Blakely Newsletter - August 17, 2026

Hello Bulldog Families, 

Welcome back to a new school year! I hope this message finds you and your families refreshed after a wonderful summer break. I had the privilege of spending quality time with my family on the beach, in the water, and soaking up all the beauty the Pacific Northwest has to offer. As the August days continue, I start to notice the Blackberries coming out, the days grow slightly shorter and my thoughts begin to move back toward Blakely. I find myself energized and genuinely excited to welcome our students back through the doors and begin the meaningful work we do together.

To celebrate the start of this year, I'd love to invite all students and families to join me for popsicles on the playground on Tuesday, August 18th from 2:30-3:30 PM. This informal gathering is a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with familiar faces, meet new families joining our community, and simply enjoy being together as we kick off what I know will be an outstanding year. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone there and hearing about your summer adventures. Here's to a fantastic year ahead!

I want to share an important update about our Parent-Teacher Organization as we begin the new school year. At the conclusion of last year, our PTO Co-Presidents and Treasurer all stepped down from their leadership roles. We are deeply grateful for their dedication and the countless hours they invested in supporting our school community.

We need your help to keep our PTO strong: The PTO plays a vital role in enriching our students' experiences, supporting teachers, and their impact ripples to every single student at Blakely. Whether you have an hour a month or more time to give, every contribution matters. We encourage all parents and guardians to join the PTO and participate in whatever capacity works for your family.

If you are interested in serving as President, Vice President, or Treasurer—and have the capacity to take on a leadership role—please reach out to me directly. These positions are essential to the success of our PTO, and I am fully committed to supporting whoever steps into these roles. You don't need prior experience; you need enthusiasm, organizational skills, and a willingness to collaborate with other families and school staff.

As we finalize class assignments for the upcoming school year, I want to reiterate our process that took place last spring and set clear expectations about what to expect when class assignments are released on skyward on Tuesday, August 25th at 3pm.

Our top priority in creating class assignments 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 assignment process. Family input shared through our surveys was read and considered. Teacher insights regarding student strengths, needs, and relationships also informed our decisions. However, these factors serve to support—rather than drive—the assignment process. They help us refine and strengthen the balanced classes we are building.

An important note about sibling placements: In past years, families could have been assigned the same teachers for multiple siblings while for others this might have not been the case. This year, we did not prioritize matching younger siblings with teachers their older siblings had. Our focus remained on creating balanced classes that serve all students well. I want to be transparent and share with you that younger siblings may or may not be placed with the same teacher their older sibling had—both outcomes reflect our commitment to balanced, equitable classrooms.  

I am confident in the thoughtful work that has gone into these assignments and believe the final placements will meet the needs of all our students and staff next year.

Sam Cameron, Principal

August 17 (Tomorrow): Popsicles with Mr. Cameron from 2:30 to 3:30pm. All families welcome! Come play on the playground, get to know Mr. Cameron and meet other families.

August 25: Class placement will be available for families on Skyward Family Access at 3:00 pm. ABC Check-in must be completed.

August 28: Meet & Greet from 9:00 am to 10:00 am. Come see the school, and meet your teacher!

September 1: First Day of School for 1st -4th grade! Please note that Blakely hours are 7:50 am to 2:20 pm

8: First Day Preschool. The youngest members of our school start this day. If you see parents parking in the bus loop - it is because they have a preschooler!

25: Picture Day! Pictures will be taken in the morning at school. Buying school pictures is optional.

If you have a student entering kindergarten this year, please be on the lookout for a message with more information targeted specifically for kindergarteners. For now, I want you to be aware of a few things.

The Annual Back-to-school Check-in (ABC) process has been completed for 81% of students. This annual process lets us know that your student(s) are returning to our schools for 2026-27 and allows parents/guardians to review annual information. 

The ABCs must be completed for all students attending BISD schools in 2026-27, 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. You must complete your ABC check-in to be able to find out your child's teacher on August 25th.

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

NOT RETURNING? If your K-4th grade student is not returning to BISD schools this fall, please let Kyanne Hawkins know via email KHawkins@bisd303.org as soon as possible.

Looking for things to do around town? Visit our Community Events page for local happenings, classes, and family activities—updated regularly.