Blackford Bulletin

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Starting 2026 Strong

Tips for planning for the new year and finishing the school year strong.

Superintendent Viramontez with a class of students

We hope everyone had a wonderful winter break, filled with joy, rest, and memory-making opportunities. Now that the new year has arrived, it’s time to step into the new year with fresh energy and get ready to finish the second half of the school year strong!

New Year, New Habits, New Intentions

January is a nice opportunity to start fresh. The new year is a great time to help your student establish new habits and intentions that help us grow.

Conversation starters may include: Have you thought about what you want to achieve before summer? Maybe your student’s intention is to read a few extra books each week, to practice their math facts every day, or be a more helpful friend on the playground. Setting a goal, big or small, leans into our continuous improvement work and can make learning even more fun and helps your student discover talents they didn’t know they had!

Every Day Counts: The Power of Attendance

As we kick off this new semester, there is one habit that makes the biggest difference of all: consistent attendance. Being in class every day is about more than just checking a box. It’s about being part of the classroom community, participating in hands-on science experiments, and making sure your student doesn’t miss that "aha!" moment when a new concept finally clicks. When students are here, they are learning, socializing, and building the momentum they need to succeed. Let’s make it our collective goal to show up ready to learn every single day!

The Best is Yet to Come

While the first half of the year was great, the second half is where the magic really happens! We have a calendar packed with activities that celebrate our students' hard work and creativity. Keep an eye out for:

    • Spring Musicals and Concerts: Our musicians and performers are already rehearsing to showcase their incredible progress.
    • AIM Showcase: Opportunities for students to display their innovative projects and masterpieces. March 11, 2026 at Monroe Middle School.
    • Math Festivals: A great family event centered around math activities.
    • Field Trips and Science Camp: Exciting excursions that take learning outside the classroom walls.
    • Sports: Girls basketball, boys soccer, girls volleyball, field hockey and track and field.
    • 100th Day of School: February 3, 2026

It is going to be a busy, productive, and joyful few months. Let’s make this the best semester yet!

Winter Break Adventures: Keeping the Learning Alive and the Fun Flowing!

How to keep your student engaged in learning over the winter break.

Photo collage of student activities

While a well-deserved rest is certainly in order, these next two weeks offer a fantastic opportunity to explore, create, and keep those bright minds engaged. This break isn't just a pause—it's a chance to turn everyday activities into exciting learning adventures! 

Here are some fun, low-cost, and easy ways for students of all ages to continue learning and stay busy until the new year begins:

At-Home Learning and Creativity

The best classroom might just be your living room!

  • Become a Kitchen Chemist: Cooking and baking are perfect ways to practice math (measuring, fractions, ratios) and following directions. Try a new recipe together—it's delicious learning!
  • Family Book Club: Dedicate 30 minutes each day to family reading time. Have each family member choose a book, a comfortable spot, and read. Or read a book together. Follow up with a simple discussion: What was your favorite part? What do you predict will happen next? This boosts literacy and comprehension.
  • The Power of Play: Dust off the board games! Games like Monopoly, Scrabble, or even a simple deck of cards teach strategic thinking, basic arithmetic, and vocabulary in a competitive, fun setting.
  • Design & Build Challenge: Use materials found around the house (cardboard, paper tubes, tape) to tackle a challenge: build the tallest tower, a vehicle that rolls, or a cozy home for a toy. This promotes engineering and problem-solving skills.

Exploring the Local Community

Check your local area for unique, enriching experiences—many are free or low-cost!

  • Library Liftoff: Local libraries are a treasure trove! Beyond books, check out their free programs, movie screenings, and computer access. Ask a librarian for recommendations based on your child's favorite school subject.
  • Museum Marvels: Many local history, science, or art museums offer discounted or free days. Exploring exhibits connects classroom concepts to the real world and sparks curiosity.
  • Volunteering Vibe: Spend an afternoon helping others. Contact a local food bank or animal shelter. This teaches invaluable lessons in community service, empathy, and social studies through direct action.
  • Nature Walks and Observation: Even in the cold, a trip to a local park is great for physical education and science. Bundle up and look for animal tracks, identify different types of trees, or collect pinecones and leaves for a craft project.

