physical education bits and hike with Mr. Guilmette

Hello Parents,

          I would like to communicate a few things that are going on in physical education and beyond. First what have we been doing in physical education class? First we completed our dance unit before April vacation. During that unit the students in grades three to six had to create a dance in groups of four and perform the dance on the stage. We had several groups perform their dances in front the entire student body and staff at last Friday's community meeting. The dances were fun to watch!

          Since school has started up again after April vacation we have started using scoops and lacrosse sticks to work on their throwing and catching skills and use those skills in a game situation. We will also be working on improving their fitness levels by working on aerobic endurance, muscular endarance and flexibility. We will have a mile run in May and we will test their muscular endurance by having the students do as many push-ups and curl-ups as they can. The students will also do flexibility tests.

          I, Mr. Guilmette will be leading a family hike up Mt. Wachusett which is in Princeton, MA. I think Mt. Wachusett is a great mountain to climb for young children or for anyone. I have been hiking since I was six years old. My first hike was up Mt. Monadnock in southwestern N.H and have been hiking mountains ever since. I have hiked all of the 4,000 foot mountains in N.H and VT. I have also done some hiking in the mountains located in the western part of the U.S. I love being outdoors and I feel hiking mountains is a great way to get exercise and enjoy nature. I thought it would be great to have some Blanchard families get together to enjoy a nice hike on a nearby mountain. Details for hike will be stated below. This event is not sponsored by Blanchard Memorial School. Blanchard Memorial School will not be responsible for any injury that might occur to a participant from Blanchard Memorial School. Parents or guardians will be required to sign a waiver form before hiking.

When: Saturday May 18th: Meet time 10:00
What: Leisurely hike up Mt. Wachusett: The entire hike up and down will be +/- three hours.
Where: Meet and start of the hike will be at the Mt. Wachusett Visitor Center on mountain road about a 1/2 mile past the Mt. Wachusett Mountain ski area
Requirements: Children must be accompanied by an adult, participants should try to wear hiking boots, but sneakers are okay, water and snacks.
Hike will be cancelled if it is raining or if rain is expected.
Questions: If you have any questions or would like to express interest then you may call me at  extension 253 at Blanchard and my e-mail at Blanchard is rguilmette@boxboroughschool.org
Directions: If you have a GPS, if you put in 345 Mountain road Princeton MA as the destination that will get you to the Mt.Wachusett Visitors Center. If you use Mapquest put in 345 Mountain road in Princeton MA that will give you directions to the Mt Wachusett Visitor's Center. The drive will be approximately 40 minutes from Boxborough.

Sincerely,

Mr. Guilmette

Kindergarten Screening is taking place on Wednesday and Thursday of this week, in the Blanchard library and guidance office. Massachusetts special education regulations require schools to conduct screening with all new kindergarten students. This screening is a brief, non- intensive tool designed to identify children who may need to be referred for further evaluation in order to meet their needs as they begin their elementary school journey. 

This is always a favorite day for special education staff and kindergarten teachers, as we get to meet our new young students! Students and parents begin with some snacks and playtime in the guidance office, where they are greeted by the kindergarten teachers and get their pictures taken in front of a picture of the big yellow school bus. These pictures will be waiting for our new kindergartners when they start school in August. Many thanks to Connie Long for allowing us the use of her library for two days.

 

 

 

During my walkthrough of classrooms, I stopped to speak with the sixth grade students who are reading novels during English Language Arts including Stargirl, Where the Red Fern Grows, and Sticks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The fifth grade teachers and students would like to thank the Blanchard PTF for hosting an American Revolution presentation. We have some great pictures to prove the fun, educational experience we had! What an awesome way for the students to learn first hand about the period of history surrounding the Revolutionary War. Thank you!

 

 

 

 

 

PTF Boxtop Celebration for Fourth and Fifth Grade

The fourth grade classes of Ms. Whyte and Ms. Luck, and fifth grade class of Ms. Sands all celebrated their hard work in collecting boxtops for the school fundraiser. The students were rewarded for their efforts with an ice cream social at the end of the day. Special thanks must be paid to Mrs. Spurling and Mrs. Pozz for organizing and helping out in the event.

 

 

Sixth Grade Studies Ancient Greece

 

Ancient Greek Pottery

by Emory P.

            Pottery is one of the most famous works of art done by Greeks, and yet used in everyday life. Sixth graders at Blanchard have been studying about Ancient Greece, and for the past week we have been focusing on their wonderful, unique pottery. The pottery is one of historians’ major helps to learning about the ancient civilization and culture. During the Dark Ages, when Greece was taken over, around 1200 BCE-800 BCE, writing and literature was all lost. Nobody wrote anymore, and the only information was gathered from oral tradition. But even though there were no written inscriptions to learn from, there was pottery. On the jugs and pots, there would be paintings of famous myths or stories, such as Athena’s birth or Pandora’s curiosity. That way, historians were also able to learn with pottery!

            Professor Connors, who helped with the sixth graders’ archaeological dig in October and is a professor at Harvard, came in to talk with us on Monday and Tuesday (March 25-26). She taught us about the different types of Greek pottery, their uses, and shared with us her discoveries on her archaeological digs. She told us about types from amphora to krater, all with their own specialty in life. Amphora was used for transporting wine, and has a pointed bottom. The Greeks discovered that with a flat bottom, it would store less wine, as well as the fact that sediment would gather. With a pointed bottom, it would easily hold more wine. Besides amphora, there were also krylix, used to drink wine. The krylix is shaped like a soup plate, with large handles that were used to hold the krylix when drinking. Kraters were large basin-like pots that were used to store grains. Ancient Greek pottery is certainly very widespread, from tiny oil-holding pots to large, grain storing ones, and yet the art is so popular yet important to Greek culture. Thankfully, we are all able to study it today.

 

Sixth Grade Student Council Collects Books for Book Worm Angels

Book Worm Angels Drive

During this 6^th grade community service project, we collected 206 books for the Book Worm Angels Foundation!  These books are going to kids in Fitchburg who don’t have books to read for fun and education.  We supplied books that went to all ages with all different genres.  So, now a young adult can now read a mystery novel and a kindergartener can now read Dr. Seuss.  Thank you to all the people who donated, it was a phenomenal contribution. Remember to read with love and care for your books and enjoy every word.  You should never to take them for granted and appreciate them because some other people don’t have the same privilege you do. We are ecstatic because all the kids in Fitchburg that got a new book have entertainment at a different dimension!

                                                                        ~The Sixth Grade Student Council