BFPP NEWS
Friday, April 12th, 2024
Principal's Corner
Dear BFPP Families,
Hard to believe but there are less than 10 weeks left of this academic year. There are many upcoming events and opportunities. Let's see this year out with a grand flourish. Please note the dates below and announcements from coming events. We try not to bombard you with email and gather everything here in the newsletter. Thanks for reading!!
There is still time to give us your feedback, please take 5-10 minutes to complete this survey: https://forms.office.com/r/6C8GUWuv6m
Warmly,
Dr. K
Upcoming Events
Fri. April 19th: Talent Show Applications Due!
Mon. April 22nd at 11am: Flower Arranging for Parents Workshop
April 22nd-26th 12:30-2:30pm: Library Closed for SBA Testing
April 23rd & 24th: School Pictures
Tues. April 23rd at 12pm: Family-Led Trip Planning Meeting for 7th graders
Thurs. April 25th 10-11am: Tea With Kate
Thurs. April 25th 11-12:30pm: Kindy & New Family Open House
Mon. April 29th 12:30-2:30pm: Graphic Design Mini Series Begins
Thurs. May 9th: Talent Show
Mon. May 20th 10-12pm: Science Fair
Wed. May 22nd 6-7pm: School Board Linkage Meeting w/Homeschool Families
Thurs. June 6th: 8th Grade Celebration
Wed. June 12th: Craft Fair & Carnival
Updates and Class Transitions
Carrie is returning from leave and will therefore be offering one new enrichment class. If you are interested in adding it to your schedule, please let your Learning Plan Partner know.
Board Games, 3rd-5th, Wednesday at 10-11:55pm, in the Fort
This class will start the week of April 15th, but you can still join!
SBA State Testing Dates
Students in grades 3-8 will be taking state assessments this spring to measure English language arts (ELA), mathematics, and science proficiency.
BFPP assessment dates are as follows. The assessment is ON SITE in the library.
April 22nd 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm Grades 3-8 (Language Arts)
April 23rd 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm Grades 3-8 (Language Arts)
April 24th 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm Grades 3-8 (Math)
April 26th 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm Grades 5 & 8 ONLY. (Science)
The SBA is an opt-in assessment at BFPP. You can sign up for the SBA HERE
Sign up closes April 17th at 9am.
Flower Arranging for Parents
Earth Day, April 22nd at 11 am in the basement Multipurpose Room
Join Laura (Owner, Gardener and Florist of Humble Bouquet and BFPP Mom) to create with beautiful, seasonal flowers. You will learn design basics and practical mechanics for making your very own seasonal garden arrangements in a small group setting. You will create your own floral arrangement out of a variety of locally-grown flowers and foliage (From Laura's Garden), which you can take home afterward. Bring some clippings from your garden to share if you have them and a vase. Some vases and snips will be available as well.
School Pictures
Click here to reserve your 10 minute session. Email Lynn with questions!
7th Graders ~ Family-Led Field Trip Planning
Calling all 7th grade parents! BFPP mom Gretchen Anderson is planning a 2025 family-led 8th grade trip for this year's 7th graders.
If you're interested, please attend an information and planning meeting on Tuesday, April 23rd at 12pm in the library. Please email Gretchen with questions.
Kindergarten and New Family Open House
New Families and Current Families with children that will be 5 years old before September 3rd please come to our Open House at BFPP on April 25th 11-12:30 PM. We would love to meet and answer any and all questions.
** We would love to have parent volunteers interested in helping set up this event. Please contact Teacher Sammy or Principal Kate if you are available to help.
Tea With Kate
Thursday, April 25th 10-11am
Join Principal Kate for a cup of tea & conversation in the reception/entry area. Bring your own mug!
Graphic Design Mini Series for Kids
BFPP Talent Show ~5/9
When: May 9th (with a dress rehearsal on May 8th from 3:30 – 5:00).
Where: BFPP gym
Who: You! Or, anyone who wants to share their PERFORMING ART talent with the BFPP community. Adults and families encouraged too! The teachers will even share a collective talent with you…
Please mark your calendar for May 9th so you can come and witness all the amazing talent we have among us here at BFPP, even if you do not want to participate as a performing artist.
If you are interested in sharing your performing art talent, please fill out the online application, or a paper application placed on each floor throughout the school. All applications will go to Erica Wolverton or Laura McGough by April 19th.
We can’t wait to celebrate our creative community during this BFPP tradition. -Erica and Laura
BFPP Science Fair ~ 5/20
Questions? Please contact Juliana West.
Looking Ahead....
School Board Linkage Meeting
Please mark your calendars. Dr. Baker and the School Board will be holding a Linkage meeting with homeschooling families on May 22nd at 6-7pm. More information to come.
8th Grade Celebration
Mark your calendars! We are planning to celebrate our BFPP 8th graders on Thursday, June 6th, as they transition to high school. More details to follow. Please email Annie Graham (annie.cmg@gmail.com) if you would like to help plan or prepare for this special milestone.
BFPP Craft Fair & Carnival
Save the date! On Wednesday, June 12th, BFPP will host a children's craft fair and carnival on the playfield. More info and sign ups for booths will be available in May.
BSO Concert at Mount Baker Theater
The Bellingham Symphony Orchestra will be performing Ellis Island: The Dream of America as part of the MBT Education Series on Friday, May 3, 2024 at 12:15.
BFPP has 50 seats reserved. Tickets are free. To reserve seats for your family, please RSVP HERE.
Ellis Island brings elements of theatre and multimedia into the concert hall, with actors and projected historical images from Ellis Island archives. Composer Peter Boyer chose the stories of seven immigrants who came to America through Ellis Island from disparate nations between 1910-1940. Boyer has fashioned short monologues from the Ellis Island Oral History Project and has woven them into an orchestral tapestry.
Friday, May 3 is also First Friday which means free admission to the Whatcom Museum. Pair a free concert with a free trip to the museum! To add even more performing arts and culture to your Friday, catch the free WWU dance performance (info below) at 10 that morning!
WWU Dance Performance
Friday, May 3 at 10 a.m. at WWU Performing Arts Center Mainstage
BFPP has reserved 60 seats for this free WWU Dance Performance Educational Matinee. Performed by WWU Dance students, this show will introduce students to the grace and athleticism of dance and the power of storytelling through movement.
Adventure Quest at BFPP
Community Events
Free STEM Workshop for Middle School Girls
Roots of Empathy
Fiber Arts Club at Ragfinery
April 18, May 2+30, June 13 2-3:30pm
Summer Camps for Teens Who Love to Read
The Fairhaven Program offers three summer camps in Bellingham for teenagers who love to read: 1) Shakespeare in the Woods, 2) The Writing Life: Stories of Flannery O'Connor and Franz Kafka, and 3) The Writing Life: Borges by the Bay. Each is an opportunity to read great literature with friends, learn the habits and skills of intellectual life, and enjoy the wonders of the Pacific Northwest in the summertime. The camps are run by Donald Antenen, a BFPP dad.
Newsletter Contributions Welcome
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.