B.F. Day Sun Dragons’ Dayette News For Families
Summary: Read All About It in the Dayette!
B.F. Day Newsletter November 15
Updates From the Nurse’s Office
Nurse Annette is on medical leave for approximately 2 months. Ms. Brenna is coordinating B.F. Day care packages for Nurse Annette. We will have guest nurses through early January. If you have a question for the school nurse, please phone the nurse’s office: 206-252-6017. Nurse Annette will not be checking her email while she is out. If you are unable to reach the guest nurse on the nurse’s phone, please call the front office if there’s an urgent health issue.
The rainy weather has increased demand for dry clothes from the nurse’s office. If your child has borrowed a pair of pants from the nurse, please wash and return.
Additionally, if you have any clothes to donate, especially leggings and sweatpants in small sizes, we are happy to take them! Remember, we are a preschool – grade 5 elementary school. We will take sizes 4T – kids large. The most “in demand” item from the nurse’s office are children’s pants in sizes XS and S. Thanks for considering a clothing donation to B.F. Day’s nurses office when you’re cleaning out closets!
Direct Drive Results!
A very big thank you to everyone for coming together in support of B.F. Day. 339 golden envelopes were returned – that’s 86% – higher than ever before! Four classes had 100% participation, with every student returning their golden envelope! Kudos to Ms. Berlin’s kindergarten, Ms. Oaklander’s 1st grade, Ms. Steel’s 1st grade, and Ms. Tetrick’s 3rd grade! More than $210,000 has been pledged to fund staffing, school events and academic enrichment.
That’s more than our Direct Drive goal, and it goes a loooooong way towards our overall planned PTSA expenses of $262,000 for this school year. Every dollar donated added to that total – when we work together, and everyone does what they can, we can do amazing things!If you’re eligible for corporate matching, please remember to do your submissions. If you have any questions about your donation or the Direct Drive, please reach out to Jahna at fundrasing@bfdayptsa.org.
And, yes, Mr. Luke will be shaving his head!!
Calendar Reminders
- November 21: Dragon Dens 1:15 – 2:10
- November 23, 25 & 26: Parent-teacher conferences
- November 28, 29: Front office is closed
- December 2: National Special Education Day
- December 3: Trimester 1 ends
- December 4: Trimester 2 begins
- December 10: B.F. Day Grownups Book Club
- December 16: Lockdown drill 8:05 a.m.
- December 19: Dragon Dens 1:15 – 2:10
- December 20: Trimester 1 progress reports live on the Source
- December 20: 1-hour early dismissal
- December 20: Winter Wonderland party at B.F. Day (during school hours)
- November 21: Dragon Dens
- December 23 – January 3: Winter Break
A Note from the Principal Intern
It’s been great getting to know you and your students so far this fall. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed learning the “B.F. Day Way” and seeing it lived out during my weekly visits. As part of my course work, I’ll be collecting data related to B.F. Day’s schoolwide improvement goal of increasing favorability ratings with families of MLL (multilingual) students and students receiving Special Education services. Once data has been collected, I’ll be assembling a Professional Learning Community (PLC) to address areas of need. This includes reaching out to families to hear more about their experiences at B.F. Day. I look forward to continuing this important work with B.F. Day students, families, and staff! – A.J. Blaisdell
A Note About Volunteers from Miss Brenna
If you’re waiting to hear back about your eligibility as a volunteer, feel free to email me again! I was out of town for a few days and a lot of emails got buried within my inbox. I’ve tried to get back to everyone, but, please email again if you have any questions. Also, I would LOVE to get some more of y’all in the lunchroom! Reach out if you’re interested.
Hello From Mrs. Hall’s Art Studio!
I would like to give a giant shout out to our school community for coming together and supporting the art room! I have an incredible support team this year and I feel extremely grateful! In addition, I have two parents and student helpers that are also helping to make the art room a better place on a weekly basis. Thank you all!
We are continuing to focus on fall themed artwork. Next week our focus will be on Native American art from the Plains and the Pacific Northwest. Be on the lookout for your child’s artwork when coming home!
I would like to end by saying that Fall Festival was an absolute success, and it was so great to meet many and reconnect with you all! Also, a HUGE shoutout to the volunteers that helped keep all of the art activities together. I am excited that we have a new yearly tradition to look forward to at B.F. Day!
School Year 24-25
B.F. Day At A Glance Calendar
Previous Sun Dragons’ Dayette Resources
School Spirit Day Friday, Nov. 15
Hobby Day on Friday, November 15, 2024. Dress like a Favorite Hobby! Music, Books, Sports, and more!
B.F. Day Family Fall Festival
Families, We look forward to seeing you at the fall festival on Thursday, November 14 from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. This event used to be known as “Take Your Family to School Night.”
Our fabulous events committee has added lots of fun family extra to this special night! Families are welcome to visit their child’s classroom to see the learning that they are doing. Our teachers will be in their classrooms ready to greet you.
- When: Thursday November 14, 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
- Where: B.F. Day Elementary
Don’t miss this year’s take your family to school night. We will be turning the school into an autumn themed festival!
Please join us for an evening of music, crafts, games and more!
Students can take you to their classrooms and participate in an evening of fun for the whole family!
We will also be serving cider and cookies to add to the festivities!
Hope to see you there!
Message From Mr. Taylor, School Counselor
A new initiative we are doing this year is selecting an important theme or virtue for each month. The themes are chosen based on that month’s social emotional learning topics being taught in the classroom through our Second Step curriculum. For example, in November, students will be learning about having a growth mindset, and our school-wide theme is courage. Courage is an important value for children to understand, helping them to face challenges, try new things and speak up for what’s right. A fun way we are expanding on this at the school level is having students and staff members share over the intercom examples of times they themselves showed courage.
Here are some ideas for how you can talk about courage at home.
- Define Courage Together: Talk about what courage means to you and your children. For younger children it might be “doing what’s right, even if it’s hard.” Older children might understand it as facing fear and pushing through it.
- Share Personal Stories: It could be as simple as when you had to introduce yourself to someone new or maybe when you had to speak up in a meeting or learned a new skill, even if it was hard at first.
Encourage Small Acts of Courage: Remind your child that courage isn’t always about big gestures. It can be about little moments, like trying a new food.
From Nurse Annette
Clothing Donations: We are now accepting donations for sweatpants/leggings for boys’ & girls’ size 6, 8, 10. Thank you in advance!
Free Vaccine Clinic: Odessa Brown Partnered with Seattle Children’s. When: Saturday, November 23, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at 3939 S. Othello Street, Seattle, WA. 98118
PTSA Updates: Direct Drive, Grownup Book Club
Direct Drive: We’ll announce the grand total next week, so it isn’t too late to get your golden envelopes in. Thank you for your contributions!
Family Fall Festival Volunteers: We are looking for a few more volunteers for next Thursday’s event. Can you help Ms. Hall in the art room or serve cookies and cider for part of the evening? Sign-up to Volunteer.
B.F. Day Grownups Book Club: The current book is Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. The next meeting is at 7pm, Tuesday, December 10 at Jellyfish Brewing Co. 6808 E. Greenlake Way
Direct Drive
Envelopes Returned = 237 envelopes
Participation Rate = 59% towards our goal of 80%
Funds Raised = $89,097 towards our goal of $175,000!
The Direct Drive officially ends Friday, 11/01, but we’ll continue to collect envelopes next week, because we still have a long way to go towards our participation and fundraising goals. Stay tuned to see if Mr. Luke will get his head shaved!
A note from the PTSA Fundraising Chair
Dear B.F. Day Community,
I agreed to help with PTSA Fundraising because I have seen first-hand the dedication of the teachers and staff to helping every student succeed AND because the supplemental funds are truly needed to help fund staffing and academic and social enrichment. I value the extra art, music, and library books – things that I wished for as a child growing up in a school without resources. And my Fourth Grader and First Grader love Dragon Dens, Village Day, all the activities that we call socioemotional learning, and they call “fun.”
