Sun Dragons’ Dayette: Field Day & More!

Posted on: May 9, 2025

Summary : Read All About It in the Dayette.

What’s Coming Up!
Previous Sun Dragons’ Dayette Resources
B.F. Day Events Calendar

B.F. Day Newsletter June 6, 2025

What’s Coming Up!

Important Dates for End of Year

June 11: 4th Grade Bake Sale at 2L25 p.m.
June 12: Field Day
- Session times: 8:05 – 9:05: Pre-K and K, 9:15 – 10:15: 1st, 11:55 – 12:55: 2nd/3rd, 1:05 – 2:05: 4th/5th
Friday, June 13:
- Spirit Day (the theme is: PRIDE! Show us your most colorful and rainbow selves.
  Think tie-dye, neon, and anything that represents your unique self)
- All-school Assembly, 8:00-8:30
- 5th Grade vs Staff Kickball Game at Upper Uppers
Sunday, June 15: B.F. Day Day at the Mariners Game. Get BF Day at the Mariners Game Tickets.
Monday, June 16:
- Village Day 12:15 – 2:00p.m.
- Fifth grade promotion in the gym, 6:00 p.m.- 7:30 p.m.
June 16-20: Boys & Girls Club closed until summer camps begin.
Tuesday, June 17:
- 3rd grade walking field trip to Wallingford Park 10:00-12:30 p.m.
- Yearbook distribution
Wed, June 18: Last day of school; closing circle at 1 p.m. dismissal is at 1:25 p.m.
July 2: Trimester 3 Progress Reports Posted on the Source
August 28: Ice Cream Social. Class Lists Posted.

Welcome Incoming Kindergarteners!

We’re looking forward to welcoming our incoming kindergarten students for the 25-26 school year! We already have 61 kindergarteners enrolled for next year. If you know of an incoming Sun Dragon for SY 25-26, please encourage them to register so we can plan with accurate numbers. Save the dates!

Kindergarten Play Date at B.F. Day School playground
- August 16: 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Kick off to Kindergarten (formerly known as Jump Start)
- August 20-22: 9:00 a.m. – noon
Kindergarten Play Date at B.F. Day School playground
- September 6: 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Field Day Ahead June 12!

Get ready for an exciting Field Day (6/12) filled with fun activities for all the kids! We’ll have numerous stations set up across the field, each offering a unique game or challenge. Don’t worry about figuring things out on your own; a helpful adult volunteer will be at each station to explain how to do the activity and ensure everyone has a great time.

Volunteers, when you arrive – please remember to check your name off on the volunteer sign-in sheet. If you don’t see your name listed, no problem at all! Just head over to the office and check in with Ms. Brenna, and she’ll get you sorted. We appreciate your help in making this Field Day a success!

Our amazing SPED neurodiversity liaison, Laura Rose, has created a social story for Field Day. Social stories or narratives clearly describe the sensory experience and/or clearly explain what can be expected of an experience. They can be used for any students who struggle with sensory sensitivities or emotional regulation. They can help decrease anxiety, teach rules, or even demonstrate tough social cues, and set learners up for success! Please share this with any learners who would benefit from knowing what to expect. Refer to the link to the Field Day Social Story in the emailed Dayette.

Village Day 2025

As Village Day (6/16) approaches, we’ve been absolutely blown away by the dedication and creativity of our students! They are working incredibly hard, putting so much effort into getting their unique items ready and meticulously planning their fantastic stores. The buzz in the air is palpable as they prepare to showcase their entrepreneurial spirit and talent.

Get ready to be amazed by what our young innovators have in store for us!

Shifts:

12:15-1:00 Shift 1
1:00-1:15 Break
1:15-2:00 Shift 2
2:00-2:25 Cleanup

Congrats to our Village Poster Contest winners, Vivienne Watson (3) and Lenny Nicol (K)! Our close runners-up were Thea Johson (3) and Lauren (2). We have such creative and colorful minds here at BF Day. Way to go, Sun Dragons!

Last Call for Yearbooks

Good news! We have a limited number of yearbooks available for $15 each. If you missed out on ordering yours, here’s your chance to grab a copy! Purchase your yearbook today on SchoolPay! Once purchased, please contact the office so we know to include your student in the distribution on the 6/17.

Celebrating Our Fabulous Finishers!

Our Fabulous Finishers are doing an absolutely incredible job as we head into the remainder of the year! We’re excited to announce that we’re upping the ante by drawing four times a day, giving even more students a chance to be selected as one of our official “Fabulous Finishers” and pick out a special prize! We’re so excited to celebrate our amazing Sun Dragons in this last stretch of the school year!

Library News

We’re in the final push to return ALL our library books! As of today, we still have about 500 books needing to find their way back to the library. Thank you so much for contributing to this team effort! If you decide to send in a book as a replacement, please be sure to label it with the student’s name and the book you are replacing. Summer Reading Challenge materials will be going home next Friday along with summer library dates! Be sure to check your child’s backpack for more information!

Volunteers Needed: Solstice Weekend Parking

Spread the word! We’re opening up the BF Day lot for parking on Solstice weekend (June 21-22) to raise funds for the school. We need your help! If you’re into making/putting up signs in the neighborhood, assigning cars to spaces and collecting money, please consider volunteering for an hour or two. We need help on both Saturday and Sunday. You can bring your kiddos to help, too!

4th Grade Bake Sale/Lemonade Stand

On June 11, 4th grade will be hosting a bake sale and lemonade stand after school to start fundraising for next year’s overnight trip! $1-$2 for everything, cash and Venmo accepted. Come and show your support while enjoying some tasty treats!

PTSA News & Merch Store

Announcing the 2025-26 PTSA Officers:

President – Shannon McClure
Vice President – Katy Roberts
Secretary – Ashley Bennett
Treasurer – Stephen Baxter
Fundraising Officer – Jahna Hildebrandt

The B.F. Day Online Merch Store will be open June 9-13 too!

Dear B. F. Day Family,

A team in Fremont is working to create a Creative District. To accomplish this, we would love your opinion, and we need more great minds to join our team if you’re interested; or to be aware of and informed about this endeavor.

Creative District Values Survey Help Fremont complete its application to become a Creative District! To complete our application to be a Creative District, we need to answer this question: “What are the community/creative district’s values? As Fremontsters we would love to hear from you. Describe the core beliefs or guiding principles your community holds dear.” Please complete the Creative District Values survey.

Current mission statement: The Fremont Creative District seeks to promote, preserve, enhance, and grow the elements that made the Artists Republic of Fremont (Peoples Republic, Free Republic), de libertas quirkas (free to be strange, free to be peculiar) and a community that is funky, artistic, welcoming and innovative. The Creative District invites, welcomes, encourages and supports a cultural diversity of artistic makers, including visual and physical arts, music, and literature, as well as a diverse and widespread appreciative audience for such cultural endeavors.

Thanks so much for your time and consideration! ~ Carrie Bauer (retired B.F. Day Admin. Secretary – ha!)

End of School Year Planning

Please note that the last day of school is June 18, with a 1:25 p.m. dismissal time. This is one hour earlier than our regular dismissal time, not the Wednesday early release.

Kindly inform the office of any upcoming absences by emailing day@seattleschools.org or calling 206-252-6010. Even if you’ve notified your child’s teacher, please ensure the office receives this information as well.

Boys & Girls Club closures. Please be aware that the Boys & Girls Club, onsite AND Wallingford, will be closed from 6/16-6/20, reopening on Monday, 6/23. This means you will have to have alternate afterschool plans for June 16, 17, & 18. Please plan accordingly.

Previous Sun Dragons’ Dayette Resources

Fabulous Finishers!

For the next two and a half weeks, the entire B.F. Day staff will be on the lookout for students to give it their all, even in the last few days of school. Get ready for a Dragon Scale-a-Palooza! Every student who earns a dragon scale for following the B.F. Day Way (being kind, engaged, and responsible) gets to turn their scale into the office for a chance to be drawn as two of each day’s official “Fabulous Finishers” and pick out a special prize! We can’t wait to celebrate our Sun Dragons in this last stretch of school!

Field Day!

Field Day is on Thursday, June 12, and we still need more volunteers, especially for the kindergarten and 2nd/3rd grade sessions (8:05-9:05 and 11:55-12:55). If you are free and haven’t yet signed up, please fill out the form that was sent home or email Mr. D directly. Remember, it can take up to two weeks to process your volunteer application if you haven’t completed one.

Thanks, and we’ll see you in the park! Vince Delaney; vldelaney@seattleschools.org

Solstice Parade Parking

Be a part of our Solstice weekend fundraiser! We’re opening the BF Day lot for parking on June 21 and 22nd to benefit the school. We’re seeking volunteers to help with tasks like sign posting, parking directions, and collecting donations. Even an hour or two of your time on Saturday or Sunday would be a huge help, and children are welcome to join!

End of School Year Planning

Please note that the last day of school is June 18, with a 1:25 p.m. dismissal time. This is one hour earlier than our regular dismissal time, not the Wednesday early release.

From Nurse Annette

Infection Prevention: There has been an uptick in stomach viruses in the past week or two. Students have been complaining of stomachaches with sudden onset of nausea and vomiting. Please keep your child home if they have an upset stomach. As a reminder, please wash your hands after bathroom use and before and after eating as a preventative measure.

Dehydration Prevention: Please make sure your child has their water bottle in their backpack now that the hot weather has arrived. Encourage them to drink water after playing outside, especially when their lips, eyes, and skin appear dry.

Library Updates

Mrs. P. caved and kept letting kids check out books this week, so….

Next week we will begin the Race to Return! Which class will be the first to return all their books to the library?! Let’s get all our beautiful books back and make the shelves happy. Notices will go out soon with lists of checked out books for each student. Thank you in advance for making the effort to round everything up within the next week! If a book has gone missing, you can purchase a replacement or donate a similar book to the library.

Please be sure to attach a note to the book stating the student’s name and which book you are replacing.

During the last full week of school, information will go home about B.F. Day’s Summer Reading Challenge and summer library dates. Let’s keep our reading muscles strong this summer!

End of Year Finish Strong

As the school year winds down, let’s encourage our Sun Dragons to finish strong! The next few weeks are jam-packed with exciting activities, and by continuing to embody the BF Day Way—always making sure our bodies are safe, our words are kind, and we are respecting each other—we can ensure everyone has a fantastic and memorable end to the year.

We’ve noticed that as the weather warms up and the end of the year gets closer, sometimes lunchroom behavior can get a little wild. Let’s all remember to use our indoor voices, keep our hands to ourselves, and clean up our areas. By working together, we can make sure the lunchroom remains a safe and enjoyable space for everyone to refuel and recharge.

Let’s make these final weeks count!

Playground Expectations

Be it during school hours or after school hours – the expectation is always the same. Being caring, engaged, and responsible is the only way we can safely have such a big and beautiful playground for our kids to play on. This means NOT scaling up the fences, hanging off basketball hoops, and climbing in trees who are on their last limb. Please do not let your child play unsupervised. While there are adults present from Boys and Girls Club, they are not legally allowed to intervene in these situations.

PTSA General Membership Meeting & Board Elections

Join Us – B.F. Day PTSA General Membership Meeting & Board Elections

Wednesday, May 29 | 8:00–9:00 p.m. (Virtual)
- Join the PTSA meeting via Google Meet

We’re thrilled to announce that Dr. Cassie Martin, Executive Director of Special Education at the Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), will be the guest speaker during our PTSA General Assembly Meeting on Thursday, May 29. Dr. Martin is a respected leader in education and was the architect of the Inclusionary Practices Demonstration Sites Project. In addition to her professional expertise, she is also a parent of two Seattle Public Schools students — at B.F. Day and at Hamilton. Dr. Martin will share her perspective and the data on the current condition of inclusionary practices in Washington State, envision what a truly inclusive future could look like, and discuss how families and school communities can play a vital role in making that vision a reality.

