Tiger Tales
Newsletter #11 - October 27, 2023
· Language Access: Español | 简体中文 | Pусский | Tiếng Việt | 한국어 | العربية
Dear Families,
With the drop in temperatures this week, it certainly feels like we are headed into November. We had a great turn out during our previous Volunteer Trainings and we look forward to the last one for this month on Monday. We say this often, but not enough - we are grateful for all that you do to enrich the learning experiences for our students. Tonight will be another example of the dedication and tremendous efforts of volunteers who organized and set up the Halloween Festival. We're looking forward to seeing you this evening with or without costumes!
In addition to the volunteer training this coming week, we will be hosting our virtual Pastries with Principals event on Thursday. Our counselor, Ms. Geck, and I will be discussing our Social Emotional Curriculum, so please join us if you're not as familiar and want to know more!
Try and get rest this weekend. Friday is the precursor to next week's fun!
Betty and Kati
Upcoming Events
October 30 - Virtual Volunteer Training, 5:00 - 5:30pm Click here to join the meeting
November 2 - Virtual Pastries with Principal event, 11:30 - 12:15 Click here to join the meeting : TOPIC: Social Emotional Curriculum at Medina
November 10 - No school, Veteran's Day
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
Welcome to Medina!
Please join us in welcoming the newest members of our Tiger Family:
- Kimmi Lee, Kitchen Assistant
- Noriko Hirai, Paraeducator
November's Cultural Observances
- November 1, 2023 – Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)
- Día de los Muertos or Day of the Dead, is an observance traditionally celebrated in Mexican communities to honor and welcome the return of souls of deceased family members and loved ones with food, offerings, and more.
- November 6, 2023 – November 10, 2023 – National School Psychology Awareness Week
- November 7, 2023 – Election Day (United States)
- November 11, 2023 – Veterans Day
- This observance provides an opportunity to honor and show gratitude to veterans for their service and sacrifice as members of the United States Armed Forces.
- November 12, 2023 – Deepavali/Diwali
- Also known as the Festival of Lights, Diwali is a festival that symbolizes the victory of light over darkness, or good over evil.
- November 13, 2023 – World Kindness Day
- World Kindness Day is an international holiday formed in 1998, to promote kindness throughout the world as part of the World Kindness Movement. World Kindness Day presents us with the opportunity to reflect on the positive potential of both large and small acts of kindness.
- November 13, 2023- November 17, 2023 – American Education Week
- November 15, 2023 – Education Support Professionals Day
- November 15, 2023 – America Recycles Day
- November 23, 2023 – Thanksgiving
- November 23, 2023 – The National Day of Mourning
- While largely celebrated in the United States as a day of feasting and giving thanks, many Americans observe Thanksgiving as the Day of Mourning, grieving the sacrifice endured by Native Americans in Plymouth, Massachusetts upon the arrival of English in 1620.
A Message from Our Family Engagement Specialist
If your student qualifies for free and reduced lunch and/or your family is facing financial hardship, we have a Family Engagement Specialist who could provide you with assistance. Please see her message below for more information.
Medina Families, my name is Judy Hunsberger, and I am your Family Engagement Specialist Support. Please complete the Family Resource Application, or you can email me with your child’s name giving me permission to sign you up. All correspondence is confidential. This form has resources to provide you with a Safeway voucher during official Bellevue School District breaks (winter, mid-winter, spring, and summer). The voucher is good at any Bellevue Safeways for purchasing food items. The amount is determined by Lifespring, which generously provides our district with this program, Breaktime Mealtime.
Judy Hunsberger 425-456-5679 hunsbergerju@bsd405.org
Resource Application
This year we are asking new families/enrolled families to complete/update (information) on the Resource Application (formerly known as Welcome Form). Completing this form for each district student will help ensure that we can connect students to the programs they need. Please keep in mind these programs are not guaranteed and are subject to change.
