BFPP NEWS

Dear BFPP Families,

Happy Spring! It has been a glorious week! With the sun making a regular appearance it has been great seeing people enjoying it on the playground, coming in with smiles and sharing a general sense of joy. It really does make a difference.

I'm putting in another plug for your participation in helping shape BFPP programming. Let's put a capital P on Partnership! Below is a survey link. This is one important way that we gather input. Please take a few minutes to fill it out. Also, we have a Thought Partner Meeting next Thursday with families and staff. This will be a vital meeting to discuss some visioning for BFPP and what programming will look like next year and beyond. Please consider joining us on Thursday, 4/24 at 1-3:30pm, in the library.

You can fill out the survey here: https://forms.office.com/r/1y6j00p7dv

In partnership and appreciation,

Dr. Kate

Greetings BFPP Families,

Welcome back – I hope that your Spring Break was rejuvenating! Each time we return from breaks one of my favorite things is to listen to the warm greetings everyone has for one another. Whether we’re still feeling a little tired from adjusting back to school or feeling full of energy, you can hear the kindness and care for our community in these weeks we come back together. We are entering the final stretch of the school year so be on the lookout for many community events and as always, reach out if you’re feeling overwhelmed!

Community Meal

Need a break from meal prep? Want to save a little money on grocery shopping? Remember you can always take home food from community meals – bags and foil in the kitchen! Community meals are every Wednesday at 12 noon and leftovers are kept in the Family Lounge fridge/freezer. There are currently rice and bean kits in the family lounge as well to take home which make great meal prep! Calling all gardeners! If you have any excess spring greens this spring, please consider bringing them to supplement the community meal. We can start adding a little color to those Wednesday plates :]

Community Parking Reminder

Please remember to leave some parking spots near the entrance of BFPP for our community members with mobility challenges. If you can park a bit further down the block that would be a huge help. Thank you!

Warmly,

Counselor Jess

jessica.sheasley@bellinghamschools.org

360-676-6424 x 4966

APRIL

Mon. 4/21, 9-10:30am: Manga & Me Begins

Tues. 4/22, 12pm: Earth Day Rally

Tues. 4/22, 12:30-2pm: Sensory Workshop

Wed. 4/23, 1-3pm: Family Scavenger Hunt

Thurs. 4/24, 1-3:30pm: Thought Partner Meeting

Tues. 4/29, 12:30-2pm: Sensory Workshop

Wed. 4/30, 12pm: Elementals Movie

MAY

Tues. 5/6, 11-12pm: Parent Book Club

Tues. 5/6, 12:30-2pm: High School Panel

Tues. 5/6, 12:15pm: Doktor Kaboom @MBT

Thurs. 5/8, 12pm: Staff Appreciation Lunch

Tues. 5/13, 12:30-2pm: Parenting Workshop

Thurs. 5/15, 12pm: iReady Registration Due

Fri. 5/16: MOD Pizza Fundraiser

Fri. 5/16, 12:30pm: Orchestra Concert @WWU

5/20-5/30: iReady Assessment Window

Thurs. 5/22, 12:30-2pm: Craft Fair & Carnival

Mon. 5/26: Memorial Day, No School

5/28-5/30: Newsies Performances

JUNE

6/1-6/3: Family Camping Trip

Design Collective Class

Wednesdays, 12:30-2:30pm in the Global Citizen Room

Grades 5-8

There is room for enrollment in Design Collective class! Over the next month, we will plan the BFPP Family Camping Trip which will take place June 1-3 at Camano Island State Park’s group campground. Please contact Meredith and your LP if your child is interested in enrolling!

Teacher Piper is offering the two new classes below on Tuesdays, beginning next week!

Please email her to enroll.

Community Boardgame Bonanza Class

Tuesdays, 12:30- 1:25pm in the Multi-purpose room

All grade levels and families are welcome.

French Friends Class

Tuesdays, 2:30-3pm in the Global Citizen Room

Grades K-2

A short, 30-minute French class with lots of singing, games and fun for our youngest learners.

Interested in having a Bike to Work and School station at BFPP on 5/16? Let's meet and plan!

We'll need to strategize, advertise, divide the tasks, and ultimately run the station on May 16th.

Contact Teacher Brooke if you are interested in making this happen for our community!

Please CLICK HERE to Register!

Please RSVP for the Family Scavenger Hunt here!

Continuing through April!

*Mountain Bike Club is on hold until next year. Please reach out to teacher Brooke Wertz if you are interested in helping facilitate this fun club next Fall or would like to connect with other biking families!*

Thursday, April 24th, 1-3:30pm

First Tuesday Parent Book Club

May 6th from 11-12pm in the BFPP library

Led by Brooke Wertz (teacher at BFPP) & Gretchen Anderson (parent at BFPP).

This is an open format book club with the adult reader in mind. We may/may not choose to read some of the same titles and we will definitely share recommendations. Let’s create community

through a shared appreciation of book love! Bring a mug of your favorite drink. We’re excited to see you!

High School Informational Meeting and Panel

May 6th, 12:30-2pm

Curious about high school home learning support at BFPP…..We are continuing with year two of our pilot and will be supporting some BFPP students as they enter into high school (9th and 10th graders). Come hear more about what that looks like from current families and students. We will also bring in some panelists to help with other questions and program information.