My family has chosen to make supporting BF Day students and staff our philanthropic priority. Obviously, that would mean so much more if our last name was Gates or Scott, but if everyone does what they can, we’ll hit our goal together. Plus, frankly, I appreciate that this is the only direct ask and we’re not selling candy bars or magazines or poinsettias or cookie dough or…
Please consider making a donation that is meaningful to your family and return your student’s golden direct drive envelope, and don’t hesitate to reach out to fundraising@bfdayptsa.org with questions. Together, we’ve got this! In solidarity, Jahna Hildebrandt
Complete budget info and not too late too late to donate at bfdayptsa.org/give
Rainbow Club
B..F Day is starting a Rainbow Club. Rainbow Club is focused on celebrating our LGBTQ+ community and making our school more welcoming and inclusive to all. It is open to all students in grades 3-5. Every Wednesday from 11:15-11:45 (during lunch and recess), Rainbow Club will meet in Room 306. LGBTQ+ students, students with LGBTQ+ families, and allies are all invited to participate. Our first meeting will be Wed, Nov. 13. Bring your lunch, as we will be eating together. We look forward to seeing you and creating a safe and supportive space to connect in community!
Picture Retake Day is Coming Up Nov. 4
Picture retake day is Mon, Nov. 4, 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. If your student was absent, or you would like them to have their picture retaken, this is their chance. Any student that was marked absent on the original picture day will automatically be scheduled to have their picture taken. However, if you are opting for your student to have their picture retaken, please alert the office so we can add them to the list of students to schedule.
This is also a good time for any frequent volunteers to get a badge made. Please let us know if you plan to come in.
Here is the link to preorder portraits for retake day now through 11/3:
Make Up / Retake Pre-Payments on Yuen Lui
Missed Ordering Photos?
If, by chance, you missed ordering pictures, here is the direct link to order photos from this school year. Images are password protected by an online code, which is the student’s SPS ID number. Below is the direct link to access via Yuen Lui’s website. If you are unsure of your student’s SPS ID number, you can find that on their Source account, or we can help you with that in the office.
Here is the link to order portraits at any time throughout the year:
Order Portraits Any Time with Yuen Lui
Online Code = SPS Student ID #
Orders are individually printed, packaged, and shipped directly to families’ homes in 10-14 business days after the order is placed; digital orders are sent via email. Yuen Lui website: keyword: BF Day (online code= student’s SPS ID number)
From Nurse Annette
The wet season is depleting our clothing supply. We are now accepting donations for socks and boy’s and girl’s sweatpants/leggings size 6-10. Thank you for your generosity!
Notes From the Music Room
Needed: Family music groups to busk at Fall Family Festival: We are looking for 3-6 small musical acts to informally “busk” at the Fall Family Festival on Thurs, Nov. 14. Each set will be up to 10 minutes long. There won’t be any mic/amplification provided, but the acoustics in our main hallway are great and will add to the festive atmosphere of our Fall event. We would particularly love to hear intergenerational music-making … I know there are lots of you who play music together as a family so this is your chance to share your talent with our school community!
If you are interested, please email me at bjgrantrodri@seattleschools.org with the following
information:
- Names of musicians and what instruments you will bring
- What times you are available to perform (new group every 15 minutes – 5:30pm, 5:45pm, 6pm,
- 6:15pm, 6:30pm, 6:45pm)
- Any other relevant information you’d like to share (set list, band name if you have one, etc.)
If we receive more responses than we can accommodate, I will keep your information and may reach out to see if you would be willing to busk at future events (ex. Art Fest, etc.).
Speaking of Intergenerational music making …
Learn more about the upcoming All Voices, a MultiGenerational Choir led by Emilia Kister on her website with performances on December 15, 2024.
B.F. Day Family Fall Festival
Mark Your Calendars!
- When: Thursday November 14, 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
- Where: B.F. Day Elementary
Don’t miss this year’s take your family to school night. We will be turning the school into an autumn themed festival!
Please join us for an evening of music, crafts, games and more!
Students can take you to their classrooms and participate in an evening of fun for the whole family!
We will also be serving cider and cookies to sweeten the night!
Hope to see you there!
Direct Drive Notes from the PTSA
It’s the close of the first week of the Direct Drive and we need your help! Please return your child’s golden envelope as soon as possible so we can reach our participation and fundraising goals. We’re raising funds to help bridge the gap between state funding and the essential needs of our school, a gap that grows every year. Complete budget info is available at bfdayptsa.org/give.
Where do the funds go?
- Keeping the school counselor as full time
- Keeping a .6 intervention teacher
- School events and social enrichment: Jump Start for kindergarteners, Dragon Dens, Village Day, field trip scholarships, etc.
- Mr. Taylor’s fund: resources to reach all students and support families furthest from educational justice.• Academic enrichment: special reading and writing curriculum, art room supplies, guest musical artists and curriculum, library books.
- Professional development for teachers and staff
- Holiday gifts and teacher appreciation week (There will NOT be another ask for holiday gifts).
And, thank you to everyone who has already sent in their envelopes! If you have questions about donations or the Direct Drive, please reach out to Jahna Hildebrandt (mom to a first and fourth grader and B.F. Day PTSA Fundraising Chair) at fundraising@bfdayptsa.org.
As an added incentive to return EVERY Golden Envelope, Mr. Luke, one of our amazing Instructional Assistants, has agreed to let Mr. Taylor shave his head, if we reach 100% participation!
More info about the direct drive is at bfdayptsa.org/give. Thank you in advance for your participation and support!
PTSA General Membership Meeting Oct. 28
Virtual Meeting NOW on October 28
The first PTSA General Meeting of the school year is on Monday, October 28 at 8:00 p.m. While everyone is welcome to attend, we encourage fellow families to “officially” join the PTSA every year as it increases our voice and credibility. Being a member also gives you voting power. Join the 2024-2025 PTSA by October 15, 2024.
Agenda
Meeting link can be found on the B.F. Day PTSA Website.
- Introductions
- President Report – Priorities for 2024-2025 School Year
- Principal’s Update from Dr. Zisko
- Treasurer Report – 2024-2025 Budget Allocations
- Fundraising
- Report – 2024-2025 Goals & Impact
- Volunteer & Room Parent Report – Ways to Get Involved
- School Community & Events
- Q&A (Questions should be submitted in advance to secretary@bfdayptsa.org)
- Closing
Join Us!
B.F. Day Grownups Book Club
B.F. Day Grownups Book Club meets this at 7:00 p.m. this Tuesday, October 29. The current book is Solito by Javier Zamora. Location: Jellyfish Brewing Co. Greenlake, 6808 E. Greenlake Way.
Dragon Dens Oct. 24 Recap
Yesterday was our first Dragon Den meeting of the school year! We read a book called the All-Together Quilt and talked about how important it is that we work together to achieve a collective goal. Our individuality is vital to our community, and one cannot exist without the other. Each den designed a “quilt square” self-portrait that we will be patching together and putting on display for everyone to see.
Each of our voices and experiences come together to represent what makes our B.F. Day community so special. The older students really enjoyed the opportunity to be leaders to our younger learners. All in all, it was a successful first Dragon Den! Many thanks to our fearless teacher leaders that serve on the school’s Dragon Den committee!
Instrumental Music Has Begun
Fifth graders have started their instrumental music lessons and are off to a great start! Just a reminder to be sure your child remembers their instrument every Friday. This is great way to practice one of our school behaviors by showing they are RESPONSIBLE!
Picture Retake Day is Coming Up Nov. 4
Picture retake day will be Monday, November 4, 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. If your student was absent, or you would like them to have their picture retaken, this is their chance. Any student that was marked absent on the original picture day will automatically be scheduled to have their picture taken. However, if you are opting for your student to have their picture retaken, please alert the office so we can add them to the list of students to schedule.
