Dear Parents: This week will be bringing in some true Fall weather. Be sure your child has an extra sweater or sweatshirt at school in case it gets chilly. We do go outside unless it is raining or temperatures are extremely cold and windy.
We are welcoming Mrs. Debra Baucom to our Fourth Grade team. She is no stranger to Blair...her children have gone to Blair and she has been a long-term substitute here several times. We are sorry to see Mrs. Lagas-Rivera leave, but her reasoning will help her and her family make some positive life-style changes. We wish her and Simon good luck and good learning ahead.
This week brings us closer to holiday season activities. We abide by the "separation of state and church" ideals...therefore, we do not "party"...but we "celebrate" the Fall, the Winter and the Spring hlidays. We will have a Fall celebration in classrooms around the 28th of October, but we will not be wearing costumes, will not be wearing masks nor coloring hair or doing anything that will distract from the learning of your child or others.
Please remember your students have a 1/2 day of school on the 29th of October. Dismissal is at 12:00 noon. Please send us a note in writing if your child is going home a different way that day. Also, please be home early to welcome your child home. Bus route times will differ, so expect your child between 12:15-12:30 depending on when your child gets off the bus. We will feed all students lunch before they go home (It is the law). Teachers will be using the afternoon time for required staff development that fits with their Individual Growth Plans. There is no school for students on October 30th. Enjoy the long weekend.
Things to remember this week:
Grade 1 has a FireMen visit Monday morning from 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Makeup Picture Day is on Wednesday.
Mrs. Viola's class does a Tarheels trip on Wednesday.
Have a wonderful week...
Barbara Stock
Friday, October 16, 2009
Friday, October 9, 2009
Week of October 12, 2009
Dear Parents: Thank you for all your kind comments on the websites for our teachers. We work hard to have your students have 21st Century skills, and are finding more and more parents reading the blogs and sites themselves. We are also using "dibels" and "ClassScape" technology to help us assess your children and ensure they are learning and growing at the proper rates (if not more!)
Please plan ahead for October 29th...it is a half-day with dismissal at noon. The 30th is a day off for students, but teachers will have workshops to attend.
The Alert Phone System has been enacted. If your child is tardy, you will receive a phone call that your child may be absent with this system. Please call us and let us change your child's status if you receive this Alert call in error. Modern technology is great, but still relies on humans to fix it!!
This week: Third graders have CoGat Achievement testing makeups.
Open House is Thursday from 6:30-7:30 (3 20 minute
rotations. Individual newsletters should have the
explanation of rotations. We are doing this so that
parents with multiple children can visit each classroom.
Our Book Fair will be open from 6:00-8:00 pm as well.
Research shows that reading is one of the best
indicators to student success. Please spend 20-30 minutes nightly reading with or to your child. If you
model the expectations, hopefully your child will
follow.
Have a wonderful week. Please feel free to call me at 350-2045 X504
Please plan ahead for October 29th...it is a half-day with dismissal at noon. The 30th is a day off for students, but teachers will have workshops to attend.
The Alert Phone System has been enacted. If your child is tardy, you will receive a phone call that your child may be absent with this system. Please call us and let us change your child's status if you receive this Alert call in error. Modern technology is great, but still relies on humans to fix it!!
This week: Third graders have CoGat Achievement testing makeups.
Open House is Thursday from 6:30-7:30 (3 20 minute
rotations. Individual newsletters should have the
explanation of rotations. We are doing this so that
parents with multiple children can visit each classroom.
Our Book Fair will be open from 6:00-8:00 pm as well.
Research shows that reading is one of the best
indicators to student success. Please spend 20-30 minutes nightly reading with or to your child. If you
model the expectations, hopefully your child will
follow.
Have a wonderful week. Please feel free to call me at 350-2045 X504
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Week of October 6, 2009
Dear Parents:
This has been a nice, quiet week, so I think everyone has settled down, routines have become routine, and everyone is busy teaching and learning.
We have several field trips planned this week for Grades 2, 3 and 4, so be sure to check your child's weekly newsletters for details. Grade 3 will also be taking the CoGat Test. This 3-day test (about an hour daily) will give us some insight into your child's achievement, whether your child is working up to his/her potential, and will also give us an extra piece of data to determine your child's best learning styles and teacher course of action for your child. We also use this test to determine some part of eligibility for the Gifted Program.
We are sure that you have heard we are "green" at Blair! From Friday, Monday and Tuesday we have collected enough paper to save one tree. Needless to say, we are working on our own little forest to save in Wilmington! Our PTA is helping us weigh paper weekly and students can graph the results. Besides paper, we are also sorting plastic (mostly from water bottles)and aluminum cans as now required in Wilmington. Our children are learning early that our landfills need to be safe places without hazardous waste that does not decompose. We also are saving the juicy packs that our students bring for snacks and lunch. Do you know that we get 2 cents a piece for them? Doesn't sound like much does it? Well, we have made about $10 on them already! If you use them at home, please send them in! Our PTA is steering this program to help put $ into instructional projects throughout the year. If you have not joined PTA yet, please think about doing so.
