BISD Newsletter - September 4, 2026

The first week of school is always a special time, filled with a unique blend of excitement and new beginnings for our students and families.

As we embark on this new school year together, our shared focus remains on cultivating a true culture of belonging. We strive to build this welcoming environment in every corner of our district—from our classrooms, cafeterias, and school buses to athletics and extracurriculars. There are many wonderful ways for our community to foster this sense of belonging. Whether it is welcoming a new family at a school event, reaching out to a neighbor, or simply offering a kind word at the bus stop, your engagement makes a world of difference.

I know this time of year brings a whirlwind of demands, from the daily pressure of a more rigid schedule, to packing lunches, to the flurry of back-to-school events on the calendar. Please know that we see all the effort you are pouring into your children, and we truly appreciate your partnership. Behind the scenes, our staff members are working just as hard, devoting their energy to starting the school year off right for every learner. 

We also recognize that this transition can be a significant adjustment. Students may feel extra tired as they settle back into their school routines. 

We are so grateful for the warmth you bring to our schools and the community we are building together.

Wishing you a wonderful long weekend,

Amii Thompson

BISD Superintendent

We're excited to share the Bainbridge Island School District's new strategic plan — a shared roadmap for every student in our district.

This plan came from you. Over nine months, more than 1,500 students, staff, families, and community members shared their thoughts through surveys and feedback sessions. Three committees including a 29-member steering committee took what we heard and shaped it into three focus areas and nine goals: that students belong, that they engage in rigorous and meaningful learning, and that they thrive — both during their time with us and long after graduation. Underneath it all is our commitment to stewardship, integrity, and community.

Inside the plan you'll also find our Portrait of a Graduate, the six competencies we cultivate from kindergarten through graduation. And because we want you to see how we're doing, we'll publish a public Strategic Plan Data Dashboard that tracks every goal over time in plain language.

Read the full plan in the Strategic Plan Hub and visit bisd303.org/getinvolved to find a way to be part of the work.

New this year, students are in school for full days Monday through Friday. We will have one full-day or half-day release, roughly once a month, on a Monday. Here are the September Mondays:

Check out our entire year calendar - 2026-27 BISD Calendar

One important note first: middle school and elementary school students will not be admitted to the stadium without an adult. Please plan ahead if you have younger students who want to come cheer on the Spartans.

All BHS home football, basketball, and volleyball tickets are sold online through Hometown Ticketing. Families and students can buy individual tickets for each game, or a pass that covers multiple games this fall and winter. Multi-game passes are offered at a discount, so if you plan to be in the stands more than a few times, that's the way to go.

Students: Once you've purchased your ASB Membership, you can redeem your BHS ASB Membership Pass through Hometown Ticketing. Here are the step-by-step instructions.

Families: All game tickets are sold online this year, so please purchase ahead of time.

ParentSquare is how we reach you — district news, school announcements, and messages from your student's teachers, all in one place. A few minutes of setup now means you won't miss anything this year.

Get the app. Download ParentSquare from the App Store or Google Play, or sign in at parentsquare.com. Use the email address or phone number your school has on file and you're in.

Choose how you hear from us. In your account settings, you can get notifications as they come or as a once-a-day digest, and choose app, email, or text. Set it up however fits your day.

Read in your language. ParentSquare translates messages automatically — just set your preferred language in your profile.

Write back. You can reply to teachers and your school office right from the app.

Not seeing messages? Contact your school office to make sure your contact information is current.

Student take-home (1:1) Chromebooks come with a pre-installed protective shell. The protective shell should never be removed or replaced. Any accidental damage and repair costs incurred while the case is on will be covered by our third-party Device Protection Plan.

However, the following situations are NOT covered by the third-party provider and may result in a fine to the student:

For these reasons, it is District policy that the protective shell MUST stay on the student Chromebooks at all times. Stickers are permitted but only on the protective shell!

With the Device Protection Plan, there is no need to purchase Chromebook insurance for these devices.

Lunch Balances: We know how easy it is with busy schedules for lunch balances to slide into the negative. To help prevent these balances from compounding over time into large, unexpected totals, we are introducing a new monthly invoice process this year.

How the New Process Works:

At the end of each month, any remaining negative lunch balance will be converted into a standard student fee. Families with a balance will receive an email invoice for the amount owed, using the same process currently used for unpaid library fees or textbook replacements. You can pay the invoice directly online or through your school’s main office.

Thank you so much for your partnership as we work to keep our meal programs running smoothly and ensure every student stays fueled and ready to learn. If you have any questions about your account, please don't hesitate to reach out to our Nutrition Services department: adaniels@bisd303.org.

Fee Update: Online payments can be made 24 hours a day, seven days a week for a small transaction fee. If your child’s food service balance is low, it only takes a few minutes to add money using your VISA or Mastercard credit or debit card.

Reminder: Cash or checks are always accepted at your child’s school as an alternative to online payments and have no transaction fee.

Fall Referral Window: September 21–October 9, 2026

BISD’s Highly Capable (HC) referrals are welcome during our fall window for students new to our district (since February 19, 2026) in grades 1–11. (Referrals for Kindergarten and currently enrolled BISD students will open during our spring window.)

If you’d like your student considered for HC services, please visit our BISD Highly Capable page for the timeline, program details, and the referral form.

Please complete the BISD referral and email documentation (e.g., assessment scores, grades, placement letters) to Drew Crandall at dcrandall@bisd303.org.

Deadline: Submit the referral (and any supporting documents, if applicable) by end of day Friday, October 9, 2026.

Questions or need assistance? Contact Drew Crandall at dcrandall@bisd303.org.