BLACKWELL BULLETIN Blackwell Elementary School August/September 2009 Blackwell Elementary
MARK YOUR CALENDAR August:
10th First Day of School 20th
Skate Night 6 – 8pm
25th Open House 6:30pm
27th
Chick-Fil-A Night 5 – 8pm
Sprayberry & Chastain Rd.
Girl Scout 6:30 – 7:30
28th
Hat DaySeptember:
1st Domino’s Pizza Night
3rd
Run Girls Run – Opening DayFive Guys Burger Night
5 – 9pm
7th
Labor Day – no school9th Fall Picture Day
10th
Run Girls Run11th Indent-a Kid pictures
14th
Stevie B’s 4:30 – 9pm17th Run Girls Run
Chick-Fil-A morning carpool
Skate Night
6:00-8:00pm
20th
PTA / Family Braves Game24th Run Girls Run
Chick-Fil-A Night 5 – 8pm
Sprayberry & Chastain Rd.
25th Hat Day
Welcome!
Welcome to the 2009 – 2010 school year! Blackwell PTA is looking forward to an exciting year. We are glad to see new students, new teachers, old friends and new friends.
We would like to point out there is a NEW PTA website, www.blackwell.ptsamail.com Please check this website for updates about school festivals, committee’s and volunteer opportunities!
Please check the PTA website frequently; it will be updated regularly with a lot of dates, times and information. Please feel free to contact us with any comments, questions, or suggestions.
Lucretia Elliott, President Nikki Brown, Vice President
Teresa Kendrick, Secretary Wendy Sandberg, Treasurer
TO DO LIST:
Join PTA for only $5, we need
EVERY parent to join!
Check out the new PTA website www.blackwell.ptsamail.com
Avoid Fundraisers and PLEDGE INSTEAD…$25, $35 or $45 to Blackwell PTA per family
YOU’RE INVITED…….
WHAT: Open House
PTA General Membership Meeting
WHEN: Tuesday August 25th @ 6pm
WHERE: Blackwell Café
WHY: Stay involved!
Know what’s coming up!
Support your child’s school!
Get to know your teachers!
Get to know your child’s friends!
Meet some new friends of your
own!Make it a great year,
Become a volunteer!
Make it a great year,
Become a volunteer!
Make it a great year,
Become a volunteer!
Make it a great year,
Become a volunteer!
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle…..
PRINT??????????
In keeping up with our recycling efforts, we are not printing some items this year. For example, the school calendar, this newsletter, and other items we preciously would print and put in your child’s folder.
Any of these items can be printed and sent to you
upon request
.Continue to GO GREEN!!
Want to help?
Contact Environmental Committee
Chairperson: Stacy Schindler
Stacy.schindler@cobbk12.org
SCHOOL SUPPLIES @ THE SCHOOL STORE
No more trips to the grocery store to buy paper towels for your child’s class.
No reason to remember to pick up an extra box of band-aids.
The PTA offers all of the items your teacher needs at the school store. Send in an envelope with your donation of $1, $2, $5 or any amount.
Write your teacher’s name & PTA School Supplies…
That’s it!!!!
The money goes into their account and they can purchase items they need throughout the year.
You can donate any time…
(like when you find a dollar stuck in the couch cushions)
The 411 From The School Social Worker
Bethany.Miller@cobbk12.org
7)971-4836
One of the most basic components of academic success is regular school attendance. Missing 15 minutes a day from school can total up to 6 ½ days a year! Just as working adults do not earn a paycheck due to missing hours, our students do not earn an education when missing from their job. According to Georgia law (GA Code 20-2-690.1), children between the ages of 6 and 16 must enroll in a private, public, or home school program. School Social Workers (SSW) are responsible for enforcing the Compulsory Attendance Law by working with students and parents/guardians to alleviate the barriers which lead to excessive absences. The goal of SSW is to provide a link between home, school and community to provide all children with access to fulfill their potential by offering support and resources.
The county policy outlines that at 10 or more absences the school administrator and/or school social worker may require a doctor’s statement to excuse absences. Should SSW interventions not increase timely attendance the Cobb County Court Coordinator may make a referral to Cobb County Juvenile Court for truancy. You can review this policy at the county’s website www.cobbk12.org/centraloffice/adminrules/J_rules/rule%20JE
Please be aware that "when 15% of the student body is absent 15 days or more, we are automatically put on the Federal Needs Improvement List under No Child Left Behind, or the "Failing Schools List," (in which we will NOT) make AYP –Adequate Yearly Progress." Family vacations are NOT excused absences and shouldn’t be scheduled during the school calendar.
