Dear BFPP Families,

I am experiencing the joy of teaching again this semester. On Wednesday afternoon I am reminded of my calling to teach and so appreciative that I get to spend time with my class. In Science Systems we are currently Cadets in a Space School, learning about our solar system. Please, take a look at the picture below that highlights some of the amazing astrological events happening soon, especially the Grand Alignment of 7 planets on February 20th. I hope you all are enjoying your classes as well!

Next week many of the staff will be attending the Washington Association of Learning Alternatives annual conference in Skamania, including myself. This is an opportunity to gather with other ALE programs from all over Washington. We get to learn and share our expertise. Our work with BFPP families gives us the inspiration and experience to support others in this work. Thanks to the teachers and staff that will be on site making sure it is business as usual.

Also, new on campus this week are two flat screens. One is located in the multi-purpose room that will support the classes and other community events in that space. The second is located by the main entry and will be used as an electronic picture frame with a rolling slide show of BFPP pictures. Both of these are thanks to the Tech Levy (thank you voters) and our district Instructional Technology Department (thanks to them too).

Since it is Valentine's Day.....simply......I love you BFPP with my whole heart!

In partnership, Principal Kate

Greetings BFPP Families,

The days are getting longer but the chilly weather is sticking around - Hope you are staying safe and warm during this cold snap! If you need assistance with cold weather resources, please reach out! Did you and your family have a chance to play in the snow? Send pictures!

Thank you to those who responded to the survey I put in the last newsletter. I will continue to engage with surveys to find times that work best for the most families to hold counseling programming. Based on responses I am piloting a meeting on the 24th–

Challenge Accepted

An all-ages meetup to practice communication skills through mini games. There will be a variety of games to engage your learner no matter their age or skill level!

Monday, February 24th from 2:30-3:30pm

In the Counseling Office

Need a quick reminder on why staying engaged with the BFPP community is so beneficial? Here is a CDC article that reviews the benefits of school connectedness!

Grateful to be connected to our BFPP community!

Warmly,

Counselor Jess

jessica.sheasley@bellinghamschools.org

360-676-6424 x 4966

February

Mon. 2/17: President's Day, No School

Thurs. 2/20, 1-2:30pm: Art Connections Club

Mon. 2/24, 2:30-3:30pm: Challenge Accepted Meetup

Mon. 2/24 & Thurs. 2/28, 12-12:30pm: March Mammal Madness Kickoff

Thurs. 2/28, 1-3pm: Alterhuman Meetup

March

Tues. 3/4, 11-12: Parent Book Club in Library

Wed. 3/5, 10-11am: Running/Walking/Movement Club Begins

Fri. 3/7, 11-12pm: Differently Wired Parenting Group

Fri. 3/14: Pi(e) Day

Tues. 3/11, 12:30-2pm: Thought Partner Meeting

Tues. 3/18, 12:30-2pm: Sturdy Parent Workshop

Hello, BFPP families! I’m Tara Olvera, and I’m so excited to be back at the Partnership—a place that feels like home to me. I had the privilege of working here during the 2020-2021 school year, and this program has held a special place in my heart ever since. I’ve been teaching on and off in the Bellingham School District since 2005, with a pause to spend time at home with my two kids, now 14 and 12.

Bellingham became my home in 1998 when my family moved here from Mukilteo. After spending five snowy years in Whitefish, Montana, skiing as much as possible, my love for the San Juan Islands brought me back. Sucia Island is a favorite spot for my family, and we make it a point to visit every summer.

When I’m not teaching, I enjoy experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen or baking treats for friends and family. Gardening, crocheting, staying active, and spending time with our dog Rosie are just a few of the things that bring me joy. I’m looking forward to another wonderful year at the Partnership and can’t wait to connect with all of you!

Can you spare 30 minutes to help keep our library in tip top shape? We're looking for volunteers who are willing to help shelve books, sort the book cart, and tidy up the library. A 30-minute shift, once per week, would be so appreciated! Please contact Sheri if you can help.

Student/Parent-driven clubs are an integral part of BFPP. We have many active clubs at BFPP and several more are getting underway!

Click here to view a current list of BFPP Clubs.

Feel free to join in the fun! It's a good idea to email the club contact before making plans to attend a club meeting so you have the most current information and they know to expect you.

Interested in starting a club? Spend some time thinking about the Topic, Purpose, and Format of your club. Then contact Principal Kate or Heidi Zollner with your idea.

