Family Cougar Connect
Newsletter #9 December 2, 2022
We had an eventful week here at Clyde Hill! Our cougars were overjoyed with snow visiting our school during the school day. Many of our cougars took advantage of the snow during recess and had a blast building snow people and being kids.
I hope you and your families had a chance to unwind during the thanksgiving break and soak in four day weekend. My trip to El Paso was filled with sun, snuggles from my niece Scarlett, and taking in the beauty of the desert with my husband. Mrs. Hook spent her time taking family photographs for their holiday cards. We are always grateful to have these moments with loved ones and be able to carry on family traditions. We anticipate you and your families are doing the same and we hope to hear about them. Please feel free to send me a family photograph and a description of the family tradition/memory you are sharing.
We have two weeks before we end 2022! Let's end it with joy, gratitude and being in community with others.
Con Amor,
Brooke and Alison
Connections with the Principals/ PTA Potluck/ Reflections Art Show
Due to the weather, this event has been moved to this upcoming week.
This upcoming month I will be partnering with our PTA to host a family potluck on Thursday, December 8th @ 6:00 PM. The potluck will be hosted in the Cafeteria. Please join our community by bringing your favorite family dish. You will be able to connect with other parents, the leadership team, and preview this years Reflections Art submissions.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0545ABAB2DA1FB6-mrs1
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0545ABAB2DA1FB6-rsvp
Winter Weather Reminder
As winter weather sets in, please be sure to send your child to school with weather-ready clothing- raincoat, hat/hood, rain boots. Washington rain and snow season has arrived! While we do have a covered play area, we have found that many students feel compelled to brave the elements and run through the puddles and play in uncovered areas. Should there be days where the weather continues to have a heavy pour, we will adjust as needed for an alternative recess space. As such, thank you for sending your child to school with warm rain jackets and weather-sturdy shoes.
Family Cultural Engagement Survey
As a school we want to do a better job at elevating our students and the rich culture and traditions they carry down from their ancestors. We need your help! Our hope is to bring joy, knowledge and love about cultural celebrations into our community. We appreciate your contributions and participation with filling out this survey.
Please complete the survey to help us learn more about you and your families cultural celebrations that as a family you practice. https://forms.office.com/r/YWQ74ExnJT
A week of Snow @ CHE
Focus Virtue of the Month- Compassion
During the month of December we will be learning about compassion as a community during our assembly and morning announcements. Please engage in ongoing conversation about compassion with your student(s) by using some of these questions:
- What does it mean to “put yourself in someone else’s shoes”?
- How do you know if someone is feeling sad, hurt, or angry?
- How do you feel when a friend is sad?
- What can you do or say to help someone feel better?
- Can someone feel more than one feeling at once?
- How can you show that you are a compassionate person?
- When two people feel differently about something, how can we use empathy to understand each other’s feelings?
- Can you tell me about a time when you demonstrated compassion towards someone?
- Why is compassion and important virtue to practice?
Monthly Practice Safety Drill
Washington state law and Bellevue School District policy require all schools to hold at least one drill per calendar month while school is in session. This month, we will be conducting a shelter-in-place drill and practicing what to do in the event of a hazardous materials release near our school.
During a shelter-in-place drill, students sit quietly while staff simulate sealing the room to limit outside air exchange. [if your school utilizes any special procedures - i.e. moving from first floor to "buddy rooms" on a higher floor - include some of that information here]
Shelter-in-place procedures would only be used if officials determine there is not enough time to safely evacuate people out of the danger zone.
Please talk with your student about preparing for emergencies and disasters. Encourage them to talk about their concerns and express their feelings. Emphasize that even though sometimes things happen that we may not expect, there are lots of things we can do to help us stay safe.
For more information on shelter-in-place, you might want to visit the Washington Department of Health website at
https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/BePreparedBeSafe/SevereWeatherandNaturalDisasters/ShelterInPlace or the Washington Emergency Management Division at https://mil.wa.gov/hazardous-material.
Please let us know if you have any questions.
School Reminders
Too Sick for School?
Please be mindful of keeping your child home if they are experiencing any symptoms on the “Too Sick for School” list: https://bsd405.org/services/health/covid-19-health-and-safety/symptoms-exposure/
If your child presents sick or has one or more of these these symptoms, please keep them home:
- Fever
- Chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Muscles or body aches
- sore throat
- Fatigue
- Congestion or runny nose
There are many reasons your student may be too sick for school other than COVID. Keeping ill students at home protects everyone, including teachers and classmates with medical conditions. Although coughs and runny noses may linger, it may be necessary to keep your child home or pick them up if they have continuous coughing or runny nose, even if it has been lingering for several days.
Lost and Found Items
District Updates
Open Transfer and Choice School Lottery Opens December 5
Both the Open Transfer and Choice School/Program application periods are: December 5, 2022 through January 13, 2023.
- All applicants must be residents of the Bellevue School District at the time of application. Residency documents will be requested at the time of enrollment. (The children of eligible BSD employees may apply.)
- Siblings of current students are not guaranteed enrollment and must apply.
- For more information, please visit:
Inclement Weather and Potential Closure Reminders
Unpredictable winter weather is already here, which may sometimes impact school schedules. BSD encourages families to take the time to revisit the district’s emergency closure schedule protocols and our emergency closure decision-making process. During instances of inclement weather or severe conditions that could result in a delayed or canceled school day, BSD will communicate any schedule changes to families through direct messages, including email, text message, phone call, social media, FlashAlert, local media and posts to bsd405.org.
Read the Inclement Weather and Potential Closure Reminders news post for more information on processes and procedures related to closures and potential impacts to families.
District Reminder- Student and Community Session
Student and Community Engagement Sessions for Proposed CEO Program
There are several community feedback sessions next week regarding the proposed Community Engagement Officer Program, which replaces the former School Resource Officer Program.
- Bellevue High School - December 7, 1:30-2:30 p.m. - Student event
- Newport High School – Monday, December 5, 6:00-7:00 p.m. - Community event
- Bellevue High School – Wednesday, December 7, 6:30-7:30 p.m. - Community event
Rainier Athletes Seeking Adult Volunteer Mentors
Rainier Athletes Seeking Adult Volunteer Mentors
For the past ten years, Rainier Athletes has been a partner of the Bellevue School District. The mission of the organization has remained steadfast: use athletics and mentorship to direct students towards a path of achievement and close opportunity gaps.
A student participant in Rainier Athletes is paired with a dedicated mentor and fully sponsored year-round to participate in sports, extracurriculars and summer camps. Mentors build relationships with the student and foster an authentic connection with the student’s family and community to holistically support and motivate students to achieve their greatest potential.
Rainier Athletes is in search of caring adults to be connectors that bring together a community of support for students in our district. Learn how you can apply to volunteer as Rainier Athlete’s mentor.