BFPP NEWS
Friday, February 4th, 2022
Principal's Corner
Dear BFPP Families,
First, let me just acknowledge registration. Thank you for your patience. There are way more questions than answers, but we are learning together. Still trying to work with Data Solutions to figure out what was causing the glitches but from their view (and our office's view) it appeared that all of the right buttons were pushed. We'll keep working with them and fingers crossed things will be smoother next round. There are still lots of openings so if you see a course you want to add just ask your learning plan partner and we'll get you in there.
We are very excited about having more family access to campus. Please, carefully review the information below. With all of that in mind we wanted to also share some of our main/core beliefs.
You Matter; You Belong - We value each and every member of our BFPP family. We strive to ensure that everyone knows how very important our families are to the running or our school. We hope to provide family friendly spaces, opportunities for gathering and learning, ways to contribute your gifts and events that celebrate what we all bring to this place.
We build the plane as we fly it - From the beginning we have espoused that this BFPP adventure is a partnership. We make decisions together, we collectively problem solve, we bring together divergent ideas and we build something better together. We truly achieve more together than alone. This is why we didn't have a handbook for a few years, we didn't want to assume the answers or how things would be, rather, we created that together with our families. To this end, we are still building. We may not always have the answers, but we are committed to working together to find them.
Our 4 Common Agreements: Be Kind, Be Safe, Be Responsible, Be YOU! - This is another example of something collectively created. These four tenets were developed with families through surveys and Thought Partner meetings. We hope they guide all of our interactions; between students, families and staff. They will be reviewed during classes and we hope that you will also have conversations at home.
Thanks for making this place a magical place to be!
-Dr. K
Upcoming Events
Mon. Feb. 7th: Quarter 3/Semester 2 First Day of Enrichment Classes
Mon. Feb 21st: Presidents' Day, No School
Wed. March 2nd: Connection Parenting Workshops begin (see below)
Tues. March 8th: BFPP Fundraiser Day at Village Books (see below)
Tuesdays afternoons: BFPP Field Trips (see below)
Families in the Building: Covid Procedures
We are very excited to announce that we will be able to start having families back on campus. We have waited a long time to ensure that we can do so safely, all the while fully appreciating how it is vital to our mission and vision; we are a Family Partnership Program after all!
At school, please wear a well-fitting mask, practice social distancing, wash hands frequently, and stay home if feeling sick.
Volunteers
All parents and guardians remaining on-site with open access to the campus are asked to complete the district volunteer application. This application includes uploading a copy of your picture id and COVID vaccine card. After your volunteer application has been approved, you will receive a badge to wear on campus designating your Volunteer Status with open access to the campus.
Visitors
Visitors to campus for school events, dropping off students, meetings, library use, curriculum check out, etc. do not need to have a badge.
Students and Siblings
All children must stay with their adult when not attending class.
North Star
Only teachers can "North Star;" families may not be in charge of supervising one another's children.
In the video you will:
- Witness your BFPP staff modeling risk-taking by role playing for you in a silly way.
- Watch us teach you how to navigate our new protocols as we come back together in the building.
- Learn the difference between a Volunteer (approved paperwork), a Visitor (no paperwork) and drop-off (15 minutes or less).
- Hear about the importance of wearing a badge to show Volunteer status (when paperwork is approved).
- Learn about the different events Visitors can attend: Learning Together Workshops, LP meetings, consultations, and visits to the library and curriculum room.
- See that you can drop off your kiddo for class as long as you are less than 15 minutes
- Learn that the only North Star is a teacher. Families can not serve as North Stars for one another.
- Be reminded that siblings must always stay with parents if they are not in class.
Volunteer Application
Here is the link to the Bellingham Public Schools volunteer paperwork: https://bellinghamschoolsvolunteers.myschooldata.net/
And a link to the webpage with more information on the process:
https://bellinghamschools.org/about/volunteer-program/
Here are a few things we know about the Volunteer Application process:
- It can take up to an hour to complete
- You need to be able to scan or upload your driver's license/photo ID (we have a scanner at school)
- It requires proof of Covid vaccination
- You will receive a confirmation email one week from the time you turn in your application
- When you are approved, your name will be added to our school wide approval list and you'll get a badge for open campus access.
Please contact district volunteer coordinator Jennifer Gaer with questions.
Connection Parenting Workshops
Dear Community,
If you strive to live your healthiest, most creative parenting life and you are looking for a place where you are seen and valued, consider joining us in community in The Connection Parenting Group, in-person.
