Cougar Connect: February 2025

Well, February is off to quite a start!  It has been a week of winter weather - school delays and closures, changing schedules for after school activities, all amidst students getting to experience snowy recesses, some getting to play in snow for the first time!  Students have worked together rolling giant snowballs to build snow people and figuring out all the things they could do with snow while following Clyde Hill's "Cougar Code" of:  Show Respect, Make Good Decisions, and Solve Problems.  

What's In February's Cougar Connect Newsletter

This month's Cougar Connect newsletter highlights:

• First semester progress reports and how to access them online 
• Online family preferences and why they matter (e.g. impact on the yearbook!)
• Information about upcoming registration for families who are transitioning from preschool to kindergarten
• Bellevue School District Spending Reduction Plan
• Bellevue PTSA Council:  Spring Into Reading!
• Early Literacy Screening and Dyslexia Information Session
• BSF Education Connections - Fentanyl Awareness and Prevention

 

First Semester Progress Reports

The first semester came to a close at the end of January.  Teachers have been hard at work completing progress reports for their students.  Progress reports will be available online to all families via ParentVue beginning at noon on Friday, February 14th.  If you have never accessed ParentVue before, information about how to do this can be found at the link below:  

https://www.bsd405.org/programs-and-services/technology-services/grades-and-attendance

When you login to ParentVue, you will be able to see your child(ren)'s progress report by selecting the tab "Documents" on the bottom left.  All elementary level progress reports will be kept here in pdf form.  Do not select Report Card for students at the elementary level as this shows this report card used for students in middle and high school. 

When your child's progress report becomes available, please remember that we assess student learning using a standards based approach which is not the same as assigning a letter grade.  When a student receives the designation of "Meeting Standard," this does not equate to a letter grade such as an "A" or a "B."  Rather, this statement tells us that your child has consistently demonstrated that they have met the grade level learning standards that were taught and/or your child's is own track to meet grade level standard by the end of the school year.  To earn the designation "Exceeds Standard" (which is rare), a student must demonstrate that they are consistently working well-beyond grade level expectation.  While some students demonstrate this part of the time, for a student to do this consistently is what makes earning this designation so challenging!

Once you have had a chance to read over your child(ren)'s progress reports, if you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to their teacher.  We want to work in partnership with you!

 

Student Information in ParentVue

Key student information in available for families to review in ParentVue.  When you are in ParentVue looking at your child(ren)'s first semester progress report, please take a moment to review the other key information found under the "Student Information" tab.  Here you can see if your child's picture is allowed to be in the yearbook or posted on our website.  While we understand each family has to make the choices that are best for them, we want to make sure that families understand how these choices show up at the elementary school level.  For example, if you select that your child's picture is not allowed in the yearbook, their individual picture will not be in the yearbook and steps will be taken to ensure they are not identifiable in any picture that is in the yearbook besides the class picture. 

If you look at your student's information and need to change it (and the system is not allowing you to update your information), please just reach out to the Clyde Hill main office either over the phone at 425-456-5000 or to our office manager Holly Westerberg at westerbergh@bsd405.org

 

New to Bellevue, Kindergarten, and Preschool Registration

As the month of February gets underway, we are ready to start registering preschool, kindergarten, and 1st -5th grade students who are new to Bellevue for the 2025-26 school year.  Only students who are re-enrolling in preschool, moving from preschool to kindergarten, or are new to the Bellevue School District need to register.  If you are already a student at Clyde Hill Elementary School currently in grades K-5, you do not need to register.  You will automatically be registered for the upcoming school year. 

If you are re-enrolling in preschool, the preschool program information and registration form can be found here:  https://www.bsd405.org/enroll/preschool/preschool-application

For our incoming kindergarten families and families new to Bellevue, registration information can be found on the Bellevue School District website at:   https://www.bsd405.org/enroll

If you are interested in Early Entrance to Kindergarten, information, including an online meeting for February 11th, can be found online at:  https://www.bsd405.org/enroll/kindergarten/early-entrance-to-kindergarten

 

 

Share Your Feedback: District Spending Reduction Plan

At the February 6 Regular School Board Meeting, Superintendent Aramaki presented a $20 million spending reduction plan for the 2025-2026 school year, to help stabilize the district’s finances.

In the coming weeks, you will have opportunities to share feedback on this proposal. Here are three different ways to provide feedback:

·       Complete this survey by Friday, February 28

·       Send an email to communityinput@bsd405.org

·       Attend the Special School Board Meeting on Thursday, March 6 for public comment and sign up to speak.

