BFPP NEWS

Friday, March 14th, 2025

Principal's Corner

Dear BFPP Families,

We had crazy weather yesterday, thunder and lightening followed by snow flurries and then an hour later blue skies. There have also been Orcas spotted in Bellingham Bay and a video of a Giant Pacific Octopus in one of our tidepools (it got out 😊). And last night was a full lunar eclipse of the blood moon! So, all is amazing here.

This spring is full of other wonders and amazing events. We are at the beginning of the season where we start making plans for next year. This week was we held a Thought Partner Meeting (thank you to those who participated), which is just the first of several that I anticipate happening throughout this spring. You’ll find a Climate Survey below that is another way to share your input. It is a more broad and general survey conducted at all of the schools in Bellingham. We will also send out a more specific survey for BFPP soon. We are working hard to put the P in PARTNERSHIP and yes, intentionally capital and bold! We hope that you take some time to participate and share your thoughts, wonders, insights, worries and ideas. BFPP is here because of our families! Thanks in advance.

In partnership, Kate

Counselor's Corner

Greetings BFPP Families,

Hope you and your family are well! The Spring Equinox is next week on the 20th which means the day and night will be of equal length. After, days will begin to grow longer than the nights. This time of year, you can observe many rapid changes to the natural world – one moment hail and the next sunshine! We can also begin to see the buds and blossoms of new growth emerging after winter. Think of your learner and your family – What is an emerging bud of growth that you are noticing?

The fluctuations in the world around us remind me of the fluctuations that happen inside us all the time. Our nervous systems are constantly responding to the world around us to keep us safe, alive, and growing. The first 3 minutes of this video helps to describe how our nervous system informs how we show up in the world – keep watching if you are interested in how things like trauma and stress can impact that system.

Manga & Me

Next series coming! Email me with questions.

Warmly,

Counselor Jess

jessica.sheasley@bellinghamschools.org

360-676-6424 x 4966

Upcoming Events at BFPP

Mon. 3/17, 10am: MBT Dragons & Mythical Beasts

Tues. 3/18, 12:30-2pm: Sturdy Parent Workshop

Wed. 3/19 10-11am: Forward Movement Club

Fri. 3/21: SBA Opt-In Form Due

Mon. 3/24, 10-12pm: Contra Dance

Mon. 3/24, 2:30-3:30pm: Challenge Accepted

Wed. 3/26 10-11am: Forward Movement Club

Mon. 3/31, 10:30am: Theater River Performance

Tues. 4/1, 10:30-11:30am: Salmon Release

Thurs. 4/3, 12-12:30: MMM Finale Party

4/7-4/11: Spring Break

Tues. 4/15, 12:30-2pm: Family Sensory Workshop

4/15-4/16: School Picture Sessions

School Climate Survey

Dear BFPP Families,

Please set aside 5-10 minutes and help us collect important information about how our families and students experience our school: School Climate Survey

Dear BFPP Students,

Your feedback is important too! Please be sure to complete the Student School Climate Survey by April 4.

We would love to hear from each of you about your experiences at the Partnership. We are always working to continuously celebrate where things are going well and improve the areas that are not working for you. Hearing from you is vital in this process. Thank you in advance for providing us with this essential information!

We use this confidential information to help us know what we’re doing well and how we can continue to grow and improve here at BFPP. Every school in the district participates with this survey. A more specific BFPP survey will also be forthcoming. Please participate in both!

Next School Year Plan 2025-2026

Please let your learning partner know what school your student is planning on attending for next school year, ESPECIALLY, if you have a 5th and/or 8th grader.

ALL Students: If you are planning on staying at BFPP for next school year please confirm that with your LP.

5th Graders: All 5th graders currently at BFPP will default to BFPP for next year UNLESS, you tell us otherwise. Middle Schools send out important transition communications from here on out and thus it is important you let us know if you are planning on attending your neighborhood middle school so that you can be in that communication.

8th Graders: 8th Graders will default to their neighborhood high schools UNLESS, you tell us otherwise. If you are interested in going to a different BPS high school, other than your neighborhood one, please let us know. You will need to submit a transfer form 3131F Request for Student Attendance Area Transfer.

If you are planning on going to a private school or any school not part of our school district please let your LP know.

Out of District Students: Current students that are outside our district boundaries need to apply for a Choice Transfer every year. Here is the link: eds.ospi.k12.wa.us/ChoiceTransferRequest

If you have any questions or are unsure of what to do please feel free to contact me at

Peggy.gallegos@bellinghamschools.org

Lost & Found

Recognize any of these tiny Lost & Found Items? Visit Sheri to claim them! And don't forget to check the growing pile of jackets and water bottles in the Lost & Found Pile outside the Global Citizen Room.