The Connection Parenting Group is a carefully facilitated group of parents coming together to learn new parenting tools and to share the parenting journey in a safe and supported community. During our six weeks together, we will:
- Meet in-person every Wednesday, beginning March 2nd from 1-2:30 (teen edition) or 10:00am – 11:30am for eight weeks.
- Learn or revisit skills such as: emotional and self-regulation strategies for kids and adults, recognizing and managing “flipped lids”, organizing family meetings, realistic self-care and much more.
- Get grounded in practical tools inspired by Jane Nelson (Positive Discipline), Mark Bracket (Permission to Feel), Dan Siegel (Brainstorm), and Brene Brown.
- Create accountability partners to help set intentions as you learn, practice and implement new skills.
- Get real about the parenting journey by acknowledging the difficult parts and celebrating the joys.
If this sounds supportive and you are ready to say yes, please consider the following:
- This will be a closed group of 8-10 people.
- Each workshop will invite active engagement. You will need to carve out time and space just for you for the full 1.5 hours for all eight weeks.
- Creating and maintaining community is one of the main intentions for this group, which means we will use a variety of interactive tools and strategies to engage with one another.
If you are ready to RSVP simply reach out with a YES in an email to erica.wolverton@bellinghamschools.org and I will get you all set up with the necessary details. If you have further questions, please ask.
I can’t wait to gather with you.
Warmly,
Erica Wolverton
Family Field Trips: Tuesday Afternoons
Another exciting way we are nurturing growing connections among students and families is with Tuesday afternoon field trips for families. Join up with other BFPP homeschoolers to meet new friends, learn together, and explore opportunities throughout our community.
Think of these as anything from hikes in the park to museum visits, insider business tours, service projects, art tours, and other interest you want discover together. There is no registration process for these events.
Stay tuned and find an updated list in the coming weeks in our BFPP Newsletter released every other Friday.
BFPP Fundraiser Day at Village Books
Black History Month
From Bellingham Public Schools' Department of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, this newsletter is filled to the brim with thought-provoking teaching and learning resources for Black History Month.
We are examining the month through the lens - Rooted in Blackness - as an opportunity to review and learn the foundational contributions Black people and culture have made to create the world we exist in today.
You will receive a weekly guide of daily activations for the whole family through a four week curriculum full of activities, readings, visuals and journal prompts to guide the young person in your life through the history and impact of Black people and culture.
Week One: Black American Innovators in the Culinary Arts
Week Two: Black American Innovators in STEAM
Week Three: Black American Innovators in the Arts
Week Four: Black American Innovators in Government
You can sign up for this FREE monthly offering by clicking here!
Congratulations Future City Team!
We're proud to announce that our local team, Arbores, achieved second place at the regional Future City competition during National Engineers Week.
The team consists of committed BFPP students and Bellingham homeschoolers, who designed their city based on a circular, zero-waste economy in the Amazon Rainforest. Many hours of brainstorming, researching, essay-writing, model-building, recording, and Q&A preparation paid off, and their team presentation was received well by the curious judges.
Congratulations to: Aubrielle Blum, Marley Lotts, Finn Mason-Zollfrank, Michael Mittag, Selah Shelsta, Lydia Thomas, Zander Tran, and Caleb Venable!
A big shout out to our team's mentors, Ruth Thomas and Jennifer Thomas, for their dedicated and savvy guidance!
If your children are curious about the program, you can visit https://futurecity.org/ to learn more.
Family Resource Center: Winter Helping Hands Drive
The Winter Helping Hands Drive is still running and needs lots of support from the community! The number of students and families who receive assistance from the Bellingham Public Schools' Family Resource Center has increased greatly, and shelves are often bare. 100% of donated funds are dedicated to assist families with: personal care items (laundry detergent, toilet paper, diapers, etc), clothing, household items, health care, transportation, and other unmet, vital needs.
You can donate here.
If you prefer to submit your tax-deductible donation by check, please send to: FFRC, P.O. Box 24, Bellingham, WA 98227-0024.
If you would like to run a donation drive for personal care items with your friends or coworkers, please email: friendsofthefrc@gmail.com. Your help matters!
With Gratitude,
Friends of the Family Resource Center
Math Talk: Double Days!
When Principal Baehr mentioned two fun dates this month, 2/2/22 and 2/22/22, my mind instantly went to doubling. Here are some math activities to celebrate doubles days.