We hope you’ll join us for our next PTSA General Membership Meeting! One important item on the agenda: electing our officers for the 2025–2026 school year. All current PTSA members are eligible to vote, and we’d love your voice in the process. Board roles are elected for one-year terms (max two consecutive years), and we’re still welcoming nominations!

If you’re interested in a role—or want to nominate someone else—please reach out to vicepresident@bfdayptsa.org. Questions are welcome, too.

Current Officers (2024–2025):

President – Shannon McClure
Vice President – Katy Roberts
Secretary – Kirsten Pickworth
Treasurer – Anthony Girolamo
Fundraising – Jahna Hilderbrandt

Nominees for 2025–2026:

President – Shannon McClure (2nd term)
Vice President – Katy Roberts (2nd term)
Secretary – Kirsten Pickworth (2nd term)
Treasurer – Stephen Baxter (1st term)
Fundraising – Jahna Hilderbrandt (2nd term)

We’re also looking to appoint Chair and Committee roles for next year and would love to get folks signed up before summer break. Be on the lookout for more information and a handout coming home with students next week outlining all the ways you can get involved. As a PTSA, we manage a meaningful budget and create events that bring our school community together—but none of it happens without you. Whether it’s voting, volunteering, or just staying informed, every bit of participation makes a difference. Hope to see you there! ~ Your B.F. Day PTSA

You’re invited to: B.F. Day Moms Night

When: May 28 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Where: Fair Isle Brewing 936 NW 49th St.

Note: the address has been corrected since the last Dayette. RSVP using the link in the emailed Dayette.

PTSA 2025 Move-A-Thon Results!

Our Sun Dragons crushed their goal on May 2 — logging 7,750 laps (that’s 645 miles!), raising more than $37,000 for school programs, and returning 75% of their envelopes! Special Awards were given at the All-School Assembly today: Most Envelopes Returned: three-way tie, so all will receive a class-room party: Mr. Jones’s 4th grade, Ms. Sidhu’s 1st grade, Teacher Dylan’s preschool. Lap Champions: Ms. Riepe’s 4th grade logged the highest average laps per student and will also enjoy a classroom party. Five Envelope-Return Raffle Winnersreceived a gift card to a local establishment for an after-school treat. And a shout out to Mr. Jones for winning the unofficial but VERY competitive “most laps by a teacher” contest with 37 laps.

Students met the Envelope Return Participation Challenge and Mr. R and Mr. Taylor both got a pie to the face at the Assembly! We’ll get additional photos and videos up on Facebook shortly.

Thank you to every runner, sponsor, volunteer, and cheerleader who made this year’s Move-A-Thon an unforgettable success!

B.F. Day at the Mariners!

Come out to T-Mobile Park for some Father’s Day fun on Sunday, June 15 at 1 p.m. $20 per seat in section 112. Reserve your BF Day at the Mariner’s tickets. If you want seats next to specific people, please purchase tickets in one order.

Playground Expectations

End of Year Finish Strong

Let’s make these final weeks count!

Lost and Not So Found…

A friendly reminder to all families: our lost and found is absolutely overflowing! We have a mountain of unclaimed water bottles, Tupperware, gloves, hats, coats, and sweatshirts. Please take a moment to swing by and check for any missing items. All unclaimed items will be donated next Friday, May 30.

Yearbook Cover Contest Winners

We are thrilled to announce the winners of our yearbook cover contest! We received so many incredible and creative submissions this year, making the selection process incredibly difficult.

A special round of applause goes to fifth grader, Deva Mahapiroon, whose outstanding artwork has been chosen for the front cover of this year’s yearbook!We also want to celebrate our runner-ups: Emilia Lee (1st grade), Olivia Fain (5th grade), and Eve Bolstad (5th grade), whose designs will be featured together on the back cover. And the creativity doesn’t stop there—you’ll find 16 other amazing submissions pictured on the inside cover! Thank you to everyone who participated and showed your artistic spirit.

A Note from Former (retired, ha!) Admin Secretary, Carrie Bauer

A group in Fremont is working to create a Creative District, and we’d love your input! If you’re interested in helping out, we’re looking for new team members. Otherwise, we just want to keep you in the loop about what’s happening.

Thanks so much for your time and consideration!

A Note from Dr. Zisko

Greetings Sun Dragon Families, The end of the school year is coming quickly! Our favorite springtime events are on the horizon:

May 22 Art Fest, June 12 Field Day, June 13 5th Grade v. Staff Kickball Game at Upper Uppers, June 16 Village Day, June 16 5th Grade Promotion, June 18 Last Day of School; closing circle will be at 1:00 p.m., July 2 Trimester 3 Progress Reports Posted on the Source

Beginning Monday, May 19 I will begin a brief medical leave. As many of you know, I am a surrogate. The baby is expected to arrive soon, and I will take some time away from the office for delivery and recovery. I want to thank you for all of your well wishes. This experience has been so personally rewarding for me, and I am thrilled for the dads to meet their baby soon! It’s a unique sense of joy to help another family achieve their dreams, and I am thankful for the experience.

While I am away, we will have a guest principal. Her name is BiHoa Caldwell (“Ms.Caldwell”). She can be reached via email at bcaldwell@seattleschool.org. Ms. Caldwell is a retired Seattle Public Schools principal. She toured the campus with me today and met students and staff. We look forward to having her at The Family School and are grateful for her leadership. Thank you for welcoming her to B.F. Day! While I am stepping away as principal for a couple of weeks, I am not stepping away as a B.F. Day parent. I look forward to seeing you at our spring events on campus and continuing to cheer on our Sun Dragons as we end the 24-25 school year strong.

Lastly, I want to update you on planning for school year 25-26. In a June Dayette, I will announce the teacher grade level assignments for next school year. With the exception of extenuating circumstances, we do not accept parent requests for classroom assignments. The process for making class lists is that the that the current year teachers meet and over the course of about two weeks to separate grade level cohorts into classrooms for next school year. Teachers balance the lists based on several factors. From there, I review the draft lists and make the teacher assignments. We continue to make minor changes throughout the summer as needed.

Class lists are published at the Ice Cream Social. The Ice Cream Social will be on Thursday, August 28.

Looking forward to some great days at school ahead! Go Sun Dragons!

Best,
Natalie

Art Fest May 22!

May 22 | 5:30–7:00 p.m.

Art Room Updates

Please submit any artwork you’d like to be displayed; forms are helpful but not required. Just make sure each piece is clearly labeled with your child’s name and homeroom teacher. We can’t wait to celebrate our young artists!

All our grade levels are deep into their preparation of music to share at Art Fest on Thursday, May 22. Mark your calendars! Art walk, art making activities, and a few student busking ensembles can be enjoyed throughout the school from 5:30-6:15 p.m., and the main grade level musical presentations will begin at 6:15 p.m. in the gym. You won’t want to miss the special welcome ensemble the third-grade students are preparing to kick off the program, so plan to be in your seat at 6:15 p.m.! If you’re late, you’ll hear the drums calling you to the gym.

We’re excited to invite you to this year’s Art Fest, and we’re mixing things up a bit! In addition to enjoying student artwork displayed throughout the building, families can take part in creation stations for hands-on art-making fun! Student Art Submissions: Students are welcome to submit artwork to be displayed during Art Fest. Submission forms will be sent home this week. All artwork must be turned in by May 16 and should include the student’s name and class. Please note: All artwork will be returned to students after the event. Artwork can be: Created at school or at home, 2D or 3D, Framed or unframed If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me at jmpierce@seattleschools.org. Looking forward to celebrating our young artists with you! Yours in art, Mrs. Hall

Music Room Updates

In addition, our kindergarten and first grade musicians are halfway through a residency with artists from the Rhapsody Project. They have been learning about heritage through songs and games from American Roots music. We are expecting guests from the Rhapsody Project to join us at Art Fest to perform with our K/1 students, as well as with the fourth graders they worked with earlier in the year (who will be showcasing their knowledge of the Blues). It will be a special performance you won’t want to miss!

For the third year in a row, we are fortunate to have Suchitra Iyer from Ragamala teaching Hindustani vocal music to our second-grade singers. If you are not familiar with this beautiful, sophisticated, and historically deep music, please come learn more from our B.F. Day second graders who have been working hard to learn this challenging art form. I am very proud of how they have been rising to the occasion to learn how to sing music from a culture many of us are unfamiliar with.

Our fifth-grade students will be giving us a fitting sendoff (or perhaps giving themselves a fitting sendoff ) as they conclude the program of their final Art Fest at B.F. Day. They will be playing a Trinidadian song in a modified steel pan ensemble. We got to spend a little time with Kimani Bishop, PhD candidate in ethnomusicology at University of Washington, earlier this year learning about the history and culture of Trinidad and steel pan music. We hope to make Kimani and our B.F. Day family proud with our stellar performance! Musically yours, Miss Bethany

Message from Student Council – Next Spirit Day is May 23

Dress as your Favorite Character. On Friday, May 23 students are invited to dress up as their favorite fictional/non-fictional character. The character could be from their favorite book, movie, show, video game etc. Members of our student council came up with this idea, as a way for students to express their interests and hobbies outside of school.

PTSA General Membership Meeting & Board Elections

Join Us – B.F. Day PTSA General Membership Meeting & Board Elections

Wednesday, May 29 | 8:00–9:00 p.m. (Virtual)
- Join via Google Meet

Current Officers (2024–2025):

President – Shannon McClure
Vice President – Katy Roberts
Secretary – Kirsten Pickworth
Treasurer – Anthony Girolamo
Fundraising – Jahna Hilderbrandt

Nominees for 2025–2026:

President – Shannon McClure (2nd term)
Vice President – Katy Roberts (2nd term)
Secretary – Kirsten Pickworth (2nd term)
Treasurer – Stephen Baxter (1st term)
Fundraising – Jahna Hilderbrandt (2nd term)

B.F. Day at the Mariners!

Recreational Soccer Opportunity

Woodland Soccer Club: Looking to enroll your child in a local soccer club? Registration for the Fall season is now open and will close July 15. Woodland Soccer Club has been a popular option for B.F. Day students. Financial Aid is Available Upon Request. For registration or aid inquiries, email: headregistrar@woodlandsoccer.org. Have a great weekend! – Mr. Taylor School Counselor

Notes from the Library from Mrs. P.

It’s hard to believe we are nearing the end of the school year! B.F. Day Readers are simply the best and I’ve loved spending time with them this year! Thank you to the PTSA for their very generous support of our library program. We’ve spent this spring reading nominees for the Washington State Children’s Choice book award (K-3).

2025 Nominees

Every student gets to vote on their favorite with the winner being announced at the end of the month for the state of Washington. Ask your child about their favorite! Fourth and fifth graders have been learning about nonfiction organization and reading books from the Towner nominee list (Washington’s award for nonfiction for children).

Overdue Books Due by May 30

Important library dates are coming up! It is vitally important students start rounding up overdue books now! Our goal is for a return of 100% of our library books, but we know things happen. If you are unable to find a missing book you can 1) pay for a replacement, 2) order your own replacement and bring it to the library (please be sure to label), or 3) donate a book to the library of similar interest/value. Please feel free to email anytime with questions jlpapineau@seattleschools.org

All Library Books Are Due Friday, May 30, 2025! Stay tuned for information about B.F. Day’s summer reading challenge and summer open library times!

From Mr. D. in the Gym | Field Day is on Thursday, June 12, which is rapidly approaching!

We still need volunteers for all four sessions. Feel free to email directly with your info if you’re able to help out: vldelaney@seattleschools.org All volunteers will need to complete a background check through SPS, which can take a couple weeks—so it’s not too early to get started!

Session times: 8:05 – 9:05: Pre-K and K, 9:15 – 10:15: 1st, 11:55 – 12:55: 2nd/3rd, 1:05 – 2:05: 4th/5th

Thanks! It will be a great day to be outside in the park.

