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Important Dates in April

Thursday, April 19 - Kindergarten Registration, 10 AM at the Primary School, (Your child will need to turn 5 on or before August 31, 2007, and you will need to bring in his/her Birth Certificate and Immunization Records.) If you have any questions, please contact Point Roberts Primary School Office at 945-2223.

April 9-13 - Spring Vacation

April 23 - Board Meeting, 7 pm at Point Roberts Primary.

Principal’s Corner
by Nancy Bakarich

Greetings from Point Roberts Primary School! There are some changes to our school calendar that we would like to make you aware of due to weather:
• School will be in session on May 7, 2007
• Our official last day of school will be Tuesday, June 19, 2007
We would like to thank everyone for their patience as we work through the changes this year.

If you are interested in any information regarding Health Coverage for students and families, there is a form in the school office for you to fill out. When completed, we will forward it onto the Whatcom Alliance Healthcare Access Group. There are also phone numbers available if you would like to contact them personally.

I enjoyed my visit during conference week and the time I get to spend with the students hearing about all that they are learning. It is amazing to see and hear the diverse ideas and concepts the kids are exploring daily.

From Our District Office:
Parents and community members have contacted the district regarding Sex Offender Notification Information. The Blaine School District has now posted on their website homepage, www.blaine.k12.wa.us, a link to both the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Department and Washington State Sex Offender Information Center websites. Parents and patrons may access these sites for information specific to the names and addresses of Level II and Level III offenders registered in Whatcom County, and specifically those individuals registered in the Blaine area. We believe that this link will provide our school public with access to the most current and accurate information, as we all strive to keep students and other children in our community safe.

If at anytime you have questions, concerns, or joys you would like to share, please feel free to contact me.

Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd Grade
by Rita Worth, Teacher

The spring brings enrichment activities at school. A recent event was our Student Showcase Fair with children displaying variety in their projects from stylish gowns to pirate ships. Thirty-four students, teachers, parents, siblings, and friends attended. The next event will be a PTO sponsored egg hunt which students and younger siblings enjoy each year. Then comes the annual May Field Day followed by June graduation for the second graders. These extra activities always contribute to a memorable school year for the children.

Recent assessments of the Kindergartners, first graders and second graders showed great improvements in academic skills. Our district’s focus on reading and writing skills has proven to be successful. Sight word recognition, for example, doubled for many students since the fall. Writing continues to be interesting and creative as students begin and then progress from phonemic spelling to conventional spelling. Children become empowered in new ways through writing. Emphasis on content and comprehension balance the writing skills to make a successful language arts program. Math seems to take turns and flips in educational methods. Our district strives to implement new strategies to the age old skills of arithmetic. At the primary level math games of many sorts are helpful and motivating for children. Playing board games at home with the family and having a regular reading time benefit all.

In conclusion I am happy to announce that I will be retiring from teaching this June. My fifteen years with the Blaine School District at Point Roberts Primary School have been highly satisfying and enjoyable. I leave with a host of memories from a year teaching school at the community center where I arrived each school day to turn on the heat to teaching for the next 14 years in an architecturally beautiful, state of the arts building with air conditioning. Each and every day has been memorable with nature at the doorstep and joyous children’s voices inside.

I would like to recognize the constant and continuing parental and community support and enthusiasm for the Point Roberts Primary School. The attention and dedication by many has contributed to the enrichment and education of the local children and has made my job most rewarding.

A Note from Pam
by Pam Sim

For those of you that may not know me, I have worked at Point Roberts Primary School for the last seven years. It has been my pleasure to work with the many students and their families. I have watched many kindergartners grow from being vibrant five year olds to confident and compassionate second grade students.

My job title is Secretary/Paraprofessional. My responsibilities are divided equally between secretarial work before and after school and the balance of the day working as a Paraprofessional. A Paraprofessional is an employee who assists the teacher in the classroom as well as implementing specific programs developed by the Blaine specialists. I can be found working with Special Education, Speech, Title One Reading, and English Language Learners (ELL). At lunchtime you will also find me supervising lunch recess.

By far, the most enjoyable part of my day includes working with our students. Their energy and enthusiasm carries through each and everything they do. It is a joy to come to work each day and a privilege to be a part of Point Roberts Primary School.