BFPP NEWS

Dear BFPP Families,

Below you'll find an overview of next year's schedule. It reflects input from Thought Partner meetings, surveys, Tea with Kate, and many Collaboration Room conversations. We want to continue those conversations as we refine and enhance elements of the schedule for next year.

Here are the things we're excited about:

• We are designating Wednesday afternoons for Community Meals, Celebrations, monthly gatherings like assemblies, monthly family field trips, workshops and a whole lot of other great community events. By having a defined time for those we hope to have more participation.
• We want to facilitate “podding," - families pairing up to homeschool together. The support for this will likely happen in workshops either Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday.
• There are new outdoor/placed based learning opportunities on the schedule. This reflects a shared desire from families and staff to see more “forest school” -type experiences with deep learning, collaboration and community.
• There are several class options that will support K-10+. This alignment will also allow for staff shared learning, professional development, and collaboration.
• Multiple teachers are teaching collaboratively in several of the classes. This results in less class offerings, but space for more students within each class. This is particularly true for some of the outdoor learning classes that aren’t bound by van space.
• We are excited about the possibilities of our new 5-week winter and spring sessions. Below you'll see our ideas list. This is where a lot of innovation is happening! Some have asked if this means that families will need to register for those sessions, and the answer is no, we will have a different way to RSVP that won't be as stressful (hopefully) as registration.

Here are some of the challenges ahead:

• Learning Plan Partner's caseloads continue to grow. You have probably heard about the budget concerns at the district, state and federal level. Teachers need to allocate more of their time to their LP role and spend less on direct teaching. Our plan to mitigate the impact of this shift is by supporting and leveraging family participation. We have terrific clubs and club leaders and dedicated times for Creative Connections, workshop leaders and so much more.
• Currently there are unknowns in the schedule. Staffing changes and class additions will invariably occur over the summer. There will be more visible in September.

What's next:

• Class descriptions will be available in ALe by Friday, May 30th
• Registration is June 5th & 6th
• AL*e Parent Login
• AL*e Parent Login Instructions
• How to Use AL*e to Register for Classes

In partnership and appreciation,

Dr. Kate

Greetings BFPP Families,

Only four weeks of school left this year! Can you believe it? The final stretch of the year is flying by and our BFPP community has a lot going on - so I’ll keep it brief! There is a lot of information going out right now both programmatically (check out the new BFPP annual calendar and projected enrichment schedule) and with end of year events (Craft Fair, End of Year Showcase of Learning, etc). For some, change or a busy schedule might be exciting while others might feel overwhelmed – whatever we are feeling let’s look out for one another as this year wraps up. I’m looking forward to celebrating the many accomplishments of our BFPP learners with you all and if you ever need to talk something through, I’m here for you and your family!

Warmly,

Counselor Jess

jessica.sheasley@bellinghamschools.org

360-676-6424 x 4966

MAY

Fri. 5/16: MOD Pizza Fundraiser

5/19-5/23: Spirit Week!

Mon. 5/19: Spirit Wear Orders Due

5/20-5/30: iReady Assessment Window

Tues. 5/20, 12:30-1:30pm: Deep Learners Workshop

Thurs. 5/22, 12:30-2pm: Craft Fair & Carnival

Mon. 5/26: Memorial Day, No School

Wed. 5/28, 11am or 6pm: Study Abroad Meeting

5/28-5/30: Newsies Performances

Fri. 5/30: Class Descriptions in AL*e

JUNE

6/1-6/3: Family Camping Trip

Mon. 6/2: 6-8th Theater Applications Due

Wed. 6/4: 5th Grade Track Meet

Wed. 6/4, 1-2pm: Storytelling

6/5-6/6: Registration Window

Thurs. 6/5: Learning Showcase

Fri. 6/6: Last Day of Classes

Thurs. 6/12, 11-12pm: 8th Grade Celebration

6/9-6/13: Learning Plan Meetings

Fri. 6/13: Last Day of School

Today is the day! MOD Pizza is donating 25% of sales to BFPP TODAY, Friday, May 16th - just bring in a flyer or mention this fundraiser to the cashier, or be sure to type "MODGIVES25" in your online order. Help us beat last year's total funds raised of $237!

