Family Cougar Connect
Newsletter #15 March 10, 2023
Cougar Families,
March is in full swing! We have some fun and celebratory events this month and we hope you can join us. Last week, we kicked off March with our virtue assembly and recognizing Women's History Month. I want to give all the women in our community appreciation and love for all that you do on the daily to support your family, maintain jobs, and still be active members in our community. You are incredible! Be sure to thank the women in your life and community that lift you up and provide you with joy and support.
We have a few more months left in our school year and we are determined to finish strong. There are many changes on the horizon as we approach the end of the school year and as a community I have full confidence that we will continue to work together, lead on each other, and welcome change. As you may have already heard, the school board will be voting on the recommendations to consolidate two schools. More information about school consolidation can be found https://bsd405.org/departments/finance/budget/. Based on the decision, we will be working to create spaces to listen to your questions and support any transition.
Thank you for take a few minutes to read through the information below. If you have questions, feel free to email me garciab@bsd405.org
03/14 -- Chinook Counselors Meeting with 5th Grade Classrooms
03/16 -- PTA Heritage Potluck, 5:30-7:30 PM
03/17 – Professional Development Day – NO SCHOOL
03/20 – West Zone Band Concert, 7 PM, Chinook MS (students arrive at 6 :30 PM)
03/21-- Principal Parent PTA Connection Night 6:00-7:00 PM
03/28 -- Virtual Principal Parent Connection 8:30 AM Click here to join the meeting
April
10-14 No School (Spring Break)
In Partnership,
Brooke and Alison
Celebrating our Community
Martenitsi and Baba Marta Day
The tradition dates back to Thracian times to welcome spring. Orpheus is said to have decorated his harp with such an item. The tradition was saved even during Bulgaria's five centuries of Ottoman oppression where celebrating traditions, expressing your religion, going to Church, celebrating holidays were forbidden and were punished by a death sentence. In the ancient world, the year was divided into two seasons: winter and summer, and March 1st ushered in the summer. The colors on the martenitsa also date back to ancient times. The red was symbolic of the sun's rays, and the white was the last snow of winter. The two tassels twisted together provided both humans and livestock protection from the evil forces of the cold winter.
We celebrate with our Bulgarian Community <3
Focus on the Virtue of Mindfulness
This month, our focus will be on learning about the virtue of mindfulness. Mindfulness means being able to maintain a moment-moment awareness of our thoughts, emotions, body, and environment. Mindfulness gives us the time to pause and see how we are feeling. It allows us to be in the present moment and take time for ourselves and our mind.
Questions you and your family can use to engage in deeper conversation about mindfulness:
- Can you think about three things that make you happy right now?
- What emotions do you feel right now?
- What do you hear when you close your eyes?
- What do you feel on your skin?
- What do you smell right now?
- What matters the most to you?
- What makes you feel sad?
- How can you be kind to yourself?
- How can we be kind to others?
American Heart Association Kids Heart Challenge @ Clyde Hill
Thank you for your participation in the Kids Heart Challenge! As a school we raised $6,555 which will go to supporting research and treatment of special hearts. We appreciate all who signed up and took the challenge to stay active and be kind.
On the Horizon...
PTA will be hosting a Read-a-Thon, more details to come!
Clyde Hill Heritage Festival
You and your family are cordially invited to the Heritage Festival!
Thursday, March 16
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm in Multipurpose Room
Clyde Hill Elementary’ s cultural celebration this year includes performances by our school’s choir, the Highlight Quartet, a community potluck dinner, a display of cultural heritage poster boards created by students, and an opportunity to contribute to a PEACE banner at the event.
We have extended registration through Friday, March 10th. PLEASE REGISTER your student if they will make a presentation board (or a flag) to display at Heritage Festival. If your student needs a PTA-provided display board, please indicate that on your registration form. We only have 12 poster boards remaining for pickup. Poster boards can be picked up on Tuesday, March 2, and Friday, March 10 in front of the office after school. EVERYONE IS ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND, even if your student does not create a display board or flag.
Please bring a dish to share for approximately 12 people, (or double the servings of the number of guests attending from your family) with serving utensils. Note cards will be provided at the entrance to list the main ingredients in case of food allergies. *No nuts, please!
As with any event, we couldn’t do it without the wonderful volunteers. Please volunteer to help with set up or breakdown for the event when you register your student.
If you have any questions about Heritage Festival please email us Heritage@ClydeHillPTA.org.
Smarter Balanced Testing
This spring students in grades 3-5 are required to complete the Smarter Balanced Assessment for English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics online per WA State law requirements for public schools. 5th grade students are required to also take the Washington State Assessment for Science.
Below is a draft of our testing schedule this spring. Please avoid scheduling vacations or time away from school during these important assessment windows. Vacation requests may not be granted if they conflict with state standardized testing.
