BFPP NEWS
Friday, January 14th, 2022
Principal's Corner
Dear BFPP Families,
With the overcast skies, and extended darkness this time of year it can sometimes be hard to find the light. Here are some interesting resources.
If we work together and listen to the littles, we too can proceed to lift the sky. Listen to this story for how the first peoples of the Salish Sea did just that.
The Changer Story: Lifting the Sky (retold by Natosha Gobin)
Will Smith’s new series on Disney “Welcome to Earth”, check out Episode 2 “Descent into Darkness”.
Check out these books in Epic
How about a little science about light and sound waves?
“Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” - Dumbledore of Harry Potter
Warmly,
-Dr. K
Upcoming Events
Mon. Jan. 17th: No School - MLK Jr. Day (see below)
Tues. Jan. 18th-Jan. 20th: MAP Testing
Wed. Jan. 19th @ 4-5pm: Conversation with Dr. Baker (see below)
Wed. Jan 19th @3:30-4:30: K-8 LEO Information Session (see below)
Mon. Jan. 24th & Tues. Jan. 25th: Family School Pictures (see below)
Registration For Second Semester
Thanks for your patience and understanding. We are making a few minor date adjustments to help give the teachers are little more collaborative time that was lost due to snow delays and closures at the beginning of the month.
Thurs. Jan. 27th: Quarter 3/Semester 2 Class Schedule Published in AL*e
Fri. Jan. 28th: End of Quarter 2/Semester 1 Classes
Mon. Jan. 31st: No School
Tues. Feb. 1st-Feb. 4th: Mid-Year Learning Plan Partner Check Ins
Wed. Feb. 2nd & Thurs. Feb. 3rd: Enrichment Class Registration
Mon. Feb. 7th: Quarter 3/Semester 2 First Day of Enrichment Classes
Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebrations
Register here to join NSEA and the City of Bellingham for a MLK Jr. Day of Service Work Party on Monday, January 17th from 9-12am at Squalicum Creek Park.
WWU is hosting a virtual Martin Luther King Day event on Mon. Jan 17th from 11:45-1:30pm. This event includes a live interview with Dr. Ibram X. Kendi along with other speeches and performances from members of our community. Click here for more info and the Zoom link.
Whatcom Human Rights Task Force's 24th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Human Rights Conference will take place January 13th- 15th. Online workshops will create spaces for the community to share our stories and renew our commitment to the ideals that Dr. King held dear and believed deeply that this country could attain only by working together and acknowledging our shared history: ideals of equity, freedom, and self-determination. For more information on the many workshops or to sign up, please click here.
Join a conversation with Superintendent Dr. Baker
Tuesday, January 19th at 4-5pm.
Contact Kate Baehr for the Zoom link.
Dr. Baker will be joined by Brad Swanson to share the recommendations from a recent Facilities Planning Task Force. They will also share information about the bond measure that will be on the February 2022 ballot. There will be an opportunity for questions and answers regarding the bond – and likely other topics if there’s time.
School Pictures with Lynn Tyler King
LEO: Upcoming Info Session & Middle School WA State History Option
If you're interested in learning more about the opportunities LEO offers, read on.
Through LEO, your 7th or 8th grader can access an online WA State History course. Ask your LP for details or attend the info session about to learn more.
Learning Experience Online (LEO) UPDATES
** Important information to read if you are currently using LEO this semester and/or if you are thinking about adding it to your curriculum supports next semester. Please read all the way to the end.**
Other Important Dates and Details for LEO Learners:
- Information about Registration for Semester 2 LEO Courses: Please watch for an important email next week with information on registration for online courses. A registration link will be emailed for K-2 and 3-8 LEO courses as LEARNERS WILL NOT BE AUTOMATICALLY REIGISTERED FOR SEM 2 LEO COURSES.
- Grades 3-8 Edgenuity Course Dates for Semester 1: Based on feedback from families, we are adjusting the Semester 1 end date and Semester 2 start date for Edgenuity courses. New Dates: Semester 1 end date is now 2/1/22 and the Semester 2 start date is now 2/4/22.
