Of skunks, and hawks, and second grade students...

Second graders were treated to a visit from some special guests recently. As part of our animal research, Drumlin Farm brought a striped skunk and a broad winged hawk. Second graders did some quiet observations noting how the animals moved and what they looked like. We discussed how animals have special features to survive in nature.   

Contributed by Lauren Grady 

Students Make A Difference

The Blanchard community is a generous one.  The students (and staff and parents) participate in food drives such as the Souper Bowl in which the food goes to the Acton Pantry or Loaves and Fishes, clothing drives such as Coats for Kids and Crates to Crayolas and the Mitten Tree, in which the hats and mittens collected are donated to the Acton Food Pantry.  Primarily, our charity drives focus on the Acton-Boxborough community.  However, when students at Blanchard are affected, we extend our reach.  Every year, a Blood drive is conducted in honor of a former student, Ashley Ge.  In the last few years, we have supported the Decibels Foundation that the Dunning family founded.  The Decibels Foundation provides services for Early Intervention programs and resources for parents and schools.  The primary fundraiser for the Decibels Foundation is Stink Week, in which students will wear the same T-Shirt for a week to raise awareness of hearing loss as well as to raise money.

This week, I'd like to call attention to the sixth grade students who are learning CPR.  They were an enthusiastic group, eager to take on the responsibility of learning how to save a life.

In addition, I want to recognize Wendy Barrett who donated all of her birthday toys to the Toys for Tots organization because she thought it was a good thing to do.  Below, she is shown delivering her toys to the organization.   We are all proud of you, Wendy!

I would also like to recognize Jack Dunning and Thomas Walsh who have coordinated all the activities in the school for Stink Week for the past two years.  In 2011, the Blanchard Memorial School community received the Classy Award, given to nonprofit organizations for outstanding contributions in fundraising.   Thomas is also involved with fundraising for ALS.  His family participates on a charity walk every year and he has raised money through other means, such as a lemonade stand.

It isn't surprising that elementary school students are so thoughtful and reflective about the world, but it is nice to recognize students for their efforts.   If you know of a Blanchard student who is doing  something that makes a difference, please let me know.

Sixth Grade Students Talking about CPR Training with Fox News

Thomas Walsh and Jack Dunning: Fundraisers for the Decibels Foundation

Wendy Barrett and Toys for Tots

What’s New in the Library?

The PTF has funded a new display unit and shelving in our school library. Our younger students LOVE choosing books that are easy to find and at just the right height.  Older students find browsing the Young Adult section a snap at our new end cap.

Thank you PTF!!!

by Connie Long

Eshu Bumpus: Storyteller Extraordinaire

Exciting Week with Storyteller Residency!

During the first week of January, the PTF sponsored a week of storytelling workshops with Eshu Bumpus, master storyteller.  He captivated his audience by telling a variety of African, African-American and World folktales leavened with music, humor and mystery.  Students were treated to a storytelling performance and then Eshu conducted writing workshops in each classroom.  He used games and writing templates to walk students through the steps to create original, non-violent stories. 

Thank you to the PTF for this great experience!!!

by Connie Long

Eshu with entire fifth grade in the gym

                     

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