The Bobcat Spring Newsletter    Congratulations to BBES Science Olympiad Team!      Blackburn's 2012 Science Olympiad team placed second in the regional competition held at Lenoir Rhyne University on March 24th.  The team competed in 18 events including 321 Blast Off, Newton's Notions, Backyard Botany, A Bug's World, and Pasta Tower, just to name a few.  Thanks to these "future scientists", teacher coaches, and parent coaches for all of the hard work to prepare for this exciting and rewarding event!   The Common Core The Common Core State Standards Initiative is a state-led effort to establish a shared set of clear educational standards for English language arts and mathematics that states can voluntarily adopt. The standards have been informed by the best available evidence and the highest state standards across the country and globe and designed by a diverse group of teachers, experts, parents, and school administrators, so they reflect both our aspirations for our children and the realities of the classroom. These standards are designed to ensure that students graduating from high school are prepared to go to college or enter the workforce and that parents, teachers, and students have a clear understanding of what is expected of them. The standards are benchmarked to international standards to guarantee that our students are competitive in the emerging global marketplace.   Blackburn Elementary Labcatz            Blackburn is proud to share the exciting news about our rookie Robotics Team, LabCatz. They placed 1st in Project Presentation at the Regional competition and earned the privilege to represent Blackburn at the State Competition on April 21 at CVCC. In this piece of the competition (there are 3 sections to the competition and this piece is worth the most points) the team researches a problem, creates a unique solution to it, and presents their findings to a team of judges. Blackburn would like to thank Mrs. Wilson and Mrs. Westerfield for sponsoring the team. Mrs. Wilson and Mrs. Westerfield would like to Dana Brown and Rebecca Whittington, who shared their experience with chickens and the handling of food. Their information gave the team the ides for their problem/solution If you would like more information or pictures please visit the CyberKids Robotics Facebook page to view pictures from the 1st Catawba County Robotics Championship.   PBIS Information

Foard Volleyball Camp 2012

Free Money for Blackburn April Chick-fil-A Night! We hope to see you at Chick-Fil-A across from the mall on Tuesday, April 17th. Ten percent of the sales between 5pm and 8pm are donated to the Blackburn PTO! Lowe's Foods Grocery Cards = Free Money Do you shop at Lowe's Foods?  If so, ask a PTO Board Member how you can help Blackburn earn FREE Money or email at blackburnpto@gmail.com.  Blackburn has earned over $1,000 this year!  Bottom Dollar Blackburn is registered with Bottom Dollar. A portion of your total from shopping experience will be donated to your school.  Please visit thier website to register your Bottom Dollar card. Recycle Forward BBES PTO is moving technology from the closet to the classroom.  Recycling earns our PTO cash!  Please send in used inkject cartridges, laser cartridges, video games & consoles, cell phones, GPS devices, iPods, digital cameras, laptops, PDA's and DVD's.  You may send anything in or drop anything off to Blackburn PTO care of Mrs. Esposito.  Click here to link for a complete list.  Save My Coke Rewards Caps for FREE Playground Equipment and Art Supplies! Coca~Cola product codes can be entered for freeplayground equipment and art supplies.  Save all of your codes and send them in at any time of the year and Mrs. Espsoito will enter the codes for you.  You may also donate your points to BBES through the Coca~Cola Rewards web site. My Coke Rewards School Program Box Tops for Education Clip Box Tops from hundreds of products such as Ziplock, Avery, Kleenex, Scott Tissue.  Blackburn receives ten cents for every label.  Click Here for a complete list. Campbell Soup Labels Clip Campbell Soup Labels from hundreds of products.  Click here for a complete list. Tyson Project A+ Label Program Look for the Project A+ labels on Tyson Foods, Inc. bags or boxes.  Clip and turn in with all other label promotions, ie: box tops and cambell's. Each label is worth .24 cents!   Click here for a complete product list. DIRECTV4SCHOOLS Do you have DIRECTV? or thinking of changing your current service to DIRECTV?  You can help us earn the funds we need for the 2010-2011 school year! All you need to do is sign up for one year of the DIRECTV package of your choice and our school will earn $100 for new customers or $50 for existing customers.  Spread the word. Tell your friends and family today!  Customers must call: 888-388-4724  and reference our school code:  B2811 Please visit: www.directv4schools.com  for additional information. Shop for a Cause Earn cash for Blackburn Elementary by shopping on-line through Box Tops for Education Marketplace. Food Lion MVP Card Link your Food Lion MVP card to Blackburn Elementary and they will donate money each time you shop to BBES. Harris Teeter VIC Card Link your Harris Teeter VIC card to Blackburn Elementary and they will donate money each time you shop to BBES. Target REDcard Link your Target Visa Card or Target REDcard to Blackburn Elementary and they will donate money each time you shop to BBES.

Blackburn Elementary E-Books TumbleBook Library is now available to Blackburn Elementary students. Students can read or listen to books, take a quiz for fun or play a game based on the books!  Hundreds of titles are available on all reading levels!

Catawba County Library Can't get to the library but would like to enjoy a new book to read or music?  Click on the link to enjoy a new book or music through their media downloads!  Media Downloads

Ways to Help Your Child’s Teacher

There is a program that helps teachers get funding for special classroom projects. Parents, friends, businesses, etc., can make a tax deductible donation to help a teacher get materials for the classroom. Several teachers at Mountain View currently have projects listed on the website called DonorsChoose.org. Sometimes the projects are for books, equipment, games, or other materials that are needed. You can search the site and find a teacher or project to support. Just go to the website and search by school name, teacher name, or by project type.  Several projects have already been funded through this site during the past few years. And remember, you are not only helping your child’s school, but you are getting a tax break!  The website is www.DonorsChoose.org