Blakely Newsletter - April 28, 2025

Dear Blakely Community,

Happy Monday to all of you as we are nearly to May! The sun has been such a wonderful surprise and I am certainly hoping for more.

So much change is happening at Blakely as I know you all are aware, but rest assured Blakely is and will continue to be the amazing school and community it has always been. The process for finding a new principal is already underway and will be led by Kristen Haizlip, Executive Director of Support Services.

Finally, tardies and excessive absences continue to be an area our school and district would like to improve. Please have your child to school on time and present as much as possible. If they are sick that is different, but being on time and in class makes a tremendous difference in their educational experience.

Regards,

Reese Ande

Adjust those calendars! The 2024-25 school year will conclude Monday, June 23, which will be a half day.

There will be no school on Thursday, June 19, in observation of the federal holiday.

BISD is in the process of hiring the next principal for Blakely Elementary. Please take a moment to complete this survey and identify the skills, qualities and characteristics of a principal that are most important to you. The anonymous input gathered will be shared with the screening and interview teams and will help inform the questions asked of the candidates. The survey will be open through the end of the day on Monday, May 12th.

The Annual Back-to-school Check-in (ABC) process is now open. This annual process lets us know that your student(s) are returning to our schools for 2025-26 and allows parents/guardians to review annual information. We have had 34% of families complete their ABC Check In so far.

The ABCs must be completed* for all students attending BISD schools in 2025-26, including both new and returning students. Access the ABCs by logging into your Family Access account. It should take about 15 minutes (or less!) to complete. 

If you need assistance with the ABC process (such as translation, accessing technology, or other questions), please get in touch with Kyanne Hawkins at KHawkins@bisd303.org or (206) 780-2060. 

NOT RETURNING? If your current K-11th grade student is not returning to BISD schools next fall, please let Kyanne Hawkins know at KHawkins@bisd303.org or (206) 780-2060. 

 

Are you thinking about getting involved but not sure where to start? We promise—it’s easier than you think! No experience? No problem! The PTO is simply a group of parents and caregivers working together to support our school, and any amount of time you can give makes a big impact. Questions or concerns - please reach out to us at blakely.president@bainbridgeptos.org!

To help celebrate, decorated boxes are located at the front entrance from April 28 to May 2 to collect heartfelt notes, drawings, and cards from YOUR students - please encourage them to make/deliver their masterpieces to all their favorite Blakely teachers and staff. We’ll also need plenty of volunteers to make this week truly special, so we’d love your help! Details and sign-up information will be shared via email soon. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to your room parents with any questions. Thank you for helping us show our amazing teachers and staff how much they’re appreciated!

Blakely will be celebrating its Walk and Bike to School Day on Friday, May 16th!  Join other families in celebrating the beautiful weather and practicing alternative ways to get to school that promote health and help the environment. So get outside, get out of your car, and get your kids off the bus for the day!

Join us in one of four ways!

To ensure that all bikers are safe, we request that a parent or trusted adult rides or walks with your student in the bike or walk train.  If you can’t take your child, you can get support from another parent or trusted adult who may already be riding.  Please contact Brenda Hodges-Howell bhodgeshowell@gmail.com or 206-940-5309 with any questions or if you need help finding an adult to ride with your child.

The bike trains will NOT return at the end of the day.  So please remember that if you biked your child to school, you’ll need to bike them home or connect with another adult who can be responsible for your child and their bike. Be sure your child knows their plan to get home at the end of the day, and all transportation changes are communicated to the Blakely front office. 

Finally, be sure to give your kiddo’s bike a safety check before the day of the ride: Check brakes, tires, and gears. Classic Cycles has used trade-in bikes and they are able to pump up tires and check helmets for right fit.   

Looking forward to seeing walkers and riders out on May 16th! 

Our kindergarten and 1st grade classes are sending out a huge THANK YOU to the Suquamish Tribe for their Appendix X grant which enabled us to have Jay Mills, a Suquamish tribal council member, speak to our classes. Jay explained the importance of the cedar tree to the Suquamish people, told several engaging stories, and allowed students to touch and feel many artifacts. It was a wonderful time of hands-on learning and connection with our Suquamish neighbors.

If state funding was all we had to support our schools, we’d already be getting ready for the last day of school!

Join Bainbridge Schools Foundation and Bainbridge Public School Advocates at Sisters’ Cider House on Wednesday, April 30 from 5–7 PM for a casual, family-friendly event marking the symbolic “State’s Last Day of School” and the kickoff to BSF’s final fundraising push of the year.

This spring, BSF aims to raise $100,000 to help fund critical programs and educators across Bainbridge Island School District. 

All spring gifts are being matched up to $40,000! If you’ve been waiting to make your gift, you can double your impact now!

Learn more or give at www.bainbridgeschoolsfoundation.org

4/1 - 4/30: Ridwell Plastic Collection

30: BSF Fundraiser - 5:00-7:00pm @ Sister's Cider House

2: Popcorn Day

2: PTO Meeting 8am in the Library

5-9: Staff Appreciation Week

16: National Bike/Walk to School Day

21-23: 4th Grade Outdoor Education

26: Memorial Day - No School