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Inside Billings
November 7, 2024
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🎒 What's Happening at Billings? 📚 | |
Important reminders that our Fall Family Education Event is tonight at Billings from 6:00 - 7:30 pm (more information below!) and there is no school on Monday, November 11th for Veterans Day. | |
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Mike on the Mic 🎤
As we enter this month of gratitude, I want to share my deepest thanks to our community of teachers, families, and students. As I shared last week, we opened yesterday with our regular All School Meeting, reflected about our mission and core values, and transitioned to Advisory to guide students through discussions to help them process their thoughts and emotions about the election. I’m so proud of how our teachers continue to provide such an enriching, supportive and inclusive learning environment. Billings is truly a unique and special place.
In our faculty meeting, we appreciated some wonderful things going on here at school, such as last week’s 6th Grade Science haunted house that was attended with joy and respect by 7th and 8th graders and the beautiful, heartfelt ofrenda outside the office in recognition of Día de los Muertos. We also celebrated yesterday’s drama classes filled with creativity and laughter, vocals classes with three-part harmonies and once-reticent singers now asking for solos, and an enthusiastic first climbing club and basketball practice. We also look forward to the 6th grade field trip on Friday.
I also want to thank each of you for your support of the Annual Fund. Thank you to our grade level reps who supported this work, and to our Annual Fund Chair, Erika Wright. We appreciated that they shared so thoughtfully about why they give to Billings and their hopes for its continued growth.
I am so excited to share that on Friday afternoon, we surpassed our goal of $100,000! To have 100% participation from our Board, our full-time staff, and our 6th grade families and 96% and 94% participation from 7th and 8th grade families truly feels like we are all in this together. Every additional dollar truly makes a big impact and we are still receiving gifts from current families, alumni and community members. Thank you to each of you for your generosity and support.
Another way you can support Billings is to follow us on Facebook and Instagram and engage and share our posts with your other neighborhood groups to help spread the word!
With deep gratitude,
Mike
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✒️ Deans on the Scene 🎓
Tonight from 6:00 - 7:30 pm at Billings: Please join Dean Rob, Mike, and Laurie Alexander (Billings Family Association Chair) for our fall family event tonight: Framing the Year - The World of Middle Schoolers!
We have about 20 families signed up already to attend! If you are planning to attend, please RSVP via this link so that we can get a head count. Light refreshments will be provided.
During this event, Rob will give a short talk on the middle school brain followed by a Q&A. After a brief overview of the brain science, Rob will hit on the three key components of the Billings student experience: academic support, social support, and at-home support! We'll then turn to breakout sessions with targeted questions so that parents and caregivers can share experiences, ideas, and wisdom!
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Break Camps at Billings - Steve & Kate's Camp
With Thanksgiving and Winter Breaks quickly 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 year.
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Mike had the pleasure of touring a Steve & Kate’s Camp location this summer and it was a joyful experience where children planned their own days with all kinds of activities. As soon as we put up a flyer outside the main office this week, we immediately had staff and student interest and excitement about it!
Steve & Kate’s Camp is very flexible - families can buy any number of days to use whenever and drop off and pick up any time between 8 am and 6 pm. Many large companies like Microsoft provide Bright Horizons Enhanced Family Supports benefits that can be applied directly to Steve & Kate’s Camp.
For more information or to help spread the word, please visit their website and check out their Fall Break Flyer and Winter Break Flyer.
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Philanthropy at Billings
Thank you everyone for your generous support of the Annual Fund!
Cheers to the 6th Grade as they made it to 100% participation and will be receiving a free pizza party!
Details on the pizza party will be sent out via email to the 6th grade families in the coming days.
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Upcoming Events: 📅
- [NO SCHOOL] Monday, 11/11 - Veterans Day
- Saturday, 11/16 - Open House, 10:30am-12:00pm
- Saturday, 11/16 - Pinehurst Craft Fair, 12:00pm-4:00pm
- [NO SCHOOL] Monday, 11/25 - Friday, 11/29 - Fall Break 🍁
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6th Grade is exploring two iconic Emerald City sites tomorrow: the MoPop Museum & Pike Place Market. One of the main MoPop exhibits is Fantasy: Worlds of Myth and Magic, which ties directly to Emma’s storytelling unit in ELA. Students will have the chance to explore some of the other exhibits and installations as well. We’ll eat lunch outside, and even get some exercise on the awesome play structure behind the museum. After our lunch break, we’ll head to Pike Place Market to explore vendors, stalls, and sites in our advisory groups. It should be a very memorable day! | |
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7th graders celebrated Halloween last week with a scavenger hunt throughout the school and a costume fashion show! It was awesome to see all the creativity and hard work they put into each of their costume designs. In advisory, the 7th grade team started to reconnect with students on their SMART Goals from the conference and see what progress they have made. Over the next few weeks, we will continue to focus on those goals, while the students will practice different usages for their planners.
