Tiger Tales
Newsletter #25 - March 1, 2024
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Dear Families,
Welcome back from mid-winter break! It's so wonderful to see our students and families back and to catch up on all the fun adventures. On Monday, our Student Changemakers Committee started to build our community garden with soil under the guidance of Mr. Saltz, Ms. Seery, and Ms. Lavaris. The next step is to decide on the name for this garden. We're excited to share that it has come down to two names - Medina Spirit Garden or Pawlie's Garden. The name will be unveiled next week after all of our students throughout the school vote on their choice. Continued thanks go to our PTA for the grant to fund the materials and make the garden a reality!
Today marks the beginning of Women's History Month as we celebrate all the contributions that women have made to the history, culture, and society in the United States. In addition to the amazing trailblazers in history, we recognize all the strong women in our lives on whose shoulders we stand. We invite you to share stories of those women who have made a positive impact for you. We are always awed by the stories we hear and are grateful for these shared experiences that bring us closer together.
With gratitude,
Kati & Betty
Upcoming Events
March 1: Kindergarten Registration opens
March 6: PTA Family Night 4:30-6:30pm
March 14: Chinook and Odle MS staff visits Medina
March 15: Auction, Overlake Golf & Country Club, starting at 5:30pm
March 22: 1/17 District-wide closure school makeup day
March 27: Pastries with Principals, Topic: Science and Social Emotional Learning, 8:15-9:15am, Room 152
April 8-12: No school, spring break
May 1: Pastries with Principals, Topic: Social Studies and SEL, 8:15-9:15am, Room TBD
PTA Family Night!
Come to Family Night for some Arts & Crafts. Check out the class projects for the upcoming Medina PTA auction and mingle with fellow Tiger families! Food, snacks and games provided! This is not a drop off student event. March 6th from 4:30pm to 6:30pm. Please sign up here.
Last call for Girls on the Run signups!
Girls on the Run is a 10 week program that combines social emotional lessons and games along with preparation for a noncompetitive 5K at the end. We have 5 more spots open for our Medina team. No running/jogging experience necessary. They will meet Tuesdays and Fridays from 2:45-4:15. https://www.gotrpugetsound.org/3rd-5th-grade-program-details. Registration is through this website.
Elementary Language and Literacy Adoption Update
We've been engaged in a two-year journey to adopt a new K-5 language and literacy curriculum. Beginning with a pool of 35 potential options, our Teaching and Learning team meticulously evaluated each against our established criteria, ultimately narrowing down to five promising contenders. Through rigorous assessment using a research-based rubric, the adoption committee selected ARC and Benchmark Education for experimental implementation.
Attend the Community Open House to experience the two curricula up for adoption.
Date: Tuesday, March 5, 2024
Time: 4-6 p.m.
Location: Wilburton Instructional Service Center, Rainier Room Street Address: 12241 Main Street Bellevue, WA 98005
Please check out this flyer for important upcoming dates as we ramp up the adoption work.
Attention Grades 3-5 Families!
Dear Bellevue Families,
Ensuring the well-being of our students stands as a paramount objective within the Bellevue School District. Our aim is to cultivate and enhance robust social and emotional skills across all students, facilitating their learning and flourishing. Furthermore, we recognize the significance of cultivating a positive climate and nurturing a culture of inclusivity within our school environments, benefiting every student within our community.
Since 2015, we have collaborated with Panorama Education to gain insights into students' perspectives to support this work. Specifically, we ask for students to give feedback on school climate, provide teachers with feedback, and to learn more about their experiences using Panorama every fall and spring.
Highlights from last fall include 91% of elementary students responded favorably to “Does this school respect all students’ cultures?” and 78% for middle school and 80% of high school students responded favorably to “Does this school emphasize respect for the cultural beliefs and practices of all students?”
One component of the Panorama survey asks questions about student Social Emotional Learning. Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is a process through which individuals build awareness and skills in managing emotions, setting goals, establishing relationships, and making responsible decisions that support success in school and in life. The SEL questions can be found below.
Between April 1 and June 7, students in grades 3 through 12 will be invited to participate in the Panorama survey during the school day. The invaluable data collected will serve as a foundation for refining our educational practices and pinpointing areas of strength and growth as perceived by students themselves. Rest assured, all student data from this survey, like any other screeners or assessments, will be treated with utmost confidentiality and security.
