Family Cougar Connect
Newsletter #8 November 22, 2022
WOW! The end of the month approached quickly. I'm sure you and your families have been busy with managing school, sports, and family activities at this time of the year. Thank you for the great efforts you and your families have invested in our cougars and our community.
Our teachers have been diving deep to support our school goals around sense of belonging and focusing on building student social emotional competence in our community. This is hard work and our teachers are ensuring students get a foundational understanding of these skills, which are critical in life. Please send your child's teacher a quick email thanking them for the amazing work they are doing. I know they would appreciate some kinds words that could spark joy in their day.
The Thanksgiving Break is upon us and I know many of you are anticipating this time with family and our cougars. I hope you all take this short break to relax and enjoy the company of family and the traditions you engage in. I know for myself, I will be spending this Thanksgiving Break in my home town of El Paso, Texas. It has been 7 years since I've been able to make it home for this break and I'm already filled with an abundance of happiness just thinking about landing in Texas tomorrow evening.
Please have a safe, warm, and loving break.
Warmly,
Mrs. Garcia-De Leon and Mrs. Hook
School Updates
Heelys at School
It looks like Heelys have made a come back! These popular roller shoe of the early 2000's are back and we have seen an increase in students bring them to school. Yes, they are very cool shoes but we have been seeing students skating through the halls and on the pavement during recess. This is a safety hazard for those wearing them as well as others. Please be sure that you speak with your child about not using the skate component of the shoe as school. If this becomes a reoccurring problem, we will follow up with individual students and families. Thank you for your partnership!
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
Connections with the Principals/Potluck @ Book Fair Family Shopping Night
We had our first connections with the principal last month. It is my goal to alternate connections with the principal each month. This upcoming month I will be partnering with our PTA to host a family potluck on Wednesday, November 30th @ 6:00 PM. The book fair shopping will take place in the STEM Room, located near the library. The potluck will be hosted in the Cafeteria. This will also be an opportunity for you to stop by our book fair and add some new books to you home library. Sign up by clicking here:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0545ABAB2DA1FB6-mrs1
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0545ABAB2DA1FB6-rsvp
Recess clothing
Please help your child to dress appropriately for Washington recess weather….rain! Thank you for sending your child to school with warm rain jackets and weather-sturdy shoes. It is a huge help and keeps our students dry. Please send your children with warm jackets and winter appropriate clothes.
Too sick for School?
Reminders about illness
We are currently seeing a significant uptick in illness among students in the district. 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/
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.
We still ask that your student has a negative COVID test if they have 1 or more symptoms on the COVID symptom list. However, a negative COVID test does not permit students to come to school sick. We are finding that many ill students who have tested negative are coming back to school still sick. Symptoms must be “significantly improved” to return to school. We will call and ask you to come pick up your student if they are symptomatic.
Remember, when using Rapid Antigen COVID tests, serial testing (24-48 hours apart) is important. If you are testing early, you may receive a negative result even in the presence of a COVID infection.
Front Office Reminders
Private School Applications
Its that time of year when Private School Applications are coming due. If your family is completing a private school application, please visit the district Private School Application site: https://bsd405.org/departments/records/private-school-applications/ When delegating Administrator forms from Ravenna, please delegate them to westerbergh@bsd405.org. Thank you.
Travel Time
With the holidays approaching, travel plans are in full swing. Always notify the office of any student absences, late arrivals, or early pick ups by either calling our attendance hotline at 425-456-5002, or by emailing clydehillattendance@bsd405.org.
If your family is travelling for 3 or more school days, you must complete a Pre-Arranged Absence Form, https://bsd405.org/clydehill/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2022/10/PreApproval-Elementary-Form-v2-1.pdf and return to the office at least 5 school days before your absence. Failure to do so may result in unexcused absences for your student.
Thank you.
Lost and Found
Our Lost and Found is overflowing with jackets, water bottles, and many other items, including a blanket! Please make sure to check the Lost and Found for any missing items. All remaining items will be donated on December 16 as we go into Winter Break.
If student’s names are on the clothing items, we work to get those items back to the students. Remember to label your student’s jackets to ensure return if lost at school. Thank you!
Book Fair
Book Fair
The Scholastic Book Fair is Coming to Clyde Hill November 28 – December 2!
The Scholastic book fair returns to Clyde Hill Elementary at the end of this month. This year, students will have time to shop with their class as well as with their family. Book fair brochures are online, and a paper copy will be sent home with your student. We suggest you preview the brochures to help your student plan their limited shopping time.
• Please check with your child’s teacher for the classroom’s shopping day and time.
• Family Shopping Night is Wednesday, November 30 from 5:30-7:30pm.
• Family Shopping Afternoon is Thursday, December 1 from 2:30 to 4pm.
• If you’d like to give a gift to your child’s classroom, look for the Teacher Wish List tables, stocked with books the teachers would like to have in their classroom library.
BOOK FAIR IS CASHLESS
eWallet – not cash or check – is the payment method at the book fair for your child’s classroom shopping time. Please set up your child’s eWallet today so they are able to buy a book during their classroom shopping time! Set up and preload your student’s account with a fixed dollar amount using this link: https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bookfairs/parent-how-it-works.html?fairID=5207486
Credit cards are also accepted during the Family Night and Family Afternoon shopping times.
If you have questions about book fair, need help with the eWallet, or are able to volunteer during Book Fair week, please email Stephanie Gampper Hsu at stephgampper@yahoo.com Thank you!
Safety Reminders during Arrival and Dismissal
As the weather gets colder we will begin to see an increase in traffic. This happens because more families choose to drive their child to school due to colder weather weather and on rainy days unloading may take longer. I have heard about and witnessed an increase in unsafe parent driving. This unsafe driving is not okay and does not keep our students safe.
- Please respect the speed limits while on school property. Our staff, students and families are too important to risk anyone getting hit by a car.
- Having your car tag visible will help with car pick up
- Pull forward in the pick up line. If you are waiting please pull forward to the front near the mailbox to wait for your child.
- Do not block cars (specifically in the staff parking/pre-k parking lot)
- Please use the car pick up line if you are picking up your child. Having them walk, unsupervised to another area can be dangerous.
Mrs. Hook, our GSAs and I will be monitoring for this when we return from break. Please be respectful to our school values and procedures. We have these procedures to keep all our students safe.
Important District Updates
The Bellevue School District (BSD), in partnership with the Bellevue Police Department (BPD), is reforming its School Resource Officer Program to address laws passed by the Washington State Legislature and to respond to a need for shared values and purpose, as expressed by our learning community. The proposed new program, the Community Engagement Officer (CEO) Program, is a community-based response to the need to provide a safe and supportive learning environment for our students. The partnership between BSD and BPD reaffirms the agreed commitment to build relationships with youth, staff members, and the community to reinforce collaborative problem solving and promote a safe and inclusive learning community
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.
Cold Weather Resources and Holiday Supports
Dates to Remember
Our District and Clyde Hill Observance: Native American Heritage Month
- 11/1/2022 – Día de los Muertos
- 11/7/2022 – End of First Quarter
- 11/8/2022 – Election Day
- 11/11/2022 – Veterans Day. No School. All district offices closed.
- 11/14-11/18 – American Education Week
- 11/16/2022 – Education Support Professionals Day
- 11/18/2022 – America Recycles Day
- 11/18 -- School picture retakes
- 11/24/2022 – The National Day of Mourning
- 11/24-11/25/2022 – Thanksgiving. No School. All district offices closed.
- 11/28-12/2 -- BOOK FAIR
11/30 -- Book Fair Family Night/Family Potluck (see information above in principal updates)