For Families of Students Receiving Special Education Services & Multilingual Learners

A Message from our Principal Intern, Mr. Blaisdell Help B.F. Day Elementary track our progress! One of the goals included in our continuous school improvement plan (CSIP) is 95% of families of students receiving Special Education or multilingual services respond favorably to data probes measuring that their child is “seen, heard, and valued” at B.F. Day Elementary. If your student is receiving special education services or is a multilingual learner, please complete the questionnaire in the emailed Dayette!

New Language Arts Curriculum

Seattle Public Schools is beginning the process to adopt a new language arts curriculum. Find more information here: (Elementary, K-8) Needs Assessment for K-5 ELA Instructional Materials Curriculum, Assessment, and Instruction has launched a K–5 instructional materials adoption to ensure our curriculum best supports our new strategic plan.

As part of this process, the adoption committee is seeking input from teachers, families, and community members to better understand their needs, expectations, and preferences.

Feedback is critical and will play a key role in guiding the committee’s review and selection of new instructional materials. A Family/Community Survey Flyer* will be shared with families through Peach jar.

Order your 2024-25 B.F. Day Yearbook now through May 15

The cost per yearbook is $15.00 plus tax. After you place your order, you will receive a receipt from support@yearbookmarket.com. Please note that May 15 is the deadline for students to receive their yearbooks with their classmates at school in June.Order Your Yearbook By May 15

Springtime in the Art Room!

Students have been busy creating beautiful spring-themed artwork, including some special projects just in time for Mother’s Day! We’re also excited to share that the 5th grade legacy tile project will be installed soon—stay tuned!

Art Fest May 22!

May 22 | 5:30–7:00 p.m.

Art Room Updates

Music Room Updates

PTSA General Membership Meeting & Board Elections

Join Us – B.F. Day PTSA General Membership Meeting & Board Elections

Wednesday, May 29 | 8:00–9:00 p.m. (Virtual)
- Join via Google Meet

Current Officers (2024–2025):

President – Shannon McClure
Vice President – Katy Roberts
Secretary – Kirsten Pickworth
Treasurer – Anthony Girolamo
Fundraising – Jahna Hilderbrandt

Nominees for 2025–2026:

President – Shannon McClure (2nd term)
Vice President – Katy Roberts (2nd term)
Secretary – Kirsten Pickworth (2nd term)
Treasurer – Stephen Baxter (1st term)
Fundraising – Jahna Hilderbrandt (2nd term)

As a PTSA, we manage a meaningful budget and create events that bring our school community together—but none of it happens without you. Whether it’s voting, volunteering, or just staying informed, every bit of participation makes a difference.

Hope to see you there! ~ Your B.F. Day PTSA

B.F. Day at the Mariners!

Come out to T-Mobile Park for some Father’s Day fun on Sunday, June 15 at 1 p.m. $20 per seat in section 112. Reserve your BF Day at the Mariner’s tickets. If you want seats next to specific people, please purchase tickets in one order.

Shoutout to our parent volunteers!

Thank you to our parent volunteers that made this year’s Move-a-Thon amazing! We appreciate you so much. Much gratitude goes to the parent volunteers that supported teacher appreciation week. Your generosity and thoughtfulness mean so much. The Family School rocks because of our involved and committed parents. Thank you for your ongoing support!

Recreational Soccer Opportunity

Woodland Soccer Club: Looking to enroll your child in a local soccer club? Registration for the Fall season is now open and will close July 15. Woodland Soccer Club has been a popular option for B.F. Day students. Financial Aid is Available Upon Request. For registration or aid inquiries, email: headregistrar@woodlandsoccer.org. Have a great weekend! – Mr. Taylor School Counselor

Notes from the Library from Mrs. P.

2025 Nominees

Overdue Books Due by May 30

All Library Books Are Due Friday, May 30, 2025!

Stay tuned for information about B.F. Day’s summer reading challenge and summer open library times!

Smarter Balanced Testing

Third – Fifth Grade

Parents of upper grade students, please make sure your child gets a good night’s rest, eats a healthy breakfast, and comes to school on time. We appreciate your partnership in making the testing season smooth for everyone involved. Our students are brilliant, and we know that with the right support, they will shine on the end of year state testing.

Please mark your calendars:

May 27-30: Make-up testing as needed

May 9: Fifth grade WCAS science test

May 12, 13, 15, 16: Language Arts testing (grades 3-5)

May 19, 20, 21, 22: Math testing (grades 3-5)

Teacher and Staff Appreciation May 5 – 9

Thank you, B.F. Day teachers, for all of your hard work! We’re so fortunate to have such a committed group of educators that care for our students. Looking forward to celebrating with you next week!

Week-Long Celebration focusing on our staff and the qualities we are grateful for in them and how they care for our children.

Monday: Theme: Giving
Tuesday: Theme: Sharing
Wednesday: Theme: Growth
Thursday: Theme: Nourish
Friday: Theme: Celebrate

Mayor Harrell to Visit B.F. Day

Mayor Harrell in front of B.F. Day Dragon on wall.

Mayor Harrell will be visiting B.F. Day on Tuesday afternoon! The Mayor’s visit also coincides with national teacher appreciation day. Our third – fifth graders will participate in an assembly in the gym with the Mayor. He’ll be coming to share more about his career, personal moments of adversity, and take questions from students. The Mayor was originally invited to B.F. Day during Career Week (national school counseling week). He wasn’t able to attend during Career Week, and we’re so fortunate we were able to book him for next week!

Following the assembly with the upper grades, Mayor Harrell will take a tour of B.F. Day.

Mayor Harrell at front of auditorium with mic talking to students at B.F. Day

Parents of third – fifth graders, we invite you to talk more with your child about thoughtful ways to engage in his presentation and think of some creative questions to ask him for the student Q&A portion of the event!

As the Family School, we value strong community partnerships in enhancing the education of our students. Looking forward to a great afternoon on Tuesday!

Order your 2024-25 B.F. Day Yearbook now through May 15

Order Your Yearbook By May 15

Notes from the Art Room & Music Room
Art Fest May 22!

May 22 | 5:30–7:00 p.m.

Art Room Updates

All our grade levels are deep into their preparation of music to share at Art Fest on Thursday, May 22. Mark your calendars! Art walk, art making activities, and a few student busking ensembles can be enjoyed throughout the school from 5:30-6:15 p.m., and the main grade level musical presentations will begin at 6:15pm in the gym. You won’t want to miss the special welcome ensemble the third-grade students are preparing to kick off the program, so plan to be in your seat at 6:15 p.m.! If you’re late, you’ll hear the drums calling you to the gym

Music Room Updates

From the PTSA

Beautify B.F. Day is tomorrow, Saturday May 3rd from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. Join us for the annual spring grounds clean-up. Sign-up for an hour or more here.

Staff Appreciation Week is all next week: May 5th-9th! We’ve planned a special week of gratitude for staff.

Remember: Bring appreciation posters to school today as we’re putting them up after-school. If you can stay to help, or put together gift bags, GREAT!

Week-Long Celebration focusing on our staff and qualities we are grateful for in theme and how they care for our children.

Monday Theme: Giving
Tuesday Theme: Sharing
Wednesday Theme: Growth
Thursday Theme: Nourish
Friday Theme: Celebrate

Contribute Friday Treats (part of Weekend Delights): If you’re interested in baking or making a special treat, cookie, candy, bar, whatever for our staff please email julieahubert@gmail.com to sign up! We’ll have a buffet for the staff after school on Friday and boxes for them to fill with treats!

B.F. Day at the Mariners!

B.F. Day Really Moved!

It was a beautiful day on the “Upper Uppers” and the Move-A-Thon was a stupendous success! All the kids put their best foot forward and moved their bodies and had so much fun! Thank you to everyone who volunteered and cheered!

Post-Event Check-List

Follow up with sponsors to collect any per-lap pledges – if you registered to collect pledges online, the lap count will be added for you.
Return envelopes to your teacher by Friday, May 9. If enough envelopes are returned, Mr. Taylor and Mr. R will get pie in their face!

Smarter Balanced Testing Coming Up

Third – Fifth Grade

Please mark your calendars:

May 9: Fifth grade WCAS science test
May 12, 13, 15, 16: Language Arts testing (grades 3-5)
May 19, 20, 21, 22: Math testing (grades 3-5)
May 27-30: Make-up testing as needed

Move-a-Thon Fundraiser May 2

The Move-a-Thon will be held on Friday, May 2. We are still looking for parents to help day of event

Now is the time to reach out to friends and family for sponsors. Finding a sponsor can be intimidating, but it is also a great way to give people an opportunity to help the school in a very concrete way and a way for students to be able to be included in the effort to support their school. Help your student approach sponsors by writing a script together, practicing and starting with someone friendly and familiar. Register your student to collect online sponsorship

If you have any questions about event day logistics or scheduling, please contact Cheryl Hlavac (mom to Mati in 4th Grade) at hlavac.cheryl@gmail.com. For questions about sponsorship, fundraising or the pledge website, please contact Jahna Hildebrandt (mom to Claire in 4th and Neil in 1st) at fundrasing@bfdayptsa.org.

On May 2 we will be holding our annual Sun Dragon Move-A-Thon. It’s a day filled with fun, silliness and joy, meant to get students excited to move their bodies for physical fitness in a way that feels good for them and raise money to support the school. Your student should have brought home a pledge envelope on Wednesday, which they can use to collect pledges – please check those backpacks! You can help them think of ways to approach friends, family and other community members who they think would like to support their education.

Finding a sponsor can be intimidating, but it is also a great way to give people an opportunity to help the school in a very concrete way and a way for students to be able to be included in the effort to support their school. Help your student approach sponsors by writing a script together, practicing and starting with someone friendly and familiar.

On the day of the Move-A-Thon, volunteers keep track of the number of laps that each student completes and sends that information home so that the student can collect their per lap pledges (sponsors can also pledge online use a credit card to pledge online). The envelope then comes back to school the week after the event, by May 9 at the latest.

The PTSA organizes this event each spring because our school relies on donations to fund staff positions & appreciation, Kick Off to Kindergarten (formerly known as Jump Start), classroom supplies, academic enrichment, school events and so much more. The fall Direct Drive asks families for support, and the Move-A-Thon creates an opportunity for friends and community members to help B.F. Day continue to be a school that both inspires and supports our community’s students.

Thank you for all that you do to encourage and inspire students and support the school!

More Move-A-Thon Info

On event day, each grade gets a chance to run, walk, and be silly around a course, counting laps. It is a day of joyous community, fun, and support. Students were excited to hear about the event at today’s all-school assembly, and there will be additional info in the PTSA newsletter next week. The Move-A-Thon is an annual community-building fundraiser organized by the PTSA. Many students will have pledges from family, friends, and neighbors outside of our school community, but we want all students to feel included and know that their effort will support their school, which makes it more fun for everyone. In years past, a group of parents and community members came together to create a group pledge to sponsor all B.F. Day students. In 2023, the students collectively did 8,123 laps! If students run a similar number this year, it would be a donation of about $81 for a penny per lap per student. If you’d like to join in pledging 1 penny (or more!) per student per lap, please reach out to Mollie at mollie.hogan@gmail.com as soon as possible.

These are the grade level times for participation. Parents are welcome to volunteer for the event with the PTSA and of course come out and cheer on their student! More details to come on fundraising logistics. Save the date/time in your calendar!

8:10 – 8:50 Preschool
8:55 – 9:35 Kindergarten
9:40 – 10:20 Fifth Grade
10:25 – 11:05 Third Grade
11:10 – 11:50 Second Grade
11:55 – 12:35 Fourth Grade
1:15 – 1:55 First Grade

We are looking for volunteers for the Move-a-Thon, a beloved annual tradition that the whole school participates in. It’s also a key fundraiser for the PTSA. You do not need to be available on the day to participate in the committee. Email volunteer@bfdayptsa.org to get involved.

