You may have been reading in the newspapers about the Hour of Code, a push by educators and technology companies to introduce students to the idea of software coding.  The programs are developmentally appropriate, engaging, and, I confess, more than a little compelling.  Peggy Harvey, our technology instructor, taught many of the grade level classes to use the programs.  In the first grade, Tara Livolsi was so interested that she took Mrs. Geran's class to the computer lab and asked the students to try programming too.  Even at this early level, the students could understand the patterns required in coding.  Between Tara's and my efforts, most of the students successfully completed several coding puzzles.  You can try the coding programs at home too by going to tynker.com.  It might be a great family activity during the snowstorm tomorrow.  I know I am going to take advantage of the snow and spend a little time on the tynker.com on Sunday.  Let me know what coding puzzles you enjoyed.  Happy Coding!

Blanchard's Winter Band Concert Rocks

On December 9th and 10th, Blanchard Elementary School Band held its annual Winter Concert.  The Advanced Band  played On Wisconsin, Two Renaissance Sketches, Triton Fanfare, Jazzy Brown Jug (a crowed favorite) and Frosty the Snowman.  The Woodwind Ensemble played Greensleeves, Can-Can, and The Pink Panther.  The Percussion Ensemble played the interesting Strateejurie.  The Brass Ensemble played Music from the Royal Fireworks, Trumpet Voluntary, Rock of Ages, and Freddie the Freeloader.  Finally, the Gold Stage Band played Blue Train, Caribbean Fever, Can't Help Falling in Love, and Blanchard's anthem, Louie, Louie.  The Winter Concert is especially meaningful to our community because the sixth grade teachers and students host a breakfast for our senior citizens who also remain for the concert.

Acton-Boxborough Regional Meeting for Kindergarten Teachers

Acting like engineers....

    If your kindergarten student tells you that he or she had a substitute teacher this week, it is because we are taking full advantage of our regionalization with Acton for  professional development.  All of Acton's and Boxborough's kindergarten teachers met for the entire day to discuss best practice and instruction through all the content area subjects: English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science,  and Social Studies.  In addition, we discussed the use of specific common assessments--called District Determined Measures--that will be used throughout the new AB district to assess and evaluate student learning and be able to speak about it with students, parents, and colleagues.  Another advantage of the common assessments is the ability to establish benchmark performance targets for our district.

The Winning Structure at over 1 meter high

Digital Citizenship and Cyber Bullying Prevention

Practicing good digital citizenship is an ongoing theme at Blanchard.  As students learn to use digital technologies to communicate, collaborate, and complete school assignments, they must also learn to use the Internet safely and appropriately. Recent library lessons for grade 5 students have focused on learning responsible uses of digital tools.  We have discussed safety, privacy, netiquette, and cyber bullying, including the potential consequences of inappropriate online behavior. The students revealed that they have a wide range of online experiences, and shared some very thoughtful suggestions for how they can leave positive “digital footprints.”  In December they will use an online tool to produce comic strips demonstrating their understandings of digital citizenship, which we will share with families and the rest of our school community.

While this lesson was designed for 5^th grade students, we continually discuss digital citizenship with all grade levels, and encourage parents to do the same. Children with access to the Internet are never too young for discussions about Internet usage, or too old to need adult supervision with online tools, and frequent reminders of safe and appropriate behavior.  Luckily there are some terrific online resources for educators and parents.  You can check our Technology page on the school website (http://www.boxboroughschool.org/tech) for some helpful information.  One excellent resource is Common Sense Media, which produced this video with tips for dealing with cyber bullying: prevention.http://www.commonsensemedia.org/videos/cyberbullying-prevention-tips-for-kids

If you have any specific questions or concerns about helping children become good digital citizens, please don’t hesitate to contact me.  Thank you for your ongoing support.

Peggy Harvey
Instructional Technology Specialist
pharvey@boxboroughschool.org
pharvey@abschools.org

Giving Thanks for Blanchard Buddies

This month, in a nod to both Literacy month and Thanksgiving,  all the students read the Shel Silverstein book, The Giving Tree.  Today the Blanchard Buddies met and worked on various activities that focused on the theme of The Giving Tree and Thanksgiving in general.   Many classes created cards to express their thanks for something or someone in their lives.  Others observed nature and then wrote about it.  Two classes created movies about The Giving Tree.  Whatever activities in which they were engaged, it is the students' enjoyment of each other that is so evident, for which we can all give thanks this season.

Blanchard After School Enrichment: Let's Gogh Drama, Marcus Lewis Tennis, Fitness Yoga, and Chinese as a Second Language

Let’s Gogh DRAMA

 (Art Blast with a drama twist)

Grades K-6

STARTS Monday, December 2, 2013

6 weeks (Dec. 9, 16, 2013; Jan. 6, 13, 27, 2014)

Cost: $87.00/per student, including supplies

From 3:00 PM until 4:00 PM

Location: Art Room

Learn about the world of drama, with an art "skit" thrown in for fun. Explore Greek theater and make a Greek mask. Perform fun drama exercises, learn about storytelling and try some dramatic movement. This is an extremely popular art shop. Plus, we will incorporate totally cool, sometimes kooky art-based activities kids love to do.  During these fun and resourceful art experiences, art explorers create a variety of AMAZING and original works of art using natural recycled and unconventional art forms and techniques.  In order to run this program, we need a minimum of 10 students.

