BFPP NEWS

Dear BFPP Families,

Second Semester is just around the corner! Here are some upcoming things to look forward to:

Mid-Year Conversations

We have the opportunity mid-year to hold some important conversations. The last week of the month Jan. 31st to Feb. 3rd we set the time aside to meet with each other. We gather to celebrate and reflect on the year to date and then spend some time thinking about the time remaining and setting some goals. Your LPP will be reaching out to set a time to meet. We hope to have those as much as possible in Zoom and in person.

Registration for SEM2

• There will be a lot of registration information in this newsletter below, such as instructions on how to login to ALE* (we recommend you try that before registration), how to register, plus the enrichment schedule.
• The registration window is starting at 8:00am on the 25th and running until 5pm on the 26th. This is an open registration window. We ask that you are a good steward of your schedule, considering a balance of at home learning which should be the primary focus of learning and the enrichment classes which are the extra (sprinkles on top)
• LPPs will not be able to register families during that time, families should do it for themselves. LPPs can Zoom with you or do side by side enrollment if assistance is needed.
• After the registration window closes LPPs can register families for classes, do out of grade level placement if no waitlist and okay with instructor, and make changes.
• Waitlists from SEM1 will be wiped out and new SEM2 ones will be created. We can not monitor waitlists during the open registration window.

• Some classes will have pre-enrollment if it is a year long course. Students will be automatically enrolled in those courses (you should hear from the instructor) and if you want to make changes you can do so during the registration window.
• If the class is going to have new enrollment, even if a continued class, families will need to re-enroll and recommit to attending that class.

Excited for what is coming and opportunities ahead and happy to be sharing them with you!

Warmly, Principal Kate

Tuesday, 1/24 1-2:30pm Middle School Book Sale & Curriculum Share*

Wednesday, 1/25 3-4:30pm Minecraft Club*

Wednesday, 1/25-1/26 2nd Semester Registration: opens 8am on the 25th, closes 5pm the 26th*

Thursday, 1/26 10am Tea With Kate*

Friday, 1/27 Last Day of First Semester Classes

Mon.1/30- No School

Tues. 1/31-Fri. 2/3 No Classes Held - Mid-Year Conversations and LPP Meetings

Thursday, 2/2 Staff Appreciation Breakfast*

Monday, 2/6 Second Semester Classes Begin

Thursday, 2/9 10:30-11:30 Inclusive & Assistive Technology Workshop*

Thursday, 2/9 1:30-2:30 Arts and Crafts Club*

*find more info on these events below

Opens 8am on Wednesday, January 25th.

Closes 5pm on Thursday, January 26th.

Here's How to Log in and Register:

• AL*e Parent Login
• AL*e Parent Login Instructions
• How to Use AL*e to Register for Classes

All Semester 1 online courses will be closed and inaccessible after 1/20/22 to allow for final review and shifting to the new semester.

Enrollment for Semester 2 courses is completed through your Learning Plan Partner at BFPP. Please let them know which courses you would like access to online for SEM2.

Semester 2 courses will be open and available for students on 1/31/22 if enrolled prior to 1/31/22.

Students are able to enroll in online coursework at anytime throughout the year. Please allow a week between enrollment and access to coursework.

Brooke Wertz

K-8 Online Learning Lead Teacher

Don’t forget to pick up an MLK and Black History Month Activity by Peggy's desk in the main foyer. There are 3 learning opportunities that are fun and informative. Please return completed activities to Peggy as soon as possible so that we can display them through January and February. Thanks!

Calling all Minecrafters! Want to have fun in Minecraft with other kids from BFPP? Join us for weekly build and exploration activities in Minecraft Bedrock Edition (Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Playstation, iPad, or PC). This club meets online every Wednesday after school between 3:00 pm and 4:30 pm.

5 spots are currently available! Recommended for ages 8 and up.

To join, parents can email Jeff Anderson (Charlie’s Dad) at Bellinghamandersons@gmail.com

Join Principal Kate on Thursday, January 26th at 10am in the reception/entry area for a cup of tea and conversation. This is a BYOM – bring your own mug - event!

Tea With Kate is changing to a new day and time in February!

2nd Tuesday of the month at 1pm

• 2/14
• 3/14
• 4/18
• 5/9

Thursday, February 2nd at 9:30am

Let's celebrate and appreciate our BFPP staff members by serving up a breakfast extravaganza. There aren't any classes during this week, so teachers will be hard at work meeting with families, updating learning plans, and prepping for second semester.

