Blackford Elementary School

School News

Blackford PTA Leaders Needed

Updated Sun, Jul 10th

Now is your chance to become a 2022-2023 PTA Board Officer...

Dedicated teachers, staff, parents and caregivers are what make Blackford great!

Please join us- it's important, it's rewarding and it's FUN!

 

Blackford PTA is seeking nominations for five (5) PTA officer positions for the 2022-2023 school year.  If you have the time and interest to serve as an officer, please contact the

PTA at blackfordpta [at] gmail.com

Officers will be prepared and completely trained for their position

by the outgoing officers.  

 

Board Officer Positions available:


1) President:

Are you organized, enthusiastic and passionate about your school?  Do you enjoy networking and helping others accomplish their goals and visions?  The President sets the meeting agenda and presides at all meetings of the PTA and the Executive Board. Coordinates the work of the PTA Officers and Committees.  Approves and signs all contracts.  Oversees the General Budget. Acts as the PTA liaison to Blackford Administration.

 

2) 1st Vice-President:

Are you motivating, creative and able to energize team members?  Do you value what the PTA can do for your school?  Does the idea of a challenge excite you?  The VP1 serves as an aide to the President; and oversees the activities of the Fundraising Committees such as: Spirit Wear and Blackford Student Store, Yearbook,  and Fun Run.

 

3) 2nd Vice-President:

Is party planning your forte?  Do you enjoy people, decorations and entertaining?  Do you believe that FUN can be an important part of learning in the school environment?  Are you a people person and able to work with a wide variety of personalities in a team setting?  The VP2 serves as an aide to the President; and oversees the activities of the Programs Committees such as: Membership, Enrichment, Teacher Appreciation,

and Scholastic Book Fair.

 

4) Secretary:

Are you organized, thoughtful and comfortable with technology?  Do blank calendars, journals and planners make you giddy?  Are you a fan of all the fun pens??  The Secretary records, e-posts, and files minutes of PTA General and Board Meetings.  Maintains the master PTA Calendar. Maintains mass e-mail address database.   Maintains files of official documents including the By-Laws and Annual Records. Maintains Board, Committee and Membership lists.  Files all PTA documents with Private Org Office.

 

5) Treasurer:

Do spreadsheets make you happy?  Are you good with money, organized and willing to keep Blackford PTA within the set budget?  Are you willing to serve your school for the next year?  The treasurer has charge of all PTA funds.  Keeps an accurate account of all receipts and expenditures.  Expends money in accordance with the budget, issuing checks and petty cash.  Files all required financial reports for monthly board meetings and Private Org. Has the accounts independently audited annually.


(All five (5) officers are members of the Executive Board and will attend all meetings of the Executive Board and the General PTA Membership.)           

 

Closing Our Year, Better Together

Updated Wed, Jun 22nd

The theme for this year was “BETTER TOGETHER.”  We chose that theme because we knew starting the school year, back TOGETHER in person, was going to be an opportunity for all of us to be TOGETHER again.  What a wonderful opportunity and how wonderful it was to be TOGETHER again!

As we close the 21-22 school year, we realize the year was BETTER because we were TOGETHER.  While this year still brought challenges due to Covid, etc., TOGETHER we persevered and worked through the challenges.  We forged ahead and focused on our growth mindset, TOGETHER.  Bobcats at their best!

There were so many wonderful activities and experiences which we were able to do TOGETHER….Pinwheels for Peace, Kindness Month, Canned Food Drive, APEX Fun Run, Kids Heart Challenge, Family Math Night, Stories Under the Stars and Book Faire, 5th Grade Middle School Social, and 5th Grade promotion.  We had assemblies each month like NED’s Growth MIndset Mission, Dairy Council Dairy Cow, Happy Hollow, BMX Bike, Taiko Drummers, and  Zun Zun Watershed.  Each month we had a virtual Bobcat Assembly, where we all sang the Blackford school song TOGETHER, celebrated different staff members, and heard the Project Cornerstone book of the month and lesson.  Our PTA hosted a Pumpkin Patch, and every student was able to choose a pumpkin to take home.  The yearbook, Book Faire, APEX Fun Run were all sponsored and supported by our PTA.  Our garden came back to life, and students began visiting during lunch recess and class time.  Our students also got to star in the play, "The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley."  TOGETHER, those students shined in their roles!

