Welcome Back!
August 19, 2024
Dear Blaine Primary Families,
Welcome back to a new school year! I hope your summer was full of fun and relaxation. We’re excited to start this new chapter together with you. This year is especially important as Blaine Primary and Blaine Elementary Schools merge under one principal. I’m excited and honored to lead both schools as we start this new chapter and help our combined community grow and succeed.
At Blaine, we believe that when we work together—families, teachers, and the community—we can do amazing things for our students. We’re here to support every child, helping them learn and grow in the best way possible. With the combined strengths of both schools, I know we can make this year great.
Thank you for your trust and partnership as we begin this exciting new chapter. Together, we’ll create a positive and thriving environment for all our students. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns—I’m here to listen and support our school community in every way I can.
I’m looking forward to seeing you soon and making this school year our best one yet!
Warmly,
Michelle McKeown
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Below is a summary of information that will help us work together to successfully launch the school year!
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL… IMPORTANT: The first day is a LATE START, school doors open at 9:00.
Wednesday, August 28th for first and second grade students.
Tuesday, Sept. 3rd for TK and Kindergarten students.
Tuesday, Sept. 10th for Developmental Preschool students.
Arrival: School doors will open at 8:00 M/T/Th/F and school starts at 8:20. Wednesdays are 1-hour Late Starts, with doors opening at 9:00 and school starting at 9:20. Please do not drop students at school or leave them unattended prior to school doors opening. Also, if your child is planning on having breakfast at school we recommend that they arrive as close to 8:00 as possible to allow them time to eat and still get to class on time.
At Blaine Primary, families should park in the two South-East lots off of Boblett St. and walk students to the front of the school. The front parking lot at the Primary School is not available for pick up or drop off.
At Blaine Elementary, families should drop off and pick up in front of the school or in the north parking lot.
Dismissal: The school day ends at 2:50 p.m. daily (except early release days which is 12:50).
Primary School students will be released from the Covered Area on the North side of the Primary School. Students will come out with their teachers and once the bell rings, the garage doors will open and students will be released to families. Primary School families should park in the two south lots off of Boblett St. The front parking lot will no longer be used for pick up or drop off.
At Blaine Elementary, families should drop off and pick up in front of the school or in the north parking lot. Your family can also designate meeting spots in different locations that your student walks to.
✷ Important: Please ensure you have communicated your child’s after school transportation plans to your child’s teacher. It is critical that all changes in pickup plans are communicated to your child’s teacher via Parent Square no later than 1:30 pm, as we can’t always ensure messages received after this time will get to the student before dismissal. In the event of an emergency change please let your child’s teacher AND the school office know of change.
Wednesday Late Starts: Teacher collaboration is a critical aspect of effective student learning. Each Wednesday teachers across our district will engage in Professional Learning Communities aimed to support student success. As such, school will start one hour late each Wednesday, with doors opening at 9:00 am. The only exceptions to this are November 27 & April 16. Students will start at regular times these two days, since they will be released from school at 12:50pm for parent teacher conferences.
Class Placement/Teacher Information
Your child’s teacher assignment can be accessed through Family Access. You can find directions and the link to Family Access HERE.
BACK TO SCHOOL EVENTS…
Supply drop off event & teacher meet and greet:
On Monday, August 26th, from 1:00-3:00 students and families are invited to come meet their teacher, visit their new classrooms, and drop off school supplies in preparation for the first day of school. In order to give our teachers the opportunity to say hello to all students and families, we are asking everyone to limit their stay to 15 minutes. If you feel you need more time to connect with your child’s teacher, please connect with them to set up a separate meeting time. Our school counselor and social-emotional learning interventionist will also be available to meet any students who may need additional support for the transition into school. School Supply Lists can be located HERE for BPS and HERE for BES.
Kindergarten Family Connect Conferences:
From Wednesday, August 28, to Friday, August 31, our dedicated TK & Kindergarten teachers will be meeting with families for state-required entry conferences. During these conferences, students and their families will have the opportunity to meet their teacher, drop off school supplies, explore the classroom, and discuss the fundamentals of kindergarten. Students will also participate in an initial skills screener. These meetings are designed to ensure a smooth transition and provide an opportunity to discuss important aspects of your child's educational journey. Additional conference scheduling information will be sent separately to TK & K families.
GETTING CONNECTED…
Parent Square: We are excited to announce a new form of school-to-home communication called ParentSquare. This communication platform is designed to keep you informed and to encourage greater engagement and connection with your school and district. ParentSquare provides a safe way for district administrators, school principals, teachers, staff, and families to:
Receive messages from your student’s school/teacher
Send messages to your student’s school/teacher
Receive alerts and attendance notifications
Share documents and files
Receive district and school newsletters
Communicate in your preferred language
See calendar items
and much more . . . all in one centralized place!
