Dear Madrona Families,

May has been an extraordinary month. It is hard to believe we are wrapping up the 2023-2024 school year.

This month we have capped things off with many fun excursions and opportunities: from the Mariner’s game to Mount Saint Helens; welcoming Joelle in for student teaching to follow-up-inspired baking frenzies; preparations for the Arts Night performances to community service with the Bainbridge Island Land Trust, BI Parks, and 6th year service learning projects. We have been very busy both at school and beyond!

As we wind the year down, the children are wrapping up studies about indigenous communities of North America; finishing up their Lit Circle books inspired by environmental activism; and mastering operations with fractions and whole numbers (4th years), decimals and area (5th years), and algebraic fractions (6th years); and laying the foundation for botanical classification by examining functions and varieties of stems, leaves and flowers.

All of the end of year traditions are heartwarming and bittersweet. We celebrate all the children’s hard work, creative expression, and growth at the child-led conferences at the end of May. During the last week of school, we will enjoy Bye Bye Beach Day with one another at Fay Bainbridge, learn about the 6th Years’ Service Learning Projects, commemorate the Elementary classes Moving Up, and spend one last day playing and enjoying each other’s company at Battle Point for Field Day before our final All-School Picnic.

It’s truly been a remarkable year, with such diversity of personalities and contributions, many memories have been made! We hope to see as much of you all as possible to share and reminisce about the school year before the summer officially begins.

Sincerely,
Jaclyn and Zach