A big THANK YOU to those who have volunteered to bring a breakfast item (or several!) There are plenty of items available to bring- take a peek at the sign up genius if you're interested.

Please bring your contribution to the school kitchen by 9:30am on Thursday, February 2nd. You can also put items in the family lounge refrigerator labeled "Staff Potluck" ahead of time - just let us know.

*I wrote the date for the breakfast inconsistently in the last newsletter - Thursday, February 2nd is the correct date!

If you'd like to contribute, please check out our sign up list here! You can contact Heidi with questions. Thank you!

Please join us for a workshop with Amy Connolly to learn about inclusive and assistive technology!

February 9th 10:30-11:30

Top Floor: Performer/Creator Room

Amy Connolly is the Assistive Technology Specialist for the Bellingham Public Schools.

Inclusive education, by definition, removes barriers, promotes accessibility, and fosters learner agency by embracing the fact that everyone is unique. Inclusive practices not only benefit learners with disabilities, or those in other underrepresented groups, but everyone else as well.

This workshop will provide information on inclusive technology tools and strategies that are available to all students, as well as assistive technology options for those who need them. For example, text-to-speech enables a learner to listen to text read aloud by a computer. Using this nearly universal feature of digital devices, learners can interact with written materials regardless of reading ability. Text-to-speech is just one of the accessibility features built into most devices; together, we will explore even more.

Objectives:

· Learn the difference between inclusive and assistive technology

· Learn various types of inclusive technology available in BSD

RSVP: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0949AFAB2BA3FE3-assistive

Hey artful and crafty friends! Arts & Crafts club will meet on the following dates in the Multipurpose room.

All are welcome!! Contact Siv Spain with any questions.

• Thursday, February 9th, 1:30-2:30
• Thursday, March 16th, 1:30-2:30
• Thursday, April 13th, 1:30-2:30

Friday Consultations with Erin McCarthy, BFPP Instructional Coach & Former Home School Parent

Are you feeling overwhelmed or frustrated with some aspects of your home learning practices? Perhaps you’re tentatively seeking another perspective to support your work and trouble-shoot some ideas? Well… sign up for a Friday Recalibration Consultation with Erin and let’s start knocking some ideas around!!

These Friday consultations can include deep conversations about curriculum planning, learning routines and activities, communication practices, incentive models, developmental milestones and whatever else you’d like some support with.

Email Erin McCarthy to arrange for a lunch time connection (12pm Zoom or in-person). 12pm meetings available every other Friday. 2/3, 2/17, 3/3, 3/17…

Photographer Lynn Tyler King will be at BFPP for school picture appointments on

• Tuesday, February 14th
• Wednesday, February 15th

Please click here if you'd like to sign up for an appointment!

You can email or call Lynn with questions - 360-201-4737

BFPP first grader Evan Meier has been learning about poetry and has a delightful animal poem to share.

by Marley Lotts

Maybe He Just Likes You is about a 7th grader who is being harassed. When the behavior starts, it is a small issue in her life, but then it starts to grow and grow until it becomes a major problem. She feels traumatized and agitated. Her friends’ behavior is confusing and stressful and none of the teachers are listening. When she finds a place to let her think about what to do next, and creates other friendships, it is a big relief. Will she find her strength and get the boys to stop? I recommend this book for pre-teen and teen kids, ages 11 and up.

*Does your student have a piece of writing, artwork, or other creation to share with our school community? Send it in - we'd love to include it in a future newsletter or special edition!

Experience Finland, land of 1,000 lakes, through film!

Moominvalley

FREE ADMISSION to this acclaimed and animated family show

11:00am Sunday, February 5th

at The Firehouse Arts & Events Center ~ 1314 Harris Avenue

About the Moomins: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moomins

BFPP Teacher/Maestra Carol is helping to organize this festival, and highly recommends the film 'Tale of a Lake' for our families. This is a part of the festival line-up and will be showing at 12:30pm on Saturday, February 4th.

Click here for more info on the festival.

Have an event, talent, idea, or interest to share with the BFPP community at large? Please consider sharing via the newsletter! Email Heidi with your contributions. Thank you!

Next newsletter: Friday, January 27th, 2023

Contributions deadline - Wednesday, January 25th

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