BRC Families: Our 3rd–5th graders did an awesome job with testing this week! They stayed focused, worked hard, and truly gave it their best—we are so proud of them.
Next week, we will move on to Reading and Science testing:
5th Grade Reading – Tuesday, May 5
4th Grade Reading – Wednesday, May 6
3rd Grade Reading – Thursday, May 7
5th Grade Science – Friday, May 8
Please help your child be ready by making sure they get a good night’s sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, and arrive at school on time. Thank you for your continued support!
I wanted to reach out now that things have settled down a bit. As you are aware, today we went into another secure status at Blue Ridge.
When our schools are placed in a secure status, instruction and learning continue as usual. The only changes are that we do not allow outdoor activities, and no one is permitted to enter the building. Students and staff remain inside and are able to move throughout the building and when they are in their classrooms the doors are locked, as is our normal practice.
Throughout the day, students heard a number of rumors and naturally had questions. My message to students was simple and consistent: they were safe here, and there was no threat to our school. I encouraged students to speak with any administrator if they had questions, and we were happy to address their concerns. I did not go into details about what was occurring elsewhere in the county, as I did not want to create unnecessary fear. However, in light of yesterday’s events, many students assumed today’s situation was the same.
Our school counselor, Ms. Tucker, was available to support any students who expressed concern. We understand that some families chose to pick their children up early, and we completely respect those decisions.
Our message this afternoon was that we will be having an NTID tomorrow. Please know that we are very aware of how these situations can affect students, and we appreciate your trust and communication.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out. Thank you for your support and flexibility today, and always.
Sincerely,
Sybil Terry
Principal, Blue Ridge
BRC Families: Today your child will be bringing home a volunteer flyer for our upcoming events! We’d love for you to be part of the fun—return the paper form or sign up using the link below. Every helping hand makes a difference!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094FAAA82DA7F9C61-63480749-mayvolunteer
BRC Families: Testing begins this week! Our students will take the Writing GSA on the following days:
5th grade – Tuesday, April 28th
4th grade – Wednesday, April 29th
3rd grade – Thursday, April 30th
To help your child feel confident and prepared, please make sure they get a good night's sleep, eat a healthy breakfast the morning of the test, and are reminded to read the prompt carefully and check their work. We are so proud of our students and know they will do an amazing job!
We are so proud of them and can’t wait to see what Mrs. LaVigne has planned for the chorus concert on Monday, May 18th—you won’t want to miss it!
Purchase tickets here: https://gofan.co/app/school/WV24978
Please make sure your child brings their recorder each day leading up to the concert so they can practice.
BRC Families: Our third grade students are excited to perform their play on April 22nd! Doors open at 6:45 PM and the show begins at 7:00 PM—join us for a great performance!
We have had an exciting week here at Blue Ridge. Our Book Fair and Family Engagement night were a huge success.
This evening, I would like to make you aware of a current TikTok trend involving a toy called the NeeDoh Cube. Many students have brought this item to school and are using them during class time. As a reminder, Blue Ridge does not allow toys to be brought to school or used during instructional time.
Unfortunately, some of these squishy toys have ruptured. While the contents are described as a non-toxic, thick, sticky white polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) gel designed to be safe for children, we have had several students experience reactions after contact with the substance. For this reason—along with our existing expectations regarding toys—we are reinforcing that these items should not be brought to school.
If a student has an approved plan that requires the use of a fidget or stress ball, administration will provide an appropriate item for the student.
We know students are feeling excited with the nice weather and the end of the school year approaching. We appreciate your help in encouraging them to stay focused so we can finish the year successfully.
Thank you for your never-ending support.
BRC Families: We’ve already raised $384 in our Kiss the Pig fundraiser! Mr. Keller is in the lead, but Ms. Hill is right behind—it’s a close race! We have ONE month left to reach our $1,000 goal, and every $1 = 1 vote.
Let’s keep the excitement going and show our students what we can accomplish when we work together!
BRC Families: Kindergarten registration is now open! Visit our school website, click on Kindergarten Registration, then scroll down and select Visit Our Enrollment Page to get started. Please complete registration as soon as possible so our secretary can contact you to schedule your appointment.
BRC Families: Family Game Night and the Book Fair are happening this Friday, April 17th from 4:30–6:30 PM in the Primary Building!To make the night even more exciting, the PTO Glow Party will light up the evening from 5:30–7:30 PM (cash only). We can’t wait to see you there!
BRC Families: PTO meeting tomorrow, Tuesday, April 14th at 5:00 PM on Teams. We’ll be getting ready for the Glow Party and discussing Teacher Appreciation Week—we’d love to have you join us!
BRC Families: Our Book Fair will be open April 14–17! It’s a BOGO sale—everything is buy one, get one free! Students may bring cash, or families can set up an eWallet account: www.scholastic.com/bf/blueridgeelementaryschool5
Don’t miss this great opportunity to stock up on books before summer break!
BRC Families: Kindergarten Registration is coming up on Tuesday, April 21st! Please call the office at 304-725-2995 to schedule your appointment. We can't wait to welcome our newest Lions!
BRC Families: Our Primary Cafeteria was hopping with excitement as our amazing cafeteria team created adorable hard-boiled bunny eggs alongside a special guest!
BRC Families: Take a look at some of our amazing elementary students and the bright futures they’re working toward!
