Highland Happenings
Week of September 18, 2023
Principal's Message
Dear Highland Families:
This is a reminder that we have added additional staff/classes to our schedule based on enrollment that is higher than was initially anticipated. Our counselors have been working hard for the past few days to add the classes and balance those classes that were large. We know that this process is not ideal and students may end up with schedules they didn't anticipate. I would ask that we work together and practice flexibility as we go through this. If you or your student have questions or concerns based on the new schedules, please contact me directly. Please keep in mind we have worked hard to try and honor student requests. We will not be changing classes unless there has been a mistake made on our part. I am sorry that we can't provide more flexibility than this, but our priority is to create smaller core classes and honor requests from our students. We are currently 80+ students higher than what we were originally staffed for. We want to do right by all students and ask for you patience as we continue to move through this process. Students will receive hard copies of new schedules first thing Monday morning in the Cafeteria/Commons.
We hope to see you all at Curriculum Night this Thursday, September 21. We will be providing taco dinners (2 per family) from 5:00-6:00 PM. I will begin my presentation to the whole group in the Cafeteria/Commons at 5:45 PM. Families will be dismissed to classrooms at 6:30, at which time you will follow your student's schedule periods 1-7. You'll spend 10 minutes in each class with 5-minute passing periods. This is an opportunity to meet teachers, get an idea of what each class is about, as well as experiencing your student's schedule each day. We hope you will take advantage of this time together.
We will also be providing additional opportunities to come together as a community, including Cafecitos for our Spanish-speaking families on September 26 with Sra. Benavides and Sra. Stockdale. We also plan on hosting Principal Coffees for all families beginning with 6th grade families. Stay tuned for upcoming dates.
We know we have many new families at Highland and we hope to connect you with each other. This is an amazing community with many resources. Please know, all are welcome here!
In Partnership,
Susan Thomas
Principal
September is National Attendance Awareness Month
Did You Know?
- Students should miss no more than 9 days of school each year to stay engaged, successful and on track to graduation.
- Frequent absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school work, dealing with a bully or facing some other difficulty.
- By 6th grade, absenteeism is one of three signs that a student may drop out of high school.
- By 9th grade, attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates than 8th grade test scores.
- Missing 10%, or 2 days a month, over the course of the school year, can affect a student's academic success.
What Can You Do?
- Talk about the importance of showing up to school every day.
- Help your teen maintain daily routines, such as finishing homework and getting a good night's sleep.
- Try not to schedule dental and non-Covid-19 related medical appointments during the school day.
- Keep your student healthy, and if you are concerned about Covid-19, call your school for advice.
- If your teens must stay home because they are sick or in quarantine, make sure they have asked teachers for resources and materials to make up.
Visit Attendance Works at www.attendanceworkgs.org for free downloadable resources and tools.
Poder Lessons
Each week students will have a brief "mini' lesson on specific skills that will help them to navigate daily life. Our hope is that these skills will be implemented in classrooms, in the school, and in their lives outside of school.
This past week, students learned about the 4 Options for Any Problem.
- Tolerate the problem - Accept and put up with the problem and how you feel about the problem.
- Change how you feel about the problem - Create and focus on a different emotion while you are dealing with the problem.
- Solve the problem - Change the situation or avoid, leave or get out of the situation for good.
- Stay miserable of make it worse - Don't use skills.
Parent Poder Tip:
- Post a copy of the 4 Options somewhere for you and your student to reference when posed with a challenge.
- Remember, your student always has the option to "Stay Miserable and Make it Worse." If you student seems to be choosing this option, ask them: "Are you choosing to stay miserable right now? Or can I help you choose one of the other options?"
Parent-Teacher-Student Association (PTSA) Meeting
WHEN: Tuesday, September 19, 7pm
WHERE: 15027 NE Bel-Red Road, Bellevue, WA
All families are encouraged to attend our 1st PTSA meeting of the year. You don't need to be a PTSA member. Come say hello to the PTA team and Principal Thomas.
We meet in the library on the 2nd level. Hope to see you there!
BSD High School Athletics & Activities Attendance Update
As the 2023-2024 fall sports season and school year begin in earnest, we are very excited to welcome our communities back and look forward to another successful year for all of our athletic programs.
We believe that athletic events at all District high schools are an opportunity to support friends, athletes, the high school communities, all while watching some of the highest levels of competition in high school athletics in the state of Washington.
As a group, it is our intention to ensure the safe and orderly operation of all activities on high school campuses in the District. As such, please know that any middle school student attending varsity games at any District high school during the 2023-2024 school year will be required to be accompanied by a parent or supervising adult. Unaccompanied middle school students will not be admitted.