Go Sun Dragons!

Beautify B.F. Day May 3

Join us for our annual spring grounds clean up of BF Day Saturday May 3 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. All are welcome, including kids. We will be focusing on landscaping improvements like planting in the front circle, trash collection, and adding mulch. Come for an hour or more! Please review the available slots below and click on the button to sign up. Thank you! Join Us for Spring Grounds Clean Up Day!

Teacher and Staff Appreciation May 5 – 9

Hello everyone!

Staff Appreciation Week includes every person who supports our B.F. Day students. Teachers, admin, IA’s and more! It runs May 5 – 9. Watch your inbox for an important email from your child’s room parent about Staff Appreciation Week! This week is funded by your generous donations during Direct Drive!

Week-Long Celebration focusing on our staff and the qualities we are grateful for in them and how they care for our children.

Monday: Theme: Giving
Tuesday: Theme: Sharing
Wednesday: Theme: Growth
Thursday: Theme: Nourish
Friday: Theme: Celebrate

Here’s what we’d like you to know and what we need from you!

Posters of Praise:
- Please work with your student on making a poster with a positive message for their teacher and staff members they want to share “thanks” with.
- Poster Board will be available in the office starting 4/21 if you’d like to pick one up to use.
- Posters can be dropped off at the school office the week of April 27th – Friday afternoon, May 2nd
- On Friday, May 2nd after school (2:30-3:30) we’ll meet by the front office to work on hanging posters around the school. Anyone is welcome to join for poster hanging!
Cards & Letters
- We’re preparing pre-printed appreciation cards for each classroom – our team will work with Room parents to get these organized.
Friday Treats (part of Weekend Delights
- If you’re interested in baking or making a special treat, cookie, candy, bar, whatever for our staff please emailjulieahubert@gmail.com to sign up! We’ll have a buffet for the staff after school on Friday and boxes for the to fill with treats!

Thank you for your support uplifting and appreciating our entire B.F. Day staff

PTSA News

B.F. Day at the Mariners!

Come out to T-Mobile Park for some Father’s Day fun on Sunday, June 15 at 1:00 p.m. $20 per seat in section 112. Reserve your BF Day at the Mariner’s tickets. If you want seats next to specific people, please purchase tickets in one order.

Art Fest 2025

May 22nd | 5:30–7:00 p.m.

Student Art Submissions:

Students are welcome to submit artwork to be displayed during Art Fest. Submission forms will be sent home this week. All artwork must be turned in by May 16 and should include the student’s name and class. Please note: All artwork will be returned to students after the event.

Artwork can be: Created at school or at home, 2D or 3D, Framed or unframed If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me at jmpierce@seattleschools.org. Looking forward to celebrating our young artists with you! Yours in art, Mrs. Hall

From Mr. D. in the Gym

Field Day is rapidly approaching! This year’s event will be held on Thursday June 12 and we’ll need as many adult volunteers as possible.

We’ll send home a volunteer form starting next week, but it’s not too early to check your schedule for the big day! Also, all volunteers must submit a background check through SPS. It’s quick and easy and lasts for two calendar years. If you’ve never volunteered at BF Day, please visit the district Volunteer pages to complete the check. (If you’re unsure of your status you can check with Ms. Sonja in the office, who can look you up). Thanks and see you there! Mr. D.

Planning for School Year 25-26

We are actively planning grade level sections for next school year. If you applied to a choice school or won’t be returning to B.F. Day next school year, please notify the office of your plans (smhaas@seattleschools.org; bckamppi@seattleschools.org). We want to be sure we have accurate numbers when building our sections. Thank you!

A Note from Nurse Annette

Parents, We have seen an uptick in nose bleeds across campus. Some contributing factors may be dehydration, seasonal allergies, or colds. Please make sure you send your child to school with a water bottle, especially with the warmer weather upon us. Additionally, a nighttime humidifier may be beneficial. If your child is experiencing frequent nose bleeds, please follow up with your pediatrician. Thank you, Nurse Annette

PTSA News

April 22: PTSA Special General Assembly with Guest Joe Mizrahi at 8:00 p.m.

Refer to the emailed Dayette for the Google Drive joining and meeting information.

Agenda:

Questions & Closing (5 min)
PTSA Board Intro and May 2 Move-a-Thon Reminder (5 min)
Guest Speaker: Joe Mizrahi, District 4 School Board Director (25 min)
Q&A with Joe Mizrahi, facilitated by Laura Prudhomme (20 min)
Submit questions in advance on the Google Drive form on the emailed Dayette
PTSA Board Recruitment for 2025-2026 (5 min)
Next year’s board positions: Executive Officer election at May 29 PTSA Spring General Membership Meeting
Upcoming Events (2 min)

Social Emotional Parent Education Night at B.F. Day April 24

Please join us on Thursday April 24 from 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. in the library for our first annual parent’s night focusing on social-emotional learning. This event is planned and hosted by B.F. Day staff members. The evening will include an overview of B.F. Day’s social-emotional curriculum, tips and tricks for parents for problem solving with children, and an overview of what restorative practices look like. We hope you will join us!

Families can RSVP and provide input on the topics they hope to learn more about by completing using the google drive link provided in the emailed Dayette.

Volunteer Appreciation Week April 21-25

The week after Spring Break, we will be gearing up to celebrate the absolute backbone of our incredible school community – our Amazing volunteers! Your unwavering commitment fuels our biggest dreams and allows us to create a truly extraordinary experience for our students. We’re SO proud that B.F. Day boasts over 500 volunteers, making us a standout leader in Seattle Public Schools for our vibrant and active volunteer program! From fun field trip adventures to helping students shine in the classroom, from rocking fundraising events to keeping lunchtime smooth, and always being ready to jump in and help with anything – you are simply invaluable! Please stay tuned for a morning coffee hour and other moments of appreciation, from us to you.

Details will be sent out next week. Thank you for everything you do, volunteers!

PTSA News

Move-a-Thon May 2

The Move-a-Thon will be held on Friday, May 2. Save the date!

We’re counting down to the Move-A-Thon on May 2! On event day, each grade gets a chance to run, walk, and be silly around a course, counting laps. It is a day of joyous community, fun, and support. Students were excited to hear about the event at today’s all-school assembly, and there will be additional info in the PTSA newsletter next week. The Move-A-Thon is an annual community-building fundraiser organized by the PTSA. Many students will have pledges from family, friends, and neighbors outside of our school community, but we want all students to feel included and know that their effort will support their school, which makes it more fun for everyone. In years past, a group of parents and community members came together to create a group pledge to sponsor all B.F. Day students. In 2023, the students collectively did 8,123 laps! If students run a similar number this year, it would be a donation of about $81 for a penny per lap per student. If you’d like to join in pledging 1 penny (or more!) per student per lap, please reach out to Mollie at mollie.hogan@gmail.com as soon as possible.

8:10 – 8:50 Preschool
8:55 – 9:35 Kindergarten
9:40 – 10:20 Fifth Grade
10:25 – 11:05 Third Grade
11:10 – 11:50 Second Grade
11:55 – 12:35 Fourth Grade
1:15 – 1:55 First Grade

Go Sun Dragons!

Congrats to Ms. Bethany!

Last Friday, Ms. Bethany received an All Star award from the district! As a school community, we gathered in the gym at the end of day to watch her receive her award. A student representative from each classroom gave her a heartfelt gesture from our student community (leis, crown, cards, paper flowers).

It was a beautiful celebration recognizing excellence in teaching at B.F. Day! Congratulations to Ms. Bethany for being a SPS All Star! Read more about Ms. Bethany on the district website.

Greetings from the Art Room!

Spring has arrived, and the art room is buzzing with exciting new projects and ideas! This week, students have been diving into collage-making, and it’s been so inspiring to watch them explore such creative ways of self-expression. We explored texture by creating smooth lines by cutting and ridged lines by tearing. In addition, we discovered ways to develop a background, middle ground and foreground with paper. Students also learned the difference between geometric shapes and organic/free form shapes.

I’d also like to share some exciting details about this year’s ART-FEST, which will be held on Thursday, May 22 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. We’re mixing things up a bit this year by introducing Creation Stations for the first half of the event. There will be 4-5 craft stations where students can create alongside their families! While there will still be art on display, we’re doing things a bit differently—rather than using easels in the hallway, we’ll be setting up tables for the craft stations, and art will be displayed on the walls.

Keep an eye out for art submission forms coming home soon. We can’t wait to see all the creative works on display! ~ Yours in Art, Mrs. Hall

The Science Fair is on Thursday April 3 from 5:30 – 7 p.m.

Science Fair Posters on Tables. Text: Bouncing Balls, Skittles Color Sciece

There will be an information sheet provided so that you can ask thought provoking questions and engage meaningfully throughout the night! Here is the schedule so that you can get a feel for what the night has in store for you!

Evening Schedule

5:20 to 5:30 p.m. (optional) Set-up: Arrive early with your child to set up any work in front of their poster boards.
5:30 to 6:00 p.m. Gallery Walk: Walk around with your child to celebrate all student work!
6:00 to 6:30 p.m. Question & Answer: Make sure your child is in front of his/her poster board! Students will remain there until 6:30. When you ask a student a question and they answer it, leave a sticker on the student’s sticker chart. They will redeem them for a ribbon at the end of the night. If you see someone with very few stickers, ask them a question, but it is also okay to give stickers to students’ charts that are already full!
6:30 to 6:45 p.m. Gallery Walk and Treat Time: Continue celebrating all students’ work while kids redeem their sticker charts for a ribbon!
6:45 to 7:00 p.m. Clean Up: Leave ALL poster boards on the tables. Bring projects or other supplies home with you

We are so excited about all the creative and hard-working thinkers preparing for this year’s science fair! If you are participating, you should start on your project. Consistently working on the experiment(s) or project over time usually leads to less stress in the end (for all involved!). As a reminder, our evening Science Fair event will take place on Thursday, April 3 from 5:30-7:00 p.m. In most cases, students will have a chance to share their projects in class the day of the event, so plan on bringing them to school in the morning, or even earlier in the week! For all you Science Fair newbies…. here’s a few presentation examples above. If you need help with securing poster board, please ask in the office. Additional questions can be sent to Mrs. P. at jlpapineau@seattleschools.org.

Class Picture Day is April 8

Yuen Lui Studio will photograph class group photos and new student portraits at B.F. Day Elementary on Tuesday, April 8

Students who are present at the time of their group photo will be pictured in their class group photos; students who are absent at the time of their photo will be listed as not pictured.
There is no need to place an order at this time. Every student will receive one 8×10 class group print at no charge as part of our yearbook services. We will share a link to order additional class group prints after the images are processed for anyone who would like to purchase them.
New students and those who missed both picture days are welcome to have their portrait taken for the yearbook; families can view and order portraits after April 8 via the Yuen Lui website (the online code is your student’s SPS ID number): 2024-25 B.F. Day Elementary – Online Code = SPS Student ID #

PTSA News

Thank you to everyone who came out for Spring Fling! The event raised over $12,000 for B.F. Day. And the 80’s looks were SO GOOD.

Save the date for the Move-a-Thon May 2

The Move-a-Thon will be held on Friday, May 2. Save the date!

8:10 – 8:50 Preschool
8:55 – 9:35 Kindergarten
9:40 – 10:20 Fifth Grade
10:25 – 11:05 Third Grade
11:10 – 11:50 Second Grade
11:55 – 12:35 Fourth Grade
1:15 – 1:55 First Grade

Go Sun Dragons!

After-School Enrichment Spring Registration Closed

Questions? Comments? Need financial assistance? Or missed the window? Email enrichment@bfdayptsa.org.

