On your radar....Kindergarten Parent Information Night

Alright, believe it or not we are planning our Parent Information Night for our rising Kindergarten parents for the new school year!  We can't wait to meet you on May 9th at 6:00 p.m.  We will share "a day in the life of a Kindergarten student" and "what to expect with the curriculum."  Additionally, we will share information about how you can support your child in being prepared for Kindergarten.  We will also give explain the "Staggered Entry" process and give you your assigned date and time for staggered entry.  Kindergarten teachers will be on hand to answer questions you may have.  Also, our YMCA Before and After Care representatives, our School Nurse, the PTA and our Data Manager will all be sharing information that will be important for you and our incoming Trailblazer students!  Have questions about this event?  Call 919-890-7333 and we can answer all of your questions!  Looking forward to meeting you, Mrs. Graf

5th Grade Human Growth and Development Unit

Fifth Grade Parents,
We have held two parent information sessions regarding the upcoming Human Growth and Development unit.  During these sessions, fifth grade teachers shared the PowerPoint slides, videos and information that will be shared with the students.  This unit will be taught in April to students.  If you have any questions about this unit please contact your child's fifth grade teacher or Ms. Livengood.  Thank you, Mrs. Graf

School Messenger 3/26 Reminders

Trailblazers,

Thank you to all of those who auditioned for the BRES Talent Show over the past two weeks.  It was great to see the talent and potential that our students possess!  Results will be posted for students on Monday and also available on Ms. Loftin’s blog.

Our final Boosterthon collection day is tomorrow, Wednesday, March 27th.  If your child has any pledges to turn in please send them in to school tomorrow.

Finally, BRES will be closed on Friday due to the holiday.  We will see you on Monday!

Thanks again for all that you do to make BRES a great place! Mrs. Graf

Girls on the Run

Last week our students participating in the Girls on the Run program ran their GOTR Mock 5k.  It was a pretty big deal for the girls, and we had parents and teachers come out to cheer the girls on and run with them... they ran the 3.1 miles on a course we mapped out around the school (3 times around!) The girls were awarded certificates at the end of the Mock 5k.  This was great practice for the girls and helped to prepare them for what to expect when they run the 5k on April 13th :)  You can check out the GOTR blog: http://bresgotr.blogspot.com sponsored by Ms. Blair and Ms. Stephenson.

Interested in participating in the Girls on the Run program next year?  Need more information about the GOTR program?  Contact Ms. Blair at eblair@wcpss.net!

An Art Update at BRES...

Families,
Many of you have been in the building for our recent events and have had the opportunity to view some of the art work that our students are doing under the direction of Ms. Stephenson, our Art Specialist.  I wanted to feature the work of the students this week so that everyone would have the opportunity to see how our Art Program is growing and blazing the trail here at BRES.  Please read below to learn more about what our fourth and fifth grade students are working on here in Art class (summaries provided by Ms. Stephenson.)

In fourth grade art, students have been connecting with classroom curriculum by looking at the North Carolina mountain region and the phenomenon of atmospheric perspective. Atmospheric perspective is the term used to describe how the appearance of objects, such as the mountains, appear lighter as they recede from the viewer. Students created depth through atmospheric perspective, and practiced mixing tints and shades while creating these mountainous landscapes/value scales.

Fifth grade is finishing up their projects on graffiti. Graffiti has become popular in today's culture and is becoming increasingly accepted as an art form. Students learned about the definition of graffiti and how it has changed and continues to change over time, culture, and location. They also learned when it is and is not illegal and what consequences result from the illegal form of graffiti. This subject opened up wonderful classroom discussion about questions like, Is graffiti art?, What makes it art or not?, What is art? Etc. Students then created their own graffiti style compositions combining both text and imagery.

Family Event Information...

Trailblazers,
Here is information I received about an Open House at the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine, which will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 27.

This is a popular event that is fun and informative for the entire family and is particularly appealing to elementary students who have pets, who love animals, or who are interested in science. 

Here's a link for all the details:  http://www.cvm.ncsu.edu/news/openhouse/

This year's event has a special focus on "One Health," the concept that the health of the environment, wildlife, domestic animals, and humans is interrelated.  See:https://www.avma.org/KB/Resources/Reference/Pages/One-Health.aspx

 

If you have questions, please contact David Green at 919-513-6662. 

BRES Teacher of the Year Semi Finalist

Congratulations again to Ms. Bethel, our very own first grade teacher for being selected as a Semi-Finalist for the WCPSS Teacher of the Year Award!  Today Ms. Bethel and her class were observed by the selection committee.  The committee was able to see the learning and teaching process in action here at BRES.  Ms. Bethel and her class did an outstanding job today!  We wish her luck as she moves along through the selection process.

Williamsburg Field Trip

Wow! We are having a great time on the 5th grade field trip in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. I'm here with the students on Tracks 1, 2 and 3. We just entered the Capitol Building. We are taking a tour learning more about our judicial system and the origins of many of our current practices in government. Her are a few pictures...

Feeder Times

Parents,
Apparently there is something going on with Blogger and my posts are going on late.  I've called and found that if the gmail server is "bogged down" the blog posts will come out late.  I'm sorry for this inconvenience.  If you have any questions about our events, please check the blog (it gets posted immediately, but if you are signed up through email this is what is being sent late by the server) or the main school website.  We have some wonderful things going on here at school and I want to be sure you are informed!  Please call me if you have any questions at 919-890-7333.  :) Mrs. Graf

Want to get involved?

