Big Picture School Newsletter
August 17, 2022
Upcoming Events
Aug 22: BP School Main Office Opens 9:00 am -2:00 pm
Aug 23: Taking Care of Business Day 8:00 am - 2:00 pm
Aug 25: 6th grade Student Orientation 8:30 am - 12:00 pm
Aug 25: 7th-8th grade NEW to BP Student Orientation 8:30 am - 12:00 pm
Aug 25: NEW to BP HS Student Orientation 10:30 am - 12:00 pm
Aug 25: 6th grade and New to BP other grades Parent/Guardian Info Session 11:30 am-12:00pm
Sept 1: 1st Day of School
Principal's Corner
Greetings from Big Picture School,
The 2022-2023 school year is fast approaching. Hopefully, you had a restful break and were able to spend quality time with family and friends. Big Picture staff members have been busy developing curriculum, receiving training, and preparing for the welcoming of our students into our school community. We are excited to launch Year 12 of Bellevue Big Picture School and eager to begin building strong relationships with new students and families. Students are at the center of all that we do here at BP and we take our work with them very seriously. We truly value our partnerships with families and believe that by working together we can prepare all students for their post-secondary aspirations.
In an effort to facilitate a smooth transition to school, we’re providing students and families with as much information as possible. Please take time to share with your student the information included in this letter. Hopefully, it will help your child experience a successful transition to school. We’re looking forward to working with you and your child. Please encourage and facilitate your student’s participation in the New Student Orientation and Taking Care of Business Day activities, as they will assist your student in experiencing a smooth transition. Please don’t hesitate to contact us should you have further questions. Enjoy the rest of the summer!
With Gratitude,
Bethany Spinler, Principal
Matt Stokes, Assistant Principal
School Announcements
Taking Care of Business Day
From 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM on Tuesday, August 23rd, parents or students may drop off completed and signed paperwork from the summer email/online. Please remember that students will not be allowed to come to school on Sept 1 until we have the required immunization paperwork and/or other health related paperwork if your child has a life-threatening condition. We will also hand out ORCA cards, collect school fees, and take yearbook photos. All students can pick up a copy of their class schedule.
As another option for families who cannot attend, fees can be paid online, most forms can be returned with students on the 1st day of school, schedules will be available digitally on ParentVue/StudentVue and ORCA cards can be picked up at the start of school, too. There will be a make-up day for yearbook photos later this Fall..
Please see the back-to-school email and the check-in day agenda for more specific information. Below are the recommended times for each grade level to arrive to minimize congestion on campus. If you can't make it during your scheduled time, please come as close to that time as you are able to. Check the email and our school website for all required forms. If you can’t make it, please bring all paperwork the first day of school and complete other items online.
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM 6th grade
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM 7th grade
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM 8th grade
11:00 AM-12:00 PM Lunch Break for Staff
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM 9th/10th grade
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM 11th/12th grade
Big Picture NEW Student Orientation
Our 6th Grade and NEW 7th/8th grade Student Orientation will be on Thursday, August 25, 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM . This is for all 6th grade students and those 7th and 8th grade students who have not been enrolled at BP in past years.
All NEW to BP High School students (not 9th graders who attended BP in 8th grade) will work with high school staff on Thursday, August 25 from 10:30 AM-12:00 PM.
During these orientations, students will receive a copy of their schedules, tour the campus and their classrooms, meet some teacher advisors, participate in team building activities, learn about project-based learning and receive an overview of expectations for the school year. This is a time for students and staff to connect so parents/guardians are encouraged to drop-off their children and return in a few hours for pick-up.
Students should bring a water bottle with them. We will greet students in the main courtyard and then divide them into smaller groups.
6th grade and New to BP Parent/Guardian Info Session
On Thursday, August 25th, at 11:30 AM, all 6th grade parents/guardians and any new to BP parents/guardians are invited for a short meeting in the cafeteria prior to picking up their students from orientation. NEW parents will receive school and PTSA information. This is a great opportunity to meet BP parents and to get last minute questions answered. This information will be emailed to all parents for those unable to attend.
