Cougar Chronicle: Last August Post!

We have nearly reached the first day of school!  I am writing this having just finished the Jubilee Day of Service where we were fortunate to have a wonderful team of community volunteers help us prepare for the first day of school!  As one teacher shared with our site's coordinator, "This day is one of my favorite days of the year!  It's like Christmas!"  The help we receive in completing so many tasks from labeling classroom items to delivering math workbooks around the building saves us hours of preparation time!  We are so grateful for our partners at Jubilee Reach!

Meet and Greet: Monday, August 31

We are excited to welcome students and families to our Meet and Greet on Monday, August 31, from 3:00–4:00 p.m. Families are invited to drop by at any time during this hour to meet their child’s teacher, find out who is in their class, reconnect with friends, and say hello to past teachers. This is a wonderful opportunity to ease back into the school routine and begin the year with a sense of connection and Cougar community.

Classrooms for students in grades 1–5 will be open during the Meet and Greet. Kindergarten classrooms will not be open at this event, as kindergarten students and their families will meet with their teachers later in the week. Preschool classrooms will host their Meet and Greet on Tuesdsay, September 8th. We look forward to seeing our Clyde Hill families on August 31 and celebrating the start of a joyful new school year together!

 

Attendance Communication With Families

Coming Soon: Attendance Notifications via Text Message with Talking Points

After piloting with several schools in the 2025-2026 school year (Interlake, Odle, Tillicum, Lake Hills), the Bellevue School District will begin sending out automated daily absence notifications via text message to all schools, using Talking Points. Families will be notified via text message on September 2 and 8, and automatic attendance text messages will begin on September 14.

What is Changing?

• Instead of receiving a generic phone call through School Messenger, parents/guardians will receive a customized text message in the morning (pilot schools only), and another customized text at the end of the day (all schools) via Talking Points notifying them of their child’s absence(s) that day.
• The texts are sent automatically. The morning text (pilot schools only) will be sent out 1-1 ½ hours after the start of the school day, and the evening message will be sent at 5:00 p.m.
• Parents/guardians can and are encouraged to respond to the text and to use text rather than email or phone call.

Remember, every day matters! Just one absence every two weeks is considered chronically absent (even if it’s excused). Please schedule appointments and personal travel on non-school days and only keep your child home if they are actually Too Sick for School. Lastly, please minimize full-day absences when possible. As the saying goes, “better late than never!”

Learn more about this change.

 

Student Technology at Clyde Hill

Cell Phones and Other Personal Technology

We discourage students from bringing cell phones to school.  However, we understand that many families rely on them for communicating with each other after school.  If cell phones are brought to school, they must remain OFF and in backpacks during the school day, including recesses, lunch, and bus rides.  Should a child needs to call a parent during the school day, they can use a phone in the office or classroom.

Similarly, students, unless it is part of an individualized education plan or 504 accommodation plan, should not bring earbuds to school.  Should a student bring earbuds to school, like cell phones, they need to be stored in the student’s backpack throughout the entire school day.

Smart watches have grown in popularity at the elementary school level due to ease of student tracking for families.  However, they also pose a significant disruption with students receiving texts and check-ins from parents/guardians throughout the day.  Students need to build their independence during the school-day.  If you need to contact your child during the school day, please contact the main office.  Smart watches need to be used only for their time-telling purposes during the school day.  Using the watch to record themselves or others, send texts, play games, etc…  is not permitted as it distracts from their learning and the learning of others. 

If a cell phone or other personal technology pose a disruption to the learning environment following a warning from school staff, families will be contacted to work in partnership with the school to develop a plan that supports their student following school expectations.

Please remember that cell phones and other personal technology brought to school are brought at the owner’s own risk and families need to understand that these items are easily lost.  If a loss occurs at school, it is not the responsibility of the school.

 

Bellevue School District Student Technology Devices

While most district-issued devices (iPads grades K and 1^st, and laptops for grades 2^nd – 5^th) are kept at school, if your student tells you that they are having problems with their device, please make sure you or your student communicate this with their teacher.  We have a technology specialist on staff who is able to help problem solve issues that arise and replace devices if needed.  Students devices are typically issued to students within the first week of school.  Students in Kindergarten and 1st grade have iPads while students in grades 2nd - 5th are issued laptops.

 

Back-to-School Highlights from the Cougar Chronicle

As we prepare to welcome students back to Clyde Hill Elementary for the 2026–27 school year, families are encouraged to review the most important updates shared in the August 14 and August 21 editions of the Cougar Chronicle.

