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Inside Billings
May 8, 2025
| | 🎒 What's Happening at Billings? 📚 | | Students had a great time last Friday at the Spring Dance! Along with dancing, snacking, and socializing with all three grades, there was Limbo, Musical Chairs, and a chance to pie Dean Rob and DJ Becca in the face! Thank you to everyone who came out and made the night so much fun. | | |
Mike on the Mic 🎤
Thank you for your patience yesterday with the water situation and the unfortunate “school is cancelled” and “school is uncancelled” experience. I know that this was a major disruption to your day, scrambling to respond to pick up your child, only to have that cancelled minutes later. I also recognize that some (but not all!) students felt like a glorious gift had been taken away suddenly and that you had to deal with those extra emotions.
The City of Seattle did not expect that a scheduled water outage south of us would impact our neighborhood and I appreciated that they reached out afterwards to explain what happened. Speaking of communication and feedback, thank you to everyone who filled out the Family Spring Survey so far. Your feedback is very helpful for us as we prepare for next year and prioritize our summer work! If you have not done it yet, please complete it by Friday, May 16th.
English Survey Link
Enlace de la Encuesta en Español
So far, our intrepid 7th graders on the Baker Lake Trip enjoyed the sun as they hit the trail yesterday. Who needs running water on the trail?! We look forward to hearing about their experience observing wildlife, navigating stream crossings, and working cooperatively when they return tomorrow.
Thank you for your support,
Mike
| | 🎓 Calling 8th Grade Families! 🎓 | |
Don’t forget to RSVP for the 8th Grade Family Dinner!
The 8th Grade Family Dinner is on Wednesday, May 28th, at 6:00pm. This is the first step of the graduation process and your chance to sit back, relax, and let us treat you to a tasty dinner from Paseo while you celebrate everything your student has accomplished here at Billings.
Please RSVP here to let us know whether or not you are able to attend by May 14th so that we can give a correct headcount to Paseo, our caterers. This event is adults-only. See you there!
We're also asking for baby pictures of your student for a slideshow to be played at Graduation. Please send a picture of your student as an infant and as an elementary schooler to the Front Desk email by Friday, May 23rd or bring in a physical photo for us to scan.
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Upcoming Events: 📅
- 7th Grade Backpacking: Wednesday, May 7 - Friday, May 9
- 8th Grade Backpacking: Monday, May 19 - Friday, May 23
- 6th Grade Overnight: Wednesday, May 21 - Friday, May 23
- [NO SCHOOL] Memorial Day: Monday, May 26
- 8th Grade Parent/Guardian Dinner: Wednesday, May 28, 6:00pm-8:00pm
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From the BFA:
Let’s Celebrate Billings Faculty!
We are celebrating Faculty Appreciation Week next week with a series of events, and we need your help in letting staff know how much they mean to us all. Please check out this link for how you can pitch in and write appreciation messages for faculty. Thank you!
Canceled - Kid Bike Safety Check Event
We are sorry to report that this Saturday’s kid bike safety event has been canceled. We will try again next year!
Family Camping Trip in October 2025
We’re excited to announce a family camping trip at nearby Dash Point State Park from October 3–5, 2025! Plan to join for the whole weekend or stop by for daytime activities or an evening potluck. This is a parent-organized event, and all Billings families are welcome. Check out this link for details, including how to reserve your campsite or cabin.
Notes from May BFA Meeting
If you weren’t able to make last Friday’s BFA meeting, please check out the meeting notes. BFA meetings are held on the 1st Friday of each month, from 8:30-9:30am. All parents and caregivers are invited to attend in person or online.
Parenting Resources
Raising Sons: Addressing Tough Topics Head-On, with Dr. Lisa Damour
May 15, 2025, 5-6pm
Register here for this webinar from the Bush School’s Parent University
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In Advisory and Warm & Fuzzy classes, 6th graders are discussing how to best navigate humor and joking with friends. We’ve had great conversations about why humor is essential to human connection, when it is and isn’t appropriate, and the types of jokes that are never acceptable (like ones about physical traits or cultural identity). Other layers we’re continuing to discuss are the dubious nature of jokes shared online and how to sincerely apologize for a joke that harms someone else, regardless of the intention. We appreciate you extending these conversations at home!
| | 7th graders left for Baker Lake in high spirits this Wednesday morning. Students were buzzing with excited energy as they helped their teachers prepare supplies and pack buses. They will surely have stories to tell when they return. Check next week's iNews for more! | |
This week 8th graders went over plans for their Olympic Coast trip that is happening May 19-23. Students are planning routes, meals and planning for all kinds of weather conditions. Fun!