Unable to Attend Orientation and Taking Care of Business Day
If you and/or your child are unable to attend New Student Orientation, please let us know. We would like to set up a time prior to the first day of school to show your student around campus and explain the schedule. Other forms and fees may be taken care of the first day/week of school, if needed. There will be a second opportunity in late Sept/early October for students to get their pictures taken.
First Day of School
The first day of school is often filled with excitement and a little anxiety, as students may be fearful of the unknown. Knowing this, a brief description of the Sept 1st first day of school follows. Students may access StudentVue for their class schedule. If a student is unable to access their schedule online, they may pick up a paper copy of their schedule on the 1st Day in the courtyard before school at 7:45 AM. Some revisions may have occurred since the Taking Care of Business Day.
Students will report to their first period classes at 8:00 AM for high school and 8:10 AM for middle school. High school students are dismissed at 3:00 though may stay until 3:30 for tutorial. Middle school students will have a staggered dismissal initially to reduce congestion. All MS students taking a yellow bus home will be dismissed first at 3:00. MS students being picked up via car will be dismissed by 3:10. Those MS students staying for tutorial will be dismissed at 3:40. There will be NO activities after 3:40 PM the first two weeks.
LUNCH
Students may bring or purchase lunch at school and have choices from the hot entrée of the day, pizza, caesar salad, hummus plates, etc. Milk and assorted beverages as well as a variety of snack options will also be available for purchase. Students will enter their code (student ID number) to pay for their meal. Checks or cash will be accepted for lunch or students can have money in their online account to purchase lunch. Lunch is 30 minutes in length. High School students are free to leave campus for lunch, if desired. There will be a combination of cafeteria and outside seating options available for students.
With the expiration of USDA waivers at the end of the last school year, Nutrition Services will return to traditional methods of payment for school meals (free, reduced price or paid). Look for the 2022-2023 application for school meal benefits online on the Free & Reduced Price Meals. In addition, by completing the school meal benefit application to qualify for free or reduced priced meals, students will also be able to gain access to:
✓ Fee Waivers or discounts* offered by the district;
✓ Community resources such as Operation School Bell, Backpack Meals and Shoes that Fit;
*The Fee Waiver Program offers waived fees for IB & AP tests, extracurricular activities such as ASB dues, event registrations, field trips, performances, social events/dances, transportation fees, athletic fees and discounted summer school tuition.
Menus can be found here: BSD lunch menus
Full-price lunch is $4.00 this year. You can load money into your student’s paypam account and get additional information here.
After School
After proceeding through their day, HS students and MS yellow bus riders are dismissed at 3:00 PM. MS students being picked up by car will be dismissed by 3:10 the first few weeks. Students may report to one or more of their classes for tutorial from 3:00-3:30 PM (high school) or 3:10 - 3:40 PM (middle school). Teachers are in their classrooms for tutorial ready and available to help individuals and/or small groups or teachers may also assign students to attend tutorial for getting extra help, making up missed assignments, etc.
Students not attending tutorial are to depart for home. Clubs and after school activities, Club Jubilee, soccer, etc. begin after tutorial M,T,TH, and F. After school activities will not begin the 1st two week of school. We will announce later in September when each after school activity will begin.
Supplies
If you haven’t already done so, gather your school supplies for the upcoming year. The supply list is located on our website. If you need assistance getting school supplies, please contact the main office.
School Schedule
High School
8:00-3:00 M,T,Th, F (Tutorial 3:00-3:30)
8:00-1:00 Wed
Middle School
8:10-3:00 M,T,Th, F (Tutorial 3:10-3:40)
8:10-1:40 –Wed
Technology
Students will be issued laptops during the 1st or 2nd week of school that they will take home with them and return to school daily. Students will need to ensure the laptop is charged prior to coming to school each day. Teachers use One Note and Teams as a learning management system to post assignments, homework calendars, and to communicate with students and parents. Students should back up their work on a USB drive and their One Drive. StudentVue/ParentVue is the official grade site for the district and has grade and attendance records. Students also have Office 365 accounts for school email and document storage. The student/parent laptop handbook is located on our website with more details.
If students have any issues with their laptops or are unable to log in, they may visit our tech specialist, Rob Samsel, in the counseling and tech office.
