- Message from Superintendent Thompson
- Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration
- Supplemental Levy Info Sessions - Zoom Links
- October is Disability History Month
- Show Up and Show Out - ATTENDANCE MATTERS
- Calendar Update
- Mark Your Calendars: Key Dates Ahead
- Local Community Events
- Stay Connected: Follow Us on Social Media
|
|
I hope this message finds you doing something that brings you joy—whatever that may be! Over the past few weeks, I’ve been trying to pause, even for just a few seconds, to notice the small things that make the day a little brighter. Here are a few moments that caught my attention recently:
- The beautiful trees turning color along Madison in front of Commodore
- The vibrant Homecoming decorations in the BHS 100 Building—complete with tropical plants and shimmering jellyfish
- An Ordway student skipping and doing cartwheels beside their caregiver on the walk home from school
Each of these moments reminded me how much joy surrounds us in this community—if we take the time to look for it.
Speaking of joy, I’m thrilled to share the launch of our first-ever Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council. This year, I have the privilege of meeting with an incredible group of 9th–12th-grade students to strengthen the connection between district leadership and the student experience. These students—nominated or selected through an application process—represent a wide range of grade levels, backgrounds, and perspectives. We’ll meet monthly to discuss topics that matter most to them, and I’ll share their feedback and ideas during my Superintendent’s Reports at upcoming School Board meetings. You may even see some of these students joining me at the podium!
Spending time with them this week was truly inspiring and renewed my hope for the future.
As we move through October, I encourage you to take a moment to notice your own sparks of joy—big or small. And remember, you might just be someone else’s spark of joy, too.
With gratitude,
Amii Thompson
Superintendent
Bainbridge Island School District
|
|
Join us on Monday, October 13, from 3:30–5:30 PM at Woodward Middle School for Bainbridge Island’s annual community celebration.
Enjoy an afternoon filled with music, food, vendors, and community connection as we honor Indigenous Peoples Day. The event will include a welcome song, a community potluck, and a special presentation by Suquamish weaver Danielle Morsette, whose renowned work is featured in museums across Seattle and Portland. Morsette also designed the popular Salish Sea Kit for the Seattle Sounders.
Come celebrate Coast Salish traditions and connect through art, culture, and community. All BISD staff, students, families, and community members are welcome!
|
|
Want to understand what BISD’s Supplemental Educational Programs & Operations (EP&O) Levy means for our schools and community? Visit our Levy Information Webpage or join an upcoming Zoom information session to get all the details.
Every day in BISD, students are supported by strong academics, creative opportunities, and staff who care for their whole well-being. This levy helps bridge the gap between what the state funds and what it actually costs to provide the education our community values.
The proposed rate is $0.08 per $1,000 of assessed value in 2026, $0.11 in 2027, and $0.13 in 2028—and even with this addition, overall school taxes will decrease as older bond taxes expire.
Zoom Information Sessions:
|
|
October is National Principals Month, a time to celebrate the incredible leadership, care, and dedication of our school principals and associate principals.
Principals set the tone for our schools—creating welcoming environments, supporting staff, building relationships with families, and ensuring every student feels seen and supported. Their work often happens behind the scenes, but its impact reaches every corner of our classrooms and community.
Please join me in thanking our principals and associate principals for all they do to make Bainbridge Island schools such special places to learn and grow. Whether it’s greeting students at the door, cheering at after-school events, or guiding teams through challenges, they lead with both heart and purpose.
We are grateful for their vision, their compassion, and their unwavering commitment to BISD students and staff.
Meet our incredible BISD principals and associate principals! Front row (left to right): Kristina Rodgers (BHS), Amalia Gonzalez-Kahn (BHS), Joe Power (BHS), Danielle Warman (Woodward), Drew Crandall (Sakai); Second row (left to right): Sam Cameron (Blakely), Rhonda Walton (x̌alilc / Halilts), Debra Dunn (Ordway), Trish Corsetti (Commodore), Jeannie Donoghue (Woodward)
|
October is actually one of the most important months in the school year for attendance. Here are a few key reasons you can highlight for families and students:
📊 Patterns Form Early
- By October, students are settling into routines. Good attendance habits built now tend to last the whole year, while absences in the fall often predict continued attendance issues later.
🧮 Learning Foundations
- Many subjects—especially math and literacy—introduce core concepts in the fall. Missing class in October means missing the foundation that future lessons build on.
👫 Belonging & Connection
- Friendships and peer groups form early in the year. Regular attendance in October helps students feel connected to their classmates and school community.
🌱 Preventing Chronic Absenteeism
- Research shows that students who miss 2–4 days in the first month are far more likely to become chronically absent. Staying consistent in October helps break that cycle before it starts.
|
|
October is Disability History Month and serves as an important reminder to center disability histories, narratives, contributions, and ongoing systemic barriers — not as a token gesture, but as part of a sustained commitment to disability justice.
Throughout the month, we honor the advocacy and achievements of people with disabilities who have shaped our schools, communities, and nation. It’s also a time to recognize the civil rights movements that secured protections such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), while acknowledging that the work toward full inclusion and equity continues.
Disability History Month encourages schools and communities to move beyond awareness and toward action—by amplifying disabled voices, integrating disability perspectives into curriculum, and fostering environments where every student and staff member feels seen, valued, and supported.
|
|
Please note a few important upcoming schedule changes for October and November.
Board Meeting Schedule Update:
-
October 30: Meeting Canceled due to lack of quorum
-
November 6: Special Session — School Improvement Plan Presentations
-
November 13: Regular Board Meeting
Stay tuned for additional updates on the Board Vacancy and Appointment process on our district website.
|
|
OCTOBER
30-31: K-6 Conferences (No School)
NOVEMBER
4: Election Day
6: Special Session - School Improvement Plan Presentations
11: Veterans Day (No School)
13: School Board Meeting
26-28: Thanksgiving Break (No School)
|
|
Looking for things to do around town?
|
|
Follow us on social media to stay up-to-date on what is happening within our school district.
|
|
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, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or 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 by a person with a disability. The BISD provides equal access to the Boy Scouts 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
khaizlip@bisd303.org
Section 504/ADA Coordinators:
Annalisa Sanchez, Director of Student Services
206-780-1069
asanchez@bisd303.org
Maria Kuffel
206-780-1088
mkuffel@bisd303.org
8489 Madison Avenue North Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
|
|
|
Additional settings for Safari Browser.
