Grizzly Growl
Monday November 23 2020
Happy Monday Fairhaven Friends and Families,
This is a very special early edition of our Grizzly Growl. With Thanksgiving weekend upon us, and no school on Friday, our team decided to send out this special edition to keep you all up to date on the happenings of our school.
In the spirit of giving thanks, I want to again extend my gratitude to all in our community. Parents and caregivers—thank you for your support, trust, guidance, and continued effort to help all of our Grizzlies learn and access school. As a fellow Fairhaven parent, I know first-hand the distance learning model relies heavily on us, and I see and appreciate how much our success is directly tied to each of you. Students—thank you for your persistence and positivity. As I visit classes and Homerooms, I am routinely impressed with how well each of you have adapted and flexed during these challenging times. You all inspire me to do the same. Finally, I want to extend thanks to our amazing staff. Our team of teachers and support staff bring their best every day and have a clear purpose to serve and teach students. I also want to thank the large number of staff we have in building, teaching in-person to our students and families of need. Fairhaven is the incredible, world-class school that it is because of all of you—families, students, and staff—and I feel very grateful to be your principal.
Looking towards the week, please remember that Wednesday is an early release (please check with Homeroom teachers for direction on how the day will be abbreviated) with no school Thursday or Friday. School will resume November 30th and we will continue to do our best to finish 2020 strong.
Thank you all for making today another great day to be a Grizzly!
My best,
Steve
Virtual Grrs
A Grizzly Receiving Recognition (GRR) award recognizes students who go above and beyond. GRR awards are a way to publicly recognize a student for their excellence, exceptional effort, kindness toward others, or other significant contribution to our FMS community. Students chosen this week were:
Toren Sanders
Ella Leedom
Jazmin Culbertson
Gunnar Andren
Owen Reid
Delaney Baker
Holiday Meals
Below are the community resources for Thanksgiving/Holiday meals. Attached is the Holiday Meal Guide created by OppCo. Fountain Community Church is distributing turkeys this year – details on flyer (both Spanish & English included)
Emily Humphrey-Krigbaum
Emily Humphrey-Krigbaum | Family Resource Center & McKinney-Vento Liaison
Bellingham Public Schools | Work Cell: 360-393-8738 (text or call)
A Message of Gratitude From Fairhaven's Cub Mentors
Native American Heritage Month
By Joel Gillman
November is Native American Heritage Month, or as it is commonly referred to, American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month. The month is a time to celebrate rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories and to acknowledge the important contributions of Native people. Heritage Month is also an opportune time to educate the general public about tribes, to raise a general awareness about the unique challenges Native people have faced both historically and in the present, and the ways in which tribal citizens have worked to conquer these challenges. Below are some young adult novels I have read and used with my seventh graders in conjunction with our social studies units.
- Geronimo by Joseph Bruchac---told through his grandson’s perspective—towards the end of Geronimo’s life—as he is being moved to a reservation. Really gave me a glimpse on how natives see the whites and their ways. Got me thinking about my ways more specifically and how much of my behavior is shaped by the values of this culture and nation.
- Talking Leaves—also by our man Bruchac—a crazy story about the Cherokee Sequoyah who invented an alphabet corresponding to his tribe’s native language. Others thought he was delving into witchcraft and he was ostracized from his people—again, told through his son’s point of view—as his son was marginalized as well. Really amazing—the alphabet is in the back of the book—the dude was a genius. In addition to the issues around the misunderstood inventor—definitely stokes the fires regarding the power of the written word.
- Island of the Blue Dolphins and Zia –by Scott O’Dell--wrote about these last spring a bit—but super incredible story—based on real-life—a girl is left behind on an island way off the coast of Southern California—where she survives on her own for a dozen years. Puts our pandemic isolation in a whole other light---reminds me that I don’t know anything about what it means to be alive. I feel these two books are magical—anyone can benefit by getting absorbed into these narratives. Props to Scott O’Dell for taking this on.
- Weedflower by Cynthia Kodahata—doubles as a book about the Japanese internment into an area near Death Valley—where a camp was built on an Indian reservation, which sets the stage for a clash, collision and meeting of ancient cultures. Side note: how the internees transformed the landscape is quite inspiring—and you can read a follow-up to that in a recent LA Times story.
