BFPP NEWS

With a heart full of love, gratitude, and deep sadness I am saying goodbye to BFPP at the end of this school year so my husband and I can take an empty-nest-travel-sabbatical. We will begin our travels in Sri Lanka next September and from there we will wander and meander as long as the dream allows. I am not sure when I will return to Bellingham, but I do know that no matter where I wander in the world the gifts of BFPP will forever be a part of me.

These past nine years have been some of the most creative and meaningful years of my professional life. Each year has been completely unique, full of life-changing relationships, new learning and deep awe and insight into the magnificence that can be created when community comes together around shared purpose.

Thank you for all the trust you have placed in me over the years. I treasure each relationship and I welcome any opportunity to stay connected. My counseling position will be carefully filled in the coming months, and we will share the news of the new hire once we are certain.

Please reach out with questions or wonders.

With much love and gratitude,

Erica Wolverton

MAY

5/6-5/10: Staff Appreciation Week

Mon. May 6th: Coffee and Treats for our Staff

Tues. May 7th 1-2:30pm: High School Panel and Discussion

Thurs. May 9th 1pm: Talent Show

Mon. May 13th 10:15am: Visit WWU Assistive Tech Library

Tues. May 13th 12pm: Due Date to Sign up for iReady

5/15-5/29: iReady Assessment Window

Wed. May 15th 10-11:30am: Parenting Middle Schoolers Workshop

Fri. May 17th: Bike to School Day

Mon. May 20th 10:30-11:30am: Science Fair

Wed. May 22nd 2pm & 5pm: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe

Wed. May 22nd 6-7pm: School Board Linkage Meeting w/Homeschool Families

Thurs, May 23rd 10-11am: Tea With Kate

Mon. May 27th: Memorial Day, No School

Wed. May 29th 10am & 6pm: Spamalot

May 30 & 31st 6pm: Spamalot

JUNE

Thurs. June 6th: 8th Grade Celebration

Tues. June 11th: Last Day of Enrichment Classes

Wed. June 12th: Craft Fair & Carnival

Thurs. June 13th: MOD Pizza Fundraiser

Next week is Staff Appreciation Week!

Coffee and Treats

On Monday the staff will enjoy fancy coffee drinks courtesy of BFPP parent Kristina Walker. We're hoping to provide some goodies to enjoy with those drinks. If you can bring in a treat on Monday morning, or at some point next week, please click here to sign up. Thank you!

Notes of Appreciation and Encouragement

Each staff member has a folder posted on the main floor to collect appreciative notes/cards/drawings. Please help us fill these up throughout next week!

Let’s show some love for our building. There are always a few tasks that need to be done. We are hoping that when you are on campus you will consider taking a few minutes to help keep the spaces tidy, ready for learning and welcoming for all. There will be a board near Sheri’s desk with tasks. Swing by and pick one. These tasks vary in size and duration, can be done individually or collectively, and will make a big difference! Some examples include: collecting the mugs around the building/washing them/return to basket under the Keurig, helping out in the garden, removing outdated flyers, shelving books in the library, etc. This is a bit of a pilot run and if it goes well we will continue into next year. Check the board regularly….and THANK YOU!

All K-8 "online workbooks" close on 6/3/2024. This means Imagine Edgenuity coursework will not be accessible after 6/3/2024. 6/2/2024 is the last day to work in online Imagine Edgenuity workbooks. This timeline allows teachers to close the online workbooks for the Summer. This also allows students time to complete additional components of their learning plans and engage in all of the fun activities happening around BFPP prior to our Summer break!

Please reach out to your Learning Plan Partner or brooke.wertz@bellinghamschools.org with any questions.

Teacher Meredith is looking for old t-shirts, tennis balls, empty plastic water bottles, and fleece pieces (the bigger the better) to make dog toys and blankets with her 3-5 Experience Classes to donate to the Humane Society. Donations can be dropped off in the box by Meredith’s desk in the Explorer room! Thank you!

Join us on Tuesday, May 7th at 1-2:30pm for a discussion and information share on high school and beyond. We will have families that are navigating this transition, administration from Options High School, a parent from WCC who reviews home schooling transcripts to determine math placement and others. If you currently have a high school student, or one on the way, please join us.

Thursday, May 9th at 1pm in the gym

Hope to see you there!

Please contact Erica Wolverton or Laura McGough with question.

The Ershig Assistive Technology Library at WWU is open to the public and has way more than you might think. Whether you are in need of manipulatives for Math, Science, Reading, Music, or Social Skills or more specific assistive technology for a specific need.--it truly has something for everyone! Don't miss this BFPP visit on May 13th at 10:15 am to meet Natalie Newman, the director of Ershig, and learn about this amazing community resource. You don't have to attend WWU to check out materials! Kids are welcome with family supervision.

