Cougar Chronicle: May 2026

The school year is flying by!  It's hard to believe we are already changing the calendar to the month of May!  This newsletter is a combination of information about "now" and information helping us prepare for the upcoming school year.  Let's start with the now:

Smarter Balanced and 5th Grade Science Testing

In May, our students in grades 3, 4, and 5 will be taking the Smarter Balanced Assessment in English Language Arts (ELA) and Math.  Fifth grade students will also take a state assessment in science.  Below is the testing schedule.  For those who are new to this assessment, here's a couple of acronyms to know:

• CAT = Computer Adaptive Test - this test assesses grade level standards in either literacy (reading and writing) or math
• PT = Performance Task - students are asked to write a more in-depth response in each subject area
• WCAS = Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science

Below is our Smarter Balanced Assessment testing schedule:

 

While we hope students can be present for their grade level's testing days, we support students who are absent by conducting rolling make-up tests throughout the testing window.  

 

Seattle Soccer Spirit Program

This spring Clyde Hill Elementary has joined the Seattle Soccer Spirit Schools program.  This program is brought to us by the community outreach teams from both the Seattle Sounds and the Seattle Reign soccer teams.  Being part of this program is bringing a World Cup themed assembly to our school this next week as well as resources such as soccer balls for recess and books about soccer for our library.  Joining this program also brings special messages recorded by Sounders and Reign players for our students.  With soccer being popular both at recess as well as with our Jubilee REACH teams, this is a perfect fit for Clyde Hill Elementary!

Both the Seattle Sounders and the Seattle Reign offer free clubs for students.  If your student loves soccer, consider signing up for either or both Sammy's Club for the Sounders and the Reign Kids Club for the Seattle Reign.  These free memberships provide unique, kid-first experiences with both Sounders and Reign.  To join, use the QR code in the picture below.

 

Jubilee REACH:  Camp Jubilee!

The following opportunity is for our current 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade students (or "Rising" 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students for fall 2026):

It’s almost summer—time to sign up for Camp Jubilee! Jubilee REACH invites all students who will be in 3rd, 4th and 5th grade next school year to join us from 7/6–8/6, Mon–Thurs. Choose a morning (9–12:00 am) or afternoon (1–4:00 pm) session. Camp includes art & science projects, sports, and a quiet room & snack time. Best of all—it’s free, but spots are limited!  Registration ends 5/9. We hope to see your student there!

Click the link bellow to register:

https://form.jotform.com/251634821599163

 

For students currently in 5th grade (or "Rising" 6th graders), there is a separate sign up for the middle school version of Camp Jubilee!:

It’s almost summertime to sign up for Camp Jubilee! Jubilee REACH invites all rising 6th and 7th graders to join us 7/6–8/6. Choose a morning (9:30–11:30 am) or afternoon (1:30–3:30 pm) session on Mon/Wed or Tues/Thurs. Camp offerings include arts & crafts, basketball, board games, field games, improv, soccer, and volleyball. Offerings vary by day/time—check the registration link for details. Best of all—it’s free, but spots are limited! Pre-registration ends 5/9. Click here to register: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/fgzEDJjtEK. We hope to see your student there!

 

City of Bellevue SchoolPool

Each spring and fall the City of Bellevue has a "SchoolPool" week encouraging families to try different modes of transportation to school.  The week of May 4th - 8th is the spring SchoolPool!  If you have ever considered walking or biking or riding the bus to school, this is a great week to try! 

Walk to School Day is Wednesday, May 6

Walk & Roll to School Day is an annual event that involves communities from across the country walking and rolling to school on the same day. It began in 1997 as a one-day event. The event was established as “International” in 2000, when Canada and the U.K. joined the U.S. to celebrate. In 2006, world-wide interest led the International Walk to School Committee to establish International Walk to School Month, where countries choose a day or week in May (or use the entire month!) to promote walking to school.

 

The City of Bellevue has a website focused on different ways to travel to school including maps of different routes for walking and biking.  The City of Bellevue SchoolPool website can be found at:  https://chooseyourwaybellevue.org/schoolpool

 

Warm Weather Ahead!

With temperatures climbing back into the 70's, students are welcome to bring re-usable water bottles to school.  If your students brings their own bottle, please make sure it is labeled with their name just in case it gets forgotten at recess or in a specialist class.

 

Lost and Found

Our lost and found is overflowing!  While teachers are taking classes by the Lost and Found to identify items, if you know that your child is missing something and believe it was lost at school, grown-ups of students are welcome to drop by, sign in at the office, and take a look through the lost and found as well.  As items are brought to the lost and found we look for names written on clothing labels or in pockets where some jackets have a place to write a student's name so that we can return these to students immediately, but many items do not have student names in them.   

 

Checking Online Presence

As students count down the weeks to the summer holiday, students who have access to online chats whether by text or social media are definitely building their social networks.  This is a great time to remind students of your families boundaries on social media and texting, such as who is your child allowed to share their phone number with and who are they allowed to connect with via social media.  Families are encouraged to monitor these messages, particularly group chats.  

 

 

In addition to all that is happening now at Clyde Hill, we are also planning for next year too!  Below are a couple of key pieces of information to know as we prepare for the upcoming school year:

 

Student Enrollment Plans

For families currently enrolled at Clyde Hill, we are asking you to complete the brief survey linked below.  This was previously sent out by our office manager, Holly Westerberg.  If you have already answered it, please know that no further action is needed.  If you have not responded, please take a moment to do so.

From Ms. Westerberg:  

Dear parents of Kindergarten – Fourth Grade Students,

If you have not yet completed the survey regarding next year school plans for your student, please complete it here: Will Your Student Return to Clyde Hill Elementary for the 2026-27 School Year? – Fill out form Responses due by Wednesday, May 6, 2026. Thank you.

 

Building Classes 

Towards the end of May and early June, teachers will build classes for the upcoming school year.  When we build classes we are strive to create communities that will support the needs of all learners.  Information provided by families about what supports your child to be successful in class is appreciated; however, we cannot take requests for specific teachers.  Once we build the classes, this information is added to our student information system.  This means that at some point in August, you may open ParentVue and see a teacher connected to your student.  However, these classes are in draft form until you receive an email message from your child's teacher in late August.  Each year throughout the summer we have families who unexpectedly move away, and we also enroll many new students.  This usually requires us to re-balance the classes built in May and June, moving students to ensure we create classes that will be a strong community of learners.  This happens once teachers return in late August.  Once we return in August, we will update families on when to expect classroom assignment emails.

 

Last, but not least, here are a few key dates for families to be aware of for both May and June:

• Memorial Day is Monday, May 25th.  There is no school.
• Tuesday, May 26th is also a non-student day.  This means there is no school.
• Thursday, June 18th - 5th Grade Promotion
  • Details will be shared directly with 5th grade families and shared with the community in our June newsletter.
• Friday, June 19th - Juneteenth National Holiday - No School
• Monday, June 22nd - Field Day - Look for information from our Field Day planning team later this month.  
  • We will be seeking parent volunteers to help with set-up, running events, and take down.
• Tuesday, June 23rd - Last Day of School, 9 AM - 11 AM.  
  • There are only two hours of school on June 23rd.  

 

We look forward to enjoying these last several weeks of school with our Clyde Hill Cougars!  We know how quickly time flies by at this time of year!

 

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: Jeff Lowell, (425) 456-4010 or lowellj@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.