Hello BFPP families! I’m sure you have seen me at the front desk by now. Most of you know me, but for those who do not, I’d like to introduce myself. My name is Laura Carr Krupa, I was a parent here for about 6 years and have been subbing for Sheri this school year. Now that she has moved on to pursue her teaching career, I will be handling your library and front desk needs for the remainder of the school year. I am thrilled to be in this position and to continue to be a part of this loving community of teachers, parents, and students. Feel free to stop by and say hello!

It’s that time of the year again, time to gather up your books and curriculum. We are asking that all barcoded items be brought back to school before your end of year learning plan partner meetings. Please return any items not being used to be checked in. Bring items that you are keeping through summer to be renewed. This will help us to have an accurate inventory for ordering your materials next year. We will have another notice in the next newsletter regarding computer returns. If you are unsure of what you have checked out to you, please email Laura and she can send you a list of your items. Thank you!

Click here to order spirit wear.

Tuesday, May 20th from 12:30-1:30pm

On Tuesday, 5/20 at 12:30, Rayna Brandon, the Highly-Capable Learning (HCL) liaison for Bellingham Public Schools, will be here to facilitate a workshop for families who want to know more about learning resources and teaching strategies for learners who can tend to go deep and broad with concepts. Additionally, she will be talking about setting learning goals, sharing information about new curricula and resources, identifying instructional strategies for home learning, creating independent projects, and the CoGAT assessment and process toward HCL designation.

Last call for vendors! Kids are invited to vend their crafts and carnival games or play their instrument at our annual Spring Craft Fair & Carnival on the BFPP Playfield on Thursday, May 22nd, from 12:30-2pm

Please click here to sign up for a booth.

We have over 40 kids signed up with space for more - join the fun!

If you've already signed up, look for an email early next week with important info/reminders.

We hope to see everyone outside next Thursday - cross your fingers that the weather cooperates! (We'll move indoors if needed.) Please invite your friends, neighbors, and family.

Are you still interested in a study abroad experience with your BFPP community?

Join us for continued conversation with interested community members:

Wednesday, May 28th

11:00am in the BFPP Library

OR

6:00pm on Zoom at: https://bellinghamschools.zoom.us/my/brookewertz

We'll discuss best next steps.

We look forward to hearing your thoughts!

Reach out with additional wonders to Leslie Reed (BFPP parent) or Brooke Wertz (BFPP teacher).

Click here to RSVP for the Camping Trip.

If you are interested in joining the 6-8 Theatre Arts Class for the 2025-26 academic year, please fill out the application below, which replaces regular registration. This class has a high commitment level from students and families. We invite all students who are interested to apply.

Applications of interest are due Monday, June 2nd. There is a folder in Peggy’s office for paper copies, or you may send a digital copy to both Carol and Marci. You will hear back from us by Wednesday, June 4th, before the registration window opens for next fall.

Come and share some of the wonderful learning that you and your family have accomplished this year! All forms or learning and talent are welcome! Fill out the sign-up form either online with the link below or get a paper copy from Counselor Jess or Laura at our front desk. All sign-ups must be completed by 5/28 so we know how many participants to prepare for. If you are performing a live talent then you need to attend the rehearsal on 5/29 from 12:30-1:30pm. Reach out if you have any questions and hope to see you there!

Sign up Here!

All types of learning can be showcased:

• Live Performance - Dance/Skits/Music/Etc. (you’ll receive a performance slot)
• Screenings – Visual/Audio/Etc. (we can project them)
• Tabling - Arts/Craftmanship/Research/Experiments/Etc. (from home or classes/clubs)

Want to get involved? Leslie and Jess are meeting on 5/21 from 1-2pm in the counseling office to discuss and plan! Can’t make that time but still want to be involved in planning? Email Counselor Jess!

