BFPP NEWS

Dear BFPP Families,

We are all set for SEM2 to start next week! One of the exciting opportunities are all of the new community partners that we are working with this year. For example, Recreation Northwest is a new partner that is offering an opportunity for middle school students on Friday for free. Also, BAAY is offering its first during the day class! Check out Bellingham Coding and Robotics; they have a van that will pick your students up at BFPP and take them to class. Plus, Liberation youth Yoga and Adventure Quest are both conveniently on campus. I encourage you to check them out, details for each are below. Happy Semester 2 BFPP!

In Partnership,

Dr. Kate

Hello Bellingham Family Partnership Program friends,

I want to provide a quick update on the BFPP facility. Principal Kate has reassured our facilities team and me that temperatures have remained comfortable through the highs and lows of January. I’m glad the temporary heating solution has been effective.

Our intention is to find a replacement for the boiler so that it’s operational for next winter.

I expect the BFPP will stay at its current location for the 2024-25 school year and possibly longer, and we will remain open to other options. We are continuing to evaluate the current BFPP space and the improvements that need to made.

As I shared in earlier messages, we have heard from many staff and families that the current building fits the FPP needs, even with its imperfections. I really appreciate the sentiment, and we want to ensure that all learning spaces are comfortable and safe.

Thank you again and feel free to ask questions and share ideas with Principal Kate or me.

Greg Baker

Mon. Feb 5th: 2nd Semester Classes Begin

Thurs. Feb 15th 10-11am: Tea With Kate

Wed. Feb 14th: Middle School Social

Fri. Feb 16th 10-11am: EB Lewis Workshop

• Classes begin the week of Feb. 5th
• We made some adjustments:
• Due to low enrollment we had to cancel the Zoom Story Time for now, but will re-offer it to start after spring break.
• There was a big waitlist for a cooking class. To accommodate, Piper is teaching Book and Cook at 12:30pm. We offered spots in it to the cancelled class and to the waitlist, so it is full, but we are glad we could make it all work.
• We were able to accommodate a few other waitlist requests. We will hold on to the lists in case openings occur.
• Thanks again for your support with the registration process!

February is coming and with it, Random Acts of Kindness Week. In a world where there are so many things that can divide us, kindness has the power to unite us. Small acts of kindness can make a significant impact on our friends and our community. Let's bring some love and warmth to our world by spreading kindness.

For the month of February, if you see your child, student or other friend showing kindness take a minute and write it on one of the heart templates. It could be any small act- holding a door open for someone, sharing your toys, giving a complement, or sharing a hug. Once you have some hearts filled out, drop the cut out hearts in the big glass jar on Sheri’s desk up front. We will hang the hearts on the walls to make a chain of hearts (and kindness) that stretches all through our school!

There will be a stack of heart templates up by the front desk for you to use. Or you can print off the template attached at home. If you have any questions or want to help hang up hearts contact Jill Brown at 360-319-7768 via text

We’ve been piloting a Community Meal Project on Wednesdays during lunchtime for the past three months and we’ve served over 100 meals. This project is in partnership with a local nonprofit called Sustainable Connections. Each week we receive a delivery of frozen food from the Bellingham School District central kitchen, which we then share with anyone who wants to eat. Some days we have french toast strips and chicken nuggets and other days we have pizza empanadas – we are always surprised.

This has been such a successful endeavor that we’ve decided to make it a regular event every Wednesday from 11:45 – 12:30 in the basement multipurpose room.

If you are not here on Wednesdays, and you would like to enjoy some of the food, please look in the freezer in the family lounge and help yourself to the food marked Community Meal. Each week we replenish the supply in the freezer.

This has been an incredibly collaborative process with BFPP parents and staff meeting regularly to plan and implement. We continue to need all community members to help whenever possible. Reach out to a team member if you want to volunteer. And, if you would like to contribute food to this potluck style meal, please feel free – particularly once those spring gardens start to produce extra fruits and veggies.

In gratitude to this amazing community.

Your Community Meal Team,

Erica Wolverton, Annie Graham, Kristy Christensen, Meredith Attar, Jackie Brown, Carol Makela, Marci Bass, David Wagner

Middle School lunchtime will continue this spring, by popular demand! Students from 6th-8th grade are invited to gather in the Global Citizen room from 12-12:30 on Wednesdays.

Parents, please sign up for a slot to supervise here.

Any questions - please reach out to Annie Graham

Dance! Dance! Dance! Mark your calendars for the Middle School Valentine’s Social on February 14th. There will be snacks, music, karaoke, dancing and socializing on campus - location TBD. Open to all middle schoolers. We need volunteers to provide refreshments and snacks, so please bring your favorite goodies. Contact Megan Renkert for more info.

Join Principal Kate for tea and conversation on the 3rd Thursday of the month from 10-11am.