Student Pictures
Student pictures will be taken by Lifetouch on August 23rd. Go to the LIFETOUCH website and enter the Big Picture Picture Day Code: EVTBHG9D2. Even if you choose not to purchase a picture package, all students must have their photos taken for our ID cards as they are required for all students. A picture make-up/retake day will be later in the Fall.
Transportation
All students will be able to ride transit for free by showing one of the following:
· Tapping their ORCA card when you board and exit
· Showing their current high school or middle school student ID card
· If they don’t have either, they can still ride for free.
A recently approved Washington State measure will allow youth ages 18 and under to ride public transit for free come September. All BSD student issued ORCA cards from 2021-22 school year will become their Free Youth Transit Pass in September so, please do not throw away ORCA cards from last year if you still have them.
ORCA cards will be available for students at Taking Care of Business Day. Every student who was issued an ORCA card from the 2021-22 school year needs to stop by the ORCA table with their ORCA card for an instructions label on how to register their ORCA card. You may also stop by once school starts to get an Orca card in the main office.
Many of our students take the metro to school each day. Information on bus routes can be found online at the King County Metro site.
Additional information from BSD transportation department for High School and Choice Schools can be found here.
High School students who would like to drive to campus should complete a parking application and return to Beth Orr, new BP office manager. These forms are available on our website and at school.
Lockers
There are only lockers at BP for PE. Students will be issued a school lock for the PE lockers when it is determined we will use the locker rooms. Students should not bring valuables to school. Students may carry their backpacks from class to class during the day.
Online Student Data Verification (action required for all families)
Parents and guardians are required to verify their student’s information annually. Families will be able to complete this process electronically via ParentVUE. Health updates are included in this data update. Even if nothing has changed for your student, you will need to complete this process to verify that all information is accurate. You will not be able to access other features of ParentVUE (including checking your student’s grades) until this verification process has been completed. This verification is available through ParentVUE beginning August 17. For more information, visit the district website: https://bsd405.org/departments/district-technology/online-student-data-verification/
FinalForms (action required for all families)
All families will need to sign their student up through FinalForms.
Families are required to register their student once each year, but this will significantly reduce paperwork and redundancy of forms to be filled out throughout the year.
Registration for High School Fall sports is open. Check your attendance area high school’s Athletics site for details. Students who attend one of the Bellevue School District “choice” schools will maintain athletic eligibility at the comprehensive high school serving the neighborhood in which they reside (attendance area). Students attending Big Picture School who do not reside in the Bellevue School District are eligible to compete for Sammamish High School.
Registration for middle school sports and activities for the 2022-2023 school year will open on September 1, 2022. Please note that for the 2022-2023 school year, there are new fields that will need your attention. FinalForms is the Bellevue School District Athletics and Activities online forms system that helps us manage student sports, field trips, and activities and boosts compliance and safety.
Logging in now to complete forms will help ensure that your student can participate in sports, activities and field trips in 2022-2023. If you already have an account confirmed with FinalForms, you and your student can log in and update forms now, and you can begin registering for sports and activities when they open on September 1, 2022. Families with existing accounts should look for the blue registration button to access 2022-2023 forms. If you have never logged in to FinalForms, please check here for additional info.
How can I sign my child up on FinalForms?
- You should have received an account confirmation email from FinalForms with instructions on how to establish an account. To see a screenshot of this message visit https://bsd405.org/2018/10/information-about-finalforms/.
Fees
We continue with the reduction in fees for classes in order to ensure that all classes are accessible for every student. However, some optional fees may apply for your student. The easiest way to pay class/school fees is online at https://wa-bellevue.intouchreceipting.com/. Fees for families that may be paid will include:
- Yearbook order (optional—see below for more information)
- ASB membership (optional but strongly encouraged—these funds provide the basis for all clubs and social activities at the school for students. All students who participate in a club or school activity MUST have an ASB card.)
- Parking passes (see below for more information
Yearbook
2022-23 Yearbooks will be available for purchase Aug 22 – Sept 6. Books cost $30. You can purchase your yearbook online here https://wa-bellevue.intouchreceipting.com/ .