Blanchard Enrichment After School

Marcus Lewis QuickStart Tennis Program

Grades K-6

 Begins Tuesday, December 3, 2013

For 5 weeks (Dec. 10, 17, 2013; Jan. 7, 14, 2014)

Cost: $80.00/student/session, including supplies

From 3:00 until 4:00 PM

Location: Gym

QuickStart tennis is the newest rage sweeping the junior tennis world!   This program allows younger children to play tennis using a smaller court, softer balls and other specialized equipment.  Kids are extremely engaged and they learn skills that can be applied to more advanced techniques as they improve.  The MLTC has been offering high-level tennis instruction in Acton for almost 15 years and the program was one of the first in the area to offer QuickStart methods.  In order to run this program, we will need 15 students.  If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail Marcus Lewis at quickstart@marcuslewistenniscenter.com

Fitness Yoga

Kindergarten-Sixth

(Dec. 11, 18, 2013; Jan. 8, 15, 22, 2014)

6 weeks

Cost: 50.00/per student

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Location: Room 239 (OT/PT room)

This is a great way to Strengthen, Stretch and Relax the body.  The class will practice various yoga poses.  You will work on proper breathing, balance, and form and have fun!!!!!   Fitness Yoga is a non-competitive class.  Please wear comfortable clothes (no jeans or sandals). Minimum of 8 students.  Maximum of 15 students per session. 

Blanchard Enrichment Programs

After School
Chinese as a Second Language (CSL)

Grades K-2

Starts Monday Dec. 2, 2013

8 weeks (Dec. 9, 16, 2013; Jan. 6, 13, 27, Feb. 3, 10, 2014)

Cost: $95.00/per student, includes supplies

From 3:00 until 4:00 PM

Location: Science Lab

Chinese as a second language is designed for the students from non-mandarin speaking families to develop basic skill of Chinese language and get initial exposure to Chinese culture.  This is an 8 week program. The CSL students will use text and workbooks from the Better Chinese series.  Minimum is 8 students.  Maximum is 12 students.

Sixth Grade Structure Project

The students and staff at Blanchard Memorial School want to give a special thanks to the Youth Services Librarian, Kathleen Taffel, at the Sargent Library for facilitating the Blanchard sixth grade's display of their ancient scale model structures in the youth section of the library.  When you step in to the library take a look at the top of the book shelves to see the hard work that our students have done.  The students worked in groups mixed throughout the grade on this interdisciplinary project which took two weeks to complete.  The project required them to research the dimensions of their chosen structures, decide on a scale, complete calculations, and use the engineering process to build their scale models.  Students also researched the history and culture of the people who built the original structures and completed travel brochures persuading tourists to visit their structures.  (Written by Janet LaVigne)

Bingo at Blanchard!

Friday, November 15th was a very busy night at Blanchard Memorial School.  Families started the night shopping for gifts in the gym with some terrific local artists and crafts.  The crowd moved into the halls for refreshments and delicious cakes and cookies and then proceeded down to the cafeteria for Blanchard's popular Bingo night.  The cafeteria was packed with friends and families and even some previous students who wanted to support their younger siblings.  Dr. Bates started off the Bingo night calling the numbers, followed by myself and then some very brave parents. Special thanks must be given to the fifth grade Girl Scout troop who volunteered to check the numbers and verify the Bingo cards.  This is my third year of Bingo number calling and it is highly entertaining to watch the children cheer with such gusto and excitement.  It was a terrific night to enjoy the company of the Blanchard community.

Smashing Pumpkin Walk!

This year's Pumpkin Walk was a smashing success!  There were 198 children who participated as well as parents, grandparents, and even a great grandmother.  One of the keys to the success was the ghost card in which the children needed to play each game and find specific items around the school to earn a prize.  Games in the gym included Catch a Ghost, a game similar to Duck, Duck, Goose, Musical Chairs, relay races, a pitch game, and a balance the bone on your head game.  In the cafeteria, students could decorate a pumpkin center, decorate a cookie, decorate yourself with a tattoo, and create a bookmark.  In between the gym and cafeteria, students took their pictures in the ghost photo booths!  All in all, the students and their families had a terrific time, myself included.

In addition, 80 pounds of candy was collected to donate to the New England Center for Homeless Veterans.

The Parents, Teachers, and Friends would like to thank the our custodians, Mark, Dennis, and Dan for all their extra work to make this event successful.

Below are just some of the pictures that I took at the Pumpkin Walk that feature some of the cutest goblins, ghosts, witches, and superheroes imaginable.