Billings iNews: October 1, 2026

Inside Billings

October 1, 2026

🎒 What's New? 📚

Trip Season

Last Thursday and Friday, I accompanied 6th grade students as they had their first overnight at Bowman Bay near Deception Pass. This was the first taste of ExpEd (Expeditionary Education) for both the 6th Grade and me. I was so impressed by our 6th Grade students. Yes, there were the typical trials and tribulations of 6th grade, but overall they were exuberant, cooperative, and resilient amid significant rain on their first outing. The grins and laughter over hot chocolate in the picnic shelter were near universal. Some students experienced the trip directly as a joy, and others found it Type 2 fun: tough in the moment, but they came home with a sense of accomplishment and more confidence than before. One family reported their child walking a little taller and seeming more connected to peers as the trip returned on Friday.

I want to express my gratitude to last week’s 6th and 8th Grade trip leaders. I was blown away by the preparation and skill of all the adults who planned and led the trips. Their coordination, problem solving, and care were outstanding. So much work goes into self-produced trips where the teachers who see students every day are the ones leading them in the field. Yet doing it ourselves creates something distinctive. Clean-up on Friday afternoon felt like such a positive instance of community among students and teachers. And the teachers who lead trips gain insight into students and form bonds with them that yield dividends all year long.

I know this from experience. After hiking 50 miles in the wilderness over a week as a teenager, I felt like I could do anything. I've seen that same transformation throughout my career as an educator. That transformation will happen in different stages for different students. Three years at Billings can change your life, and it was a joy to see the beginning of that transformation last week.

We will include detailed reports on the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade trips in the October 14th publication.

Announcements

Student Life

Our All School Meeting this week included a presentation from Ryan Young who works with the Sound Transit Youth Engagement Program. The Link light rail’s Pinehurst Station, located just a few blocks north of campus, is now open. Ryan’s presentation covered logistics, safety, and awesome opportunities that the light rail brings. We are so excited to have the station open, as we know that many community members will be taking advantage of it!

i-Ready Updates:

6th & 7th graders completed the math diagnostics. 6th grade will complete the reading diagnostic next week on 10/8, and 7th will complete the reading diagnostic the following week on 10/13. 8th graders are taking the reading diagnostic tomorrow, 10/2; they’ll take the math diagnostic next week on 10/6. We will email results to parents when all diagnostics are complete and teachers have reviewed the results, usually one week after the last administration.

Admissions

As we begin to welcome prospective families to campus and grow our community, your voice plays an important role in our admissions process. If you’ve had a positive experience at Billings, we would be incredibly grateful if you took a moment to share it. Your feedback helps other families learn more about our school and what makes Billings such a special place.

Below are links to popular school review sites — we’d love for you to share your thoughts and help other parents consider Billings for their children.

Reminder: Sibling and Community Applications are open!

Feel free to reach out to Stephanie for any assistance. Thank you for being a valued part of our community!

ExpEd

Next Tuesday, October 6, our 7th graders will head out for their Fall Trip to the Columbia River Gorge! Over the course of three days, students will learn about Celilo Falls and its significance to Indigenous communities and others across generations. Through exploration, discussion, and reflection, they will consider the history of this remarkable place, the changes it has experienced, and how its story connects to where we are today.

7th grade families should keep an eye out for an email titled “7th Grade Fall Trip – Less Than 1 Week Away” for last minute reminders.

Billings Family Association

Family Camping Trip on October 2 - 4

We hope you’re excited for the Billings family camping trip at Rasar State Park October 2-4. Plan to stay for the whole weekend or stop by for daytime activities or the Saturday evening potluck registration link here.

**A few spots have opened in the group site! If you want to take one, add your information on the registration sheet here (first come, first serve).

This is a parent-organized event, and all Billings families are welcome. Check out the Family Camp Guide , and SignUp Genius for supplies, evening S’mores, and the potluck.

October BFA Meeting

The next monthly BFA meeting is Tuesday, October 5th at 6pm via Zoom. Our special guest will be Rob Heavner, Dean of Student Life. This will be a great chance to meet Rob who was on paternity leave at the beginning of the year. We’ll be discussing what caregiver-focused content families would be interested in this year.

Google Classroom Training for Caregivers Coming Soon

We’re working with Nick to set up an online training on how to use Google Classroom for caregivers – some of us could use either the refresher or the first-time instruction. Stay tuned for details.

Sports

Go Billings Bears!

10/1 Volleyball game at White Center Salvation Army at 4:00PM

10/7 Volleyball game at Stroum Jewish Community Center at 3:00PM

10/6 X-Country Meet at Seward Park at 4:00PM

10/13 X-Country Meet at Lewis Creek Park Sport Court at 4:00PM

Keep up-to-date with our calendar below:

Community Calendar

In the Community:

On Saturday, October 24, from 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m., The Downtown School is hosting their 2nd annual Math Circle for current 7th and 8th graders. Students will spend the morning alongside DTS students and teachers exploring the creative and playful side of math. They can choose to create art with equations in Desmos or dive into puzzles, math games, and hands-on challenges. View the Math Circle flyer here for more information and registration details.

Executive Function Workout!

FEEL THE BURN!

Join me (Greg: Director of The Learning Center at Billings) for a regular Tuesday morning EF workout from 8:30am to 9:30am starting Tuesday, September 15th. Developing EF, or Executive Function, requires the exercise of the brain in specific ways. Drop in on any Tuesday morning, to share stories and explore strategies for strengthening our EF muscles and by extension, that of our students.