Coho Connection 02/11/25

Dear Sakai Families,

Wow! Even with four snow days in there, we have gathered A LOT of food and toiletries to donate to Helpline House! This is such an important service project for our students to experience giving back to our community. With the help of many family volunteers, we were able to get the truck packed and delivered yesterday. Thank you for your help and support! If you have any photos of your students participating, please submit them to anniegphotography@gmail.com for our yearbook.

We are looking forward to meeting with you this week to discuss your student. Conferences are a valuable time to strengthen the home-to-school connection and ensure we are doing all we can for our students. As you know, Progress Reports are available for viewing in Skyward. I would like to add a quick note that grades given in 5th and 6th do not go on a lasting transcript. At this age, they are truly meant to be feedback for students. The value is in the reflecting and goal setting.

Have a great week, Sakai!

Drew

There is no school for students on conference days.

Conferences are an important time to further that home to school, and school to home connection that is so valuable in education. It's a time for students to be recognized for their efforts, and a time for students to re-establish their goals and their dedication toward reaching those goals. Families and teachers work together to support the student. In so doing, families and teachers show the caring and teamwork that is a crucial connection in a student's education. 

Teachers are looking forward to conferencing with all of you.  

Snow days have made things interesting in the Art Room. The Morning group completed their clay piece and it has been bisque fired. (ask your student what that means!) We will glaze when we come back from break. The Afternoon group will be starting clay after break. Everyone has had the chance to make a Valentine for the Island Volunteer Caregiver group. This group has been connecting neighbors facing challenges related to aging, disability & adversity with volunteers and resources since 1996. Currently, they have over 450 care receivers and 325 volunteers who provide rides, companionship, household help, life enrichment activities.

I truly believe that if we could harness the energy and good will of this age group of students, we could solve many of the problems of the world; they do an amazing job of helping.

Have a Happy Valentine's Day!

If you have any photos from events throughout the year, we want to see them! 

Ideas for pictures to include:

Please submit any photos to anniegphotography@gmail.com or via text 206-799-0228.

We have several upcoming volunteer opportunities. Thank you for considering signing up to help us out.

Conference time is just around the corner, and we’d love your help keeping our teachers and staff fueled and happy to show our appreciation for all they do! 

Click here to sign up and contribute something delicious!

As the weather gets colder and a little less outdoor-recess-y, our awesome Sakai staff would like to provide a game room alternative during lunch recess!

Game Room will be availabe during recess on "B" or "C" specialist days T-F. We would love one parent volunteer to supervise each of these. Please review the available slots below snag one or more if you are able. Thank you!

Please remember that all volunteers who help in the classroom, on field trips, and other various activities must be cleared by the district: Volunteering with BISD. The approval process can take up to two weeks. Once approved, you are ready to volunteer and your approval is valid for two years.

Please bring your driver's license or id each time you sign into any school in the district.

Bainbridge Island School District offers services to students who have been identified as highly capable. Highly capable students are those who perform or show potential for performing at significantly advanced academic levels. Services are provided for students in grades K-12. 

In the Spring referral window, all students in grades K-11 may be referred by teachers, family, or community members. 

If your student is in 2nd or 5th grade, you do not need to complete a referral because every student in these grades will be screened to determine eligibility for HC programming. Specific information about the screening process for 2nd and 5th grade will be shared through your student's school in late February.

For grades K, 1, 3, 4, 6-11, If you are interested in having your student evaluated for our Highly Capable program, please visit our Highly Capable webpage for more information. The referral submission link was posted on February 10th and will remain open until March 3rd at 5PM.

Highly Capable Webpage: https://www.bisd303.org/33922_3

Scroll down to "How is a referral made?" to access the referral link.

February 10-March 3: Referral window open

March 10-28: Data collection, which may involve CogAT testing

April: Evaluation & placement determination

Mid-May: Results communicated with families

Please contact your school's highly capable teacher with any questions you may have. Contact information is found at the bottom of the highly capable webpage.

The middle and intermediate school Bainbridge Wrestling program (Affiliated with USA wrestling) is a free after school program held at the Bainbridge High School wrestling room for 5th through 8th grade students.

To sign up, please contact Dan Pippinger (danpippinger@gmail.com), fill out the information below and email it in or bring it on the first day of practice.

BYS is hosting a screening of the movie, Screenagers, Elementary Edition.  The documentary dives into the challenges of raising kids in the digital age and offers practical strategies to help families find balance.  

We are pleased to offer the 2025 Girls Exploring Math & Science Event (GEMS) again at Olympic College, Bremerton Campus on Saturday, March 22nd. 

The small fee that was charged in prior years has been removed this year, so we hope the event is more accessible. Please note there are concurrent parent/guardian workshops as well – also free! 

12-14: Winter Conferences - No School

17-21: Presidents' Day and Mid-Winter Break - No School

27: PTO Meeting 9:00 AM

28: Spirit Day - PJ Day

5: Leaving Our Island Forum Day - 6th Grade

6: 4th Grade Incoming Parent/Guardian Information Night 6:30 - 8 PM

14: Spirit Day - Green Day

14: PTO Mini-Mart and Popcorn Day

18-19: Whale Tales - 5th Grade

20: PTO Meeting 9:00 AM

21: Choir Club Concert Field Trip - Poulsbo Middle School

31-April 4: Salmon Release