һ����app

A Message from the Department of Communications and Community Relations

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.”