Families, staff, students and community representatives from Bellingham Public Schools are encouraged to apply by 5 p.m. on May 14 for consideration to serve on the Instructional Materials Committee��(���Ѱ�).

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS COMMITTEE
Members of the Instructional Materials Committee will need to be available for the following:

• One meeting this school year: May 21.
• Three meetings during the 2024-25 school year: October 1, February 4 and May 6.
• All meetings are from 4:15 – 5:30 p.m. via Zoom.

To learn more about the Instructional Materials Committee, open positions, and the responsibilities of this work, please visit the Instructional Materials Committee webpage��or contact��Gladys Serrano��in the Department of Teaching and Learning via email or 360-676-6470, ext. 6488.

To apply for consideration to serve on the IMC, please  by 5 p.m. on May 14 or and submit it to the Department of Teaching and Learning, 1985 Barkley Blvd, Bellingham, WA 98226.

Dear students, staff, families and community,

The month of May kicks off a busy time for many schools and families, including graduations and summer plans.

At a district level, we are working hard to finalize our budget for the 2024-25 school year.

As we have communicated previously, we are in more of a “hold steady” approach for 2024-25, with the one major exception of compensation increases. ��Our biggest expenditure every year is our people, and we know staff are the best investment we can make to support, inspire and teach our students. We continue to have significant needs for additional investments, particularly in Special Education, alongside a lack of state funding to support those needs. Should additional funding become available, Special Education will be a priority.

Unfortunately, as we look ahead to 2025-26 and beyond, we will face significant budget challenges unless the state allocates additional funding. Nearly all districts across the state are facing similar challenges, whether due to declining enrollment, loss of regionalization funding enhancements or the impacts of inflation and higher costs.

This spring, I am participating in a series of meetings around the state with State Superintendent Chris Reykdal, along with a dozen or so other superintendents, and state funding is front and center in these conversations.

Districts agree the state Legislature must make major investments next year in education or it will have devastating consequences across the state.

Below are visuals from Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) that may help illustrate why districts are facing big budget challenges.

According to the��above chart, it looks like funding has increased for districts. But if you compare it with the��chart below, when dollars have been adjusted for inflation, state funding for districts has not kept up.

As you can see in the��chart below, in 2019-20, the state had allocated 52% of its funding to preK-12. For 2024-25, the state allocated 44% of its funding for preK-12 education.

Most districts across our state, including ours, will not be able to sustain programmatic offerings unless the state legislature increases funding for preK-12 education to help pay for escalating operating costs like insurance, utilities and materials.

We hope the state will close the gap in funding for employee compensation; the state’s models are outdated and have not kept pace with inflation.

Over the coming months, many people and organizations will be advocating to our legislature to fulfill their primary constitutional duty to fully fund public education. We thank our legislators for their work in this area and look forward to better news.

Greg Baker

Bellingham Public Schools is excited to announce the honorees for the Volunteer of the Year and Community Partner of the Year categories as part of the 2024 Promise Awards.

During the week of May 6-10, we will share video features highlighting each recipient in further detail.

We previously announced staff recipients of the 2024 Promise Awards earlier this month, and now share our volunteer and community partner honorees.

Please join us in extending congratulations to…

• Community Partner of the Year (two recipients): Children of the Setting Sun Productions, Indigenous-led and -centered nonprofit; Compass Health, local healthcare partner
• Volunteer of the Year: Naaman Hinton, volunteer at school locations districtwide

A staple of the Promise Awards program are surprise announcement visits, and we are now announcing our volunteer and community partner honorees after allowing additional time to schedule visits.

The Promise Awards program recognizes the exemplary achievements and contributions of staff and volunteers connected to The һ����app, our district’s strategic plan. The Promise Awards are supported by the��.

The Promise Awards provide an opportunity to highlight the exceptional work of honorees that make a significant difference in our schools and community. These award recipients represent our school system and help increase awareness of the important contributions of all staff and volunteers.

In addition to the award feature photos below, .

Volunteer of the Year

Naaman Hinton, volunteer at school locations districtwide

Naaman is a bright light and beacon of positive positivity for all the students and staff with whom he interacts.

