Blain Update
February 2021
NEWS FROM THE OFFICE
We are very excited to kick off March by celebrating Read Across America Week. Please look for an email to all families on Monday sharing information about activities that our students and families can enjoy together next week. In addition, students are encouraged to participate in the following spirit days:
· Monday, 3/1 – The Cat in the Hat – Wear a hat or fix your hair crazy, like Thing 1 & Thing 2
· Tuesday, 3/2 – If I Ran the Zoo – Wear animal print clothes or a shirt with an animal on it
· Wednesday, 3/3 – Wacky Wednesday – Wear mismatched clothes
· Thursday, 3/4 – Fox in Socks – Wear crazy socks or silly/mismatched shoes
· Friday, 3/5 – Green Eggs & Ham – Wear green or a shirt with food on it
Upcoming Events:
March 1 - 5 - Read Across America Week
March 18 - Early Dismissal at 1:15 PM
March 18 - Blain PTO Meeting at 6:30 PM (Virtual) - Check the Blain website for Zoom Link
March 19 - No School
April 1 - 6 - Spring Break ~ No School
Mrs. O'Toole's Reading Corner
Be a part of the team – Join the Blain PTO! Getting involved in your child's education is crucial. Did you know that research shows that when families get involved in their children's education, their children are more likely to do better in school, be better behaved, have more positive attitudes toward school, and grow up to be more successful in life? Being a part of the PTO is a great way to get involved! The Blain PTO, Inc. organizes and sponsors numerous events throughout the school year, including organizing assemblies, field trip assistance, publishing the school yearbook, providing hands-on assistance to students and staff, and helping with classroom supplies. They organize fundraisers to generate the funds to support these programs.
I would personally like to invite you to our Parent & Family Engagement Meeting which is being held in conjunction with the March 18th PTO Meeting. I will be reviewing our parent engagement policies and ask for ideas on how we can better help our families and students. Your input is greatly appreciated! This meeting will be held via Zoom. Mrs. Jones will send out the link during the week of March 15th.
Please save the Date:
What: Parent & Family Engagement Meeting/PTO
When: Thursday, March 18th
Time: 6:30 PM
How: Via Zoom
Congratulations to Lily Moore, Kenzlee McKeehan, Libby Sauder, Caleb Reisinger, and Austin Johnson! They were caught reading at home. If you catch your child reading at home, snap a picture and email it to me at sotoole@westperry.org. I will hang it on my “Look Who Was Caught Reading” bulletin board and let him/her choose a FREE book!
February Literacy Challenge: It may be too cold and snowy to make S’mores outside, but did you know that you can make them in the oven? Get an adult to help you and try this recipe!
S’Mores in the Oven
Ingredients:
· 4 graham crackers broken in half
· 4 large marshmallows
· 1 Chocolate Bar broken into 4 equal parts
Directions:
1. Place the graham crackers on a cookie sheet.
2. Place a marshmallow on one half of the graham crackers.
3. Place a piece of chocolate on the other half of the graham crackers.
4. Repeat with the remaining graham crackers.
5. Broil in the oven for 1-2 minutes, keep an eye on them because the marshmallows will brown quickly!
6. Match a marshmallow top to a chocolate bottom to create your S’more.
7. Enjoy while warm and gooey!
FROM THE NURSE'S OFFICE
Beginning in March, the nurse will be starting vision screenings for all grades and hearing screenings for Pre K through third grade. As COVID 19 precautions are creating the need for a more creative approach to health screenings this year, we will be prioritizing vision and screening, with weights and heights completed if they can be assessed in a safe and timely manner before the end of the year. As such, please be sure to continue to see your regular provider for well child exams.
Over the next few weeks, Pre K and fifth grade will be bringing home physical forms. Pre K and second grade will receive dental forms. These forms must be returned by the first day of the 2021/2022 school year. If completed earlier, please send them in early so they can be filed and you do not have to be worried about misplacing them.
If you still have outstanding physical or dental forms that were due this year, please return them immediately or contact the nurse to discuss.
There are many students coming to school without coats. Except for in extreme weather, the students go outside for recess every day. We have a very limited amount of coats in the health room to loan for recess to students. Please ensure your child is dressed appropriately for the weather every day. If your student does not own a winter coat, please let us know and we will help.
As a reminder, students are encouraged to bring water bottles to school with them to use throughout the day.
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."