Big Picture School Newsletter
Jan 16, 2024
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Upcoming Events
Check out the cultural calendar
December 11 - January 19 - Open Transfer and Choice School and Programs Application Period for the 2024-2025 School Year
Jan Thursdays- HS Exhibitions- Invites from Advisors
Jan 8-Jan 21- Last Chance to Order a YEARBOOK
Jan 18- Family-Principal Coffee, 'Angst' Screening- 6:00 PM
Jan 19- ASB sponsored MS and HS Dance (Tickets on Sale in Main Office)
Jan 19- Choice School Lottery for Next Year's 6th grade class CLOSES- all sibling applications for 6th grade are due
Jan 24- PTSA General Membership Meeting
Jan 24 and Jan 26- High School Finals schedule (see below)
Jan 25- BP Health Care Career Fair (4-7 pm)
Jan 26- End of Sem 1
Jan 29- First day of Sem 2
Feb 4- PTSA Fundraiser/Community Event- Seattle Thunderbirds Hockey Game
February 19-23 - No School, Mid-Winter Break
Stay on top of events and activities and plan for important dates by reviewing the district calendar. Previous and current printable calendars, including the 2023-24 Family Calendar, are also available online.
BSD Calendar of Events
January 24 - College Application Process 101 for Parents of Juniors
January 31 - Running Start Information Session (Big Picture will also host a BP specific Running Start Info Session in February)
February 7 - BSD Virtual College Conference
February 12 - HBCU Virtual College Fair
February 15 - College Application Process 101 - Spanish
BIG PICTURE ANNOUNCEMENTS
Family Principal Coffee- ANGST Screening- JAN 18 6:00 PM
Please join us this Thursday evening 6:00-7:00 pm in the BP Cafe for a screening of Angst: Raising Awareness Around Anxiety The film is 45 min and will be followed with a facilitated discussion.
7th, 8th, and 10th grade students will view the film in school in the upcoming weeks and engage in activities/resources from the Creative Coping Toolkit. Thursday evening will be a wonderful opportunity to deepen your understanding of anxiety and plan for follow-up conversations with your child.
Angst is a film-based program designed to raise awareness and open up conversations about anxiety, helping people understand and manage their symptoms and learn when and how to ask for help. The film includes interviews with kids, teens, educators, experts, parents and a very special interview with Michael Phelps. Their goal specifically is to help people identify and understand the symptoms of anxiety and encourage them to reach out for help. Angst screens in schools, corporations, communities and theaters around the world. On top of academic and social stress, the uncertainty and fears of these past few years, have brought all of us a lot more anxiety than before. Angst helps break this down, explaining what’s going on, and what we can do about it to help both ourselves and others.
Angst delves into all aspects of today's most common mental health challenges through:
Candid interviews with kids and teens who discuss their anxiety, its impacts on their lives and relationships, and how they've found solutions and hope.
Expert perspectives (from institutions such as Stanford University and Child Mind Institute) about the causes of anxiety and its sociological effects and resources to help.
Exercises, tips, and strategies to help reset thinking patterns, push back against anxiety, and support others.
Angst and the accompanying Creative Coping Toolkit resources has been made free to schools in Washington for the next two years.
HIGH SCHOOL FINALS SCHEDULE
High School classes will have a modified schedule next WEDNESDAY (Jan 24) and FRIDAY (Jan 26) for finals. Please see the schedule below. Students should check with their teachers for specific information about finals if they are not sure what is required. Not all high school classes will have final exams. Some may have presentations, projects, or other classwork that is due to wrap up the semester.
Running Start students should let their teachers know as soon as possible if they have a known conflict with their Running Start Schedule and the finals schedule.
Jubilee Reach co-ed Flag Football Registration
Students will be able to register for Middle School Jubilee Reach co-ed flag football January 16th -26th.
On January 16th students will be emailed a link to a Microsoft Form to sign up (Registration closes January 26th). Teams are chosen through a lottery system and not first come first serve. Students and parents are welcome to email Brianna (VonseggernB@bsd405.org) with any questions. The season is February 5th- March 28th.
