Volume 27/ Issue V DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016

Of Exce l lence

Happy New Year to our Blythe Families and Friends!

Welcome back, we hope that you all had a wonderful holiday break! It is hard to believe that we are now in the second half of the year. Thank you to everyone who helped and supported us over the past four months. The Blythe PTA would not be able to do all that we do without each and every one of you.

We've got Blythe Blast coming up in April! This is one of our major fundraisers and the one our children look forward to the most all year. We will need tons of volunteers to make this a success, so please be on the lookout for ways you can help! Also please keep informed of the great spirit nights we have each month. These are wonderful opportunities for our school to receive monetary support from local businesses, and for you to have a fun night out!

Holly and Ann

IMPORTANT DATES

January 14 Spirit Night - Marco's Pizza from 4-8pm

January 15 NO SCHOOL – Teacher Workday

January 18 NO SCHOOL – Martin Luther King Jr. Day

January 21 Spirit Day, Wear Red or Blythe Apparel

January 22 Chick-Fil-A Biscuit Sale

January 22 Faculty and Staff Appreciation (2nd grade)

January 22 Report Cards Issued

January 28 BUG Club Celebration for Grades 2-3, 7:30am

January 29 BUG Club Celebration for Grades 4-5, 7:30am

January 29 VIP Lunch Grades 2nd and 5th

February 3 Walk and Wheel to School Day

February 5 4K ONLY Half Day

February 5 Chick-Fil-A Biscuit Sale

February 8 Talent Show and General PTA Meeting, 6:00pm

February 8-12 Box Tops Competition

February 12 Reflections Awards Ceremony, 7:30am

February 15 NO SCHOOL – Presidents’ Day

STAY INFORMED

In addition to the school website, you can keep up-to-date with events through the weekly Eblasts and Facebook page.

Principal

Assistant Principal

Email the PTA BlytheAcademyPTA@gmail.com

PTA Co-Presidents

Blythe Academy

Blythe PTA

COMING SOON! GIRLS ON THE RUN

Powered by GHS Children's Hospital and Life Center Health and Conditioning Club, Girls on the Run is a program that empowers girls, ages 8-15 and helps them be joyful, confident and healthy.

Session Runs February 17th - May 10th Parent Information Meetings February 10th

and February 11th

WINTER SPIRITWEAR Winter is finally coming - keep your favorite student warm in these great new long sleeve t-shirts and sweatshirts! Be on the lookout for an order form in your student's Thursday folder. Thank you for your support!

CHICK-FIL-A Chick-Fil-A Biscuit and fresh fruit breakfast sale dates for 2016 are:

VIP SAVE THE DATE VIP and Special Guests Luncheon for 2nd and 5th Grade Students FRIDAY, January 29th, During Your Child’s Lunch in the Blythe Cafeteria

The cost of an adult lunch is $3.50. No reservations necessary, cash and check only. Volunteers are needed to assist with greeting and check in. Please email Jamie Kaltenbach at jamiex2k@gmail.com if you are available.

You are welcome to join your student for lunch. Send a note with your child so that you are included in the daily lunch count. Remember to sign in at the front office and get a visitor’s tag. Then meet your child at the cafeteria. A special table is reserved for students with guests.

January 22 February 5 February 19 March 4 March 18

April 8 April 29 May 6 May 13 May 20

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Our first parent workshop of the year, "Back in Control”, was well-attended and informative. Participants learned valuable tips and positive parenting strategies. We look forward to bringing you more workshops throughout the year and welcome your input.

Attention fifth grade parents: middle school is just around the corner and it will soon be time to register for classes. Our district uses an online registration system which allows teachers and students to request courses for sixth grade. Teachers select core classes (language arts, math, science, and social studies) based on district criteria and parents and students make elective selections. As middle schools send us information on available courses and orientation events, we will pass along information to you.

In January, we will bring a presentation to second and fourth grade students called “Talk About Touching”. This personal safety program, developed by the Julie Valentine Center, supports the belief that education empowers and protects our children. “Talk About Touching” utilizes interactive role play, storytelling, and discussion to teach students safety rules, support systems, and personal defense mechanisms to use in dangerous situations. Students learn they have the right to say no, get away, and tell someone if they find themselves in an uncomfortable situation. Participation in “Talk About Touching” is optional, and parents will have the opportunity to preview program materials.

We would like to take a minute to remind you about our resource library available to Blythe parents, teachers, and students. We have a number of books and materials available for check-out on a variety of topics. You can view a complete listing of available resources on Mrs. Barnett’s website at www.teacherweb.com/sc/blytheacademy/barnett. Stop by the office soon to see what we have to offer.

Counselors’ Column

Blythe’s School Improvement Council (SIC) welcomed the Greenville Middle School administration at the November 11 monthly SIC meeting. Greenville Middle shared about their magnet programs for parents of rising sixth grade students.

Thanks to our wonderful PTA for a very successful Friends of Blythe parent event on Friday, November 6. The grade level art projects that were submitted for auction were especially beautiful – thanks to our exceptionally talented students and art teachers! Fabulous job! Thanks to all for making this a great event!

South Carolina State School Report Cards are scheduled for release on November 16. The format of the report cards has changed from previous years. This revised format will be used for this year and next. During this time, there will be a “pause” in the state accountability system, meaning no ratings will be calculated. This is due to the change in the statewide testing program for students. There are also changes in the data elements that are contained in the report.

Join us in 2016 for the following Walk & Wheel dates: February 3, March 2, April 6 and May 4.

DECEMBER 2015 BEAR HUG WINNERS

Mrs. Barnett is at Blythe full-time and works primarily with students in the intermediate grades, and Ms. Brice is part-time at Blythe and works with students in the primary grades. If you have questions or wish to see us about your child, please call the guidance office at 355-4404.