Library News

Congratulations to B.F. Day’s Global Reading Challenge team who represented us at the Semi-Finals on Thursday! The members of The Blue Sky Books (Ava, Aya, Brianna, Isla, Michael, Nadia, and Rylan) should be so proud of their second-place finish, the best in many years for B. F. Day!In other news, we have some kiddos with quite a few checked out books on their accounts. Please help your child to round up and return them so other students may enjoy them this spring!

Updates from the Art Room

Wall of colorful Art images in the hallway.

The month of March has been dedicated to Women’s HerStory Month. Students have explored shape, line, color, variety, pattern and value in all of these amazing works of art! We learned about the lives of Jenn Stark, Yoyoi Kusama, Georgia O’Keefe and Heather Galler so far. Here are a few pictures of their incredible work! ~Mrs. Hall

Family Assistance Opportunity for Local Summer Camps

Want to go to summer camp? Apply for a Summer Enrichment Scholarship to help you get there!

Maximum scholarship awarded will be $500
All camps/programs will be considered, with the exception of those with religious affiliation
Must currently be in grades 4-11 in a Seattle school to apply
Applications must be postmarked (or emailed) by May 2, 2025

If interested, please contact: scholarships@alseattle.org. You can also find an application for Summer Camps on our website as well as what programs are offered.

Boy’s Bathroom on the Third Floor

Parents: If you have a third – fifth grade student that uses the boy’s restroom on the third floor, we very much appreciate a quick check in with them about respectful bathroom usage. We’ve seen an uptick in bathroom graffiti and vandalism (intentionally clogged urinals). This poses a challenge for our custodian and can lead to bathroom closures. Recently, we’ve had to close down a part of the boy’s bathroom upstairs while we wait on a plumber to assist in unclogging a urinal. Thank you for checking in with your Sun Dragon about showing the B.F. Day Way in the bathrooms at school! We appreciate it.

Science Fair Update! April 3

We are so excited about all the creative and hard-working thinkers preparing for this year’s science fair! If you are participating, you should start on your project. Consistently working on the experiment(s) or project over time usually leads to less stress in the end (for all involved!).As a reminder, our evening Science Fair event will take place on Thursday, April 3 from 5:30-7:00 p.m. In most cases, students will have a chance to share their projects in class the day of the event, so plan on bringing them to school in the morning, or even earlier in the week! For all you Science Fair newbies…. here’s a few presentation examples. If you need help with securing poster board, please ask in the office. Additional questions can be sent to Mrs. P. at jlpapineau@seattleschools.org.

PTSA News

Save the date for the Move-a-Thon May 2

The Move-a-Thon will be held on Friday, May 2. Save the date (new date)! These are the grade level times for participation. Parents are welcome to volunteer for the event with the PTSA and of course come out and cheer on their student! More details to come on fundraising logistics. Save the date/time in your calendar!

8:10 – 8:50 Preschool
8:55 – 9:35 Kindergarten
9:40 – 10:20 Fifth Grade
10:25 – 11:05 Third Grade
11:10 – 11:50 Second Grade
11:55 – 12:35 Fourth Grade
1:15 – 1:55 First Grade

Go Sun Dragons!

After-School Enrichment Spring Registration Open

Registration will close on March 29 at noon. Classes will begin on Monday, March 31. Class details and descriptions can be found on Homeroom. Search “BF Day” in the upper left search bar. Limited PTSA and vendor-provided scholarships are available. Questions? Comments? Need financial assistance? Email enrichment@bfdayptsa.org.

Library News

Updates from the Art Room

Family Assistance Opportunity for Local Summer Camps

Want to go to summer camp? Apply for a Summer Enrichment Scholarship to help you get there!

Maximum scholarship awarded will be $500
All camps/programs will be considered, with the exception of those with religious affiliation
Must currently be in grades 4-11 in a Seattle school to apply
Applications must be postmarked (or emailed) by May 2, 2025

If interested, please contact: scholarships@alseattle.org. You can also find an application for Summer CAmps on our website as well as what programs are offered.

Neurodiversity Lending Library Next Week

March 17 – April 31 join us in honoring Neurodiversity Celebration Week & Autism Acceptance Month by borrowing a book from our temporary neurodiversity themed Little Library right outside of the front office! This is for students, their families, and staff to learn more about neurodiversity and autism. There is a casual sign out sheet, but lent books will have their owners’ names in them to help them return. Anyone who wants to add to it, contact ndliaison@bfdayptsa.org.

PTSA News: All Things SPRING FLING

Bidding for Spring Fling Silent Auction items begins this Monday! Take a look at some of the exciting experiences and gift cards available: On the Silent Auction website. Keep checking back for more items to be added and find out who wins on March 22 at Spring Fling. We need a few more volunteers to make the event a success. Sign-up here if you can help out for part of the night. Yes, the Spring Fling has an 80’s Prom theme, but if that’s not for you, please come however you are comfortable! Get Your Tickets Today!

More PTSA News

Thursday, March 20 | 8 p.m. (Virtual) PTSA General Assembly Meeting Join us to review the 2025–26 budget. Sadly, our guest speaker, District 4 School Board Representative Joe Mizrahi had to cancel, but we will reschedule. More on that to come.

Hope to see a lot of you at the meeting. Your presence is valued!

Spring Fling Tickets on Sale Now! This annual community-building event, formerly known as Spring Giving/Arty Party, is a B.F. Day parent and staff favorite, with drinks, a live DJ, and live classroom art auction, with all proceeds benefiting the school. This event is 21+.

We are looking for volunteers for the Move-a-Thon, a beloved annual tradition that the whole school participates in. It’s also a key fundraiser for the PTSA. This year the event will take place on April 25. You do not need to be available on the day to participate in the committee. Email volunteer@bfdayptsa.org to get involved.

B.F. Day Online Merchandise Store

The B.F. Day Online Merchandise Store will be open from March 14 – 27.

After-School Enrichment Spring Registration Opens Soon!

Enrollment for spring enrichment will open Saturday, March 22 at 8 a.m. Registration will close on March 29 at noon. Classes will begin on Monday, March 31. Class details and descriptions can be found on HOMEROOM.com. Search “BF Day” in the upper left search bar. Limited PTSA and vendor-provided scholarships are available. Questions? Comments? Need financial assistance? Email enrichment@bfdayptsa.org.

Supporting LGBTQ+ Students

There is a federal CDC grant which funds all SPS district-level LGBTQ+ support for schools. That grant is currently at risk. This is a grant that SPS has applied for and received consistently for more than 30 years through the Health Education office.

This grant funds:

Comprehensive, culturally responsive sex education that are designed to be inclusive of all sexualities and gender identities.
Social Emotional Learning (SEL) programming and curriculum.
Supports for School Based Health Centers and promoting safe and support environments.
LGBTQ+ Student services like Genders and Sexuality Alliances at the secondary level and Rainbow Clubs in elementary schools,
Dedicated LGBTQ+ Project-Program Coordinator position,
Staff training,
Curriculum development
Family education and community outreach.

This work can continue in SPS if 1) SPS fills the funding gap directly or 2) we find another funding source. We are hoping to get testimonials from students, staff, and families about why having district-level LGBTQ+ support matters to them. I have hard copies of postcards for people to fill out stating why these services matters to them. It would be great to have students, staff, and families fill out these post cards and return them to the office this week so we can send them to the district office. If you have more questions or want to help support, please reach out to Ms. Hogue; jghogue@seattleschools.org

Save the date for the Move-a-Thon

The Move-a-Thon will be held on Friday, May 2. Save the date! These are the grade level times for participation. Parents are welcome to volunteer for the event with the PTSA and of course come out and cheer on their student! More details to come on fundraising logistics. Save the date/time in your calendar!

8:10 – 8:50 Preschool
8:55 – 9:35 Kindergarten
9:40 – 10:20 Fifth Grade
10:25 – 11:05 Third Grade
11:10 – 11:50 Second Grade
11:55 – 12:35 Fourth Grade
1:15 – 1:55 First Grade

Go Sun Dragons!

A Note About Attendance and Pickup Protocol from Ms. Brenna

As we approach the third trimester, I thought it would be important to touch base on a few things. Every minute of instructional time lost counts, so please, get your kids to school before 7:55! We want them here, learning, and connecting with their classmates and B.F. Day community. If you have concerns about your child’s attendance or need additional support, do not hesitate to reach out to Ms. Brenna!

Also, when you are picking your kids up early, the protocol is as follows: come into the main office, inform us of who needs to be picked up, and we will call the student(s) into the office. It’s important for us to physically see you with your student and have that visual cue. Please do not walk to their classroom and grab them without checking in with us first and getting our okay. This is a matter of safety, so thank you for your cooperation.

Pi Memorization Contest March 14

On Friday, March 14 we will hold the annual B.F. Day Pi Memorization Contest! Whoever can memorize and recite the most digits of pi will get their name engraved on a plaque. There will be a winner from pre-K to 2nd and 3rd to 5th.

Below are the first 350 digits of pi:

3.1415926535 8979323846 2643383279 5028841971 6939937510 5820974944 5923078164 0628620899 8628034825 3421170679 8214808651 3282306647 0938446095 5058223172 5359408128 4811174502 8410270193 8521105559 6446229489 5493038196 4428810975 6659334461 2847564823 3786783165 2712019091 4564856692 3460348610 4543266482 1339360726 0249141273 7245870066 0631558817 4881520920 9628292540 9171536436

*If you want to participate, please let your teacher know!

Nominate a B.F. Day Teacher! Nominate an Outstanding SPS Educator

Do you know an amazing educator making a difference in Seattle Public Schools? Now’s your chance to recognize their impact! The Alliance for Education is accepting nominations for three prestigious awards:

The Thomas B. Foster Award for Excellence, Philip B. Swain Excellence in Education Award and Adrienne Weaver Science Teaching Award

These awards honor exceptional SPS staff who are advancing educational justice and racial equity in their schools and classrooms. Nearly $75,000 in endowed grants will be awarded!

The nomination deadline: Friday, March 14, at midnight. Winners will be announced this spring! Submit your nomination today.

Spring Enrichment Enrollment Begins March 22

Spring Enrichment Enrollment will open on the Homeroom website on March 22. Classes will begin the week of March 31st. The full spring schedule will be available soon. Thursday, March 20 | 8 p.m. (Virtual) PTSA General Assembly Meeting Join us to review the 2025–26 budget and hear from District 4 Rep. Joe Mizrahi on School Board priorities, followed by a Q&A with B.F. Day families. During the general membership meeting on March 20, 2025 active members will vote on an amendment to the PTSA standing rules for this school year. The change will allow anyone to become an active member at any point during the year. To view the change see this document refer to the posted PTSA Standing Rules in the emailed Dayette.

Attention Preschool Parents: Registration is open for kindergarten.

All preschool students moving into kindergarten for SY 25-26 need to register for kindergarten. SPP+ enrollment will not roll into kindergarten enrollment. After kindergarten, students are automatically promoted to the next grade level (you don’t need to enroll every year once your child enters kindergarten). Preschool parents, reminder that there is no school on March 20-21. Preschool teachers are hosting spring parent-teacher conferences.

Grades 3-5 Testing Schedule

Parents, Mark your calendars! We love 100% on-time attendance on Smarter Balance testing dates. Reducing the amount of makeup testing helps our school run smoothly. All students in grades 3-5 will test on the same dates.

May 9 (Grade 5 only) WCAS
May 12-13 ELA CAT (computer adaptive test)
May 15-16 ELA PT (performance task)
May 19-20 Math CAT
May 21-22 Math PT
May 27-30 makeups (as needed)

How can I support my child and our school during SBA season?

Mark your family calendar with the testing dates.
Be at school on time on testing dates. Limit absences.
Go to bed early the night before and eat a good breakfast in the morning.
Remind your child to go slowly through the assessment and try their best. It’s not a race to finish! In fact, in the past, many of our students that score proficient and above on the assessment are the ones that take their time to complete the assessment.
Stay positive and encourage your child. Follow a regular family routine.
Be on the lookout for a Sign-Up Genius link to help provide snacks for the assessment.