See below for some of the newest club additions and developments.

Teens: Bring your favorite art tools and work on your projects while you connect and share your art with your peers!

Thursdays 1:00pm-2:30pm, Innovator Room

Contact: Amber Owen - amber.owen@live.com

Parent volunteers welcome!

Interested in D&D? Want to join a campaign? We know you're out there- let's connect and make it happen! Day and time to be decided by interested parties. We're looking for interested students and their grown-ups who can help supervise. Please email Heidi if this is something you're interested in.

March Mammal Madness is a celebration of our natural world, animals, art, and storytelling. Based off the March Madness basketball tournament, and put together by a team of scientists, this tournament pits animals against each other in simulated 'battles' with story details pulled from scientific literature. Sixty-four animals are hopeful contestants, but only one will be crowned champion!

1. Join Heidi Zollner at noon Monday, February 24th or Thursday February 28th in the Performer/Creator Room to pick up a bracket and learn how the tournament works. Brackets will also be available at school across from the salmon tank. Research the combatants and fill out your bracket predictions. Pick your champion!

2. Take a picture of your filled-in bracket and email it to Heidi by Sunday, 3/9 to be eligible for prizes. Grown-ups and siblings can join in too- the more the merrier!

3. Have fun following along with the battles! Join us Mondays or Thursdays from 12-12:30pm throughout March to watch the competition together and do some art, poetry and biology extensions.

4. Win prizes and bragging rights when your bracket predictions come true. Experience the "bracket-busting bummers" when your picks are knocked out of the tournament. Find out who will be the 2025 MMM Champion! “If you’re learning, you’re winning!”

Led by Teacher Brooke and Counselor Jess. Parents and kids can participate in all or any of these. We recommend students and parents learn and play side-by-side for each meeting in the series. Maybe there will be a family that wants to take the lead to continue the club into the future!

March: Running/Walking/Movement Club for Grades 3-HS, Wednesdays in March 10:00-11:00, meet at The Cabin at BFPP

April: Mountain Biking Club for Grades 3-HS: Fridays in April 4:00-6:00, meet at the Galbraith Parking Lot

May: Recess Fun Time for Grades 3-HS, Wednesdays in March 10:00-11:00, meet at The Cabin at BFPP

Thought Partner Meeting: BFPP Next Steps (Planning for 2025-2026)

Please join us Tuesday, March 11th 12:30-2pm in the Library for a community Thought Partner Meeting on BFPP Next Steps. If we could run a longer title, we would have named this meeting: The BFPP Village: Where To? What Next? How We Continue to Build Community with Children and Learning at the Center. Please join us for an open conversation about where we want to take this program in the year ahead and how we might work together to continue to build connection and capacity across the whole community (learners, families and staff). The goal of this meeting will be to generate ideas and suggestions that will be organized into a BFPP Spring Survey rolled out to the whole community in early April. The information from this survey will greatly inform programming for the 2025-2026 learning year. RSVP Kate in the Collaborator Room (on paper!) or Erin at erin.mccarthy@bellinghamschools.org to confirm your attendance.

Join us to talk shop about the hard stuff in parenting and learning! This workshop series welcomes any adults who are curious about building community and finding tools to balance setting boundaries while communicating empathy. We will again delve into the research of Dr. Becky Kennedy, clinical psychologist and author of Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want To Be. Join us! And come with a sense of camaraderie and a willingness to explore and connect. Come with some thoughts about this Dr. Becky nugget: The role of a sturdy parent is to: “acknowledge, validate, permit.” And for those of you who haven’t yet listened to Dr. Becky on the Huberman Lab (this podcast is our primary resource), listen to it here.

Meetings for EVERYONE INTERESTED:

• Tuesday, March 18th 12:30-2pm in the Fort
• Tuesday, April 22nd 12:30-2pm in the Fort
• Tuesday, May 20th 12:30-2pm in the Fort

Please RSVP Erin at erin.mccarthy@bellinghamschools.org

Nurturing and Scaffolding the Writing Process (for all levels): Thursday consultations with Erin

Please reach out to schedule a one-on-one or small group consultation for support with how you guide and nurture the writing process at home with your learner(s). RSVP to Erin to schedule a Thursday morning 11-12pm time slot.

A Message from the Department of Teaching and Learning

Kindergarten registration begins!

