Tiger Tales
Newsletter #17 - December 15, 2023
· Language Access: Español | 简体中文 | Pусский | Tiếng Việt | 한국어 | العربية
Dear Families,
As we close the 2023 calendar year, we have much to celebrate with the addition of our new families, staff, and students. Our students started this year sharing who they are with their "I AM" displays, and we look forward to building on their strengths when we return. All of their successes do not happen without the tremendous support of you, our families, who invest your time, expertise, and money to ensure that all of our students have what they need to grow and thrive.
Thank you for the PTA gifts to staff this holiday season, and for all of the warm wishes. For those who celebrate Los Posadas, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, or your own traditions, we wish you joy and much love with your family. May there be many opportunities to feast on delicious food, laugh with your kids, and make wonderful memories with friends and families these remaining weeks in December. Tiger Tales #18 will resume when we return in the new year. We are grateful to end 2023 with joy, peace, and being in community with you.
With love,
Kati & Betty
Upcoming Events
December 20 - January 1: No school, winter break
January 2: School resumes
January 3: Recess and Lunch Volunteer Training, 11:45-12:15pm, Medina Library
January 9: Chinook Middle School Open House
January 9: Odle Middle School Open House
January 15: No school, Martin Luther King Jr. Day
January 17: Pre-school and Kindergarten Open House, 5:30-6:30pm, Multi-purpose Room
February 19-23: No school, mid-winter break
March 22: No school for students, District Professional Day for staff
April 8-12: No school, spring break
Staffing Updates
Ms. Bena, our art teacher, will be on leave from January to March. We will miss Ms. Bena and are excited to see her back at the end of March. In her absence, Ms. Lisa Carpenter will be the interim art teacher for our students! Please read Ms. Carpenter's background below and join us in welcoming her to our Tiger Family.
My name is Lisa Carpenter, and I have the pleasure of being the interim art teacher at Medina from January thru March. I have taught a variety of grades (K-8) and in a variety of positions over the years (classroom, Resource Room, substitute, Middle School English, and more). My husband and I have lived in Bellevue for over 20 years, and I am proud to say my own children are products of this amazing school district. My youngest is a senior at Newport High and my two oldest are off to college. In my spare time you can catch me reading a good book, watching a classic movie, or taking a walk or hike around our beautiful PNW. I look forward to spending the next few months with your students as we explore and expand our art horizons together.
Interested in being our Behavior Support Specialist?
We are looking to hire for a new classified position – Behavior Support Specialist - hopefully to start in January. Basic responsibilities include engaging students in games and activities during all recesses, supporting with school-wide Positive Behavioral System, and leading peer mediation among students. This position is full time, starting in January until the end of the 23-24 school year. If you are interested or know of someone who would be a great fit, please share this job posting https://bsd405.tedk12.com/hire/ViewJob.aspx?JobID=5947 to apply!
Volunteer Opportunity during Recess & Lunch
We are looking for volunteers to come support students at lunch and recess! Volunteers would help monitor the lunchroom and outdoor play spaces with the support of our General School Assistants. You can choose the grade level and day of the week that works best for you and each volunteer slot runs for approximately 2 months at a time (but you can always volunteer for as many slots are you want!) In-person training is required and all volunteers must be cleared every 3 years through our BSD Background Check Process. (This is in addition to the general volunteer training offered by the Principal, since this is tailored to the lunch and recess contexts).
Recess and Lunch Volunteer Training – 1/3/24, 11:45am-12:15pm, Medina Library
The first round of volunteering will begin January 4th. Our volunteer time slots are below and a sign up will be presented at the meeting. You can choose the lunch/recess and days of the week that work for you. An additional training will be provided for those that wish to sign up for the 2nd or 3rd volunteer slot. Those dates will be communicated closer to that time.
For any questions, please reach out to our Assistant Principal, Kati Weiland and thank you for your consideration!
Volunteer Slot 1 – January 4th – March 1st
Volunteer Slot 2 – March 4th – April 26th
Volunteer Slot 3 – April 29th – June 14th
Middle School Consolidation Update
Message from the Superintendent - Pausing the Consideration of a Middle School Consolidation
During the December 14 School Board meeting, Superintendent Aramaki shared a message with the community regarding a decision to pause the consideration of consolidating middle schools to address BSD’s enrollment and budget challenges.
Read the full message regarding this decision and the work ahead.
For 5th Grade Families
Students and families are invited to learn more about schools and programs at the following open houses. Event times will be shared on individual school and program webpages.
Middle Schools
- Chinook Middle School Open House, Tuesday, January 9, 2024
- Highland Middle School Open House, Tuesday, January 16, 2024
- Odle Middle School Open House, Tuesday, January 9, 2024
- Tillicum Middle School Open House, Wednesday, January 17, 2024
- Tyee Middle School Open House, Thursday, January 18, 2024
Learn More About Middle School Choice Schools!
Middle school is right around the corner! In addition to neighborhood middle schools, families have the opportunity to consider a Bellevue School District choice school or program. Fifth grade families can apply to attend Big Picture and/or International School. Choice School applications opened on Monday, December 11, 2023, and will close on Friday, January 19, 2024.
Learn more and apply to BSD choice schools and programs.
View information event dates for all BSD schools.
