Burlington, WA's private preschool, kindergarten, before and after school and summer program school for toddlers and children ages 18 months through 6 and beyond.
We are happy to announce a new Director has been chosen. Thanks to all of the candiates, staff and parents who participated in the search. Here is the announcement:
Carol Thomas has accepted the position of Director of BLS. She was unanimously selected. We all feel that she has the vision, early childhood experience, and connections in the community to breathe new life into BLS. Please see her attached resume. She will be starting full-time on Aug. 11.
Please let us know if you have any questions. We will know more about when she will be in, etc. soon. We are very excited about the upcoming year.
Burlington Little School Board of Directors’ Report:
We have had a very productive year. As an almost entirely new board this year, we had a lot to learn, but we jumped in head first in working with Terri to get the school back on solid financial ground, as well as ensure that there were effective systems in place for making decisions and moving BLS forward. A highlight of the year was a full-day retreat in March in which we took advantage of the facilitation skills of Kristen Ekstran to help us set priorities for what we need to focus on and what direction we want to move in. As a result of this meeting, we are looking forward to a focused session this fall involving staff, parents, and friends of BLS to help set a course for strategic planning. Other areas that we are currently working on include updating the BLS Bylaws and governance, updating our human resources policies, searching for a new director, and working with Marlys (our wonderful interim director) to make sure that we have a smooth transition.
At the top of our goals for the next year is to find a new director for BLS who is excited about what makes BLS special and who has the skills to grow BLS to its potential. We are also committed to providing and supporting the professional development of our staff and making sure that they have the management support that they need. We are very excited about starting the strategic planning process and developing a 3-5 year plan that can be implemented across all areas of BLS. And lastly, we will keep looking for opportunities to enrich the learning experience for our children at BLS.
As a board, we have found that we have a good balance of skills and viewpoints and we are all looking forward to continuing this work in the coming year. If you would like to learn more about us, we will have a display in the hallway at school with a picture and some information about each board member. If you are interested in learning more about how we function and what’s going on, all board meetings are open and we welcome visitors. We also have two vacant board positions that we are looking to fill. We are open to both parents and other members of the community who are interested in supporting the operations and advancement of BLS. We have monthly meetings and additional weekly work, depending on individual areas of focus. It is a great opportunity to be part of a dedicated group of people, learn how a board functions and support the mission of BLS!
You have probably seen a “new” (really and “old”) face in the office lately. I have been asked by the Board to serve as the Interim Director until the end of June. I will be here on Tuesday afternoons, Wednesday morning until 1:45, and Thursdays, all day. The days I’m not at BLS I am at the Children’s Museum serving as the Education and Curriculum Director. All in all, I see children and families every day of the week.
I have an “Open Door” policy. Feel free to come in to talk about issues or concerns or just to chat a bit. One of the highlights of working at BLS is meeting all the great kids and families. I was the Director of Burlington Little School for 5 years and my two granddaughters attended BLS. I have always been amazed by the programming and incredibly devoted teaching staff. It is wonderful to work with enthusiastic children, supportive parents and innovative staff.
I love the outdoors, children, gardening, knitting, reading and a good meal…and chocolate. I appreciate being asked to come back to help out the school and I look forward to meeting each and every one of you. I am glad to hear that “Chester:” will once again be a part of BLS. Coincidence?
Marlys' schedule:
T afternoons
W until 1:45 PM
TH all day
During the last two weeks of April, teachers and students examined donated appliance parts and created works of art; each with their own story and process. Parents, teacher, and kids (as the BLS Community) collaborated to create four unique artworks from a washer drum, knobs, wires, hoses, dials, and household objects after a social potluck last Wednesday. Thanks to the Magic Moonlight Room, Explorer's Club Late Afternoon Group, the Sunlight Room, The Learning Tree Room, and the Milky Way Room for your enthusiasm and creativity. Thanks as well to Liz and Gerd Kuchling with Kiri and Sabine, Cedar and Deann Graham with Lyric, Crystal and Daniel Britt with Adrienne, Patti Hamrick with Seth and Jaycee, Barry and Stacy Olver with Mackenzie and Naomi, and Maura and Mike Marlin with Moses for the fun, supplies, creativity, and spontaneity. The artwork is now on display at the Chuckanut Brewery and Kitchen (great food and it is family friendly) on Holly Street in Bellingham for a month. It will be auctioned off as part of the Appliance Depot's Art Revival on June 4th, as a fund raiser for its recycling and job training programs with proceeds split between the artist and the Depot. Please use the links below and photos and poster (coming soon) in the hall for more information.
