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Inside Billings
September 25, 2025
| | 🎒 What's Happening at Billings? 📚 | | The excitement on campus this week in preparation for trips has been palpable. Our 8th graders are backpacking Mt. Adams on their Fall Leadership Outing and our 6th graders are headed to Deception Pass for their overnight. Our 7th graders have been diving into the content that is associated with their upcoming trip to the Yakama Cultural Center, the Dalles Dam, and Celilo Falls. | Student Picture Day is scheduled for Monday, September 29th (in the event of rain, Friday, October 3rd will be the back-up date). For those of you interested in purchasing the portraits, please see the packages available in the image above. Links to your student's portrait will be sent via email once they are available with instructions on how to purchase. For more information about our photographer please visit The Hidden Lens' website. | | |
Mike on the Mic 🎤
One of the core tenets of Billings is our social emotional program, where each student is known and nurtured and intentionally developed into a young leader. Though we practice these skills every day in Advisory, classes and athletics, the rubber truly meets the road when immersed on a Billings overnight trip.
We are excited that our 8th graders are enjoying some Type 2 Fun on their Fall Leadership Outing (FLO) backpacking trip! Developing leadership skills is the focus for our 8th graders and they step up to lead this trip, making important decisions, cooking meals and taking care of each other and adults with compassion and encouragement. Each year, we challenge all of them to consider how each student can give back to Billings and their fellow students and leave a positive legacy.
We are also excited that our 6th graders are on their way to their first overnight trip to Deception Pass! A student’s first overnight is an important rite of passage in their Billings journey as we build on skills of perseverance, self-care, and independence through the next three years. I feel so fortunate that I have the privilege of going on their first Billings trip with them.
We look forward to hearing their stories of joy, care, and perseverance.
Thanks for your support,
Mike
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We are excited to announce that Rob Howard has accepted the position of 6th and 7th Grade English Language Arts Teacher.
Rob holds a M.Ed. from the University of Pennsylvania, a MA in History from DePaul University, and a BA in Art History from the University of Delaware.
Rob brings more than a decade of experience teaching students in grades 2-12 in independent schools in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and the Seattle area. He has also been an instructor for the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth. Rob is deeply committed to experiential and outdoor learning and brings a wealth of experience in leadership curriculum design and outdoor and environmental education. He has a passion for teaching critical thinking and analysis and translating that to writing. Rob’s teaching philosophy is influenced by Arthur L. Costa’s focus on teaching strong habits of mind and Angela Duckworth’s work on the benefits of grit and resilience. As Rob said, “I want to teach kids that being their best selves transcends academics and includes character growth and developing the whole person.”
Rob will be starting at Billings on Monday, October 6th and he is super excited to build joyful relationships with our students.
Please join us in welcoming Rob to our community.
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In preparation for the fall trip in two weeks, 7th graders are delving into a brief unit on the Columbia River Gorge in Science. Last week students examined the dramatic features of the Columbia River Gorge and participated in demonstrations and activities to model erosion. This week they are coming up with their own theory for how such a dramatic landscape came to be, before we learn what actually created this landscape next week!
In 7th Grade Math, students are working through operations with integers, with a big focus on the eternally finicky realm of negative numbers. They’re just now finishing up with addition and subtraction and are moving onto multiplication and division, which are surprisingly (or perhaps unsurprisingly?) panning out to be a bit more
straightforward than the former! Some questions you may want to ask your student - which of these realms do you find easier? Why do you think that might be, and how does that feeling tie into the set of rules for multiplying and dividing negative numbers that have been discussed in class?
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All students made posters and presentations exploring real-world examples of comparing big positive and negative numbers, with some highlights coming in the way of tsunami height vs. earthquake depth; the highest and lowest manmade and naturally formed points on the planet; and the highest and lowest temperatures found in our solar system!
Students have been learning what to expect and what they’ll be experiencing in Billings 6th grade Vocals. They have also been reflecting on their experiences and exposures around singing (instruments) and sharing their stories with the class. These in-class assignments help the teacher access each student's singing abilities and sets up the classroom as a safe space to explore art and take risks.
7th & 8th Grade Vocals students have been exploring and sharing with the class who they are as individual singers and as a singing ensemble. Students have also been learning the definition of core singing terminology such as Pitch, Timbre and Range. Students this week started doing the Range Check Exercise where everyone learns the lowest note and highest note they’re able to sing. This is always a fun experience for students as most of them learn that they have a higher or lower range than they expected.