ASB
ASB cards are available for the low price of $7.50 for the 2022-23 school year. ASB membership gives students access to participate in ASB clubs and supports school wide events such as assemblies, socials and retreats. You can purchase your ASB card online here https://wa-bellevue.intouchreceipting.com/ If your family qualifies for a fee waiver, this ASB fee can be waived. Thank you for your support!
Volunteer Opportunities
There are numerous volunteer opportunities available at Big Picture. The BP Volunteer Interest Form is linked here. Please complete the form indicating your area of interest, if you have a desire to volunteer this year.
Leadership Opportunities:
PTSA Committees– reflections, legislative, staff appreciation, newsletter/website, volunteer coordinator, nominating committee chair, etc.
Office Support Opportunities:
Office Volunteer, Library, Lunch Activity Supervision
School Program Support Opportunities:
Middle School College and Career Exploration– career and college guest speakers, information inter views, job shadows
Project-based Learning– guest speakers connecting academics to real-world work, project contributors partnering with teachers
High School Internship Program– career guest speakers, mock interviews, resume writing, informational interviews, host a job shadow or intern
Classroom volunteers/tutors– classroom, 1:1 student support, tutorial support
Club Jubilee Sports and Activities Volunteer– afterschool support for the middle school club Jubilee program
Parent Volunteers and Background Checks
Internships and Learning Through Interests (LtI)
For the first few weeks, all new high school students will be on campus full-time preparing for their internships in an internship prep class. Students will work to secure an internship placement and once that has occurred will attend the internship on Thursdays. More details on the LTI program will be shared at the beginning of the school year.
What can you do this summer to prepare?
· Explore areas of interest– read about it, journal, visit a job site, ask questions
· Make a list of places in the Puget Sound area that involve this interest area– businesses, non-profits, schools, etc.
· Write out everyone you know in your network and their career area– relatives, friends of parents, parents’ co-workers, etc.
· Connect with someone in your interest area.
Introducing Big Picture Staff
Dustin Abrahamson: HS ELA/SS Advisor -Dustin was born and raised in Federal Way. He is a proud Double-DAWG, graduating from the University of Washington with both his bachelors and masters degree. In undergrad, he studied history, American Ethnic Studies, and American Indian Studies and, in graduate school, he earned my Masters in Teaching. In his free time, he plays ice hockey, reads great novels and history books, travels, and continues learning how to sew.
Sanaa Al Shamari- Para educator
Kelly Clark- MS SS advisor- Kelly recently located to the PNW from Los Angeles, where she taught middle school social studies. She has studied abroad and is an avid traveler.
Trina Cooper: MS/HS Art and Coding
Rebecca Davis– HS ELA advisor and MS Theater Arts– Rebecca grew up in California and enjoys spending her free time with her son, reading great books, playing video games, and watching science fiction.
Bailey Edgley– MS Science advisor– Bailey is a National Board Certified teacher with several years of teaching experience in the Tacoma School District. She holds an A.A in Graphic Arts, a B.S. in Botany from Oregon State University, and a Masters in Teaching from Evergreen State. She has studied at the University of Washington in the Physics Summer Institute and has completed a Fred Hutch Cancer Research Science Education Partnership.
Kevin Eiene - Special education advisor - Kevin served as a BSD special education supervisor for several years prior to returning to the classroom here at BP last year. In his free time, he attends his son’s jazz concerts at Interlake and coaches football for Hazen High School.
Seth Erickson- Jubilee Site Coach
Yira Espinal- School psychologist
Erin Ferguson– School Nurse– Erin works at BP and Enatai Elementary as a school nurse. During the summers, she works as a nurse at a local camp.
Anne Findlay- HS ELA advisor, MS SS- Anne joins BP after 11 years teaching at a local private school. She also has a background in music and loves gardening.
Jessica Gieb- Special Education Advisor- Jessica worked as a special education teacher in New Mexico and was BP Graduation Success Coach last year. She recently earned her hot air balloon pilot's license.
Ben Gibbons-HS PE/Health- Ben grew up in Eastern Washington and moved to the Seattle area several years ago. In addition to building a weight room at BP, he also coaches track, football, and loves to record podcasts in his free time.
Jamie Ginter - Counselor -Jaime has worked at Interlake High School, Stevenson Elementary School, and Newport High School.
Sally Gordon- MS Math- Sally worked as an engineer prior to entering the teaching profession. She's excited to teach math at BP this year.
