BFPP NEWS

Dear BFPP Families,

I hope everyone is doing well today, and had the chance to read Dr. Baker’s message from early this week. Our hearts continue to go out to the families, staff and students affected by the tragedy in Texas.

When events like those in Texas occur, they naturally bring up questions from our community. I’m following up with some information about safety and security here at BFPP.

First and foremost, we love our families and students and will do all we can to support safety and emotional well being.

It is our job as educators to address questions children have in developmentally appropriate ways, and it’s also our job to keep school routines as normal as possible, which provides security and predictability for all our students.

Our staff is very aware of and sensitive to this event. We were prepared for students to share, reflect and/or bring up a range of questions. With any tragedy, our approach is to listen to children when tragedies occur:

• Let the child take the lead and answer their questions in an age-appropriate way.
• Take time to acknowledge what our kids are saying and the feelings behind their words.
• Acknowledge you sometimes feel worried or sad when things like this happen.
• Take time to review what we do at school to keep each other safe.

We have some resources for families on our district website if you need any to support your family. We anticipate that as kids continue to reflect or learn from their peers or family members, they will have more questions and emotions that may come up.

The events also initiate reflection from our school and district team to constantly reassess our school environment. We know that our old building was not built with 2022 safety concerns in mind but regularly review the practices to maintain a welcoming school that also keeps safety in the forefront.

As a reminder, please make sure to do your part to help our community with safety:

• Use the main entry when arriving at school.
• Wear a visible badge, either volunteer or visitor
• Check in with anyone not wearing a badge, and understand if someone approaches you for not having one
• Don't leave unattended doors propped open
  

Thank you BFPP for helping us ensure the safety of our community. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns....and give some extra hugs to your loved ones.

Warmly, Dr. K

PS. The Craft Fair was a wonderful event and we are looking forward to having many more gatherings. It was lovely to be together and we have some very creative and crafty students!!

Below, you'll find info on these BFPP events:

• iReady Assessment Window for K-2nd graders - 5/18-6/10
• BFPP The Wizard of Oz Performances - 6/2 & 6/3
• 5th Grade Track Meet at Civic Field - 6/3
• Books and Materials Return - 6/16

The K-2 Foundational Skills Literacy Assessment window is open until June 10! By having your student take the assessment each time the window is open, you will have the opportunity to see their growth in the Family Report you receive.

iReady open office hours to help you log in or answer questions:

• Monday June 6th @ 12:30-1:30

Zoom link: https://bellinghamschools.zoom.us/my/carrieviningbfpp

email: Carrie.Vining@bellinghamschools.org

Come cheer on our BFPP 5th graders at the 5TH GRADE ALL CITY TRACK MEET!

This Friday, June 3rd, 2022 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, 5th graders from around the district will compete in track and field events at Civic Field.

Please contact Teacher Marci if you have questions.

It’s getting close to the end of our school year and it’s a good time to start gathering books and materials to return to BFPP. Books and materials have already started trickling in, which is great.

Please return all books and materials by June 16th, 2022.

Just a little reminder to place your returns on the shelf, on the right side of the front door as you enter. Peggy will scan it in and remove it from your account as time allows.

We will send out an announcement soon on the deadline to return laptops. Devices are collected each spring to be reimaged, which includes important system updates. They will be redistributed in the fall.

Also, if you are unsure of what you have checked out please feel free to email Peggy to get a list.

I have retrieved all the BFPP art from the Children's Art Walk. I hope everyone got a chance to see their art decorating the windows and walls of Refresh Juice. Artwork is in the blue tub next to copy machine (by Peggy), organized by last name.

Thanks to everyone who participated!

Warmly,

Lisa Spreyer

Thanks to everyone who came to sell and shop at our craft fair yesterday! Over 60 artists, crafters, bakers, and makers shared their talents with us. It was wonderful to meet new folks and reconnect with familiar faces.

For those young entrepreneurs looking for more selling opportunities-

The Bellingham Public Library will have their Children's Craft Fair this summer on Friday, July 29th. Registration opens June 1st and will fill up very fast.

by Teacher Sammy

I remember when I was in grade school, I was taking piano lessons (because my parents really wanted me to) and every week after school I would walk over to this piano teacher lady's house. I have vivid memories of her brown carpet, heavy cream blinds, linoleum kitchen floor and that piano just right there when I walked in. I’m sure this teacher was nice enough because I only have one triggering memory of those piano lessons. I remember after a few lessons her asking me to create my own music for homework and to be ready to share my piece the following week. At first I was confused and the more I thought about it, I was horrified. I can almost guarantee that I made my piece up on the spot and it was probably extremely uncomfortable for both of us. After that I never went back to that piano teacher and didn’t want anything to do with private (or any other kind) music lessons.

Now I wonder, perhaps this teacher was trying to tap into my creative side, trying to help empower me because she recognized I wasn’t that interested. The problem was, I didn’t feel like I had much of a voice when it came to being there. I was already so critical of my skills, inhibited in the things I did, and just wanted her to TELL ME WHAT TO DO. This was not fun, this was work- and I needed confirmation that I was doing a “good job.” I wanted approval. A little approval was all I needed at the time to keep going to that house with that teacher and that piano. I really did try for a bit (for my parents) and then I quit. I had no heart in this piano thing.

