Halilts Newsletter: September 8, 2025

Welcome to week two Orca Community!

We had a great week last week. Students showed up with smiles and happy greetings to their friends and the staff!  

A special welcome to our new students and families! Your students will quickly settle in and make new wonderful Orca friends. We hope this new adventure becomes a place of joy, safety, and learning. We have a wonderful community! 

This year we will be focusing on knowing and being known. Knowing and being known is foundational feeling emotionally and socially safe at school and learning. Our theme is, "You Rock!" This theme incorporates the petroglyph out near Agate Pass that the Suquamish Tribe gifted us as the name of our school, x̌alilc, which means 'marked rock'. We will be working to "mark" the amazing things we see in our students. Unlike our Caught in the Act tickets that focus on our expectations—Be Safe, Be Respectful, Be Responsible—we will be encouraging students and staff to notice the unique and wonderful characteristics each member of our community possess and share each day! 

We are so happy to be back together and nice to reconnect with all of you, also! 

Have a great week, Orca families! 

Rhonda

x̌alilc Back to School Night will be held on one night for all grades except Kindergarten. Kindergarten families will not be participating in our Parent/Guardian night due to the WA Kids conference and parent meeting held the first week of school. 

Adults of 1st -4th grade students will meet in the commons and then go to the classrooms.

Boys and Girls Club @ Halilts has offered to provide childcare for only $15.00 per child. Please fill out the attached form if you would like to reserve your spot!

If you have a student at x̌alilc, you are a member of the PTO! We encourage anyone interested in learning more about our amazing school community, as well as learning about volunteer opportunities, school and district information, and all other important information, to please join us at our monthly PTO meetings!

This is an opportunity to say hello, meet one another and learn more about how the PTO supports our students and staff!

Please reach out if you have any questions! 

Annalisa ALberti

Lisa Sipprell

x̌alilc (Halilts) PTO co-presidents

halilts.president@bainbridgeptos.org

The Halilts PTO is hosting Harvest Festival on Friday, September 26th!

Join us for this free family event as we celebrate the harvest and welcome the start of the new school year. This event is open to all Halilts families on September 26 from 4:30-6pm.

Hands-on learning stations will be outside, such as pumpkin painting, face painting and much more!

BISD Food and Nutrition services will provide a limited harvest menu in the commons featuring items inspired by our own school garden! Ingredients will be sourced from local farms--like Suyematsu farm down the street!

We hope to see you!

PTO is looking forward to offering chess again this year on Wednesdays after school! 

Club size: up to 24 students

Club time: 2:20-4pm

Location: Covered area under the Library

Cost: $120 per session

Sign-up Here 

Drop off for all students begins at 7:35. Building doors open at 7:40 and school begins at 7:50.

Car drop-off: students can exit the car along the curved curb. Please pull forward to allow as many people to drop off as possible.

Please be sure your child is:

Walker/bikers: Parents, please say “see ya later” at the flagpole or stairs to the playground.

The dismissal bell rings for all students begins at 2:20 and students will begin exiting the building after this time.

Walker/bikers: Meet your student(s) by the flagpole and walk off campus on a designated sidewalk. Please do not walk across the car enter and exit driveways. Students should use the south walkway if they are headed south on Madison.

Bus Riders: Please review your student’s bus number and stop. 

Please remember, no pets are allowed on campus during school hours.

Thanks for your help! It helps us make things run as smoothly as possible.

BISD uses ParentSquare to share district and school communications (such as this newsletter) with our families, staff and the community.

Parents can personalize their accounts to receive text messages when information is posted. Never miss school information again!

All parents/guardians with a student in our school system can set up their ParentSquare account using the same email address listed in Skyward/Family Access. This document walks you through the necessary steps.

Our food services team is excited to develop new recipes that are healthy and tasty for kids. We are working hard to prepare as many meals as possible here in our kitchens. Please see the monthly menu for daily meal choices that outline options that are cooked by scratch. 

Breakfast served daily from 7:35 am - 7:45 am

Grades K-4: $2.25

Grades K-4: $4.00

Milk: $1

Soy Milk: $1.50

Juice (Grades K-8): $1

Every BISD student has a student meal account where funds can be held to pay for lunch. Funds for student meal accounts can be made by cash, check, or online. The most secure way to pay is via the online system. Students who bring checks or cash to school, should bring it directly to the front office to Sheila or Andrea.

Free and reduced-price lunches may be obtained by any student -- at any time during the school year -- whose family income falls within the guidelines set by the US Department of Agriculture. Families are encouraged to apply. For assistance, call (206-780-1844) or email:  NutritionServices@bisd303.org.

 

This is a one-stop resource for all the information you need about Bainbridge Island School District:

This information is also available in the Family Handbook section on our website, where it can be translated into the language of your choice.

9: First Day Preschool

18: Back to School Night 1st & 4th at 5:15pm

18: Back to School Night 2nd & 3rd at 6:30pm

24: Picture Day!

26: Harvest Fair from 4:30pm-6:00pm