10:15 Meet in Red Square in front of Miller Hall, Miller Market (Campus Map)

10:30 -10:45 Short presentation from Natalie, director of Ershig Libary

10:45- 11:30 Q&A time, exploration of materials, registration for library account (not the Bellingham Public Library)

11:30 Head up stairs with Carrie to visit the PNW Children's Literature Clearninghouse (books and space are open for public use, but books are not for check out)

Sign up here for your spot! Contact Carrie.Vining@bellinghamschools.org with questions.

Dear BFPP Families:

This note is to let you know that our Spring iReady assessment window will occur May 15th through May 29th. This will be our final iReady assessment for the 2023-2024 academic year. As you know, iReady is a district-wide assessment that is used to monitor learner progress and measure skill gains in K-8 math and reading. If you want your child to participate in this assessment window, you need to register using the link below.

Important information about iReady assessments:

• 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; however, you are not required to participate in each of these cycles.
• 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 May 3th through May 14th.
• Learn more about i-Ready by watching the following videos:

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

To participate in the Spring iReady assessment window, you must register your child HERE.

Registration is open now through Tuesday May 14th at 12pm.

Once registered, you will have the Window of May 15th-May 29th to complete the assessment at home by using the iReady link on our program website. The iReady link is found on our BFPP website under the “Academics” tab. 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 at sheri.robinson@bellinghamschools.org).

Please connect with your Learning Partner and/or email ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Erin at erin.mccarthy@bellinghamschools.org with questions.

Thank you,

BFPP Assessment Team

Supporting our Middle Schoolers With Hearts & Hands: A Conversation about Parenting, Community and Care-Taking Young Teens

Wednesday, May 15th 10am-11:30 in the Library

Join Erin and Erica for a conversation about supporting adolescent development, strong social emotional learning and caretaking teens in our community. Please come with your compassion for this age group and your curiosity about how we, collectively, can provide our middle schoolers with the hearts and hands they need to develop into their full capacity.

Please RSVP Erin at erin.mccarthy@bellinghamschools.org by late Friday, May 10th.

Teacher Jackie is organizing Bike to School Day at BFPP on Friday, May 17th. Bring or ride your bike to school that day to join in the fun!

Schedule of Events

8:30-9:30am: Greeting table with beverages and treats at BFPP
12:00-12:30pm: Fifth graders will decorate bikes
12:30-1:00pm: All-school bike parade around the perimeters of BFPP with noise makers and bubbles

The BFPP Theatre Arts 3rd-5th grade class is gearing up to perform The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe on May 22nd at 2pm and 5pm. They would love to have your support as they present their version of this classic piece. The play is close to an hour.

The BFPP Theatre Arts 6th-8th graders would like to introduce Spamalot, a musical comedy based on the 1975 Monty Python and the Holy Grail. There will be multiple performances on May 29th at 10:30 am & 6pm and May 30 & 31st at 6pm.

Theater Wish List

Fundraising efforts thus far have helped to purchase an awesome new lighting system, but the BFPP Theater Program has a few last things on the Wish List.- and we're reaching out for your help! We'd love for you to share the link with friends and family who might love the chance to help our program grow and, if you are able, please consider purchasing an item off the list.

Theater Wish List: https://a.co/3UOBOcO

Items can be purchased and dropped off to school with "Attention: Theatre Donation".

Thank you for your support.

Here are recordings of two of our past plays!

Willy Wonka

Wizard of Oz

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.

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 the next newsletter.

Close out the school year with yummy pizza and make a little dough for BFPP. MOD Pizza is donating 25% of all eligible sales on Thursday, June 13th to our school!

Did you know BFPP has a Parents Facebook Group? It's a great place to connect with other families and get quick answers to those burning school questions like, "What time is the talent show?" and "Has anyone seen my kid's jacket/chromebook/favorite stuffy?!" A big thank you to BFPP parents Cara and Rachel for keeping the group running smoothly!

Please click here to join.

As part of North Cascades Institute's Nature of Writing series, Britt Coy is hosting a free reading of Angela's Glacier by Jordan Scott at Village Books this Sunday, May 5th at 6pm. This beautiful picture book examines our connection to nature and how that connection can comfort & heal us when we need it most. No RSVP is necessary.

This online game uses funny fish avatars to represent real steelhead (a fish similar to salmon) that were tracked during research efforts led by a local nonprofit, Long Live the Kings.

Come pick your favorite fish at SurvivetheSound.org and join our local team, Sailors of the Salish Sea Salmon Supporters. A larger team increases our chances of winning with the most surviving fish. From May 6-10, we'll watch the fish migrate from their natal stream to the Pacific Ocean and see who survives. There are loads of educational resources here: https://www.survivethesound.org/classroom.

Bellingham Parks and Rec have tons of summer opportunities available for youth and families. Adults and children residing in Bellingham city limits may qualify to receive a $200 scholarship per calendar year to be used for rec programming. To learn more and download an application please click here.

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.

Welcome Guide

BFPP Calendar

Staff Directory

Clubs

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