Inside this Newsletter
- Principal's Message
- Yearbook Cover Art Contest - DUE TOMORROW
- School Photo Retakes - TOMORROW
- Art News
- PTO News
- Volunteers Needed
- Bainbridge Youth Services - Sakai Peer Tutoring
- SBA Results Available in Family Access
- BISD Community Survey
- Learn More about the EP&O Supplemental Levy
- October Attendance Focus: Building Habits & Routines
- Come Cheer on Your Spartans
- Sakai Calendar
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Dear Sakai Families,
Thank you to parents, relatives, friends, and neighbors for supporting our students and helping us meet (and pass) our goal! We were able to raise over 111% of our goal! We are so appreciative of you! Your generosity will allow us to do so many fun things this year. I am also very thankful to the Sakai community for bringing the spirit on Friday. Classes competed for most spirited with themed outfits, chants, performances, and cheers. And all had huge smiles! The energy and enthusiasm were just contagious!
As a whole school reward, yesterday students walked through the Sakai doors and onto platform 9 3/4. A dedicated team of witches and wizards were busy Sunday magically transforming the school into Hogwarts to celebrate an outstanding level of participation over the last three weeks. Thank you to our PTO for their vision and leadership. It looks incredible.
We are looking forward to meeting with you this week. Conferences are a valuable time to connect with your child's teacher. Here are a few tips to prepare for your conference this fall:
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Please share the essential information you have about your child. You are your child’s first teacher and know them best. Sharing information that you find important about your child will help us connect and best educate your child.
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Ask us questions. Please ask about what your child will be learning, how they are progressing, or what additional help they might need. Please know that all questions are good questions.
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Build a relationship with your child's teacher. Please use this meeting as an opportunity to build a relationship with your child's teacher. We are all on the same team with the same goal of ensuring your child is happy and learning.
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Finally, please remember our teachers are working so hard to provide the best educational experience we can while also attending to students' social-emotional needs. We are constantly working to improve how we do this. Teachers would appreciate hearing about any bright spots you have so far.
We know these are busy times and it’s a challenge to find time for conferences. Thank you for doing so and for your continued partnership!
See you this week, Sakai!
Drew
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Design artwork to be displayed on the cover of this year's yearbook. Your illustration should convey Sakai spirit, school themes, or show our school’s heritage. Flyers are available in the office.
Submissions are due no later than Wednesday, October 29th!
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School photo retakes are scheduled on Wednesday, October 29th, at 9:00 am.
Please let your student know if you would like them to have their picture retaken. If your student did not have their picture taken on school photo day, please be sure to have their picture taken on retake day.
Please read the Picture Day Flyer for information and instructions regarding school photos and online ordering.
Highlights for this year:
- No paper ordering envelopes.
- A few days after picture day, ordering will be available online via the Jostens website, Sakai Event Code is FE249425
- Preview your pictures before you buy
- Choose your background
- Photos ship directly to home
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Happy Tuesday! This is just a reminder about the Day of the Dead celebration at BIMA. I will be assembling our collaborative art piece on Thursday and opening is this weekend but we also have a special invitation.
I hope to see you there!
Maggie Hitchcock
Art Specialist
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PTO Sponsored Family Event!
🎈 Inflatable Kickball is Coming!
We’re sending off the first half of the semester in style—with an Inflatable Costume Kickball Game! Students will take to the field in oversized inflatable outfits for a hilarious and lighthearted game of kickball. It’s the perfect way to kick off fall break with fun, teamwork, and school spirit!
📅 Date: 10/30 (Fall Conferences, no school!)
🕒 Time: 2pm
📍 Location: Sakai field!!!
✅ Inflatable costumes encouraged but not required—Halloween costumes are welcome too!
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HELP FEED OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF
Parent-teacher conferences are coming up! The Sakai PTO is organizing a Soup & Salad lunch (Thursday, October 30th) and brunch (Friday, October 31st) to thank and support our teachers during conference days. Please sign up to bring a dish or ready-to-serve item using our SignUpGenius link
Thank you for helping us show appreciation for our teachers — every contribution makes a difference!
With gratitude,
Sakai PTO
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Sakai Reads
Sakai’s all-school book discussion groups takes place on Thursday, November 6th. This year’s theme is Expanding Perspectives. For more information and if you would like to lead a discussion group, please click here.
Please note: You must be cleared by the District as a volunteer to sign up!
Thank you for volunteering at Sakai!
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If your student was in grades 3 - 8, 10, or 11(science only) in June of 2025, SBA results have been uploaded and are accessible in Skyward Family Access. To access results:
- Log in to Skyward: Family Access
- On the left side of the window, select: Report Cards and School Info
- Click: Spring 2025 Smarter Balanced Score Report
- This will download a PDF with both ELA and Math (and science for grades 5, 8, and 11)
- If you have any questions, please contact your student’s teacher or counselor
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Your input matters! BISD is planning for the future, and we invite families to share their perspectives in our short Community Survey. The feedback we gather will help guide district priorities and goals for the next five years.
Survey closes Friday, October 31 at 5 p.m.
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This levy helps bridge the gap between what the state funds and what it actually costs to provide the education our community values—supporting strong academics, creative opportunities, and the well-being of every student.
Proposed rate: $0.08 per $1,000 of assessed value in 2026, $0.11 in 2027, and $0.13 in 2028. Even with this addition, overall school taxes will decrease as older bond taxes expire.
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This month we’re highlighting the importance of healthy routines that support regular attendance. Families play a key role in helping students arrive at school ready to learn.
💤 Sleep Matters
- Children and teens need 8–10 hours of sleep each night.
- A regular bedtime helps students wake up rested and focused.
🍳 Start the Day with Breakfast
- Breakfast gives students the energy they need to learn.
- Even something small — fruit, toast, or yogurt — makes a big difference.
⏰ Create a Morning Routine
- Pack backpacks, lunches, and clothes the night before to reduce stress.
- Consistent routines make mornings smoother for everyone.
🏫 Arrive On Time, Every Day
- Showing up on time builds confidence and connection.
- Missing just 2 days a month adds up to nearly a month of lost learning in a school year.
👉 Every day counts! When students come to school rested, prepared, and on time, they build strong habits for life.
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Tickets
All tickets must be purchased online through Hometown Ticketing. Tickets for football and volleyball home games are now available through our online box office. We will no longer accept cash at the gate or door.
Game Day Guidelines
Our school district is committed to providing a safe, respectful, and enjoyable environment for all fans. Please review these game day guidelines especially those impacting our kindergarten through eighth grade families.
- Students in grades K–8 must be accompanied by a supervising adult.This is especially important for grades 5–8—students will not be admitted to the game without an adult.
- No re-entry once leaving the stadium.
- No in-and-out privileges.
- No outside food or beverages.
- No student backpacks allowed inside the stadium.
- All bags are subject to search.
Come out and support our Spartans this fall—see you under the lights!
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OCTOBER
29: School photo retakes in the AM
29: Field Trip - Evans to Pickleball Kingdom 10:30 am - 1:45 pm
30 - 31: Fall Conferences - No school
NOVEMBER
11: Veterans Day - No School
20: PTO Meeting 9:00 am
26-28: Thanksgiving Break - No School
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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, Director of Student Services
206-780-1088
mkuffel@bisd303.org
8489 Madison Avenue North Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
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