Halilts Newsletter: May 18, 2026

Hi, Orca Families,

Our Bike to School Day today was so much fun! There were so many bikes outside my window today and they didn't even get rained on!

I want to acknowledge the ongoing conversations in our BISD community about technology use in schools. It’s important to ask questions and stay informed as we consider what’s best for our students.

Technology use is an important topic for all of us right now, not just in schools, but across all parts of our lives, especially for our children. Technology plays a role in our classrooms, and we approach it thoughtfully. Our goal is to use it as a tool to support learning—practicing and exploring concepts—rather than as the primary way students learn. At x̌alilc, we lean toward a “less is more” approach and prioritize developmentally appropriate use.

If you see students using devices during a visit, there is a purpose. Please feel free to ask questions—we welcome your curiosity and partnership.

This is a complex topic, and I’d love to continue the conversation. If there’s interest, I’m considering a parent discussion and book study next fall focused on technology and the developing brain. Let me know if you’d like to participate or have resource suggestions.

Thank you, as always, for your trust and partnership. Have a wonderful Orca week!

Sincerely,

Rhonda

Come volunteer at the Halilts library!

Bring a book to read aloud and help students find a just right book. Any help shelving returned books is very appreciated!

Volunteers need to be approved by BISD. Sign up here to help!

Questions? Please email PTO Library Coordinator, Heather Tartar, at heathertartar@gmail.com.

Please help us ensure a smooth testing environment by avoiding appointments on the dates below.

Testing will be begin in the morning.

Questions? Contact Katie Brase at kbrase@bisd303.org.

On Wednesday, May 20th from 5:00–7:00 pm, Spartronics is hosting its exciting annual “All Robotics” Open House—and K–4 students are invited!

Come see ARTEMIS, fresh from competing on the Einstein Field in Texas at the World Championships, and get an up-close look at amazing robots in action. There will be fun, hands-on demonstrations and presentations from robotics clubs across Bainbridge Island.

Find us in the BHS 100 building—or just follow the Spartronics flags and the excitement!

Notices of student checked out/missing items will be sent to family emails beginning Monday, May 31. Lists will also be given to classroom teachers.

The KRL Summer Learning Program begins June 1st. This is a fun way to keep your student reading during the summer!.

We are at 28% registration for the 2026-27 school year! If you haven't registered yet, please take a moment to complete your child's registration. Having an accurate headcount is essential for us to determine staffing, class sizes, and building capacity.

For more details, guidance for split households, and step-by-step instructions, please visit: bisd303.org/enrollment

BIEA (Bainbridge Island Education Association) and BISD Bargaining Teams met last evening and reached a tentative agreement to adjust the day of the week for release days in the upcoming school year.

Taking to heart the perspectives shared by our staff, students, and families, we have moved all full and half-day releases to Mondays instead of the previous mix of Mondays and Wednesdays. We heard clearly that having a consistent day of the week makes it much easier for families to manage childcare, work schedules, and family time, and we are glad to make this shift to support that.

Please save the following finalized release dates for the 2026–27 school year:

September 28

October 26

January 25

March 22

May 17

November 30

April 26

June 7

Please note that we will be continuing with the half-day conference schedule for the upcoming year.

We appreciate the patience and partnership of our staff, students, and families as we worked through this process to best support our school community.

20: Spartronics Open House @ 5:00 pm at BHS

28: PTO Parent & Guardian Night Out @ 5:00 pm

28: School Board Meeting @ 5.45 pm in Board Room

9: All Library Books Due!

9: School Board Meeting @ 5.45 pm in Board Room (Special Tuesday Meeting!)

15: Ice Cream Social @ 6:00 pm

16: 4th Grade Clap out at 10:50 am

16: Last Day School - School out at 10:50 am

19: Juneteenth Holiday - No staff in building

25: School Board Meeting @ 5.45 pm in Board Room

Looking for things to do around town? Visit our Community Events page for local happenings, classes, and family activities—updated regularly.