 The 'Three P's' of Productivity

These simple habits can keep minds sharp and bodies active:

  1. Project: Start a personal project. This could be writing a short story, learning a few chords on a ukulele, creating a photo album, or coding a simple game. The goal is self-directed learning and skill-building.
  2. Physical Activity: Don't let the cold sideline fitness! Use a rainy day to create an indoor obstacle course, look up a fun kids' yoga video on YouTube, or just play freeze tag. Movement is essential for brain health and boosts mental health.
  3. Planning Ahead: Take an hour near the end of the break to organize school supplies, decorate a planner for the new year, or write down a few academic goals. This eases the transition back into the classroom routine.

Wishing all our students, families, and staff a restorative, joyful, and knowledge-filled winter break! We can't wait to see you back, refreshed and ready in the new year!

Embracing Our Diverse Winter Traditions

The winter holidays offer an amazing opportunity to explore diversity, traditions, and acceptance.

Photo of snowflake on a pine tree

The winter season is a tapestry woven with traditions from around the globe. In Campbell Union School District, we encourage students to share the unique ways their families mark this special time, fostering an environment of respect, understanding, and curiosity.

  • Global Festivities: Beyond familiar celebrations, our students teach us about the significance of holidays like Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights; Kwanzaa, which celebrates African-American heritage and community principles; Día de los Reyes Magos (Three Kings' Day) in many Latin American cultures; and festivals like Bodhi Day in Buddhism.
  • Learning Through Sharing: Classroom activities, cultural exhibits, and school-wide events provide platforms for students to discuss the history, customs, and symbolic importance of these different holidays. This shared learning deepens empathy and strengthens the bond among our student body.
  • The Power of Inclusion: By acknowledging and celebrating these diverse traditions, we send a clear message: every student's background is valued and integral to the fabric of our district.

We invite all members of our school community to participate fully in the spirit of this season:

  • Share Your Story: Speak with your child’s teacher about sharing a simple, appropriate aspect of your family's winter tradition with the class.
  • Attend School Events: Check your school's calendar and join us for the winter performances and gatherings. Your presence is the best gift!
  • Focus on Joy: Take a moment to pause, reflect, and consciously create a happy memory with your children this winter. These are the threads that build a strong family and a unified community.

We know that this time of year is a busy one and often involves family engagements and travel. While we encourage you to make the most of family time, it is also important that students are maximizing their instructional time. Please plan your travels around the planned winter break. 

The winter break is also an opportunity to visit your local library, museums, and parks. Learning can continue in conversations in the car, at the dinner table, and while running errands. Together, let's continue to illuminate our students’ lives with celebration, acceptance, and the beautiful memories we create side-by-side.

Brilliant Bobcat Awards Are Back!

Blackford students recognized for coming to school everyday to do their best!

Picture of glittering gold stars

We are excited to announce the return of our Brilliant Bobcat Award! 

Students will be nominated by their teachers for showing RAR (Respect, Act Safe, and Resilient), Character Strong traits, and Profile of a Graduate skills.

Awards will go home weekly on Fridays!

Blackford Parking Lot Safety

Safety is a top priority at Blackford.

Picture of a yellow school zone crossing sign

Dear Blackford Families,

The safety of our students and staff is our top priority. We are writing to remind you about the importance of driving and walking safely in our school parking lot and surrounding neighborhood streets. Please use caution and care when entering, driving through, parking and exiting the Blackford parking lot. Watch out for pedestrians, bicycles and students entering and exiting car doors. Our parking lot fills up quickly, so please consider arriving to school a little early or parking on a neighborhood street without blocking any driveways or other cars.

Please remember:

  • Pull all the way over to the loading zone curb to drop off/pick up your student 
  • Do not stop and let students out in the middle of the road; this is unsafe and blocks traffic 
  • Parking in the loading zone is not allowed; do not leave your vehicle unattended
  • Only park in designated spaces
  • Do not park in the handicap parking space without a placard 
  • Use the crosswalk. Do not cross in front of vehicles
  • Please treat everyone with kindness and respect
  • Report incidents to the office 

Please also drive and walk safely on the neighborhood streets surrounding our school. Many of our families walk and bike to school, especially on Leigh Ave. Crossing the street in traffic, parking in the bike lane and making u-turns in the middle of the street are all incredibly unsafe and illegal. When walking to school, please stay on the sidewalk. Watch for cars and bicycles and keep students and younger siblings close.

Thank you for doing your part to make our neighborhood, school community, students and staff safe.

Sincerely,

Ms. Ramirez
Ms. Williams