Positive Student Feedback About Career Week

For National School Counseling week (first week of Feb), we partnered with staff and community members to bring various professionals from our community into B.F. Day to share their knowledge and experiences. Students in each 4th and 5th grade classroom were visited by eight speakers in all. The purpose of Career Week was to expose our students to the variety of different skill sets associated with different professions, and how finding success within those professions requires moments of resiliency and commitment to not giving up and believing in themselves. Refer to the emailed Dayette for the complete graph.

PTSA News: All Things SPRING FLING

More PTSA News

Thursday, March 20 | 8 p.m. (Virtual) PTSA General Assembly Meeting Join us to review the 2025–26 budget and hear from District 4 Rep. Joe Mizrahi on School Board priorities, followed by a Q&A with B.F. Day families. Mark your calendar and bring your questions!

Rainbow Club for Primary Grades

We are starting a lower-grades Rainbow Club for students grades kindergarten through
second who are part of the LGBTQI+ community or whose families are members, or allies.
All students are welcome! Ms. Berlin, Ms. Elizabeth, and Ms. Brooke are hosting. We will
meet once a month in Ms. Berlin’s classroom, Room 105, during lunch and lunch recess
time (10:25-11:05). We will do sharing, read stories, watch videos together, and plan ways
to support students in our school and beyond while the kids eat lunch together. The first
meeting will happen on March 12. It will be announced on the loudspeakers on days when
the club is happening and primary teachers will also announce.

Sun Dragons Leadership Starts up for Spring

Congratulations to the 78 4th and 5th graders who have stepped up to take on leadership roles at school! We are very proud and thankful for their leadership. Way to go Sun Dragons!

The Science Fair Is Coming!

It’s back! The annual B.F. Day Science Fair will be held Thursday, April 3! Students will receive entry applications and information from their homeroom teachers. Please return forms no later than Friday, March 7 if you would like to participate! The Science Fair is open to all students K-3, with grades 4 and 5 all participating. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to explore a topic, practice scientific thinking, and contribute to the B.F. Day learning community! Learn more about the event by reviewing the paperwork in your student’s backpack!

Library News

We had an absolutely fantastic Global Reading Challenge competition on February 13. The team scores were incredibly tight! We even had to have a tie-breaker! Our winning team, The Blue Sky Books will go on to represent us March 20 at the city-wide semi-finals!
Congratulations to Ava, Aya, Brianna, Michael, Isla, Nadia, and Rylan!

Notes from the Music Rom

Fourth grade students finished their month-long residency with teaching artists from the
Rhapsody Project just before midwinter break. We had a blast playing rhythm games,
learning about layers of heritage, the blues, and some beginning ukulele chops. We will be
continuing our study of the blues in music class over the next few weeks and are preparing
something special to share with the Rhapsody Project artists at Art Fest on May 22 from
5:00 – 7:00 p.m. It’s not too early to mark your calendars – you won’t want to miss it!

Greetings from the Gym

The Basics of Bicycling unit for 3rd, 4th and 5th graders begins on March 19 and runs to April 7. This is a fantastic opportunity to practice riding and traffic safety skills, using a fleet of bikes on loan from the Cascade Bicycle Club! Students are free to bring their own bikes as long as they have a lock to keep them safe outside the school.

Cascade provides us simple one-speed bikes with a coaster brake, which is ideal for learners. We also provide helmets, but bringing one from home is preferable, if possible. Mr. D could use a couple of volunteers for the afternoon sessions (4th and 5th grade classes). If you are free from approximately 1:00 p.m. to the end of the school day Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, please send me a quick email. Thanks! Vince Delaney; vldelaney@seattleschools.org

Grades 3-5, Mark Your Calendars!

The SBA is a statewide test in Washington state that measures students’ progress in English language arts (ELA) and math. In elementary school, it is only given to students in grades 3-5. It is a computer-based adaptive assessment. The state of Washington has been administering the SBA since 2015. Additionally, students in grade 5 also take the Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS).

We recognize that the SBA is just one measure of students’ progress toward academic standards. With that, our school team does take the scores seriously and uses them to reflect on our instructional practice. SBA scores are also analyzed by region and district, and we reflect on our progress as compared to other north-end elementary schools and the entire district. We are invested in our students doing well on this assessment! Our Sun Dragons are brilliant, capable students that we know will shine on the SBA. There are 188 students in grades 3-5 that will take the SBA this school year. Our school team has already begun planning for the assessment and getting our testing spaces and proctors ready. Parents, please mark your calendars with the testing dates. Please do your best to have your child at school on testing dates. The less makeup testing that needs to be coordinated, the smoother testing season goes for our entire campus. All students in grades 3-5 are tested on the same days.

What are the testing dates for this school year?

May 9 (Grade 5 only) WCAS
May 12-13 ELA CAT (computer adaptive test)
May 15-16 ELA PT (performance task)
May 19-20 Math CAT
May 21-22 Math PT
May 27-30 makeups (as needed)

How can I support my child and our school during SBA season?

Mark your family calendar with the testing dates.
Be at school on time on testing dates. Limit absences.
Go to bed early the night before and eat a good breakfast in the morning.
Remind your child to go slowly through the assessment and try their best. It’s not a race to finish! In fact, in the past, many of our students that score proficient and above on the assessment are the ones that take their time to complete the assessment.
Stay positive and encourage your child. Follow a regular family routine.
Be on the lookout for a Sign-Up Genius link to help provide snacks for the assessment.

Hello From the Art Studio!

As part of our ongoing Black History Month celebration, we are continuing to explore art that reflects the history, culture, and contributions of African Americans. This week, the entire school is focusing on printmaking, and it has been an amazing opportunity for students to not only experiment with different artistic techniques but also discuss the powerful role art plays in social justice. We have been studying printmaking as a form of expression and its connection to advocating for change. Students are engaging with themes of community, history, and empowerment, creating prints that reflect their own understanding of social justice and the world around them. They are finding inspiration from artists like Jacob Lawrence, whose dynamic cityscapes highlight the vibrancy and struggles of African American life. The work coming out of the classroom is beautiful, and it’s clear that the students are putting their hearts into their art. I’m so proud of the progress they’re making and can’t wait to see how these prints evolve over the course of the week.

PTSA News

Incredible news! With your generous support, we have raised $4,000 for the 5th grade NatureBridge trip that’s coming up March 12. Thank you so much! We couldn’t have done it without you.

Popcorn Fridays: Back again is the ever-popular popcorn fundraiser for 5th grade overnight field trip.Popcorn sales will happen after school March 7. Cash (1$/bag) and school pay will be accepted.

We are looking for volunteers for the Move-a-Thon, a beloved annual tradition that the whole school participates in. It’s also a key fundraiser for the PTSA. This year the event will take place on April 25. You do not need to be available on the day to participate in the committee. Email volunteer@bfdayptsa.org to get involved.

Rainbow Club for Primary Grades

Sun Dragons Leadership Starts up for Spring

Congratulations to the 78 4th and 5th graders who have stepped up to take on leadership roles at school! We are very proud and thankful for their leadership. Way to go Sun Dragons!

The Science Fair Is Coming!

Library News

Notes from the Music Rom

Greetings from the Gym

Students are free to bring their own bikes as long as they have a lock to keep them safe outside the school.

Planned Absences

If you have planned absences before/after mid-winter break, please be sure to email the attendance line; bfday.attendance@seattleschools.org. Copy in your classroom teacher(s).

Notes from the Music Room

Summer Music opportunity for advancing fifth grade EIM students SPS Summer Music 2025 is on and the website is up! Below is important information related to this program:

Dates: July 7-18, M-F only
- Time: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
- Locations: Jane Addams MS and Aki Kurose MS
- Cost: $300 for two weeks; $150 for one week (Scholarships are available)
For more information about the program, plus the registration and payment process please visit Seattle Public Schools Summer Music Program 2025

Message from Mr. Taylor, School Counselor

As B.F. Day’s school counselor, my role changes each day, depending on the needs of our community. The ability to quickly adapt to changing needs remains one of the most important skills of an effective school counselor. Most of us didn’t have a school counselor in elementary school. Therefore, some of us may not be aware of typical school counselor duties. Below you will see how I allocate my time on an average week (40 Hour Week) . Refer to the chart on the emailed Dayette: Home Visits, Supervision, Lesson/Program Planning, Parent Collaboration, Data Interpretation, Classroom SEL Lessons, Small Group Counseling, Teacher Collaborations, 1:1 Counseling Sessions, Responsible Student Support.

It is my honor to work with such a group of dedicated staff members who genuinely and authentically care about the children they educate daily. Lastly, I wouldn’t be able to do this important work without the ongoing support of our school community. Our community has supplemented my FTE for my 9 years at B.F. Day, allowing me to be a full-time school counselor. This support allowed us to earn national recognition for our school counselor program (RAMP) last school year, the first school counseling program in Seattle Public Schools to receive this level of recognition.

With gratitude and appreciation,
Mr. Taylor, School Counselor
206-252-6018
Jrtaylor@seattleschools.org

PTSA News

PTSA 2025-2026 Budget Priorities: Budgeting for the next school year will soon be underway. The PTSA board would like to hear from B.F. Day families about their other priorities. To share your input, please complete this survey before February 21. Thank you in advance for your time and thoughtfulness by letting us know what is important to you and your family for the 2025/2026 school year! *If you completed the survey last week, please answer the first question again, as that data was lost. Thank you!

Popcorn Fridays: Back again is the ever-popular popcorn fundraiser for 5th grade overnight field trip.Popcorn sales will happen after school Feb. 28, and March 7. Cash (1$/bag) and school pay will be accepted.

B.F. Day Family Movie Night Fundraiser: Join us for a fun-filled evening to support the 5th Graders! Date: Feb 28, Start Time: 7:00 p.m. Location: Ballard VFW – 2812 NW Market St. $10 Suggested Donation per Ticket | Concessions will be available, so bring a little cash for snacks! Important: This is not a drop-off event, so come enjoy the movie with your family and connect with others from our “Family School”!

A huge thank you to everyone who donated food and funds to the FamilyWorks Food Drive last week! The B.F. Day community donated 937 lbs. of food!

Snow Day Plans

January 31, 2025: Dear B.F. Day Family, We received a communication from Seattle Public Schools that we are on inclement weather watch. This means that iPads and laptops will be sent home over the weekend in case there are possible snow day closures next week.

In case of a snow day school closure, Seattle Public Schools moves to online learning for the day. If a snow day is called on Monday, there will be a 2-hour late start. One of the main drivers for moving to online learning is minimizing the number of days that could potentially be added to the end of the school year – meaning summer vacation would begin a few days late.

The SPS Snow Alert Team will continue to monitor conditions and prepare to do a driving survey of SPS hilltop schools overnight to inform decision-making in the early morning. SPS and SEA believe that in-person instruction is the default and should always be the choice when conditions allow for safe in-person instruction. Final determinations will generally be made on the morning of instruction by 5 am.

The purpose of this note is to share how B.F. Day will navigate the details of moving learning online for a possible snow day. I also want to acknowledge that leaning into online learning will require some flexibility and grace, and we’ll continue to support each other as a school community.

Scholar Learning Devices: Classroom teachers (preschool – fifth grade) will send devices home today. When your child returns to campus for in-person learning, it’s imperative that they return their device. We need them in the classrooms during the school day.

How are snow days determined? SPS school operations will provide schools with a 48-hour warning/prep, 24-hour warning to plan for remote instruction, and a final decision on standard in person school day, two hour late start in person school day, or remote instruction day (first day of remote instruction is a two hour late start) will be made by 5:00 a.m.

