Future Engineers Camp for 2012 Information       PBIS Matrix 2011 PBIS Outstanding Matrix 2011 What are the New Recess Games?  Blackburn’s PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention & Support) team was established during the 2008-2009 school year as an initiative spearheaded by the NC Department of Public Instruction and supported by Catawba County Schools.  Our PBIS team was trained by the state to identify and implement positive impact programs, as were numerous other schools in the county and state.  PBIS is designed to encourage and support pro-social and positive behavior in all children.  Research shows that positive programs and physical activity promote high academic, emotional, and social achievement.  Our most recent research based training was 6 Steps to a Trouble-Free Playground by Dr. Curt Hinson.  This program addresses many strategies which have been designed to build communication, cooperation, self-responsibility, self-awareness, motivation, empathy, and self-control.  Research by Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence, states that IQ is a poor predictor of a person’s future success while “emotional intelligence” accounts for approximately 80% of a person’s future potential.  Where do children learn these skills?  The same place they learn many of their social skills, through play with their peers.  That’s why recess is so important, and why we believe in this program. The program consists of 12-20 athletic and non-athletic games that involve teams and movement that all children have been taught to play.  These games are designed to be all-inclusive at an age and developmentally appropriate level.  Many of the traditional recess games such as soccer, football, kickball, and basketball are still choices but are restructured to promote full participation by all players in the specific skill sets. An example would be soccer.  Students play soccer 3 on 3 so that all children get an opportunity to participate and practice.  The next set of students would begin another game of 3 on 3, instead of playing 6 on 6 or even more (which is what often happened in the past).  One team is on offense, one on defense.  The object is to gain possession of the soccer ball and knock the wiffle ball off the opposing team’s cone(s). One point is scored when a ball is knocked off.  Once a team scores, the wiffle ball is returned to the cone and the team that was on defense now becomes the offense.  Players cannot use hands or arms to touch the ball.  There are no goalies, but any player can defend the wiffle ball using their legs and feet.  The skill sets of playing offense/defense and using legs/feet and no hands are being obtained at a developmentally appropriate level. Everyday, our students may choose between these new games, our playground equipment, jump rope, hula hoops, etc., or just walking the track while talking to their friends.  Teachers do not assign groups as students can make their own choices from the games being offered that day.  Each student chooses before going out to recess so they will know what equipment to get.  They may or may not choose to play this game the entire recess period.  This process promotes self-responsibility (choosing the game, playing responsibly, getting/using/bringing back equipment, identifying and writing about their level of play, etc.) and cooperation (working together to form teams, playing the game, brainstorming solutions to minor issues, etc.).   We are very grateful that our PTO purchased three sets of equipment so every child in the school can have access to it during recess.   PTO was also great to support our need for volunteers and snacks, which helped to make our initial game days successful. The children enjoy playing the games and get upset when the weather doesn’t permit them to do so.  Please positively encourage and support your child’s enthusiasm for this program as we believe the benefits will be and are already long reaching. We are delighted that the Hickory Daily Record saw the importance and potential success of this program and took the time to send out a reporter to cover the opening day event.  The story was published on the front page on September 19.  The article link is:   http://www2.hickoryrecord.com/news/2011/sep/19/school-aims-curb-fights-bullying-new-approach-ar-1409356/  Some Researched based information:   Trouble-free playground by Dr. Curt Hinson Link:  http://www.playfiteducation.com/workshops/troublefree/Default.asp Why is 30 minutes of physical activity important? Link:  http://abllab.com/feature/30-minutes-physical-activity/#more-423 Can Exercise Make you Smarter?   Link:  http://abllab.com/compelling-articles/can-exercise-make-you-smarter/ Acute coordinative exercise improves attentional performance in adolescents Link:  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18602754 Teaching with the Brain in Mind, 2nd Edition by Eric Jensen Chapter 4 Link:  http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/104013/chapters/Movement-and-Learning.aspx

Blackburn Fall Newsletter

AYP Parent Letter

Free Money for Blackburn November Chick-fil-A Night! We hope to see you at Chick-Fil-A across from the mall on Tuesday, October 11th. 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

 

 

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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