School and district information will now be sent to your computer or phone via email and/or text using ParentSquare. Prior to the start of school, you will receive an invitation email through ParentSquare asking you to activate your account so you can set your notification preferences, choose your preferred language, and use all the engagement features available to you. The invitation email will be sent to the preferred email address attached to your student’s record in Skyward Family Access. For even more convenience, download the ParentSquare app (available for free for iOS and Android devices). If you do not activate your account, you’ll still receive email messages, but will not be able to use the two-way communication features.
Skyward Family Access:
Family Access gives parents and students on-line access to student information including teacher assignment, attendance, schedules, immunization records, and an option for paying school fees. You can find directions and the link to access family access HERE. ✷ IMPORTANT: For safety and security reasons, changes to student profile or contact information must be completed through Skyward Family Access or in person at the school with proper identification. Changes can not be made over the phone.
Ongoing Communication:
ParentSquare - Most communication will come through ParentSquare so please ensure you have notifications turned on for this application and check it when alerts come through.
Email - This is a critical means of communication from the school. Please ensure your email address is updated in our system so you receive important school and classroom communications.
Mail - Occasionally we will mail important information home. Please keep your mailing address up to date.
Monthly Newsletter - The first week of each month we email our monthly newsletter with important information. Be on the lookout to stay up to date on what is happening within our school.
Volunteers:
We highly value the time families volunteer in our school and classrooms. Volunteer applications must be updated each year and can be accessed now in the school office. The approval process can take up to a month, so we encourage individuals to apply as early as possible if there is a desire to volunteer in the school, classrooms or on field trips. A volunteer badge is required for all volunteers across the Blaine School District. Additional volunteer information can be found on the district website or this LINK.
PTO:
We would also like to invite all of our families to participate in our Parent Teacher Organization (PTO). This leadership group actively supports our school by funding educational enrichment opportunities and coordinating community events. Our PTO holds regular meetings throughout the school year, which are open to all families. Join the BPC and BES PTO pages on Facebook and watch our monthly newsletters for more information on how to get involved.
Chromebook Distribution:
The Technology Department will be conducting drive-thru Chromebook distribution on the dates listed below, located at the Technology Office. No set appointment times. Families can come anytime during the set time windows listed below. Visit our Tech Department Webpage for additional details, including a map of pick up location.
August 19-22: ONLY students in Grades 2-12 who were registered by June 30 (including HomeConnection)
9:00am-1:00pm & 5:00-7:00 pm
August 23: All registered students in Grades 2-12
9:00-11:30 am & 1:00-2:30pm
August 26: All registered students in Grades 2-12
9:00-11:30 am & 1:00-2:30pm
Starting August 29: BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
Walk-in appointments are not accepted.
A link to schedule appointments will be posted on this page after August 26.
Appointment times are limited and will be available Mondays-Thursdays between 8:30am-12:00pm & 1:00-2:30pm and on Fridays between 8:30am-12:00pm.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
A parent or guardian must pick up student devices.
Chromebooks for students in kindergarten and 1st grade will be provided in the classroom.
Please review the Chromebook Use Expectations together with your student.
OTHER UPDATES…
New Student and Family Handbook:
The District will be publishing a new student and family handbook that outlines a range of important information about our district and schools. Until that is released, we wanted to highlight a few pieces of information that may be of particular interest to families:
Continuing No Cost School Meals:
Blaine Primary and Elementary Schools are eligible to participate in the Meals for Washington Students Fund (HB 1238) and will resume offering one breakfast and one lunch per day at no cost, regardless of family income, to all students attending these schools. Breakfast and lunch menus can be found on the school district website or through this LINK.
Importance of Free/Reduced Lunch Applications:
Important: We encourage families to continue filling out free and reduced lunch applications, since this allows students access to a wide variety of supports beyond just meals, and it ensures that Blaine Primary and Elementary receive all of the funding they are entitled to for federal meal and state education programs. It also impacts our continued eligibility for free lunch programs in the district. Application information can be found HERE.
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The dedicated teachers and staff of Blaine Primary & Blaine Elementary have been diligently preparing our classrooms to ensure a welcoming and engaging environment for your children. This year holds the promise of extraordinary experiences and unforgettable memories. As we get ready to navigate this new year together, we are truly honored to have the opportunity to serve your children and our community. We eagerly await the return of our students' shining faces.
On behalf of the entire staff at Blaine Primary & Blaine Elementary Schools, we extend a heartfelt welcome to the 2024-2025 school year!