6th graders have passed through the zero portal to the mirror dimension of negative numbers in Math. In other words, we’re in the thick of our Integers Unit with extended number lines, absolute value, and inverted results to familiar calculations. We’ve enjoyed brainstorming real-world scenarios where negative numbers have tangible value. Ask your child to name examples!
8th graders have been learning all about electricity and building circuits in Science. We started this unit by learning all about static charge and current electricity. Students worked on making different snap circuit projects this week in class.
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6th grade students have started their final ELA unit of the year: poetry! Students have spent the week learning about figurative language and free verse poetry. Throughout the month, they will read and write several different types of poems, even writing poetry on our upcoming trip to Mt. St. Helen’s!
7th graders are working on a research project focusing on a significant person or artifact from Washington State History. Students have been gathering relevant information about their chosen topic and will begin writing their papers after returning from backpacking. Students have chosen varied and interesting subjects such as the activist Wing Luke, the Pacific Northwest Ballet, Bruce Lee, and the Seattle SuperSonics, among other great choices!
8th graders are enjoying a boxing unit in PE/GO!, and experiencing how this physical art form relates much more to technique, discipline, and cardio exercise rather than “fighting.” I appreciate our elder students’ mature approach to safely practicing fundamental footwork, punching, and defensive techniques.
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Monday was Cinco de Mayo! Students have been learning about the history of Cinco de Mayo in Spanish, what it really represents (not Mexican Independence Day) and why the Battle of Puebla was so important in the overall history of Mexico.
8th grade Social Studies students are exploring Federalism, the role of due process and the relevance of the Bill of Rights. Students are practicing to pass the full citizenship test before June and will soon begin their final project, participating in a mock trial.
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In celebration of the places we love to live, eat, shop, and play in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, The Seattle Times is presenting its annual Best in the PNW contest. This top-tier program is keyed in to engage the community from start to finish, and equips residents to celebrate the places, restaurants, and local businesses we love.
If you would like to nominate us for this event starting Monday, May 12, submit us under the Education > Middle School category. If you own a business you would like us to shout out in next week's iNews, email the Front Desk to let us know the name and what category it falls under.
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View the Official Rules for all the details! Browse through the 2024 winners at BestinthePNW.com.
Key Dates:
Nominations Open: Monday, May 12
Nominations Close: Friday, May 23
Voting Opens: Monday, June 9
Voting Closes: Friday, June 27
Results Publish: Sunday, September 21
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Check out these ParentMap articles:
For more support and resources surrounding the youth mental health crisis, screen time and social media, and the importance of play, visit ParentMap’s Antidote for the Anxious Generation page.
Speaker links
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Executive Function Workout!
Join me (Greg: Director of The Learning Center at Billings) for a regular morning EF workout from 8:30am to 9:30am on Wednesdays. Developing EF, or Executive Function, requires the exercise of the brain in specific ways. Drop in on any Wednesday morning to share stories and explore strategies for strengthening our EF muscles and by extension, that of our students.
Think of EF (Executive Function) as the CEO of the brain, helping us improve our self-regulation and aid our ability to make both short and long-term plans that enhance our performance in many aspects of our life. At a middle school pragmatic level this includes things like: doing your nightly HW, working on long term projects, or doing chores around the house. This is not a class. This is an opportunity to share collective wisdom. While 30 plus years as a middle school educator has certainly allowed me to garner some wisdom, I am really a facilitator on Wednesday mornings. Regular attendance is not a prerequisite. I don't need advanced notice. Drop in as you are able.
We will be meeting in person in Mercury during advisory and the beginning of first period. If you do not want to attend in person and prefer Zoom, let me know and I will send you a recurring Zoom link. Masks are not required but can be provided upon request.
And if Wednesday mornings are not a viable option for you but you want to learn more, don't hesitate to e-mail me, and let's find time to chat 1-1.
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