As the school year winds down, Bainbridge Island School District superintendent Peter Bang-Knudsen said there is a lot of celebration taking place and shared news about transitions and creating connections.

One teacher who has been connecting young readers with books to grow their minds, hearts,and interests is Kathleen Pool, who received the 2023 BI Kiwanis Club Educator of the Year award. Pool is the librarian at Blakely Elementary.

Students are getting ready to move up. BHS seniors will graduate June 17, fourth- graders will move to Sakai, and eighth-graders will leave Woodward Middle School. All of those are celebrated with activities to help kids feel supported. “It’s really important for kids to find connections and build friendships,” Bang-Knudsen said as he explained how Woodward students toured the high school to get a look at what to expect this fall.

Second-graders at Blakely and Ordway have spent the year exchanging letters through a penpal program. Recently, they met for the first time for a joint class and shared a lunch and a recess together.

June 19 is a holiday and the last day of school is June 22, which is a half-day.