Columbia Splash
May 2022
Good morning, Coho Families and Caregivers!
It is Spring and we are maximizing our relationships to really engage in fun learning as we close the year. Many of our students are engaged in garden learning. Fifth graders are presenting their culminating IB project, a student led and designed puppet show. Kindergarten is learning about weather and climate. Be sure to check out the video below that showcases some of that learning! We are proud of ALL of our Cohos.
https://bellingham.wistia.com/medias/oqx9y14hpl?embedType=async&videoFoam=true&videoWidth=640
Have a great week!
Minh
IN THIS EPISODE:
2. Upcoming Events
3. Calendar Updates
4. All Things COVID
5. Kindergarten Registration
6. Exhibition at Columbia
7. Free Dinner Program for Children
8. A Note From Our School Counselor
9. Meet-A-Truck Event
10. A Note From Our CPA
11. Keeping Students Information Updated
12. Safe Schools Reporting & Tip Line
SCHOOL DANCE: Our school dance was scheduled for May 6th, but will now be held at a later date. Please watch for information.
CHILDREN'S ART WALK: The 2022 Allied Arts Children's Art Walk was on Friday, May 6th. Student artwork from Columbia, as well as other local schools, are displayed at businesses and restaurants throughout downtown Bellingham. All of the art will be on display throughout the month of May.
CPA MEETING (last one of the year): May 19, 2022 at 6:30 PM
5th GRADE TRACK MEET: On June 3rd ALL 5th grade students from around the district will come together at Civic Field. This event showcases their learning, builds community, and is really fun!
CALENDAR UPDATES!
- May 20 are now regular school days. They were built into the calendar to account for “snow days.” We have had three districtwide closures due to flooding in November and snow in January. We will share more details about whether another make up day is needed.
- Our tentative last day is still June 17. We will wait to see how winter plays out before making final decisions about changing the last day of school.
- Please note that Monday, June 20 is the observed date for Juneteenth since the holiday occurs on a Sunday. If we need to extend the school year beyond June 17, there would be no school on June 20.
ALL THINGS COVID
Many families/classes received a message from our communications department that was sent on our school's behalf. There were a couple of mistakes that we own and I would like to clarify.
- ONE: You may have already received (or still might eventually receive) an email notification that there have been two or more Covid cases in your child's classroom over a two week period. These cases may or may not be connected and since we do not do interviews with families to learn the details of each case, we send the notification out of precaution.
- TWO: Sometimes we do know that cases are connected and did not spread in the school and/or class. If that becomes the case, our district health team continues to monitor. An example of this is if we know that there is are siblings who spread to each other, or that we learn of a slumber party where cases are connected.
- THREE: Medical information is private information. You may reach out to our bps.health@bellinghamschools.org health team to find out information on how many cases are in your child's classroom but to protect our family's health information, we do not disclose names of students and staff.
- FOUR: For the classes and families who received notification emails about masking for 10 days- per the direction and protocols of the Whatcom County Health Department, this applies to all staff and students in the class regardless of whether or not your child or a staff member has had Covid recently. If you did not receive this notification, masking will continue to be optional but please know that we do have Covid in our community.
- FIVE: If you received messaging about testing twice weekly, the Whatcom County Health Department allows schools to meet this protocol by sending tests home. You do not have to send proof that you have administered the test. The email mistakenly said test kits went home on Friday but these will go home on Monday. If you did want to access test kits before Monday afternoon, you can pick them up at school in the morning or free kits are provided at most fire stations in town.
- SIX: If positive, students must isolate for five days after symptom onset and return wearing a mask for days 6-10. See our COVID-19 webpages for more information and please monitor your child for symptoms.
- SEVEN: Our district follows Whatcom County Health Department and Washington State Health Department guidelines. Several families have already noted that these guidelines do have some differences than some guidelines you may read from the CDC. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to call 360-676-6455 or email bps.health@bellinghamschools.org if you have questions.
Kindergarten Registration: To register your child for school, please complete our online registration process. We can also provide the registration forms on paper upon request. Please call the office at 360-676-6413 if interested.
Children must be 5 before Sept. 1 to attend kindergarten. Kindergarten tours and open houses begin in May. Check with the office for early entrance opportunities.
What you need for registration:
- Your child’s birth certificate to verify date of birth and legal name
- Medically verified immunization records
- Proof of address (current utility bill or copy of lease)
- Parenting Plan (if applicable)
Still need help? Watch this video: "How to Enroll Online"
Exhibition at Columbia Elementary School
The PYP exhibition is an event where students are given the opportunity to share their understanding of a real-life issue or topic. It’s a great way to help students reflect on all their learning while developing skills of presentation and assessment.