Hope you have a happy week.
Sincerely, Barbara Stock, Principal
This has been a nice, quiet week, so I think everyone has settled down, routines have become routine, and everyone is busy teaching and learning.
We have several field trips planned this week for Grades 2, 3 and 4, so be sure to check your child's weekly newsletters for details. Grade 3 will also be taking the CoGat Test. This 3-day test (about an hour daily) will give us some insight into your child's achievement, whether your child is working up to his/her potential, and will also give us an extra piece of data to determine your child's best learning styles and teacher course of action for your child. We also use this test to determine some part of eligibility for the Gifted Program.
We are sure that you have heard we are "green" at Blair! From Friday, Monday and Tuesday we have collected enough paper to save one tree. Needless to say, we are working on our own little forest to save in Wilmington! Our PTA is helping us weigh paper weekly and students can graph the results. Besides paper, we are also sorting plastic (mostly from water bottles)and aluminum cans as now required in Wilmington. Our children are learning early that our landfills need to be safe places without hazardous waste that does not decompose. We also are saving the juicy packs that our students bring for snacks and lunch. Do you know that we get 2 cents a piece for them? Doesn't sound like much does it? Well, we have made about $10 on them already! If you use them at home, please send them in! Our PTA is steering this program to help put $ into instructional projects throughout the year. If you have not joined PTA yet, please think about doing so.
Hope you have a happy week.
Sincerely, Barbara Stock, Principal
Friday, September 25, 2009
Week of 09-28-09
Isn't it hard to believe that we have been in school just a little over a month? Children are settled into our routines, have reconnected with former classmates and have made new friends as well.
We hope you have joined PTA!! Your $5.00/per person contribution buys a lot of manipulatives for our classrooms, teachers, technology items and outside cultural programs for Blair. We are very grateful to our PTA and volunteers for all their support to our students and faculty.
Our Third graders will be on a field trip on Tuesday the 29th. They will do "Tarheels Go Walking." Please send in a permission slip before the field trip. Half of our Fourth graders are also taking a field trip on Thursday, October 1, with the other half on Tuesday, October 6. This trip will be to the Cape Fear Museum.
We would like you to think about something for next year--Uniforms! We will be putting together some ideas about possible uniforms and sharing those ideas with you over the next few months. We will take a poll in the very late fall to see what you think. Feel free to share your ideas with us as well. You can email me at barbara.stock@nhcs.net with your opinions and suggestions.
Yours in Education,
Barbara Stock, Principal
We hope you have joined PTA!! Your $5.00/per person contribution buys a lot of manipulatives for our classrooms, teachers, technology items and outside cultural programs for Blair. We are very grateful to our PTA and volunteers for all their support to our students and faculty.
Our Third graders will be on a field trip on Tuesday the 29th. They will do "Tarheels Go Walking." Please send in a permission slip before the field trip. Half of our Fourth graders are also taking a field trip on Thursday, October 1, with the other half on Tuesday, October 6. This trip will be to the Cape Fear Museum.
We would like you to think about something for next year--Uniforms! We will be putting together some ideas about possible uniforms and sharing those ideas with you over the next few months. We will take a poll in the very late fall to see what you think. Feel free to share your ideas with us as well. You can email me at barbara.stock@nhcs.net with your opinions and suggestions.
Yours in Education,
Barbara Stock, Principal
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Week of September 21, 2009
Dear Parents:
Thank you for being so cooperative during our new dismissal policy. We may be a minute or two slower, but we are now much safer and are grateful that you all understand and agree with us. On Monday the 21st, we will be holding our Health-O-rama at school for Grades K, 1, 3 and 5. Screening includes dental, vision and hearing. On a professional level, we will be honoring Educators of the Year, which include our own Jordan Davis, on Monday night at UNC-W Ballroom. We are so very proud of Ms. Davis, our third grade teacher.
On Wednesday, August 23, Lifetouch will be here to take school pictures. Be sure you dress your child in something bright and cheerful that day. Your child should have brought a picture packet home this past week. If you did not receive one, please call your child's teacher for another packet or for information.
Thank you for a wonderful week at Blair.
Yours in Education,
Barbara Stock
Principal
Thank you for being so cooperative during our new dismissal policy. We may be a minute or two slower, but we are now much safer and are grateful that you all understand and agree with us. On Monday the 21st, we will be holding our Health-O-rama at school for Grades K, 1, 3 and 5. Screening includes dental, vision and hearing. On a professional level, we will be honoring Educators of the Year, which include our own Jordan Davis, on Monday night at UNC-W Ballroom. We are so very proud of Ms. Davis, our third grade teacher.
