BISD Newsletter - March 20, 2026

Whenever I walk through our schools, I am reminded that the heart of our district is—and always will be—our students. Ensuring that every student feels seen, supported, and challenged to grow is why we do what we do. To make sure we are serving our students, uplifting our incredible staff, and partnering with our community in the best ways possible, it is time to look toward our future together.

We are currently in the process of rewriting what has been known as the District Improvement Plan into a new, comprehensive BISD Strategic Plan. I want to extend a deep and heartfelt thank you to our Strategic Plan Steering Committee, and our Building and District Administrative teams, who have been working so thoughtfully to guide this process. Their dedication is helping us build a roadmap that truly reflects our shared values, with the goal of presenting the final plan to the School Board for adoption this May.

But a vision for students must be driven by students.

Our feedback window is kicking off with our students leading the way! High school students from the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council (SSAC) will be visiting each K-8 building across the district. These amazing 9th-12th grade students have custom-designed engaging, developmentally appropriate activities to gather honest feedback directly from Kindergarten through 8th grade students. Watching our older students step up as leaders to listen to the voices of our younger students is a beautiful reminder of the special community we have here on Bainbridge Island. 9-12 grade students will provide feedback via a student designed survey in their CCS (Culture, Community and Self) classes. 

Once our students have kicked off the process, we want to hear from you! This plan will only be as strong as the voices that shape it, and we are making sure there are plenty of ways for everyone to share their insights:

Principal Jeannie Donoghue has announced her retirement at the conclusion of this school year.

We want to thank Jeannie for her leadership at Woodward Middle School—a time marked by her dedication to our students and staff. We are grateful for the care she has shown the Woodward community during her tenure and wish her nothing but the best as she begins this new chapter.

The search for the next leader at Woodward Middle School is already underway, and the position has been officially posted. We look forward to finding a student-centered candidate who will continue to foster success for our students and staff.

Does your student have an interest in leadership, law, or making a difference in their community? Applications are officially open for the 2026–2028 Legislative Youth Advisory Council (LYAC), and we would love to see a strong presence from Bainbridge Island students!

The Legislative Youth Advisory Council is a prestigious opportunity for students to serve as the official nonpartisan voice of youth to the state legislature. Over a two-year term, selected students will:

Full details and the application link are available at walyac.org/apply.

As we near Spring Break, we want to ensure every student in our community stays fueled and ready for fun! Helpline House, in partnership with Bainbridge Island Rotary, is proud to offer the Kids’ Pantry program to provide supplemental groceries for local families.

If your family could benefit from extra groceries during the break, you can stop by for a pick-up:

We know that work schedules and transportation can sometimes make it difficult to get to Helpline House. If you are unable to make it during pick-up hours, Rotary volunteers are available to deliver groceries directly to your home.

To Register for Delivery: Please contact Sarah Frost sfrost@bisd303.org to coordinate a drop-off time that works for your family.

We value your feedback! If you have a child receiving Special Education services, please complete the parent survey. A separate ParentSquare email was sent out on Friday, March 6th with more details.

The City is offering a unique and meaningful opportunity for our students to engage in civic life and practice their public speaking skills!

Students are invited to open upcoming City Council meetings by reading the Suquamish Land Acknowledgement. This is a powerful way for our youth to step into leadership, honor the history of our region, and participate in an important community tradition.

How to Sign Up: Families can register their interest by completing the official form here: Bainbridge Island City Council Land Acknowledgement Sign Up