Inside this Newsletter
- From the Principal
- Field Day Volunteers Needed
- From the Health Room
- Lost and Found
- Important Notice Regarding Year End Absences
- ABC's for 26-27 (Action Required)
- Helpline House Pantry Bags
- Summer EBT (SUN Bucks) Information for Families
- BHS Girls Basketball Camp
- Blakely Calendar
- Helpful Information/Links
- Community Events
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Hello Bulldogs,
I can't believe we are into our second week of June and the last full week of the year. My mom always had a saying she shared with me growing up: "Finish Strong". Whether I was almost done weeding one of her garden beds, chopping down blackberries, picking up toys, practicing basketball, working on a homework assignment or anything else- she would always know when to check me and remind me to "finish strong". Sometimes she said it, sometimes it just came into my head- but it always happened right toward the end of a job. Regardless, it stuck with me and anytime I find myself nearing the end of something I keep it close. Our aim this year is to finish strong, to finish this last full week with the same level of drive, curiosity and energy as each week before it. It has been a great year, Bulldogs. Thank you for your partnership and reading the below!
May Attendance:
May was our highest attended month this year! Our full day attendance rate was 97.5%! Incredible work, thank you. We are still seeing a lot of tardies and are sitting at 9/10 days with fewer than 30 students tardy. I'm hoping we can get that final day in before June 16th!
Speaking of June 16th, I want to note that the end of the school year is an exciting time filled with special projects, celebrations, field trips, and opportunities to reflect on how much students have learned and grown. Every school day in June is important and helps children stay connected to their teachers, classmates, and learning.
Attending school regularly through the last day helps students finish the year with confidence and maintain the routines that support success. Strong attendance in June also helps children return in September ready to learn, reconnect with friends, and start the new school year feeling prepared.
Thank you for partnering with us to make attendance a priority. Together, we can help every student finish strong this June and start stronger next fall!
Class Placement '26-27:
As we finalize class placements for the upcoming school year, I want to share information about our process and the thoughtful considerations that guide these important decisions.
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Our top priority in creating class placements is to build balanced classrooms that accommodate the diverse strengths, needs, and learning dynamics of all students at each grade level. This approach ensures that every classroom has an optimal mix of learners, personalities, and abilities, allowing teachers to provide the most effective instruction and support for every child.
We reviewed multiple sources of information during the placement process. Family input shared through our surveys is read and played a role in the process. Teacher insights regarding student strengths, needs and relationships also inform our decisions. However, these factors (family input and teacher relationships) serve to support—rather than drive—the placement process. They help us refine and strengthen the balanced classes. As we continue working through our process, I feel optimistic about the work that is being done and believe we will have a final product that meets the needs of all our students and staff next year.
Thank you:
As we wrap up, I'd like to share a thank you to our PTO co-presidents: Becky Juhl and Elli Koskella. Becky and Elli have provided an incredible amount of support to Blakely this year by leading our PTO. The fundraising, volunteering, event coordination and more has all benefited Blakely and our students. They will be stepping down at the end of the year and we thank them for their partnership.
Sam Cameron
Principal
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Blakely's annual end-of-school Field Day is here with a variety of opportunities to play and have fun. Join us and help make the event incredible!
We are looking for volunteers to run stations like:
- Roller Racers
- Face painting
- GaGa Ball
- Cold treats
- Obstacle Course
- Corn hole
- Water Blasters
And much more! Check out our Sign Up Genius to see more and volunteer for a spot! Our students look forward to this event all year and it's a great to celebrate the end of the school year and kick off the summer! Hope to see you there!
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MEDICATION PICK UP: Medications can be picked up at the end of the school day on Tuesday, June 16th, 2026, or earlier if needed.
Health Care Plans / 504's: Please remember, if you were unable to sign and return your child’s 504/Health Care Plan to me prior to June 10th, 2026, then you will need to ensure it is filled out and signed by your pediatrician over the summer. I will need to have these turned into me by August 26th, 2026, in order to process them and notify all teachers and staff, from food service to bus drivers, of your child’s health condition. Medications can either be brought at that time or on the first day of school.
Per Washington State law, if your child has a health condition that requires emergency medication, your child CAN NOT start school without a current 504/ Health Care Plan and medication in place by the first day of school. Please contact me if you have questions.
Marci Collins, RN
206-780-2074
mcollins@bisd303.org
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Are you missing a coat, hat, sweatshirt, sock, water bottle, or lunch box?
Our lost and found is overflowing!
Come visit the lost and found in the front hall or remind your students to check the lost and found.
We would love to have your family reunited with your belongings!
All items will be donated at the end of the school year.
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Summer vacation is just around the corner! As we get ready to celebrate a fantastic year, our front office is working hard to tie up all the final loose ends. If your student will miss school during these last couple of days, please make sure to request their absence be excused before the final bell rings! Our absolute cutoff for accepting any recent absence notes is dismissal time on the last day of school. Thank you for a wonderful year, and we wish everyone a happy and safe summer! |
We are at 50% registration for the 2026-27 school year! If you haven't registered yet, please take a moment to complete your child's registration. Having an accurate headcount is essential for us to determine staffing, class sizes, and building capacity.
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Attending Next Year? Log in to your Family Access account, select ABC 26-27 in the left menu, and complete the process ASAP. It takes less than 15 minutes! (Note: This is required for ALL students, including those in Running Start. For students with more than one household, only the Primary Family can complete this step).
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Not Returning? Please contact your school office or email studentrecords@bisd303.org with your educational plans so we can update our records.
For more details, guidance for split households, and step-by-step instructions, please visit: bisd303.org/enrollment
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As we near Summer Break, we want to ensure every student in our community stays fueled and ready for fun! Helpline House, in partnership with Bainbridge Island Rotary, is proud to offer the Kids’ Pantry program to provide supplemental groceries for local families.These bags are for any youth (ages infancy-18) in need of additional food during the summer break. Bags contain enough food for 1 youth for a week.
Pick-Up Information
If your family could benefit from extra groceries over the summer, you can stop by for a pick-up:
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Location: Helpline House | 282 Knechtel Way NE
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Dates: Monday – Friday
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Time: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Delivery Options
We know that work schedules and transportation can sometimes make it difficult to get to Helpline House. If you are unable to make it during pick-up hours, Rotary volunteers are available to deliver groceries directly to your home.
To Register for Delivery:
Please contact Sarah Frost, sfrost@bisd303.org, to coordinate a drop-off time that works for your family.
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Washington State’s Summer EBT program, also known as SUN Bucks, will again provide grocery benefits to eligible students during the summer months. The program is administered through the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) in partnership with OSPI.
Eligible students may receive $120 in summer food benefits on a SUN Bucks card to help support access to meals while school is out.
Students may qualify if they:
- Are enrolled in a school participating in the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program during the 2025–26 school year, and
- Qualify for free or reduced-price meals through direct certification or a Child Nutrition Eligibility and Education Benefits (CNEEB) application.
Some families may also qualify through participation in programs such as SNAP or TANF.
Benefits are expected to be distributed between June and August 2026.
Families looking for additional information can visit the DSHS SUN Bucks webpage or call the SUN Bucks Contact Center at (833) 543-3230, Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
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JUNE:
9: All Library Books due back to Blakely Library
12: Field Day/Tug of War 12:30pm -2:20pm
15: Reptile Man Assembly 9:00am
16: Moving Up Assembly 8:05am
16: Last Day of School 10:50am Dismissal
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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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