Tiger Tales
Newsletter #13 - November 10, 2023
· Language Access: Español | 简体中文 | Pусский | Tiếng Việt | 한국어 | العربية
Dear Families,
We hope you had a peaceful Friday today as school was closed in observance of Veteran's Day. On this day and every day, we thank our Veterans and their families for their service and sacrifice. Our Veterans and their families are also welcome to join us for the Veteran's Day Assembly on Monday starting at 8:30am.
While Thanksgiving is around the corner, there will be busy days leading up to that break. Some of you have already met your classroom teachers for conferences, while many of you are slated to meet them on 11/20 or 11/21. Teachers typically address academic and social emotional growth as well as discuss possible goals. Conferences go by quickly, so families are encouraged to let teachers know in advance if there are any specific topics they want to discuss beyond those already mentioned. It's hard to remember that we only started school a little over 2 months ago when we witness how much our kids have learned. Thank you for your support in our children's success!
In partnership,
Betty and Kati
Upcoming Events
November 17 - Picture Retake Day
November 20, 21, 29 - Elementary Conference Days, early release for students
November 23, 24 - No school, Thanksgiving
December 20 - January 1 - No school, winter break
Picture Retake Day
Friday is picture retake day! If you would like your child to do retakes, please email their child’s classroom teacher and have your child give the original photo packet to their teacher before Friday.
Spotlight on Deepvali/Diwali
Preparing for Conference Days November 20 and 21
This year fall parent-teacher conferences are being held Monday, November 20th, Tuesday, November 21st, and Wednesday, November 29th. Your child(ren)’s teacher(s) will be reaching out to schedule your fall conference if they have not already done so.
As you prepare for Family Conferences, please remember that school will be out at 12:20 PM on Monday and Tuesday to create time for conferences in the afternoon. Wednesday will release at 12:20 as usual. Boys and Girls Club will begin the afterschool care at 12:20 on all three days.
We look forward to connecting with families later this month as we continue to develop and strengthen our partnerships with family!
Inclement Weather and Potential Closure Reminders
Winter is approaching and may bring unpredictable weather. 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. Learn how to update your contact information in ParentVUE and set message preferences in SchoolMessenger to receive inclement weather and emergency communications according to your desired methods. While these decisions are made for the district at large, conditions may vary across the district. We encourage families to make personal decisions based on their specific circumstances.
Bellevue Schools Foundation Impact at Medina
As mentioned in a previous newsletter, we recently learned that some of our classes will be receiving Arts and Enrichment grants funded by the Bellevue Schools Foundation. While our Medina PTSA focuses on supporting initiatives specific to our school, the Bellevue Schools Foundation provides support across all of the Bellevue School District schools. This year Medina received several grants that will impact students across multiple grades.
To see all of the Arts and Enrichment grants for the 2023-24 school year, use this link: https://www.bellevueschoolsfoundation.org/programs-at-your-school
For additional information about the Bellevue Schools Foundation including the current “BFF with BSF” fundraising campaign, go to: https://www.bellevueschoolsfoundation.org/
Final Reminder: Lost and Found
All items remaining in Lost and Found will be donated on November 17.
We will be bringing the lost and found rack around each grade level wing to remind students to search for any lost items. Please check your child’s belongings when they return home to determine what may still be missing. If your child is unable to locate the item, you are welcome to also check the lost and found racks after school until 2:45 PM (Mon, Tues, Thu, Fri) and 12:45 PM (Wed). We donate items at various times throughout the school year. Before donating items, we look through all items to see if there is a student name so that we can return the item to the student.
Please write names on coats, water bottles, lunches, etc. so that we can connect the lost item to the child.
4th Grade Social Studies Adoption Committee
You are invited to join the 4th Grade Social Studies Textbook Adoption Committee. This year we are in the process of replacing the previous textbook, Washington Our Home, with a new book for 4th grade social studies. This year we are engaging in experimental use of The State We’re In: Washington and a committee will review feedback and make a recommendation regarding adoption of the new book.
Parent/Community Application for the 4th Grade Social Studies Textbook Adoption Committee or https://forms.office.com/r/Pwx4prrj8d
Está invitado a unirse al Comité de Adopción de Libros de Texto de Estudios Sociales de 4to Grado. Este año estamos en el proceso de reemplazar el libro de texto anterior, Washington Our Home, con un nuevo libro para estudios sociales de cuarto grado. Este año estamos participando en el uso experimental de The State We're In: Washington y un comité revisará los comentarios y hará una recomendación con respecto a la adopción del nuevo libro.
Comité de Adopción de Libros de Texto de Estudios Sociales de 4to Grado (aplicación) https://forms.office.com/r/Pwx4prrj8d
您被邀请加入四年级社会研究教科书采用委员会。今年,我们正在用一本四年级社会研究新书取代以前的教科书《华盛顿我们的家》。今年,我们正在尝试使用《我们所处的状态:华盛顿》,一个委员会将审查反馈并就新书的采用提出建议。
四年级社会研究教科书采用委员会(家长/社区申请) https://forms.office.com/r/Pwx4prrj8d
In Case You Missed This...
Apply Now to Co-Design the Next BSD Strategic Plan
There are only a few days left to apply! Join the Guiding Coalition and help to shape the future of the Bellevue School District. Superintendent Aramaki invites our learning community to join the Strategic Plan Guiding Coalition and help shape the future of the Bellevue School District. The Guiding Coalition — a team of students, staff, families and community members, along with the Superintendent — will actively engage with the broader community to co-design the district’s next 5-year strategic plan.
Click here to apply. Use the pull-down menu in the form for language access. The application period for the Guiding Coalition will close on Wednesday, November 15, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. Applicants who are selected will be notified by Monday, November 20, 2023, and the first Coalition meeting will take place on Wednesday, November 29, 2023, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
More information about commitment details, meeting dates and a tentative timeline will soon be available on the district website..
Middle School Consolidation Study - Community Forums Recap and Next Steps
Thank you to everyone who participated in community forums over the past few weeks and provided feedback on the ongoing Middle School Consolidation Study. The district is grateful to over 700 people who took the time to attend the in-person and online events, review and react to the demographer reports, share their perspectives and questions, and brainstorm priorities for the middle school experience. This feedback, along with individual survey feedback, will inform the Superintendent and his team in the development of a recommendation of how the District will address the challenges of declining enrollment.
We will continue equity-driven outreach to students, families and community groups until early December to understand the history, perspectives and experiences of students and families who have been historically marginalized or underserved in our education system — and the potential impacts they may experience depending on the recommendation.
The questions and feedback from the community forums are currently being synthesized, and initial themes will be shared with the community later in November. Feedback from the additional engagements with students, families and community groups will also be shared back with the community in December. View the Middle School Consolidation Study Timeline for a full list of important dates.
Bellevue School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts of America and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination:
Civil Rights, Racial Discrimination, and Gender Expression or Identity Discrimination:
Civil Rights/Nondiscrimination Compliance Coordinator Nancy Pham, (425) 456-4040 or phamn@bsd405.org
Sex-based Discrimination, including Sexual Harassment:
Title IX Coordinator: Jeff Lowell, (425) 456-4010 or lowellj@bsd405.org
Disability Discrimination:
Section 504/ADA Coordinator: Heather Edlund, (425) 456-4156 or edlundh@bsd405.org
Mailing address for all three: 12111 NE 1st Street, Bellevue, WA 98005.