 

We have some open slots open for those of you interested in volunteering to provide a lesson on Character Education. Volunteers are asked to sign up on the BRES website under the "Character Education" tab, and be sure to register as a volunteer in the media center on a Monday to be cleared by Wake County. Also, no need to worry if you do not have teaching experience, all materials and updated lesson plans are provided in advance in the guidance office- updated, parent-friendly, and ready to go! You can even grab a lesson plan to peruse at home if you'd like. :) AND, of course, we thank you in advance for being a role model to our students and working with us to provide character education at Banks.

Boosterthon Collection Day 2

Calling all Trailblazer Fun Run students,

Tomorrow is our second collection day for our Boosterthon Fun Run.  Any pledges turned in tomorrow can be given to the classroom teacher.  Our school profit is just over $10,000 with the current amount of pledges already submitted.  We have collected about 44% of the pledges thus far.  If all of the pledges are collected we could raise an additional $12, 500.00 for a total of approximately $22,000!  This would be AMAZING!  Have questions about a pledge or the collection process?  Please contact the school the school and we will do our best to support you. 

 

Spring Beautification Day is coming!

Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 23rd.  It's our Spring Beautification Day and we need you!  Please come out from 8:30-12:30 and help us spruce up our campus just in time for Spring.  We will spread mulch, pull weeds and develop our very first Learning Garden.  Can't stay for the whole morning?  Join us anytime between 8:30-12:30.  I hope to see you there!

Spirit Night

Join us tomorrow, March 13th for dinner at Assaggio's Pizzeria in Fuquay Varina for our March Spirit Night.  Don't worry about cooking dinner...just grab a table and order a hot and delicious pizza or pasta plate from Assaggio's and enjoy the company of your Trailblazer family!  I'll be there around 6:00 p.m. with my family. :) Can't come for dinner? Feel free to order take out or stop by for lunch.  All you need to do is drop your receipt in the box at the counter.  A proceed of sales--ALL day will benefit our Banks Road Elementary School PTA. 

Free Clinics & Camps

Parents,

I wanted to make you aware of the annual Blayne Brown/Broughton Baseball Camp.  It is a free camp for kids ages 7 to 12 and it will be held at Wiley Warren Field on the campus of Broughton High School on Saturday March 23rd from 8:30 to 12.  I am attaching a flyer and the waiver form that parents can bring when they come to the camp.  If you have any questions please contact contact Chris Newton at enewton1@wcpss.net. 

Click here to access the flyer for more information:
http://domino7.wcpss.net/mail/3/30388190.nsf/0/B47B445D86470EFE85257B2C00630307/$File/Haven_20house_20Soccer_20Clinic_20_20flyer_20Spanish.pdf?OpenElement&FileName=Haven%2520house%2520Soccer%2520Clinic%2520%2520flyer%2520Spanish.pdf

West Lake Middle School Open House

Parents of rising middle school students:  Many middle schools are in the midst of holding Open House or informational sessions for next year.  West Lake Middle School is tonight at 6:00 p.m (floating).  Please continue to check middle school websites that you are interested in for additional information.  Please call the school if you have any questions. 

2013-14 Information for you!

Trailblazer Families,
We thoughtfully have set dates for the new school year and I want to share them with you so that you can plan accordingly.  Please call the school at 919-890-7333 should you have any questions.  Thank you.

• 2013-14 Kindergarten Orientation:  May 9th  Parent Information Session Only 6:00 p.m.-7:15 p.m. Multipurpose Room
• 2013-14 Meet the Teacher:  Track 1- May 28th 5:30-6:30 p.m.; Tracks 2, 3 & 4- June 25th 5:30-7:00 p.m.
• 2013-14 Open House:  Thursday, August 15th- Tracks 1 & 3:  5:30-6:30 p.m. and Tracks 2 & 4:  7:00-8:00 p.m.

Mark your calendars for these March events

Here are the important dates for March:

• Friday, March 1st:  Early Release 1:15 p.m.
• Friday, March 1st:  Track 1 First Grade Geo Animal Zoo
• Friday, March 1st:  Track 1 Track Out Day!
• March 4th-March 8th:  Intercession Track 4
• Thursday, March 7th:  Student Council Meeting 8:00 a.m. Media Center
• Friday, March 8th:  Pre-K Family Partnership Day
• Friday, March 8th: Notification of First Transfer results sent to parents
• Tueday, March 12th: Tracks 2 & 4 Fourth Grade Field Trip to Meymandi Concert Hall
• Thursday, March 14th: Tracks 2 & 4 Second Grade Field Trip Natural Science Museum
• Thursday, March 14th: PTA Meeting 6:30 p.m. Media Center
• Friday, March 15th: Track 4 Fifth Grade Field Trip to Williamsburg, VA
• March 18th-20th: 3rd Administration Case Assessment Tracks 3 & 4
• Tuesday, March 19th:  Spring Pictures (Class & Individual) Tracks 3 & 4
• Wednesday, March 20th:  Track 4 Track Out Day!
• Thursday, March 21st:  Welcome back Track 1 students!
• Thursday, March 21st:  Talent Show Auditions 4:15 Gym
• Friday, March 22nd: Tracks 1, 2 & 3 Field Trip Fifth Grade Williamsburg, VA
• Tuesday, March 26th: Talent Show Auditions, 4:15 p.m. Gym
• Tuesday, March 26th:  Fifth Grade Human Growth & Development Parent Meeting 5:30 p.m. Media Center (TBA: second date coming soon!)
• Wednesday, March 27th: First Grade Poe Center Field Trip
• Thursday, March 28th:  Tracks 1 & 3 Second Grade Field Trip Natural Science Museum
• Friday, March 29th: No School
• Monday, April 1st-3rd:  Track 2 Case Assessment