On Wednesday, August 23, Lifetouch will be here to take school pictures. Be sure you dress your child in something bright and cheerful that day. Your child should have brought a picture packet home this past week. If you did not receive one, please call your child's teacher for another packet or for information.
Thank you for a wonderful week at Blair.
Yours in Education,
Barbara Stock
Principal
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Week of September 14, 2009
Dear Parents: Thank you so much for your patience and kind encouragement as we changed two major things at Blair this week. Our fourth grades reorganized, causing us to move 6-7 students from each classroom into a new classroom with a new teacher. Some of you had concerns, and we were glad to answer any questions you had. Thank you for having faith in our judgments to move your children. We appreciate all your help and support. Our second change involved parent pickup. Thank you for supporting us with our goal of safety for all students. We know that the time frame of pickup was hard at first, but we find that we are improving our time daily. We feel much better about not having 200 students standing in front of the cars. We have better control over their safety for you to take home. Thank you for your kind encouragement and patience.
Our Parent Handbook and School Improvement Plan will be posted on line next week for your reading pleasure. These are long, but very informative documents that you should read. We would appreciate any comments you have to help us constantly improve our procedures and policies.
On Tuesday, September 15, our PTA will have their first kick-off meeting. They promise it will not be a long meeting. The agenda includes PTA procedures, Faculty introductions, School Improvement Team Parent representatives voting and a terrific slide show by our own Tech wizzard, Sue Stott. There will be the option of a bought dinner at 6:30 pm for your convenience if you wish. The PTA meeting starts promptly at 7:00 p.m. Be sure to join PTA at that time and buy or order student Blair shirts as well.
On Wednesday, September 16 at 3:00 p.m. we will have our first School Improvement Team Meeting to discuss our policies, procedures and academic goals. This team meets four times throughout the year to advise, guide and support school topics. Any parent is welcome to participate, visit or address the team. Your input is always welcome.
For those of you who like to plan ahead: School Pictures will be taken on Wednesday, February 23. Also, The New Hanover County Board meets on Thursday, August 24 at Spencer Board Room at 6:30 p.m.
Enjoy the weather as we finally cool off. Being in the hurricane season time frame, we just want you all to know that if there is a school delay or closing, the New Hanover County Board initiates the Alert Phone system to notify all parents of students at all NHC schools. Be sure our front office has your current phone numbers.
Have a wonderful week! We are so glad you are all part of the Blair Family.
Barbara Stock, Principal
Our Parent Handbook and School Improvement Plan will be posted on line next week for your reading pleasure. These are long, but very informative documents that you should read. We would appreciate any comments you have to help us constantly improve our procedures and policies.
On Tuesday, September 15, our PTA will have their first kick-off meeting. They promise it will not be a long meeting. The agenda includes PTA procedures, Faculty introductions, School Improvement Team Parent representatives voting and a terrific slide show by our own Tech wizzard, Sue Stott. There will be the option of a bought dinner at 6:30 pm for your convenience if you wish. The PTA meeting starts promptly at 7:00 p.m. Be sure to join PTA at that time and buy or order student Blair shirts as well.
On Wednesday, September 16 at 3:00 p.m. we will have our first School Improvement Team Meeting to discuss our policies, procedures and academic goals. This team meets four times throughout the year to advise, guide and support school topics. Any parent is welcome to participate, visit or address the team. Your input is always welcome.
For those of you who like to plan ahead: School Pictures will be taken on Wednesday, February 23. Also, The New Hanover County Board meets on Thursday, August 24 at Spencer Board Room at 6:30 p.m.
Enjoy the weather as we finally cool off. Being in the hurricane season time frame, we just want you all to know that if there is a school delay or closing, the New Hanover County Board initiates the Alert Phone system to notify all parents of students at all NHC schools. Be sure our front office has your current phone numbers.
Have a wonderful week! We are so glad you are all part of the Blair Family.
Barbara Stock, Principal
Thursday, September 3, 2009
For the Weekof September 8, 2009
Dear Parents:
School is in a routine and going well. Students seem happy and eager to learn. We wish we could bottle and sell it!!! We are thoroughly enjoying your children. Thank you for sending them to us.
Monday is Labor Day and a nice holiday day off for everyone. We hope you have some fun family activities planned and that the weather cooperates. Speaking of weather, we have an Alert Phone Message system that is used by both Blair and the Central Office of New Hanover County Schools. In the event of an emergency delay or closing of school, Central Office will send out a phone message letting you know what school procedures they will follow. Sometimes the TV and radio send out inaccurate information about closings or delays. If there is a delay or closing, a phone call will be generated from Central Office. Please be sure that your contact information is updated at our front office with Miss Elaine if your phone numbers have changed.
