Blain Update
October 2020
NEWS FROM THE OFFICE
FALL CONFERENCES will be held on Wednesday, November 4th from 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM and on Thursday, November 5th from 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM. This fall, conferences will be held virtually via Zoom. If you do not have internet access and would like to participate in a phone conference instead, please notify your child’s teacher. The day before conferences, teachers will email a Zoom link to parents who have scheduled appointments.
If you would like to schedule an appointment with a teacher/specialist other than your child's homeroom teacher (e.g. art teacher, school counselor, learning support teacher, etc.), please call the school office.
Conferences can be scheduled by visiting https://westperry.meettheteacher.com/ or by calling the school office (717-536-3219).
Families of students who participate in the West Perry Virtual Academy should contact your child’s teacher to schedule conferences.
IMPORTANT DATES:
November 4, 2020: Report Cards will be sent home. Fall Conferences 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM
November 5, 2020: Act 80 Day (No School for Students). Fall Conferences 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM
November 6, 2020: Trade-Off Day (No School)
November 19, 2020: PTO Meeting at 6:30 PM
November 25 - 30, 2020: Fall Break (No School)
MRS. O'TOOLE'S READING CORNER
Parents play a critical role in their child’s learning and development. Your child is watching you! Be a partner in the learning that happens every day! Learning happens in the everyday moments you share with your child! Everything you and your child do together will teach important lessons that will help them grow and learn about their world.
Family Reading Challenge of the Month: It’s time to take out those delicious autumn recipes and cook with your child. Have your child read aloud the different parts of a recipe including the list of ingredients and the step-by-step instructions. This will help your child to develop vocabulary and build fluency. Even if your child is too young to read, you can read the recipe to him or her and have some fun! Here is a fun recipe to try:
HOT DOG MUMMIES
Ingredients:
1 can (8 oz) refrigerated crescent rolls
2 ½ slices American cheese, quartered
10 hot dogs
Cooking spray
Mustard or ketchup, if desired
Steps:
1. Heat oven to 375°F.
2. Unroll dough; separate at perforations. Use 2 pieces to create a rectangle. Press perforations to seal. Make 4 rectangles.
3. With knife or kitchen scissors, cut each rectangle lengthwise into 10 pieces, making a total of 40 pieces of dough. Slice cheese slices into quarters.
4. Wrap 4 pieces of dough around each hot dog and 1/4 slice of cheese to look like "bandages," stretching dough slightly to completely cover hot dog.
5. About 1/2 inch from one end of each hot dog, separate "bandages" so hot dog shows through for "face."
6. On ungreased large cookie sheet, place wrapped hot dogs (cheese side down); spray dough lightly with cooking spray.
7. Bake 13 to 17 minutes or until dough is light golden brown and hot dogs are hot. With mustard or ketchup, draw features .
I would love to see pictures of families that try my reading challenge. Take a picture of your child or family as you embark on the recipe challenge and send it to me at sotoole@westperry.org. Your child will receive a free book and get his/her picture displayed on my reading wall. I love to catch our students at Blain reading. Please continue to send these pictures, too, so that I can give out even more books! Last month, Makenna Dobbs, Alaina Reisinger, Caleb Reisinger, Rayan Wickard, Layla Wickard, Carsten Bourassa, Libby Sauder, and Timothy Kint were caught reading!
A MESSAGE FROM THE NURSE'S OFFICE
Drink up! Did you know that water makes up about 80% of the brain and dehydration can lead to fatigue, dizziness, poor concentration and reduced cognitive abilities? Providing your student with a clean water bottle daily that they can refill at school will help them to stay hydrated and therefore ready to learn! Well hydrated students complain less often of headache, tiredness, sore throat and body cramps.
It’s the time of year when temperatures drop and the weather can be unpredictable. Dressing your student in layers is a good way to keep them comfortable in the classroom and on the playground. As fall progresses and it becomes colder, please send your student with a knit hat and gloves to keep them comfortable during recess. The children go out for recess daily except in extreme temperatures and should be dressed appropriately so they can have a healthy, happy time outdoors.
MISS ROTH'S COUNSELING CONNECTION
Did you know October is Bullying Prevention month? This month, I visited classrooms to talk about what a bully is, how we can deal with bullying, and what other things we might experience instead of bullying, like mean moments or conflict.
West Perry School District recognizes bullying as “an intentional electronic, written, verbal, or physical act or series of acts directed at another student or students, which occurs in a school setting and/or outside a school setting, that is severe, persistent, or pervasive” and effects any of the following: interference with the student’s education, creation of a threatening environment, and/or substantially disrupts the orderly operation of the school. More information about WPSD’s bullying policy can be found here in our board policy.
I encourage you to talk with your student(s) about bullying, what it is, and what to do if they are experiencing it. Check out the information below for some ideas to get started!
Bullying
· Several times
· One-sided
· Mean or hurtful
· Purposeful
Mean Moment
· One time
· Reaction to a strong feeling or event
· One-sided
· Hurtful
Conflict
· Occasional
· Hurtful or mean
· Purposeful
· Both parties involved
· What does bullying mean to you?
· What can you do if you are being bullied at school? Who could you talk to?
· How could you be a buddy if you saw a classmate getting bullied?
· What can we do to prevent bullying both inside and outside of school?
Be well + stay safe,
Miss Courtney Roth, M.Ed.
Blain Elementary School Counselor
CONNECT WITH US
Blain Elementary School
132 Blain Road
Blain, PA 17006
717-536-3219
Website: blain.westperry.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blainelem
Instagram: @blainelementary
"Alone we are strong ... Together we are stronger."