BFPP NEWS

Dear BFPP Families,

Wow, BFPP is an amazing community! I loved seeing so many of you at our back-to-school picnic and celebration, and don't worry if you weren't able to attend, there will be lots of other opportunities to gather and celebrate. We have so much to look forward to.

Below you will see "Lessons from geese". This is a guiding principle and symbol for the BFPP staff. We have looked at these lessons over the last few years and regularly think about how we support each other as a team and how our community supports each other in similar ways. When you walk into the main entrance you will see a big goose, we created it the year we returned from COVID. It serves as a reminder of those lessons and how we leaned on them at that time too.

Be on the lookout, there will be lots of little geese throughout the buildings and campus. When found let it be a reminder of how we support one another with love, compassion, shared leadership and that we do better together than alone.

Honk, honk,

Dr K

Thurs. Aug. 29th to Fri. Sept. 6th: Learning Plan Meetings

Mon. Sept. 2nd: Labor Day, School Closed

Tues. Sept. 3rd 10:30-12pm: Come and Connect 7th & 8th Grade

Wed. Sept. 4th 10:30-12pm: Come and Connect 4th-6th Grade

Wed. Sept. 4th 12:30-2pm: Home Learning 101, September Cohort 1st Session

Thurs. Sept. 5th 11-12pm: Come and Connect K-3rd Grade

Wednesday & Thursday Sept. 4th & 5th at 8am: Registration for Enrichment Classes

Wednesday to Friday Sept. 4th to 6th: Laptop Distribution

Mon. Sept. 9th: Enrichment Classes Begin

Fall Registration

• September 4th at 8am – Login and use AL*e (see below) to register for a maximum of 3 classes total per student. Families can add, drop and make changes to their schedules.
• September 5th at 8am- Families will be able to add classes beyond 3 (keeping in mind the recommended class load is 2-3 for Kindergarten, 3-4 for 1st to 3rd graders, 4-5 for 4th and 8th graders, and families on campus no more than 2-3 days). Waitlists for full classes will start on this day in the Communicator Room.

Two Changes

• Jess, our new counselor has added a class: Anxiety Coping Skills (grades 6 and up)

Tuesdays from 1:30pm – 3:25pm, in the Fort

This group will focus on coping strategies for living with anxiety. Join a supportive group of your peers to talk it through and work on activities together. We will be engaging with the materials in creative ways including art and movement. The content will focus both on mental and physical strategies that can help cope with anxiety. Whether your anxiety is centered on a particular topic/setting or whether it is more constant this will be a safe space to explore those feelings and gain skills to help manage them in a healthy way. The group will run once per week from the beginning of October through the first week of November. These are great foundational skills to begin building! Hope to see you there!

• Please register for the Friday Family Adventures if you plan on participating. This will help Meredith gather contact information and a pathway for communication.

Other Notable Considerations

• Make sure you can login and navigate AL*e before its time to register.
• Out of grade placement considerations happen after the registration windows are closed.
• In June, we capped registration in each class to 70% capacity. Now we are removing this cap to fill classes to their full capacity.
• Other Enrichments- We will continue to add workshops, book clubs, general clubs, events, field trips, Come and Connect and other all-around great activities!

AL*e Parent Login

AL*e Parent Login Instructions

Have questions on how to register for enrichment classes? Watch this screencast and follow along with Teacher Meredith's step-by-step instructions: How to Use AL*e to Register for Classes

Greetings BFPP Families! Next week our Come and Connect days are on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th. We will meet on the field by the playground. These events will be an opportunity for families to get to know each other, the staff, and the building. Whether you are a new to BFPP or a returning family this will be a great way to start off the year with a sense of community and fun! We will play games, have some adventures, and use our creativity. This will be a great time to make new friends and connect with returning friends. We hope to see you there!

Review the details included below for which group to join and a general outline of activities. The oldest grade band (7th and up) will be on Tuesday, and if any of these students want to volunteer to assist the younger students on the following two days, they are welcome! Also note that our youngest grade band (kindergarten – 3rd) on Thursday will start 30 minutes later than the first two days and we ask that their grown-up(s) stay with them for the entire event.

No registration is needed- if you are available then we would love to have you join us!

Contact counselor Jess with any questions!

Can’t wait to see you!

September 3, 7th grade and up! 10:30am – 12:00pm

If interested, these students can volunteer with the younger groups on the 4th and 5th.

10:30am Families gather in field behind school

10:30am – 11:00am Group activities

11:00am – 11:30am Student scavenger hunt – Guardians stay with Jess

11:30am Students meet in library with Jess

11:30am – 12:00pm Discussion and closing activity

12:00pm Guardians come to library for pick-up

September 4th, 4th – 6th grade, 10:30am – 12:00pm

10:30am Families gather in field behind school

10:30am – 11:00am Group activities

11:00am – 11:30am Student scavenger hunt – Guardians stay with Jess

11:30am Students meet in library with Jess

11:30am – 12:00pm Discussion and closing activity

12:00pm Guardians come to library for pick-up

September 5th, Kindergarten - 3rd grade (with grown-ups), 11:00am – 12:00pm

11:00am Families gather in field behind school

11:00am – 11:15am Group Activities

11:15am – 11:30am Scavenger hunt with families

11:30am Meet in library

11:30am – 12:00pm Discussion and closing activity

If you would like to have a laptop to use at home for the school year, please come during the designated times below to pick one up for each of your students. This is when we have staff to support the hand off.

WHEN: Sept. 4 - 6 10am - 1pm

WHERE: Basement Multi-Purpose Room

1. Please be prepared to wait a few minutes.

2. VERY IMPORTANT: You will need to stay to log in to ensure it works and the laptop needs to synch to the network before taking it home.

3. Check it out with Sheri before you walk out the door!

Don’t forget to take a charger and laptop bag.

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).

Are you looking for a way to make a difference and want to donate to BFPP? We’ve worked with the Bellingham Schools Foundation to make it easier than ever!

You can make a donation to BFPP online here.

Please feel free to share with family or friends. All donated funds stay right here at BFPP and are used for a variety of purposes. Field trips, 8th Grade Celebration, pizza parties, and class projects are just a few of the things supported by these funds. Every bit helps -thanks for considering!

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 15th) 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.

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!

Registration and pricing will be posted here by Wednesday, Sept. 4th.

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.

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.

BellingJAM has offered in-home and enrichment opportunities since 2016. We strive to make music accessible and fun for all ages. 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.

Find recreational opportunities and community events for the whole family in the Bellingham Parks and Rec Fall Playbook!

The Bellingham Coding and Robotics Club is again offering van pick up at BFPP for homeschoolers on Thursday afternoons this fall. Learn more here and email with any questions: admin@codingandroboticsclub.com

For information and to register for BAAY's classes, please visit baay.org/theatre.

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