Tuesday morning President Obama is addressing students in a Speech. Teachers will all have the option as to whether their class will listen to and discuss the speech. If your child's class is participating, you have the option of not having your child participate. An opt out form was sent home Thursday with every child and if you choose NOT to have your child participate or view the speech, please send the form back to your child's teacher. If you want your child to participate, you need to do nothing.
Tuesday afternoon we will be implementing our new parent-pickup dismissal procedure. Parents will not be permitted to take their children out of a line or wait at the end of room 105 outside. This causes a problem for cars, teachers and students at dismissal. We have so many students that dismissal in that area has become a safety issue. Please stay in your car and pull up around the curve (like a.m. dropoff) and we will send your child to your car. You will have the option of coming to the office to pick up your child as well. If there is a change in plans that is different from the usual pickup (ie someone else is picking up your child one day, ) that person will have to report to the front office and we must have a prior note or phone call before 2:00 p.m. Until we get to know you, please have a driver's license ready. We will not dismiss from the office before 2:3p p.m. unless it is for an emergency or appointment. Please be patient with us. The first week will take some extra time to orchestrate. Once we are in a routine, I am confident things will run smoothly. Please remember that we are doing this for SAFETY of our children!
Friday will be our first Blair on the Air for this school year. Check us out on Channel 4 at School. Parents, you are welcome to come view Blair on the Air with your child in the classroom, the Media Center or in the Broadcast room if your child is on Blair on the Air that day. We have a weekly Friday broadcast at 7:55 a.m. I'm sure you will hear our famous ending of every show, "stay cool, bulldogs!!"
Something new to look forward to: We hope to have our radio station WDOG up and running soon. You will be asked to tune into 87.7 FM and listen to announcements, stories, student songs and comments. You will need to be on Blair School Road to hear the broadcasts. Stay tuned-we will let you know when we begin broadcasting!!
Have a wonderful weekend.
Barbara Stock, Principal
School is in a routine and going well. Students seem happy and eager to learn. We wish we could bottle and sell it!!! We are thoroughly enjoying your children. Thank you for sending them to us.
Monday is Labor Day and a nice holiday day off for everyone. We hope you have some fun family activities planned and that the weather cooperates. Speaking of weather, we have an Alert Phone Message system that is used by both Blair and the Central Office of New Hanover County Schools. In the event of an emergency delay or closing of school, Central Office will send out a phone message letting you know what school procedures they will follow. Sometimes the TV and radio send out inaccurate information about closings or delays. If there is a delay or closing, a phone call will be generated from Central Office. Please be sure that your contact information is updated at our front office with Miss Elaine if your phone numbers have changed.
Tuesday morning President Obama is addressing students in a Speech. Teachers will all have the option as to whether their class will listen to and discuss the speech. If your child's class is participating, you have the option of not having your child participate. An opt out form was sent home Thursday with every child and if you choose NOT to have your child participate or view the speech, please send the form back to your child's teacher. If you want your child to participate, you need to do nothing.
Tuesday afternoon we will be implementing our new parent-pickup dismissal procedure. Parents will not be permitted to take their children out of a line or wait at the end of room 105 outside. This causes a problem for cars, teachers and students at dismissal. We have so many students that dismissal in that area has become a safety issue. Please stay in your car and pull up around the curve (like a.m. dropoff) and we will send your child to your car. You will have the option of coming to the office to pick up your child as well. If there is a change in plans that is different from the usual pickup (ie someone else is picking up your child one day, ) that person will have to report to the front office and we must have a prior note or phone call before 2:00 p.m. Until we get to know you, please have a driver's license ready. We will not dismiss from the office before 2:3p p.m. unless it is for an emergency or appointment. Please be patient with us. The first week will take some extra time to orchestrate. Once we are in a routine, I am confident things will run smoothly. Please remember that we are doing this for SAFETY of our children!
Friday will be our first Blair on the Air for this school year. Check us out on Channel 4 at School. Parents, you are welcome to come view Blair on the Air with your child in the classroom, the Media Center or in the Broadcast room if your child is on Blair on the Air that day. We have a weekly Friday broadcast at 7:55 a.m. I'm sure you will hear our famous ending of every show, "stay cool, bulldogs!!"
Something new to look forward to: We hope to have our radio station WDOG up and running soon. You will be asked to tune into 87.7 FM and listen to announcements, stories, student songs and comments. You will need to be on Blair School Road to hear the broadcasts. Stay tuned-we will let you know when we begin broadcasting!!
Have a wonderful weekend.
Barbara Stock, Principal
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