Dunn goes back to books

When Kathy Dunn stopped teaching, she discovered something about herself.

The former kindergarten teacher, considered an island treasure by the families she touched, didn’t like retirement or substitute teaching.

“As a teacher, you felt responsible for everybody,” she said, and being a substitute just didn’t cut it.

Dunn found a happy medium three years ago, when she joined the Island School staff as a first-grade assistant. She calls her four days a week there “the frosting on the cake.”

Working with first-graders led to some adjusting on Dunn’s part. She loosened the reins and learned to give these students more responsibility than she could her kindergartners and appreciate their “pure white” minds.

“They just go for everything,” she said. “They’re all pepped up…and they’re honest.

As long as you’re fair, you’re all right.”

An added bonus is that they’ll still hold the teacher’s hand.

“I’m a widow. To have that physical touch is a real gift to me,” Dunn said.

Dunn is a fourth-generation islander who went all the way through the local school system. She left the island to teach in California from 1965-69, returning home after becoming engaged “to a fellow in Poulsbo.” She was glad she left, but happy to come back.

“I was probably 10 when I knew I wanted to be a kindergarten teacher and I never deviated from that path,” she said. “It’s just a different mindset you bring to kindergarten than to the other grades.”

Dunn will read back-to-school stories and share comforting thoughts at a storytime for children ages 3 and up at 11 a.m. Sept. 9 at Eagle Harbor Books. The event is free and includes refreshments.

Although this will be her third story-telling appearance there, she admits to having butterflies, just as children do at the beginning of the school year, especially if they’re entering kindergarten. The teachers are just as nervous and it’s okay to cry, teachers have Kleenex, she’ll tell her listeners.

“It’s quite a leap to go from preschool to kindergarten,” Dunn said. “They have lots of little worries.”

Dunn revels in her latest teaching incarnation.

“For over 30 years the buck has stopped with me,” she said. “I like not being in charge. We laugh all the time and the children laugh. That’s so healthy.

“Learning should be fun. It shouldn’t be this drudgery.”

– Rhona Schwartz

County burn ban in effect

A countywide burn ban that prohibits all outdoor burning except for cooking fires in contained barbecues took effect Wednesday morning.

The Kitsap County Fire Chiefs Association announced the ban following a dry summer in which fire dangers rose dramatically.

“This is one of the driest years I can remember,” said acting Bainbridge fire chief Glen Tyrrell. “It’s deceiving because the foliage looks green and lush, but the fuels close to the ground are extremely dry.”

A citywide ban was already in effect, but Tyrrell said that didn’t include fire pits at state parks on the island.

The new ban – which will last indefinitely – prohibits outdoor fires anywhere in the county.

All burning permits are suspended until the ban is lifted.

Mason, Pierce and King counties also have issued total burn bans.

Tyrrell said areas near traffic and recreation areas are especially susceptible, but urged people to be careful regardless of where they are.

– Chad Schuster

Open Space meets Tuesday

The Open Space Commission will hold its regular meeting at a different time on Sept. 12. The meeting will start at 6:15 p.m. in the conference room at City Hall.

For information contact openspace@ci.bainbridge-isl.wa.us.