SBA Assessment Opportunity

BFPP Students enrolled in grades 3rd- 8th grade BFPP have the opportunity to op-in to participate in state assessments. The Smarter Balance Assessment (SBA) will assess students in English Language Art (ELA) and Math. Students in grades 5 and 8 will also take the science portion of the assessment.

You may opt-in to this State Assessment by

FILLING OUT THIS FORM

The link closes March 21st at 3pm.

CHOOSE EITHER SECTION 1 OR 2 when registering.

Testing dates are as follows.

Section 1

March 26th and 28th from 9am-11am.

April 18th 9am-11am

April 25th 9am-11am (FOR 5TH AND 8TH SCIENCE ONLY)

Section 2

March 26th and 28th from 12pm – 2:00pm

April 18th 12pm – 2:00pm

Testing make-up day is APRIL 23RD. 9AM – 11AM.

If you have any questions please contact Teacher Jim.

BFPP High School Options

Coming up soon....a meeting regarding BFPP High School Options for Home School Families.

Stay tuned for dates and details.

Sturdy Parent Workshops ~ beginning 3/18

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! 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.

Meetings for EVERYONE INTERESTED:

Tuesday, March 18th 12:30-2pm in the Fort
Tuesday, April 22nd 12:30-2pm in the Fort
Tuesday, May 20th 12:30-2pm in the Fort

Please RSVP Erin at erin.mccarthy@bellinghamschools.org

Forward Movement Club ~ 3/19, 3/26

Teacher Brooke & Counselor Jess

Join us for an adventure in the neighborhood! Move your body! Get some fresh air, rain or shine!

Dates: 3/19, 3/26

Time: 10 – 11 am

Location: Meet on playground

Dance With Us ~ 3/24

Teacher Piper and her Around the Globe class cordially invite you to a Circle, Square, Line, and Contra Dance event on Monday, March 24th from 10-12pm in the Multipurpose Room.

There will be a live caller and live music, with instruction on how to do all the steps!

Challenge Accepted ~ 3/24

Theater Class Experience ~ 3/31

Goodbye Salmon! ~4/1

Come help us release our salmon into the creek at Fairhaven Park on Tuesday, April 1st from 10:30-11:30am.

Family Sensory Workshop ~ 4/15, 4/22, 4/29

With Teacher Sammy & Counselor Jess

We postponed this workshop until April to respond to some scheduling needs. Thank you all for your understanding!

Email Sheri at our front desk at sheri.robinson@bellinghamschools.org so she can help us get a head count. Let us know the parent/guardian and learners attending as well as any sensory needs we should consider. This will be a fun and immersive experience we are excited to share with you!

Dates: 4/15, 4/22, 4/29

Time: 12:30 – 2:00 PM

Location: Cabin

Spring School Pictures ~ 4/15 & 4/16

Sign up for Spring Pictures Here!

Please contact Amanda with questions.

Music at BFPP

Karen Nuckles-Flinn, who many of you know as a beloved past teacher at BFPP, is working to set up some music opportunities on site. Karen taught me that if you can talk, you can sing!! If you're interested, please click here to take a survey that will help her shape what those offerings will look like. This will be a family paid learning opportunity but we are glad to host 😊

Writing Consultations

Nurturing and Scaffolding the Writing Process (for all levels): Thursday consultations with Erin

Please reach out to schedule a one-on-one or small group consultation for support with how you guide and nurture the writing process at home with your learner(s). RSVP to Erin to schedule a Thursday morning 11-12pm time slot.

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! There are bags and tinfoil in the kitchen to pack some up. Community meals are every Wednesday at 12 noon and leftovers are kept in the Family Lounge fridge/freezer.

Wanted - Gamers!

Parents of young gamers—We are looking for other video-gaming homeschool students, 10-14 years of age, to play and share remotely with our 13-year-old son. He desires friends to play Minecraft, Minecraft Dungeons, Mech Arena, and Roblox, and also to share single-player games with others as well. We can connect over Discord or Google Meet. Open to this leading to in-person playdates once they build trust and familiarity. If you are interested, please email us at dscottspangler@gmail.com.

Art Exhibit Opportunity ~ 5/24 & 5/25

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.

Spring BAAY Daytime Classes

Pre-K Dance and Theatre for ages 2.5-4
Tuesdays, April 15-June 10, from 10:00-11:00 AM

Join us for a fun-filled hour of creative movement, storytelling, and imagination led theatre games. Caregivers are encouraged to stay and participate along the way!

Homeschool Creative Writing for Grades 3-5
Mondays, April 14-June 9, from 12:30-2:00 PM

Unlock your inner storyteller while learning the fundamentals of creative writing! We'll explore a variety of writing styles and techniques through games, activities, and workshop sessions.

Homeschool Improv for Grades 6-8
Tuesdays, April 15-June 10, from 12:30-2:00 PM

Students will develop a toolkit to collaborate as a group and create hilarious theatre on the spot! Through improv, we’ll learn skills like communication, problem-solving, and emotional intelligence.