Parent Cougar Connect
September 9, 2022
It has been an incredible start to the year! We appreciate your ongoing support and cooperation as we make small changes in our arrival and dismissal procedure. With the small tweaks we have made, we have had smoother transitions and less traffic build up. I would also like to give all parents/guardians a huge shout out for getting your child to school on time! We have only had 2-3 students tardy per day since the first day of school. INCREDIBLE!
As mentioned in the Back to School Family Cougar Connect, one of our focus this year is building and sustaining deeper relationships. The start of the year is one of of the most significant part of the school year, as it is the time when connections and trust are established. Relationships are everything in a successful classroom. It has been such a joy to walk around classrooms and see our amazing teachers supporting a learning community that values getting to know one another.
As we move into the remainder of September, our teachers will continue to embed social emotional learning into their daily practice with the intention to support students self-awareness, self management, responsible decision making, social skills, and strengthen their social awareness.
Thank you for you love and support. We are off to a great start and it would not be possible without you!
Warmly,
Mrs. Garcia-De Leon and Alison Hook
Important Updates
Hispanic Heritage Month
Clyde Hill Proudly Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month, beginning September 15, and throughout the course of the year. September is a month where we elevate and celebrate the contributions, diverse cultures, and extensive histories of the Latinx community.
As a school, during the month of September, we affirm members of our school community who identify as Hispanics, Latino/as, Latinx, or Latine whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. Clyde Hill Elementary seeks to inspire all students with inclusive curriculum that benefits all students by promoting acceptance and respect and teaching them more about the diverse people and families in the world. We seek to foster curriculum that can serve as a window and a mirror. Curriculum can serve as a mirror when it reflects individuals and their experiences back to them as a means of affirmation. Curriculum can serve as a window when it introduces the opportunity to understand the experiences and perspectives of those who possess different identities.
If you are a family who identifies under one of these umbrellas of Latinidad; Afro-Latino Hispanic, Latino/a, Latinx, or Latine as a school we would love to highlight your family. Please send Mrs. Garcia-De Leon a picture or pictures of your family. This picture can be one highlighting a family tradition or just a simple picture that captures the beauty of who you are as a family. If you have any artifact that we can place on a bulletin board, we would also encourage you to send them.
Clyde Hill Elementary School Handbook
Attached you will find our school handbook, this handbook is filled with information about how we as a school community operate. You will find a welcome letter, daily schedules, and information related to curriculum and school procedures. We are working with our technology department to get it uploaded on our school webpage. In the mean time, you will have access to a PDF document (see down below)
Clyde Hill Back to School Night
Mark your calendars! Clyde Hill’s Back to School Night will take place Monday, October 10th, 2022. This school event is a time for families to connect, learn, and grow alongside our building administrators and staff. More information regarding the start time and structure will be coming soon.
Trouble with Pay Pams
Having trouble with Pay Pams? Pay Pams is your child’s account that holds funds for them to pay for lunch. Sign your child up again on the PayPams account. PayPams inactivates the account after a year of inactivity. The accounts update each evening, funds should show up the next business day.
Nut Free Snacks
Families, please send nut free snacks with your child if you are sending your child with a snack. We want to be mindful of individuals with allergies and ensure safety for all. Thank you!
Visitors entering BSD buildings
All visitors are required to check in using the LobbyGuard electronic kiosk. With the beginning of the 22-23 school year, visitors will once again have their picture taken, be required to identify their visitor type (parent, volunteer, BSD employee, vendor etc.), and the purpose of their visit (meeting, classroom visit, etc.). The system will print a standardized visitor pass that will be worn by visitors so that staff working in the building can readily identify them as visitors.
If you need any support using Lobby Guard, please ask Mrs. Westerberg or Mrs. Dash in the front office.
Paletas with the Principals
First Week of School
Clyde on the 1st Day of School
Kinder Camp
Routines and Procedures in 3rd grade
First Day of Kinder
Learning Recess Procedures
Welcome Back Assembly
Virtue of the Month @ CHE
Respect
Please have conversations as a family about respect and what it means to you as a family.
Questions to consider:
What is respect?
What does respect mean to you?
How do you practice respect?
How do we practice respect in our family?
Why is respect important?
Think of a time when you practices respect, share about it.
Monthly Emergency Drill
Fire Drill
Washington state law and Bellevue School District policy require all schools to hold at least one drill per calendar month while school is in session. This month, we will be conducting a fire drill and practicing evacuating the building and accounting for everyone.
During a fire evacuation, students are taught to quickly and quietly exit the building. They meet on the field at an assigned location and stay silent while attendance is taken to ensure all people have safely evacuated.
Please talk with your student about preparing for emergencies and disasters such as fires. Encourage them to talk about their concerns and express their feelings. Emphasize that even though sometimes things happen that we may not expect, there are lots of things we can do to help us stay safe.
For more information on fire safety, you might want to visit the National Fire Protection Association "Kids" page at http://www.sparky.org/ or their parent resource page at http://www.sparky.org/parents.
Important District Information for Families
Superintendent Community Advisory Council (SCAC)
Each year, the Superintendent Community Advisory Council (SCAC) makes recommendations to the superintendent on major issues impacting our district. This year’s focus will be on defining what effective community engagement should look like in BSD. The SCAC meets once per month, from October to April for two hours, with some pre-work and preparation required between meetings. The group produces an annual recommendations report to the superintendent and is supported by District staff. Applications are open until September 16 — please consider applying! Students who are selected to join the Council can count their hours toward community service time.
Apply to be a member of the council.
View the phases of work and learn more about SCAC.
2022-23 Official Notices Now Available
The 2022-2023 Official Notices, Weapons Policy and Truancy Laws are available on the district website. English, Spanish and Simplified Chinese versions can also be found on the Official Notices page.
Student Life Webpage Now Live
The Student Life webpage has been launched on the district website to help inform families and students about the new Director of Student Life position and to connect them with Drew O’Connell, who has taken on this role.
New Fall Hours for Hub
The Bellevue School District welcomes families from across the district to the new Bellevue Family Hub located at Highland Middle School. Families are invited to visit the Hub to meet with trained volunteers who can connect them to resources for clothing assistance, rent assistance, and BSD school support. The Bellevue Family Hub located at Highland Middle School (15027 NE Bel-Red Road) is a joint partnership between the Bellevue School District and Bellevue LifeSpring.
Since the Hub opened its doors on August 22, over 500 students have already been served. The Bellevue Family Hub continues to invite students and their families to come and receive access to three essential resources for a successful start to the year: 1) Online student verification and completion of the application for Free and Reduced-Price Meals; 2) Back-to-school clothing support for students and 3) Navigating resources for rent assistance.
The new fall hours for the Hub are:
Tuesdays: 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Wednesdays: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m