Inside this Newsletter
- From the Counselor
- Picture Day
- Highly Capable (HC) Referral Window Opening Soon — New to BISD, Grades 1–11
- New Spirit Wear
- Volunteer Opportunities
- PTO Jog A Thon - October 16th
- Monday Reminders
- Bainbridge Schools Foundation
- Blakely Calendar
- Helpful Information/Links
- Community Events
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Hello Blakely Families & Community,
September is in full swing! Every year, I visit each classroom once every three weeks to engage students and staff in various social-emotional topics. This month, I have already begun visiting each classroom for our first lesson of the year.
This first lesson reintroduces who I am, what a school counselor does, and how to access me when needed. I’m also including a review of our Regulation Stations for students now in grades 1-3, along with an initial introduction for our Kindergarteners and 4th graders. Our Regulation Stations were implemented last spring for grades K-2 and are being expanded this fall to include grades 3 and 4. The purpose of our Regulation Stations is to make a variety of regulation tools accessible to all students in all grades.
During this lesson, we are discussing the following key points:
- That all feelings are okay and all of us experience them, including loud, strong, and uncomfortable feelings (like anger, worry, sadness, etc.).
- Our bodies give us clues and signals that communicate how we might be feeling (a fast heartbeat, flushed cheeks, butterflies in the tummy, etc.).
- There are safe, supportive tools to help us move through these big feelings and strong body clues. The purpose is to feel them, move through them, and better understand them, not to get rid of them as if they were not okay to have.
- These safe, supportive tools include taking deep breaths, doing stretches/moving our bodies, engaging in a cognitive distraction (doing a puzzle, working on a Rubik's Cube, drawing a picture, etc.), using hand fidget tools (pop it, squeeze ball), using a weighted blanket, and/or using noise-canceling headphones.
Students learn that feelings happen, they are okay, and that staff and tools are available to help them move through these big feelings.
This month, we are also focusing on our school-wide character trait of Respect and will move on to Responsibility in October. These first two character traits also align with our Blakely Three Bs – Be Respectful, Be Responsible, and Be Safe. We define respect as seeing value in all people and things, and treating them with care, and responsibility as taking action and understanding the impact of our choices. Every year, I think focusing on these two traits is a great way for us to start the new school year, as we return to ensuring everyone in our school community feels valued and that they belong, and to remind ourselves of the importance of acting with intention and awareness.
May the rest of our first month of school continue to be fruitful, and please don’t hesitate to reach out if your family or child(ren) need support.
With care,
Amanda Keller, MS, MEd, NCC
School Counselor
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Get Ready for Picture Day!
Our photographer is scheduled to take school photos the morning of Friday, September 25th.
Please read the Picture Day Flyer for information and instructions regarding school photos and online ordering.
Highlights for this year:
- No paper ordering envelopes.
- A few days after picture day, ordering will be available online via the Jostens website,
- Blakely Event Code is FE124126
- Preview your pictures before you buy
- Choose your background
- Photos ship directly to home
Picture retakes will be on Tuesday, October 27th.
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Volunteers Needed:
You must be an approved volunteer to sign up for these volunteers slots.
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Check out our New Spirit Wear this year. You can order your style, color, size and it will be shipped directly to your home! Show that Bulldog Pride!! |
Fall Referral Window: September 21–October 9, 2026
BISD’s Highly Capable (HC) referrals are welcome during our fall window for students new to our district (since February 19, 2026) in grades 1–11. (Referrals for Kindergarten and currently enrolled BISD students will open during our spring window.)
If you’d like your student considered for HC services, please visit our BISD Highly Capable page for the timeline, program details, and the referral form.
Previously in HC/Gifted elsewhere?
Please complete the BISD referral and email documentation (e.g., assessment scores, grades, placement letters) to Drew Crandall at dcrandall@bisd303.org.
Deadline: Submit the referral (and any supporting documents, if applicable) by end of day Friday, October 9, 2026.
Questions or need assistance? Contact Drew Crandall at dcrandall@bisd303.org.
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No School Monday, September 28
Mark your calendars — there's no school for students on Monday, September 28. It's the first release day of the year, and teachers will be spending it on professional learning and collaboration.
Starting this fall, Mondays are full-length school days and the weekly early release is ending. In its place, we'll have one full-day or half-day release, roughly once a month, on a Monday. Here's the full year at a glance:
Full-day releases (no school for students)
September 28 · October 26 · January 25 · March 22 · May 17
Half-day releases
November 30 · April 26 · June 7
Resources
We know a change to a long-standing routine takes some adjusting. Consolidating release time into full and half days gives teachers longer, uninterrupted blocks for professional learning and collaboration — the kind of work that's hard to do well in a weekly 90-minute window.
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Strong schools are built together! Bainbridge Schools Foundation (BSF) works alongside BISD and our school PTOs to help ensure every student has access to an excellent public education. While PTOs build community and enrich the experience at individual schools, BSF raises funds for critical district wide staff and programs serving students across all seven BISD schools, including academic intervention, educator support and professional development, and library resources. Learn more about how these organizations work together, and how you can support our schools, at www.bainbridgeschoolsfoundation.org. |
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SEPTEMBER
25: Picture Day!
28: No School - Professional Development Day
OCTOBER
2: Popcorn Day
9: PTO Meeting 8:00am
16: PTO Jog A Thon
26: No School - Professional Development Day
27: Picture Re-Takes
27-30: Half Day - school release at 10:50 am
27-30: Conferences
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SCHOOL INFORMATION
K-4 School Hours
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, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender 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 and provides equal access to Scouting America 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:
Maria Kuffel, Director of Student Services
206-780-1088
Darren Spencer
Assistant Director of Student Services
206-780-1069
8489 Madison Avenue North Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
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