Halilts Newsletter: January 12, 2026

Happy New Year, Orca Families!

What a wonderful start to school last week. I want to personally invite families to our Martin Luther King Jr. Day Assembly on January 16 at 9:00 am. This is a student led assembly and you are welcome to join us!

On Monday, January 19, there is no school to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. We encourage you to join a local walk or do a service project in his honor. If you do something as a family to celebrate, please snap a picture and send it to rwalton@bsid303.org. We are creating a bulletin board showing how our community is walking in the steps of MLK Jr. and we'd love to include some photos!

Have a great Orca week! We appreciate your partnership!

Warmly,

Rhonda Walton, Principal

It has been wonderful to see our students and staff continue growing in empathy over the past four weeks. Our next character trait focus is PERSEVERANCE - the ability to keep pushing through challenges and obstacles, even when things get tough.

We all face moments when we feel stuck, frustrated, or ready to give up. As an engaged family member, you know how those feelings might show up for your student. Together, families and staff play an important role in helping students develop the tools and a growth mindset to work through difficulties. With encouragement and guidance, we can help them PERSEVERE to keep trying, learn, and grow rather than give up.

Have some fun connecting as a family this month while practicing perseverance! Consistency can be challenging, so try a family commitment activity:

Here’s to keepin’ on keepin’ on!

Warmly,

Counselor

Kindergarten registration is open! Go to www.bisd303.org/kindergarten to enroll your new student!

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.

Let us know about your rising kindergarten student by completing this form.

Blakely Elementary: 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.

Winter Conferences will be held on Wednesday-Friday, February 11-13 both in-person and via Zoom.

Sign-ups for conferences open next Wednesday on January 21 at 3:00 pm through Skyward Family Access.

If you need assistance signing-up, please contact your student's teacher or Sheila Jakubik @ 206-780-3010 or sjakubik@bisd303.org.

NOTE: There is no school on February 11, 12 or 13 due to Winter Conferences.

PTO is looking for a Yearbook designer for the 2025/2026 school year!

If you enjoy graphic design, photo organization, or creative projects—or know someone who does—this is a wonderful way to support our school and help create a keepsake our children will treasure for years to come. No prior yearbook experience is required, just a working knowledge of InDesign, a willingness to collaborate, and some time to help bring the pages together.

If you’re interested or would like to learn more about what’s involved, please don’t hesitate to reach out at halilts.president@bainbridgeptos.org.

We are so grateful for the many ways our families support our school, and we truly appreciate your consideration.

Annalisa Alberti & Lisa Sipprell

x̌alilc (Halilts) PTO Co-Presidents

Learn more at: https://bainbridgeptos.org/halilts/

We’re excited to invite you to a schoolwide Family Bingo Night—an evening of fun, laughter, and community for students and their families! Join us for pizza, prizes and fun - we can’t wait to see you! 

Come and learn to play or advance your chess game! Students of all grades are welcome to participate. 

Register Here for After school Chess. If you have any questions, reach out to Ingrid Kraig at iryan@bisd303.org. 

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.

Commodore Options | 9530 High School Road

Kindergarten Information Night

Kindergarten Information Night

* Lottery note: Applications for Odyssey and El Velero are due Thursday, February 12 at 9:00 a.m.

Sakai Intermediate School

Commodore Options School

Commodore Options School

m Woodward Middle School

Eagle Harbor High School

Bainbridge High School

Bainbridge High School

We look forward to connecting with you and supporting your student’s transition into the 2026–27 school year!

Families and students are invited to join the Young People’s March for Peace and Kindness on Monday, January 19 at the Bainbridge Public Library.

The morning will begin with letter writing from 10:30–11:15 a.m., followed by a march to the post office at 11:15 a.m. Participants are encouraged to bring signs and march together in support of peace, kindness, and youth voices in our community.

Join Bainbridge Schools Foundation for our annual Gala event on Saturday, February 7, 2026, at Kiana Lodge.

This fun and impactful evening includes dinner, an inspiring program featuring student speakers, a live auction, raffles, and more!

Funds raised during the event directly support all BISD schools and help build strong, connected learning communities for students and educators.

Registration closes January 22; gather your friends and register today at bsfgala.org.

16: Martin Luther King Jr. Assembly @ 9:00 am in Commons

19: Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday - No School

22: Kindergarten Orientation @ 6:00 pm at Blakely Elementary

22: x̌alilc 4th Grade Music Concert @ 6:15 pm in Halilts Commons

30: BINGO Night @ 5:30 pm in Commons

Looking for things to do around town? Visit our Community Events page for local happenings, classes, and family activities—updated regularly.