He exemplifies a One Schoolhouse spirit by volunteering weekly at 15+ school locations spanning the elementary, middle and high school levels.

A nominator shared, “…For Naaman to volunteer at the multitude of places which he supports, there is a ton of labor involved in planning that as well! Naaman coordinates with caregivers, plans transportation, navigates hurdles of real-world happenings, and orchestrates many schedules to be able to independently arrive at and give his whole heart to the many places where he spreads love and kindness.”

Naaman routinely spreads joy, care, fun and important lessons by being himself and sharing his infectious spirit of positivity.

One such way his positivity has translated into school cultures is through the development of gratitude boards at several schools. Nominators also expressed love for his kindness cards shared with those he meets and the smiley-face apparel he often sports.

Another nominator said, “…What truly sets Naaman apart is the genuine joy that he brings to his volunteer work, radiating positivity and uplifting everyone around him.”

He is a fierce advocate for inclusion and is an assistant coach for unified sports. Naaman has provided support for students who use wheelchairs for mobility, working to normalize the mode of transportation with other students.

With grace and humility, he inspires others and teaches that with perseverance and a growth mindset, everything is possible.

We have two Community Partner of the Year honorees this year.

Community Partner of the Year

Children of the Setting Sun Productions, Indigenous-led and -centered nonprofit

Children of the Setting Sun Productions (CSSP) has been an invaluable partner in supporting the implementation in Bellingham Public Schools.

CSSP has enhanced the school district’s relationship with Coast Salish leaders and has accelerated the pace and quality of our implementation of Washington state’s Tribal Sovereignty curriculum.

Key strategies of the һ����app include great teaching with strong support; equity, diversity and inclusion; and student, family and community engagement. CSSP personifies these strategies in many ways.

Examples include hosting Since Time Immemorial family and community nights as well as documenting and supporting Coast Salish artist and guest educations in our schools.

, CSSP was described as follows:

“… Sharing oral histories, gatherings and events through film, podcasts, live events — and soon a digital library — Children of the Setting Sun defies the traditional categories of a ‘media’ group. The cadre of Coast Salish youth, Indigenous artists and creators from across the region and beyond are guided in the projects they pursue by a sounding board of local elders and others.”

BPS staff appreciate the way CSSP shares content and provides feedback and resources to enrich teaching and lesson plans.

The nonprofit has also hosted the Treaty Day Film Festival, a treasured experience for 4^th, 7^th and 11^th graders in Bellingham Public Schools. More than 2,000 students were able to attend this school year.

As a result of CSSP efforts through educational programming and partnership, students are demonstrating a fuller understanding of Native cultures, histories and peoples.

Compass Health, local healthcare partner

Compass Health’s commitment to serving Bellingham Public Schools is an inspiration, with widespread impact.

For close to a decade, Compass Health has been providing mental health services to our schools with flexibility and love. Compass Health’s services are eligible for students who identify as low income.

During the school year alone, Compass Health has served nearly 300 students – which is around 1 in every 36 students. The organization works at 15 schools and programs, with another four served through the clinic.

This partnership allows school counselors to refer families to onsite, mental health professionals, increasing collaboration between school and therapist, and reducing barriers to care such as transportation and appointment scheduling.

This model also destigmatizes mental health services by integrating them into the school day and has been shown to increase student attendance.

One parent remarked in the nomination, “…my daughter loves her compass clinician. If I had a therapist as good as this person with I was young, I wonder how much different my life would have been now.”

A BPS staff member added, “…Compass Health’s ability to come to where students are has enabled students to access mental health services in situations where the barriers to care otherwise could have been insurmountable.”

Earning credit for a part-time paid job falls under a state program called Worksite Learning, which is part of a larger program called Work-Based Learning. “It’s definitely a program you should take advantage of because there aren’t other programs that give you this experience in the real world outside the classroom,” Sehome junior Kaatri Glanzer said.��

Options was once a tiny high school housed in portables behind Bellingham High School. Thanks to a capital bond project supported by the Bellingham community, Options students moved into a brand-new, state-of-the-art����in 2017. The school offers its own culture and unique attributes to students who need something different from a traditional, large high school experience.��.

