Billings iNews: June 12, 2025

Inside Billings

June 12, 2025

Have a Great Summer!

🎒 What's Happening at Billings? 📚

It's hard to believe it, but the school year is now over! Thank you to our families and community members for all of the support you've given to your students, the staff, and each other during the 2024-2025 school year. We hope you have a spectacular summer no matter what your plans are. If your student is participating in Summer@Billings, we'll see them soon - but if not, we'll see you next (school) year!

6th graders enjoyed a final PE/GO! adventure at Discovery Park, Seattle's largest park, on Tuesday, then had a chance to pelt advisors Ian and Emma with water balloons on Wednesday before they joined 7th grade for the "Moving Up" ceremony.

7th graders had their end-of-year party at North Acres park this week, as well as a final fire pit on-campus and an all-grade activity that focused on teamwork to achieve little tasks while blindfolded! They joined 6th grade for the "Moving Up" ceremony then came together as a class to set their intentions for their final year here at Billings.

The 8th grade Class of 2025 finished their year with celebrations both on and off campus. Last Thursday, students spent a great day together at the Tukwila Family Fun Center playing arcade games, racing go-karts, bowling, floating around and spraying each other in bumper boats and generally having a blast with each other and having our last Costco pizza!

We then traveled to Carkeek Park to enjoy time on the beach, an appreciation circle and “fancy” dinner which included dressing up for a dinner of hot dogs, beans, and root beer.

This week, 8th grade students enjoyed their last Advisories and last class meeting that included special awards and final goodbyes before the big event: Graduation!

Our recording of graduation will be sent out via email soon, so keep an eye out! We'll also have plenty of chances for our newest alumni to come back and visit during our many alumni events.

Mike on the Mic 🎤

Happy Summer!

On Tuesday night, we celebrated the Billings Class of 2025 with a moving display of the beautiful mosaic of our graduates. Each student shared something meaningful to them about their Billings journey, and our graduates resoundingly recognized how their growth was only possible due to the support of the Billings community - their peers, family, and teachers.

A common theme was our graduates reflecting on challenging things that they persevered through together, whether an exceptionally rainy day on the Olympic Coast, the challenge of the 8th Grade Project, or developing the confidence to take a risk and try new things. Our graduates leave with genuine confidence borne from developing true competence both inside and outside the classroom. And they also leave with the characteristics of great friends, supporters, and explorers for the challenges ahead.

Many very lucky high schools will have our graduates walking their hallways this fall, and we look forward to watching them continue to do great things in the years ahead. We are so proud of them, and we will miss them. We look forward to future visits, for Billings will always be their school!

Wishing you a restful and enjoyable summer,

Mike

Looking Ahead to Next Year

Today, our teacher in-service day included reflection about a great 2024-2025 school year while looking forward to next year. We will share a visual of our class schedule with you shortly, but in the meantime, here is a sneak preview of the teachers and class assignments for next year.

Ian: 6^th grade math (5x week), 7th Design Lab (1x week), 6^th-8^th grade PE/Get Outside (2x week)

Ryan Kroner (new): 7th grade math (5x week), 7th Design Lab (1x week)

Nathan: 8^th grade math (5x week), Experiential Learning Coordinator

Jeana Hrepich (new): 6^th/7^th grade Language Arts (5x week)

April (Dean of Academics): 8^th grade Language Arts (5x week)

Amy: 6^th-8^th grade Social Studies (3x week)

Emily: 6^th grade Science/Design Lab (5x week), 8^th grade Science (4x week)

Maya: 7th grade Science and Health (5x week)

Kruthi: 6^th-8^th Spanish (3x week)

Christine: 6^th-8^th Visual Arts (2x week) and 7/8 Arts (4x week)

Sabrina: 6^th Vocals (1x week) and 7/8 Arts (4x week)

Gillian: 6^th Drama (2x week) and 7/8 Arts (4x week)

Birch: 6^th Music (1x week) and 7/8 Arts (4x week)

Mike (Head of School): 8^th grade Design Lab/Robotics (1x week)

Rob (Dean of Student Life): 6^th Warm & Fuzzy (1x week)

Greg: Learning Center Director

Non-teaching Admin:

Brenda: Part-time Interim CFO

Stephanie: Admissions Director

Brian Kutzera: Business Manager

Will: Facilities Manager

Becca: Administrative Assistant/Registrar

Daniel: IT Coordinator/Business Associate/Athletics Coordinator

Cherrise: Part-time Counselor

🎓 Deans on the Scene ✒️

Another year is in the books! We are so proud of our graduates in the class of 2025, and while we are sad to see them go, we know they will do great things in the years ahead.

Rising 8th grade families can expect to receive an email from Rob in June about the high school process at Billings for next fall. All returning students can expect to receive their advisory grouping in August. Thanks everyone and have a GREAT summer!