What can I expect for online learning? Student daily schedules will mostly follow a typical school day schedule. Teachers will communicate the schedule in the coming days if a snow day is called. Activities will be joyful, fun, and collaborative.

Teachers will send directions to ensure students know how to access Teams and See Saw on their devices. We will do our best to ensure all devices are updated and have the latest software installed, have appropriate charging cords and a case. We hope to make this process easy for families to navigate.

Final Notes: I know that disruptions to learning and school are difficult for families. The idea of moving to online learning brings up lots of big feelings, especially for adults. I feel the same! Let’s name those big emotions for ourselves and our students. We should remind ourselves this is a temporary response to a weather emergency – not a long term, indefinite plan!

I know all our families have competing needs and priorities. As a community, B.F. Day will continue to be flexible and meet each other where we’re at. This means we trust you to make the best decision for you, your student, and your family on a snow day and in the moment. If your student finds joy in sledding down a hill and socializing with neighbors outside, please know that we also cherish childhood memories like these. We enthusiastically support our students to go outside and play. Seek out opportunities of joy for your student – they are only little once!

We will provide learning opportunities, time for collaboration, and celebration for all students. We are equally committed to ensuring no one falls behind or misses anything essential during an online learning day.We are the Family School and we’ve got this. Please be on the lookout for more detailed communication from SPS and your child’s teacher in the coming days. I wish you a wonderful weekend ahead!

Go Sun Dragons! Best, Natalie

Average Daily Attendance Rates

If your child is not sick, please do your best to get them to school on time every day. Let’s keep working toward getting our average daily attendance rates 95% and higher in each of our grade levels! Refer to chart on the emailed Dayette on Jan. 31, 2025.

Kindergarten Registration is Here!

Do you have an incoming kindergartener for the 25-26 school year? Do you know of a friend or neighbor who is planning on registering for kindergarten at B.F. Day? Kindergarten registration is open! We encourage all families to register early. Early registration allows us to plan early for the 25-26 school year and helps us get the staff that we need to support our learners! Please note that open enrollment for school choice opens on February 1. For more information on the district Enroll My Student page.

Welcome our new Instructional Assistants to Extended Resource!

Rose Templeman: I am beyond excited to be joining the B.F. Day community. I have worked with young people in a variety of settings including as a preschool and elementary-age nanny, leading students in art and writing projects in youth detention, and supporting Deaf and Hard of Hearing summer campers in Minnesota. I recently moved to Seattle and spend most of my free time exploring the city, reading, thrift shopping, and crafting. I look forward to meeting all of you!

Jenni Walker: Jenni has extensive experience in education, advocacy, and family engagement. With a love for learning, she thrives on supporting students! Outside of her professional pursuits, Jenni enjoys swimming, paddle boarding, traveling, and sharing laughter with those around her. Whether exploring new destinations or embracing life’s simple joys, she approaches everything with energy, positivity, and a love for new experiences.

What is MAP testing?

The MAP mid-year test window is open, and kindergarten – fifth grade teachers have scheduled assessment dates. Please check with your child’s teacher which date they’ll be taking the MAP assessment.

The MAP assessment is not given to preschool students.

What is MAP?
- It’s an assessment called “Measure of Academic Progress.”
What is MAP and what does it measure?
- Unlike paper-and-pencil tests, where all students are asked the same questions and spend a fixed amount of time taking the test, MAP is a computer-adaptive test. That means every student gets a unique set of test questions based on responses to previous questions. As the student answers correctly, questions get harder. If the student answers incorrectly, the questions get easier. By the end of the test, most students will have answered about half the questions correctly, as is common on adaptive tests. The purpose of MAP is to help educators understand where a student is on their academic journey, if they are growing over time, and where a student’s strength and opportunity areas are.
- MAP tracks students’ individual growth over time, wherever they are starting from and regardless of the grade they are in.
What is a RIT score?
- When students finish their MAP Growth test, they receive a number called a RIT score for each subject they are tested in (reading and math). RIT stands for Rasch Unit, which is used to measure a student’s academic growth over the course of the student’s academic career in SPS. The score is unrelated to the age or grade of the student, but reflects the level at which the student is currently performing. This score represents a student’s achievement level at any given moment and helps measure their academic growth over time. The RIT scale is a stable scale, like feet and inches, that accurately measures student performance, regardless of age, grades, or grade level. Like marking height on a growth chart and being able to see how tall a child is at various points in time, you can also see how much they have grown between tests.
How often will my child take MAP Growth?
- At B.F. Day, we give the MAP assessment three times per school year: beginning, middle, and end. Teachers are given a testing window. Each teacher schedules the reading and math MAP assessments at a time that works well for their classroom. Most students take around 30 minutes to complete a MAP test. However, MAP is not timed, and students may take as much time as they need to complete it.
How is MAP similar and different from the Smarter Balanced Assessment?
- The Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA) in grades 3-5 is designed to measure what students already know, based on what is expected at their grade level. It is used as a way to measure grade-level proficiency. MAP Growth is designed to measure student achievement in the moment and growth over time, regardless of grade level. It’s important to note that both MAP and SBA are adaptive assessments.Another difference is the timeliness of the results. Washington state often returns information in the fall after the state summative test is taken, MAP gives quick feedback to teachers, administrators, students, and families. Teachers receive immediate results wit MAP that show how each student is performing and where there might be common learning opportunities for the class. Another similarity is that MAP aligns to the same standards as the state test, so both measure similar content.
Where can I view my child’s MAP scores?
- On the Source.
How can I help my child prepare for MAP assessment?
- Your child’s teacher will help with any pre-test instructions to explain the test to the students. Just like on any school day, make sure your child is well-rested and fed. Encourage them to do their best.

PTSA News

POPCORN FRIDAYS! Back again is the ever-popular popcorn fundraiser for 5th grade overnight field trip.Popcorn sales will happen after school Friday, Jan 31, as well February 7, 28, and March 7. Cash (1$/bag) and school pay will be accepted.

Book Club: We are meeting at Jellyfish brewery on Tuesday February 4 at 7pm to discuss Demon Copperhead and choose our next books! All are invited.

Virtual Bake Sale for 5th Graders! Sweeten your day AND support our amazing 5th graders NatureBridge overnight field trip!

Online Sale: 1/31/25 – 2/7/25; Pick up your baked goodies on 2/13/25 on the playground! Plus, there may be additional delicious treats available for purchase IN PERSON! Don’t miss out—order your treats online and support our 5th grade fundraiser!

PTSA 2025-2026 Budget Priorities: Budgeting for the next school year will soon be underway. The PTSA board would like to hear from B.F. Day families about their other priorities. To share your input, please complete this survey before February 21st. Thank you in advance for your time and thoughtfulness by letting us know what is important to you and your family for the 2025/2026 school year!

Welcome Laura Rose Murphy, B.F. Day’s New PTSA Neurodiversity & Disability Liaison!

We are pleased to introduce Laura Rose Murphy, who has joined the PTSA as our Neurodiversity & Disability Liaison! Laura Rose brings passion, experience, and an ever- growing understanding of what it means to support a thriving and inclusive community.

Here’s a message from Laura Rose herself: Hello! I’m Laura Rose! That’s my first name – it has two words! As a mom to a wonderfully neurodivergent kid who started at BF Day in first grade this year, I understand the uniqueness of raising and supporting a child with special needs and the challenges we often face as caregivers in advocating for our children so that they can succeed and thrive.As your Neurodiversity and Disability Liaison for our PTSA, I aim to increase awareness, understanding, and support of neurodivergence and special needs for our entire school community. My goal is to foster a safe space for families and students who participate in special education and/or are (or may be) neurodivergent, to connect, and to establish a community of support. I aim to be a resource! I don’t have all the answers, but generally have a good idea of where to start looking. Please feel free to reach me at ndliaison@bfdayptsa.org.

To do this work, I need to hear from caregivers of students who identify as or are affected by neurodivergence and/or disability. If this is you, please take a few moments to fill out the google form on the emailed Dayette, where you can opt in to be told about various resources and opportunities, connect with other families of kids with special needs, or just give me a piece of your mind!

National School Counseling & Career Week

On February 3-7 B.F. Day will celebrate National School Counseling Week! Thank you to the PTSA for their ongoing support of school counseling. B.F. Day is proud to have a full- time school counselor and is the first school in Seattle Public Schools to achieve RAMP (Recognized ASCA Model Program) status through the American School Counselor Association (ASCA). In July of 2024, B.F. Day was one of 60 elementary schools nationally to be recognized with RAMP designation at the annual ASCA conference. B.F. Day is one of five schools in Washington state designated as a “RAMP School.” Join us in celebrating our school counselors, Mr. Taylor and Ms. Mara, on February 3-7.

At B.F. Day, we celebrate National School Counseling Week as Career Week. During Career Week, our fourth and fifth grade students will listen to guest speakers discuss their pathway to their career, obstacles they overcame, responsibilities of their career, and take questions from the students. In all, we will have 20 speakers presenting to our fourth and fifth graders. Throughout the week, students will be engaging with college and career readiness skills. This year, our kindergarten – third grade students will also participate in Career Week! Four speakers will share about their careers with our youngest students. Thank you to all of our volunteers that are supporting Career Week this year! Learn about the speakers on the B.F. Day emailed Dayette on Jan. 24 or the PDF on the B.F Day Family FB.

Math Night Resources

Thank you for the great turnout yesterday at our parent math night! These are some resources that were shared at the math night. These are valuable resources for all parents to utilize to support their mathematicians at home! Resources are available on the B.F. Day emailed Dayette on Jan. 24 or the PDF on the B.F Day Family FB.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement at School

Seattle School Board Resolution No. 2016/17-12 sets forth the District’s stance on this issue and affirms our provision of safe, welcoming, and inclusive schools for all students without regard to race, religion, national origin, or immigration status. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued guidance in October 2021 stating that, to the fullest extent possible, immigration enforcement actions should not take place at or near “protected areas” such as schools. Consistent with this current standard, SPS Superintendent Procedure 4310SP, Relations with Law Enforcement, Child Protective Agencies, and the County Health Department, clarifies that ICE enforcement actions should not occur at schools or school bus stops.

There are two limited exceptions:

1. Judicial warrants: An immigration official seeking access to a student at school must present a valid judicial warrant. Superintendent Procedure 4310SP requires the General Counsel’s office to review the judicial warrant before a school grants access to an immigration official. To the greatest extent possible, these enforcement actions should be taken in a non-public area and should be otherwise conducted to eliminate or at least minimize the chance that the enforcement action will restrain people from accessing the school.

2. Exigent circumstances: Immigration officials may also take enforcement actions at schools without a warrant if exigent (emergency) circumstances exist. Some examples of these rare circumstances include: a national security threat; an immin

Hello From the Art Studio

Art is alive at B.F. Day in 2025! The last two weeks students have explored the yearly celebration of the Lunar new year. We explored the rich cultural history of traditional celebrations and made art that is symbolic of this. Students created patterned snakes and lanterns that have turned out beautifully. We are moving into our air dry clay unit. As we still wait for the kiln issues to be sorted, students will be creating 3D works of art that while they are not as permanent as clay from the kiln, will be giving them the hand building basics!

Things coming down the line:

Black Excellence will be celebrated in the art room as well as a display we will be working on in the halls. This until will explore various artists throughout history and from across the globe that exemplify black excellence. We will also be throwing in some music and movement explorations in the mix!
5th Grade Rights of Passage Project. This has traditionally been done with glaze on ceramic tiles. This year we will be doing personalized rock paintings that will be implemented into a mosaic that will be installed in the cafeteria. 5th graders have been looking at the rich history of mosaics. From there the brainstorming began and this was the project that we developed as a group. We are all super excited to start this project that will be happening over the next several months!

As always please feel free to stop by the art room and see what we are up to!