*Please note that dates may change
The Washington Comprehensive Assessment Program website contains test-related resources for parents and students: https://wa.portal.cambiumast.com/summative-smarter-balanced.html. You can also try out a Smarter Balanced practice or training test at home!
For more information, contact our Assistant Principal, Alison Hook (hooka@bsd405.org), or Marissa Sampsel, our ITCL who supports with test coordination (sampselm@bsd405.org).
March Math Challenge
Welcome to the March Clyde Hill Math Challenge!
¡Bienvenido al reto matemático de Clyde Hill este marzo!
欢迎参加 2023 年 3 月的 Clyde Hill 数学挑战赛!
मार्च 2023 क्लाइड हिल मैथ चैलेंज में आपका स्वागत है! ३१ मार्च, 2023 तक सबमिट करें
2023 年 3 月のクライドヒル Math Challenge へようこそ!
2023년 3월 클라이드 힐 수학 챌린지에 오신 것을 환영합니다!
Добро пожаловать на мартовский Clyde Hill Math Challenge 2023!
Challenge packets here! https://www.clydehillpta.org/mathchallenge
We are excited to kick off our March 2023 Math Challenge! We had over 50 students display their math muscles for our February Challenge! The Kindergarteners and the 3rd graders were our Feb 2023 winners - showing the most growth mindsets and earning some brain puzzles to play with this month! Ya'll should be proud of yourselves! Let's see more of it this month!
Questions? math-challenge@clydehillpta.org
https://www.clydehillpta.org/mathchallenge
Thank you! Gracias! 谢谢!धन्यवाद् ! どうもありがとう! 감사합니다! спасибо!
To all the parents who helped translate the Challenge!
Summer Learning Program
2023 Summer Learning Programs Update
Information about summer programs is now available on the the 2023 Summer Programs K-12 page on the district website.
Summer School Programs for elementary students will run July 6–28 at Lake Hills Elementary School. Summer School Programs for secondary students will also run from July 6-28 at Sammamish High School, with some variations for middle school students.
Real Madrid Foundation Summer Camp for BSD Students July 17-21
The Real Madrid Foundation is offering six scholarships, and there will be additional scholarships added if funding is available. Please complete this form before March 13 if you are seeking a scholarship. Scholarship recipients will be contacted on March 14.
Click here to register.
Haga click aqui para registrarse.
A Message from the Bellevue Schools Foundation
Dear Clyde Hill Families,
I’m following up on the invitation you received from Bellevue Schools Foundation to join us at Spring for Schools on April 1st! This event provides critical programming for our school community and the total of 18,000+ students in every school in Bellevue School District. Here’s a snapshot of the Foundation’s support at Clyde Hill and every school within BSD.
Since its inception, BSF has raised over $25 million to fund critical programs that fall through the financial cracks of local, state, and federal funding. Revenue from Spring for Schools is a significant part of the budget available to our educators and students for district-wide programs, as well as grants our educators can apply for directly. Please visit bsfdn.org or review the BSF Annual Report to learn more about the organization’s impact.
I hope you can join me at the event. Please list our school name when you register here! With student performances, an Education Showcase, appetizers, and a cash bar, the evening promises to be a fun one in support of our students and community.
Resource for Families: Is Your Child Overdue for a Well-Child Visit?
Bellevue School District partners with the Washington State Department of Health to monitor and support student immunizations. Now is the time to catch up on immunizations!
Many children are due for well-child visits because of challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Talk with your health care provider to find out which vaccines your child needs. Use yearly checkups and other visits, such as sports physicals, to make sure your children have all the immunizations they need.
Request a copy of your child's immunization record from your health care provider so you can keep track of their immunization history. Or sign up for MyIR Mobile, which gives you online access to your own and your family’s immunization records.
Children under 19 years of age in Washington are provided with all recommended vaccines at no or low cost at one of Washington state’s Childhood Vaccine Program providers. Health care providers may charge an office visit fee and a fee to give the vaccine, called an administration fee. If you can’t afford the administration fee, you may ask for it to be waived.
Important Dates in March
District Observance: Gender Equity Month/Women’s History Month
Monthly Acknowledgement/s: National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, National Deaf History Month, Youth Art Month, Music in our Schools Month
- 3/2/23 – Read Across America Day
- 3/5/23-3/11/23 – National School Social Worker Week
- 3/6/23 – Purim
- 3/6/23-3/10/23 – National School Breakfast Week
- 3/6/23-3/10/23 – Classified School Employees Week
- 3/7/23-3/13/23 – National International Language Week
- 3/8/23 – Holi
- 3/8/23 – International Women’s Day
- 3/17/23 – St. Patrick’s Day
- 3/21/23 – Naw-Rúz – Persian New Year
- 3/21/23 – World Down Syndrome Day
- 3/22-4/21 – Ramadan