This is also a good time for any frequent volunteers to get a badge made. Please let us know if you plan to come in.
Here is the link to preorder portraits for retake day now through 11/3:
Make Up / Retake Pre-Payments on Yuen Lui
Missed Ordering Photos?
If, by chance, you missed ordering pictures, here is the direct link to order photos from this school year. Images are password protected by an online code, which is the student’s SPS ID number. Below is the direct link to access via Yuen Lui’s website. If you are unsure of your student’s SPS ID number, you can find that on their Source account, or we can help you with that in the office.
Here is the link to order portraits at any time throughout the year:
Order Portraits Any Time with Yuen Lui
Online Code = SPS Student ID #
Orders are individually printed, packaged, and shipped directly to families’ homes in 10-14 business days after the order is placed; digital orders are sent via email. Yuen Lui website: keyword: BF Day (online code= student’s SPS ID number)
Early Pick Up Protocol
Message from Ms. Sonja and Ms. Brenna
Hi, families! We wanted to touch base with you about picking up your children early from school. A heads-up via email, or a call to the office, is always appreciated as we keep a running list of what students that we expect to be leaving. We are happy to do our best to ensure they are in the office by the time you arrive. However, this accommodation is not always possible, as the ins and outs of our day fluctuate. We welcome a phone call reminder when you are five to ten minutes away. We want students to miss out on as little learning time as possible! Thank you for your understanding.
Scheduling Mr. Taylor School Counselor
As you know, B.F. Day is truly fortunate to have Mr. Taylor as our school counselor. During the school day, his priority is meeting the needs of students. If a parent would like to meet with Mr. Taylor, they must schedule an appointment with him. He is not available for drop-in parent meetings. You can best request a meeting by emailing him at jrtaylor@seattleschools.org or calling the office at 206.252.6010 and we will put you in touch with him.
Note From the PTSA Direct Drive Kick-Off
PTSA Fundraiser: October 18 – November 1, 2024
Today at our school assembly, we kicked off the annual PTSA Direct Drive, our biggest fundraiser and our only direct ask for the year. (We are still planning some fun events in spring, but there will not be a separate request for staff holiday gifts and appreciation – that has been rolled into the overall PTSA budget.)
Please check your student’s backpack for a golden envelope that contains a letter with more information and a pledge card. We ask that each family consider giving an amount that is meaningful to them, whatever that amount might be – because together, we can do amazing things!
The state and district funding that we receive is insufficient to meet the needs of our students and our school. So, the PTSA fundraises to help pay for school staff, classroom supplies, staff appreciation, and academic and social enrichment. The need for the 2024-2025 school year is $261,560, the equivalent of $659 per student.
We recognize that each family’s situation is different, so our focus is on participation – each student returning a gold envelope. Please send the golden envelope back to school with your child by Friday, 11/1. You can also drop it off at the school office. Each classroom that has at least 80% of their envelopes returned will get $300 to spend on their classroom library and materials!
More info about the direct drive is at bfdayptsa.org/give. Thank you in advance for your participation and support!
PTSA General Membership Meeting Oct. 28
Virtual Meeting NOW on October 28
Meeting link can be found on the B.F. Day PTSA Website.
Agenda
- Introductions
- President Report – Priorities for 2024-2025 School Year
- Principal’s Update from Dr. Zisko
- Treasurer Report – 2024-2025 Budget Allocations
- Fundraising
- Report – 2024-2025 Goals & Impact
- Volunteer & Room Parent Report – Ways to Get Involved
- School Community & Events
- Q&A (Questions should be submitted in advance to secretary@bfdayptsa.org)
- Closing
Join Us!
A Note from Nurse Annette
Volunteers Needed for Hearing and Vision Screening Day
Volunteers are essential in completing vision and hearing screenings, and make the process run much smoother. I am very appreciative of your help!
- When: Monday, October 21
- Time: Morning session: 8 a.m.-11:15 a.m.; Afternoon session: 11:45 a.m. – 2:15 pm; All Day 8:00 a.m.- 2:15 p.m.
- Duties: Escorting students to and from classrooms, checking off names, explaining screening, processes, supervising students while waiting in line.
Interested registered volunteers: Email me at alcologna@seattleschools.org
Hello From the Art Studio!
Students have been continuing work on autumn themed projects. Value and variety have been our core concepts throughout each lesson. We will continue to work on 2D art throughout the next 4 weeks and will be moving on to 3D work after Thanksgiving break. As you know, the kiln has been an issue as it is not in working condition. The Art District Supervisor came to assess the situation and is working to get our school some answers so that we can get our clay program up and running again. Until then, I have airdry clay and some fun metallic paint that will get students sculpting and creating some 3D works. Stay tuned for lots of fun stuff coming home!
Halloween
We do not celebrate Halloween at B.F. Day. Please send your child in play clothes, no costumes. We expect Friday, November 1 to be a bit bumpy as many students will have long, exciting nights on October 31. Friendly reminder to please send your child to school with healthy, well-balanced food. Candy in lunchboxes, particularly the day after Halloween, can impact our learning in the afternoon.
Family Fall Festival
Thursday November 14, 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. @ B.F. Day Elementary For this year’s take your family to school night we will be turning the school into an autumn themed festival! Please join us for an evening of music, crafts, games and more! Students can take you to their classrooms and participate in an evening of fun for thewhole family! We will also be serving cider and cookies to sweeten the night! Hope to see you there!
Notes From the Music Room
Third grade is confirmed for our first field trip! I will be joining students and teachers to visit the UW Chamber singers rehearsal on the University of Washington campus! Third grade classroom teachers will send out official forms, but here is the quick and clean version.
- Monday, November 18 from 11:00 a.m. – 1:40 p.m.
- University of Washington School of Music: Chamber Singers Rehearsal
- We will eat prior to leaving (approximately 30 minutes early and will try to get them a recess too).
- We will bring a snack.
- We can have four chaperones on this bus, and more are welcome to meet us there.
- This is a FREE trip .
- The kids will have a pre-trip lesson during music.
This trip has been funded and supported by Emilia Kisiter, view the outline of this project and photo gallery, if you would like more information about who is leading the project and what to expect.
What’s Coming Up?
- October 24: Dragon Dens (first meeting of the year!)
- October 27: Occupational Therapist Appreciation Day
- October 28: (was 23) PTSA Virtual General Membership meeting 8:00 p.m.
- October 28: Earthquake drill 9:50 a.m.
- November 1: Direct Drive ends
- November 4: Picture re-take day
- November 11: Veteran’s Day, no school
- November 11-15: World Kindness Week
- November 14: Family Fall Festival 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
- November 23 & 25-27: Parent-teacher conferences: November 23 & November 25-27
- November 28-29: No school and office closed
- December 3: first trimester concludes
Fall Enrichment Reminder
Fall enrichment classes are underway! Please remind your student if they have after- school enrichment. If your student will NOT be attending that day for any reason (i.e. sickness, early pick-up, vacation, etc), please reach out to the instructor. If you have any questions or feedback, please email enrichment@bfdayptsa.org.
School Beautification Crew
Hello B.F. Day families! The school beautification crew consists of 4th and 5th graders who are excited about tidying up our school grounds. In order to clean up inside our building and out we are in need of some donated supplies including:
- All-purpose cleaning spray
- Rags
- Window cleaner
- Disinfectant wipes
If you are able, please consider donating these or any other extra or unused cleaning items. Thank you!
Messages from the Front Office: Ms. Sonja & Ms. Brenna
- If you plan on coming to the B.F. Day campus, chaperoning on field trips, etc. apply now to be a volunteer! There are over 15,000 volunteers in Seattle Public Schools, with thousands applying and renewing their applications at the beginning of each school year. The turnaround time for applications is 2-3 weeks minimum. Please submit your application now so we can get it processed. You’ll be good to go for two calendar years! Email Ms. Brenna if you have any questions.