Looking back at the year, Mrs, Smith and I are filled with gratitude for the warm welcome we received.  We felt at home instantly!  Thank you for all the support and understanding you, TOGETHER, have shown this year.  It means so much to us that we can partner TOGETHER.

Our students and staff worked so hard this year, and we know they are ready to celebrate summer break!  It is definitely time to rest and rejuvenate!  Today, our 5th graders celebrated their 5th Grade Promotion, and we know they too are excited to move into summer and middle school in the Fall.  We wish all our 5th graders the best as they move on from Blackford.

We know this year was BETTER because we were TOGETHER!  Thank you for trusting us to care for, nurture and educate your child(ren).  It is a great honor to do the work we do, and I know the entire staff at Blackford joins us in saying, “Thank you!”  

In closing, we would like to wish all of you a fun-filled, love-filled, health-filled summer.  We look forward to meeting all our new “soon to be” Bobcats, and we look forward to seeing our returning Bobcats in August for the 22-23 school year.

Happiest of summers to all of you!

Ms. Ajlouni and Mrs. Smith 

Yearbooks for Sale

Updated Wed, Jun 15th

PTA will be selling yearbooks next week afterschool from 2:30-3:00 PM.

You can also purchase yearbooks online using the QR Code linked here.

 

Blackford Employees and Volunteers of the Year!

Updated Mon, Jun 6th

Blackford was honored to recognize the following people:


Blackford Teacher of the Year

Jeanne Miranda, Kinder teacher


 Blackford Classified Staff of the Year

Concepcion Gonzalez, Campbell Care Site Manager


Blackford Volunteers of the Year 

Julie Tate-Judge, our current PTA President 

Audrianna Correa-Jimenez, our PTA Treasurer and former PTA president 


Each one of these people have given so much of themselves, their talent and their time to help serve the students, families and community of Blackford.  These past couple of years have been very challenging as everyone knows, and these honorees have worked tirelessly serving students and the community through the pandemic and have helped Blackford in so many different ways; from providing a safe space, the Learning Lab, for students to learn; to making sure students were provided engaging lessons throughout Distance Learning; to making sure the PTA was still running smoothly and serving the school.  These are among a few examples of why these honorees were chosen as this year's nominees.  Each honoree shares a committment to helping children and is dedicated to making Blackford a special, caring, engaging place for students to learn and thrive.

Parent Workshop tonight

Updated Thu, Jun 2nd

Reminder, that tonight, Thursday, May 19th, from 6:00-7:00 PM we will be hosting a virtual Parent Workshop on the topic of "Zones of Regulation" presented by Pacific Clinic's (formally known as Uplift) School Based Intervention Team (SBIT). This year our Blackford staff was trained on "Zones of Regulation" in an effort to increase our students' social emotional skills in the five core competencies of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision making. In an effort to bridge these competencies across school and home, we are offering this parent workshop. Please see attached invitation and Zoom link. The workshop will be offered in both English and Spanish, with an interpreter.

Invitation (English/Spanish linked here)

Stories Under the Stars

Updated Thu, Jun 2nd


Reminder:  Come join us for "Stories Under the Stars," an event where staff read their favorite books aloud for students and families.  Our event will take place on Friday, May 13th from 6:00-7:30 PM in person at Blackford.  Students are welcome to wear their pajamas and bring a blanket.  Teachers and staff will be reading across the campus, in various spaces around the school.  Readers will be reading their books four times throughout the evening, giving students and families the opportunity to move around to hear a variety of readers.  A schedule will be provided at the event.  Our Book Fair will also be open for in person shopping.  The Book Fair will be located in the library.  At 7:00, our event will culminate with refreshments hosted by the PTA in the eating area.  We hope you can join us for this fun family event!  Please RSVP via the attached Google form for planning purposes.