Tony Granito - Internship Coordinator- Tony worked as a 21st Century Learning/ Technology Integration Coach in Cleveland. Prior to that, he was an 4-6th grade math/science teacher for 9 years. He is a freelance web designer and holds a Maters degree in Curriculum and Instruction. Tony has been a founding BP faculty member and worked as our ITCL for 10 years. He's excited to transition to the LTI coordinator.
Nona Henderson– Special education advisor– Nona is an experienced special education teacher. She grew up in Idaho and attended University of Idaho and University of Massachusetts. Outside of school, Nona enjoys working with horses.
Chloe Hertzberg: PBIS Coach
Karen Ho- HS Science Advisor- Karen grew up in Arcadia, CA and earned her BA in Integrative Biology from UC Berkeley. After working as a science outreach mentor at the Lawrence Hall of Science, he became very passionate about addressing environmental justice issues through a secondary public education lens. Since getting her teaching credential, she has taught Gifted 7th Life Science, Biology, Health, and AP Environmental Science, and been a science instructional coach in Los Angeles Unified. She has a National Board Certification in Early Adolescent Science Education.
Kelley Hoang- Attendance Specialist- Kelley is the proud parent of 2 BP students and enjoys welcoming families into our office.
Holly Huckeba– para educator– In her free time, Holly works as an author.
Erica Iris– MS Art advisor– Erica was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, but didn’t stay long enough to get a great accent. After that, she spent most of her life in Connecticut. In 2013, she and her husband got an itch for adventure and moved across the country to the Pacific Northwest. She studied Art Education, Graphic Design, and Illustration at Central Connecticut State University. Most recently, she taught Art and Stage Craft at the R.J. Kinsella Magnet School of Performing Arts in Hartford, Connecticut. Art has always been her passion, and teaching her dream… come true.
Kate Lampi: HS Special Education
Hillary MacDonald- Front Office Support and Community Outreach Specialist- Hillary is the proud parent of a recent BP graduate and enjoys working at BP to connect parents to our internship program.
Amanda MacLeod– HS Math advisor– Amanda has a science degree and loves mathematics. She has worked for REI teaching outdoor leadership classes.
Dave Mahnke- Custodian
Barb Mercier– Community partnership coordinator/Career specialist—Barb was the career specialist at Newport High School for nine years and prior to that, a Program Manager at Boeing. She was a member of the advisory planning team for the Big Picture School and has been on the BP staff since the school opened.
Anna Morin- HS SS advisor- Anna is excited to return to BP after a few years away. She taught at The Center School in Seattle for several years prior to coming to BP.
Beth Orr- Office Manager- Most recently, Beth served as the office manager for BSD's Early Learning Program. In the past she has been a Soccer coach at Newport, medical transcriptionist, project manager, and advertising assistant. She's excited to join the BP family.
Charmee Park– MS Math advisor– Charmee was born and raised in New Jersey. She has a BA from Rutgers University and recently earned a MA in Special education. She has taught middle school math for many years and is excited about her move to Washington.
Wendy Paxton- Kitchen Manager
Grisel Pibida- HS Spanish and MLL facilitator-Grisel holds a MS in Bilingual-Bicultural Education from California State University and a BA in English Language and Literature from Universidad de Buenos Aires. She has taught a variety of levels ranging from middle school to college in Seattle, Texas, California and Argentina.
Amanda Posch- MS ELA advisor- Amanda is an experienced language arts teacher having taught in Texas and Arizona. She has worked as a middle school teacher, reading specialist, and librarian in the past.
Suzanne Reeve- ITCL-Suzanne grew up in the Seattle area, graduating from Lake Washington High School (go Kangs!). After earning a BS in Zoology and MS in Biological Science Education from Brigham Young University, she came back home to graduate from the University of Washington with a Ph.D in Learning Sciences and a secondary teaching credential.
During her first year in Bellevue School District, she taught biology and chemistry part-time at Sammamish High School, while also working as a research and planning assistant to Bethany as we “gave birth” to what became the Big Picture School. Since then, she has worked at Sammamish and Odle, as well as part-time again at Big Picture. Outside of school, she enjoys spending time with family (parents, four siblings, thirteen nieces and nephews), reading, doing jigsaw puzzles, walking/hiking, and researching genealogy.