Sehome computer science teacher Jenny Styer had the surprise good fortune of visiting the White House for Computer Science Education Week in December. Kicked off Monday, Dec. 4, the Computer Science Teachers Association’s (CSTA) annual week-long celebration promotes computer science to K-12 students and advocates for equity in the field.��

Scott Ritchey was elected to the school board in November 2023 and took the oath of office on Dec. 14. He settled in Bellingham after attending Western Washington University. He has worked at SPIE, an educational non-profit organization in Bellingham, for more than 24 years. He and his wife Angie have three children, two graduates of Bellingham Public Schools and one currently in middle school.��

At the end of April, more than 30 student musicians from high schools in Bellingham Public Schools will head to the annual WIAA/WMEA Solo and Ensemble Contest in Ellensburg, Washington.��

In case you missed it: Recent Instagram highlights

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! For more stories about The һ����app in action, visit our��. Or follow us on��,��,����or��!

Bellingham Public Schools will be on early dismissal schedules for all schools on Thursday, April 18 and Thursday, April 25. Elementary schools dismiss at 12:20 p.m., middle schools dismiss at 1:15 p.m. and high schools dismiss at 2 p.m.

The updated school calendar for 2023-24 and major dates for 2024-25 school year are available online.

Dear staff, students, families and community members,

We regularly send updates regarding construction projects across our district and share news on a specific rebuild project, buying/selling land, designing schools, asking for feedback and many other facilities-related milestones that affect our schools and district.

This exciting and visible work in our district would not be possible without the support of our community. Voters approved our district’s bond measures, most recently in 2013, 2018 and 2022, which fund these important projects. The adage we like to use is that “bonds are for building,” which serves as a reminder that we are not able to use bond dollars for salaries, curriculum or other important district budget items.

Our new��District Office has opened at 1985 Barkley Boulevard. It’s a beautifully designed, accessible, functional and sustainable building that was made with our community in mind. Staff across our district use our District Office for trainings and professional development, and we have incorporated ample rooms with technology and flexible furniture. Also included is an early learning center; thanks to two separate grants, we will be able to offer childcare to staff and our community starting in fall 2024.

It is incredibly unique for a community to support building a district office (DO). This is not lost on me or any of our staff who work in the DO. We are excited to share this space with our district community and those who may be interested in renting the facility for meetings or gatherings. Please visit��our website if you are interested in learning more information about the new DO. We are hosting an open house for anyone interested in touring the new building 3-6 p.m. Thursday, April 25.

Here are a few quick facts:

• The new District Office is located at 1985 Barkley Boulevard.
• Funding for this building is thanks to voter-supported bonds from 2013 and 2022.
• The new district office includes a professional learning center, early learning center and family engagement center.
• We were intentional to think and plan beyond office spaces; we want this building to be an asset for staff, families and our community. We want everyone to feel welcome.
• The new district office provides spaces that are accessible, functional and efficient for our staff, families and community partners. These spaces are available for meetings, trainings and gatherings for staff and our community.
• Sustainability features include (you can see a full list):
  • All construction materials selected meet or exceed EPA recommendations for indoor air quality.
  • The building structural system is composed of heavy timber columns and beams and cross laminated timber (CLT) panels.
  • The mechanical system provides dedicated outdoor air supply for constant outside fresh air with fully integrated building automation controls for maximum efficiency.
  • As a fully electric building utilizing highly efficient systems, the building is designed to perform with half of the energy use of the national median energy use.

Other construction updates

• A��design advisory/educational specifications committee for the new Community Transitions building is hosting a community meeting Monday, April 15. All are welcome to review design documents and share input. The new CT facility will be located on the campus of Whatcom Community College, across the street from the WTA . You can read more about the upcoming meeting. We expect to break ground summer 2025.
  
• Bellingham High School’s tennis courts will officially open for public use this summer. Our high school tennis teams are using the courts now before the surfacing is applied.�� Surfacing is a temperature and weather dependent activity that was not able to be accomplished before the cooler temperatures and rains started last fall.�� We plan to apply the final court surfacing once the tennis season is complete and the weather cooperates.
  
