 | |||
| |||
|
Meetings | Superintendent's Message | ||
|
Special School Schedules for Parent Teacher Conferences/ Thanksgiving Holiday In Brief Facts about MRSA You may have heard or seen recent news coverage regarding MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and may be understandably concerned about your child's health. Health officials tell us that MRSA is essentially a staph infection that is resistant to most antibiotics. It has been in the news because of a new national report about the number of cases in the United States and reports of cases of the illness at schools. While this is a very real health concern, it is important to know that MRSA is a treatable infection, although not all antibiotics are effective against it. Please click here for facts and resources on the state Department of Health Web site. Our district is working closely with our Whatcom County Health Department.
Citizens' Advisory Committee Meets
Schools of Distinction |
From Dr. Kenneth Vedra I have been thoroughly enjoying spending time in classrooms this fall. Elementary students have shared with me their science notebooks, where they are learning to work as scientists across all subject areas, comparing and contrasting objects to learn how to ask good questions and form hypotheses. Middle and high school students have been equally eager to share their work, performances and accomplishments. Our elementary and middle school staff are looking forward to sharing student successes and other important information during parent-teacher conferences that begin next week. This is a time to share each individual student's strengths, needs and progress through student work, as well as to listen to the family's insights about their child. High school families will have many opportunities at our schools this year to learn how to support children in getting ready for graduation and beyond. I encourage all families to take advantage of these opportunities. The district also provides many ways for parents/guardians, students and community members to be involved in the district's planning and decision-making processes. We are gathering community input about our progress, direction and work priorities. Much of the work accomplished in the school district is the result of committees and task forces. I encourage you to apply to serve on one of these groups that is of strong interest to you. Our School Board just approved two new task forces: one to develop a plan to implement all-day kindergarten and another to review the district's world language program. The group reviewing the world language program has, as part of their charge, to develop a long-range proposal to prepare K-12 children with the language and cultural skills needed for our diverse and multi-lingual world. Please click here to read more about both task forces and for an application to apply by Nov. 26 to serve as a parent or community representative. Your involvement is a great way to learn more about the district and participate in collaborative decision-making on issues affecting our schools now and into the future.
I have enjoyed getting to know many more families and community members in the last few months. Thank you for providing such a warm welcome. I wish you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. New Elementary, Shuksan Projects Move Forward  Construction for the new Wade King Elementary School on Yew Street Road is rapidly moving forward. Planning Principal Rob McElroy is preparing for the new school's opening in fall 2008 and for the temporary closure of Lowell Elementary during next school year while Lowell receives seismic safety improvements. Lowell's exterior walls will be reinforced and attached to the floors in the retrofit work to improve safety in the event of an earthquake. Lowell and Roeder (in 2009-2010) are the only buildings that will need to temporarily close for seismic work.
Families will receive more information from their schools in the coming months as the planning continues for the opening of Wade King Elementary, for the implementation of phase one of the new elementary school boundaries that were adopted last spring (click here to view those attendance areas), and for the seismic safety improvements at Columbia, Larrabee, Lowell, Whatcom and Roeder. All of these projects, including a modernized Shuksan Middle School, are part of the 2006 capital projects bond approved by voters. Are Bellingham Schools open, closed, delayed or running snow routes because of bad weather?  Decisions about school schedules and bus route changes almost always are made in the early morning before school, not the night before. This allows for the most current weather information to factor into the decision. This information is communicated immediately, generally before 6 a.m., by local media, on our Web site and phone line at 676-6400.
Depending on weather conditions, schools will close for the day, open two hours late with regular bus routes or snow routes, or open on time with snow bus routes.
Snow routes are divided into three groups: A, B or C. District families should have received a flyer in the mail during this past week with snow route information or view the information online. 1306 Dupont St. Bellingham, WA 98225 (360) 676-6520 Feedback?
| ||
A design team of Bellingham's Zervas Group Architects and Shuksan students, staff and families have completed their recommendations on the school's design, which was approved by the School Board at the Oct. 11 meeting. The team visited model schools before completing its recommendations. The new two-story Shuksan will be located directly behind the current building and will include teaming areas for students and staff to collaborate. The design has several environmental features such as large windows for natural lighting. The current Shuksan will house students during construction, saving hundreds of thousands of dollars in portable classroom costs, and will eventually be torn down for playfields. The next step is the bidding process for construction. The new Shuksan is anticipated to open in fall 2009.
printer friendly