NEWS FROM
BLAKELY ELEMENTARY
This Week at Blakely
11/23 - 11/27
FROM THE PRINCIPAL  /  ASYNCHRONOUS FRIDAYS / RECOGNITION FOR BLAKELY / FROM THE COUNSELOR  / PICTURE RETAKES / PTO HAPPENINGS 
FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Dear Blakely Families,


It is hard to believe that we are already nearing the end of November. As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, I want to be sure to express my gratitude to our Blakely community. 

I am so grateful for our Blakley students that are showing up and doing their best each day. I know that this has not been an easy time for anyone, but I am continually impressed by our students resiliency and flexibility.

I also have immense appreciation for our Blakely families. You are all walking this journey side-by-side with us, as we come together to do all we can to support each Blakely student in all ways-socially, emotionally and academically. This is no small feat-some days are better than others, but we are getting through it together.

And our Blakely staff continue to amaze me with their creativity and dedication to each and every Blakely student. Our Blakely virtual classrooms are warm and connected spaces, full of learning and laughter. It is awesome to “stop by” on Zoom and get to experience how our students and staff are making the best of this truly unprecedented situation!

I am so proud to be a part of this community and am filled with immeasurable gratitude when I reflect on all that we have accomplished together during a global crisis of the largest magnitude. Thank you for your continued support, kindness and partnership. 


Wishing you and your family a safe, healthy, light and joy filled Thanksgiving,

Reese
ASYNCHRONOUS FRIDAYS

A New Friday Routine

In the upcoming weeks teachers will be using Fridays to help prepare for Hybrid reopening planning.
This may involve your child accessing more asynchronous instruction than previously provided. Please be on the lookout for a communication from your child’s classroom teacher about their specific Friday schedule. 
RECOGNITION FOR BLAKELY ELEMENTARY


Hip-Hip-Hooray!


Mithun (the architect firm who designed the Blakely building) recently received an Award of Merit at the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Seattle chapter 2020 Honor Awards for Washington Architecture.

“I think the connections between the indoors and outdoors, and just the way the building is integrated into the site and the topography is a really brilliant solution. It’s going to be a loved school for many, many generations. I really applaud both its little bit of whimsy, that will be fun for the children, but also its rigor in which it addressed environmental and high-performance issues in the building.” - Juror for the award. 
FROM THE COUNSELOR

Dear Families,

As we head into this holiday season, I want to share how grateful I am for your children! It is a joy to teach them and learn with them. I wanted to share an update about some things to come in our counseling lessons, and a resource that you may find useful as you prepare to support your children during an unusual holiday season.

Kindergarten-3rd grade:

In kindergarten through 3rd grade we have completed our Second Step units on skills for learning and empathy. Going forward after the Thanksgiving break we will begin our lessons on emotion management. Students will learn about how to understand and manage hurt feelings, anger, disappointment, anxiety and other strong feelings that come up. Second Step lesson topics are available here.

4th Grade:

The week after our Thanksgiving break we will start a 6 week counseling unit on managing stress and anxiety. We will utilize GoZen! as a springboard to our conversations and learning about the experience of anxiety. We will use GoZen! to explore what happens in the brain and body and how to effectively manage anxiety and worry. The main teaching tool in GoZen! is animation, teaching children where worry comes from, what happens before/during/after an anxious experience, and how to manage worry with effective tools. Many of these strategies can be used for other big emotions as well such as anger, sadness and unfocused energy.

Resource for supporting children during this holiday season:

I wanted to share this resource which provides strategies for managing the holiday season in new ways. Though we may all feel the need to ‘make up for’ things being a challenge, this article details ways to make this year special for our families, while taking care of ourselves and managing the COVID-related changes to our traditions. I found it useful and I hope that you do as well. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if there are ways that I can support your child or family.
Wishing you a warm and meaningful Thanksgiving,
Krista
PICTURE RETAKES

Save the Date!

Wednesday, December 9th at Sakai
for picture make-ups and retakes. Pictures and proof pages will be available on Friday, December 4th at materials pick up.
If you MISSED photos: please come to Sakai between 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm on December 9th and have your picture taken.
If you want RETAKES:  If you would like to retake your students picture, bring back your photo package with you to Sakai when have your student's photo retaken. 

Photo retakes will be at Sakai on Wednesday, December 9th between 3:00 - 5:00 pm. 
PTO HAPPENINGS 


Thank you to everyone that donated to our very successful food drive! We are amazed at the generosity of our Blakely community helping out the larger community this holiday season. Helpline House was filled with so much gratitude. Stay tuned for another food drive this Spring!

Please join us for our next PTO Happy Hour - December 9th at 5pm. 
And not to worry if you lost power during the last meeting! We will have minutes posted soon to our website.




CALENDAR
November: 
27-28 - Thanksgiving - No School
December:
4- Materials Pick Up and Drop Off 7:30am to 3:00pm.  School pictures and proofs will be available to pick up this day.
9 - Picture Retakes at Sakai  3-5pm
11- Materials Pick Up and Drop Off 7:30am to 3:00pm.
21 - Winter Break Begins
(No School through Jan. 3)
Blakely Numbers:

Main Office
(206) 842-4752

Kyanne Hawkins
Office Manager
KHawkins@bisd303.org 

Attendance Line
(206) 780-2046
 
Nondiscrimination statement: Bainbridge Island School District School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. For questions, please contact Civil Rights Coordinator, Erin Murphy at emurphy@bisd303.org.
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Blakely Elementary 4704 Blakely Avenue
Bainbridge Island, WA | 98110 US
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