• Both the Carl Cozier Educational Specifications/Design Advisory Committee and Roosevelt Educational Specifications/Design Advisory Committee recently held public meetings to hear hopes and dreams from staff, neighbors and families. We do not currently have set timelines for designing and building these schools. Both committees will wrap up before the end of the school year, then architects will work on plans and develop a rendering for additional feedback.

Thanks again to our community for their support of our bonds. We know space matters to our students, staff and community users of these great facilities, schools, fields, courts and playgrounds! As always, reach out if you have any questions.

Greg Baker

Reply to��greg.baker@bellinghamschools.org

Bellingham Public Schools surprised 2024 Promise Award recipients the week of March 25, and we are excited to now announce the honorees.��

The Promise Awards program recognizes the exemplary achievements and contributions of staff and volunteers connected to The һ����app, our district’s strategic plan. The Promise Awards are supported by the .��

The Promise Awards provide an opportunity to highlight the exceptional work of honorees that make a significant difference in our schools and community. These award recipients represent our school system and help increase awareness of the important contributions of all staff and volunteers.��

Please note, our Volunteer of the Year and Community Partner of the Year award recognitions will be announced later this month.��

In addition to the award feature photos below, .��

Above and Beyond Service Award��

We have two Above and Beyond Service Award honorees this year.

Kelly Balzer, paraeducator and PTA co-president at Northern Heights Elementary School��

Kelly is deeply connected to many services at Northern Heights Elementary School. A nominator shared, “Her role within our school community is so multi-faceted that it will be hard to summarize all the ways she has positively impacted our school community…”.��

She is known for greeting each student by name and knowing 10+ fun facts about each and every student. Kelly began working at Northern Heights as an official staff employee during the 2022-23 school year and has been active in the school community for many years via the PTA with two children of her own at the school.��

A staff colleague shared, “…Kelly is constantly looking for ways she can bless students, staff and the school. She pops into classes to help students with any spare second she has. Her smiling face is often seen in doorways encouraging both teachers and students, reminding all of us on the difficult days of why we are here and of how wonderful we are…”��

Further examples of Kelly’s dedication include coordinating yearbooks, caring for the school garden and securing walkie-talkies to assist with dismissal communication, along with staying late to help with dismissal each day. ��

A frequent presence during recess time, Kelly’s unique gifts and above and beyond style are exemplified by the following staff colleague reflection:��

“Many kids would tell you that recess is the most important part of the school day, and an important part of supporting the whole child is helping them navigate the social and physical interactions out in this unstructured setting. Kelly is able to hold kids accountable and set high expectations in the warmest of ways. She can help kids laugh off the small things that often feel like big things, she can expertly help kids talk through conflict, and is a great listener for kids needing that time to connect with a caring adult.”��

Dionte Thomas, campus monitor at Squalicum High School��

Dionte Thomas represents The һ����app strategies of Great Teaching with Strong Support, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and Student, Family and Community Engagement through his tireless efforts to serve the Squalicum High School community.��

As a campus monitor, his thoughtfulness��actively works to make the campus safer each day. Dionte constantly works with teachers to ensure classrooms can run smoothly, addresses students’ needs to ensure they can access classes and engages with families so they are informed on what is happening in the building.��

He is described by colleagues as irreplaceable, presenting a calm and composed demeanor along with a gift to connect with students who historically struggle in building trusting relationships with adults. Going above and beyond in many ways, he often arrives early and stays late, and has EMT certification to assist with medical situations as well.��

Dionte created a system for tardies and truancy and ensures families are in the loop each step of the way. Squalicum leadership regularly hears from families expressing gratefulness for this extra communication which helps maximize the time students are in school.��

A staff member shared, “Dionte is in some of our toughest conversations at SQHS, and he always asks students to think about their actions, share their perspectives, and consider other perspectives. With each of these conversations, Dionte builds trust and we can see students make different choices that better support their learning.”��

