Principals’ Paws Family Newsletter Published by the Principals of Mary Blount Elementary School
Volume 1, Issue 3		October 18, 2006
How time flies!
			Mark Your Calendars Oct. 18: Report Cards Oct. 22: Run for Education at Heritage High School @ 2:30 Oct. 24: MBE v. Eagleton, 6:00 Oct. 26: MBE at Friendsville, 6:00 Oct. 27: Makeup pictures Oct. 27: PTO Masquerade Ball, 6:00-8:00 pm Oct. 30: MBE at Carpenter’s, 6:00 Nov. 6: No School Nov. 7: Parent Conferences, 1:00-7:00 pm Nov. 9: MBE at Vonore, 6:00 Nov. 13: MBE at Porter, 6:00 Nov. 15: Progress Reports Nov. 16: MBE v. Maryville Christian, 6:00 Nov. 22: ½ day, dismiss at 11:00 Nov. 23-24: No School
We hope this newsletter finds all Mary Blount families doing well and rested from an enjoyable fall break. The weeks have certainly flown since school began over two months ago, and we have plenty to celebrate as students have been engaged in classrooms that are kid-friendly and brain-compatible. Ms. Phyllis Williams, one of our beloved 1^st grade teachers, retired on Sept. 29. Congratulations Ms. Williams! We wish her well in this new chapter of her life. We would like to welcome Ms. Patricia Nee to the Mary Blount faculty. She will be filling the 1^st grade position left by Ms. Williams for the remainder of the year. Sanford/Newell (formerly Eldon and Rubbermaid) recently donated office supplies to our school. We appreciate their support of our students. Traffic is often an issue due to the number of students that attend MBE and the access roads that bring vehicles to our school. Please remember that the north entrance (the one closest to the highway) is closed 7:00-8:00 am and 2:00-3:00 pm. Also, remember to drop students off in the morning in the designated drop-off lane or park in a marked space and walk your child into the building. The faculty parking lot is not a drop off zone. We appreciate your cooperation. Parent Conferences will be held on Tuesday, November 7 from 1:00-7:00. Please contact your child’s teacher if you wish to schedule a conference. Mark your calendars for Sunday, October 22 for the annual Run for Education. The Blount County Education Foundation will be sponsoring the event at Heritage High School starting at 2:30. The registration fee is $10, of which $8 comes back to Mary Blount to fund instructional initiatives. Our school goal is $1,000. If we reach this goal, Ms. Bell will kiss a pig and the top earner will have the opportunity to throw a pie in Mr. Murrell’s face. Appreciatively~~Mrs. Bell and Mr. Murrell The vision of Mary Blount Elementary School is to encourage a love of learning, prepare responsible citizens, develop lifelong learners, and cultivate a respect for diversity.
			Mary Blount Elementary School 131 South Old Glory Road Maryville, TN 37801 Phone: (865) 980-1430 Fax: (865) 980-1428 Sandra Bell, Principal sandra.bell@blountk12.org David C. Murrell, Assistant Principal david.murrell@blountk12.org

Making Connections-Bonding Families Using Lifeskills by Ms. Heather Tuck, MBE Literacy Leader One of my favorite Lifeskills is Cooperation. Cooperation means “to work together for a common goal or purpose.” It is one we have worked on A LOT at home with my little girl. Cooperation doesn’t come easy for some of us, and it takes a lot of practice. Children need to learn that working together or being a part of group means cooperating with others. This week around the dinner table, talk with your kids about the Lifeskill of Cooperation. Take the phrase “Two heads are better than one” and explain to your kids what that means. When is a time you needed the help of someone else to get a job done? Think of ways this week to use cooperation with your child – doing homework or cleaning up their room or other chores around the house. Afterwards, talk about what this was like. Was it more fun to do the work together? Was it quicker or easier? Learning to cooperate with family members at home builds a strong foundation of working with others at school.	Bear Basketball News, by Coaches Jennifer Boling and Betty Wilson Tryouts for our girls’ and boys’ basketball teams were held in September. The following students were selected for the teams: GIRLS: Kenna Boling, Amber Click, Montana Coffey, Ashlyn Copper, Taylor Hatcher, Ami Hartline, Ashlyn Hartline, Kerigan Hartline, Samantha Henry, Kassidi Knight, Marissa Shelton, Elizabeth Silliman, Haley Talbott. Manager: Madison Fulmer BOYS: Matt Carney, Drey Corum, Colby Deering, Josh Hensley, Joey Hoy, Gage Hembree, Tyler Johnson, Jack McReynolds, Gerrett Thompson, Chandler Tuck, Konner Webb, Peyton Wall, and Niko White. Managers: Jake and Tim Boyce Check the calendar on front for upcoming games. Best wishes on another great year of Bear Basketball.
Keeping Fit, by Ms. Rosemary Jagels, MBE PE Teacher The Bear Night on October 2nd was a great success! The performance by the forth and fifth graders was outstanding. Mr. Hurst and I are extremely proud of all the students who performed during the Bear Night program. We are also proud of all students who were not able to attend the Bear Night but put in several hours of hard work in the preparation for the program. The Blount County Education Foundation is holding their fifth annual Run For Education on October 22, 2006. The Run For Education is a one mile walk/5 k run, which will take place on the campus of Heritage High School at 2:30 PM. Mary Blount Elementary School has set a goal to raise $1000. If we reach that goal, the faculty will wear their pajamas to work on October 27th, Mrs. Bell will kiss a live pig, and the person who raises the most money will get to throw a pie in Mr. Murrell's face. Please turn in your entry forms and $10 to your child's teacher or Ms. Jagels by October 18th. Thank you for your support!
Bear Council, sponsored by Ms. Heather Tuck, MBE Counselor This year we have implemented a new student council for 5^th graders called the Bear Council. The Bear Council is comprised of 8 students who have shown exemplary leadership skills and will work toward making positive changes for our school. After a strenuous process of essay writing and personal interviews, the Bear Council members have been chosen. They are as follows: Colby Deering, Sarah Galentine, Jack McReynolds, Brittany Hayden, Sam Henry, Chandler Tuck, Madison Fulmer, and Aubrey Marchant.		Grant Updates We have some new grant opportunities available to students this school year through the Tennessee Arts Commission. Mr. Hurst, our music teacher, received a grant for K-5 entitled “In Celebration of the Americas.” Mr. Murrell received a grant for kindergarten students that will bring “Holiday Celebrations of Many Cultures” and “Spinning Yarns and Tales” to MBE. Ms. Poppelreiter, our art teacher, received a grant for 2^nd grade students to tour the Seonna Hong exhibit at the Knoxville Museum of Art. The Knoxville Museum of Art will also send an artist to MBE to teach 2^nd grade students how to illustrate their stories. What great opportunities to enrich our curriculum!