B.F. Day Dayette

October 16th, 2026

Note from the Principal

Emergency Preparedness

Families, it's with such a heavy heart that I am writing you this week following a school shooting in Bend, Oregon. I want to take a moment to share with you the steps we take as a school to be as prepared as possible for a variety of emergencies that might happen while students are at school.

I have completed the FEMA incident commander course and renewed my certificate last fall. Our building has a comprehensive plan for a variety of emergencies that might happen during a school day, including but not limited to: earthquake, short-term evacuation, long-term evacuation, shelter-in-place in case there is a concern of danger in the neighborhood, and lock-down in case of danger or suspected danger inside the building.

We have a dedicated safety team that reviews our plan each month. In the case of an emergency where students cannot be in the building such as a flood, fire, unsafe conditions after an earthquake, or other emergency, we have a plan for students to gather in classroom groups on the Upper Uppers, and a system for checking students out to approved family members or friends. At our next safety team meeting we will be reviewing our reunification plan and sending it out to families through the Dayette.

Each month I lead students and staff through a safety drill. On Thursday of this week, we participated in The Great Washington Shakeout. Over the course of the year we will have multiple evacuation drills and earthquake drills and one or two lock-down and shelter in place drills. These are carefully planned and gently delivered with our youngest students in mind, doing our best to prepare students without unnecessarily increasing anxiety and worry.

Thank you for all of the ways you support safety for your part as well. Signing in at the office and wearing your visitor sticker, even at morning drop-off, helps us make sure we know all of the people who are in our building. And following our pick-up and drop-off plan helps keep our roads and pedestrians safe before and after school.

Our School Is Participating in the Inclusive Math Excellence Project!

Several teachers from our school have been selected to participate in the Inclusive Math Excellence Project, a professional learning partnership focused on providing engaging, challenging mathematics instruction for all students.

Throughout the year, participating teachers will work alongside colleagues from across Seattle Public Schools to explore instructional strategies and rich mathematical tasks that promote problem solving, reasoning, creativity, and perseverance.

This project is designed to strengthen teachers' ability to meet the needs of a wide range of learners, including students who are ready for additional challenge, while ensuring all students have access to meaningful grade-level mathematics experiences.

A key goal of this work is helping students develop the deep mathematical understanding that supports future success. While some students may be ready for accelerated coursework later in their educational journey, Seattle Public Schools offers mathematics pathways beginning in middle school that allow students to accelerate and access advanced mathematics courses by the time they graduate from high school. Strong elementary instruction helps ensure students are prepared for those opportunities.

As part of this work, families may see mathematical challenges, problem-solving activities, or examples of student thinking shared throughout the year. We encourage families to engage with these activities and celebrate the persistence and curiosity that mathematical learning requires.

We are excited to be part of this districtwide effort to support joyful, rigorous, and inclusive mathematics learning for every student.

B.F. Day Upcoming Events and Activities:

10/18: PTSA Beautify BF Day Fall Work Party 10:00-1:00

10/22: PTSA General Assembly Meeting 6:00-7:30

10/25: PTSA Fall Fest October 25th-2-4 BF Day Blacktop

11/5: Bring Your Parent to School Night

11/23-25 Parent Teacher Conferences

11/26-27 Thanksgiving Break

Volunteer Opportunities!

Volunteers needed for BF Day’s Hearing and Vision Screening Day

November 9th 8 am-2pm. Two morning sessions for times of 8 am-11 and two afternoon sessions 12-2pm are available. Volunteer duties include bringing students to and from the screening room, instructing students on the process, and helping orchestrate the flow of the clinic. Please email nurse Annette if you are interested. alcologna@seattleschools.org

Volunteer in the Art Room

Ms. Segura is looking for volunteers to help throughout the school year with hanging and removing student work from hallway walls, joining art class as a volunteer, or preparing art activities for school events such as Bring Your Family to School Night, and Arts & Letters Night!

Contact Ms. Segura through Talking Points or email to learn more. 😊

Volunteer in the Music Room with 2nd Grade

Our second-grade musicians are in the throes of the SPS second grade baseline assessment where they get to show what they know about creating, writing and reading rhythm patterns. We completed the creating and writing portion this past week and will move on to the reading portion next week. To allow me to give my full attention to each student as they read their musical creations to me, I need an extra adult or two to help support the rest of the class in completing quiet, independent activities. If you are an approved volunteer and would be willing to serve in this role, please email me at bjgrant@seattleschools.org with the following information:

1) Your name

2) Your BF Day student(s) - does not have to be a second grader

3) Your availability (Tuesday 10/20 and/or Thursday 10/22) from 1:35-2:10pm

Second grade music classes begin at 1:35pm and conclude at 2:10pm. Please arrive early enough to check in at the office and walk down to the music room by 1:30pm. No need to arrive before 1:30pm as I will be occupied with teaching first grade. I will greet you at the music room door as the first graders are exiting.

Donations Request for the Nurse Room

Donations Needed

Nurse office in need of girls' underwear size 4-8. If you have any new ones in a package, we will gladly take them.

Thank you again for your generosity!

B.F. Day and Principal Eckert in the Fremont Neighbor

Alyson Teeter, editor of the Fremont Neighbor, came to visit B.F. Day and meet our principal. You can read the interview here. What a nice way to introduce our school to more families in the neighborhood! https://fremontneighbor.com/b-f-day-elementary-settles-in-with-a-permanent-principal/

PTSA News

PTSA General Assembly Meeting

Thursday, October 22nd, 6-7:30pm PT, BF Day Library or Google Meet:

Please join us for our first BF Day PTSA General Assembly Meeting of the school year! Everyone in our community is welcome, whether or not you are a PTSA member. This will be a hybrid meeting: You can join online via GoogleMeet or in-person at the BF Day Library. See you there!

Google Meet joining info:
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/oog-tqpx-yge
Or dial: ‪(US) +1 407-982-5015‬ PIN: ‪464 904 578‬#
More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/oog-tqpx-yge?pin=2207340688405

This week's PTSA newsletter link: https://mailchi.mp/76bcbf9cc592/bf-day-ptsa-newsletter-17281892?e=320230e8da&scrlybrkr=322640df