- A reminder that there are two sign-in sheets at the front office – one for volunteers, and one for visitors. Be sure you are signing-in to the correct one! And please, verbally check in with front office staff before going to your destination. It’s important we know who you are and what you are here to do. Friendly reminder that all visitors and volunteers come by appointment with a school staff member. Thank you for your cooperation and support in keeping our students safe.
- When you know your child is going to be absent – please email bfday.attendance@seattleschools.org before emailing their teachers or include us in the thread. You’re also welcome to call the attendance line at (206)-252-6014.
Parent Night Coming Up! Mini First Session Nov. 17
We are so excited to see you in the library on Thursday, October 17 from 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. in the library! This is the first session in our 3-part parent education miniseries this year: Support Your Reader at Home
Join Dr. Zisko, Mrs. P., Ms. Strand, Ms. Brooke, Ms. Riepe, Ms. Jill, and Ms. Lucy for a fun evening unpacking how children learn to read! Our purpose is to empower parents with the foundational knowledge to support their children in their reading journey. Parents in all grade levels are welcome to join us for this fun night! We’ll have treats and resources to share.
Please RSVP if you’re planning on attending so we can ensure we have enough materials for everyone.
Can’t wait to see you there! Go Sun Dragon readers!
PTSA Update: PTSA Funding & Fundraising: how does it work?
Funding received from Washington State is insufficient to meet the needs of our students and our school. Each spring, the PTSA Board projects revenue (donations) for the following school year, asks school staff about needs and priorities, prepares a budget of planned expenses based on those needs, and presents it at a general meeting for a vote. Priorities for 2024-2025 include Direct Staff Position Funding, Academic and Social Enrichment and Staff Development and Appreciation.
To fund those priorities, we fundraise. We’ve heard very strong feedback from families that they don’t want to be continually asked for money, so we have planned a Direct Drive, which will be the only direct ask from the PTSA for this year.
Our goal for the Direct Drive is 100% participation. We ask that each family consider giving an amount that is meaningful to them, whatever that amount might be. We also work to leverage company matching funds – please reach out to PTSA Fundraising Chair, Jahna Hildebrandt at fundraising@bfdayptsa.org for more information. Please watch your child’s backpack for a golden envelope with more information about the Direct Drive when it kicks off October 18.
PTSA General Membership Meeting Agenda NOW Oct. 28
Virtual Meeting NOW on October 28 (was 23)
Meeting link can be found on the B.F. Day PTSA Website.
Agenda
- Introductions
- President Report – Priorities for 2024-2025 School Year
- Principal’s Update from Dr. Zisko
- Treasurer Report – 2024-2025 Budget Allocations
- Fundraising
- Report – 2024-2025 Goals & Impact
- Volunteer & Room Parent Report – Ways to Get Involved
- School Community & Events
- Q&A (Questions should be submitted in advance to secretary@bfdayptsa.org)
- Closing
Join Us!
A Note from Nurse Annette
Volunteers Needed for Hearing and Vision Screening Day
Volunteers are essential in completing vision and hearing screenings, and make the process run much smoother. I am very appreciative of your help!
- When: Monday, October 21
- Time: Morning session: 8 a.m.-11:15 a.m.; Afternoon session: 11:45 a.m. – 2:15 pm; All Day 8:00 a.m.- 2:15 p.m.
- Duties: Escorting students to and from classrooms, checking off names, explaining screening, processes, supervising students while waiting in line.
Interested registered volunteers: Email me at alcologna@seattleschools.org
Covid/Flu Vaccine Clinic Oct. 18
Next Friday, October 18 from 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. in the Gym Please make sure you sign up.
~ Nurse Annette
What’s Coming Up!
- November 14: Take Your Family to School Night 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
- October 17: 5:00 – 6:30 Parent Miniseries in the library
- October 18: Achoolwide Assembly 8:00 a.m.
- October 18: PTSA Fundraising Direct Drive kick off
- October 18: 1st Grade field Trip to Seattle Children’s Theatre
- October 24: Dragon Dens (first meeting of the year!)
- October 27: Occupational Therapist Appreciation Day
- October 28: (was 23) PTSA Virtual General Membership meeting 8:00 p.m.
- October 28: Earthquake drill 9:50 a.m.
- November 4: Picture re-take day
- November 11: Veteran’s Day, no school
- November 11-15: World Kindness Week
Notes From the PTSA
We hope to see you at the Parents and Staff Night Out tomorrow! Saturday, October 5, 6-9 p.m. at the Fremont Mischief Distillery. Free event; food and drinks available for purchase.
The first PTSA General Meeting of the school year is on Tuesday, October 22 at 8:00 p.m. Google Meet. While everyone is welcome to attend, we encourage fellow families to “officially” join the PTSA every year as it increases our voice and credibility. Being a member also gives you voting power. Join the 2024-2025 PTSA by October 31.
Reminders…
- Monday, October 7 picture day!
- Monday, October 7 Fall enrichment classes begin. If your student is signed up, remind
- them what day and class they’re in, and review with them what their plan for pick up will be
- Friday, October 11 no school for students – teacher in-service day
Making sure all our families are aware of the bridge closure…N 41st Ave Pedestrian Bridge Seismic Project
Family Fall Festival Nov. 14
Mark your calendars! Take your Family to School Night is on November 14 from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. This is an opportunity for your child to show you around their classroom and different areas around our campus. Save the date for this fun event!
Covid and Flu Shot Clinic: Friday, October 18 (3 – 7 p.m.)
A Note from Nurse Annette
Parents and guardians, the Seattle region is already seeing an influx in flu and other respiratory viruses this fall. Please continue to keep your child at home if they are sick. You may also choose to get flu vaccine prior to BF Day’s vaccine clinic.
- For more information regarding respiratory illness and health
- To register for BF Day’s Flu & Covid Vaccine Clinic
B.F. Day Flu/COVID Vaccine Clinic Oct. 18
We are once again hosting a vaccine clinic for B.F. Day families, students, and staff! Please register!
A note from the folks helping us: “All patients will need to register in advance of the clinic date and input their personal and insurance information during scheduling. Each patient will require their own separate appointment, in their name, with their information (for example, a family of 4 will need 4 appointments). Families who cannot get everyone in their party registered for the same time slot will just choose the next available appointment window. They may all still arrive together.”
B.F. Day Flu/Covid Vaccine Clinic is scheduled for Friday, October 18, 2024 from 3 – 7 p.m. location within school. Please be sure to register.
COVID-19 Tests: SPS Schools will no longer provide free COVID tests. You can starting ordering free test from the Federal Government on the ASPR website.
Volunteering and Visiting on Campus During the School Day
At the Family School, we welcome parents to be involved around campus! For the safety of all students, please familiarize yourselves with the definitions of a visitor v. volunteer, and our school policies.
All visitors and volunteers must sign in and out in the office. When signing in, visitors and volunteers must verbally check in with a front office staff member. At the verbal check in, the staff member will confirm the visitor or volunteer’s appointment.
Visitor: Invited by a staff member for a certain occasion or specific purpose; Visitors have no unsupervised access to students; Scheduled ahead of time with a staff member. Ex: Career Week speaker, pre-arranged classroom presentation, coming to watch a student showcase after the teacher has sent an invitation
Volunteer: Completed and approved application, including background check; Approved for a specific role on campus; Scheduled ahead of time with a staff member: Ex: supporting literacy centers in your child’s classroom, cafeteria supervision, picture day support.
Ms. Brenna is our Volunteer Coordinator. All volunteers must confirm their background check is cleared prior to volunteering. On your first day, Ms. Brenna will check your I.D. to verify your identity. Volunteers must comply with FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act). Volunteers are responsible for maintaining student confidentiality.
Lunch time visits: We welcome parents to join their child at lunch for a special occasion, or just for fun! Parents who intend to visit with their child at lunch must pre-arrange their visit with a school staff member. We have set up a family lunch table in the cafeteria for parents to dine with their children. Parents that intend to sit with their child at lunch will use the family lunch table.
