Tiger Tales
Newsletter #10 - October 20, 2023
· Language Access: Español | 简体中文 | Pусский | Tiếng Việt | 한국어 | العربية
Dear Families,
This week was a full week with the culmination of grade level projects to celebrate Unity Day on Wednesday. As we reflect on the message behind Unity, we recognize the wide array of emotions our affected families may be experiencing as a result of conflicts happening overseas. Please do let us know if there are ways to support you and your kids, particularly at school, or if you would like our counselor Ms. Geck to check in with you.
We ended today with students practicing our monthly safety drill - this month was about earthquake safety in conjunction with the Great Earthquake Shakeout. Please ask your kids the steps they take when there is an earthquake.
As we turn to the remaining weeks of October, we are planning our Pastries with Principals event on November 2nd. To provide access for families who cannot participate in person, we will alternate our Pastries with Principals events between on-site and virtual. November's event will be virtual. Please provide your input regarding topics and other engagement opportunities through this Family and Community Input survey
Have a restful weekend,
Betty and Kati
Upcoming Events
October 25 - Virtual Volunteer Training, 11-11:30am, Click here to join the meeting
October 27 - PTA Halloween Festival, 4-6:30pm
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
November 10 - No school, Veteran's 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
Bus Route 35 Cancellation for the week of October 23
Due to bus driver shortage, bus route 35 is cancelled for this upcoming week.
From the Transportation Department:
No student pick-ups will be available in both the A.M. and P.M. timeframes. Families impacted should plan alternate transportation for their students. All other bus routes servicing these schools will run normally as scheduled. Midday routes and activity routes for these cancelled routes will run normally.
Due to a bus driver shortage as well as various seasonal illnesses, the number of bus drivers available to transport students on any given day is fluctuating. As standard and daily practice, we are assessing what routes can be covered based on driver availability. If your student’s route has been canceled on any given day, you will be notified via the parent portal through Edulog, by 5:30 a.m. that morning. Sign up for Edulog here.
We understand the inconvenience this causes families and are committed to running as many routes as possible, while keeping student health and safety as the first priority. Please contact transportation@bsd405.org with any questions.
Lost and Found
Our lost and found racks are collecting many coats and sweaters. Students can check the lost and found located across the library during school transition and lunch/recess times. Please check your child’s belongings when they return home to determine what might be missing. If your child is still unable to locate the item, you are welcome to also check the lost and found racks after school until 2:45 PM (Mon, Tues, Thu, Fri) and 12:45 PM (Wed). We donate items at various times throughout the school year. Before donating items, we look through all items to see if there is a student name so that we can return the item to the student. All items will be donated on November 17.
Student Pictures
As we enter the season for celebrations and other events, please refrain from taking pictures of other students on school campus, without the explicit permission of their families. In addition, even if you have permission to take pictures, please do not post pictures of other students on social media. You may see staff take pictures and send pictures to their class families, but only after they have already received permission. Even if you did not take the photos but you received them as part of the class, please do not post those pictures on social media or send to other families and friends not in the class. If you have any questions, please reach out to Betty or Kati.
Family Resources from Elise Geck, Counselor
The Power of Relationships: Nurturing Compassion and Resilience in Children
UW School Psychology Clinic will be providing counseling and evaluation services for children ages 8-18 starting in January 2024. Please see below for more information.
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.
Fall Celebration Information
Some classrooms will choose not to have costumes. If costumes will be a part of the classroom celebration, please keep in mind the following:
- Please do not have anything that looks like blood or gore
- No weapons or plastic toys that look like weapons
- Full face masks or full face paint is not allowed
- Please refrain from using face paint or other material to mimic the skin color of another person, or use the dress of another culture as costume
- Students must put on their costumes over their clothes and be able to take them off before leaving school
Pending approval of the teacher, parents/adults who are planning the party can bring 1 small pre-packaged food item. All families must be notified of the food item and ingredient list 2 weeks prior to the celebration and will need to provide permission for the food to be served.
Thank you in advance for your understanding and support of an inclusive school climate and culture.
PTA Halloween Festival
PTA’s Halloween Festival is happening on Friday, October 27, from 4pm – 6:30pm at Medina Elementary. Please check out the PTA website https://www.medinapta.org/halloween2023 for additional details! Make sure you check the schedule so you don’t miss any of your favorite parts:
Schedule
Check-In: 4-6pm
Costume Parade: 4:15-4:30pm
- Students line up on the bus loop by their class sign around 4pm. Parade happens 4:15-4:30pm. No sign up required.
Pumpkin Contest: 4:30-5:30pm Sign up to bring a pumpkin now!
- Please drop off your pumpkins on the day of (morning: 7:45-9:15 am, and afternoon: 2-3 pm). Voting is 4:30-5:30pm. Winner announcement will be made at 6pm. Parents are free to take back your pumpkins after 5:30pm. All pumpkins not picked up by 6:30 pm will be discarded.
Trunk or Treat: 5-6pm Sign up now!
- Please sign up to host your decorated trunk with candies. This year, Trunk or Treat happens at 5-6pm. Hosts please arrive by 4 pm for setup and can leave at 6 pm.
Arcade Games: 4:30-6:30pm
Middle School Consolidation Study Community Engagement Opportunities
Community engagement for the Middle School Consolidation Study will begin the week of October 23. Community forums will be held at each of the five comprehensive middle schools, where participants will 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. The schedule is as follows:
· Chinook – Monday, October 23, 6:00 p.m.
· Tillicum – Tuesday, October 24, 6:00 p.m.
· Odle – Wednesday, October 25, 6:00 p.m.
· Highland – Thursday, October 26, 6:00 p.m.
· Online meeting for all families – Friday, October 27, 10:00 a.m.
· Tyee – Monday, October 30, 6:00 p.m.
These meetings are open to all members of the public and ensure one meeting for the schools in each middle school attendance zone (including the elementary schools and the high school(s) it sends students to). Participants at each forum will have the option to attend smaller sessions for groups that will be impacted such as dual language, advanced learning etc. or groups that have been historically marginalized or underserved in our education system. Details on these concurrent sessions will be finalized posted on the Middle School Consolidation Study timeline and shared by each school. Participants will have the opportunity to provide both group and individual feedback on a 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.