Kevin Roberts– HS Math advisor—Kevin has spent the last few years teaching abroad, most recently at an International School in Brazil. He is excited to return home to Washington.
Robert Samsel- Tech Specialist
Jennie Schraer- Social Worker
Paul Spatafore– MS humanities advisor– Paul has a Masters in Educational Leadership from Northeastern Illinois University and Bachelor’s Degree in History from Illinois State University. He taught for eleven years at Shepard Middle School in Deerfield, Illinois which is a suburb of Chicago. He taught 6th and 8th grade LA/SS and advisory. Paul has served as team lead and coached track, cross country, and ping pong at his previous school. In his free time, Paul enjoys playing sports, hiking, traveling and listening to live music.
Bethany Spinler- Principal-Bethany was the founding principal of Bellevue Big Picture School in 2011. She grew up in a small town in upstate New York and graduated from Randolph Central School in 1991. She then headed to Cornell University where she earned a B.S. in Neurobiology and a M.A. in Science Education. She taught chemistry and AP chemistry for a few years in New York prior to moving across the country to become a founding teacher of The Center School (TCS) in Seattle. She went on to earn her school administration credential from the University of Washington and served as assistant principal and principal of Newport High School prior to opening Bellevue Big Picture School. Outside of school, she enjoys gardening, cooking, camping, crafting, and spending time with her daughter and pets.
Clinton Stellfox-HS Science advisor– Clinton holds a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry from UW and a Master of Arts in Teaching from WGU. He has worked as the Science on Wheels Coordinator for the Pacific Science Center for the last seven years, teaching hands-on science lessons across the entire Pacific Northwest. In addition, he has also worked as an educator or Digitalis Education Solutions, which is a planetarium manufacturer. Outside of school, Clinton enjoys sports and airplanes.
Amy Stephens- HS counselor-Amy has a Masters in School Counseling from Seattle University and a Bachelors from UW in Environmental Science/Marine Biology. Prior to becoming a school counselor, Amy worked at the Burke Museum, interned at the Seattle Aquarium, and was a research assistant for Applegate Forestry.
Amanda Stewart- MS PE- Amanda grew up in Eastern Washington and has enjoyed her time here on the other side of the state. She also works as a coach of various sports in the area.
Matt Stokes– Assistant Principal– Matt grew up here in Washington and earned his BS from WWU. He worked at WWU as an admissions counselor and also volunteered in Kenya, Tanzania, and El Salvador. Matt taught middle school mathematics at BP and has spent the last 4 years teaching math and serving as a math coordinator in Brooklyn, NY. He earned his administrative credential and MS from Fordham University and is excited to return home to BP in this new role.
Megan Taddonio- Mental Health Assistance Team counselor- Megan is an experienced social worker, relocating from Boston. She holds degrees from University of Hawaii and University of Montana and spent two years volunteering as a community health educator in the Peace Corps in Malawi, Africa.
Ariana Taylor- MS ELA, science advisor- Ariana recently taught 5th grade at Jing Mei and is excited to move up to middle school with some of her students here at BP. Her degree from WWU is in language, literature and culture and she also has interests in anthropology. She taught abroad in Europe and has worked as a graphic designer.
Melissa Wax- Para educator
Laura Walter– MS Science Advisor– Laura is originally from Federal Way, WA which is where she spent her first 5 years of teaching. She received a B.S. from Oregon State University and went on to receive a Masters in Education at the University of Washington.
Mark Wilbert: HS Music.
Jenelle Wyler- MS ELA, SS advisor- Jenelle is a Washington native and has taught abroad. She's excited to start planning for her wedding this year.
Carol Anne Yamamoto– Registrar– Carol Anne attended University of Puget Sound majoring in comparative sociology and women’s studies. She has served as the school secretary and ASB advisor for the past several years at International School and is excited to join our BP team.
Beth Zimmerman- Counseling Secretary
Questions? Contact Info.
Bethany Spinler, Principal
Matt Stokes, Assistant Principal
Carol Anne Yamamoto, Registrar
Kelley Hoang, Attendance