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Ordway Weekly Newsletter - May 11, 2026

Posted Date: 05/11/26 (03:29 PM)
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Ordway News
Front of school, Shrubs in bloom

Monday May 11, 2026

Inside this Newsletter
  • Thank you Ordway Families
  • STEM News
  • Bike To School Day
  • Parent Input Class Placement
  • Attendance Matters
  • ABC Process
  • Lost and Found
  • Ordway Calendar Events
 

Incredible Week - Thank you Ordway Families

Thank you so much to our wonderful PTO, for making Appreciation Week so special for our Ordway staff. Everyone was touched by how much thought, creativity, and generosity went into each of the different daily surprises - truly made folks feel valued and appreciated. Countless thanks for a wonderful week!
 
squishy circuit

STEM Updates !

Dear Ordway Families,

This spring, our students have been diving into global STEM topics like Artemis II and Earth Day while gearing up for our own STEM/Maker’s Fair. Thanks to the Ordway staff and parent volunteers with the STEM/Maker’s Fair!
  • Kindergarten: After exploring forces and motion which included knocking down walls and protecting houses from rockfalls, we are finishing the year by designing and building cars.
  • 1st Grade: Students moved from “Squishy Circuits” to problem solving and using computational thinking with Indi robot cars. We hope to wrap up with a Stomp Rocket launch!
  • 2nd Grade:  Our young engineers are shifting from LEGO builds and Scratch coding to our final units applying logic with Indi robot cars and bringing original ideas to life in Maker Space.
  • 3rd Grade: Following our creative Bristle Bot builds and earthquake “Shake Table” tests, we are transitioning into Little Bits circuits and Sphero Bolt+ robotics.
  • 4th Grade: We are currently applying physics with LEGO BricQ Prime Kits. The exciting final units involve sound waves and problem solving with Sphero Bolt+ robots.
Ask your child about their latest engineering challenge and how they solve real-world problems with others! I’ve enjoyed working with your child this school year and hope the summer brings lots of new experiences for them.

Sincerely,
Jocelyn Jablonski, STEM Teacher (K–4)
 
bike to school

Bike to School Day

Friday, May 15th is Bike to School Day. Students can bike, walk, scoot, even unicycle to/from school. 

PTO is calling all volunteers!  Help us make Bike to School Day 2026 the best one yet. On May 15th, we have a variety of locations AND times to volunteer and your support is greatly appreciated. You must have volunteer credentials with the school district (it's an easy and useful training). Last year we had an amazing turn out and it would not be possible without your help.

Please be extra patient if you are a driver that day and if you are a participant, be sure you are dressed with high visibility clothing.
Bike to School Volunteer
 
class placement

Parent & Guardian Class Placement Input

It is that time of year for you to provide input on your child’s placement for next year.

This is a confidential (and optional) guardian input form for K-4 student placement next year. Current 4th grade families, you received an email in April providing feedback to Sakai.
El Velero families you do not need to fill out this form.

There are many factors that impact placement decisions including balance of students with specific learning needs and class size. 
Input regarding your child's learning style, preferred learning environment, social context or other factors the school may not be familiar with can be helpful to the placement team. Your input will be considered in the placement decision. 

Reminder: While we carefully consider all input, we are not able to accommodate requests for specific teachers or placement with particular friends. 

If you have multiple children at Ordway you will have an opportunity to fill out another form after you submit this one. If you have an incoming kindergartener you can fill this out as well. 

This optional FORM is due by 3 pm Friday May 22
 
attendance

Finish Strong in May


As we head into the final weeks of the school year, it’s very common for children to feel tired and a bit less motivated—especially as summer gets closer! While the end-of-year slump is normal, coming to school each day still makes a big difference for your child’s learning, routines, and confidence.
A few simple ideas can help make mornings smoother and support strong attendance through the finish line:
  • Keep a consistent bedtime and morning routine
  • Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before
  • Talk about something your child can look forward to at school each day
  • Offer encouragement and celebrate the effort of showing up
  • Take it one day at a time—every day counts!
Thank you for partnering with us to help your child push through the last stretch of the school year and finish strong. Your support at home makes a big difference!
 