One Grain of Rice is an Indian folktale in which a witty girl tricks a greedy king using her knowledge of the power of doubling. Many read alouds of this book are available on YouTube. Try a doubling challenge with an ice cube tray and rice grains, placing one grain in the first cube space, and doubling in each space after the first. What happens?
Any multiplication problem can be solving using just doubling and addition, using an algorithm commonly referred to as Ancient Egyptian multiplication.
Any multiplication problem can be solving using just doubling and addition, using an algorithm commonly referred to as Ancient Egyptian multiplication.
For example, if you wanted to multiply 17 and 23, you would write the problem horizontally on the page as above, with a line between the numbers to create two columns.
Check out wikipedia for more information on Ancient Egyptian mathematics and see links to pictures of papyrus showing problems.
Numberphile has a neat episode by entertainer Johnny Ball about the connection between this multiplication method and the similar Russian Peasant method, also known as the Ethiopian method, and binary numbers.
And here is another BBC four minute video showing the Ethiopian method.
This can be extended into a programming exercise for creating an algorithm for multiplying numbers as shown here.
All those twos also reminded me of a Yahtzee. Your family could celebrate 2/22/22 with a game of Yahtzee and a talk about probability.
Some closing questions to ponder......
If 2/22/22 is the next Yahtzee Day, when was the last Yahtzee Day?
When will the next one be?
How old will you be on the next Yahtzee day?
Would 11/11/1111 be a “Super Yahtzee Day”?
Warmly,
Rachel Throolin
Ocean and Climate Science for Homeschool Middle Schoolers
Fridays, February 18 - March 11, 1:00-3:00pm
Join this 4-part class for homeschool students grades 6-8 at the Padilla Bay Interpretive Center. We'll use interactive, hand-on activities to explore ocean and climate science.
Topics will include ocean currents, ocean and atmosphere interactions, the natural carbon cycle and human influences on a changing climate. This is a very active class, with hands-on activities, discussion, and reflection.
We'll meet in person, observing COVID-smart precautions such as masking and distancing.
Questions? Please email Susan Wood. You can register here.
Feb 8: Vote!
Voters will decide on a bond on Feb. 8 regarding facilities for Bellingham Public Schools. This bond includes the highest priority needs that were identified by a districtwide task force this fall.
Here is a video explaining one of the projects included in this bond - building a 15th elementary school.
And here is another detailing the safety, sustainability, and accessibility projects this bond hopes to address.
More details are on our website or check out our progress on facilities projects built from past bonds. If you have questions about the bond, feel free to contact the Department of Communications and Community Relations, 360-676-6520.
Thank you and remember to turn in your ballot by February 8th!
Children’s Co-Op Preschool Returns
Hello BFPP families! You may have noticed some younger friends around Larrabee school recently. We are happy to announce the return of our preschool classes to the indoor setting, starting this month. Our preschoolers have had a wonderful time moving back into our indoor classroom and they are excited to be your neighbors! While we love to wave hello from a safe distance, many of our students are too young to be vaccinated. We are working hard to follow social distancing guidelines and appreciate your help in keeping them safe.
What this means:
CCP will have use of the gym or designated outdoor space from 8:45- 9:45 am.
Our classroom is for our students only at this time.
The hallway must be cleared and open so our students can transition safety to and from outdoors or the restroom.
We thank you so much for your understanding and flexibility! It has been a challenging time for everyone and we look forward to getting back a new normal and being a part of the Larrabee school community.
All the best,
The CCP Board and Teachers
Mount Baker Theater: Education Series
Small Island Big Song ~ Wed. Feb 2nd @ 1:15pm
Toying With Science ~ Wed. March 15th @ 1:15pm
Collision of Rhythm ~ Monday, April 11th @ 1:15pm
College Bound Scholarship
Attention families with middle schoolers! Middle school is the only time that families can sign up for the College Bound Scholarship Program. The College Bound Program covers the average cost of tuition, some fees, and a small book allowance at over 65 Washington State colleges, universities and technical schools.
Dinner Program & Whatcom County Food and Meal Resources List
Bellingham Public Schools serves hot dinner at no cost to all children 18 and under. These meals are offered from 5 to 6 p.m. Monday to Thursday through June 16, 2022.
Accompanying adults are charged $4.75 per meal — please bring cash or check. Please plan to eat onsite in the Shuksan cafeteria.
Please note: Dinner will not be served on school holidays or on the following all school early dismissal days: Nov. 4, Nov. 24, Dec. 9, Feb. 10, March 10 and April 28.
See below for a useful list of other food and meal resources throughout Whatcom County!