BFPP NEWS

Dear BFPP Families,

We are excited to jump into our enrichment classes next week. Here are some Common Expectations/Roles for Enrichment Classes and Communication:

• Welcome Letter: be looking for a letter for each enrichment class with some details about the class and what to expect.
• Schedule adjustments: At this time all classes are going to go. We will be working on waitlists next week.

• First Class: Families, please meet for the 1st session of every enrichment class for 15 minutes (either at the beginning or end of the class, instructors will inform you)
• First Week: For the first week at the 15minute mark of each class we will invite families up to the library to help build connections and community with the other families here at the same time.

• No North Star for September: We want to encourage and model community connections right from the beginning, therefore NO North Star for September! All families please, come to campus and engage in the community while your children are in enrichment classes.

See you all next week!

Honk, honk,

Dr K

Hello BFPP Families,

What a wonderful feeling having the building full of community! Thank you to all the families that joined us for Come and Connect activities this week. I have already been so impressed by our young learners. They showed willingness to try new things and treated each other with such compassion. During our scavenger hunt we also collected enough acorns to make sure that Teacher Marci’s squirrels are well fed this winter!

As part of our Come and Connect activities students and guardians alike wrote letters to their future selves. These letters will be kept with me until the end of the year. In June, I will return them and you can see what message you had for yourself. If you still have a letter that you would like to “mail,” drop it off at the counseling office. If you were not able to attend a Come and Connect but someone in your family would like to write one, then you can find the supplies in the counseling office. Just make sure your first and last name are on the envelope so that I can return it to you and put it in the mailbox!

Quick reminder – My class Anxiety Coping Skills will begin October 1st. Email me if you have any questions at Jessica.sheasley@bellinghamschools.org

Thank you!

Counselor Jess

Mon. Sept. 9th: Enrichment Classes Begin

Thurs. Sept. 12th, 12:30pm: Elementary Math Club Begins (grades 4-6th)

Fri. Sept. 13th: iReady Sign-up Deadline

Fri. Sept. 13th, 1-3pm: Alterhuman Meetup

Mon. Sept. 16th, 10am: Middle School Math Club Begins (grades 6-8th)

Sept. 16th-27th: iReady Fall Assessment Window

Fri. Oct. 11th: Author Visit at BFPP

Dear BFPP Families,

The iReady Math and Reading assessment has been adopted as our K-8th grade growth and diagnostic tool for skill building. Families may use this assessment to personalize instruction, monitor learner progress and measure skill gains and achievement. However, only learners in 1-8th grades can take the FALL ASSESSMENT. Participation in this assessment is the choice of the family; however, access to MyPath, the supplemental online curriculum for math and reading, can only be accessed by taking iReady. Please read below for further information and/or reach out to your Learning Partner for a discussion.

Important information about iReady:

• 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
• iReady is an adaptive, online assessment that corresponds with My Path online curriculum
• 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.
• The assessment will be open for those who register September 16th-27th
• Learn more about i-Ready by watching the following videos:

• I-Ready Diagnostic for Families
• I-Ready Family Center

You must register your child to take the FALL iReady assessment. REGISTER YOUR CHILD.

Registration is open now through Friday, September 13 at 12:00pm.

Once registered, you will have the Window of September 16th-27th (two weeks) to complete the assessment at home by using the iReady link. The iReady link is found on our BFPP website under the “Academics” tab. Please use Edge as your browser on your student’s lap to access the BFPP website. This is the “least buggy” tech pathway. 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 (sheri.robinson@bellinghamschools.org ) Please connect with your Learning Partner and/or email ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Erin at erin.mccarthy@bellinghamschools.org with questions.

The Parent Advisory Committee to the Superintendent is comprised of two representatives from each school in the district. They meet six times during the year to hear from the Superintendent and help serve as communication liaisons between the district and BFPP community. Representatives are asked to represent the diverse perspectives of parents from their school.

Meetings for 2024-25 are scheduled as follows: Oct. 10, Dec. 12, Feb. 13, March 13, April 17 and May 15 from 10-11:30am in the District Office.

We need BFPP representation on this committee! If you can help fill this need, please email Kate by September 13th. Click here to see past committee meeting notes.

It is important for all adults who are regularly on campus to fill out and be cleared as a school district volunteer. This process helps ensure safety for all of us. The volunteer paperwork is valid for two years, and the online application can be found here: Volunteer Program – Bellingham Public Schools (bellinghamschools.org).

Math club will be starting for Elementary (4-6th) on 9/12 at 12:30pm and for middle schoolers (6-8th) on 9/16 at 10am at BFPP. Throughout the year we will participate in math olympiads, global math week, and solving a variety of puzzles, projects, and games. Contact Rachel Throolin with questions: rthroolin@gmail.com

Calling all alterhumans!

Do you or someone in your family/friend group identify as an alterhuman? Are you questioning and would like to learn more? Or would you just like to be in community with alterhumans and serve as an ally? If so, we would love to have you join us at the BFPP Alterhuman Meetup group. We will be meeting every other Friday at BFPP (starting September 13th) from 1:00 to 3:00 pm. If you have questions, would like more information, or would like to RSVP to be a part of the group, please email Crystal Holtzheimer at choltzheimer@gmail.com. Please note: we are also a neurodivergent-affirming and queer-affirming group. We want everyone to feel welcome showing up as their whole and authentic selves.

