Ordway Weekly Newsletter - January 5, 2026

Inside this Newsletter

Dear Ordway Families,

Every three weeks, all students in grades K–4 participate in a 40- to 50-minute enrichment lesson. Lessons integrate both math and language arts, with activities that focus on:

Younger students have been building magic squares using unique shapes, piecing together tessellation puzzles, creating star polygons, designing with symmetry, and using 21st-century pattern blocks to explore new shapes. They have also built bridges with pennies, studied math in real-life situations, and practiced addition and subtraction using playing cards, among many other activities.

Older students have been exploring algorithms with Rubik’s cubes, learning Russian multiplication, discussing biomes and creating creatures, challenging math conjectures, and examining deep connections in mathematics. They have also investigated the mysterious property of inertia using gyroscopes, manipulated equations with broken calculators, created parabolic curves using x- and y-axes, practiced subtraction with Diffy Squares, and used geometry and spatial reasoning to build skyscrapers out of cubes.

As the school year progresses, students will continue to have more opportunities to think outside the box.

Happy New Year!

Laura Nelson, BISD Enrichment Coordinator

Families with a rising kindergartener are invited to learn more about kindergarten options in Bainbridge Island School District. Join us for our general kindergarten information night and program-specific events to explore both neighborhood schools and choice programs.

4704 Blakely Ave NE, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110

Learn about kindergarten from representatives of all BISD elementary schools and get answers to your questions. More information at www.bisd303.org/kindergarten. Let us know about your rising kindergarten student by completing this form.

Enrollment for 26/27 school year is OPEN 4 pm 1/5. Enrollment Link

Along with traditional kindergartens at BISD neighborhood schools, BISD offers choice programs (meaning families choose to enter them through a lottery). Attend these program-specific information nights to learn more!

Kindergarten Information Night

Commodore Options | 9530 High School Road

Kindergarten Information Night

The 2026–27 school year will be here before we know it! We look forward to welcoming families to a series of information nights and transition events this winter and spring. Please save the dates below—February & March events will include additional details and times in our upcoming Community Newsletters.

Tuesday, January 27 | 6:30 p.m.

📍 Commodore Options School

📍 Woodward Middle School

📍Eagle Harbor High School

📍 Bainbridge High School

📍 Bainbridge High School

🔗 Sign-up information will be shared in January

📍 Sakai Intermediate School

Additional details, reminders, and links will be shared in district publications as we get closer to each event. We look forward to connecting with you and supporting your student’s transition into the 2026–27 school year!

We are excited to share that our school office now has a credit card machine! Families can now conveniently pay fees, fines, and—most importantly—lunch balances right at the front desk.

Keeping lunch accounts current helps our food services staff source local ingredients, and this new payment option makes it easier than ever. We encourage families to check their child’s lunch account and take care of any outstanding balance before winter break. As always, families can pay online and we still accept cash and checks, but at school credit card payments provide another quick and secure way to take care of school-related costs.

Feel free to stop by the office to make a payment or check on your child’s account balance. We are happy to help!

Did you know that these dates are on Ordway Parent Square and the Ordway Website? And you can subscribe to the Ordway Calendar?

12: PTO MEETING - ORDWAY LIBRARY

19: MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY - NO SCHOOL

22 - KINDERGARTEN INFORMATION NIGHT @ BLAKELY

04: EL VELERO INFORMATION NIGHT @ ORDWAY

11-12: CONFERENCES - NO SCHOOL

12: EL VELERO LOTTERY FORMS DUE

16: PRESIDENTS DAY - NO SCHOOL

17-20: MIDWINTER BREAK - NO SCHOOL

This page on the BISD Website publicizes information about community events as a service to non-profit community organizations. These events are perceived as appropriate for students, parents, and families. Interested in submitting news and events? Learn how to do so by visiting our webpage, Distributing News & Events.