Billings iNews: October 29, 2026

Inside Billings

October 29, 2026

🎒 What's New? 📚

Announcements

Conferences

We look forward to seeing you at conferences tonight! Please plan on arriving a few minutes early so you have time to collect your schedule from the Front Desk before your first meeting time begins. For families that would like to meet with teachers not on the schedule, feel free to reach out via email directly to schedule a separate appointment.

Two of a Kind (and Twice the Impact)

If you thought you were seeing double this week, you weren’t imagining it. Twin Day brought out matching outfits all over campus, and it reminded us of something else that comes in pairs: employer matching gifts.

The Annual Fund has reached 53% of our $100,000 goal ($53,000!). Participation keeps climbing too: 6th grade has crossed the 50% mark, and 7th and 8th are gaining ground fast. Thank you to every family who has given!

Many employers, including Microsoft, Boeing, Google, and T-Mobile, match employee donations dollar for dollar. That means your gift gets a twin. Check your company’s giving portal (often Benevity) for “matching gifts.” Already given? Most companies let you request a match after the fact. Just let Joan Krusssel know so we can count it.

Give online or make a pledge. Solo or with a twin, every gift makes a big impact!

Billings Family Association

Nov. 6th: First Fridays Coffee with Billings Families

We look forward to seeing Billings families next Friday, November 6th for coffee (and tea) and community at drop-off.

Nov. 9th: Billings Family Association Meeting

The next monthly BFA meeting is Tuesday, November 9th at 6pm via Zoom. Our main topic will be Google Classroom led by special guests April Little, Dean of Academics, and Maya Jacobs, 7th Grade Science Teacher and Advisor. They will describe Google Classroom features, share hot tips for caregivers, and answer all your burning questions in a Q&A.

Family Contacts Directory Now Available

This week, IT wizard Daniel emailed a link to the secure directory to all current families (except those who opted out). If you did not receive the email or wish to remove your family’s information, please contact the Front Desk.

Sports

Winter sport season starts next week! Please keep an eye out for Gamechanger invites. Starting off with Boy's basketball beginning on November 2nd, Pickleball December 3rd, and Girl's Basketball on January 5th right after winter break. Interested in volunteering to be an Asst. Coach or drive students to games? Contact Daniel.

Boy's Basketball

November 2nd on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:45 PM - 5:15 PM
Location: Billings Home Gym. Game day transportation is always provided to and from Billings. Away games only
Coach Confirmed, assistant volunteers needed!
Season: November 2nd - January 13th.
No practice Fall Break November 23rd - November 27th. No practice Winter Break December 21st - January 4th.

Co-Ed Pickleball

December 3rd - January TBD once a week on Thursdays from 3:45 PM - 5:15 PM
Location: Billings and/ or Shoreview Tennis/ Pickleball Courts
Volunteers and drivers needed!
May have 1 scrimmage day with Explorer West

No practice Winter Break December 21st - January 4th.

Girl's Basketball

January 5th Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:45 PM - 5:15 PM
Location: Billings Home Gym. Game day transportation is always provided to and from Billings. Away games only
Coach Confirmed
Season: January 5th - March 4th.
No practice Mid-Winter Break February 15th - 19th.

Upcoming Events: 📅

Fall Academic Conferences: October 29 & 30
NO SCHOOL: Friday, October 30 (Conferences)
NO SCHOOL: Wednesday, November 11
NO SCHOOL: Fall Break, November 23-27

Keep up-to-date with our Google calendar:

Community Calendar

In the Community:

Break Camps @ Billings:
Steve & Kate's Camp

With Fall Break and Winter Break approaching, we wanted you to know that Billings will be hosting Steve & Kate’s Camp on our campus for Fall, Winter, Mid-Winter, and Spring Breaks this school year.

"When school's out, give kids what they need—freedom to expand and evolve.”

At Steve & Kate’s, campers choose which activities they do, whom they do it with and for how long. For kids, this experience is pure joy. It’s also a kind of training ground for life, where they’ll need to be empowered and independent and resilient and responsible for their own decisions. Happy human-ing starts HERE!

SQUIRRELLY WORKSHOP:
Teens & 'Tweens Surprise Holiday Gift Making Classes!

It's our favorite time of year! Send your kiddo over to Squirrelly on Friday evenings for four weeks in November and December: Surprise Holiday Gift Making. Teens and Tweens will try new art forms (sculpt, paint, collage, and more) and create 4 to 5 lovely, unique gifts for family and friends, wrapped and ready to give.

Best suited for kids 10-16 years old. Learn more and register at squirrellyworkshop.com.

Squirrelly is located at 5414 Sand Point Way, and offers friendly art classes for preschoolers, kids, teens and adults. Contact us anytime at info@squirrellyworkshop.com. Scholarships and financial assistance are always available.

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.