Collaboration Award

Anna Burns and Alexa Tucker, sixth grade teaching team at Shuksan Middle School��

Anna Burns and Alexa Tucker personify The һ����app through exemplary collaboration as a co-teaching team over the last four years at Shuksan Middle School.��

Anna managed the sixth-grade Special Education caseload at Shuksan while Alexa teaches sixth-grade core and AVID (Advancement via Individual Determination) classes.��

The team is commended for ensuring all students are loved, seen and given intentional, rigorous opportunities to engage in learning. ��

During a typical morning core class, the pair teach in a classroom that includes seven students with IEPs (individualized learning plans), five students identifying as Highly Capable, six who receive multi-language support services, and others who require additional behavior and emotional interventions.��

The pair build a sense of wonder and inquiry the moment students walk through the door and focus on building up individuals from every demographic and level of challenge or strength. As a result, it furthers a sense of belonging and purpose for students.��

Anna and Alexa, unprompted, built a document outlining resources that have supported their co-teaching journey because of the value they place on their collaboration and desire to share with interested colleagues beginning co-teaching journeys.��

A colleague shared, “…their approach to collaboration comes with wide open arms, students at the center, and an inclusive mindset that involves all stakeholders coming around what is best for all kids.”��

Compassion and Service Award

Joe Wooding, social studies teacher, AVID teacher and instructional coach at Options High School��

Joe Wooding exemplifies compassion and service to students, staff and families at Options High School through passion, positivity and a seemingly endless supply of energy that inspires those around him.��

He is considered a leader among peers and highly respected by students and staff alike.��

Joe recognizes the best outcomes occur when students and staff feel connected to one another and he strives to create community both within and outside the school. He is known for taking students to clean up parks, volunteer at schools, tour local businesses, and more. He worked with a community partner to develop a program that brought business leaders into his classroom to meet with students for listening sessions.��

Joe’s heart for service is clear in all he does, especially as he collaborates with students to identify and cultivate their gifts. This results in life-changing opportunities for his students.��

Renowned for his dynamic and introspective teaching style, Joe is commended for tackling difficult themes and fostering courageous conversations. He is described as an “electrical system” and source of connectivity that furthers connections between district, administration, teachers, staff, students and more.��

A colleague shared, “…he has an insatiable curiosity about all things and this is infectious. He is our renaissance man. He challenges our students to not just ‘do the thing’ but to think at high levels and to examine different perspectives other than their own.”

Great Teaching Award��

Ruwani Brohier, fifth grade teacher at Cordata Elementary School��

Ruwani Brohier is revered for her ability to balance warmth and expectation for her students, resulting in calm and highly-productive learning environments that have changed trajectories for fifth grade students preparing for middle school.��

Many students who have entered her class disengaged have shown amazing growth as the year has progressed. A colleague remarked, “I have never seen a classroom function more like ‘how you think a classroom should look’ than in Ruwani Brohier’s classroom.”��

The growth her classes have shown via assessments and other measures speaks volumes about her strong teaching, which occurs amongst a palpable warmth felt when walking into her classroom. ��

Ruwani arrived to Cordata with years of experience and skills spent teaching��in another state, yet continually seeks opportunities to collaborate with others and deepen her expertise as a teacher at Cordata – all for the benefit of the students she serves.��

Her classroom is described as a safe and loving place for all students. Half of Ruwani’s class this year are multilingual learners representing five different languages other than English.��

A staff member said, “It has been magical watching how she has created a calm and highly-productive learning environment in her classroom each of the past two years. The relationships she builds with her students are grounded in love, respect and very high expectations. This combination has led to unbelievable gap-closing growth for all of her students across content areas.”��

One Schoolhouse Award

Russ Robinson, safety and security supervisor for Bellingham Public Schools and high school athletics coach��

Russ Robinson embodies the One Schoolhouse value of The һ����app as a reliable and compassionate presence throughout the district.��

He is a collaborator, educator and supporter of all schools and is regarded for his ability to work with strategies that are approachable, age appropriate and strike the ideal balance between school operation and student safety. ��

