BFPP NEWS

Dear BFPP Families,

We have been in the position of pivoting and responding over the past few years to outside influences and shifting needs...mainly a pandemic...we are now ready to start being innovative and dwell in the possibilities! Let's start building again!

First project is the enrichment schedule. We would like to have family voices included and in a variety of ways.

Would you like to participate in a Thought Partner Enrichment Schedule Proposal Team (TPEST)? The TPEST will gather, generate ideas and submit a proposal with key considerations and structures to inform the development of the enrichment schedule. Send your name to kate.baehr@bellinghamschools.org by March 31st and let me know if you would like to participate and the best way to reach you (phone and email). Then a team will be created, facilitated by families, and meet to generate a proposal. The deadline for that proposal is April 21st.

There will be more ways that we gather your input, such as surveys and other Thought Partner meetings. Be looking for those opportunities! Glad to have you alongside us as we build!

Warmly, Principal Kate

Tuesday, 3/28: 12:30-1:30pm Literacy Conversation: Fluency

Friday, 3/31 BFPP Apparel Orders Due, TPEST Participation Request Due, BSD Family Survey Due

April 3rd-7th SPRING BREAK ~ No School

April 17th-19th Smarter Balanced Assessment Window

Tuesday, 4/18: 11am-12pm Literacy Conversation: Assistive Technology

Tuesday, 4/18: 1pm Tea With Kate

Tuesday, 4/25: 12:30- 1:30pm Literacy Conversation: Book Clubs with Principal Kate

Wednesday, 4/26 Art Walk Submissions Due

Friday, 4/28: 12-12:30pm WWU Peter and the Wolf

Every year, Bellingham Public Schools asks all our families, staff, and students to check in on what we’re doing well and what we can improve on.

You recently received an email with a link to provide your thoughts and feedback. If you did not receive this email, please call our office. Use a computer or a smartphone, to complete the survey by Friday, March 31. The link is also available on our website under “News” and we have also included the QR Codes for families, elementary students, as well as middle school students below.

All your responses are anonymous. None of your responses are linked to you or your child.

If you have any trouble getting to or taking the questionnaire, please contact our office at 360-676-6404. Thank you in advance for taking the time to assist us in learning more. We appreciate your time and hope to hear from each and every family.

Aiming for 100% participation. Let’s go BFPP!! We got this!

This Spring 3rd- 8th grade students in the Bellingham Public Schools/BFPP will have the opportunity to take the state assessment called Smarter Balanced Assessment. Grades 5 and 8 can take Math, ELA, and Science. Grades 3, 4, 6, and 7 can take ELA and Math. Information about the Smarter Balanced Assessment can be found here. Please talk with your Learning Plan Partner if you have questions about this assessment.

Dates of Assessment: April 17th , 18th, and 19th

Time of Assessment: 9:00-11:00 or 1:00- 3:00

(exact time slot will be determined once registration is complete)
Location: BFPP Library

Results from the Smarter Balanced Assessment will come from the state in several weeks. The scores will place them in a metric that compares them to a national norm. The Bellingham Family Partnership will not have information or scores for your student.

You may opt-in to this State Assessment by filling out this Microsoft Form.

The link will be open until April 7th at 3pm.

Hello Families! We have purchased 20 copies of Daniel Siegel’s parenting book Brainstorm: The Power and Purpose Teenage Brain (An inside-out guide to the emerging adolescent mind, ages 12-24) with the intention of organizing a reading group that will meet to discuss our epiphanies and take-aways. (How many times we meet and how and when will be decided by the group). If you would like to borrow a copy of this book and participate in our family book group, please connect with Erin to reserve your copy by Tuesday, April 11.

1.) Please join LEO Zoom office hours with Brooke Wertz to get help, ask questions, and learn more about K-8 online learning:

Tuesdays 1:00-2:00 on Zoom: https://bellinghamschools.zoom.us/my/brookewertz

2.) If your family has accessed online learning or is interested in online learning, please complete this family survey: https://forms.office.com/r/UBE76JxVZZ

Your feedback helps us improve!

3.)Remember to bring your school-issued computer to BFPP at least once a month to update the computer! You can easily update your school computer by simply restarting the computer at BFPP. This is a critical step in maintaining a healthy, operational computer.

How to Restart Your School-Issued Computer:

1. Close all apps and webpages
2. Click on the "Windows waffle" at the bottom left of your computer screen.
3. Click the power button.
4. Choose and click "restart."

4.) Are you an expert or famous for something? Have you had an interesting path to your passion? Do you have an interesting hobby? Do you know a TON about a thing?

If so, we want to interview YOU in our Middle School "Zoom Room" class, a Zoom-based homeroom for middle schoolers. We encourage you to learn more about the interview and sign up to join us here:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B48AFA92FAAF49-speaker

Let's come together to chat about different literacy topics with Teacher Carrie and guests.

Kids welcome with parent support. Bring an activity for your child to do quietly in the room.