- Dogsong by Gary Paulsen---A native Alaskan kid from a remote town wants something more than what his structured life can offer---his dad tells him to see the old man. The old man has some dogs and a sled, which sets the boy on an epic journey through the tundra to find ‘his song.’ Read it as a guide and you’ll be able to generalize just enough to design your own means for finding your ‘song.’ This book was beyond deep—in my opinion—I feel it is timeless and primal and speaks to our deepest yearnings.
- To Walk the Sky Path—Phyllis Reynolds Naylor---the old ways clash with the new for a middle schooler—who gets schooled by his grandpa in the power of the former---which of course will stir your own mind’s inquiry into values. A powerful and profound window into native philosophy.
There are many more (these were on my mind today)—and if you want further recommendations, please feel free to contact me directly: joel.gillman@bellinghamschools.org
Meal Box Distribution at Fairhaven
Meal Box Distribution will again be on Tuesday, November 24th from 4 – 5:30 pm. If you miss this Tuesday distribution, boxes can still be picked up Wednesday, November 25th at Shuksan Middle School from 9 – 11 am.
Meal Box Distribution will return to Wednesdays, 4 – 5:30 pm beginning December 2nd
Resilience Video
We Are So Thankful for....
I am thankful for all the fun things my Homeroom students have shared with me this year! -James Fegel
I am thankful to work in this wonderful community of folks, thanks for always being there for me. - Jessica Finstuen
I’m thankful that we get to see our students during Live Learning. I am also thankful for being a part of such a supportive staff. -Mary Riley
I am so thankful for my students who all have been amazingly patient and kind as I learn a new way of teaching this year! – Callie Hart
I am thankful for the students who are showing up, sharing, laughing at/with me, helping me with tech, and otherwise engaging! I am also thankful for being able to play outside with my family.
-Ms. Moench
I’m thankful for living in the Pacific NW, where the weather is pretty moderate, enabling me to get outside so I can bike, walk, run and enjoy our beautiful community! - Tanya Peckler
I am grateful for family, friends (furry and non-furry), and food! -Beth Bacon
I am thankful for good books to read and that the FMS library is able to get books to students this year! –Melissa Cornelsen
I am thankful for my family and for my wonderful, incredible, brave, resilient, intelligent, kind, and thoughtful students 😊 Breann Hulford
I am thankful to be able to teach at such a great school--with an awesome and supportive administration--and a lights-out counseling staff--along with amazing colleagues. I count my blessings every day. This is a highly motivating and inspiring environment. Joel Gillman
I am thankful for my dog, Carbon, whose tail starts wagging every time he sees us – unconditional love, My girls, who are caring, responsible, clever and funny
My husband, who goes stir crazy around the house and forces us to get out and GO, DO, & ADVENTURE together. My health and access to medical care if needed
My students, who share parts of themselves with me every day – silly stories, events, pets, struggles & successes. The great outdoors, in any weather, trees, mountains, trails, beaches, and islands Gathering around the fire pit. SO MANY BLESSINGS! -Rhonda Schraeder-Young
I am thankful for the students and staff I get to work with, and for this very unique way we have all gotten to know each other in our homes and places we join class from. I have loved the stories shared that would not ordinarily get to happen in a regular classroom setting. As worried as we were about how we would create the community feeling we wanted for our classrooms, I think there are many unanticipated silver-linings that have come about that will bring us that much closer when we do get to do school in person. -Mrs. Kowal
I am thankful for the humor that comes each and every day when I work with both staff and students. Things have been tough, but I think our humor has kept pace! -Angie Penner
I am thankful for this welcoming staff as well, for our beautiful forests here, and that the late-season for archery starts this week. :)- Brian Powell
I'm thankful for friends, family and pets. Shari Walsh
I’m thankful for some new friendships this fall and the rekindling of old friendships, too.
-Mrs. Schlichting
I am thankful to be quarantining with my husband, two sons, and our chocolate lab, Bruce. It is a welcome change of pace in some ways, where things have slowed down a bit and we can spend time together instead of running around to basketball and soccer games every weekend. – Kari VanHouten
I am thankful for my children, family, friends and my dog!
I am thankful for our students that we get to see online and at school now!
I am thankful to be a part of this wonderful staff at Fairhaven!- Marnie Hansen
I am thankful for my pandemic puppy Basil. I am also thankful for our internet Café students! They make coming to work a joy. - Mr. Owens
I am thankful for the small family gathering I have every year, this year won’t be any different. -Tami Kohonen
I am thankful for morning runs in the cold/rain. - Mike Finley
Show Your Grizzly Pride!
Click on the following link which will take you to the online catalog.