Last Chance to Pre-Purchase a YEARBOOK
Jan 8-21 is the last opportunity to pre-purchase a yearbook for your child. We will order the number of yearbooks that have been paid for at the close of this sales window. Don't miss out. Order yours today. This is the only way to guarantee your child receives a yearbook in June. Yearbooks cost $30 and are available for purchase in the TouchBase Signin (intouchreceipting.com)
Attend the Big Picture Student Healthcare Fair
Big Picture is hosting a student-organized Healthcare Fair to inspire students in minoritized groups who are not well represented in medical professions. Students who attend will have the opportunity to meet a diverse group of healthcare professionals who will share their experiences and offer brief 10-minute lessons from their fields. The event will also connect students with potential mentors, show diversity in healthcare, and equip students with skills to feel like they can succeed in the journey to becoming a medical professional. All students are welcome, so please don’t miss out on the great opportunity!
Date: January 25
Time: 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Location: Bellevue Big Picture cafeteria
RSVP online via Microsoft Forms.
For more information, please contact Mayah at s-groverm@bsd405.orgor Arushi at s-sinhaar@bsd405.org.
ASB Winter Dance
Big Picture ASB is pleased to announce our Winter Dance, on Friday, January 19th! Tickets are now on sale in the office before or after school and at lunches through THURSDAY. Tickets will not be sold at the door the day of the dance.
We are also looking for adult chaperones. If you are available for a 1-2 hour slot that evening, please sign up here! (If you can only make it for part of a slot, please note that in the comments section)
See the flyer below for dance times & ticket prices!
Enrollment for Next Year
The Open Transfer, Choice Schools and Choice Programs application period for the 2024-2025 school year will take place from Monday, December 11, 2023, to Friday, January 19, 2024. For families with a student currently enrolled in the BSD, who would like to remain at their current school, choice school, choice program or continue in their approved transfer feeder pattern for the 2024-2025 school year, no action is required. For currently enrolled families who are not Bellevue residents, nonresident paperwork will need to be submitted when requested by the Student Placement office.
Sibling Procedure for Current Resident 5th Grade Students:
If you have a 5th grade student and are planning on sending him/her to BP next year, then please remember that you must apply within the district deadlines to ensure that your 5th grader will have a spot here next year. The BSD sibling procedure applies for RESIDENT students only. If you reside outside of the Bellevue School District, siblings are not guaranteed a spot at BP. Applications must be received by January 19th to guarantee a spot for a sibling in our 6th grade class. In addition, the older sibling must maintain enrollment at Big Picture for next year and the two siblings must attend together for a minimum of one school year. If you desire to not access the sibling guarantee process, your child will be entered into the lottery with the other applicants. Applications received after January 19th will be placed at the bottom of the waiting list. The district oversees the process of collecting applications and performing the actual lottery. The application form will be available online by December 11th on the district website and will be completed and submitted online. For families who cannot access email, please stop by our office and we can assist you. Please review the Open Transfer and Choice Schools & Programs webpages and the frequently asked questions for each to learn more about the application process. Here are the important dates that you need to take notice of:
Applications open: December 11, 2023
Applications for lottery due: January 19, 2024
Applications for Grades 7th-12th: Accepted on Rolling Basis beginning January 24
Register for College in the High School by January 26
College in the High School course registration for winter quarter and yearlong classes through Bellevue College has a deadline of January 26. For more details on the process, check out the Dual Credit website and registration guide.
Visit the Bellevue College website for more information and key deadlines.
BP PTSA info
- Order BP Spirit wear here: https://bigpictureschool.itemorder.com/shop/sale/
- PTSA membership: https://www.bellevuebpsptsa.org/membership
- School Directory Now Available! Our school directory is now available via DirectorySpot! To gain access, please use the email address you have registered with the school. Note that not all students/families have opted into the Directory. Please let us know if you have questions! https://www.directoryspot.net/general/login.php
DISTRICT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Coming Soon: 2024 BSD Virtual College Conference
Events for BSD’s annual Virtual College Conference begin on Wednesday, January 24 and continue through February, with the main event taking place on Wednesday, February 7. The College Conference is recommended for juniors and their families but is a great opportunity for all high school families to learn about applying for college from professionals and knowledgeable BSD staff.
