Some Bainbridge Island School District traditions have been canceled because of COVID the past two years.
But at Bainbridge High School, there hasn’t been a Homecoming Dance in about eight years.
It was brought back this year, and students responded in a big way — with 500 tickets being sold.
Along with dancing the event featured games, outdoor activities and a dessert table that received rave reviews.
Superintendent Peter Bang-Knudsen said: “They just wanted to hang out, and they could do that. It really felt like a warm and inclusive environment.”
Also at the Oct. 21 school board meeting, Bang-Knudsen talked about an Odyssey Middle School student-led service project. A group of seventh- and eighth-graders visited a Holland America Cruise ship in Seattle that was bound for Australia to deliver 400 books they collected over the past three years for a new literacy library in Papua, New Guinea.
“That’s a great idea of our students engaging globally, acting locally and just doing a great service project,” Bang-Knudsen said.
The district continues to hire full- and part-time staff, substitute teachers, and there is a particular need for special education paraeducators. “These folks are known for their big hearts, problem-solving and caring personalities,” Bang-Knudson said, adding, “and they could definitely fill in some of the amazing opportunities that we have.”
Also, BISD launched a survey this month to improve communications by asking for feedback on the district’s communication channels to find out if families, staff and community members have the information they need about students, schools and district happenings.
The district is seeking to learn how respondents prefer to receive information based on demographics, topics of interest and communication preferences. Results will be incorporated into an analysis with recommendations on how BISD may improve communications with staff, families and the community.
Targeted focus groups scheduled for Nov. 9 and 15 will delve deeper into thoughts and opinions regarding BISD’s communications.
