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January 10, 2025 - Community Newsletter
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Inside this Newsletter:
- Message from Superintendent Amii Thompson
- Budget Focus Groups / Form
- Kindergarten Informmation Night
- 2025-26 School Year - Important Planning Dates
- School Board Vacancies
- BISD STRONG Award
- Board Brief
- Young People's March for Peace & Kindness
- Calendar
- Community Events
- Social Media
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Welcome back and Happy New Year! I hope you each had a wonderful and relaxing break full of connection and joy!
I had a chance to fully check out of work for a bit, read four books just for fun, and had lots of quality family time. It was amazing, and just the break that I needed in order to come back rested and ready to tackle all that lies ahead of us these next several months.
One mantra that I always come back to in hard times is “The only way out is through.” We have a great deal that we will face together between now and June — continued budget monitoring and reductions for the 2024-25 school year, as well as budget reduction and staffing planning for the 2025-26 school year. We can’t get around these challenges. We just need to address them head-on and get through them, and as we get through this, I promise to continue my commitment of timely, transparent, authentic and caring decision-making and communication.
Also, a reminder that we have focus groups scheduled throughout this month. The purpose of these meetings is to hear what you most value at BISD and learn your ideas for ways to increase revenue and areas for possible reductions. Please see additional information below.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend ahead,
Amii Thompson
BISD Superintendent
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Budget Feedback - Focus Groups
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Superintendent Amii Thompson and Chief Financial Officer Kim Knight will host Focus Groups throughout the month of January and into early February. Translation services will be available at all sessions.
Combined, there are more than 1,000 available slots in our Focus Group sessions for staff, community & students.
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Along with the focus groups, BISD is also providing an anonymous way to share your budget suggestions through this form.
Thank you for providing input!
To translate the form, click this link and once the form opens, right-click on the form. A new menu will pop up and you can scroll to the Translation option and select your preferred language.
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Spread the Word: It's Time for Kindergarten Information Night!
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WHEN: Wednesday, January 15, 2025, at 6 p.m.
WHERE: x̌alilc Elementary, 12781 N. Madison Ave. NE
WHAT: Learn about kindergarten from representatives of all BISD elementary schools
*Note: This event is intended for adults. Incoming kindergarten students will have an opportunity to visit a school and classroom in March.
CHOICE PROGRAMS
INFORMATION NIGHTS
Along with traditional kindergartens at BISD neighborhood schools, BISD offers choice programs (meaning families choose to enter
them through a lottery**). Attend these program-specific information nights to learn more!
ODYSSEY MULTIAGE &
MOSAIC HOME EDUCATION
WHEN: Wednesday, January 22 @ 6 p.m. WHERE: Commodore Options, 9530 High School Road
EL VELERO (SPANISH IMMERSION)
WHEN: Thursday, January 23 @ 6 p.m. WHERE: Ordway Elementary, 8555 Madison Avenue N
**To be considered for the lottery, Odyssey and El Velero applications are due on Monday, February 10 at 3 p.m.
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The 2025-26 school year will be here before we know it! Please take note of these important dates/deadlines.
COMMODORE K-8 INFORMATION NIGHT: Wednesday, January 22 @ 6 p.m. at Commodore
EAGLE HARBOR HIGH SCHOOL INFORMATION NIGHT: Tuesday, February 11 @ 6:30 p.m. at Commodore
FUTURE FRESHMAN NIGHT @ BHS: Wednesday, February 12 @ 6:30 p.m. at Bainbridge High School
NEW-TO-BISD (GRADES 9-12): Monday, February 24 @ 2 p.m. at Bainbridge High School; Sign up here.
KINDERGARTEN VISITS:
- Wednesday, March 5 @ 9 a.m. at x̌alilc
- Thursday, March 6 @ 9 a.m. at Blakely
- Friday, March 7 @ 9 a.m. at Ordway
INCOMING SAKAI 5th GRADE PARENT/GUARDIAN INFORMATION NIGHT: Thursday, March 6 @ 6:30 p.m. at Sakai
INCOMING WMS 7th GRADE PARENT/GUARDIAN INFORMATION NIGHT: Tuesday, March 11 @ 6:30 p.m. at Woodward Middle School
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School Board Vacancies Announced
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At last night's BISD School Board Meeting, resignation letters were submitted from Director Robert Cromwell and Director Mark Emerson. In both letters, Cromwell and Emerson referenced how proud they were to have served on the school board and that they are confident in the ability of the BISD School Board and School District to navigate future challenges.