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🎓 Deans on the Scene ✒️
Thank you all family members who came to chat with our teachers on Curriculum Night last week! If you were unable to attend, feel free to view the curriculum guide on our website.
i-Ready Updates: 6th graders finished the math and reading diagnostics. 7th graders are taking the math and reading diagnostics this week on Thursday and Friday. 8th graders will take the math diagnostic on Monday, 10/6. We will send results when all students have finished and teachers have reviewed the results, usually one week after the last diagnostic is administered.
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Tuition is vital for sustaining Billings, but it is the generosity of our community that truly enables us to create the exceptional middle school experience that sets us apart from other middle schools. Whether you donate monetarily, share your professional skills and talents, or volunteer your time on outdoor trips and other school events, you make a big impact on our school's success and our students’ success not just at Billings but beyond.
The Billings Annual Fund is your opportunity to make a gift that has a big impact. The Annual Fund raises money to support our academic programs; our unique outdoor education program; professional development to ensure our teachers are up-to-date with the latest educational practices; and resources for students that enhance their educational and social emotional work. This year, our focus is on “small school, big impact” - we are so excited to celebrate all the incredible ways our small, individualized approach to education makes a big impact on our students and our communities.
On Friday, October 3rd, we will be kicking off the Annual Fund with coffee and treats at the morning drop off. Stop by and learn more about this important fundraiser and connect with other parents in our community, or just swing by and grab a cup of coffee to go! We hope to see you there!
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Our Open Houses are coming up soon:
- Wednesday, October 15
- Saturday, November 15
We’re excited to welcome prospective families to campus and share what makes Billings unique.
Do you have a front lawn? We have yard signs available — a simple but powerful way to show your support.
Do you frequent a Community Center or favorite coffeeshop? We'd love your help posting flyers to get the word out. Every bit of visibility helps, and your support truly makes a difference. Thank you for helping us grow the Billings community!
Early Decision Applications are Open
Billings is now accepting Sibling and Community Applications for Early Decision!
Deadline to Apply: December 8th
If you have a sibling of a current student or are part of our broader community and are interested in joining the Billings family, now is the time to apply! Take the first step and submit your application today via the Ravenna HUB. Don’t miss this opportunity to be considered for early admission.
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🥾 ExpEd ⛺
The 6th graders pitched their tents this week in preparation for Deception Pass Trip on Thursday & Friday! The students did a great job communicating and supporting each other through the process.
| | The 8th graders are off to Mt. Adams for the Fall Leadership Outing Backpacking Trip! This trip gives 8th graders the space to set the tone and step up into leadership opportunities as they begin their final year at Billings Middle School. We are excited to hear the epic tales they will have to tell and the lessons they learned along the way. Good luck 8th grade! | | Billings Family Association | | |
Reminder: No parent coffee on Friday, 9/26 as our 8th and 6th graders are off on trips. Save the date for the following Friday,10/3, for the Annual Fund kick-off coffee!
Family Camping Trip Oct 3-5
We’re just over a week away from the family camping trip at nearby Dash Point State Park! This is a parent-organized event, and all Billings families are welcome.
Still thinking about coming? It’s not too late to reserve a campsite or just plan to come for the day! Check out the trip info doc for the event schedule and signups to bring food or help supervise activities.
Family Contacts Directory
The school is putting the finishing touches on a secure family contacts directory for current families. It will include each student's name and grade, as well as their parents/caregivers' names, email addresses, cell number, and home address.
If you do not want any or all of this information to be included in the secure directory, please notify the Front Desk by Wednesday, October 1.
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Upcoming Events: 📅
- 8th Grade FLO Trip: September 24-26
- 6th Grade Deception Pass Overnight - September 25-26
- Dash Point Family Camping Trip: October 3-5
- 7th Grade Overnight Trip: October 7-9
- [NO SCHOOL] WA State In-Service Day: October 10
- [NO SCHOOL] Teacher In-Service Day: October 13
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Adults 21 and up: catch Birch Pereira and the Gin Joints!
Birch teaches instrumental music at Billings Middle School, so check out what he does when he's not teaching!
When: Friday, October 10th, at Bake's Place in Bellevue WA, 8:00-9:30pm or Friday, October 24th at the Shanty Tavern in Lake City.
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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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Climate Action Families (CAF) is offering a free, 2-day workshop for 6-11th graders.
This workshop brings together two big themes:
- Migration (why people move, especially due to war, danger, or economic need)
- Climate Change (how environmental disasters like droughts, fires, and floods force people to migrate)
The course encourages young people to think about what it means to be welcomed (or not) in a new place — whether that’s a new school, new country, or new home, considering the question: If more people are forced to migrate due to climate change... how do we make space for everyone?
Sense of Belonging: Migration and Climate Change on October 18-19th, 10:00 am-3:00 pm.
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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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