Help Keep Our School Safe
- Make sure the door closes behind you
- Don’t hold the door open for strangers
- All adults wear identification
- Visitors and volunteers wear a badge or sticker when on campus
- All visitors and volunteers must sign in and out at the front office, and verbally check-in with a front office staff member
Off Campus Evacuation Information
It is important to prepare for all types of emergencies. Each year we update our site emergency plan. With students, we practice lockdown drills, earthquake drills, shelter in place drills, and reverse evacuation drills. We conduct one drill per month (rotating the type of drill).
One part of our site’s emergency plan is the student-family reunification plan. If there is an emergency that requires an off-campus evacuation, B.F. Day will evacuate to the “upper uppers” for parent pickup. We have a thorough and extensive off campus evacuation plan. School staff are assigned to response teams, and there are several teacher leaders that will support in an off-campus evacuation. We want to especially thank the B.F. Day PTSA for supporting the purchase of some critical safety items that will be used in case of off campus evacuation.In the event of an emergency that requires you to pick up your child during school hours or off-campus, please note the procedures below.
Relocation Areas
- On-site relocation areas: school library, gym, main office
- On-site outside relocation areas: upper playground by Linden Ave N. steps
- Off-campus preferred alternate site: B.F. Day field “upper uppers”
The following steps will be taken for successful student/parent reunification:
- Parents will report to the assigned check-in area and give the name of
- their child(ren). The assigned check-in area for an off-campus evacuation is on 41st and Linden Ave N. at the pedestrian gate entrance. If a line forms, the line will turn the corner on 41st and go down Fremont Ave.
- Picture I.D. will be required to ensure the person requesting the child(ren) is a match to the name listed on emergency information forms.
- Check-in staff will sign “student release/runner form,” form indicating that I.D. has been checked and give the form to runner.
- Check-in staff will enter student name and parent/authorized adult name on “Check-in Log.”
- A runner will go to the Student Supervision area and get the child(ren) requested by the parent/authorized adult.
- Student supervision staff will sign the “student release/runner form” indicating student status. The runner will take the form and escort the student(s) to the family reunification area.
- Parent/authorized adult will sign “student release/runner form” when they receive their child.
- The completed “student release/ runner form” will be returned to the Check-in area and filed properly.
Student Release Team
The student release team that will coordinate this process and interface with parents includes Sonja Haas, Jaimee Papineau, Eloise Sidhu, Janet Sawyer, Randi Noreng, Britta Steel, Jenn Hogue, Tracy Oklander, Bethany Grant-Rodriguez, Carly Riepe, Elizabeth Dawson, Janine Hall, Brenna Kamppi, and Bianca Young.
Notes
If the child is in the First Aid area, the parent/authorized adult will be escorted to that area for reunification with their child(ren). The first aid tent will be managed by Nurse Annette and Mr. Taylor.
School staff are not permitted to release students to anyone who is not listed on the student’s emergency contacts, or who is not able to produce identification. A well- intentioned friend may offer to take a child home; however, school staff must be certain that students are only released to the appropriate people so students’ families will know where they are.
Traffic Control
- Traffic will be controlled by school-based staff until local law enforcement is available and on scene at the school.
- To every extent possible, two-way traffic will be maintained to allow for entry and exit of emergency vehicles.
- When law enforcement arrives on the scene, they will take command.
Introducing: Ms. Brenna!
Hi, B.F. Day families! I have met a lot of you in passing or via email, but I wanted to introduce myself in the Dayette. It has been an absolute pleasure and joy getting to know you and your kids these first few weeks of school. Thank you for your patience as I navigate this new career and wear the many hats I have been handed at B.F. Day. You’ll see me in the lunchroom, the main office, running from floor to floor to pass out notes, and handling all volunteer inquiries. Outside of school, I perform in two bands regularly around the city (ask me when our next show is!), enjoy film photography, thrift-shopping, and walking my 75-lb pit bull around the Capitol Hill neighborhood. I can’t wait to meet you all over the course of this year! Go Sun Dragons and happy fall!
Funky Friday Fun
From Mr. D. In the Gym
Welcome back to our P.E. program at B.F. Day! We are enjoying our new floor in the gym, and also playing soccer out in the park.
Please remember to have students wear secure rubber soled shoes that cover all of their feet and especially toes! Crocs, flip flops, dress shoes, sandals and boots are all fun, but not ideal for the gym. On rainy days when kids have P.E., an easy solution is to tuck their sneakers in their backpacks and have them change out of their rain boots before class. Thanks, and let’s stay busy!
What’s Coming Up On The Calendar
- First fire drill of the year on September 30
- October is disability history and awareness month
- October 2 school custodian appreciation day
- October 4 school spirit day – theme: Funky Friday!
- October 5 B.F. Day parent’s night out at Mischief Distillery 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
- October 7 picture day!
- October 11 no school for students – teacher in-service day
- October 7 – 18 K-5 MAP assessment window
- October 17 parent mini-series: supporting your reader at home; location: library; time 5:00 – 6:30 p.m.
- October 18 Direct Drive kickoff & schoolwide assembly
- October 22 PTSA general membership meeting 8:00 p.m. on Google Meet
Covid and Flu Shot Clinic: Friday, October 18 (3 – 7 p.m.)
A Note from Nurse Annette
We are once again hosting a vaccine clinic for B.F. Day families, students, and staff! Please register!
A note from the folks helping us: “All patients will need to register in advance of the clinic date and input their personal and insurance information during scheduling. Each patient will require their own separate appointment, in their name, with their information (for example, a family of 4 will need 4 appointments). Families who cannot get everyone in their party registered for the same time slot will just choose the next available appointment window. They may all still arrive together.”
B.F. Day Flu/COVID Vaccine Clinic Oct. 18
B.F. Day Flu/Covid Vaccine Clinic is scheduled for Friday, October 18, 2024 from 3 – 7 p.m. location within school pending. Please be sure to register.
COVID-19 Tests: SPS Schools will no longer provide free COVID tests. You can starting ordering free test from the Federal Government on the ASPR website.
Parent Mini-Series! Join us on October 17
Join Dr. Zisko and teacher leaders from across P-5 for a parent education night in the library on October 17! We will meet from 5 – 6:30 p.m. No childcare will be available. October is the first parent education night in our mini-series, and we’re so excited! October’s night is all about supporting your reader at home. Our purpose is to empower parents with foundational knowledge of teaching reading. Come alongside us on the reading journey! All parents and caregivers are welcome. We will have coffee and treats to share. Look forward to seeing you there!
Our next events in our miniseries are:
- January 23 from 5 – 6:30 p.m. Supporting Your Mathematician at Home
- April 24 from 5 – 6:30 p.m. Social-Emotional Learning & the Foundations of Restorative Practices
Mr. Taylor’s Tidbits
Dear B.F. Day Community: As a school community, we believe strongly in empowering our students to be thoughtful and empathetic members of the community. Beginning in October, teachers will begin teaching weekly social/emotional classroom lessons. Through our Second Step Curriculum, students will learn about the power of a growth mindset, emotion management, empathy, ways to solve problems, as well as an anti-bullying component.
October is national anti-bullying month. Each class will learn the three R’s: how to recognize bullying, how to report bullying behavior, and how to refuse bullying behavior when we see it. Each lesson aligns with the Washington K-12 SEL standards in the domains of Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Self-efficacy, Social Awareness, Social Management, and Social Engagement.
We are excited to introduce our first school-wide, monthly theme in next week’s Dayette. Each month a theme will be chosen by the school climate committee, and it will align with that month’s Second Step lessons. The theme will then be reinforced during our monthly school-wide assemblies and Dragon Dens. The theme for this month will align with national anti-bullying month.
