Skip to main content

Blue Ball Elementary School

Empowering Learners as Global Thinkers and Producers

Blue Ball Newsletter - 4/6/2026

Posted Date: 04/06/26 (04:00 PM)
View Original Post


April 6, 2026

BBES Newsletter

Blue Ball Elementary School

Blue Ball Families and Community,

Welcome to this week's edition of the Blue Ball Elementary School Newsletter! We're excited to share the latest happenings and updates from our school community to keep you informed and engaged.
 

Welcome Back

We hope all of our families enjoyed a well-deserved, relaxing break filled with time to recharge and connect. Whether you were traveling, spending time outdoors, or simply enjoying a slower pace at home, we hope you had a safe and refreshing time away.

As we return, we are excited to continue the incredible learning happening across all of our classrooms. The months of April and May are always full of growth, discovery, and meaningful experiences for our learners. Our teachers are looking forward to building on the strong momentum we’ve seen so far and helping every learner finish the school year with confidence and pride. Thank you for your continued support—we look forward to a strong and successful finish to the year together!

Join us this week for a fun evening on Friday night: Living Smart and Healthy.
Poster for Blue Ball Elementary School's 'Living Smart & Healthy' event on April 10, 2026, from 6:00-7:30 PM.
 

Student Council Service Project

Help us support Student Council's Community Service project. These learners are organizing "Birthday Boxes" to donate to CrossNet's Food Pantry. These birthday boxes will help families celebrate special days with their loved ones. See the flyer. You are welcome to donate anything from the list. We will even be collecting items during our SMART and Healthy night.
A bright blue birthday cake with lit candles sits on a stand, surrounded by confetti and balloons. Text announces 'Happy Birthday Box Donations' by Crossnet Ministries.
 

Spotlight on Academics

PA's Promise for Children Learning is Everywhere focused on "growing up" for the month of April. Check out their newsletter. Here are a few ideas that you may try at home to expand upon their ideas:
🎯 Goal Setting & Growth Mindset
  • Set a small goal: (learning a new skill, improving reading time, helping more at home).
  • Track progress: Use a chart or journal to celebrate effort and improvement.
  • Talk about challenges: Discuss how mistakes help us learn and grow.
🎭 Exploring Interests & Careers
  • Career dress-up day at home: Pretend to be different community helpers.
  • Family career connections: Talk about what family members or friends do for work.
  • Skill building: Practice real-life skills like cooking, organizing, or planning.
📚 Reading & Conversation
  • Read books about growing up, goals, or different jobs.
  • Ask questions while reading:
  • “How is this character growing or changing?”
  • “What would you do in their situation?”
🌼 Everyday Learning Moments
  • Talk during car rides or meals about your child’s day and what they are learning.
  • Encourage independence with simple responsibilities at home.
  • Celebrate effort, not just outcomes!

You are still welcome to return any of the following Family activities.

BBES 2026 Winter Olympics Medals Graph - 5th grade has the highest participation!

Hershey Bears Reading Log - 1st grade has the highest participation! There are limited Hershey Bears Games left to redeem the coupon code.

Book Bingo Challenge - 1st grade has the highest participation!

Panda Express Bookmark (return with your child's full name and teacher) - 1st and 5th grade have the highest participation!
 

Upcoming Events

April 7th - PTO Meeting @ 6:30 PM
April 10th - Living SMART and Healthy Night
April 13th - Committee of the Whole School Board Meeting; 7:00 PM
April 17th - 2nd Grade Field Trip
April 17th - PTO Popsicles on the Playground; 6:30-8:00 PM
April 20th - School Board Meeting; 7:00 PM
April 21st through April 23rd - PSSA ELA for Grades 3-5
April 23rd - Konnecting with Kinders Night
April 26th - Elementary Band Concert; 2:00 PM @ GS Auditorium
April 28th and April 29th - PSSA Math for Grades 3-5
April 28th - Elementary Orchestra Concert; 7:00 PM @ GS Auditorium
April 29th - 1st Grade Field Trip
April 30th and May 1st - PSSA Science for Grade 5
April 30th - 2nd Grade Chorus Program; 7:00 PM
April 30th - Orientation for Rising 5th Grade Families; 6:00 PM at GSMS
Example calendar with dates pinned
 

PTO Reminders

Our next PTO Meeting is Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at 6:30 PM in the Blue Ball Conference Room. A virtual link will be sent prior to the meeting for those unable to attend in person.

All PTO officer positions — President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer — will be open for the 2026–2027 school year. Nominations are still being accepted, with elections to be held at the April meeting.
 
PTO is looking for new faces and fresh ideas, especially kindergarten and first grade parents who are ready to get involved and grow with our school community. Attending a PTO meeting is a great way to learn how you can help and what each role involves.
Please note: Without volunteers to fill these positions, we will not have a PTO, which means programs such as field trips, RIF books, teacher appreciation, family nights, and more would not be possible.
Your involvement truly makes a difference—please consider stepping up or nominating someone today! If you have questions or would like to make a nomination for yourself or someone else please email us at blueballpto1@gmail.com.
 

Excellence in Attendance

We are grateful to our families for sharing your children each day as we grow and learn together. When students attend school consistently, they not only strengthen essential skills in reading, writing, and math, but also benefit from collaboration with peers—sharing ideas, building teamwork, and forming lasting friendships. Being together nurtures social development and fosters a sense of belonging that enriches the learning experience. When everyone is present, we grow stronger, more confident, and better prepared for success—together.

Congratulations to 1st, 2nd, and 5th grades who had 95% or better attendance last week.
 

2026-2027 Kindergarten Registration

Kindergarten Registration for the 26-27 school year is open. If you have an incoming Kindergartener, we encourage you to start the registration process.
Eastern Lancaster County School District announces 2026-2027 Kindergarten Registration opens February 1, 2026.
 

Kindergarten Open House

Blue Ball Elementary Kindergarten Open house for families with children starting Kindergarten in the 26-27 school year is May 7, 2026 from 5:30-7:00 PM.
Poster for the ELANCO Kindergarten Open House hosted by Eastern Lancaster County School District.
 
Person using a laptop

Contact info

If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us. You can reach out via the following links:

Email: kimberly_andersen@elanco.org
Phone: 717-354-1525
Location: 126 Ewell Road, East Earl, PA
Website: www.elanco.org