers on the card and to all the children and parents who made the night so fun.

In addition, local artisans and vendors displayed their wares for a pre-Holiday opportunity to purchase gifts for friends and family as well as benefiting the Blanchard Memorial School community with a portion of the profits.  It was great fun to see how talented our parents are the products that they make and to see local artisans as well.  Katie D. from the third grade helped me to take the pictures.  If you missed it this year, please try to visit next year!

Prototype Convention

On Friday, the sixth grade students staged their annual Prototype Convention.  The Convention fosters the four C's of current educational thinking: collaboration, communication, creativity, and critical thinking.  Students think of a product, outline their material needs, determine the cost per product and then, create the product.  In addition, students communicate their ideas about the product with the teachers and then produce a video or power point presentation to market their products.  Frequently, students collaborate as teams.  It is remarkable how many interesting products the students created and how well they marketed their items.

Veterans Celebrated by First Grade Students

In Mrs. Geran's class, the students wrote in their journals about something important to them.  Two students wrote about their grandparents.  Their stories were so heartfelt, I
wanted to share them with you.

My grandpa was in the army and he drived a gasoline truck.  He helped our state be safe for our country.  I felt happy.

My grandpa served our country. He was a marine. He was awarded a star and brave. He jumped out of a helicopter and broke his bone but he still saved him (another soldier). That's how he won his Purple Heart.

Celebrating Literacy

November is Literacy Month and we celebrated that idea today during our Community Meeting. Our moderators pretended they were reporters narrating the events.  Students participated in a mock game show, acted out skits, sang songs, and read reviews of their favorite books.

Students shared their favorite books.

Students brought their favorite books and held them up for all to see.

Students in a mock game show to "Name That Character."

Mr. Labb as the student and Camille as the teacher act out a "Wayside School" story.

Students singing the A to Z's of literacy.

A short skit on comprehension strategies focuses on Owen R. visualizing the text. Magnifique!

Sixth Grade Students sing about Seven Days of Reading and Writing.

Mr. Labb, Mr. Dimen and Mr. Hill jam with the students. 

Honoring Our Veterans

Today, we honored the Veterans from our community, including parents, staff, and our principal, Mr. Labb.  The program included the Boy Scouts leading us in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, Mrs. Callaghan and the Blanchard vocal ensemble singing our national anthem, and students in Mrs. Crockett's class discussing the history of Veteran's Day.  Students from Ms. Stevens' class shared a short play, "What Is A Veteran?"  Mrs. Hogan's class sang, 'You're a Grand Old Flag" with gusto.  Third grade students shared a Veteran's Day poem.  Mrs. Hulbert's class presented a thank you to all of our Veteran's.  Mr. Labb and I presented certificates to staff and family members in the Blanchard Community who served in the military.  Johnathan P. and Ian B. played taps to end our celebration of all those in the Armed Services.   I hope the students found the presentation both informational and moving.

Mrs. Hulbert's Third Grade Thanks the Veterans

Mrs. Hogan's class sings, "You're a Grand Old Flag."

Veterans in Our Community

Mrs. Crockett's class shares the history of Veteran's Day.

Students in Mrs. Stevens' class in a short skit.

Third Grade Students Recite a Veterans Day Poem.

The Vocal Ensemble Sings Our National Anthem.