Check out Dr. Zisko’s Donor’s Choose for a “Sensory Spa” at B.F. Day…
Visit the Donor’s Choose website for information!
Picture Day Details: October 7
Here’s a couple of things you should know: -Yuen Lui Studio will photograph individual portraits at B.F. Day Elementary on Monday, October 7, 2024.
We have two volunteers for picture day and would love two more! Please check with Brenna to make sure your volunteer clearance is approved at bckamppi@seattleschools.org.
- Ordering Photos:Families can preorder photos: 2024-25 B.F. Day Elementary Picture Day 10/7 (enter your email address and select your package; separate orders are required for each student, including siblings).
- Print orders will be shipped to the school in approximately three weeks after picture day.
- Digital orders will be sent via email.
Volunteer Badge Photos
- If you frequently volunteer at the school, (frequent = once a week, or twice a month), this would be a great time for you to have your own personalized badge made. All staff, volunteers, & visitors are required to wear school identification while in the building. Having a badge can expedite checking in. If this is something you would like to do, start by ensuring that your volunteer status is approved and eligible, then come on in on picture day and get your picture taken.
- Now is a great time to ensure that you’re approved, to make sure your background check hasn’t expired, or to fill out the volunteer application. Volunteer applications take at least two weeks to process, so, the sooner the better. Link can be found on the district Volunteer Information page.
School Spirit Day Coming Up Oct 4!
Spirit Day is Friday October 4! Our theme this trimester is FUNKY FRIDAY!! Come to school dressed as your most colorful unique self. Think mismatched patterns, bright colors, and anything else that makes you feel funky and expressive! Show your school spirit with us!
Hello from the Art Studio
I had a wonderful time at Curriculum night meeting fresh faces and connecting with familiar ones. It was great to connect with everyone and show folks around the art room. This month we are ending our unit on fall themed art relating to line and shape.
We will be getting into more Hispanic Art themes exploring Mexican Folk Art and the traditions and art of Oaxaca/Dias de los Muertos. In addition, we will look at the artists Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera! Stay on the lookout for these fabulous works of art coming home in your student’s backpacks.
B.F. Day Parent’s Night Out Oct, 5
Two weeks until B.F. Day Parent’s Night Out at Fremont Mischief Distillery. Mark your calendar for Saturday, October 5 from 6 – 9 p.m.
B.F. Day Flu/COVID Vaccine Clinic Oct. 18
B.F. Day Flu/Covid Vaccine Clinic is scheduled for Friday, October 18, 2024 from 3 – 7 p.m. location within school pending. Information will be posted later.
COVID-19 Tests: SPS Schools will no longer provide free COVID tests. You can starting ordering free test from the Federal Government at the end of September on the ASPR website.
Curriculum Night Sept. 26
Parents, please join us for Curriculum Night on September 26 from 5:30 – 7:00. This event is for adults only. Children do not attend Curriculum Night in the classroom. Teachers will run back-to-back presentations. There are three presentation times so that parents with multiple children can attend a session for each of their children. Our specialist rooms, counselor, nurse, and library will all be open and available. Here is the schedule:
- 5:30 – 5:55 Session 1 – Classroom teachers have rooms open for presentations
- 5:55 – 6:00 Passing period
- 6:00 – 6:25 Session 2 – Classroom teachers have rooms open for presentations AND Specialist and Special Education classrooms are open; counselor, nurse, and librarian
- available 6:25 – 6:30 Passing period
- 6:30 – 6:55 Session 3 – Specialist and Special Education classrooms are open; counselor,
- nurse, and librarian available
Limited childcare is available. The childcare will be in the cafeteria and gym. For safety reasons, we can only accommodate up to 50 students. Additionally, childcare is only available for current B.F. Day students. Please RSVP on the Microsoft Form below if you are seeking childcare for Curriculum Night. If we receive over 50 respondents, we will run a random lottery. Parents that complete the form will receive a confirmation email that their child is signed up for childcare. Request Curriculum Night childcare on our Microsoft Form
Save the Date Parent’s Night Out Oct. 5!
B.F. Day Parents’ Night Out: Saturday, October 5 from 6 – 9 p.m. at Fremont Mischief Distillery
Supplies Drive
We are $5,000 away from meeting our supplies goal! Please donate $40-60 per student to cover their school supplies for the year. Donate directly on our SchoolPay site. All monies raised are deposited directly into our school account for bulk purchasing. Thank you for your generosity.
Volunteers Needed
Is your volunteer background check cleared with SPS? Have you verified that you’re clear with Ms. Brenna? We need some volunteers around campus! • Help make laminated signs to be used in case of emergency. Email Dr. Zisko if you’re able to help; Nlzisko@seattleschools.org
- Lunch room supervision. The lunch block is 10:20 – 11:55. Help supervise students, open lunches, support a calm environment. Email Brenna if you’re able to help; Bckamppi@seattleschools.org
Art Updates
I am so happy to be back in the art room for my 11th year working here at B.F. Day Elementary as the art teacher! It is great to be back with students! So far, we are off to a wonderful year of making art. Students are currently completing their self-portraits. I am impressed to see how engaged they are with their work and how they reflect, and problem solve in the creative process. All classes are about to begin lessons relating to the season of fall. We will be exploring elements of art and design principles that create illusions of movement.
A couple of things I wanted to note: First off, our clay unit is on pause until I resolve the kiln issue. As many of you know, that kiln that we had was faulty. The district replaced it with a kiln that is not working properly and is missing parts. I am working on resolving the issue and am hoping that we can get this matter resolved quickly. The second thing I wanted to let you know is that the art room is striving to be a quiet and calm working environment.
Keeping a quiet art room is important because it allows students to focus on their creative process, deeply engage with their work, and properly hear instructions, as excessive noise can disrupt concentration, hinder learning, and prevent students from fully exploring their artistic ideas. In addition, there is evidence that this type of environment creates less stress and anxiety for students. Students are responding great to this, and feedback has been positively reciprocated!
Lastly, I am looking for parents that would like to assist in hanging art throughout the year and helping in the art room in any ways they can. If this is something that interests you, please reach out and let me know! Thank you for supporting the arts at B.F. Day Elementary!
Yours in art,
Mrs. Hall
Greetings From the Library!
Wow, wow, wow! I am incredibly impressed with the amount of reading B.F. Day accomplished this summer! This morning 42 readers celebrated a collective 1,008 hours of reading! Amazing! This past week we spent time reviewing library and book care rules and enjoying our first story of the year together. Part of being a responsible library user is setting up positive habits from the start. Thank you for helping your child find a consistent place in your home to keep library books and offering reminders to return them each week!Reading at home is one of the MOST important ways you can connect with your child while also building strong foundational literacy skills. Thank you for cheering them on!
B.F. Day Grownups Book Club Sept. 17
Join us at the first B.F. Day Grownups Book Club of the year! All are welcome! Tuesday, September 17 at Retreat, 6900 E. Green Lake Way N. at 7:00 p.m.
Join us as we discuss the classic My Antonia and decide on books for the upcoming year!
From Mr. Taylor, Your School Counselor
B.F Day is transitioning from our previous emotional regulation of RULER (Mood Meter) to a new emotional regulation curriculum called Zones of Regulation. By the end of September, every student will have learned about the four Zones we may feel each day, and the corresponding tools for getting back to the green zone. The verbiage and the tools will be carried over into each of our classroom’s “cool down” spots as well. The feedback so far from students and staff has been very positive.
Zones of Regulation is an evidence-based program that uses our body’s somatic and physical clues to dictate which “Zone” we may be in. Different from RULER, our zones aren’t measured by whether a feeling is pleasant or “good” but rather by measuring the intersection of our body’s energy and our feelings. All the Zones are okay and important! Keep an eye out for more resources and updates on our implementation of this awesome curriculum.
Incoming Kindergarten Play Date
We are looking forward to welcoming our preschoolers and kindergarteners on Monday! As a reminder, we have a kindergarten play date tomorrow, September 7, from 10:00 – 11:30. All kindergarten families are welcome to join us on the school playground!