Mrs. Bunce: Genesis Benitez-Caraomo Señora Lobengilo: Christina Fuller

Señorita Alvarado: Sam Gault Señora Castro: Henry Mercer Mrs. Hunte: Bryson Collier Señora Powell: Lee Campbell Madame Reach: Evie Bowers Mrs. Stone: Emery Palmer Mrs. Yarbrough: Addison Frost

Señora Delgado: Delana Owen Mrs. Forrester: Kynedi Glover Señorita Gallegos: Abigail Lockhart Mrs. Lewis: Kailee Ricks Mrs. Lowe: Josie Julian Mrs. Middleton: Cai Harrington Mrs. Miles: Helen Wolfe Mrs. Pellicano: Jaylah Byrd Señorita Porter: India Redmon

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Miss Anderson: Daniah Rone Señor Brenes: James Garland Señora Loaiza: Chloe Briggs Mrs. McWhorter: Lang Steck Mrs. Myers: Margaret Garrett Ms. Snider: Na’cyus Morrison Mrs. Smith: Evelyn Thompson

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Mrs. Carter: Yash Umarwadia Ms. Cummings: Carmi Rhodes- Elmore Señora Juarbe: Karinne Everly Mrs. McKee: Tychelle Ali Mlle Muller: Wilber Dominguez-Pineda Señora Ocheing: Merrick Johnson Mrs. Stageberg: Danielle Lux

Miss Childs: Lamiyah Henderson Mrs. Page: Gabrielle Piquant Señora Sita: Anaya Muhammad Mrs. Tomes: Alesia Tiswell

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ATTENTION! District policy requires that all visitors and volunteers, entering our buildings, be signed in by

office personnel and must have either a visitor or volunteer badge displayed on their body, in plain sight at all times. At each visit, visitors and guests must present a photo ID. Please be patient – there are often delays in getting everyone checked in during peak times, especially first thing in the morning or during celebrations. You should consider arriving a few minutes early. If you plan to visit the school more than once this school year, consider having your ID scanned as a volunteer to speed up your check in process. Thank you in advance for your support of these policies and for your time spent volunteering at Blythe!

JANUARY 2016 BEAR HUG WINNERS

Mrs. Bunce: Khamari Todd Señora Lobengilo: Demetrius Woodruff

Señorita Alvarado: Grace Proffitt Señora Castro: Jocelyn Mora Mrs. Hunte: Taj Bey-Toliver Señora Powell: Micah Smith Madame Reach: Mason Wahrer Mrs. Stone: William Clarke Mrs. Yarbrough: Caleb Burton

Señora Delgado: Ana Humes Mrs. Forrester: Jacob Payan Señorita Gallegos: Caiden Dirton Mrs. Lewis: Imarrie King Mrs. Lowe: Lilah Mitchell Mrs. Middleton: Collin McEwen Mrs. Miles: Caroline King Mrs. Pellicano: Trayiana Strickland Señorita Porter: Londyn Austin

Señorita Bettocchi: Aubrie White Mr. Dixon: Alani Tiswell Señora Gonzalez: Takira Covington Miss Leftwich: Tre’ Purcell Mrs. Lindsay: Daizhanna Manuel-Jeter Madame Maier: Ruth Zamora Mrs. Richardson: Melissa Major Señora Tejera: Lila Valle

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Miss Anderson: Sagjah Fowler Señor Brenes: Jorge Gutierrez Señora Loaiza: Kylee Medlin Mrs. McWhorter: Macie Williams Mrs. Myers: Bianca Chagoya Ms. Snider: Claire Johnson Mrs. Smith: Nico Ortiz

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Mrs. Carter: Lilian Ortega Ms. Cummings: Mac Buchanan Señora Juarbe: Elena Cizmar Mrs. McKee: Sincere Collins Mlle Muller: Mateo Marin Señora Ochieng: Janeva Clement Mrs. Stageberg: Jayden Hicks

Miss Childs: Quayla Nolah Mrs. Page: Lance McJunkin Sra. Morgan: Caroline Dorroh Mrs. Tomes: Devon Dodd

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Señorita Bettocchi: Karis Ramos Mr. Dixon: Robbie Flemming Señora Gonzalez: Caleb Crawley Miss Leftwich: Calli Spralding Mrs. Lindsay: Vivian Covington Madame Maier: Mariana Gil Mrs. Richardson: Jackson Sherard Señora Tejera: Layla Sudduth

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STUDY BUDDIES

What if you knew that just 30 minutes of your time spent with a child each week could have an impact on this child’s achievement—for life? What if you could spend 30 minutes a week tutoring a Blythe student, knowing that research shows your efforts can make the difference between a confident reader and a struggling reader?

Each year, our Blythe parents, grandparents, siblings, friends, and community volunteers tutor 80-100 Blythe students through the Blythe Study Buddies program. Our Study Buddy tutors provide that extra bit of help some students need to succeed – just 30 minutes of one-on-one time a week with a volunteer who is committed to their success.

The child’s teacher will provide the activity each week; as a Study Buddy tutor, you provide the encouragement and the listening ear. Sometimes your student Buddy might read out loud to you; sometimes you will work through reading exercises together, or even math practice if that’s your area of expertise.

We can arrange for you to tutor your student Buddy when it works for your schedule, any time Monday - Friday 7:30am – 2:30pm . Tutoring to begin in late October or early November.

For more information or to join the email list for Study Buddies email BlytheAcademyPTA@gmail.com. Thanks!

Jenny Lydic and Barbara Cosello, Study Buddies Co-Chairs