Coho Connection 03/11/25

Dear Sakai Families,

After concluding a unit on Japanese American internment during World War Two, last Wednesday, we held our annual Leaving Our Island Day for 6th-grade students. It’s an immensely impactful day in which students hear from survivors and survivors' families. If you have a 6th-grade student, I hope you have already discussed with them what they learned and their reflections. Our students were well prepared with questions and were very engaged and attentive. If your family hasn't visited the Japanese Exclusion Memorial recently, it’s a good time to visit with the 83rd anniversary of the forced removal of Japanese Americans from Bainbridge Island coming up on March 30th.

This week is Education Support Professionals Week. At Sakai, we have such an amazing team of office staff, custodians, paraeducators, recess and lunch supervisors, crossing guards, bus drivers, maintenance staff, and food service staff all working to support our kids. Our classified staff are the backbone of our school and we are so grateful for them! The Family Dare this week is to identify a classified staff member who serves your student and send them a message of gratitude (student-made letters are priceless).

Have a great week, Sakai!

Drew

WHAT: Woodward Incoming Parent/Guardian Night

WHEN: Tuesday, March 11th, 6:30 - 8 pm

  

WHERE: Woodward Gym

This will be an informational night for all 6th grade parents/guardians who will have students at Woodward next year.

Woodward PTO will have spirit wear available for purchase.

Our Morning classes of pottery are finishing up and we will be starting creating the afternoon's classes pottery pieces, T. W. and Th. this week. Meanwhile, the morning group will be doing a pointillism project and finishing glazing. It is busy. Special Thank you to Dianne Hartpence for volunteering to help out as well as my personal volunteer, Rodney Hitchcock. 

Have a great week.

Maggie Hitchcock

Art Specialist

WHAT: Sakai Choir sings at Mariners vs. New York Yannkees game

WHEN: Monday, May 12th, 6:40 pm

  

WHERE: T-Mobile Park

Tickets are being sold at a discounted rate through and part of the proceeds go to supporting our choir program. We hope to see you at the game on May 12, Seattle Mariners v. New York Yankees! Use the QR code or fevo link below to get access to the discounted tickets. Deadline to purchase is May 9th."

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Ms. Gibbs via email. kregan@bisd303.org. 

Go Sakai, Go Mariners, and GO CHOIR!

 Fevo Link

Join PTO at Sister's Cider House for Parents' Night Out on Wednesday, March 19th, 5-8 pm.

As you prepare your family for emergencies, you can help the BISD schools prepare, too! The collective BISD PTOs are holding a fundraiser to restock emergency supplies across all schools. Your purchase will support all BISD schools and PTOs in their efforts to ensure all classrooms have sufficient emergency supplies.

The fundraiser runs March 3rd through May 4th. Use the promo code BISD303 when you check out to make sure that our PTOs receive the 30% credit for your purchase. If you have students in more than one school, you will receive the same fundraiser information from each school.

 

If you have any photos from events throughout the year, we want to see them! 

Ideas for pictures to include:

Please submit any photos to anniegphotography@gmail.com or via text 206-799-0228.

We have several upcoming volunteer opportunities. Thank you for considering signing up to help us out.

As the weather gets colder and a little less outdoor-recess-y, our awesome Sakai staff would like to provide a game room alternative during lunch recess!

Game Room will be availabe during recess on "B" or "C" specialist days T-F. We would love one parent volunteer to supervise each of these. Please review the available slots below snag one or more if you are able. Thank you!

Please remember that all volunteers who help in the classroom, on field trips, and other various activities must be cleared by the district: Volunteering with BISD. The approval process can take up to two weeks. Once approved, you are ready to volunteer and your approval is valid for two years.

Please bring your driver's license or id each time you sign into any school in the district.

BISD’s attendance campaign!

BISD believes that student attendance and engagement are essential components of understanding and nurturing the social and emotional well-being of our students. 

SHOW UP as your best self and SHOW OUT by being a part of BISD’s community of learners with unique skills, talents, and passions! 

Simply showing up to class is not always easy, but something to be proud of as a foundational part of being a student. You can show out by positively influencing your class and school with your voice and talents.

We deeply value your students and are excited to see them in class each day. Our goal is to instill a sense of pride in cultivating healthy habits and embracing the identity of being a student. This marks the beginning of our ongoing partnership to improve school attendance district-wide.

If you are facing challenges in motivating your student to attend school or encounter barriers in supporting their attendance, we encourage you to reach out to a counselor or administrator at your student’s school for assistance.

Look for stats on how attendance impacts learning and helpful resources to strengthen students’ resolve in future newsletters. And, look at BISD attendance data from a recent presentation to the school board. Attendance Presentation

Two years ago, BISD underwent a communications audit, which included a survey. This was a valuable tool and helped set communication goals to improve our practices. It is time again to evaluate what is working and how we can improve.

Please take the communication survey (links below) to share your opinions. You are not asked to provide your name/email address, and your responses will remain anonymous (unless you choose to identify yourself in the comment section). 

The survey takes only a few minutes to complete and will close on Friday, March 14, 2025. Your honest feedback helps shape the focus for next year (and beyond). Curious about how we use the survey data? Check out this report.

We are pleased to offer the 2025 Girls Exploring Math & Science Event (GEMS) again at Olympic College, Bremerton Campus on Saturday, March 22nd. 

The small fee that was charged in prior years has been removed this year, so we hope the event is more accessible. Please note there are concurrent parent/guardian workshops as well – also free! 

11: Woodward Information Night for 6th Grade Parents/Guardians, WMS Gym 6:30 PM

18-19: Whale Tales - 5th Grade

19: PTO Parents Night Out, Sister's Cider House 5-8 PM

20: PTO Meeting 9:00 AM

21: Choir Club Concert Field Trip - Poulsbo Middle School

31-April 4: Salmon Release

7-11: Spring Break - No School