The exhibition is one of the final experiences of the IB Primary Years Programme, done at the end of the final year. As part of the exhibition, students will be encouraged to explore and document their understanding of important topics and learn from each other.
There are a few main purposes of the exhibition. It aims to help students engage in a collaborative form of learning and inquiry, demonstrate agency with regards to their learning and demonstrate that they’ve learned and can enact the key qualities of the IB Learner Profile.
The IB Learner Profile encourages students to be:
- Knowledgeable
- Thinkers
- Communicators
- Open-minded
- Principled
- Caring
- Risk-takers
- Balanced
- Reflective
By exploring topics and demonstrating their understanding at the exhibition, students can show how they embody all these qualities and take them into account as part of their learning and life experiences.
This year will be Columbia’s first attempt at exhibition. Students in 5th grade worked in teams to research an issue of their choice. Then students worked with Allied Arts to learn about puppetry and performance, create puppets, and write scripts that supported their issue. They will perform their puppet show to a live and recorded audience. In addition, many students are working to organize an action project that align with the issue they researched.
After-school dinner program free for all children 18 and under
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. Dinner is served in the Shuksan Middle School cafeteria, located at 2717 Alderwood Avenue (at the corner of Northwest and Alderwood). It does not matter what school you attend in the district.
Accompanying adults are charged $4.75 per meal — please bring cash or check. Please plan to eat onsite in the Shuksan cafeteria.
The daily Monday through Thursday dinner menu is listed on the school menu webpage by day after the lunch listing.
Please note: Dinner will not be served on school holidays or on the following all school early dismissal days: March 10 and April 28.
Did you know? BSD Summer Sports/Activities Camps through Bellingham Parks and Recreation are back!
The City of Bellingham Parks and Recreation recently released the summer “Playbook”, a leisure magazine advertising some amazing recreation and athletic offerings throughout the city. Within the Playbook, BSD youth camps run by our HS Athletics programs are advertised on page 24. These BSD youth sports camps are led by HS coaches and are an awesome opportunity for students to get active, have fun with friends, and get to know the HS programs, coaches and athletes this summer. These camps also serve as fundraisers for BSD athletics programs. Link for more information (search for keywords “Bellingham” or “Sehome” or “Squalicum” or “Tennis” to see a list of camps at each high school: https://apm.activecommunities.com/Bellingham.
If families need help with summer camp costs:
- COB offers $200/person annual scholarships for Parks and Rec/Arne Hanna Programs (these scholarships will apply to a portion of the HS athletics camps).
- The Pass Program through Every Kid Sports provides up to $150 to athletes ages 4-18 for recreational sports programs. Families are expected to contribute $10 towards the camp or program.
- Blue Skies for Children in Bellingham provides funding through their Little Wishes programs for children experiencing homelessness, children who are in foster-care, or children who are eligible for free or reduced school lunches.
- Also, please contact your school counselor if you need assistance with registration or help navigating scholarship applications
Alisson.bonner@bellinghamschools.org
Office Hours: 7:30am-3:00pm
Monday - Friday
School Phone – 360.676.6413
City of Bellingham's Meet-A-Truck Event
The City of Bellingham and their Public Works Department invites everyone to check out the big trucks and equipment that keep our streets, storm drains, sewer and water lines running smoothly! The Meet-A-Truck event takes place any time between 1 to 3 p.m. on Thursday, May 19 coinciding with the elementary early dismissal.
The trucks will be outside Bellingham City Hall at 210 Lottie Street. This event is free and all ages are welcome. Details can be found on the City's Meet-A-Truck event webpage. For more information, email askPW@cob.org or call 360-778-7900.
COLUMBIA PARENT ASSOCIATION (CPA)
Next and last CPA Meeting of the year: May 19, 2022 at 6:30 PM
CPA Board for 2021-2022
President - Shelby Giltner * shelby.giltner@gmail.com
Co-Treasurer - Liz Snyder * liz@elizabethasnyder.com
Co-Treasurer - Louise Salem * louise.salem@hotmail.com
Secretary - Regan Levinson * reganlev@gmail.com
Communications - Molly Belvo * molly.ruf@gmail.com
Volunteer Coordinator - Megan Ball * megan.ball@me.com
Honorary Board Member - Zed Blue * zed_blue@hotmail.com
Website: http://www.columbia-cpa.org/
Keeping Students Information Updated
It is important that you contact our office when there are changes made regarding your students address, health, or contact information. Throughout the year, you will receive emails and phone messages concerning your child(ren), from Columbia and the Bellingham Public Schools. Please take the time to update your preferences at here.
Safe Schools Reporting and Tip Line
Columbia Elementary School
Email: Michele.Foster@bellinghamschools.org
Website: https://columbia.bellinghamschools.org/
Location: 2508 Utter Street, Bellingham, WA, USA
Phone: 360-676-6413