Inside this Newsletter
- From the Principal
- Kindergarten Information Night
- 2026-2027 School Year Information Nights & Events
- Enrichment Class Happenings
- PTO News
- Bainbridge Schools Foundation Gala
- Young People's March for Peace and Kindness
- Blakely Calendar
- Helpful Information/Links
- Community Events
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Hello Blakely Families,
Our first week back in 2026 was a week filled with connection, joy and consistency. It was invigorating seeing all our students engage in challenges, work alongside each other and get back into established routines. As a parent myself, I know the effort and challenges that come with getting back into a consistent routine after a few weeks off and I would like to thank all of you for your hard work in doing so. Keep it up!
I have a few short pieces of information to touch on:
Attendance: We are still in the thick of our Attendance Challenge, marking off every day we get above 95% of our students at Blakely. Once we reach 10 days, we will get a full school celebration! Right now, we have 4 days and were so close to adding another last week! Our current daily attendance rate is 93% for the year which is strong. However, if we break it down by month, we have been slowly dropping every month since September (96%) to January (91%). Looking at the day of the week, Mondays and Fridays continue to be our lowest attended days. I know that challenges or obstacles can pop up unexpectedly but sticking to a Monday through Friday routine that supports getting to school on time ensures our students thrive and grow daily. Please let us know if you are experiencing any pushback or resistance to school with your child(ren).
Conference Sign Ups: Just a reminder that conferences are coming soon and sign ups will be opening on Wednesday, January 21st at 3pm via Family Access. Conferences are an extremely valuable time for us to come together as a team and discuss the rest of the year.
As always, thank you for your continued partnership and support. Blakely is an incredible place to learn, make mistakes and grow, and I am proud to be a part of it! Have a lovely week everyone.
Sam Cameron, Principal
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Families with a rising kindergartener are invited to learn more about kindergarten options in Bainbridge Island School District. Join us for our general kindergarten information night and program-specific events to explore both neighborhood schools and choice programs.
General Kindergarten Information Night
Thursday, January 22 | 6:00 p.m.
Blakely Elementary
4704 Blakely Ave NE, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
Enrollment is now open!
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The 2026–27 school year will be here before we know it! We look forward to welcoming families to a series of information nights and transition events this winter and spring. Please save the dates below—February & March events will include additional details and times in our upcoming Community Newsletters.
Commodore K–8 Information Night
Tuesday, January 27 | 6:30 p.m.
Commodore Options School
Mosaic K-8 Information Session
Wednesday, January 28 | 1:00 p.m.
Commodore Options School
Incoming Woodward Middle School 7th Grade Parent/Guardian Information Night
Tuesday, February 3rd | 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Woodward Middle School
Eagle Harbor High School Information Night
Tuesday, February 10 | 6:30 p.m.
Eagle Harbor High School
Future Freshman Night (BHS & EHHS)
Wednesday, February 11 | 6:30 p.m.
Bainbridge High School
New-to-BISD (Grades 9–12)
Monday, February 23 | 2:15-3:15 p.m.
Bainbridge High School
*Sign-up information will be shared in January
Incoming Sakai 5th Grade Parent/Guardian Information Night
Tuesday, March 24 | 6:30 p.m.
Sakai Intermediate School
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Every three weeks, all students in grades K-4 receive a 40 to 50-minute lesson. Lessons include both math and language arts. The activities focus on:
- Multi-tiered activities
- Developing problem-solving abilities
- Delving deeper into grade-level skills
- Encourage out-of-the-box thinking
- Reinforcement of social-emotional skills
Younger students have been building magic squares out of unique shapes, piecing together tessellation puzzles, making star polygons, designing with symmetry, using 21st-century pattern blocks to explore new shapes, building bridges with pennies, studying math in real-life situations, and adding and subtracting with playing cards, among other activities. Older students have been exploring algorithms with Rubik's cubes, learning Russian multiplication, discussing biomes and creating creatures, challenging math conjectures and looking deeply at connections in mathematics, exploring the mysterious property of inertia with gyroscopes, manipululating equations with broken calculators, creating parabolic curves using x & y axes, subtracting with diffy squares and using geometry and spatial awareness to build skyscraper buildings out of cubes. As the school year progresses, students will continue to have more opportunities to think outside the box.
Happy New Year!
Laura Nelson, BISD Enrichment Coordinator
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Bingo Night!
The PTO will be hosting Bingo Night on Friday, January 30 from 5:30-7pm at Blakely, pizza will be provided and prizes will be awarded! Stay tuned for more details!
Girls on the Run - Coaches Needed!
Coaches are needed for the Blakely Girls on the Run team! No coaching or running experience is required. All the tools, training, and support needed to lead a team through an amazing 10-week session are provided! Share 4 hours a week to make a difference that lasts a lifetime.
Girls on the Run is a place where caring volunteer coaches give 3rd-5th grade girls a space to laugh, move, and grow. Through our new curriculum Hello, Bold Heart!, coaches lead girls in learning to share what's in their hearts, cheer each other on, build confidence, and reach goals at their own pace. Each practice blends movement, connection, and fun - helping girls grown strong in body, mind, and heart.
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Join Bainbridge Schools Foundation for our annual Gala event on Saturday, February 7, 2026 at Kiana Lodge. This fun and impactful evening includes dinner, an inspiring program featuring student speakers, a live auction, raffles, and more!
Funds raised during the event directly support all BISD schools and help build strong, connected learning communities for students and educators. Registration closes January 22; gather your friends and register today at bsfgala.org.
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Families and students are invited to join the Young People’s March for Peace and Kindness on Monday, January 19 at the Bainbridge Public Library.
The morning will begin with letter writing from 10:30–11:15 a.m., followed by a march to the post office at 11:15 a.m. Participants are encouraged to bring signs and march together in support of peace, kindness, and youth voices in our community.
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JANUARY:
19: MLK Day (No School)
21: Sign Up for Conferences @ 3pm via Family Access
22: Kindergarten Orientation 6:00pm Blakely
26: Second Semester Begins
30: Bingo Night @ 5:30pm in the commons
FEBRUARY:
11-13: Winter Conferences (No School)
16-20: Mid Winter Break (No School)
26: Incoming Kindergarten Visit/Bus Ride 9:00am
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SCHOOL INFORMATION
K-4 School Hours
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Monday: 7:50-12:50
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Tuesday-Friday: 7:50-2:20
Preschool Hours:
Tuesday-Friday
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AM: 7:45-10:15
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PM: 11:45-2:20
Phone Numbers
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Main office: 206-842-4752
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Attendance: 206-780-2046 or blaattend@bisd303.org
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After-school Transportation: blabus@bisd303.org
Helpful Links
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Looking for things to do around town? Visit our Community Events page for local happenings, classes, and family activities—updated regularly. |
Bainbridge Island School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, homelessness, immigration or citizenship status, the presence of any sensory mental, or physical disability, neurodivergence or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability. The BISD provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups.
The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination:
Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator & Title IX Coordinator:
Kristen Haizlip, Associate Superintendent
206-780-1058
Section 504/ADA Coordinators:
Annalisa Sanchez, Director of Student Services
206-780-1069
Maria Kuffel
206-780-1088
8489 Madison Avenue North Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
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