Registration for fall kindergarten has begun in Bellingham Public Schools, and we are so excited to welcome all young learners! All children who will be 5 before Sept. 1, 2025 can be registered for kindergarten. Families can register their child online by following the instructions on our kindergarten webpage.

Promise Kindergarten – transitional kindergarten for children age 4 before Sept. 1, 2025

We invite all families within Bellingham Public Schools with a child who will be 4 before Sept. 1, 2025, to consider our transition to kindergarten program, called Promise Kindergarten, or Promise K. Promise K is a Transition to Kindergarten program for 4-year-olds who do not have access to high-quality early learning experiences.

Children may enter Promise K based on ability and/or need, including social emotional or developmental needs. If you are interested in seeing if your child may be eligible, please visit our Promise K webpage or submit the online interest form.

In March, the district's high schools are hosting informational family nights at each high school for incoming 9th graders and their families. In addition, they will be hosting an informational session specific to private school/homeschool students detailing how to choose and register for high school classes. The 2025-26 High School Course Catalog is now available online.

Private School/Homeschool Students Info Session

Friday, March 7th from 2-3pm at

• Bellingham High School
• Sehome High School
• Squalicum High School

Incoming 9th Grade Family Nights

Monday, March 10th from 6:30-8pm at

• Bellingham High School
• Sehome High School
• Squalicum High School

• Options High School (open to 9th graders and other interested students)

Please see the flyer below for details about high school enrollment, in-district and out-of district transfers, and contacts for each school.

Does your son or daughter love to read and learn? Is he or she looking for intellectually curious friends to learn with? We still have spots available for the 2025-2026 cohort of the Fairhaven Program, the new part-time high school option in Bellingham. Come visit our open house tomorrow to learn about our unique curriculum.

When: February 15th, 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Where: 1106 Harris Ave, Suite 307. Take the elevator to the third floor. If you have any trouble finding us, please call ‪(360) 230-8012.
RSVP (or just show up): https://fairhavenprogram.org/open-house/

Sue C. Boynton Poetry Contest

The 2025 Sue C. Boynton Poetry Contest will accept poetry submissions in the month of March. General information about the contest can be found online.

Youth Peace Poetry Contest

The Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center (WDRC), with sponsorship by Village Books, announces the launch of their annual 2025 Youth Peace Poetry Contest and are accepting submissions of poetry, lyrics, flash fiction or short prose. They invite youth, ages 4 to 18, to explore the theme of peace and peaceful conflict resolution and to submit entries by June 13th. Submit online, email youth@whatcomdrc.org, or drop a hard copy to 206 Prospect Street, Bellingham, Wash. 98225. The WDRC will also be hosting poetry workshops in the coming months.

KidWind, supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Wind Energy Technologies Office, invites students from kindergarten through 8th grade across the United States to create artwork on the theme “Beautiful Wind Energy.” Artwork must be submitted by February 28th. View contest details and rules here!

Pre-K Dance and Theatre for ages 2.5-4
Tuesdays, April 15-June 10, from 10:00-11:00 AM

Join us for a fun-filled hour of creative movement, storytelling, and imagination led theatre games. We will playfully learn how to move through space, work with each other, and appreciate our bodies. Caregivers are encouraged to stay and participate along the way!

Homeschool Creative Writing for Grades 3-5
Mondays, April 14-June 9, from 12:30-2:00 PM

Unlock your inner storyteller while learning the fundamentals of creative writing! We'll explore a variety of writing styles and techniques through games, activities, and workshop sessions. Students will practice writing poems and stories, and they will also get a chance to share their work with the class and get feedback. Learn how to craft your characters, plan your plots, and advance your authorship!

Homeschool Improv for Grades 6-8
Tuesdays, April 15-June 10, from 12:30-2:00 PM

Explore improvisational comedy through a series of games and scene work. Students will develop a toolkit to collaborate as a group and create hilarious theatre on the spot! Through improv, we’ll learn skills like communication, problem-solving, and emotional intelligence.

The snow gives us a wonderful opportunity to see what our wild neighbors are up to! Can you and your learner identify which animals made these tracks?

Answer from the last newsletter: Our salmon were transitioning from eggs to alevin - See how big they have gotten next time you are in the building! Thank you to David for taking care of our youngest community members 😊

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

Welcome Guide

BFPP Calendar

Staff Directory

BFPP 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