It’s ABC time! Register for the 2026-27 School Year

Please help us plan for next year!
 
If you know your student will not attend BISD in the fall, please let us know by contacting the Ordway office, sdunstan@bisd303.org or by sending an email to: studentrecords@bisd303.org with your educational plan so that we may adjust our records accordingly.
 
Our Annual Back to school Check-in process (ABC) is now open and is available by logging in to your Family Access account. Look in the left menu and choose: ABC 26-27 to move through the steps to complete this process ASAP.
It should take about 15 minutes (or less!) to complete the process for each child in your household.

This data collection allows BISD to gather information regarding your students’ plans for the upcoming year. Having an accurate understanding of the number of expected students helps us determine staffing needs, class size and building capacity to better serve our students. In addition to this valuable information, it allows BISD to fulfill its annual notification requirements for public schools in Washington state.
The ABC 26-27 process must be completed for ALL students in the district whether they are brand new to the district or returning. If your student will be enrolled in Running Start, the process must be completed for them as well.

*NOTE: For students with more than one family, ONLY the Primary Family will have access to complete the ABC’s. Guardians of Non-Primary Families will have “read-only” access. If this is a hardship for your family, please contact the school office for guidance, or send an email to studentrecords@bisd303.org. All families have the ability to make changes to their specific demographic information at any time via Family Access>Student Info>Change Requests link (in the top right corner).
TIPS: 
  • Use a desktop or laptop computer (if trying to use a mobile device, open up a browser and login to Family Access directly. Or, depending on your device you may be able to choose the “Desktop” version of the mobile app for this purpose).
  • Use the “View Full Screen” buttons when available.
  • Each step has a “Complete Step and Move to….” button. You must click that on each step to mark it as complete.
  • Optional steps: PTSO and Bainbridge Schools Foundation steps are there as informational only. Donations are appreciated, but NOT required!
  • IF you make a change request that needs to be approved by the district you can still Complete the Step and move on to the next step.  
  • If you think you have completed the process, but it is not showing as complete, look in the right column menu and look for the step(s) that do not have a check mark next to them. Click the link and you’ll either need to sign and date and/or merely click the “complete step” button….then Submit.
  • The LAST step – takes 2 clicks. “Complete ABC 26-27” followed by “Submit ABC 26-27”. As soon as you “Submit” you will get a notice and email that the process has been completed.
  • Forgot or did not receive your Skyward username and/or password? Go to the BISD web
 
lost and found

Lost and Found

PTO has photographed our Lost and Found. Are you missing anything? Take a look!

 
Calendars

Ordway Calendar

Did you know that these dates are on Ordway Parent Square and the Ordway Website? And you can subscribe to the Ordway Calendar?

MAY
04: PTO MEETING
06: KINDERGARTEN TOUR
15: BIKE TO SCHOOL DAY
19-22: SBA TESTING 3RD & 4TH GRADE
27-29: SBA TESTING 3RD AND 4TH GRADE
25: MEMORIAL DAY (NO SCHOOL)
28: ARTS & MUSIC NIGHT
 
local events

Community Events

This page on the BISD Website publicizes information about community events as a service to non-profit community organizations. These events are perceived as appropriate for students, parents, and families. Interested in submitting news and events? Learn how to do so by visiting our webpage, Distributing News & Events.

 

Non-Discrimination Statement

Bainbridge Island School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, homelessness, immigration or citizenship status, the presence of any sensory mental, or physical disability, neurodivergence or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability.  The BISD provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. 

The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination:

Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator & Title IX Coordinator:
Kristen Haizlip, Associate Superintendent
206-780-1058
khaizlip@bisd303.org

Section 504/ADA Coordinators:
Annalisa Sanchez, Director of Student Services
206-780-1069
asanchez@bisd303.org

Maria Kuffel, Director of Student Services
206-780-1088
mkuffel@bisd303.org

8489 Madison Avenue North Bainbridge Island, WA 98110