Transportation to Wallingford Boys and Girls Club
Reminder for kindergarten parents next week…If your student is registered and attending Wallingford Boys and Girls Club, you must request transportation for them via email at transdept@seattleschools.org. We will need to issue a yellow card for them to ride the bus. If you haven’t already, please call the school so we can get the yellow card ready before dismissal. We will distribute the cards at 2:00.
No Dogs
Parents and Guardians: Reminder to please keep dogs off school grounds. This is especially important because we have students with life threatening allergies to dogs. Thank you for keeping our children safe!
Parent Nights at B.F. Day!
Please join Dr. Zisko and the school staff for three parent education nights this school year!
Mark your calendar for:
- October 17: 5:00 – 6:30 p.m.
- Supporting Your Reader at Home
- January 23: 5:00 – 6:30 p.m.
- Supporting Your Mathematician at Home
- April 24: 5:00 – 6:30 p.m.
- Spring Forward with Social-Emotional Learning
We will gather in the library. Join us to learn more about our curriculum and instruction, and how you can support your child in their academic and social-emotional growth at B.F. Day.
School Supplies Drive
In lieu of parents shopping for school supplies, we purchase supplies in bulk. This ensures that everyone gets what they need, and it’s very cost effective. We request a $40-60 donation for each student to cover the cost of their supplies. The money is deposited directly into our school account that purchases supplies (paper, markers, crayons, paint, glue pencils, etc.). We need to raise $20,000 to fund supplies for the school year. Thank you for your generosity and for supporting
The Family School! Currently we have 161 donations, totaling $12,240. We need $7,500 to reach our goal! A direct link is available on SchoolPay.
Curriculum Night Coming Up
Parents, please join us for Curriculum Night on September 26 from 5:30 – 7:00. This event is for adults only. Children do not attend Curriculum Night in the classroom. Teachers will run back-to-back presentations. There are three presentation times so that parents with multiple children can attend a session for each of their children. Our specialist rooms, counselor, nurse, and library will all be open and available. Here is the schedule:
- 5:30 – 5:55 Session 1 – Classroom teachers have rooms open for presentations
- 5:55 – 6:00 Passing period
- 6:00 – 6:25 Session 2 – Classroom teachers have rooms open for presentations AND Specialist and Special Education classrooms are open; counselor, nurse, and librarian
- available6:25 – 6:30 Passing period
- 6:30 – 6:55 Session 3 – Specialist and Special Education classrooms are open; counselor,
- nurse, and librarian available
Limited childcare is available. The childcare will be in the cafeteria and gym. For safety reasons, we can only accommodate up to 50 students. Additionally, childcare is only available for current B.F. Day students. Please RSVP on the Microsoft Form below if you are seeking childcare for Curriculum Night. If we receive over 50 respondents, we will run a random lottery. Parents that complete the form will receive a confirmation email that their child is signed up for childcare.
Request Curriculum Night childcare on our Microsoft Form
Welcome back to school and to the B.F. Day Library!
For those of you new to the B.F. Day Family, welcome! My name is Jaimee Papineau (most students call me “Mrs. P.”) and I am a Reading Support Teacher (K-1) and Librarian for our wonderful community. This will be my 13th year at B.F. Day, and 25th year in education! I am in my third year of librarianship, with the goal of creating a warm, welcoming, supportive space for all students and families. The library is a place to learn more about ourselves, grow in our empathy for others, and expand our ability to be critical and informed thinkers. I can’t wait to share my enthusiasm for learning and reading with our students. My goal is to help nurture truly joyful and lifelong readers!
Summer Reading
Congratulations to all the summer readers who completed a challenge! July/August bookmarks and 24 hours of reading forms can be turned in to classroom teachers. Please clearly write your name on the page or bookmark. Prizes will be collected during students’ first library period next week! Students who completed the 24-hour reading challenge have a special invitation to our Readers Pancake Breakfast which will be held in the library on Friday, September 13th at 7:15 a.m.! If you earned the reward, please plan on joining us! Many students have shared they completed a challenge, but lost their paperwork. If this is the case for yourchild, please send a note and turn in to your classroom teacher in lieu of the originals as verification of their hard work!
1:1 Device Forms Have Been Sent Home Grades 1-5!
Please look for this form from your classroom teacher, complete it with your student, and return to school. Students in PreK-2 will be using iPads, and students 3-5 will be using laptops.
Library Orientation
During their first week of classes, students will learn about and review how our library is organized, book care, and check out/return procedures. B.F. Day students may check out up to 2 books per visit in grades PreK-2 (in K we will begin with 1), and up to 5 books per visit in grades 3-5. Books are checked out for a duration of two weeks before they are considered “overdue,” although students may renew if they still need time with their book. A student may have up to 10 books checked out on their account. If accounts are at ten checkouts, students cannot check out additional books until some are returned to the library. Student checkouts can always be viewed on the Source.
It is highly encouraged to set up a space in your home to keep library books, so they are easy to locate and return. Each classroom will have a consistent library schedule this year, so it will be SO much easier to remember your “library day,” and get in the habit of checking out and returning books on time!
Notes From the PTSA
Want to get involved in your child’s class and support their teacher? Sign up to be a Room Parent or Co-Room Parent!
What is a Room Parent? A room parent builds community around the teacher and classroom. They are a communication partner and volunteer coordinator for each teacher and the PTSA. All you need is regular access to a computer and email, and most of the work can be done from home.
Each teacher may have different needs and requests, but the primary responsibilities for Room Parents could include:
- Manage the classroom email/contact list. This will be used for communication with parents and caregivers about classroom happenings, yet also can be useful for coordinating class play dates.
- Create a rotating classroom snack schedule via Sign Up Genius or other tool, in collaboration with the teacher.
- Assist with grade-specific PTSA communications like field trips and class projects.
- Forward emails about school events and volunteer opportunities from the Room Parent Coordinator.
How do I become a Room Parent or Co-Room Parent? Complete the Volunteer Google Form and indicate you’d like to be a Room Parent. Then the Room Parent and volunteer coordinator, Annie Barker, will reach out to you with the next steps about connecting with the teacher and class parents and caregivers. If you have questions or have any trouble with the form, please don’t hesitate to send her an email at volunteer@bfdayptsa.org.
Why is the role of Room Parent important? The Room Parent takes some of the burden off of the teacher in coordinating volunteers, class support, and sharing PTSA community updates. Maintaining a classroom contact list also helps improve communication between other parents and caregivers. It’s especially handy when extra help is needed for classroom projects and events. Additionally, while most teachers request snacks throughout the year, managing a rotating snack schedule can be a great way for parents to provide healthy snacks on an ongoing basis. Thank you for considering this critical role in supporting our teachers and classrooms this school year!
Join us at a Mariners game with other B.F. Day families.
Mariners vs the Texas Rangers on Sunday, September 15th. Game time is 1:10pm. Kids can run around the bases postgame. $20/per ticket. If you would like to sit next to someone, please order tickets as a group.
Order BF Day Mariners game tickets today.
Remember! Become a PTSA member by Oct. 15. Buying a membership makes you an active member. Active members make motions and vote!
From Our School Counselor, Mr. Taylor
We are excited to welcome our students back and we look forward to seeing our youngest Sun Dragons on Monday. This week, Dr. Zisko and I have been partnering with classroom teachers to teach what the B.F. Day Way looks and sounds like for all the common spaces in the building.
The most pertinent areas of campus are the cafeteria and playground, as those can have the highest number of students and the highest level of energy. Dr. Zisko and I have brought each classroom into every space and have reinforced how we can best the version of ourselves in each space. This year we’ll be following up with each grade level again next week to see how things are going in each of those spaces and what types of things we can do better going forward. We know that pre-teaching, reinforcing positive behavior (dragon scales), and then reflecting together are the best practices for creating a safe and predictable school climate. I have attached the signage for the recess soccer expectations in the emailed Dayette.
