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Inside Billings
November 6, 2025
| | Billings Buzz: November Highlights | | 🎒 What's Happening at Billings? 📚 | | Thank you to our parent community for engaging in Academic Conferences. Your partnership with teachers inspires and strengthens our shared mission at Billings. | | |
Mike on the Mic 🎤
Reminder that Billings will be closed next Tuesday on November 11 in observance of Veterans Day.
As I stood outside in carline today, I reflected on November in Seattle, with the dark nights and the bit of rain, but also the beauty in the light that feels brighter when it breaks through! I also feel the beauty of this community sharing and supporting each other and our students.
Thank you all for your participation in our Conferences last Thursday night and Friday. It means so much to have a school community with such amazing attendance and engaged families who are looking to partner together for the best learning outcomes for our students. I’d love to highlight some additional upcoming forms of “Billings light” this November.
Tonight, Rob will be hosting: Framing the Year - The World of Middleschoolers for parents and guardians from 5:30 – 7:00 here at Billings.
Tomorrow is our Billings Family Association meeting at 8:30 am. We’ll have the firepit roaring outside so come join us.
Saturday, November 15th is our second Open House, followed by the Pinehurst Craft Fair from 12:00 – 3:00. We will also have an alumni reunion from 12:15 – 1:30. The Craft Fair has become a lovely fall community building event for current and alumni families, so please come!
Finally, your support of the Annual Fund helps ensure that we can provide our personalized advisory and instruction from teachers eager to share the magic of outdoor and experiential education at a transformative time in life. Thank you to those who made a contribution to the Annual Fund in the last week as we are now over $89,000, moving closer to our goal of $150,000 and 100% participation.
Give online
Thanks for your support,
Mike
| | Another busy week in 6th grade! Students are settling in to new sections, and a shout out to those who are also adjusting to different schedules. We are electing two class representatives this week, with a final vote on Friday. These leaders will join our school’s ASB committee with our School President (Jack), Vice President (Wila), Secretary (Clara), and four representatives from the other two grades. We enjoyed the end of the season for Volleyball and Cross-Country, and are gearing up for Boys Basketball starting this week! | | |
Congratulations to our 7th grade ASB representatives, Aza and Niamh! We are excited to have these two representing the grade’s interests for our school community. Of course, leadership at Billings takes many shapes and forms, and if students are looking for leadership opportunities they should meet with their advisor and they can work out a plan together!
8th grade class representatives Henry and Nico will help lead the 8th grade class during school and class meetings, projects, and events. This week they introduced the school to this month’s food drive aiding North Helpline and the food pantry in Lake City. Additionally, 8th graders are beginning to think about next year’s high school plans. Billings will be hosting several area high schools during Office Hours this month, including Holy Names, O’Dea, UPrep & The Northwest School.
| | 6th grade Social Studies has started their “Around the World” unit with an exploration of Central America with a special focus on Guatemala. Students are making maps and learning about country basics as well as researching topics of their choice. | | |
7th graders are honing their debate skills with structured informal debates this week in preparation for a more formal debate about dams in Washington State. Topics of their informal debates include: “6-7 should be banned in schools” (a silly soundbite overtaking schools across America, modelled (left) by our math teacher Ryan) and “Is it better to live in a treehouse than to live in a castle.”
8th graders are wrapping up their Hinduism unit this week and will host two guest speakers on Friday who will discuss their lives as Buddhist practitioners.
Our students finished their celebration of Día de los Muertos (Nov 1-2) last week! We learned all about the history of Día de los Muertos, its origins, how and where it is celebrated and how it is different from Halloween. Students also received some Mexican treats at the end of Thursday, October 30th to finish off the celebration! Billings students decorated the Ofrenda (altar) where community members placed photos of loved ones that they wanted to honor and remember.
| | This week, 8th graders were introduced to their final, big Math project of the Fall Semester. The students are tasked with creating cell phone case designs, analyzing potential net profits, and presenting those projected earnings to an investor (Nathan!). After completing their prep work, the students will open up a “Marketplace” for the rest of the school to purchase their products. This project is the capstone of their linear relationships unit. The goal is for students to develop a strong foundation for linear relationships and systems of equations through a real-world lens. | | |
🎓 Deans on the Scene ✒️
Please join Dean Rob and Laurie Alexander (Billings Family Association Chair) tonight for our fall family event: Framing the Year - The World of Middleschoolers! During this event, Rob will give a short talk on the middle school brain followed by a Q&A. We'll then turn to breakout sessions with targeted questions so that parents and caregivers can share experiences, ideas, and wisdom!
This event will run from 5:30-7:00pm. If you are planning to attend, please RSVP via this link so that we can get a head count. Light refreshments will be provided.
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Holiday Food Drive!
Our 8th graders are leading a Holiday Food Drive in collaboration with North Helpline! Donations can be dropped off at the Main Office at Billings through November 17. Students will deliver the collected items to the Lake City Food Bank to help families in need this holiday season. Thank you to those of you who have sent in items!