Students may choose not to respond to any questions, including the SEL ones below; please discuss this option with your child if you prefer them not to complete the SEL survey. Families who chose to exclude the SEL questions during the fall term will not encounter these questions on the spring survey as well. Thank you for your collaboration in fostering Student Well-Being in Bellevue.
Bellevue School District Panorama Survey Team
Getting Back in the Groove: Finding Balance and Routine
As we ease back into our routines with a sense of balance and purpose, check out a few resources from our counselor below. Setting aside time for activities like homework, reading, and family meals can help us transition smoothly back into the swing of things. Please remember to be gentle with yourselves and each other during this transition. Whether it's a little extra patience or a healthy dose of self-care, let's prioritize our well-being as we navigate the post-break hustle and bustle.
Attend Spring for Schools!
Registration for Bellevue Schools Foundation's annual fundraiser is free. The event not only offers a chance to explore student initiatives funded by the Foundation, it's a fun evening to connect with fellow BSD families and teachers and celebrate our community. As a reminder, Bellevue Schools Foundation provides critical funding to our school — learn about the programs supported in our classrooms. Hopefully you saw Dr. Aramaki's blog about the importance of funding from BSF at this time.
Community donations to BSF will safeguard the transformational opportunities that set BSD apart nationally. I hope to see you at Spring for Schools on March 30! If you want to learn more about BSF and/or the event, please don't hesitate to contact info@bsfdn.org.
Information About Language Placement Tests for 2024-2025 School Year
For information about finding the right class for middle school Arabic, Chinese, Hindi and Korean, visit the Information about Language Placement Tests for 2024-25 School Year webpage. There are different formats/sites for each of the languages. The sites are intended for students who already have a little or a lot of the language.
March Observances
Monthly Acknowledgement: Women’s History Month
- February 29, (Sundown) – March 19,2024 – Nineteen Day Fast
- The Nineteen-Day Fast is a nineteen-day period of the year during which members of the Baháʼí Faith adhere to a sunrise-to-sunset fast. Along with prayer, it is one of the greatest obligations of the Baháʼí faith, and its chief purpose is to reinvigorate the soul. The nineteen days of fasting occur immediately before the beginning of the Baháʼí New Year.
- March 2, 2024 – Read Across America Day
- March 3, 2024 – 3/9/2024 – National World Language Week
- March 3 – 9, 2024 – National School Social Worker Week
- March 3 – 9, 2024 – National School Breakfast Week
- March 8, 2024 – Maha Shivaratri (Festival for Lord Shiva)
- Maha Shivaratri is a Hindu festival celebrated annually in honor of the god Shiva. The name also refers to the night when Shiva performs the heavenly dance called Tandava.
- March 8, 2024 – International Women’s Day
- International Women’s Day is a global celebration honoring women’s economic, political and social achievements.
- March 10 (sundown) – 8, 2024 – Ramadan
- Considered one of the holiest months for followers of the Muslim faith, Ramadan honors the revelation of the Qu’ran. During Ramadan many Muslims fast from food and drink during sunlit hours as a way to draw closer to God and build upon spiritual values and practices.
- March 17, 2024 – St. Patrick’s Day
- March 19, 2024, 8:06 PM – Nowruz
- Nowruz, Persian for ‘New Day’.
- March 21, 2024 – World Down Syndrome Day
- March 23 (sundown) – 24, 2024 – Purim
- Purim is a Jewish holiday celebrated by reading the Book of Esther, exchanging gifts and partaking in a celebratory meal.
- March 24 (sundown) – 25, 2024 – Holi
- Also known as the Festival of Colors, Holi is largely celebrated across India and marks the shift from winter to spring and the triumph of good over evil.
- March 24, 2024 – Palm Sunday
- Palm Sunday is a Christian celebration that originates from the palm branches waved by the crowd to greet and honor Jesus as he entered Jerusalem on the Sunday before Easter.
- March 29, 2024 – Good Friday
- Good Friday is a Christian holiday commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. It is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum.
- March 31, 2024 – Easter
- Easter, also called Resurrection Sunday, is one of the most important days of Christianity. It marks the Resurrection of Jesus three days after his death by crucifixion. For many Christians, Easter is the joyful end to the Lenten season of fasting and penitence.
Boys and Girls Club of Bellevue Spring Athletic Programs
The Boys and Girls Clubs of Bellevue offer a wide array of spring athletic programs for students. Students can select from programs like basketball, flag football, volleyball, track and a special clinic for little athletes ages 3-6. Spaces fill up quickly so sign up today! Scholarships are available for those who qualify.
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.