Documenting Bellingham

While doing some business in Fairhaven a couple days ago I got to thinking about how much the area had changed since I moved to Bellingham in 1991 and I suddenly found myself wishing I had taken more pictures of it so I could remember what it used to look like. Places are constantly changing and I've always loved looking at old photographs of familiar places to see the way things once were.

Happy Christmas from Soulstice Imagery!

Together Again

It’s been one week today since Whatcom Middle School burned and finally our kids are back where they belong: in the classroom! This morning, WMS students were brought together for an all-school assembly at Bellingham High School before heading off to learn the ropes at new schools across the city. A week ago I was feeling heartbroken over the loss of our beautiful school, and this week my heart is filled with awe over the extraordinary level of support that continues to flow from all corners toward our kids. Businesses & organizations, groups & individuals have donated thousands of dollars, needed supplies, brain power & brawn to help get the kids back to school as quickly as possible. In what can be a pretty harsh world, it is so inspiring to know that within the human spirit  lies such kindness and generosity. It’s odd to say given they have so recently  lost their school, but in the end, our children are truly blessed to have had this experience. It is my hope that it encourages them spend the rest of their lives perpetuating the same kindness and generosity that has befallen them this past week  : )

WMS students converge at Bellingham High

Each WMS student, teacher and staff member was given a cool new t-shirt

Asher and his all-time favorite teacher, Mr. Custis. He’s the best math teacher ever! 

WMS Principal Mr. Coulter welcomes his kids back to school

Kids love cameras!     

WMS ASB President Katie Bauer starts things off

These kids stood outside of Haggen collecting donations for their school. They raised about $3500, including a 50 cent donation from a homeless high-school drop out. Wow.

Mr. Coulter chokes back tears : (

Surveying the damage to their awesome school

  Wrapping things up with the Whatcom Stomp!

  This sign was divided into three parts, with one piece going to each of the schools where WMS students will be attending classes.

A 7th grade student gave Mr. Coulter this clever t-shirt. 8th Graders are going to BellingHAM HS, 7th Graders to FairHAVEN MS and 6th Graders to GenEVA Elementary : )

Unfortunately I was not able to get a good shot of this woman when Mr. Coulter introduced her during the assembly. She’s a 98 year-old graduate of Whatcom High School!

As the WMS kids left the assembly to head to class, they found the whole BHS student body congregated to greet them with supportive cheers. Very cool moment.

Inside the common area of the Wildcat Wing, a section of BHS that was vacated to make room for the WMS 8th Graders

BHS students obviously put a lot of creative energy into making  the 8th graders feel at home in their new school. The kids are thrilled with their efforts!

   

“WILDCAT WING” has been permanently painted over the doors. They even attempted to replicate the stone pillars from the facade of the school : )

A Sad Day For Bellingham

 

Our oldest school fell victim to a massive fire early this morning, leaving our community stunned and saddened. My son Asher is an 8th grader at Whatcom Middle School and he insisted I take him to see the damage for himself as soon as we received the news. We arrived about 6 hours after the first call to firefighters and flames were still visible all along the roof as well as in one classroom, while water poured from every entrance.

I’m feeling  heartsick by this morning’s tragedy. I always loved going into this old building. Unlike newer schools, Whatcom’s  walls seemed to reverberate the footsteps and chatter of more than a hundred years of lively students filling its halls and classrooms. I always found myself thinking of the changes this building had seen as Bellingham grew up around it…  of all the different fashions worn by its students over the years, and of all the historical events discussed among students and teachers as they occurred. Indeed, Asher watched the inauguration of our first black president in this building. Lucky boy.

My thoughts are with our awesome principal, Mr. Coulter, all of our fabulous teachers and of course every Whatcom Wildcat who’s lost his or her home-away-from-home this morning. I’m so sorry this has happened to your beloved school! Please find solace in knowing there will be many beautiful lessons learned from the community that is rising up to support you : )

The full album of photos can be seen here.

Asher’s sixth grade science classroom. This room was currently empty due to seismic retrofit construction.

   

Asher’s 7th grade science classroom, top left. 8th grade science classroom is the one being sprayed. Art classroom, second floor behind the evergreen.

 

Asher’s 7th grade math classroom, over the main entrance

I’m really thankful for these guys… still hoping they were able to save it for us.

Nope, not a doughnut. Apparently BPD officers prefer Egg McMuffins.

 

Gotta love a kid who brings marshmallows to a  burning school! You can tell how windy it is here by Mom’s & pup’s hair -definitely not good conditions for fighting a fire.

“This is messed up, Mom.”