Russ exudes a collaborative strength in connecting multiple agencies in service to students. As a result, Bellingham Public Schools has continued to build strong community partner relationships and further the effectiveness of the school safety structure for our school environments.��

A colleague shared, “He serves as a pillar of support in our most intense times, and he leads with compassion, calmness, humor and expertise that help our schools feel connected as One Schoolhouse.”��

Russ is a welcome face and feeling of relief for those who call upon him, and he is known as a master of restorative conversations with the ability to teach positive student behavior. Russ exhibits a special gift connecting with students to bring the best of them, understand them and work together for the best outcomes.��

Others remark how he somehow manages to be in all places at all times as a common face at sporting events, school board meetings and district events. Campus monitors value his leadership to foster collaboration and support their school communities. Beyond his safety and security duties, he also serves students as a longtime coach of multiple sports in the district.��

Outstanding Leadership Award��

Teri Herda, principal at Silver Beach Elementary School��

Teri Herda is recognized as a visionary leader with unparalleled effort and care for her school community, using student-centered decision making to lead as principal at Silver Beach Elementary School.��

She draws on a breadth of nearly 40 years of classroom and administrative experience, expertise and wisdom to serve Silver Beach Elementary and Bellingham Public Schools.��

The Silver Beach staff shared, “Teri’s ability to relate to us not only as teachers but as humans is one of her greatest gifts in being a leader.”��

Possessing a wealth of information about each child’s strengths and needs, she is able to provide exceptional support to students and families. She is a constant presence to great children in the morning, in the hallways during the day and at dismissal.��

No task is too small for Teri, who provides hands-on support to every child and member of the staff. Her leadership strikes the ideal balance between high expectations while being incredibly thoughtful and caring.��

A staff member remarked, “Teri is one of the best leaders I have worked for in my 30-year career. She gets ‘it’ when it comes to this profession. I love that she taught for 30 years before becoming an administrator…she has this “way” of making you want to be better.”

Volunteer of the Year

Naaman Hinton, volunteer at school locations districtwide

Naaman is a bright light and beacon of positive positivity for all the students and staff with whom he interacts.

He exemplifies a One Schoolhouse spirit by volunteering weekly at 15+ school locations spanning the elementary, middle and high school levels.

A nominator shared, “…For Naaman to volunteer at the multitude of places which he supports, there is a ton of labor involved in planning that as well! Naaman coordinates with caregivers, plans transportation, navigates hurdles of real-world happenings, and orchestrates many schedules to be able to independently arrive at and give his whole heart to the many places where he spreads love and kindness.”

Naaman routinely spreads joy, care, fun and important lessons by being himself and sharing his infectious spirit of positivity.

One such way his positivity has translated into school cultures is through the development of gratitude boards at several schools. Nominators also expressed love for his kindness cards shared with those he meets and the smiley-face apparel he often sports.

Another nominator said, “…What truly sets Naaman apart is the genuine joy that he brings to his volunteer work, radiating positivity and uplifting everyone around him.”

He is a fierce advocate for inclusion and is an assistant coach for unified sports. Naaman has provided support for students who use wheelchairs for mobility, working to normalize the mode of transportation with other students.

With grace and humility, he inspires others and teaches that with perseverance and a growth mindset, everything is possible.

We have two Community Partner of the Year honorees this year.

Community Partner of the Year

Children of the Setting Sun Productions, Indigenous-led and -centered nonprofit

Children of the Setting Sun Productions (CSSP) has been an invaluable partner in supporting the implementation in Bellingham Public Schools.

CSSP has enhanced the school district’s relationship with Coast Salish leaders and has accelerated the pace and quality of our implementation of Washington state’s Tribal Sovereignty curriculum.

Key strategies of the һ����app include great teaching with strong support; equity, diversity and inclusion; and student, family and community engagement. CSSP personifies these strategies in many ways.

Examples include hosting Since Time Immemorial family and community nights as well as documenting and supporting Coast Salish artist and guest educations in our schools.

, CSSP was described as follows:

“… Sharing oral histories, gatherings and events through film, podcasts, live events — and soon a digital library — Children of the Setting Sun defies the traditional categories of a ‘media’ group. The cadre of Coast Salish youth, Indigenous artists and creators from across the region and beyond are guided in the projects they pursue by a sounding board of local elders and others.”