As a teacher and parent, I look back over my younger years and realize that listening to my own inner voice and my own wants and needs were not there when I said yes to piano, or for that matter ballet (can you imagine), or the other 10 things I did to please my parents. I did, however, learn about follow through, courage, flexibility and trying new things- that was the silver lining of signing up for all the different lessons that made my parents proud. The flipside, I didn’t learn how to lean into the things that interested me, nor did I learn how to think critically about my interests, because in lots of ways I didn’t believe in myself. I thought my parents knew better than I did, because they were older and I thought smarter. Clearly, now I see what I loved from as early as I can remember. I loved making people laugh, watching The Carol Burnett Show and imitating the actors and performing. I didn’t know that these were options for me, things I could study and do myself.

Fast forward to today… I found my way to the things I love and give my heart to a job I love (I do give my parents LOTS of credit for these decisions too). When I come to work every day, it feels like I am tricking someone into paying me to do what I love. And to be honest, I stand a little taller and pat myself on the back a little more when my boss, colleagues, friends and family tell me I am doing a “good job.” But then I also remember how those two words, “good job” can be enabling, powerful, and influence people in manipulative ways, when all we really want to do is encourage those we love.

The day we come into the world we are looking for validation. It’s normal, great, perfect, and loving to validate. But then, when we become toddlers and beyond and are still looking for that confirmation from others, that is something to pause over and think about. For example, you know the way kids make a drawing and say, “Do you like it?” The more I think about it, the more I realize, it doesn’t matter if I like it. What really matters is if they like their drawing. We need to continue to teach kids to empower themselves, to look internally for validation and use their metacognition skills to help evaluate their own struggles, strengths, interests and voice in the world.

Here are a few good articles that speak to these 21st century skills necessary to thrive in our world and ways to help empower our children:

• Stop Saying “Good Job!” to Your Kids (and What to Say Instead)
• Three Ways to Promote Student Reflection
• Executive Functioning
• Teaching Kids How to Reflect on Their Own Learning

We encourage families to take advantage of free entrance to Birch Bay State Park for the Family Field Days. Just mention that you are a student or that you are visiting with students for FREE PARK ENTRANCE!

Tetragami Goes to the Big Apple!

Friday, June 10th at 3:30pm on Zoom

Sign up here for this free online event:

https://momath.org/family-fridays/

Join retired Seattle teacher Peter Hubbard, creator of Tetragami — a unique paper-folding design system — for an evening of mathematical creativity. Using specially scored, colorful cardstock, begin building your own Tetragami dodecahedron tower. Plus, learn how you can work with Tetragami to make basic shapes, rings and things, panda and her Pokémon pals, dragons, fantasy creatures, and much more. Join MoMath for a fun-filled evening — and discover an exciting new way to create!

The National Museum of Mathematics continues to hold small group, online workshops for kids each week, many of them free or low-cost!

Saturday, June 4th is National Learn to Row Day! Join Principal Kate and her son along with other members of the Whatcom Rowing Association at Bloedel Donovan Park. We will open the WRA Boathouse to the community to try rowing for FREE!

Participants will tour the boathouse, get an introduction to indoor rowing (erging), along with the basics of the rowing stroke and a brief overview of the equipment used and programs offered at WRA. The visit culminates in an on-the-water rowing experience (weather and Covid-19 regulations permitting).

WHEN: Saturday, June 4th, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

WHERE: Whatcom Rowing Association (Bloedel Donovan Park)

WHO: Ages 12+ No Experience Necessary, must be able to swim.

The Squalicum High School Boys’ Basketball Team Presents...

2022 Squalicum Storm Boys’ Basketball Camp for boys entering grades 3-6

June 20-23 (Monday-Thursday) 9AM-NOON

at Squalicum High School

This annual Storm Boys’ Youth Basketball Camp is for the young player looking to have fun while learning the fundamentals of the game of basketball. Camp goals include: Improve Shooting Skills, Develop Ball Handling Skills, Learn Effective Passing Techniques, Develop Team Offensive And Defensive Skills, Develop Rebounding Techniques, Emphasis on Fundamentals and Fun. Price includes camp T-Shirt.

Registration Link:

https://apm.activecommunities.com/bellingham/Activity_Search/squalicum-storm-boys-basketball-camp-entering-3rd-6th/36391

Questions?

Coach Tyler Hannigan (Tyler.Hannigan@BellinghamSchools.org)

Bellingham Parks and Rec is teaming up with Bellingham School District to offer many different reasonably priced sports camps this summer.

Offerings include basketball, soccer, baseball, softball, running, conditioning, debate and more.

Available camps are listed below. You can register here.

At-home rapid tests are available to families and staff on a weekly basis. Please come to our office to pick up tests.

COVID testing continues to be available for staff and students at our schools and the Family Resource Center at Shuksan Middle School each school day from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Send your items of interest to Heidi Zollner. Thank you!

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Website: https://fpp.bellinghamschools.org
Location: 1409 18th Street, Bellingham, WA, USA
Phone: (360) 676-6424