A sign-up sheet for this workshop is hanging in the front entryway. Please contact Teacher Meredith with questions.

**To preorder EB Lewis books, please visit this link!**

The 5th Grade Experience teachers are looking for a few 6-8th grade student mentors to help with the track portion of the class second semester. Did you participate in the 5th grade track meet and feel like you have some skills and advice to share with the current 5th graders? If the answer is YES, please contact teacher Marci and Meredith to get more details. We would love your help.

Last week Teacher Meredith's 3-5th grade Experience Class got to share their new knowledge of Bellingham history on the radio with KAFE Kids! Take a listen.

Several new clubs are starting second semester. Read below for details on the Knit Wits Club, the Science/Engineering Fair Club, and Geocaching Club. Check out the complete list of clubs and get connected here!

Interested in starting a club? Spend some time thinking about the Topic, Purpose, and Format of your club. Then contact Principal Kate or Heidi Zollner with your idea.

The Knit Wits is a crochet and knit club for anyone who wants to learn how to crochet or knit. It is also a club for anyone who wants to crochet/knit in a group! You can join us on Mondays in the Cabin starting February 5th from 1:30-3:00pm.

For more info, email BFPP student Gwen (grahagwe000@bellinghamschools.org), or Annie Graham (annie.cmg@gmail.com)"

Have an awesome solution to a problem? Want to test an idea to see if it’s true? The Science and Engineering Fair club is for you! Led by BFPP parent and science enthusiast Juliana West, we will brainstorm ideas for a project, go through the science or engineering process, and conclude with a presentation at a school-based science fair in May.

Middle grades (6-8) will meet on Mondays from 10-10:55am. Elementary grades (4-5) will meet on Mondays from 11-11:55am.

Club will begin Monday, February 5th and meet in the Fort. Bring a computer and join in the fun!

Contact Juliana with questions.

For grades 3 and up

Meeting twice a month~ the first and 3 Thursday each month.

Starting Thursday, February 22nd

Starting 12:30 and running until 2ish as it is open ended

Come join the fun of Geocaching. Do you love love to go on adventures and spend time outside? Do you like to search for treasure? Then Geocaching is for you!

Our goal in this club is to have fun outside and make new friends. The first few weeks we will explore the caches hidden by our school, but the plan is to assign a park for the remainder of the weeks and meet there. We are also going to create some BFPP caches and hide them ourselves!

Please contact BFPP parent Jill and her son Ethan Brown at 360-319-7768 via text with questions or to join in the fun!

BFPP has established several new partnerships with community organizations, allowing us to bring their offerings to our campus and students. Read on and jump in!

Recreation Northwest is offering a free, experience-based learning opportunity for BFPP students.

When? Fridays 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm

Who? BFPP students in grades 6th - 8th

The Parkscriptions program empowers students to learn the health benefits of time in nature to improve mental health, encourages social engagement within community spaces, and promotes environmental stewardship.

Location: The majority of the experience will be at the Outdoor Classroom in the 100 Acre Wood (Fairhaven Park) with the opportunity to visit other City of Bellingham Parks.

Fill out this online form to sign up, or contact Elizabeth Nelson at Recreation Northwest with questions.

February 6 - June 11

Weekly classes: Tuesdays from 12:30-1:30 PM

Tuition: $270

Registration is open now at baay.org/theatre

Financial aid info at baay.org/financial-aid

The Bellingham Coding and Robotics Club is now offering Van Pick Up at BFPP for homeschoolers at noon on Thursday afternoons for our 2pm class! We will pick them up at noon and take them to our Club House for lunchtime and STEM fun before our 2pm Coding and Robotics Class (for 5-13 year olds). Parent pick up is at 3:15 at our Coding Club's new location at 3230 Meridian St.

The cost is $100 per month for a full Club Membership (half off regular price) and $25 per month for transportation and care.

Learn more here and email with any questions!

What:Adventure Quest

Who: Children aged 6-17

Where: Larrabee school (BFPP) gym & school grounds

When: Fridays 12:15 – 1:45 pm
Jan 19 – Mar 22 (skipping no-school days 2/2, 3/15; 8 days total)

Cost: $198

This program is open to all homeschool / BFPP families. Children will meet staff at the Larrabee school gym, and will Quest outside on school grounds as much as weather permits, utilizing the gym in case of inclement weather. See After-School Programs for more details and Click here to register.

Sunday, 02/11/2024 - 4:00pm to 5:00pm at Village Books

Author E.Z. Spain, BFPP 6th grader, is coming to the Village Books Readings Gallery where he'll share his Foofy the Fox series! Click here to register for this free event. You can find his books in the BFPP library, or visit him at www.ez-spain.com.

Do you have something to share with our BFPP community? We're always on the lookout for events, resources, and opportunities of interest to our families. Please email your newsletter submissions to Heidi Zollner.

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