Soccer Rules
#1 Rule – Everyone is Included!
Join Today!
Hello From Your School Nurse, Annette, RN
Welcome back!
Hello Sun Dragon Families!
Welcome to the 24-25 school year! The staff and I are so excited to welcome you back. Tomorrow, August 29, is our annual ice cream social from 4 – 5 p.m. on the school playgrounds. Kindergarten – fifth grade class lists will be posted at that time. Please note that our preschoolers will meet the preschool teaching team today, August 28, at 4:00 p.m. for our annual preschool popsicle play date. If you are unable to make the socials, please email or call the office after the event to learn which teacher(s) your child(ren) are assigned to.
Our campus has been busy this summer. We welcomed our incoming kindergarteners for three days of Jump Start. It was magical with lots of excitement, new friendships, and Sun Dragon pride. Thank you to the B.F. Day PTSA for the ongoing support of Jump Start. Thank you to Mrs. Ferrel, Ms. Mathan, Ms. Riepe, Ms. Brooke, Mr. R., and Ms. Lucy for teaching Jump Start this summer! It was such a beautiful way to welcome students to The Family School.
Our teachers returned to campus this week for in-service days. We celebrated some amazing achievements last school year, like impressive gains in Smarter Balanced data, strong foundational data in kindergarten-second grade, and earning the RAMP (Recognized ASCA Model Program) designation from the American School Counselor Association (ASCA). This summer, Mr. Taylor and I attended the annual ASCA conference, where B.F. Day was one of three schools in Washington state and 60 elementary schools nationally to be celebrated as a RAMP school. I am so proud of B.F. Day for being the first school in Seattle Public Schools to be recognized as a RAMP school. This is reflective of our collective commitment that social-emotional wellness is foundational for academic achievement and civic engagement.
Looking ahead to this school year, I am filled with optimism and joy. Our team is excited and ready for a successful year! I am so proud that B.F. Day is a place of learning for adults, too. This year we will host a principal intern, school counseling intern, and student teachers. Our teachers will be participating in “learning walks” across the building this school year, co-teaching, and reflecting on math instruction. Adults on campus are uplifting the joy of learning.
Thank you to our families that continue to support B.F. Day. Our strong school-family partnerships define our Family School and make B.F. Day a special place for teaching and learning.
Finally, thank you to the B.F. Day PTSA for being amazing partners in this work. I hope that you enjoy the last days of summer vacation and spend quality time with the people that you love. I can’t wait to see our students back on campus soon! We certainly missed them.
Go Sun Dragons!
Cheers,
Dr. Zisko
School Supplies
It’s the “B.F. Day Way” that we buy our school supplies in bulk. Ms. Sonja leads this effort with our teachers. Buying supplies in bulk saves money and every teacher gets what they need. Supplies are consistent, and every student’s needs are met. In lieu of bringing in supplies for the start of school, we ask families for a monetary donation to cover the cost of their child’s school supplies. This year we are requesting a $40-60 donation per student. We need to fundraise $20,000 from supplies donations to cover the expected costs of supplies for the year (paper, pencils, markers, crayons, glue, paint, etc.). Thank you for donating what you can! All donated money is deposited directly into our school budget.
Please use our direct SchoolPay link to make your supplies donation for your child. Please be sure to enter your student’s name in the requested field.
Start of School Paperwork
Please refer to our Start of School Paperwork post on the B.F. Day website to submit all start of school paperwork. This link has essential information regarding Verification form, FERPA, Free & Reduced Lunch, and new program for making payments for lunch service.
Volunteering at B.F. Day
We love parents (and grandparents) that volunteer at B.F. Day! Our lunchroom helpers, library helpers, field trip chaperones, and small group volunteers are so valuable to our school community. The beginning of the school year is a great time to check your volunteer status. Once cleared, volunteer authorization is good for two calendar years. All volunteers must complete the SPS volunteer background check process before they are approved to volunteer. Background checks can take up to two weeks to clear. If an adult is not cleared by SPS, they will not be permitted to volunteer. There are no exceptions. Ms. Brenna will be checking the approved volunteer rosters and can help with questions.
You can find out more information about becoming a volunteering in SPS on the district website. Select Category A volunteer. We encourage all parents to go through the volunteer application process early in the school year.
Attendance
The first day of school for grades 1-5 is September 4. Please note that September 4 is not an early release Wednesday. The first day of school for preschoolers and kindergarteners is September 9. Classes begin moving inside at 7:50 a.m. School starts at 7:55 a.m. We expect students to be inside their classrooms at 7:55 a.m. when the second bell, the tardy bell, rings.
Students that arrive after 7:55 a.m. will be marked tardy. At 7:56 a.m., students will be marked tardy. If your student is tardy, please check in at the office for a late slip. We dismiss at 2:25 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. On Wednesday, dismissal is at 1:10 p.m. It is our shared expectation that families send their children to school on time, every day, for the duration of our school day. If your child is sick, please keep them at home until they are fever free for 24 hours. Please note that 10 absences and/or tardies for the school year is considered chronic absenteeism.
Wallingford Boys and Girls Club
If your student is registered at Wallingford Boys and Girls Club, you must request a bus by emailing your student’s information, including their student ID, to transdept@seattleschools.org. Before you request SPS bus services, you must be registered at Wallingford Boys and Girls Club.
No Dogs on Campus
As a reminder, all dogs need to stay outside the gates of the school building. Please do not bring family pets onto campus for pick up or drop off. We have students with dog phobias and allergies to dogs. It’s our responsibility to ensure that B.F. Day is safe for every child. We appreciate you respecting this boundary.
Welcome!
Mr. Jones, 4th Grade Teacher
Welcome, Jerime (“Jeremy”) Jones, new 4th grade teacher to B.F. Day. Below is a brief introduction: “As I enter my 8th year of teaching, I bring diverse experiences to the classroom. With a master’s degree in elementary education and 14 1/2 years of service in the United States Navy, I’ve developed a unique perspective that enhances my ability to educate and inspire young minds. My passion for learning and dedication to service continues to drive my work as an educator, allowing me to create engaging and meaningful experiences for my students.
Outside of the classroom, I’m a proud father to five beautiful daughters, ranging from pre-k to freshman year at the University of Washington. My partner, also an elementary educator, and I reside in Tacoma with our girls and three dogs. When I’m not teaching, you can find me coaching high school wrestling at Silas High School or cheering on Seattle sports teams as a diehard fan. We value our time together as a family and enjoy exploring the outdoors and discovering new places whenever our busy schedule permits.”
Welcome, Mr. Blaisdell, Principal Intern!
My name is A.J. Blaisdell and I currently serve as Director of Educational Programming at the Northwest School for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children in Shoreline.
I am completing my WA Principal Certificate program through Eastern Washington State University. I began my career as a special education teacher, before exploring opportunities in school leadership. In my free time, I enjoy reading and exploring the outdoors with my wife and two dogs. I’m looking forward to working at B.F. Day on Fridays and learning more about The Family School! Thank you for welcoming me to B.F. Day.
Welcome Ms. Jenna, Instructional Assistant!
Ms. Jenna will be joining our Extended Resource team this year. Hello! My name is Jenna and I’m excited to be joining the B.F. Day community. I’m a 2023 graduate from Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY, where I studied philosophy and psychology before moving back home to the greater Seattle area. Prior to becoming a staff member here, I worked with children with developmental differences and was an instructional assistant in a Seattle high school. I am also the head coach of a local high school boy’s water polo team and assistant coach for the girl’s program. In my free time, when not coaching or playing water polo with local master’s teams, I enjoy hiking and backpacking, reading, and weightlifting.
Staff Assignments This School Year
Please refer to the emailed Dayette for Staff Assignments list or the Dayette PDF posted on the B.F. Day Facebook.