Please click here to pre-purchase signed books.

City, county and local agencies have come together to sponsor What is Addiction? Plain Talk for our Community. The event will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 12 at Bellingham High School, located at 2020 Cornwall Ave.

Local expert Dr. Shannon Boustead will share the basics of addiction science alongside community members in recovery sharing their experiences. Find out more about the event and partners here.

The Bellingham Public Library recommends reading or listening to the newly published Un-Addiction: 6 Mind Changing Conversations That Could Save a Life by Nzinga Harrison, MD with Lynya Floyd. The downloadable audiobook is available immediately for BPL card holders.

Prioritizing student safety, we encourage everyone—students, staff, and families—to actively use the various methods available for reporting safety concerns. Your voice matters, and we are committed to responding quickly and effectively.

In addition to speaking with a trusted adult at school, you can report concerns anonymously through our safety tip line by calling or texting 844-310-9560, visiting bellinghamschools.org/safe, or using the SafeSchools Alert app with code 1491. This information is available on our district and school websites, posters in schools, and on student ID cards and staff badges.

The safety tip line is monitored by our Student Services Team, with our directors of safety, student services, and EDI working together to ensure each report reaches the appropriate administrator.

Celebrate our local water resources during Whatcom Water Week this September! Water Week offers family-friendly events throughout Whatcom County with opportunities to have fun, learn and make a difference. Visit WhatcomWaterWeeks.org for a complete calendar of events and details!

Drawing & Mixed Media Art for Homeschoolers aged 6-10 | Wednesdays 1:30-3pm | September 25 - December 4 | $250

Join us for art class at BellinghamART! In this class students will work on guided step-by-step drawings that help build their skills as artists and sketchers. They will learn to take an image and turn it into a piece of art through breaking down drawings into individual shapes and lines. Students will work on color theory and mixing, shading, proportions, and expanding their drawing skills while using a wide variety of media. Because of the wide age range in this class, extra stress will be put on helping one another, and collaborating in the classroom. Projects in this class will be a little bit more open ended than our other classes, with older students given the option to take their project to the next level. All levels welcome!

To register, please visit: https://www.bellinghamart.com/class-shop/p/6-12-year-olds

Be on the lookout for a pamphlet at the front desk of BFPP and discover all the amazing shows available this season to you and your family at MBT!

To buy tickets for your family, visit their website or call the MBT Ticket Office at 360-734-6080. Families are responsible for their own transportation and bringing their email confirmation of tickets purchased.

Looking for a fun, creative activity? We’ve got you covered. Come, relax, hang out, chat and create FiberArt! Bring your curiosity and use our scrap fiber materials/supplies to make something new (a project will be presented at each session) - or - bring your own fiber art project to work on and we will ooh and ahh over your progress - or - you can free sew as the inspiration strikes you! Click here for more information here.

Where: Ragfinery Community Classroom - 1421 N. Forest St, Bellingham, WA
When: Thursdays - every 2 weeks. 2:00pm - 3:30pm. Sept. 12 to June 5
Who: Ages 8 to 88 - Invite your friends to RSVP too!
Cost: Free to attend, with an optional donation to Ragfinery
RSVP: To be added to the club’s email list, fill in this Google Doc form.

Max: Limited to 10 attendees per session (classroom limit).
Walk-ins are welcome if there are open spots.

Adventure Quest is returning to BFPP on Wednesdays and Fridays this fall!

Click here for registration information!

BFPP Adventure Quest (Wednesdays)

Dates: Wednesdays 9/11 - 10/30 (8 Sessions Total)

Time: 12:15 - 1:45

Location: Old Larabee School grounds, meeting at the gym.

Cost: $205

BFPP Adventure Quest (Fridays)

Dates: Fridays 9/13 - 11/1 (6 Sessions Total, skipping Teacher Workdays on 9/20 & 10/18)

Time: 12:00 - 1:30

Location: Old Larabee School grounds, meeting at the gym.

Cost: $155

Whether your student has years of experience with an instrument or has just begun singing along to songs, BellingJAM can help them express and collaborate. As this extracurricular program takes shape at BFPP, we're open to playing with creating or performing music, as well as instruction with all instruments. We will build a foundation this Fall for students interested in performing in a showcase in the Spring.

It's important to note that while these classes will be located at BFPP, families will sign up and pay for them directly with BellingJAM. In an effort to create programming that aligns with the culture and interests of families at BFPP, we would love your input!

If you are curious about music enrichment for your learner(s) and/or want to help us curate our programming for this community, please take a couple minutes to complete this https://forms.office.com/r/8KdAG45W0MSURVEY.

Calling all 4th graders! Don't forget to sign up for your free national parks pass. Your whole family can enter federal land and water sites for free when you sign up and print out your pass.

*Big thanks to BFPP parent Kelly Lotts for submitting this opportunity to the newsletter! Have you discovered a cool event, program, or resource? Please share it with our BFPP community by emailing Principal Kate or Heidi Zollner.

Past issues of our BFPP newsletters can be found in our Newsletter Archive. This is a handy page to bookmark!

Welcome Guide

BFPP Calendar

Staff Directory

'24-'25 Enrichment Class Schedule

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