This project was a lot of fun to put together and please join me up at the Chuckanut Brewery and Kitchen on June 4th 6-11 PM to enjoy the art revival and see our artwork!
The Outdoor Classroom is springing to life!! The donated trees and shrubs that have been in the ground for a full year are finally looking more established and blooming nicely.
The concrete walkway to the handicap ramp and the Big Yard is scheduled to be installed the last week in August. This gives us plenty of time to raise the funds necessary to build this pathway. Skagit Redi-mix is giving us a great deal on the concrete and our goal is to raise $2000. We have a sponsor who will match the first $500 we raise towards this goal. Donors will have their name listed on a tile in the Big Yard. If there is a business or individual who would like to sponsor the pathway, we will make a plaque with your name in recognition of your contribution. We need volunteers for the last 2 weeks in August help with site prep, to build the forms and to help with the finish work.
Have you noticed we have been adding many new items to the Big Yard over the last few weeks:
scuba tank chime (Mt Vernon FFA), fire extinguisher chime & aluminum pipe chime (Cory Gaines), sustainable hardwood Akimbira, cedar bench (Earl Curry, Kendall Jacobsen's great grandpa), sewing canopy (Michelle Greathouse, Jacob-K), cedar storage boxes (BE High School); Gerd Kuchling has been steadfastly installing these items for us using cedar slabs, cedar poles and other found objects. Thanks to Jeff and Patti Hamrick (Puget Sound Utility Services), the Big Yard has a new red Japanese Maple! The Toddler area is getting some new cedar building disks and 3 cedar benches thanks to John Mailhiot of Lost Arrow Arborists (Sage-K, Samson-Toddler) If you know someone who has a small toddler slide they would like to donate to the Toddler Yard, we have a plan to create a new play structure. (Talk to teacher Heather or Sarah)
The Organic Veggie Garden will be planted in May. We could use some help to get seeds in the ground and structures in place! Sarah will be in the garden on Wednesdays.
The next work party will be Saturday, May 22nd, 9am-2pm
Thanks to all those who help make this campus beautiful!
Here's a rah rah for you all. Thanks for your participation. Everything that we do from washing towels for BLS to watching out for kids in the parking lot to planning events and supporting teachers in the classrooms makes BLS special for our kids. After a break in March due to scheduling conflicts (we all juggle a lot, don't we?) we've been planning events and programs for May. Please join us! And YES! we'd love to have more help with upcoming events. Please see below.
• Art in the Community: ongoing display of BLS children's art in Skagit County. Contact Patti Hamrick, psus@comcast.net, if interested in taking on this project.
• On going BLS maintenance: as flowers are blooming and the garden is growing it is a great time to spruce up the school. Please check with teachers about items in the classrooms (loose table legs, etc.) and Sarah Bishop 360-319-0174 about weeding and work in the garden.
• BLS work party: May 22nd. Outdoor Classroom projects and other maintenance needs. 9 AM- 2PM. Childcare available.
• End of the year event planning: TBA. Look for announcements.
Newsletter: Coordinator needed to work with Director to publish newsletter for next school year. Contact Marlys in the office or at burlingtonlittleschool@yahoo.com or Stacy, stacyolver@yahoo.com.
Whew, not too long of a list but I'm out of room to list everyone that has taken on projects, participated in events, and helped out everywhere. You know who you are-THANK YOU! Please find me or Patti Hamrick if you are interested in participating in PPC next year. This is short and sweet- I've enjoyed working with everyone and count my time with PPC as a rewarding and learning experience. What a great opportunity we have to fully participate in our children's education. Thank you teachers, board, and parents.
Best wishes! Stacy Olver
(Sorry, this got out to late for the rummage sale/teacher appreciation events: But thanks to those who participated, they were both awesome! -Tiffany)
"Science and simplicity in the service of happier families: That sounds like a winner. So I called up Carter, executive director of the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California-Berkeley, and asked her how I could start making my own family happier.
She said to start off by asking two questions about your life as a parent:
1. When are you happiest with your kids?
2. What part of the normal day with your family routinely causes suffering?"
-Found by B.L.S. parent Stacy Olver on the website:
