Black River Local School District

Please go to our "H1N1-Swine Flu" Button at the top of this page for important information. As information on clinics, high risk groups, or just general information on the flu is given to us, we will up date this button immediately. Please frequently check this button. Thank you.

This fall the PTO held their annual fundraiser for grades K-8. Students who sold 3 or more items were motivated by the opportunity to attend the BMX bike show. The fundraiser assists PTO in providing many opportunities for the students and staff at the BREC. One of the motivators added to the bike show was the chance to see a biker do a stunt jump over one of the principal's seated up on the ramp. Mrs. Starkey is the bravest principal at the BREC!

Free Thanksgiving meals will be delivered to any Black River School District residents who are alone, in need, or unable to get out for Thanksgiving. Just call any of the following to reserve your meal/s: Black River High School (Phil) at 419-736-3303, Black River Middle School (Gary) at 419-736-3304 or Black River Elementary (Pam) at 419-736-2161. Please reserve your meals by Friday, Nov. 20. Meals will be delivered approximately noon on Thanksgiving Day. Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at the Black River Schools.

The Pirate Angel Tree will be back to help any Black River families who are in need at Christmas. If you know of a family who has needs (clothing, toys, food), please contact Pam at Black River Elementary (419-736-2161). All contacts are confidential. If you would like to contribute to our Pirate Angel Tree to help those in need, donations may be sent to the Elementary (in care of community education) or the community is invited to come to the school, take a gift tag from the tree and replace it with a gift card of that value. We ask for all donations to be received by Friday, Dec. 11.

The Black River FFA is off to a productive start. The officers are planning new and exciting activities this year. Ag 1 is in the middle of their safety test so they can go into the shop. Ag 2 is learning new welding skills and the advanced Ag is working in the shop on metal toolboxes. The hog roast on October 13 was great even though the weather was cold, and the members made plenty of food to go around. They would like to thank Mr. Tyree for cooking the hams!

Also nine members went to the 2009 FFA National Convention on October 21-24^th. At the convention they attended a Toby Keith concert, listened to a keynote speaker, Mike Rowe from “Dirty Jobs”. In addition to the trip they toured The Air Force Museum in Dayton, FFA jacket factory in Van Wort, Fair Oaks Dairy Farm where they milk 30,000 cows, and much more. It was a great trip and they enjoyed traveling with New London and Buckeye FFA’s.

On October 26, the Black River PTO hosted a Pumpkin Parade at the Black River Education Center. Over 200 students and family members attended this fun-filled, free event. Children and parents had the opportunity to create some spooky crafts and move through a variety of game stations. A Barnyard Candy Find was held in the gym. Children searched through piles of straw to find sweet treats. Decorated pumpkins were judged and many festive costumes were worn. All attending enjoyed a snack of cider and donuts. The event was a great success, with many children reporting, “It was awesome!” PTO is already planning next years event. They would like to thank the many students, staff, and community members that helped to make it a great success.

Black River Elementary is participating in the Bucket Fillers program. We are looking for kids who do and say very positive things...those are the bucket fillers. People who do and say negative things are the bucket dippers. Throughout the month, our PTO has arranged for guest readers to read the Bucket Filler book to the pk-2 classes. Then each class received a bucket and pom poms that will be added when someone in the class "fills the bucket". When the classroom bucket is filled, that class will lead the building in the Pledge of Allegiance. Pictured above is police officer Jim Schnieder from the Spencer Police Dept. reading to Mrs. Grice's and Mrs. Theiss's first grade students.

Do you want to help out some local families? Well, you can! All you need to do is donate a good used coat (or a new one). Then, you will know that you have made a difference in somebody's life. The Black River Ruriteens are holding a coat collection now through November 7. Coats can be sent or brought to the Black River Education Center during school hours or on November 7 from 9:00-2:00. If there are any questions please call one of the school offices at 419-736-3303 or 419-736-2161.

This is just a reminder that you have the opportunity to view your student's grades, online, anytime, through ProgressBook's Parent Access. From the Black River Home Page, click on the Parent Access tab. Students and parents have separate accounts with different capabilities. With a parent account you can link all students attending any of the three building to one account. New this year to ProgressBook are Parent Alerts. You can be alerted through email when your child has a missing assignment or receives low marks. Just click on My Account then click Manage Alerts.

If you have an active account and have forgotten your password, it can be emailed directly to your email account, if set up. If you need assistance or have forgotten your account information please contact Shelly Baltic at sbaltic@blackriver.k12.oh.us You must place the phase "Parent Access " in the subject line. If you have comments or concerns about your student's grades please contact the classroom teacher (Do not email your concerns regarding your student to me unless I am your student's teacher.)


50th Black River homecoming	BREC Breakfast	BREC Lunch	HS Breakfast	HS Lunch	H1N1 (Swine Flu) Information