Inside this Newsletter
- From the Principal
- PTO Jog A Thon - October 16th
- Hearing and Vision Screenings
- New Spirit Wear
- Volunteer Opportunities
- Technology Update
- Highly Capable (HC) Referral Window Opening Soon — New to BISD, Grades 1–11
- Blakely Calendar
- Helpful Information/Links
- Community Events
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Dear Blakely,
Happy fall! I hope your week is off to a great start. I want to share a huge thank-you for your continued partnership and support—especially as we navigate our first non-student professional development day today. I missed seeing our students this morning, but spending the day with our teachers—deepening our collective knowledge and focusing on student success—was so inspiring! We’re so grateful for the energy and care you bring to our school every single day. (Speaking of energy...get those running shoes ready—our biggest PTO fundraiser of the year, the Jog-a-Thon, is just around the corner (keep reading for details)!
Blakely Jog-A-Thon Fundraiser!
Our annual PTO Jog-a-Thon is right around the corner on Friday, October 16th! This is our biggest fundraiser of the year, funding essential student programs, classroom resources, school events, and community activities.
- Pledge forms went home on Friday and online donations can be made using the link here: https://go.rallyup.com/blakelyjogathon2026/Campaign/Details
- Volunteers Needed: We are actively looking for volunteers to help co-lead and support on event day! Whether you can help set up, hand out water, or cheer on our runners, we would love to have you.
Blakely Mission and Vision:
Part of our work today was to continue to articulate who we are at Blakely and what we do. Staff engaged in reflection on who we are at Blakely, what we must do to live our mission and how we support our students. A major highlight of this was finalizing our new Mission and Vision statements, shared below:
Our Mission:
At Blakely, we belong, learn and grow together.
Our Vision:
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Belong: We are empathetic, inclusive, and collaborative.
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Learn: We are prepared, focused, and engaged.
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Grow: We are open-minded and curious.
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Attendance:
I know I talk about this a lot, but consistent attendance is one of the biggest factors in student success, social connection, and classroom routine. Here is a quick snapshot of where our school stands:
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Tardies- We continue to see a lot of tardies in the morning. Please remember, our doors open at 7:40 with tardies being counted after 7:50. Arriving on time ensures your child starts the day calm, prepared, and ready for morning announcements and classroom routines.
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Day-of-the-Week Trends: Our attendance data shows that Mondays and Fridays have our highest absence rates (around 8% of students absent on average). I know that weekends can be tricky to navigate toward the start of the year and it can be easy to let routines slip on the weekend which leads to hiccups starting or ending the week. If you're experiencing any resistance to attending school from your child(ren), please let us know!
Thank you for everything you do to support our students, staff, and school community!
Sam Cameron, Principal
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Blakely’s 4th Annual Jog-A-Thon is Friday, October 16, and fundraising is underway! This is the PTO’s biggest fundraiser of the year, supporting field trips, classroom supplies, assemblies, teacher grants, and more. Our goal is $75,000, and we need the whole Blakely community to help us get there.
Please share your student’s fundraising page with family and friends today. Donations are flat-rate gifts, so every contribution counts, no matter how many laps your student runs. We can’t wait to cheer them on!
Jog-A-Thon Schedule by Grade
AM PreK 7:50 - 8:05
K 8:05 - 8:35
2nd 8:40 - 9:10
1st 9:45 - 10:15
3rd 10:20 - 10:50
4th 10:55-11:25
PM PreK 11:45 - 12:05
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It’s that time of year again!!! This year’s hearing and vision screening is scheduled for Monday, October 5th & Thursday October 8th , 2026 . The screening pertains only to grades K-3. If you would like for me to test your 4 th grader, feel free to contact me and I can add them to my list.
The vision test consists of a “spot Vision Screener”, which tests both near and far vision. Hearing tests consists of routine audiometer screening.
You will be notified if the school health screening results indicate a health care provider follow-up is recommended. If you would prefer to have your child opt out of either the hearing and/or the vision screening, please contact the nurse, Marci Collins at 206-780-2074 or mcollins@bisd303.org.
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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!! |
With recent news about neighboring districts adjusting early grade screen time, we want to reassure you that Bainbridge Island School District is already ahead of these trends. Our K–2 classrooms rely on shared sets of iPads or Chromebooks used strictly for targeted, teacher-led activities or assessments. As a result, typical daily screen time ranges from just 0 to 15 minutes for Kindergarten and 1st grade, and 0 to 30 minutes for 2nd grade. Hands-on learning, physical reading and writing, direct connection, and play remain the true foundation of our instructional day. Looking ahead, our newly established Technology Advisory Council—made up of parents, staff, and community members—is actively working to evaluate digital tools and set clear, evidence-based guidelines across all grade levels. To learn more about our balanced approach, please visit the Instructional Technology page on our BISD website! |
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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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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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