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.