Sandy Hook

The Bon Air Family sends our sympathies and prayers to the families and community of Newtown, Connecticut. Our students and staff will continue to keep those you lost in our hearts. Let the loved ones you lost be forever remembered.

Sign the National Sandy Hook Sympathy Card here. http://www.causes.com/actions/1715318

Bon Air Teachers attached angels with the names of the students and teachers at Sandy Hook Elementary that lost their lives so suddenly to 26 balloons. Each Bon Air Teacher released a balloon at 9:30 am Friday December 21st in the victims memory.

Tumblebooks

Tumblebooks is an online collection of animated, talking ebooks. The Tumblebook Library includes hundreds of many well-known authors and book titles that kids will enjoy. Tumblebooks also offers games, puzzles, videos, read alongs, and other activities. Students from K-5 will enjoy browsing this expansive collection of both fiction and nonfiction books, many of which are Accelerated Reader titles we have in our own Bon Air library. This would be a great resource for silent reading time or to use as a station in your classroom.

Tumblebooks is free through the Kokomo Public Library's electronic resources. Click the link below to be directed to the KHCPL site. Browse through the Catalogs section for Electronic Resources and select Tumblebook library.

Check out one of our third graders using Tumblebooks.

Doodle Toy

One free Android app that primary teachers love at Bon Air Technology Academy is the Doodle Toy app. This app scored high ratings in the Google Play Store and has users ranging from toddler to adult! Doodle Toy provides students with a drawing canvas to illustrate their ideas using neon colors. The app is extremely easy to navigate and includes simple writing tools that even our youngest users can easily understand. Some ideas to use this app in the classroom would include:

• Practicing writing letters and numbers
• Writing spelling words to prepare for an upcoming test
• Drawing shapes
• Exploring the concept of symmetry with the symmetry tool
• Drawing for fun during free time or recess
• Identifying colors and using them in drawings
• Class Participation (ask a question, draw on the app and hold up for teacher to see)

Check out some kindergarteners practicing writing the letter C!

Bon Air to Expand 1:1 Technology Program

 

In its effort to continue enhancing the current educational options for Kokomo-Center students, the Board of School Trustees approved a recommendation from Superintendent Jeff Hauswald that included re-opening Bon Air Middle School as a 1-to-1 technology middle school for the 2013-2014 school year. 

Dr. Hauswald explained to the Board that the new 1-to-1 technology school at Bon Air Middle School will allow students, currently attending 1-to-1 technology elementary schools at Bon Air and Pettit Park, a seamless transition in the quality of curriculum and instruction with the use of technology that they are experiencing now.

 

“Future teachers of Bon Air Middle School immediately will begin receiving 1-to-1 technology professional development,” Dr. Hauswald noted. “This training will include collaboration with other 1-to-1 middle schools across the United States with whom Kokomo-Center Schools is currently partners.”

 

While Bon Air Middle School will serve students from Bon Air and Pettit Park elementary schools, Dr. Hauswald reminded parents that under Kokomo-Center’s new choice program, Bon Air Middle School would be open to all students.  Dr. Hauswald added that transportation would be provided for any students residing anywhere in the Kokomo-Center district.

 “The new Bon Air Middle School will be completely renovated and updated with new facilities, modern classrooms, and lots of interactive technology,” Dr. Hauswald said. “These changes will provide students with a tech-rich environment in a small-school setting where their individual interests and needs can best be met.”

 

Assistant Superintendent Pennye Siefert noted that this goal to expand the availability of technology for students is aligned with research related to engaging students, while providing a 21^st Century learning environment for students who will be seeking employment in a changing world full of technology.

 

“This is a new way of thinking, learning, and problem solving both for the teachers and the students,” Mrs. Siefert said. “Professional development will be provided for the teachers moving to Bon Air Middle School so they understand how to integrate technology into the curriculum.”

 Michael Sargent, who served as Bon Air Middle School Principal before becoming the current Central Middle School Principal, believes this is a win-win proposal for the community.

 “One of the greatest strengths at Bon Air Middle School was the community and parental support. The parents and school community took great pride in the neighborhood school at Bon Air,” Mr. Sargent explained. “Opening a Bon Air Middle School Technology Academy provides these students with a neighborhood school that focuses specifically on meeting student needs.”

With this change for the 2013-2014 school year, students from Pettit Park and Bon Air elementary 1-to-1 technology schools will attend Bon Air Middle School.  Students from Elwood Haynes and Boulevard elementary traditional schools will attend Maple Crest Middle School, while students from the Lafayette Park and Sycamore elementary international schools will attend the Central Middle International Magnet School.  In addition, students from the Wallace Elementary School for Integrated Arts will attend Central beginning in the 2014-2015 school year.

 

Parents are reminded that ANY student may apply to attend any program, and transportation is provided for Kokomo-Center residents.  School registration begins in February 2013 for the 2013-2014 school year for all interested Kokomo area families.

Blooming the Bon Air Way

Driving onto Bon Air Elementary's school grounds you might notice rows of Popsicle sticks as you approach the front door or as you turn the corner to exit you might see a large cluster of sticks poking out of the ground in the shape of a paw print. These markers are more than just Popsicle sticks. These markers each have a student name written on it where each student at Bon Air has carefully planted a tulip bulb. All of the students also created their own personal goals for this school year. The goals can be seen posted around the building. Each tulip bulb signifies the way they will continue to grow and improve to try and reach their goal for the year. If you live in the area stop by in the spring to see our flowers growing!