When preparing to attend any athletic event, whether varsity or sub varsity, please note that all spectators at any District high school will watch contests from the designated stands. Restrooms and concession areas will remain available for breaks and refreshment.
You can purchase tickets ahead of any game by accessing the District’s Hometown Ticketing Box Office (https://bsd405.hometownticketing.com/embed/all?schools=2).
Thank you for your cooperation and we hope to see you at many events during the fall season.
BIMAS2 & Signs of Suicide
Beginning on September 18th we will be offering Signs of Suicide (SOS) suicide prevention lessons and BIMAS2 well-being screenings for students in 7th & 8th grades. The SOS teaches students how to notice warning signs of depression or suicide in themselves or a friend and encourages asking adults for support. The BIMAS2 well-being screening is a self-report of student well-being in a variety of areas of functioning, including social, behavior, executive functioning, emotional, and academics.
Parents will receive a letter explaining SOS via email and can choose to opt their child out of the lesson and/or well-being screening prior to their child receiving the SOS lesson and BIMAS2. To learn more about SOS, check out https://www.mindwise.org/parents/.
We all have a role in preventing suicide in our community. You don't have to have any special training to ACKNOWLEDGE warning signs of depression or suicide, show the person you CARE, and TELL a trusted adult or professional.
The Highland Health Center
Hello, HMS family!
Flu season is around the corner and we have the vaccines available for students at NO COST. All you need to do is register your student, and schedule an appointment. Find more information about the Highland Health Center, their services, registration, and more, by clicking on this link: https://bsd405.org/highland/resources/health-center/register/
Clinic Hours
Monday-Tuesday-Thursday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 10:00am – 5:00pm
Contact information
Phone number: 425-373-3135 / 425-373-3136
Email: highlandsbhc@ichs.com
Women's Self Defense Workshop
Warrior Strength Martial Arts
1414 127th Pl NE #104
Bellevue, 98005
Middle School Enrollment and Potential Consolidation Study
Having right-sized the number of elementary schools in the 2022-2023 school year by consolidating two schools to accommodate lower enrollment, the Bellevue School District made a commitment to continue to study enrollment at our middle schools and the implication of our declining enrollment on our facilities and operating budget.
Although the trend may not be evident in every school, enrollment in the district is declining, primarily due to declining birth rates and high housing costs in our region. To illustrate, each grade level at high school has about 1,600 students districtwide (E.g., 1,600 students in 9th grade, 1,600 students in 10th grade, etc.). Each grade level at middle school has about 1,400 students. Each grade level at elementary school has about 1,200 students; our current kindergarten has just over 1,100 students which aligns with our enrollment trends.
Demographic Study
The district has retained the services of two demographers to:
- Understand enrollment trends for the next 8 years for middle schools
- Assess whether there is a need to consolidate middle schools to maintain the programs, service levels and opportunities for students
- Assess the impacts of enrollment trends on specific populations of students for each middle school
It is anticipated that the demographers’ results will be available at the end of September 2023. The study to examine middle school enrollment will explore the following questions:
- Will continuing to operate five middle schools provide enough students at each school to offer the quality of programming and services the community expects?
- Will continuing to operate five middle schools be an effective and efficient use of financial resources and facilities?
- Will continuing to operate five middle schools meet the learning needs of our students in an equitable way?
Attend the Board Study Session
The first public step is a School Board study session following the regular School Board meeting on September 21 to discuss the community engagement process and timeline to study middle school enrollment and potential middle school consolidation. Community members may attend the meeting and study session in person or watch online via Microsoft Teams.
Learn More
The Middle School Enrollment and Potential Consolidation webpage has been developed to serve as the primary source of information on this topic. Please refer to that page for the study’s background, process, timeline and important updates throughout the process. Information will also be communicated through School Board meetings, emails to families and through community engagement events.
Bellevue Special Needs PTA Meet and Greet
Bellevue Special Needs PTA invites families to attend their Meet and Greet on Saturday, September 23, at Crossroads Park. Learn how the Special Needs PTA promotes advocacy and education and empowers families. Meet families and share stories. Learn from the journeys of those who have parented students with 504 plans and IEPs. The event is open to all, and snacks will be provided!
Date: Saturday, September 23, 2023
Time: 10 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Location: Crossroads Park, southwest pavilions
Address: 16000 NE 10th St, Bellevue, WA 98008
BSD Mental Health Services
September is National Suicide Prevention Month -
Learn about mental health topics and access support resources.
Highland Middle School
Email: thomass@bsd405.org
Website: https://bsd405.org/highland/
Location: 15027 NE Bel-Red Rd
Phone: (425) 456-6400