Here are the March and April dates and topics:

3/28/23 12:30- 1:30 Fluency Now that they know how to read, how should it sound? Let's talk about Fluency strategies! (appropriate for 2nd- 8th grade readers) Sign Up Here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0949AFAB2BA3FE3-literacy2

4/18/23 11:00- 12:00 Assistive Tech: Read&Write and MS Word with Amy Connolly

Come take a deeper dive into Assistive Technology with the district specialist, Amy Connolly. In this workshop, she will be focusing on Microsoft Word and Read&Write.

Sign Up Here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0949AFAB2BA3FE3-assistive

4/25/23 12:30- 1:30 Literacy Circles/Book Clubs with Principal Kate

Come gather some materials and ideas for how to support readers with sharing their reading with others. In this workshop, she will share some structures and methods for all readers, with a focus on comprehension, story structure, character development, discussion strategies, and post reading projects. (appropriate for 2nd-adult readers) Sign Up Here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0949AFAB2BA3FE3-literacy5

Click on the document below to see the entire spring schedule of Literacy Conversations.

Next week is the last week for our campus food pantry MEAL DRIVE!

A meal drive is like a food drive, only with an emphasis on supplying a complete meal for families in our school community who could use some assistance. Think spaghetti and sauce, peanut butter, jelly and bread, full meals in a can such as chili and stew etc.

Look for donation boxes around campus if you have something you'd like to contribute.

Email Kristi C. at krischris2@gmail.com with any questions.

The last day to purchase BFPP apparel online is March 31st.

It’s almost time for the Children’s Art Walk again!

This year the art walk officially opens on Friday May 5th. Art will be displayed for 2 weeks (don’t know where yet!) After the show ends, we will announce through newsletter and social media when art is ready for pickup at BFPP.

Our art form inspiration this year is Collage. The theme is whatever inspires you. BFPP will have (8x8") cardstock available to create your collage on. We encourage using repurposed materials such as newspaper, old art, photos and words from magazines. *Please see below examples provided by BFPP student Imogen and mom Teresa.

Guidelines for submissions:

1) We are able to accept ONE piece per student

2) 8”x8” collage or something else your student has in mind ( 12”x12” maximum)

*If your student has created a piece that does not fall within that description, please contact Lisa. We may be able to accommodate other types of pieces if we are aware of them in advance.

3) We strongly suggest student’s 2D art be submitted in some type of protective enclosure (manilla envelope, file folder etc) with parent/guardian’s contact info on the outside. This will protect the artwork and simplify the process of picking it up after the show ends.

And last but not least:

4) If you would like, please complete an Artist Statement Card, with at least the student's first name and grade level. We encourage students to give a brief statement about their art - what inspired them, what it means to them. These will be available at the bin near Peggy’s desk or we can email it to you via PDF. We will display these with the students' art. When art is returned, students will also find a participation bookmark attached.

**Submissions are due by Wednesday, April 26th to the Children's Art Walk bin near Peggy's desk at BFPP**

Questions please contact Lisa Spreyer, BFPP parent volunteer, at LOV2009.wa@gmail.com

Friday, April 28th @ 12:30pm

BFPP has reserved 80 seats for homeschoolers for the upcoming WWU performance of Peter and the Wolf at the WWU Performing Arts Center. Your whole family is invited to this show that will last approximately half an hour. To RSVP and see parking/transportation/theater info please click here.

*If you're already attending as part of the Kindergarten Experience class, you don't need to RSVP at the above link.*

Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Choshi

Review by Linnea Schwarz

Hey you! Yes you, are you looking for a good book? “Aru Shah and the End of Time” looks and feels serious but is full of dry humor and corny jokes interspersed between fast moving pages. Based on Hindu mythology this book is great for Percy Jackson fans and any other person who likes adventure novels. It will keep you hooked with dramatic plot twists and fast-moving adventure! Fight monsters, solve riddles, uncover long forgotten secrets, and journey through bizarre lands. Can a girl in spiderman pajamas do it all? Find out in this marvelous book by Roshani Chokshi!

You can find this book in the shelves of the BFPP Library!

Ban this Book by Alan Gratz

Review by Jack Graham

What would you do if you could no longer read your favorite book? In Ban this Book by Alan Gratz, Amy Ann, Rebecca, and Danny face this problem when books from the school library start to get banned and are taken off the shelves. Get ready for an epic adventure. This is a really good book especially for people who have trouble speaking up and finding courage to stand up for something that is really important to them. See for yourself -- buy or checkout Ban this Book at a library or online, or at BFPP in the reading club books on the third floor.

BFPP parent Donald Antenen is starting a new program for 9th and 10th grade as a bridge between middle school and Running Start.

The goal of the Fairhaven Program is to cultivate self-directed learners confident in writing, speaking, & mathematics, educated in the classics, and rooted in the genius of the Pacific Northwest.

Without screens or politics. Opening Fall 2023. Enrolling now.

For more information, email info@fairhavenprogram.org or visit www.fairhavenprogram.org

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which sends an age-appropriate book to children ages birth to 5 once a month, every month, for free, is now fully or partially available in all 39 counties across Washington. Click here to sign up your little one!

Have an event, talent, idea, or interest to share with the BFPP community at large? Please consider sharing via the newsletter! Email Heidi with your contributions. Thank you!

Next newsletter: Friday, April 14th.

Contributions deadline - Wednesday, April 12th.

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