BSD Family Updates

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Right At School is providing childcare at West Hills STEM Academy for all elementary students in the District (not just those currently enrolled in Right At School) for non-student days this month, and during spring break! YKids will also be offering childcare during spring break for currently-enrolled YKids families. Learn more at BremertonSchools.org/Childcare

The Bremerton School Board has approved Friday, April 26 as a make-up day for our February 15 snow day. The updated one-page academic calendar is available at BremertonSchools.org/Calendar.

March 11 - 15, 2024 is Education Support Professionals Week (formerly Classified Week). More than 340 education support professionals work with and help students and staff throughout the Bremerton School District. They work to maintain school buildings and grounds, provide administrative support, prepare and serve meals, provide safe transportation, keep school facilities clean and safe, promote and support student and staff health and wellness, assist in the classrooms, provide information technology and media services and more.

These education support professionals are there for us and our students without fail, each morning, each afternoon, each day -- in every aspect of our schools. And each one of them assists us in keeping our school district thriving. Thank you to all of our educational support professionals!

Each spring students in grades 3rd-8th and grade 10 are given the opportunity to show what they know on the Smarter Balanced Assessments (SBA) in English-language arts (reading/writing) and math, and students in grades 5, 8, and 11 are given the opportunity to show what they know on the WCAS (Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science). The state has worked to reduce the lengths of the SBA tests, so our students now spend less time testing and more time learning!

Why are assessments important?

Assessments are one way, along with other measures, to know how students are doing in these subjects. They also provide important information to understand how districts and the state are doing in meeting all students’ learning needs. We encourage families to use the results to engage with their child’s teacher(s) about how to support learning at home.

Which test will my child take and when?

Look for information from your child’s school with specific dates and times for SBA and WCAS testing.

How can I help my child be ready?

• Stay positive

• Ensure a good night’s sleep and a full breakfast before testing sessions

• Communicate any questions or concerns with your child’s teacher

• Read more here (English / Spanish)

• You can check out some sample items from SBA

• Learn more about all state tests

Most scores will be reported to schools in June, with official score reports ready for families when we return to school in the fall.

If you have questions about these or other assessments, please contact: Cynthia Cantwell

Director, Academic, Social Emotional, and Cognitive Learning at Cynthia.Cantwell@BremertonSchools.org or 360-473-1006.

The purpose of Title 1 is to ensure that all children have a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education and reach, at a minimum, proficiency on challenging state academic achievement standards and state academic assessments.

The Bremerton School District uses multiple pieces of data to inform our plans and strategies for student and family support. Please click here to share your thoughts and give feedback!

All families in the District are invited to participate in our annual Title 1 parent meeting. On March 28, you can join the Zoom by clicking here!

The Bremerton School District Native American/Alaskan Native Program receives funding through a federal grant from the Office of Indian Education. Our grant funding is based upon the number of Title VI Student Eligibility Certification Forms (506 forms) received for each active student. If your student is of Native American or Alaska Native heritage and you haven't yet completed this form, we invite you to complete the 506 form today here! Completed forms can be emailed to Wendy.Bender@bremertonschools.org or returned to your school’s office.

Registration is open for the 2024-25 school year! If you know a family with a student who will be attending kindergarten in the fall, or who recently moved or will be moving to Bremerton, please encourage them to visit BremertonSchools.org/Register.

The Peninsula Community Health Services clinics at Mountain View Middle School and Bremerton High School provide services to Bremerton School District students (Preschool - 12th grade) and staff. PCHS can bill most insurance companies. Learn more at BremertonSchools.org/Clinic.

In an effort to ensure that all of our students have timely, affordable access to mental and physical healthcare, we are partnering with a health services program called Hazel Health.

With parent or guardian permission, students can speak with a Hazel mental health professional or have an on-demand medical visit at home or at school. We invite you to learn more here!

Gaggle Teletherapy is a free, confidential option to connect with a therapist online and on your schedule. Bremerton School District students and staff can meet with a therapist for weekly video or phone therapy sessions. Parents or staff can refer students, or students age 13 and older can self-refer! Click here to get started!

Need help accessing your student's first semester report card in Skward Family Access? Click here for step-by-step instructions. If you need help accessing Family Access or Skyward, please contact your child's school.

Please take a moment to review the winter weather communication plan so you know how we communicate weather-related delays and closures. Note: we do not send out "robo calls" for snow days but families can opt-in for text messages by calling your child's school), and anyone in the community can sign up for weather delay/closure notifications from Flash Alert.

Free online tutoring is available for all students in grades 3-12! Learn more!

Stopfinder is a mobile device app that provides you quick and easy access to your student’s transportation schedule, announcements, and more. Stopfinder works with the Bremerton School District transportation software to provide you the most accurate schedule information and updates as quickly as possible. Learn more here!

Daily transportation updates are posted on our website: www.BremertonSchools.org/BusUpdates.

Check out our before- and after-school childcare options for each elementary school and Mountain View Middle School. Childcare is available on Friday, February 16. Learn more here.

Background photo: Mountain View Middle School honor roll students celebrate at a recent pizza party held to celebrate their academic success as first semester honor roll recipients (3.5-4.0 GPA). Congratulations to all of our Squire scholars. See more photos here!

The Bremerton School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employee(s) has been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Garth Steedman at 360.473.1031 or the Section 504 Coordinator, Mark Mayfield at 360.473.4702. Mailing address: 134 Marion Avenue North, Bremerton, WA 98312.

Email: communications@bremertonschools.org
Website: www.BremertonSchools.org
Phone: 360-473-1000
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