A Message from Communications and Community Relations

Bellingham Public Schools is proud to share these highlights of our students, staff and community living The Bellingham Promise.

New Sunnyland designed with flexible learning environments
The newly rebuilt Sunnyland Elementary School opened its doors to welcome students and staff on Aug. 30, 2022. With 24 classrooms and two stories, the new building is almost double the size of the old Sunnyland, which had 14 classrooms and several portables. The school’s design incorporates the theme of “the neighborhood” and has an open, airy feeling to it. Each pod of classrooms has a collaborative learning area with tables, seating, and whiteboards where students from the same grade can come together for group work and projects. Thanks to sustained voter support of district facilities bonds, our community continues to replace aging schools in a collective commitment to our students and staff. Read more about this newly rebuilt school here.

Hands-on experience for high demand jobs in new CTE courses
Two new high school courses are being offered this school year in career and technical education (CTE): Construction Academy at Squalicum High School and Cosmetology offered onsite at the former Regis Salon in Bellis Fair Mall. Cosmetology students from Bellingham, Sehome and Squalicum high schools are bused to their afternoon class at Bellis Fair. Both courses reflect high demand fields that are seeing prolonged staffing shortages. Offering these introductory classes is a way to lead students to well-paying career opportunities and to help industries recover from the economic effects of the pandemic and from long-standing staffing issues. Full story is available online.

College Fair 2022 returns to in-person event  
On Thursday, Oct. 6, the first in-person College Fair returned after a two-year hiatus with rousing success. The event was held at Sehome High School, offering Whatcom County seniors, juniors, and a smattering of sophomores the opportunity to connect face-to-face with admissions representatives from area colleges and universities—with a few out-of-state colleges in attendance too. More than 400 students and parents attended. Read more…

Spacious new Shuksan gym benefits community
Approved by Bellingham voters as part of the 2018 school bond measure, the new auxiliary gym at Shuksan Middle School opened for use in the 2021-2022 school year as a transformative addition to enrich student experience. From need, to vision planning, to community support and now use, the Shuksan community and Bellingham Public Schools express gratitude for a completed bond project now in action.  Read online story…