An 8th grade celebration is in the works for all families who would like to participate! This event will be held on Thursday, June 12th at 11am-12pm in the gym. It’s being organized by BFPP families and we'd love your input.

Please complete this short SURVEY by 5/16 to help prepare for this event. We appreciate your help! If you can assist with the celebration, please reach out to Annie Graham at annie.cmg@gmail.com.

All second and third graders are invited to register by May 30 for our summer i-Ready program, which provides reading and math support for strengthening student outcomes. i-Ready online learning is a seven-week program that runs Monday, June 16 through Friday, August 1. Because students are accustomed to using the i-Ready platform during the school year, during the summer they can continue learning through this familiar computer-based platform, with support of certificated teachers if needed.

Summer i-Ready students are issued a school laptop for home i-Ready learning and practice.

Register your second- or third-grader here by May 30.

If you have additional questions, please contact Jenessa Kirk or Deb Hampton in the Department of Teaching and Learning.

It’s time to place your orders for the 2025 Washington State Fair Educational Ticket Program.

Each enrolled student can receive one free admission ticket to the fair.

If you'd like tickets for your students, please submit your request to your Learning Partners by Tuesday, May 27th. The tickets arrive just before the fair in August/September.

Youth Leadership Adventures are for high school students who want to explore the outdoors, discover leadership strengths, and be a part of building a just and sustainable future.

Our 5 and 8 day backcountry trips connect 8th-12th grade students to the natural world while engaging in conversation about climate change and climate solutions. Trips are designed for students who have no prior outdoor experience; all gear, food, and transportation from Skagit and Whatcom counties are provided. No experience is necessary and scholarships are available! For more information about our trips, click on the Powerpoint slides link below, or visit our FAQ page.

Add yourself to our waitlist for Summer 2025! Many students get placed on a trip from the waitlist as spots open up throughout the spring and summer.

Parents of Teens ages 12+ are invited to an informal meet on Friday May 23rd, at 12 noon at BFPP.

Parents of Teens! Ages 12+

Curious what to do next year? Especially for your High School student?

Teen Co-op is happening! Host location at BFPP (hosted by parents, you do not need to be enrolled at BFPP to be involved). Some of you may have heard of us already, and we are inviting you to be a part of coop for next year 25/26.

What is co-op?

• It is parent facilitated/organized, and mostly student led.
• It is whatever you want it to be!
• It is.... clubs for the 12+ kids, a student facilitated video project, parent facilitated Physics club and Computer club, D&D club, Art Club, a private creative learning pod, field trips, academic classes with or without a hired teacher....
• It is open for interpretation!

What are you looking for?

We are looking for parents who want to be involved. Do you have skills you have or haven’t used in years? Have no experience or lots of experience with facilitating kids/teens? Maybe you don’t think you have skills but want to be involved?

The more parents that sign up, then the easier the commitment is. Once a month vs once per week. Or maybe you want to teach a weekly thing, but want to be a part of a parent team that rotates and you have back up for when you get sick during your turn? Maybe you start as being a second parent there for the lead hosting parent?

Most of our teens are currently running student led meet-ups. You help them get started with organizing their thoughts and ideas. After that, they tend to go for it and it takes on a mind of its own. If your student needs social academics, we are very open to providing a space for that.

Contact for more info: jenyawil@gmail.com or text 360-466-1800. Hope to see you at the meeting, Friday May 23rd, at 12 noon at BFPP.

Newsletter contributions always welcome! Please send items of interest to our school community to Heidi Zollner.

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How to Use AL*e to Register for Classes

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Website: https://fpp.bellinghamschools.org
Location: 1409 18th Street, Bellingham, WA, USA
Phone: (360) 676-6424