Good Morning Blakely Families,
Thank you for your continued dedication to your child's learning and growth. As you adjust your schedules this week for parent-teacher conferences on February 11-13, we deeply appreciate your flexibility and commitment to attending these important conversations. These conferences are a great moment to pause and celebrate progress, discuss goals, and strengthen our partnership. Aside from a general thank you, there are a few topics below I'd like to touch on, thank you for reading.
MakerFaire:
We're excited to announce that MakerFaire is approaching, and this year's event will look a bit different. The main activities will take place during the school day, ensuring that every student has the chance to participate in the event. This shift allows all learners to engage fully in the maker experience, fostering creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration.
We will still host an evening showcase where families are invited to view the projects students have created throughout the day. While you're here, be sure to stop by the Book Fair to purchase books and other items—all proceeds support our PTO and Blakely programs.
While I don't want to share our entire vision quite yet, I want to give everyone a heads up that we'll soon be asking for donations of building materials such as cardboard boxes, plastic containers, paper towel rolls, and other recyclables that students can use to bring their ideas to life. Please start setting these items aside at home, and watch for more details on drop-off times and specific needs in the coming weeks.
Attendance and Tardies:
February has brought wonderful news on the attendance front! Our average attendance rate for the month is an impressive 97%, and we've reached 5 out of 10 days in our attendance challenge.
However, we've noticed a growing concern with tardiness. Currently, 29 students have accumulated 25 or more tardies this school year. Today marks the 100th day of school, which means some students are missing the critical start of the day more than one out of every four school days. While a few minutes here and there may not seem significant, our morning routines are intentionally designed to help students feel connected to their peers and teachers, establish a sense of safety and predictability, and prepare their brains for focused learning. When students miss these grounding moments, it can impact their ability to regulate emotions, engage with content, and feel a sense of belonging throughout the day.
I want to acknowledge that the ongoing construction around Head of the Bay, and Wyatt, and beyond has created real challenges for many families, and we appreciate your efforts to navigate these obstacles. If there's anything we can do to support your family's morning routine, or if you sense your child is resisting coming to school, please reach out. We're here to partner with you to find solutions that work.
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