Copy of Blakely Newsletter - February 3, 2025

Dear Blakely Community,

Wow, snow days, conferences and now a mid-winter break. The last few weeks have certainly been eventful, stay tuned on how many days we will need to make up and the impact on the last day of school.

As always, I will be around during conferences, so feel free to stop by my office and say hi.

Regards,

Reese Ande

Aside from supporting some teachers and families by attending conferences, I am around and available during conference week. I welcome you to stop by to say hi and chat if you’re in the building for an in-person conference! 

This small group opportunity will start the week after Mid-Winter Break and will run for eight 30 minute weekly sessions. It is for any student who has gone through a family separation or divorce (no matter how recent). As mentioned in my last newsletter post, it will utilize an evidence based curriculum called, Children of Divorce Intervention Program, by The Children’s Institute. 

Call or email with any wonderings you may have and/or if you’d like to sign your child(ren) up for this opportunity. 

Amanda Keller (she/her), M.Ed.

School Counselor

Blakely Elementary School

206-780-2076

akeller@bisd303.org

We look forward to seeing you.

Conference Time is HERE and there are just THREE Volunteer slots left, if you are able, please sign up to help with Teacher Conference Lunches (February 12th-14th)!

Save the date and join us to celebrate reading! A percentage of all sales go directly to support the Blakely library.

VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED: Help make our book fair a success and consider signing up for a shift!

Questions? Contact PTO Book Fair Chair Melinda Ackles @ melinda_ackles@yahoo.com or Librarian Cathy Grant @ cgrant@bisd303.org

Bainbridge Island School District offers services to students who have been identified as highly capable. Highly capable students are those who perform or show potential for performing at significantly advanced academic levels. Services are provided for students in grades K-12. 

In the Spring referral window, all students in grades K-11 may be referred by teachers, family, or community members. 

If your student is in 2nd or 5th grade, you do not need to complete a referral because every student in these grades will be screened to determine eligibility for HC programming. Specific information about the screening process for 2nd and 5th grade will be shared through your student's school in late February.

For grades K, 1, 3, 4, 6-11, If you are interested in having your student evaluated for our Highly Capable program, please visit our Highly Capable webpage for more information. The referral submission link was posted on February 10th and will remain open until March 3rd at 5PM.

Highly Capable Webpage: https://www.bisd303.org/33922_3

Scroll down to "How is a referral made?" to access the referral link.

February 10-March 3: Referral window open

March 10-28: Data collection, which may involve CogAT testing

April: Evaluation & placement determination

Mid-May: Results communicated with families

Please contact your school's highly capable teacher with any questions you may have. Contact information is found at the bottom of the highly capable webpage.

Bainbridge Youth Services is hosting a viewing of Screenagers - Elementary Edition.

When: February 11, 2025, 6:30-7:30 pm

Where: Bainbridge Cinemas

Limited seating: register using QR code of the flyer to the left.

12-14: Conferences (No School)

17-21: Mid-Winter Break (No School)