• Clyde Hill provides basic school supplies for students, so families only need to send students with a backpack that can carry a folder and a few books; kindergarten families may also wish to include a spare change of clothes.  August 14
• Transportation information will be shared directly by the Bellevue School District Transportation Department with families who qualify for bus service. Families are encouraged to have students ride the bus, walk with others, or carpool when possible, as traffic around Clyde Hill can be very busy during arrival and dismissal. Families driving to school should carefully follow the posted traffic map and drop-off/pick-up procedures to help keep students safe and traffic moving smoothly.  August 21
• Families should also note several important start-of-year reminders. Before- and after-school childcare is available through the Bellevue Boys & Girls Club, with registration completed through their website. August 14
• In addition, breakfast and lunch service information is now available, including details about school meals and how families can access meal program supports if needed.   August 21

We are excited for another joyful year of learning, connection, and community at Clyde Hill. Thank you for taking time to review these important back-to-school details and for partnering with us to ensure every student feels welcomed, prepared, and ready to thrive.

 

Update from City of Bellevue:  100th Ave NE

The following information is from the City of Bellevue and will impact families traveling from south of Clyde Hill Elementary towards our school:

• 100th Ave NE is currently closed from NE 10th to NE 17th.  The closure is expected to end in late October. 
• NE 18^th and NE 21^st now have sidewalks, so these are improved walking routes now.  NE 18^th will have its sidewalk closed for about 1 week in early September for wall construction.

 

New All-School PTA Event:   🖍️ Chalk the Walk! 🎨

Help us welcome our students back in the most colorful way possible! Join the PTA on Tuesday, September 1st from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM to cover the school walkways with fun drawings and encouraging messages for our students and staff to see on their first day.

It’s a great chance to hang out, connect with other families, and get the kids excited for the new year.

• When: Tuesday, September 1st, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
• Where: School walkways and main entrances
• Chalk: The PTA will provide plenty of chalk, but you are welcome to bring your own too!

We hope to see you there! Let's work together to make the first morning back extra special for our students!

 

Key Dates

The following are key dates that families will want to know about as we prepare for and begin the 2026-27 school year.

Monday, August 31st:  Teacher Meet and Greet, 3:00 - 4:00 PM

• Students and their families are invited to come visit their new classroom and meet their teacher!

Tuesday, September 1st:  Chalk the Walk, 4 - 6 PM

Wednesday, September 2nd:  First Day of School for 1st - 5th Grade

September 2nd, 3rd, and 4th:  Kindergarten Family Meetings

September 4th:  Preschool Family Conferences

Tuesday, September 8th:  First Day of School, Kindergarten

Tuesday, September 8th:  Preschool Meet and Greet

Wednesday, September 9th:  First Day of School, Preschool

Friday, September 11th:  Ice Cream Social, 5:30 - 6:30 PM

• Come celebrate the beginning of the school year by having an icy, cool treat and connecting with old and new friends!  Students must be accompanied by an adult.

Wednesday, September 16th:  Curriculum Night, 5:30 - 7:15 PM

 

Central Office Updates

The following are updates from the Central Office of the Bellevue School District:

Get Ready for the First Day of School

Get prepared with all the information you need to head back to school. Visit the Back to School Information and Resources webpage to learn more about:

• Information for new families
• Back-to-school events
• Start and dismissal times
• Class assignments
• Bus routes (now available)
• School supplies
• School meals (September menus and free and reduced meal applications now available)
• Before and after school care
• Athletics and activities
• Student technology
• Required health forms and immunization requirements
• School safety and security
• Staying connected through BSD apps
• And more!

Some information has been updated over the past few weeks.

View all of BSD's back-to-school resources.

 

Attend the New Family Welcome Event

Join the Bellevue PTSA Council, BSD Welcome Center and the Bellevue Schools Foundation for a Bellevue School District welcoming afternoon designed especially for kindergarten families and open to all families new to BSD.

Meet BSD staff, learn about school and family services, connect with your PTSA, enjoy student showcases, and explore community programs, sports, Scouts, and nonprofit resources. Food will be available for purchase from food trucks, and complimentary light snacks will be provided.

Event Details

Date: Wednesday September 23, 2026

Time: 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Location: BSD Welcome Center (12011 NE 1st St, Bellevue)

Add the event to your calendar.

 

Learn About Community Events on BSD405.org

The Bellevue School District supports our local community partners by posting digital flyers online and distributing them electronically through our schools. Learn about events geared toward all grade levels and interests. Upcoming program opportunities include performing arts, sports, music, robotics, scouting, and more!

View all upcoming community events.

 

The staff of Clyde Hill Elementary are excited for a wonderful start to the 2026-27 school year!  We look forward to seeing all of our Clyde Hill Cougars very soon!

 

Amy MacDonald

Principal, Clyde Hill Elementary

 

 

Bellevue School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, homelessness, immigration or citizenship status, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, neurodivergence, 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: Nancy Pham, (425) 456-4040 or phamn@bsd405.org.

Disability Discrimination: Kerince Bowen, (425) 456-4168 or bowenk@bsd405.org.

Mailing address for all three: 12111 NE 1st Street, Bellevue, WA 98005. Members of the public with disabilities who have specific concerns about the effectiveness of the District’s communications to them should contact Janine Thorn, Chief Communications and Engagement Officer, at 425-456-4000 or thornj@bsd405.org.