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8th grade students spent time this week preparing for and debriefing the election and its outcome. Students in Advisory discussed how they think the election outcome may affect themselves, their community and the country. As advisors, we were impressed with how thoughtful and curious students were and the care and empathy they expressed. | |
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6th Grade ELA:
On Monday, students hosted their first graphic novel book club discussions. Students worked in small groups to discuss and analyze the assigned reading. Students also created drawings showcasing their creative reactions to their books with everything from an advertisement for plushie tie-in merchandise to horror illustrations of creepy-crawly creatures.
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6th Grade Science:
The students did an amazing job running their first Design Lab Haunted House! Students collaborated with their group members to create a booth to engage and entertain their peers. We had puzzles, escape rooms, games, and interactive exhibits. We are proud of all of the 6th graders’ work. It was a really fun event for all.
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8th Grade Science:
The 8th graders just finished their first chemistry unit of the year. Results are in and students performed amazingly on their first test. Students averaged an 88% on this first test of the year and also completed test corrections. We will continue to work on study skills throughout the school year. Keep up the great work for the rest of the chemistry unit.
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Spanish:
Last Friday was Día de los Muertos and all grades and staff celebrated by decorating and adding to the ofrenda we created. There were also treats - thank you families! Above, please see pictures of students making the decorations and the completed ofrenda.
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From the BFA:
Hello families, what a week. Feeling like part of a community really can help when things are rough. If you can, please come to the event tonight (more info below). It will be a great opportunity to connect with other Billings parents/caregivers and be in community together. Hope to see you there.
Join Us Tonight for The World of Middle Schoolers
This evening, Thursday 11/7, from 6-7:30pm, Dean of Students Rob Heavner and the BFA will co-host an in-person event for Billings parents and caregivers. Rob will speak on the big-picture social-emotional themes in middle school kids’ development and parents’ roles in supporting them. There will be time for Q&A and small group discussion. Rob’s talk will be recorded. Refreshments will be provided, so please RSVP now!
Kick-off Meeting for Faculty Dinner Event Team
The event team planning December’s faculty appreciation dinner will hold a kick-off meeting tomorrow – Friday 11/8 from 8:30-9:30am at the school. If you can’t make the meeting but would like to help out with this event, just let us know.
Notes from November 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 Digital Natives: Solutions for Healthy Screen Time Habits
With Delaney Ruston, documentary filmmaker, author and physician
Nov. 19, 2024, 7–8 p.m. PT
Register here for this webinar from ParentMap
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Come support local and student artists at the Pinehurst Craft Fair, taking place in the Billings' courtyard after the Open House on Saturday, November 16th! All proceeds from the Billings booth will be donated to a charity chosen by the student artists. | |
Did you know that Birch and his band regularly perform in the Seattle area? Join the Gin Joints at one of Seattle's oldest dive bars and dance out your blues to some americana, swing and New Orleans rock 'n' roll.
www.theginjointsband.com
Birch Pereira & the Gin Joints
Nov 15th at the Shanty Tavern, $10
9002 Lake City Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115
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SQUIRRELLY WORKSHOP
After-School Art & Holiday Gift Making
Squirrelly Workshop is an art studio in Sand Point Village (5414 Sand Point Way NE), hosting a wide array of art classes for kids and adults. Monday through Friday, we offer After-School Art Classes for kids, and would love to have yours join us! Their upcoming four-week series is their favorite:❤️ Surprise Holiday Gift Making!
Adults can also join in the fun! Learn collage, glass painting or wreath making in a weekend family class, or join for an adult night out creating pottery, mosaics, watercolors, or beaded jewelry. Pop into our Holiday Open House on Saturday, 12/1, 12-3pm. All ages welcome.
More at www.squirrellyworkshop.com
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Hello 8th grade families,
If your student will be considering private high school applications, click this link (English & Español) to learn about the test prep sessions Billings will be offering from September 9th through December 19th.
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 10th. 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 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 Tuesday mornings. Regular attendance is not a prerequisite. I don't need advanced notice. Drop in any Tuesday morning.
We will be meeting in person in Mercury, during advisory and the beginning of first period. Check-in at the front desk before heading down to Nadia. 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 Tuesday 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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