All Bellingham Schools are operating on an early release schedule on Monday, March 24. The early release schedule is:
- 10:30 a.m. dismissal for high school students
- 11:30 a.m. dismissal for middle school students
- 12:30 p.m. dismissal for elementary students
- 12:30 p.m. dismissal for Options/GRADS
There will be no morning kindergarten on March 24. Afternoon kindergarten will attend school in the morning. Click here for the year-long kindergarten early release schedule.
Elementary, middle and high school staff members use the time on these days that students leave early for professional development to improve student learning.
To view the year-long schedule, please click here. The 2008-09 early release schedule and school year calendar will be distributed and posted to the district's Web site later this spring, following Board action.
New for the March 24 early release day, about 100 students in grades three through five at Alderwood Elementary School will participate in a pilot program for after school enrichment, organized by district parent Kate Haskell.
The Bellingham School District has partnered with Western Washington University to offer this early release day enrichment from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Western Washington University faculty and student teachers will teach arts enrichment on March 24 and science enrichment on the May 5 and May 19 early release days.
"Early release days provide essential time for our staff to improve student learning," says Superintendent Kenneth Vedra. "Even though we have reduced the number of these days from what we had in previous years, we know that dismissing early presents some challenges for our students and their families. Forming community partnerships like this enables us to provide rich learning experiences for students, especially for those that otherwise may not have access to this type of environment in the afternoon."
The pilot program is being offered at no charge to Alderwood students, thanks to the following community sponsors: Looking Glass Salon, Roger Jobs Motors, Dr. Susan Hakeman, Intalco, Verry-Yuhl Associates, Kathryn Mitchell, Carol and Jeffrey Arvin, and Kate Haskell. Feedback will be gathered on this pilot project and reviewed for possible expansion in the future, depending on outcomes and available funding.
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