A Piece From The Principal's Puzzle

March

26 - Report Cards Sent Home

28 - Kite Day during P.E. Classes

April

1 - ACAP Testing Begins at Blossomwood (Grades 2-6)

18 - E-Learning Day

24 - PTA Program with Grades 3, 4, & 5 performing

May

2 - K for A Day

6 - Chapman Day at BES - Classes/Grade levels from Chapman will visit BES for a tour.

6 - PTA Meeting at 5:30 pm to Welcome Chapman Families - Please try to attend.

End of Year Awards Schedule (See your child's teacher for additional details)

Tuesday, May 13

- 9:00 am -Grade K (Cafeteria)

- 1:00 pm -Grade 1 (Cafeteria)

Wednesday, May 14

- 11:00 AM - Grade Pre-K (Auditorium)

- 1:00 pm - Grade 3 (Cafeteria)

Thursday, May 15

- 9:30 am - Grade 2 (Auditorium)

- 1:00 pm - 4th Grade (Cafeteria)

Monday, May 19

- 9:00 am - 6th Grade (Cafeteria)

- 1:00 pm - 5th Grade (Cafeteria)

Congratulations to everyone that completed the Blossomwood Spring Break Learning Challenge! We had more than 45 students that chose to participate in the holiday learning challenge during Spring Break.

• Each student that completed the challenge during Spring Break received a coupon for FREE items from Dodge's Store! Special thanks to Dodge's Convenient Store for donating the coupons.
• In addition, the students received tickets for a special drawing of many prizes for completing the challenge of reading for 20 minutes for at least five days, practicing math for 20 minutes for at least five days, and/or writing about a family event from the break. Thanks also to FLOW and Altitude for donating some FREE passes!

Congratulations to the students that met their Accelerated Reader Goal for the third nine-weeks! They had a great time playing games and other fun activities in the library last Friday during their grade level time. Keep reading each day for at least 15-20 minutes!

Thank you to Ms. Fuller, our classroom teachers, and parents for encouraging daily reading efforts! #Teamwork

Dear Blossomwood Families,

I am confident you agree that we have a fantastic school and community; however, when was the last time you bragged on our students, our school, and/or our community?

What would happen if we only posted positives things about our neighbors, our school, and community?

As part of Team Blossomwood, we have a level of credibility that can significantly impact how others view our students, our teachers, our families, our school, and our community.

Therefore, I challenge each of us to take five minutes this week to post or share something positive on social media or with a parent/community member. Brag on our students, our teachers, and our families! I have also included a couple of websites that families access when considering purchasing a home. Feel free to go back and review our previous Panthergrams and Principal messages for reminders of the many great things that our students have accomplished and continue to do so well!

https://www.greatschools.org/alabama/huntsville/719-Blossomwood-Elementary-School/?searchWhatType=autosuggest&searchLocationType=city&searchWhatKeywordValue=blossomwo

ACAP, which stands for the Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program, is an online assessment designed to provide students, parents, teachers, administrators, and Alabama residents with information regarding student progress toward mastery of the Alabama Course of Study Standards.

• Students in grades 2-6 take assessments covering English language arts and math.
• Students in grades 4 and 6 are also tested in science.
• Each April all 2nd - 6th grade students will take the assessment. Below are resources to help parents understand what will be tested and there is a link to an online practice website that will show you examples of what the online test will look like.
• Students may also use the practice test to learn how to use the online testing tools so they may become proficient in the testing format.
• We encourage families to spend a few minutes reviewing the ACAP Practice Testing Portal as it will not only ease the level of stress often associated with testing but it will positively impact the students' scores.

Online practice link

• ACAP Practice Testing Portal - Then, click on the ACAP Summative Online Training Tools box

The main function of the house system is to develop a sense of identity or belonging and to celebrate achievements. Schools with a structure or system like this cite the positive impact it has on the educational experience and school culture. Students report how it helps them form friendships and closer bonds with peers, and teachers share that students seem to enjoy seeing a connection with students in other classrooms as well as other grade levels. As a school, we also believe our new House System supports our school mission statement and vision.

During the first week of school or upon enrollment, all of our students and staff have the opportunity to digitally "spin" the wheel to randomly sort each student into one of four groups or houses — Emerald, Garnet, Onyx, or Sapphire.

Our House System is designed to:

1. Create school-wide community by creating opportunities for students to connect to staff and students in other classes and grades that share their house. Older students become natural leaders by mentoring and supporting younger students. Mentoring also extends to teachers and school staff members who are also assigned to a house.
2. Create a culture of belonging as students are recognized for accomplishments both academically as well as their choices related to behavior.
3. Emphasize building character through a reward system that goes beyond earning a piece of candy for doing something good. Each individual achievement adds to the collective house/group, making the reward hopefully more meaningful and social.
   
4. Provide opportunities to praise and accentuate positives for both individual students and collective groups of students.