Stories Under the Stars RSVP

State Testing for Grades 3-5

Updated Tue, Apr 26th

Next week our students in Grades 3-5 will begin their State Testing.  The test is referred to as the SBAC Test.   The Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments are part of the state testing system called the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress or CAASPP.  Our students will be participating in this testing through May 19th. 

Testing will take place in the mornings from 8:30-10:10 AM.  Testing can be stressful for students, and we make every effort to help prepare them for the stamina of testing.  Teachers are completing practice tests and helping students with growth mindset in an effort to help students feel positive towards the testing process.  Parents can help by making sure their child gets a good night's rest, eats a healthy breakfast, and arrives to school on time each day.  We also ask that parents schedule appointments for later in the day, or even better after testing concludes in May.  It is critical for every student to be present each day for testing.  Missing sections of the test administration can increase the stress level for a child.

Parents can review the testing format and sample questions by logging in to the following links below. 

See the following information and resources provided for parents/families. 

https://ca.startingsmarter.org/

Parent Guides 

English

Spanish

Coffee with the Principals

Updated Tue, Apr 12th

Please join us for "Coffee with the Principals" on Friday, April 1st 9:00-10:00 AM via ZOOM.  Our Math TOSA (Teacher on Special Assignment), Shanti Lipari, will be joining us to talk about math instruction in the District and at Blackford.  We will also talk about activities and events which have taken place recently and also speak about events which will be coming up after Spring Break, such as State Testing for our 3-5 grade students, the PTA Ice Cream Social, Spring Book Faire and Stories Under the Stars.  We hope to see you this Friday morning!

State Testing Begins after Spring Break

Updated Tue, Apr 12th

Blackford will begin state testing on April 19th through May 19th.  All students in grades 3, 4, and 5 will participate.

Please make sure your child arrives to school on time each day.  Testing can be stressful, and being late to school causes additional stress.  We want each of our children to have every advantage to do well!  

So that our students may have their best opportunity to succeed and demonstrate all that they’ve learned this year, we ask that you...

  • Have your child get a full night of sleep during this time period.
  • Have your child eat a healthy breakfast and arrive with a healthy snack.  A breakfast which is high in protein and low in sugar is best to build stamina for testing and helps promote focus.
  • Make it a priority to arrive on time.  The first bell rings at 8:13 AM, and testing will begin at 8:30 AM on testing days.
  • Schedule all activities and appointments after school hours.

Garden Help Needed

Updated Fri, Apr 8th

We need your help! The garden is growing and so is the students' interest. We can't keep up without you. Email blackfordpta [at] gmail.com or friend us at Blackford Elementary PTA on Facebook to get involved! :)

¡Nosotros necesitamos su ayuda! El jardín está creciendo y también el interés de los estudiantes por él. No podemos seguir sin usted. Si usted desea ser voluntario/a o necesita más información y participar en este proyecto, mande un correo electrónico a blackfordpta [at] gmail.com o agréguese como miembro del PTA de la Escuela Primaria Blackford en Facebook ! :)

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Blackford PTA Leaders Needed

Updated Sun, Jul 10th

Closing Our Year, Better Together

Updated Wed, Jun 22nd

Yearbooks for Sale

Updated Wed, Jun 15th

Blackford Employees and Volunteers of the Year!

Updated Mon, Jun 6th

Parent Workshop tonight

Updated Thu, Jun 2nd

Stories Under the Stars

Updated Thu, Jun 2nd

State Testing for Grades 3-5

Updated Tue, Apr 26th

Coffee with the Principals

Updated Tue, Apr 12th

State Testing Begins after Spring Break

Updated Tue, Apr 12th

Garden Help Needed

Updated Fri, Apr 8th