Sturdy Parenting Workshop

Tuesday, May 13th at 12:30-2pm

This workshop series welcomes any adults who are curious about building community and finding tools to balance setting boundaries while communicating empathy. We will again delve into the research of Dr. Becky Kennedy, clinical psychologist and author of Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want To Be. Join us! And come with a sense of camaraderie and a willingness to explore and connect. Come with some thoughts about this Dr. Becky nugget: The role of a sturdy parent is to: “acknowledge, validate, permit.” And for those of you who haven’t yet listened to Dr. Becky on the Huberman Lab (this podcast is our primary resource), listen to it here. Please RSVP Erin or just show up!

Let's recognize our amazing BFPP staff with one final luncheon of the year in honor of Teacher Appreciation Week. If you'd like to contribute to the lunch, please click here to sign up.

** If you're interested in leading or helping with staff appreciation activities for next year, please contact Heidi**

Friday, May 16th from 12:30-1:30pm

WWU Performing Arts Center Concert Hall

BFPP has reserved 30 seats at the upcoming WWU Orchestra Concert at WWU Performing Arts Center. Your whole family is invited to this show that will last approximately 50 minutes.

Please click here to reserve your seats.

Mark your calendars for our annual MOD Pizza Day! MOD Pizza is donating 25% of sales to BFPP on Friday, May 16th - just bring in a flyer or mention this fundraiser to the cashier, or be sure to type "MODGIVES25" in your online order. Help us beat last year's total funds raised of $237! We're aiming for 25 families to participate. Spread the word to your friends, neighbors, and family members!

Our Spring iReady assessment window will occur Tuesday, May 20th through Friday, May 30th. This will be our final iReady assessment for the 2024-2025 academic year. If you want your child to participate in this assessment window, you need to register using the link below.

• iReady will help determine areas of strength and growth in reading and math.
• iReady should be used 3x a year (fall, winter, spring) to chart your child’s growth; however, you are not required to participate in each of these cycles.
• iReady is done at home with your technical guidance, but not your help.
• Let your child know that this is one tool, one snapshot of their learning, one moment in time. An assessment is never the sum of their intelligence.
• Learn more about i-Ready by watching the following videos:

1. I-Ready Diagnostic for Families
2. I-Ready Family Center

To participate in the Spring iReady assessment window, you must register your child HERE. Registration is open now through Thursday, May 15th at 12pm.

Once registered, you will have the Window of May 20th-May 30th to complete the assessment at home by using the iReady link on our program website. The iReady link is found on our BFPP website under the “Academics” tab. Be aware that the assessment is only available during school days and hours; Mon-Friday 7:00-4:00pm. Please note that your child must have a school district laptop for the assessment. If you need a laptop, please contact Sheri Robinson. Please email ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Erin with questions.

Thursday, May 22nd, 12:30-2pm

Kids are invited to vend their crafts and carnival games at our annual Spring Craft Fair & Carnival on the BFPP Playfield. Past carnival booths have included things like Put Put Golf, Plinko, Homemade Video Game, Popcorn Machine, Cotton Candy, and Bean Bag Toss. Crafts run the gamut from painted rocks and plant starts to macrons and beaded jewelry! Kids run their own booth and set their prices. This year we'd love to add some live music - musicians can sign up for a busking slot!

Please click here to sign up for a booth.

All are welcome to come and support the young entrepreneurs, so please invite your friends, neighbors, and family.

Procession of the Species is Back! Join in a beloved Bellingham tradition on Saturday, May 3rd.

Click here for more info on the parade and ways you can participate.

Calling all artists! Exhibit your art at the Whatcom Art Center. The theme is "From the Mountains to the Sea." Pieces may be as large as 20x24 and need to be ready to hang, but not necessarily framed. Artwork must be dropped off at the Whatcom Art Center on Thursday, May 22nd, from 1-5 pm.

Please include a white 3 x 5" index card with each submission that includes the following:

Title

Medium

Student's Name

Grade

Teacher (if applicable)

School

Join our kung fu fitness program on Fridays in the Fort at BFPP!

Please visit our website for information on pricing and a detailed class description.

K-5th grade: Fridays 10-11am

5th-8th grade: Fridays 11-12pm

Join our fun, informal walks and get familiar with plants native to Whatcom County. Sponsored by the Koma Kulshan Chapter of the Washington Native Plant Society (WNPS), these free introductory plant identification walks feature an easy pace and last about two hours. People of all ages and experience levels are welcome. For more information, please visit our website.

Homeschoolers from all over Whatcom County gather at different parks every Wednesday throughout the year for some fun and socializing! There’s no official start time, but most families arrive by 3 PM and stay until 5 PM. If you don’t see us right away, no worries—we’ll be there! Some parks can be busy, so it might take a moment to spot the group. Parents typically hang out by the picnic tables, while the kids enjoy the playground or run around the open spaces. Below is the list of parks we’ll be visiting. For weekly updates with specific details, just email parkday@west.best to join the list.

Enjoy a creatively fun summer with BAAY! Registration is now open for their summer programming. Opportunities abound for kids ages 2 to 18 to explore drama, music, art, dance, comedy, and costuming.

Please visit BAAY's website to view a complete list of summer camps, classes, and plays for each age group.

Calling young poets, writers, and Shakespeare lovers! The Fairhaven Program is offering summer programming for teens. Our day camps are week-long literary adventures that combine reading and writing (or acting!) with time in nature. Join us this July for Shakespeare and creative writing camps. Register Now

Newsletter contributions always welcome! Please send items of interest to our school community to Heidi Zollner.

Welcome Guide

BFPP Calendar

Staff Directory

BFPP Clubs

AL*e Parent Login

AL*e Parent Login Instructions

How to Use AL*e to Register for Classes

Vision, Mission, and Core Beliefs

Newsletter Archive

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