News & Information

School Events

Calendar : 

Oct. 19th
EARLY RELEASE
12:30 dismissal
No 5th Grd Strings today
Art Classes 12:30—4:00
 
Oct. 30th
Jog-A-Thon
 
Oct. 31st
Harvest Festival & Carnival  5:00—7:00 p.m.
 
Nov. 4th
PTA Meeting
4:00 p.m.
 
Nov. 6th
Picture Retakes
 
Nov. 11th
NO SCHOOL
Veterans’ Day
 
Nov. 18th—27th
Conference Schedule
EARLY RELEASE
for all Students
12:30 dismissal

Larrabee Events Calendar

On October 8, the School Board released a preliminary plan to reopen Lowell in the fall of 2010.  Since that announcement I have been approached by many people asking, “What does that mean for Larrabee?”  Rumors about Larrabee becoming a pre-school have even landed in my      office.  I want to emphasize the importance of preventing rumors.  Rumors do not help the teaching and learning environment of your children. 
 
Uncertainty often creates anxiety and then rumors are created to give meaning to the unknown.  Therefore, I encourage all families to view the School Board’s preliminary plan to reopen Lowell next year.  The document can be viewed at http://www.bham.wednet.edu/.  I also have a copy in my office and would be happy to sit down with anyone and discuss the individual events of the process.  I want to remind families that the School Board has stated that all Bellingham Schools will be open in the fall of 2010.  As a result of Lowell reopening, the neighborhood school boundaries that were redrawn in 2007 will go into affect.  That means that a few families who currently attend Larrabee will be in Lowell’s boundaries.  A map of the boundaries can be found at the previously mentioned website.  I also want to remind families that there is a transfer process available to you.  Many families currently attending Larrabee live outside our boundaries.  If you have questions about the transfer process I can answer those for you and will help you with the paperwork.
 
Something I have learned about rumors is that there is usually a kernel of truth in them.  Will Larrabee be a pre-school?  The Bellingham School District currently provides pre-school to children of that age who are in special education.  When Dr. Vedra was superintendent he had a vision of our school district providing education to all children of pre-school age.  However, no study has been done to determine the suitability of our building for children of pre-school age, and I am aware of no plan that has been submitted to the School Board to expand pre-school services.  Larrabee has changed in many ways over the past six years since I have been       principal.  Some of the curriculum has changed, the model we use to deliver the curriculum is different, and the boundaries we serve are different.  What has remained the same is the staff and community commitment to providing an education that serves the whole child.  I encourage you to ask questions and consider the source.

Have a wonderful weekend
Eric