Coho Connection 04/22/25

Dear Sakai Families,

We had a wonderful Cherry Blossom Festival on Friday. It was so fun to gather under the trees at lunch and eat together!

Bike to School Day is on May 16th. We will be having a practice ride on May 9th. So far, we only have one volunteer. If you can, please consider signing up to volunteer. Bike to School Day is a really fun day at Sakai and a good opportunity to reinforce safe biking habits and healthy choices. Aside from biking to and from school, students will also get to ride their bikes at recess on a course outlined on the field (complete with BIPD speedometer). We need lots of help to make it a safe and successful day. Also, if your child would like to participate but doesn’t have a bike, let me know. We have received some bikes in great shape we can loan.

In COHO this week our focus was on mindset and asked students to complete a difficult task and then discuss the difference between a fixed and growth mindset. They did wonderful! This week's Family Dare is to discuss, “How is having a growth mindset valuable to learning?” Consider sharing with your student a time you struggled with this and how you overcame it to learn.

 

Have a wonderful week, Sakai!

Drew

In an effort to assure a fair and consistent district-wide placement procedure, the following process has been adopted: The teaching staff will provide the building principal and counselor with the necessary information concerning all students considered for placement in the next year’s classrooms. The Sakai placement team receives information from current 5th grade teachers. The principal has final responsibility for classroom assignments. 

Parents/Guardians may provide additional information to assist the staff in meeting the needs of their child if they feel it is necessary. Please be brief and specific.

Student placement is one of the most important things we do. A great deal of time and effort is put into this process to provide a placement where each child will succeed. Mr. Crandall, Sakai Principal, receives information from each 5th grade teacher about their students. Along with the parent/guardian input forms, the Sakai Placement Team (Principal, Dean of Students, Counselors, and Special Education Teachers) uses this information to determine the placement. Our goal is to create balanced supportive learning communities. The majority of students are well equipped to adjust to any classroom placement.

Beth Hebert, ehebert@bisd303.org, 206-780-6506

Anita Watson, awatson@bisd303.org, 206-780-6561

Sakai School Counselors

All families are welcome to attend and watch our very talented students perform. 

WHAT: Sakai Talent Show

WHEN:  Friday, May 2nd, 6:30 - 8:00 PM

WHERE: Gym

Please remember that students watching the show MUST be accompanied by an adult.

As we prepare to set our students up for Smarter Balanced Assessments (SBA), we are asking that each student bring in a set of wired headphones or earbuds to use. These should be in a plastic bag labeled with the student's name and homeroom teacher. We ask that they are left at school for the duration of the testing window and can be taken home when the student is finished.

Thank you for helping Sakai set our students up for success!

All tests begin at 8:55 and end at lunch time.

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

This year, we’re going Back to Camp to celebrate our amazing staff and show them just how much we appreciate them! We’ve planned a full week of fun, food, and surprises—but we need your help to make it unforgettable.

We’re collecting donations to stock our “camp” with snacks, treats, and supplies. Please sign up HERE, or shop directly from our Amazon Wish List. Local purchases are always welcome—just let us know so we can update the list (contact details in sign-up genius).

If “magically delicious” hadn’t already been taken, it would perfectly describe this yummy, crunchy combination of Bob’s Red Mill Old Fashioned Rolled Oats, Pepitas, unsweetened flaked coconut, dried cherries (as a nod to our Sonoji Sakai heritage and traditional Hanami cherry blossom celebration)—mixed with a blend of honey, maple syrup, brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla and some love from Sakai students.

Quantities are limited to 52 Special Edition bags of 10+ ounces of priceless Coho Crunch granola for a suggested donation price of $12. We hope you love it as much as we do! Pick up purchased product from the Sakai office this Friday!

We want to hear from you! Questions? Feedback? Do you want us to make more? Sell it at the Farmers’ Market? Email Erica Beyer: president.sakai@bainbridgeptos.org 

THANK YOU, Jason Sacho, our Central Kitchen Hero; Elisha Herzog, our Chef; and our Awesome Parent Volunteers! 

Purchase link: https://buy.stripe.com/9AQ4hngWegs34lq9AD

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.

https://bainbridgeptos.org/ptocc-resources/ 

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

Bike to School Day is on May 16th. We will be having a practice ride on May 9th. We need many volunteers. If you can, please consider signing up to volunteer. Bike to School Day is a really fun day at Sakai and a good opportunity to reinforce safe biking habits and healthy choices.

As our Spring weather becomes a little unpredictable and may be less-than-outdoor-recess-ideal, our awesome Sakai staff would like to provide a game room alternative during lunch recess! Game Room will be available 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.

As the weather warms up, our Lost and Found is filling up with winter wear.

Please have your student check if any of the coats, and also lunch boxes and water bottles, belong to your student.

To check for items left on district buses, please check the photo gallery on the Transportation Lost & Found page.

The Annual Back-to-school Check-in (ABC) process is now open. This annual process lets us know that your student(s) are returning to our schools for 2025-26 and allows parents/guardians to review annual information. 

The ABCs must be completed* for all students attending BISD schools in 2025-26, including both new and returning students. Access the ABCs by logging into your Family Access account. It should take about 15 minutes (or less!) to complete. 

If you need assistance with the ABC process (such as translation, accessing technology, or other questions), please get in touch with our office.

 

NOT RETURNING? If your current K-11th grade student is not returning to BISD schools next fall, please let our office know.

If state funding was all we had to support our schools, we’d already be getting ready for the last day of school!

Join Bainbridge Schools Foundation and Bainbridge Public School Advocates at Sisters’ Cider House on Wednesday, April 30 from 5–7 PM for a casual, family-friendly event marking the symbolic “State’s Last Day of School” and the kickoff to BSF’s final fundraising push of the year. This spring, BSF aims to raise $100,000 to help fund critical programs and educators across Bainbridge Island School District. Bonus: all spring gifts are being matched up to $40,000! If you’ve been waiting to make your gift, you can double your impact now. Learn more or give at www.bainbridgeschoolsfoundation.org

Free summer program for students entering 6th grade in fall 2025 - Register now for the Future Focused Summer Academy! Students who are entering sixth grade in fall 2025 will participate in this two-week program to learn self-regulation skills, mindfulness, goal setting, and hope as they explore interests, strengths, and career and future pathways. Coordinated by Kitsap Strong, held at the Olympic College campus in Bremerton. Two sessions available: July 14-24 and August 4-14. Register here. Contact: promise.partner@kitsapstrong.org.

For a list of other local events happening in our community, visit BISD's Community Events page. 

*Bainbridge Island School District does not sponsor this event, and the district assumes no responsibility for it. In consideration of the privilege to distribute materials, the Bainbridge Island School District shall be held harmless from any cause of action filed in any court or administrative tribunal arising out of the distribution of these materials, including costs, attorney's fees, and judgments or awards.

26: Choir Club Amabile Concert 1:30 PM

2: Talent Show 6:30 PM

7: SBA ELA CAT Testing 5th & 6th grade 9:00 AM

8: SBA ELA PT Testing 5th & 6th grade 9:00 AM

9: PTO Mini Mart and Popcorn Day

12: Choir Club National Anthem at Mariners Game 6:40 PM

14: SBA Math CAT Testing 5th & 6th grade 9:00 AM

15: SBA Math PT Testing 5th & 6th grade 9:00 AM

15: PTO Meeting 9:00 AM

16: Bike to School Day

20 : SBA Science - 5th grade only 9:00 AM

26 : Memorial Day - No school

28 : 6th Grade Restoration Point Field Trip 10:15 AM

29 : Coho Ambassadors Field Trip to Ordway 9:00 AM