· Attend an information event for Big Picture Middle School on Wednesday, January 3, 2024, 6:30 p.m.
· Attend an information event for Big Picture High School on Thursday, January 4, 2024, 6:30 p.m.
· Attend an information event for International School on Thursday, January 4, 2024, 6:30 p.m.
The Bellevue Big Picture Panthers!
Learn more about applying to Big Picture!
Watch 6th grade students share their Big Picture stories.
Big Picture is a close-knit community of students in grades 6-12, staff, and families that fosters inclusion for all students, personalized experiences and strong academic relationships.
· All students have an advisory class during their seven years at Big Picture. In middle school, students have two advisors (one for grade 6 and one for grades 7 and 8). In high school, students have one advisor for grades 9-12.
· Big Picture students are independent, driven, and self-motivated learners who focus on twenty-first century skills such as collaboration, critical thinking, innovation, communication, personal and academic resiliency.
· Big Picture students focus on and excel at project-based learning (PBL) where they inquire about a complex question, problem or challenge. During this process, students learn essential academic content, practice collaboration, communication and critical thinking and create authentic products and presentations.
· In the last two months of every school year, high school students design, create, and implement a Freedom Project centering on a topic of their choice.
· Students are excited to discover their true passion by participating in internships in career fields of interest during all four years of high school, including coding, graphic arts, law, health care, architecture, animal care, and much, much more. Seniors also complete a Senior Project.
· We admit 75 students in each middle school grade. Admission spaces are allocated equally to the four school attendance zones (25% each from East, West, South, and North) and consideration is given to students based on gender and those receiving free and reduced priced lunch status.
The International School Titans!
Learn more about International School
· International School is a family of students in grades 6-12, staff, and parents/guardians.
· International School has a strong focus on academics with a seven-year core program and an extensive Senior Project — a capstone project that involves deep learning in an area of student’s choice, internships, service and assessment by an expert panel.
· In September, students in grade 6 participate in a whole day retreat to get to know one another and build relationships. In May, all students participate in Focus Week — a week of learning about topics related to career and interest areas.
· Every student belongs to a small community with grade-level peers that meets weekly to build relationships and engage socially and learn about the school.
· Every sixth-grade student has a high school buddy that provides mentorship and guidance throughout the year. Sixth graders and their high school buddies have lunch together to play games, socialize and connect.
International School ASB and student organizations/clubs are very active. We currently have over fifteen student-led clubs (with more to come!) for middle school students to join. Interlake ASB hosts schoolwide assemblies and socials throughout the year. Learn more about our clubs and student organizationsFrom the Counselor
Over winter break and family gatherings, consider starting this activity with your kids. From Centervention, the Gratitude jar activity is written for the classroom bur can also be used at home for all family members to express appreciation. Students create this jar and then they and family members add to it daily, weekly, or whenever they are feeling grateful.
There are some prompts that can be changed for home:
- I am grateful for _______because__________.
- I appreciate________because_____________.
- I am happy I get to ___________________.
Transportation Updates
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.
Apply to Join the BSD Sustainability Committee
Superintendent Aramaki invites you to join the Bellevue School District Sustainability Committee and be part of a transformative initiative to create a more ecologically sustainable school district and community. Click here to apply for the 2023-2024 Sustainability Committee
Applications are now being accepted. As a committee member, you’ll have the opportunity to influence the development and implementation of a three-year action plan and shape a schedule that will result in a reduction of harmful environmental impacts. In addition, you will help drive community engagement and sustainability initiatives that prioritize student voice and embrace diverse perspectives. Together, we will lead the way toward a greener, more environmentally conscious future. Apply today and be part of the change.
· Please complete the application form by Wednesday, January 10, 2024, at 4:00 p.m.
· Selected members will be notified by Monday, January 15, 2024.
· The first meeting of the committee will take place on January 24, 2024.
BSD Strategic Plan Guiding Coalition Launches
On Wednesday, November 29, the Guiding Coalition held their first meeting at Crossroads Community Center to launch the design of the vision for education in the Bellevue School District. They practiced utilizing an inclusive design process to guide their work.
The inclusive design approach to strategic planning develops clarity, trust, efficacy and hope through the habits of inclusion, empathy, co-creation and reciprocity. The investment in these habits supports organizations and leaders to think differently about creating more equitable systems.
Over the next several weeks, Coalition members will go out into the community to conduct one-to-one empathy interviews. These interviews are intended to better understand the hopes, dreams and needs of our learning community. The Coalition will then draft community commitments and priorities based on what they learn. These drafts will be shared with the learning community in spring of 2024.
Follow the Coalition’s progress and learn more on the 2024-2029 Strategic Plan webpage.
In Case You Missed This...
Elementary Language and Literacy Adoption – Family/Guardian & Community Member Survey
The Elementary Language and Literacy Adoption Team is seeking your thoughts about the two literacy curricula we are considering for adoption. The two curricula are Benchmark Advance & Adelante and American Reading Company (ARC) Core English and Spanish.
We are eager to hear from our parents/guardians, community members and secondary school students. We believe our community can help us provide the best experience for our elementary students.
The survey will close on March 12, 2024, at 4:00 p.m.
Elementary Language and Literacy Adoption – Family/Guardian & Community Member Survey
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.