ParentVue
Synergy ParentVUE provides parents and guardians the ability to view their students' attendance as well as update crucial student information. For some classes, ParentVue will also provide information on student’s assignments and grades if teachers utilize Synergy to keep track of assignments and grades throughout the year. Please check with your child's teacher if you are not sure if their teacher does this. More directions and a guide to ParentVue can be found in the link below.
https://bsd405.org/departments/district-technology/grades-attendance/
Closed Toe Shoes
We have had students experience stubbed toes or tripping over their sandals/slippers while playing 4 square during recess. Please make sure your child comes to school wearing closed toe footwear, preferably something with a sole that has a grip, especially if your child enjoys running, playing soccer/4 square or anything that involves close contact with other kids.
Thank you Bellevue Schools Foundation!
We recently learned that Medina Elementary School was awarded grants to support the following opportunities:
- Field Trip to Kirkland Performance Center
- Glass Fusing Workshop for 4th and 5th grade
- Transportation to Newport High Boston Brass Workshop and Concert
Thank you Bellevue Schools Foundation for enriching the learning experiences for our students!
In Case You Missed This...
2024-2025 Applications for Advanced Learning Deadline 10/31 at 4pm
Applications for Advanced Learning Services for the 2024-2025 school year are open now through October 31 at 4 p.m., for students currently in grades 1 to 11.
Visit the Advanced Learning Serviceswebpage to learn more about Advanced Learning Services and to apply for your student. Please note that if your student is currently in the Advanced Learning full-time self-contained program, there is no need to re-apply.
BSD Presents: One Pill Can Kill, Fentanyl Information for Families
On Wednesday, November 15, 2023, Bellevue School District will bring together experts from local, state and federal agencies to provide a comprehensive look at the dangers of fentanyl and opioids in our community. The program will take place at Sammamish High School beginning at 6:00 p.m.
The evening will include a series of presentations followed by an opportunity for community members to ask questions. Presenters include representatives from the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, Youth Eastside Services (YES), BSD staff and parents sharing how opioids have impacted them personally.
In addition, representatives will be on hand to answer questions including members of the Bellevue Police Department, local health organizations, public health agencies, and Bellevue School District Safety and Security and Mental Health Assistance teams. The event is made possible with the support of the Bellevue Schools Foundation.
This comprehensive night of information is intended to give families additional knowledge that can help support their students and keep schools and communities healthy and safe. This presentation is free and open to the public.
Middle School Consolidation Study Community Engagement Opportunities
Middle School Consolidation Study Demographer Reports and Ongoing Community Engagement
The two demographer reports for the district’s Middle School Consolidation Study have been published on the district website. The district is utilizing two demographers to provide BSD with an enrollment forecast through 2030. These reports and the district’s executive summary of the reports are now available for review in English, Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Russian and Spanish. The reports will also be discussed at community forums, outlined below. A Frequently Asked Questions webpage has also been added to the district website for those who wish to learn more about the consolidation study.
Community engagement for the Middle School Consolidation Study continues this week, through November 3. Participants at the community forums may review the demographer findings, discuss the implications, and share thoughts with district leaders. The district is committed to deeply listening to the communities we serve. Upcoming events include:
In-person events
· Tyee – Monday, October 30, 6:00 p.m.
Online events
Participants must register in advance for the session they would like to attend. The district can accommodate up to 50 participants in each session and is prepared to host additional sessions based on demand.
· Friday, October 27, 2023 (English), 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
· Wednesday, November 1 (Spanish), 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
· Wednesday, November 1 (Mandarin), 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
· Wednesday, November 1 (Korean), 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
· Thursday, November 2 (English), 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
· Friday, November 3 (English), 7:00 – 8:00 a.m.
Presentations from the events have also been published to the district website for BSD community members who were/are unable to attend the sessions or who would like to review them online.
BFF with BSF
So, what's a BFF?! A Best Friend Forever, of course! And what's BSF? Well, hopefully you know us by now, but if not, here's an intro. This year, Bellevue Schools Foundation is contributing nearly $1 million to support essential programs throughout the entire school district. Check out the programs that are inspiring so many in our community to become BFFs of BSF. Learn how you can make an impact in the lives of your student-- become a BFF now!
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.