Yours in Art, Mrs. Hall

Library News

Global Reading Challenge
In School Competition Feb. 11

Our Global Reading Challenge for 4th and 5th graders has gotten off to a great start! Over the next month we will practice trivia questions weekly in preparation for our competition on February 11. This is a highly motivated, engaged group of students! If you have a lunch break available, come help quiz teams on Thursdays! To read more about this program visit the Seattle Public Library.

To make our practices successful we need 3-4 parent volunteers to help quiz our teams.Check out this sign up if you have the availability to participate. You will need to be a cleared volunteer to attend as you’ll be directly working with students. Thank you in advance for your support! It makes a huge difference! View the Global Reading Volunteer Sign Up

We’re growing our nonfiction collection with high-interest and well-reviewed books! If you’d like to contribute, check out the January wish list here! If you’d like to contribute check it out on Amazon

Grades K-2

Students in grades K-2 have been learning about the Caldecott medal awarded yearly for the best children’s picture book. Ask your student how it gets chosen! Students in grades 3-5 read the highly relevant nonfiction book They Hold the Line, a book exploring wildfires, how they are fought, and their effect on the environment. Ask your student what they learned about fighting wildfires!

Levy Information

Two Levies Up for Renewal

Two levies will be on the February 2025 ballot: renewal of the Educational Programs and Operations Levy (EP&O) and renewal of the Building Excellence Capital Levy (BEX VI). Ballots must be postmarked by Feb. 11, 2025, or placed in a ballot dropbox before 8 p.m. on that date. Visit the SPS Website for complete information

Notes from the Music Room

Leading into Black History Month, The Rhapsody Project will be engaging in a four-week residency with fourth graders at B.F. Day to teach them about the living traditions of blues music and highlighting the ways in which Black culture is an essential part of the heritage of every American. In addition to playing and writing blues songs with students, The Rhapsody Project’s teaching artists will be encouraging each student to talk in depth with their families and community leaders about the layers of their heritage. Learn more about how to connect with The Rhapsody Project by visiting the Rhapsody Project website. And following the organization on Instagram: @therhapsodyproject

News from the Library

Happy New Year! We are back to a great start in the library. We’ve spent this week reviewing procedures and library vocabulary as well as enjoying cozy winter books.

For winter quarter, students will be exploring the following:

PreK-1: choosing just-right books, identifying nonfiction areas of interest, all about facts, making predictions, book medals
2/3: alphabetizing and shelf order, what is a call number, using Destiny Discover, types of nonfiction
4/5: digital citizenship, evaluating online information, nonfiction shelf sequence, narrative nonfiction, Global Reading Challenge

We will continue talking about developing a “balanced reading diet.” There are benefits to reading all kinds of literature to grow our brains in different ways. This month’s library wish list focuses on high-interest, engaging nonfiction to help students with this goal.

Global Reading Challenge

Next week begins our Global Reading Challenge team practice. Students in 4th and 5th grade who have chosen to participate will be put into teams of seven to answer questions about eight different books. We will practice weekly on Thursdays during lunch/recess. Our in- school competition will take place Tuesday, February 11. Students began reading the books all the way back in November and are SO excited to get started! We love Global Reading Challenge at B.F. Day! To read more about this program visit the Seattle Public Library.

Looking for Gently Used Donations

Our Special Education team is looking for gently used donations. We’re creating a small break space for K-1students and are looking for the following items… -individual trampoline with handlebar -play kitchen and pretend food – gently used toys like Hot Wheels; puppets; fidget items; etc. comfortable seating, like a bean bag Do you have a donation pile going at home that has these items? If so, please email Dr. Zisko (nlzisko@seattleschools.org). We’d love to consider them for our student break space!

B.F. Day Events Calendar

Appreciation Days

Dates may be subject to change.

October 2: Custodian Appreciation Day
October 27: Occupational Therapist Appreciation Day
November 4-8: National School Psychologist Week
November 11-15: World Kindness Week
December 2: National Special Education Day
February 3-7: National School Counseling Week/“Career Week”
April 2: Instructional Assistant Appreciation Day
April 4: National School Librarian Day
April 23: Administrative Assistant Appreciation Day
May 1: School Leader Day
May 2: National School Lunch Hero Day
May 5-9: Teacher Appreciation Week
May 6: National Teacher Appreciation Day
May 7: School Nurse Appreciation Day
May 18: National Speech-Language Pathologist Appreciation Day

Assessment Calendar

Dates may be subject to change.

September 16-27, 2024: DIBELS for Grades 1-2
September 30 – October 18, 2024: K-5 MAP Reading & Math
November 15, 2024: TS GOLD Deadline for Pre-K
November 15, 2024: WA Kids Deadline for Kindergarten
November – December: Advanced Learning – Highly Capable Screener; grades 1-5
January 15-31, 2025: DIBELS for Grades K-2
January 27 – March 21, 2025: WIDA
January 29 – February 14, 2025: K-5 MAP Reading & Math
February 15, 2025: TS GOLD: Deadline for Pre-K
March 3 – June 6, 2025: Grades 3-5 SBA
April 7 – June 6, 2025: 5th Grade WCAS Science
May 12-30, 2025: K-5 MAP Reading & Math
June 2 – 13, 2025: DIBELS for Grades K-2
June 15, 2025: TS GOLD Deadline for Pre-K

Diversity Recognition

Hispanic Heritage Month September 15 – October 15
Disability History & Awareness Month October
Black History Month February
Women’s History Month March
Asian American/Pacific Islander Heritage Month May
LGBTQ+ Pride Month June

Dragon Dens

Thursdays 1:15 – 2:10

October 24
November 21
December 19
January 30
February 27
March 13
April 24

Fifth Grade Promotion

June 16: 6:00 p.m. in the gym

In Person Family Events

Dates may be subject to change.

September 23-26: Music Room Open House from 2:25 p.m. – 2:55 p.m. each day.
September 26 from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.: Curriculum Night
October 18: B.F. Day Flu/Covid Vaccine Clinic. From 3 – 7 p.m. Location within school.
November 14 from 5:30 – 7 p.m. Family Fall Festival
November 23 – 27: Elementary Conferences
December 20: Winter Wonderland
April 3 from 5:00 – 6:30 p.m.: Science Fair
May 22 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.: Art Fest
June 12: Field Day
June 16: Village Day

Picture Days

October 7: Fall Picture Day
November 4: Fall Re-Take Picture Day
April 8: Spring Class Picture Day

PTSA Meetings

Dates may be subject to change.

October 28: Fall General Membership Meeting at 8 p.m. (was Oct. 23)
March 20: Mid-Year Membership Meeting (Budget)
April 22: PTSA General Assembly with Guest Speaker Mizrahi
May 29: Spring General Membership Meeting

PTSA Events

October 5: At 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. B.F. Day Parent’s Night Out at Fremont Mischief Distillery

PTSA Fundraising

October 18 – November 1: Fundraising Direct Drive
March 22: PTSA Spring Fling at Woodlawn Hall at 6 p.m.
May 2: Move-a-Thon (new date)

Principal & School Staff Mini-Series for Parents

October 17 from 5:00 – 6:30 p.m.
- Fall: Supporting Your Reader at Home in the Library
January 23 from 5:00 – 6:30 p.m.
- Winter: Supporting Your Mathematician at Home
April 24 from 5:00 – 6:30 p.m.
- Spring: Spring Forward Social-Emotional Learning

SPS Holidays & Closure Dates

Oct 11: No School, Professional Development Day
Nov 11: No School, Veterans Day
Nov 25-27: No School, Parent-Teacher Conferences
Nov 28-29: No School, Thanksgiving, Native American Heritage Day
Dec 20: Early Dismissal
Dec 23-Jan3: No School, Winter Break
Jan 20: No School, MLK Jr Day
Feb 17-21: No School, Mid-Winter Break
April 14-18: No School, Spring Break
May 26: No School Memorial Day
June 18: Early Dismissal Last Day of School. Grade Promotion
June 19: If school in session, No School Juneteenth

School Spirit Days

Themes and dates TBD by student leadership

Trimester 1: Friday, October 4, 2024: 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!
November 15: Hobby Day: Dress like favorite hobby.
Trimester 2: February 14. 2025 Theme to be decided by student leadership
Trimester 3: June 6, 2025 Theme to be decided by student leadership

Schoolwide Assemblies

Fridays 8:00 – 8:30 a.m.

September 27
October 18
November 15
December 13
January 31
February 28
March 28
April 25
May 16
June 13

Trimesters & Grade Marking Deadlines

9/4/24 – 12/3/24: Trimester 1
12/10/24 – 12/20/24: Trimester 1 Grade Marking Deadline
- Progress Reports Live on the Source
12/4/24 – 3/19/25: Trimester 2
3/26/25 – 4/7/25: Trimester 2 Grade Marking Deadline
- Progress Reports Live on the Source
3/20/25 – 6/18/25: Trimester 3
6/25/25 – 7/2/25: Trimester 3 Grade Marking Deadline
- Progress Reports Live on the Source

Principal Message School Year Dates Start of School Weather

Sun Dragons’ Dayette: Field Day & More!

B.F. Day Newsletter June 6, 2025

What’s Coming Up!

Important Dates for End of Year

Welcome Incoming Kindergarteners!

Field Day Ahead June 12!

Village Day 2025

Last Call for Yearbooks

Celebrating Our Fabulous Finishers!

Library News

Volunteers Needed: Solstice Weekend Parking

4th Grade Bake Sale/Lemonade Stand

PTSA News & Merch Store

Dear B. F. Day Family,

End of School Year Planning

Previous Sun Dragons’ Dayette Resources

Fabulous Finishers!

Field Day!

Solstice Parade Parking

End of School Year Planning

From Nurse Annette

Library Updates

End of Year Finish Strong

Playground Expectations

PTSA General Membership Meeting & Board Elections

You’re invited to: B.F. Day Moms Night

PTSA 2025 Move-A-Thon Results!

B.F. Day at the Mariners!

Playground Expectations

End of Year Finish Strong

Lost and Not So Found…

Yearbook Cover Contest Winners

A Note from Former (retired, ha!) Admin Secretary, Carrie Bauer

A Note from Dr. Zisko

Art Fest May 22!

Art Room Updates

Music Room Updates

Message from Student Council – Next Spirit Day is May 23

PTSA General Membership Meeting & Board Elections

B.F. Day at the Mariners!

Recreational Soccer Opportunity

Notes from the Library from Mrs. P.

2025 Nominees

Overdue Books Due by May 30

From Mr. D. in the Gym | Field Day is on Thursday, June 12, which is rapidly approaching!

For Families of Students Receiving Special Education Services & Multilingual Learners

New Language Arts Curriculum

Order your 2024-25 B.F. Day Yearbook now through May 15

Springtime in the Art Room!

Art Fest May 22!

Art Room Updates

Music Room Updates

PTSA General Membership Meeting & Board Elections

B.F. Day at the Mariners!

Shoutout to our parent volunteers!

Recreational Soccer Opportunity

Notes from the Library from Mrs. P.

2025 Nominees

Overdue Books Due by May 30

Smarter Balanced Testing

Third – Fifth Grade

Teacher and Staff Appreciation May 5 – 9

Mayor Harrell to Visit B.F. Day

Order your 2024-25 B.F. Day Yearbook now through May 15

Notes from the Art Room & Music RoomArt Fest May 22!

Art Room Updates

Music Room Updates

From the PTSA

B.F. Day at the Mariners!

B.F. Day Really Moved!

Smarter Balanced Testing Coming Up

Third – Fifth Grade

Move-a-Thon Fundraiser May 2

More Move-A-Thon Info

Beautify B.F. Day May 3

Teacher and Staff Appreciation May 5 – 9

PTSA News

B.F. Day at the Mariners!

Art Fest 2025

From Mr. D. in the Gym

Notes from the Art Room & Music Room
Art Fest May 22!