Please see my resource blog for resources for money, holiday and parenting help
www.simpson.typepad.com/knapparder
Fall Festival is October 2nd
5 pm – 8pm
Prizes, Games & Candy!!!
Blackwell Foundation News
What is the Blackwell Foundation?
The Foundation was established to raise money for specific projects at the school. Our focus this year is to purchase SMARTBoards for every classroom!
What is a SMARTboard?
A SMARTBoard is an interactive whiteboard that brings a whole new level of interactivity to any classroom.
"Students today are part of a technological environment that is far different from the world in which most adults grew up" said Chris Ragsdale, Cobb County’s Chief Technology Officer. "Children find the technology intuitive and they assimilate it very quickly. When these tools are introduced to a classroom setting, the students become engaged right away."
There are a few Cobb County schools that are designated as 21st Century Classrooms ~ visit www.cobbk12.org/21stcentury for more on this initiative.
Why do we want a SMARTBoard for every classroom?
Many school districts have reported an increase in test scores after using SMARTBoards and other interactive whiteboard technologies. Just for that reason alone ~ although there are many others when it comes to learning ~ we feel it is important to find these boards. We want to give our children every opportunity t succeed… and we need your help to do it!
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
Donate to the Blackwell Foundation with our $10 for Technology drive. Each SMARTBoard is $1200. Your donation in any amount will help us purchase SMARTBoards.
Check with your company to see if they match donations.
"Rent" space on the school sign by Canton Rd. to celebrate a birthday or other special occasion ~ example ~ "Happy Birthday Alex", cost $25 for a 2 day message.
Donate items for the silent auction at Fall Festival…and bid on items too! Fall Festival is October 2nd from 5 – 8pm.
Purchase biscuits at our Chick-fil-A car rider breakfast on the third Thursday morning of each month. Chicken biscuit & a bottle of water is $3, buttered biscuit is $1. Upcoming dates are 8/20, 9/17, 10/15.
Please contact Julie Hale if you have questions or would like more information.
hale620@bellsouth.net
or 770-591-2057.A Note from the Counselors…..
Dear Parents/Guardians,
We would like to extend a warm welcome to all of you for the 2009 – 2010 year at Blackwell Elementary School. Some of you may be first time parents in the Cobb County School system so we want to provide you with a brief overview of the guidance and counseling program. The elementary guidance program is developmental and preventive in nature. As certified elementary counselors, our job has three main areas of focus:
We work with students in classroom guidance lessons, in small groups, and in individual discussions. We will be in the classroom presenting guidance lessons for 30 minutes every two weeks during the school year. We strive to make these lessons an informative, fun learning experience for your child.
We consult with parents/guardians in conferences on the phone and at school about concerns they might have for their child or children.
We coordinate with teachers about classroom guidance topics and about understanding and meeting individual student needs.
If you have any questions or concerns, please call us at 678-494-7603. We look forward to a productive year working with you and your child.
Sincerely,
Lisa King Coleman Dawn Haskett
Grades K,2,4 Grades 1,3,5
HELP!
Fall Festival is our biggest fundraiser of the year for PTA. The festival allows us to provide YOUR child with lots of fun events and opportunities throughout the school year.
BUT WE NEED YOU TO VOLUNTEER…..
ONLY 1 HOUR!!!!
OCTOBER 2ND
4:30 – 5:30
5:30 – 6:30
6:30 – 7:30
7:30 – 8:30
To volunteer please contact your Room Parent, teacher, or PTA.
Blackwell Foundation –
2 ways to help our school!
_____________________________________________________________________
Please donate $10 (or more!) for Technology
Your donation will help the Blackwell Foundation purchase technology this year! Complete the information below and send back to your child’s teacher or deliver to the front office.My donation in the amount of $__________ is included.
Make checks payable to: CCPS-EFStudent Name: ________________________ Teacher: ___________________ Grade: ______
The classroom with the highest participation by December 1st wins a pizza party!
Sign Rental – Rent the marquee to send a special message!
P Please complete the information below and return in an envelope marked "
Blackwell Foundation". Requests must be submitted at least one week before desired start date.
Your Name: _______________________ Phone Number: _______________
Start date: _________________________
(message will be up at least 2 days)Message: _____________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
*(No more than 5 words; appropriate content only)
My $25 donation to the Blackwell Foundation is enclosed. Checks payable to: CCPS-EF.
Thank you for investing in our children! The Blackwell Foundation.
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