- WA State History: Connect with your LP if you want your 7th or 8th grader to take the LEO WA History course for second semester. You can register your student via the emailed link to be sent next week.
- K-8 LEO Information Session on Wednesday, 1/19, 3:30-4:30 (Zoom): https://bellinghamschools.zoom.us/j/7398540385
3-8 LEO Semester 1 Course Completion
When your learner is nearly finished a LEO course, here are a few things to know:
- Course is Complete After the Final Test: When your learner finishes the final test in each course, the course is marked “COMPLETE.” This means that the course is closed and there are no longer options to redo or update any assignments. If you want your learner to make changes, please have them do so before they take the final test. Completed courses will disappear from the course tiles on the home page.
- All Course Progress is Saved in AL*e: When classes are complete, LPs will add this information as learning progress in AL*e.
K-2 LEO Changes:
- No Learning Menus for Semester 2: In response to data and feedback received from families, the learning menus posted in Seesaw are being replaced by more Seesaw activities. Activities will focus on art, STEAM, reading, math, writing, and social-emotional development. You will also see videos by Teachers Sammy and Kristy as they model and demonstrate learning opportunities. Also, for 2nd Grade, students will notice additional Seesaw activities geared towards more complex learning tasks.
- Please Continue to Provide Feedback for K-2 LEO: We are listening and welcome your feedback and insights. Please keep sharing your thoughts with your LPP’s!
Laptop Maintenance
To keep your school laptop running smoothly:
- Plug In Laptops on Friday Nights: To get the update to your Windows platform, leave laptops plugged in overnight on Fridays. This helps limit those pesky messages that sometimes pop up saying that the computer is going to restart in # minutes right when you are in the middle of something.
- Clear the Cache: As students use programs such as Edgenuity, Seesaw, Dreambox, Lexia and others, the browser’s cache gets filled with cookies, history, and memory. This can cause little glitches at times in the programs. So, every few weeks it is a good idea to clear the cache. Please use the link below to watch a quick video to clear the cache in Chrome (it works the same in other web browsers): Clear the Cache
Promise Tomorrow Initiative
The Promise Tomorrow Initiative is back! This optional opportunity for students in grades 3 and up is project–based learning at its best. Students will work in teams on projects that envision creative solutions to transition to a better world. Their projects will take multi-disciplinary approaches to innovate technologies, designs, or plans that forge connections in their communities to create positive change.
Student collaborative groups will work across grades, meet weekly online, and be supported by a volunteer and supervised by the coordinator.
Program registration is January 3-19.
To learn more or to register please go to https://bellinghamschools.org/program/promise-tomorrow/
ANIMAL CROSSING CLUB
1/17 Update: This club is currently full! Thanks for all your quick responses.
Heidi and Colbie Buck invite you to join a Zoom Animal Crossing Club!
Head to your airport and fly over to connect with other BFPP kids playing Animal Crossing on Nintendo Switch! We'll visit each other through a Dodo Code and socialize while checking out each other's islands!
Families will need:
- Nintendo Switch console
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons game
- Nintendo Switch Online subscription to be able to visit other islands
Melissa, Heidi and Colbie's mom, will be on hand to help ensure that island visitors are kind and respectful, but otherwise the kids will just get a fun hour of play with their friends! Each week, we'll plan ahead to visit the islands of 2 friends.
Never used a Dodo code? We'll walk you through it! You do need an active Nintendo Switch Online subscription in order to travel to each other's islands.
Hope to see you there!
Possible days/times: Tuesday or Thursday afternoon
Max # of spots in the club: 8
Fraction Resource: Frax
Dorky Dance Family Fun
Saturday, Jan. 29th 10-11am "Down on the Farm"
Saturday, Feb. 5th 10-11am "Halloween in February"
Saturday, Feb. 12th 10-11am "Wizards and Superheroes"
These events are sponsored by the Sno-Isle Libraries. If zoom events are your cup of tea, check out their wide variety of offerings, including storytimes for all ages, drum and dance workshops, lunar new year celebrations, craft times, and more.