BPS staff appreciate the way CSSP shares content and provides feedback and resources to enrich teaching and lesson plans.

The nonprofit has also hosted the Treaty Day Film Festival, a treasured experience for 4^th, 7^th and 11^th graders in Bellingham Public Schools. More than 2,000 students were able to attend this school year.

As a result of CSSP efforts through educational programming and partnership, students are demonstrating a fuller understanding of Native cultures, histories and peoples.

Compass Health, local healthcare partner

Compass Health’s commitment to serving Bellingham Public Schools is an inspiration, with widespread impact.

For close to a decade, Compass Health has been providing mental health services to our schools with flexibility and love. Compass Health’s services are eligible for students who identify as low income.

During the school year alone, Compass Health has served nearly 300 students – which is around 1 in every 36 students. The organization works at 15 schools and programs, with another four served through the clinic.

This partnership allows school counselors to refer families to onsite, mental health professionals, increasing collaboration between school and therapist, and reducing barriers to care such as transportation and appointment scheduling.

This model also destigmatizes mental health services by integrating them into the school day and has been shown to increase student attendance.

One parent remarked in the nomination, “…my daughter loves her compass clinician. If I had a therapist as good as this person with I was young, I wonder how much different my life would have been now.”

A BPS staff member added, “…Compass Health’s ability to come to where students are has enabled students to access mental health services in situations where the barriers to care otherwise could have been insurmountable.”

These award recipients represent our school system and help increase awareness of the important contributions of all staff and volunteers. Members of the Promise Awards Advisory Group score nominations for districtwide awards using a rubric based on The һ����app. (Outstanding Leadership Award and One Schoolhouse Award are reviewed and selected separately by leadership colleagues.)��

We receive many nominations of amazing staff and volunteers across our school system each year. Recipients represent highlights of so many amazing individuals and teams across our school system.��

Families, staff and students are encouraged to nominate impactful individuals and/or teams when the nomination window opens each February, and repeat nominations of non-recipients are encouraged as we welcome an increasing number of nominations each year.��

All high school students in Bellingham Public Schools are welcome to attend.

More than 35 businesses and community partners will share opportunities including part-time, full-time and seasonal employment, apprenticeships, service learning and educational experiences from a variety of industries.

Career and college coordinators from our four high schools will be onsite to help with resumes and applications.

Confirmed attendees include the following (in alphabetical order): Andgar Corporation, Bellingham Technical College, Birch Equipment, BP Cherry Point, Catholic Community Services, Common Threads Farm, Community Food Coop, Costco Wholesale, Dawson Construction, Enfield Farms, Fred Meyer, IBEW191, Innotech Process Equipment, Lions Club Camp Horizon, LiUNA Laborers 292, Matrix Service, Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association, Northwest Center, Northwest Maritime Apprenticeship, Northwest Workforce Council, Orchard Park, Rader Farms, San Juan Sailing, Silver Reef Casino Resort, Skagit County Fire District 14, Skagit Valley College, Taylor Made TDS (Truck Driving School), U.S. Army, Walmart, WECU, Western Washington University, Whatcom Family YMCA, Western Refinery Services (WRS), Whatcom Community College and Z’Organics Beauty Institute.

We hope to see you there!

We are excited to share information about our plans to build a new Community Transitions (CT) building on Whatcom Community College’s campus at 322 Calluna Court.

As you may know, a novel collaboration between WCC and Bellingham Public Schools allows for a building to be planned and built on WCC property to serve students in  CT. Voter-supported bonds pay for this new building, which will benefit our students and community.�� CT serves students aged 18-21 who qualify for special education services. Learn more Community Transitions here.

You are invited to attend a community project meeting from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Monday, April 15 in the auditorium of the Syre Student Center on Whatcom Community College’s campus. Parking is available near Syre and can be accessed from Cordata Parkway, West Kellogg Road or Eliza Road.

This will be a wonderful opportunity for you to learn about plans, ask questions and share input.