Open Transfer and Choice Schools and Programs Application Period
The Open Transfer and Choice Schools and Programs application period for the 2024-2025 academic year will take place from Monday, December 11, 2023, to Friday, January 19, 2024.
For families with a student currently enrolled in the Bellevue School District, who would like to remain at their current school, choice school or choice program for the 2024-2025 school year, no action is required.
For currently enrolled families who are not Bellevue residents, nonresident paperwork will need to be submitted as requested by Student Placement.
Register for Spring for Schools, Hosted by the Bellevue Schools Foundation
I'm excited to share that Spring for Schools 2024 registration is live! You are invited to attend Bellevue Schools Foundation's annual event on Saturday, March 30 at 5:00 p.m., and I truly hope to see you there! As a reminder, Bellevue Schools Foundation provides critical funding to our school-- you can take a look at the programs supported in our classrooms here. The evening will offer attendees a chance to connect with one another and teachers, and explore the initiatives funded by BSF in their signature Education Showcase.
Event registration is free, and childcare will be provided as capacity allows. Additional event details can be found here. The purpose of the evening is to raise funding so that BSF can continue to provide transformational opportunities for our students and teachers — please consider making a donation here.
Resources For Families
Sign up for Edulog Parent Portal to Receive Transportation Updates
Beginning in January 2024, all BSD bus cancellations, delays and updates will be shared directly through the Edulog Parent Portal, the district’s transportation information platform. Families who would like to receive notification about impacts to their bus routes must sign up for Edulog. Specific route cancellations, delays and updates will not be shared routinely through direct district emails, text messages, robo calls or social media in the new year. However, districtwide messages will continue to be sent at the discretion of the district, on an as-needed basis.
The Edulog Parent Portal provides an efficient student transportation resource management tool allowing families to receive more timely messages that impact student safety, ridership and routing. For students or families unable to acquire access to the smartphone app, the district will contact families through text message using the Talking Points platform in their preferred home language to ensure all families have equal access to information. Additionally, a route cancellation link will be added to the BSD transportation webpage listing service impacts.
Reminders About Inclement Weather and Emergency Closures
Winter is here, and it’s time to prepare in case inclement weather impacts the region. Families are encouraged to take the time to revisit the district’s emergency closure schedule protocols and our emergency closure decision-making process. During instances of inclement weather or severe conditions that could result in a delayed or canceled school day, BSD will communicate any schedule changes to families through direct messages, including email, text message, phone call, social media, FlashAlert, local media and posts to bsd405.org. Learn how to update your contact information in ParentVUE and set message preferences in SchoolMessenger to receive inclement weather and emergency communications according to your desired methods. While these decisions are made for the district at large, conditions may vary across the district. We encourage families to make personal decisions based on their specific circumstances.
Families with students who ride buses should be aware that there are also districtwide snow routes, which impact all general routes (1-59) and special needs routes (901-932). The City of Bellevue plows streets and roads accordingly, and for the safety of our students and buses, all bus routes will stay on major streets that follow the city’s plow schedule. Please visit the district’s Snow Routes webpage to learn how and when bus stops may be moved to accommodate for inclement weather.
How to Report a Safety Concern
Bullying and safety concerns can always be reported to any staff member at your school. Reporting forms are located in the main office and each classroom. The Bellevue School District also utilizes an anonymous reporting tool called SafeSchools Alert through which anyone can make a verbal or written report of harassment, intimidation or bullying. Information on how to submit a report via any of these methods is available on the district website at www.bsd405.org/help/report.
Questions? Contact Information
Bethany Spinler, Principal
Matt Stokes, Assistant Principal
Carol Anne Yamamoto, Registrar
Kelley Hoang, Attendance
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.