Dear Sunnyland Families,

Welcome March! This is an expectant and hopeful time of year, as we transition from the darker days of winter to a greater number of daylight hours and more sunny days. At school I am seeing more frequent smiles on those sunny days along with a lightness as our kids skip out to recess and come into lunch afterwards red-faced and happily exerted. Academically it’s a time of renewal as well, as we are entering the second semester. As you read report cards from the first half of the year I hope you had a chance to celebrate the strengths of your child as well as reflect on opportunities for growth in the coming months. One of the growth opportunities we are working on school wide is helping each of our children become independent learners who take ownership for their learning. Zaretta Hammond, author of Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain, describes independent learners as having the following attributes.

Independent Learners:

•Use strategies to tackle new tasks

•Regularly try new tasks without help

•Have thinking strategies for getting unstuck

•Have learned how to get and use information from long-term memory

We are working hard to provide opportunities for all children to develop these thinking skills and habits of mind. You can help foster independent learners at home as well. Even small moves like waiting an extra minute before stepping in to help, or answering a child’s question with a more targeted question to prompt their thinking will nudge them in the direction of becoming an independent learner.

Finally, I would like to thank you for the support and continual warmth you have extended to our staff, students, and each other in the past couple of months. Our community is strong and I have been encouraged and inspired in the ways we continue to care for and empower each other. Thank you for welcoming me into this new role. I can’t imagine being anywhere else or doing anything else. It has been and continues to be an honor to serve our students, staff, and all of you. If we haven’t connected yet, I am interested in hearing from you. Whether that’s a conversation just to let me know more about you and your family, or concerns, questions, or celebrations you want to share, I’d love to check in. You can usually find me in the entry before school or outside on the blacktop after school.

Warmly,

Amy Berreth

Bellingham Public Schools currently offers free hot dinner to all children 18 and under in the community. These meals are offered daily Mondays through Thursdays through June 4, 2020.

Dinner is served from 5 to 6 p.m. at Shuksan Middle School, located at 2717 Alderwood Avenue (at the corner of Northwest and Alderwood).

Please note: Accompanying adults are charged $4.25 All meals must be eaten onsite in the Shuksan cafeteria and “to go” options are not available. Dinner will not be served on the following

Thursdays that are middle school early dismissal days: Sept. 19, Oct. 31, Nov. 27, (Wed.),Dec. 12, Feb. 6, March 5, April 30.

The after-school dinner program is sponsored by the Child and Adult Care Food Program

(CACFP) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

For more information, contact Food Services for Bellingham Public Schools.

"Hello This is an update from your Common Threads Food Educator Diego! Classes will enjoy monthly cooking lessons through early March. Starting in December and into mid-January, students will prepare and taste a “confetti slaw” featuring produce from local farms and school gardens. Students will bring the recipe home: Look for it! If you’re interested in getting involved, please contact: diego@commonthreadsfarm.org - For more information please visit www.commonthreadsfarm.org"

--

Diego Moreira

Food Educator

Common Threads Farm

(360) 927-1590

Who do you call to clear your child’s attendance? Ms. Christina Ortiz at 360-676-6446, option 1 or email, Christina.Ortiz@bellinghamschools.org

When do I call?

• The day or night before and leave a message.
• The day of your child’s absence or the next day after receiving the auto call.

• Can send a note next day.

District Requirements?

Absences must be excused within 48 hours

ptasunnyland@gmail.com

Co-President – Ann Boustead 214-564-5201, aboustead@gmail.com

Co-President - Nickie Rail 760-917-0468, nickierail@gmail.com

Treasurer - Pat Kelly 360-325-5296, patmara@mac.com

Secretary - Megan Porter 801-319-3366, megan.leigh.porter@gmail.com

Enrichment - Abby Atkins 360-389-1805, sunnylandenrichment@gmail.com

Enrichment - Cari Chan 360-201-9547, ficus.cari@gmail.com

Communications - Allison Leckie 360-527-3096, allisonbj@gmail.com

Fundraising - Brianna Robbins 360-220-4770, Briannarobbinsrealestate@gmail.com

Attendance: 7:45-3:00 - Christina.ortiz@bellinghamschools.org

School starts 8:00 am

Dismissal at 2:30 pm

Thursday, early release day dismissal at 12:45 pm