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Food Items:
Canned Fruit
Cereal
Peanut Butter
Canned Chili
Protein-dense Soups
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Protein Shakes
Canned Fish
Granola Bars
Instant Oatmeal
Ramen
Ground Coffee
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Hygiene Items:
Travel-Size Shampoo & Soap
Toothpaste & Toothbrush
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High Need Items:
Baby Wipes & Diapers
Infant Formula
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Wow! I cannot believe that with just one day to go we have raised $89,977 (including matching donations we have received so far) towards our goal of $150,000! Our community has really come together and shared so openly so that we can all help our small school make a big impact, as well as continue to build the legacy of Billings and support each other on this journey. We are so close to making our goal!
6th Grade is in the lead, but 7th and 8th are hot on their tail! All three grade levels are so close to winning that free pizza party! If you have donated through an employer matching program, please send a quick email to Mike to make sure we’ve counted it!
Participation standings:
- 6th Grade: 96%
- 7th Grade: 90%
- 8th Grade: 65%
Today is the final day to meet the 100% participation goal for your class and win a free pizza party!
You can make a donation by dropping off a check at the front desk or by clicking here to make a donation online. You can also click here to make a pledge for a future donation or email Joan for more details on how to make a stock donation. Don’t forget to check with your employer to see if they will match your donation! Boeing, Microsoft, Nintendo, Pokemon, and many other major employers offer an employee match program. This is a really great way to double the impact of your donation!
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🖥️Business Office💼
We have transitioned from the SSS platform to Clarity for our Tuition Assistance applications. Please visit the Billings website for detailed instructions on how to set up your Clarity account HERE
We will also be using the Clarity system for Enrollment Contracts and Billing. Clarity offers a more streamlined, mobile-friendly platform for families. Please note, the tuition assistance application deadline for both new and returning families is February 1, 2026. Ready to start your application? HERE
All 2026-2027 Enrollment Contracts and billing will be digitally received from the Clarity system whether or not you have applied for tuition assistance. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions!
| | Billings Family Association | | |
BFA Meeting Tomorrow 11/7
This Friday morning’s coffee will flow into the November BFA meeting! Come for the camaraderie and coffee. Stay to meet other Billings family members and learn about upcoming school and BFA events.
Kick-off Meeting for December Faculty Appreciation
The planning team for the December faculty appreciation event will meet next Friday 11/14 from 8:30-9:30am. We are planning a festive catered event for the 12/17 afternoon faculty meeting. If you can’t make it next Friday but would like to help, just let us know.
Signups for LGBTQ+ Families Affinity Group
Are you a parent/caregiver in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, or raising a child who is? You're invited to join Billings’ LGBTQ+ Affinity Group. Led by a queer Billings parent, this group brings families together for potlucks once or twice a year. Members are in touch between meet-ups via a private message board to ask questions, share invitations, and offer support. Sign up here to get connected.
Parenting Resources
Effective Coping Strategies for Adolescent Stress
With Sal Khan, founder of Khan Academy
Nov. 18, 12–1pm
Register here for this free webinar from ParentMap
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Upcoming Events: 📅
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Framing the Year: The World of Middle Schoolers! -November 6, 5:30-7:00pm [RSVP]
- NO SCHOOL: Veteran's Day, Tuesday, November 11
- Open House: Saturday, November 15, 10am-12pm
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Pinehurst Craft Fair: Saturday, November 15, 12pm-3:30pm
- Alumni Reunion: Saturday, November 15th, 12:15pm-1:30pm
- NO SCHOOL: Fall Break, November 24-28
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Story is my Superpower
Northwest Equity & Inclusion Speaker Series is dedicated to making impactful discussions accessible to everyone. Join us to hear from Nic Stone, author of Dear Martin.
November 12, 2025
5:00-6:15 pm PT
This event is free and open to the public.
RSVP to get your Zoom link: Registration
| | Swing by Billings after our Open House on November 15th starting at 12:00pm to check out Pinehurst's Makers Market! We've been delighted to partner with them for years to host their event on our campus. Student artists will be manning the Billings booth with homemade crafts, and all profits will go to a local charity chosen collectively by them. Tune in to next week's iNews to see which charity our artists have selected! | | |
SQUIRRELLY WORKSHOP:
Teens & 'Tweens: Holiday Gift Making Series (4 Fridays)
Sign up your Teen or 'Tween for a Squirrelly Art Class where they can get creative with art in a safe and fun space! Squirrelly offers diverse art experiences every day of the week in our bright, woodland studio on Sand Point Way.
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Our favorite series starts November 14th, Surprise Holiday Gift Making. Register now at squirrellyworkshop.com to secure your child's spot!
- Squirrelly has after-school art for kids, art for adults, and art for preschoolers, too! Come enjoy an adult evening out learning watercolor or print-making, sign your elementary school aged student up for after-school art class or bring your mini-artist for our Friday morning preschool open studio!
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Learn more and register at squirrellyworkshop.com! Financial assistance and scholarships are always available.
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Looking for something to do as a family? Check out the Mosaic Room which is located just around the corner from the Billings campus. The Mosaic Room offers family friendly classes from Yoga and Salsa dancing to Yo-Yo tricks! Scan the QR Code to sign-up!
All Billings families will receive 10% off with the code: BILLINGS10
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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 Mondays. Developing EF, or Executive Function, requires the exercise of the brain in specific ways. Drop in on any Monday 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 Monday 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 worn upon request.
And if Monday 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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