“I am grateful for Director Cromwell and Director Emerson and their steadfast leadership during turbulent times,” said Amii Thompson, BISD Superintendent. “They are leaving the board in a solid place, and their successors will find an established board that guides an outstanding organization focused on serving all students.”
To fill the vacancies for Districts 2 and 5, BISD will appoint individuals for the remainder of the terms (both terms expire in November 2025). To be eligible, one must meet all these qualifications:
- Be a citizen of the United States
- Be a qualified voter of the Bainbridge Island School District
- Live within the boundaries of District 2 or District 5
- Is not employed by the district. If the Director's partner/dependents are employed by the district as a classified or certificated employee before their spouse becomes a director, the contract can be renewed for further employment.
To learn about what serving on the school board entails, please review this document provided by the Washington State School Directors’ Association.
Applications for District 2 are being accepted through noon on Feb. 13; Applications for District 5 will open on Feb. 7 and will be due by noon on March 13. Click here to access the application.
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Thank you Robert & Mark for your service to BISD! |
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School Board Resignation - Robert Cromwell
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Robert Cromwell is the Board Director for District 2. He was appointed to the position in April 2021 and elected in November 2021. His final school board meeting as a director will be on Thursday, February 13, 2025.
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School Board Resignation - Mark Emerson
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Mark Emerson is the Board Director for District 5. He was appointed in May 2019, elected in November 2019 and re-elected in November 2021. He also has served as Board Vice President and Board President. His final school board meeting as a director will be on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
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BISD STRONG Award - Fall/Winter Deadline is Jan. 30th
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Bainbridge Island School District is filled with amazing students, staff and volunteers. Recognize and honor the many individuals who make our district strong by nominating them for a BISD STRONG Award.
The BISD STRONG Award honors the district's guiding principles of STRONG MINDS, STRONG HEARTS, STRONG COMMUNITY.
Students, staff members from the seven schools and district office (which includes maintenance, transportation, food services, etc.) and BISD volunteers are eligible to be nominated for a BISD STRONG AWARD.
Fall/Winter Deadline: January 30, 2025
RESTRICTIONS:
- The nominee must be a BISD staff member, enrolled student or BISD volunteer.
- Please do not nominate people in your family.
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If you are interested in a high-level overview on what happened at last night's school board meeting, then look no further than the Board Brief.
The next School Board Meeting is Thursday, January 30th @ 5:45 p.m.
Stay informed!
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Mark Your Calendars: Young People's March for Peace & Kindness
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The 6th Annual Young People’s March for Peace and Kindness will be held next month and is an opportunity to come together as a community in the spirit of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
WHEN: Monday, January 20th. Letter writing from 10:30-11:15 a.m., march to post office begins at 11:15 a.m.
WHERE: Letter writing takes place at the Bainbridge Island Library, 1270 Madison Ave. and the march will be about a mile to the post office in Winslow.
WHAT: Participants are encouraged to bring signs, banners, friends and stamps. Addresses and inspiration provided.
This event is held with thanks to Bainbridge Island School District, KRL, and the BISD Multicultural Advisory Council. Questions or enthusiasms: awillhoit@bisd303.org
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JANUARY
20: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (No School); Young People's March starting at 10:30 a.m.
22-24: High School Finals (Half Days); WMS Conferences (No School)
22: Commodore K-8 Info Night @ 6 p.m.
23: El Velero Kindergarten Info Night @ 6 p.m.
30: School Board Meeting @ 5:45 p.m
January is School Board Appreciation Month
FEBRUARY
11: Eagle Harbor Info Night @ 6:30 p.m.
12: BHS Future Freshman Night @ 6:30 p.m.
13: School Board Meeting @ 5:45 p.m.
17: Presidents' Day (No School)
18-21: Mid-Winter Break (No School)
27: School Board Meeting @ 5:45 p.m.
February is Black History Month
MARCH
5: x̌alilc Kindergarten Visit @ 9 a.m.
6: Blakely Kindergarten Visit @ 9 a.m.; Incoming Sakai Parent/Guardian Night @ 6:30 p.m.
7: Ordway Kindergarten Visit @ 9 a.m.
11: Incoming WMS Parent/Guardian Night @ 6:30 p.m.
13: School Board Meeting @ 5:45 p.m.
March is Women's History Month
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Click here to view events happening in our local community.
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Follow us on social media to stay up-to-date on what is happening within our school district, like a sneak preview of the kindergarten informational video.
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Non-Discrimination Statement
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Bainbridge Island School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts of America and other designated youth groups. The following employee has been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Kristen Haizlip, Civil Rights Coordinator and Title IX Compliance Officer 8489 Madison Ave. N, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110; 206-780-1058; khaizlip@bisd303.org
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