In his message to the community, Dr. Aramaki invites you to be part of the conversation because this district is our beloved community — and together, we will navigate this challenge with the same spirit of resilience and collaboration that makes Bellevue exceptional.

 

Bellevue Council Spring Into Reading

The Bellevue PTSA Council presents Spring Into Reading in March 2025!  This program celebrates the joy of reading and highlights the importance of literacy with all students across all 16 BSD elementary schools.

Spring Into Reading features 2 books that share the incredible true story of Springer, an orphaned orca calf found in the Puget Sound in 2002.  Springer was rescued, rehabilitated, and returned to her home by the north end of Vancouver Island BC.  Within 24 hours, she was successfully reunited with and accepted back into her pod - the first time in history!

In March, Bellevue PTSA Council will give away 1 book to each class at every school:

·       Preschool to 2nd grade: The Spirit of Springer (by Amanda Abler)

·       3rd to 5th grade: Orca Rescue! (by Donna Sandstrom, WLA 2025 Sasquatch Nominee)

Spring Into Reading also provides students and families an opportunity to engage in an author talk with Donna Sandstrom as well as participate in a community wide Book Drive.

To RSVP for one of tthe author talks with Donna Sandstrom and see complete information about Spring Into Reading, please visit the Bellevue PTSA Council website at:  https://www.bellevueptsacouncil.com/face.html

Space is limited: **RSVP/SIGN-UP IS REQUIRED**

RSVP: Saturday March 8 (4 - 5:30pm) - click

• Location: Odle Middle School (502 143rd Ave NE, Bellevue, WA 98007)

RSVP: Sunday March 23 (2 - 3:30pm) - click

• Location: Wilburton Instructional Service Center, Rainier Room (12241 Main St, Bellevue, WA 98005)​

• RSVP with adult’s name for only 1 date/session
• RSVP for the total # in your family attending (maximum 6 per family)
• If both sessions are filled, we may consider offering an additional session

PLEASE NOTE:

• This event is free, all BSD elementary students & families are invited to attend
  • RSVP/sign-up is required due to venue capacity
• Children must be accompanied by an adult, the event is NOT a drop-off event
• Machine interpretation services will be available; both a cell phone and headphones/earphones are required to use this service.
• Students and families are invited to wear their school’s spiritwear/clothing to represent their school’s PTSA pod as we join together as our BSD superpod! (An orca superpod is when multiple pods/families come together)

 

Early Literacy Screening and Dyslexia Information Session

Join us for an informative event designed to raise awareness and understanding of dyslexia. Learn about its impact, challenges, and strengths, and discover resources and strategies to support our students with dyslexia. Together, we will foster a more inclusive and supportive environment for all learners.

Thursday, February 27

6:30-8:00 p.m.

Wilburton Instructional Service Center (WISC), Rainier Room

12241 Main St, Bellevue, WA 98005

Learn More

Early Literacy and Dyslexia Screening

Understanding Dyslexia

 

 

Save the Date: Education Connections - One Pill Can Kill: Fentanyl Awareness and Prevention Join the Bellevue Schools Foundation for an important conversation with community partners about the dangers of opioids, including fentanyl. Learn where it comes from, how it impacts children, and how to talk to your kids about the risks. Together, we can support our schools and keep our community healthy and safe.

March 4, 2025

Community Partners Resource Fair, 5:45-6:30 p.m., WISC Baker Room

Presentation: 6:30-8:00 p.m. WISC Rainier Room 12241 Main Street, Bldg #1. Bellevue WA 98005

RSVP online.

 

Guarde la fecha: Conexiones Educativas - Una Píldora Puede Matar: Concientización y Prevención del Fentanilo

Únase a la Fundación de Escuelas de Bellevue para una conversación importante con socios de la comunidad sobre los peligros de los opioides, incluido el fentanilo. Aprenda de dónde viene, cómo afecta a los niños y cómo hablar con sus hijos sobre los riesgos. Juntos, podemos apoyar a nuestras escuelas y mantener a nuestra comunidad sana y segura.

4 de marzo de 2025

Feria de Recursos para Socios Comunitarios, 5:45-6:30 PM, Sala de Panadería WISC

Presentación, 6:30-8:00 PM Sala WISC Rainier

12241 Main Street, Edificio #1. Bellevue WA 98005

RSVP en línea.

Esto fue traducido automáticamente. Para cualquier pregunta o inquietud sobre la traducción de este documento, por favor póngase en contacto con languageaccess@bsd405.org.

 

保存日期： 教育联系 - 一粒药丸可以致命：芬太尼意识和预防

加入贝尔维尤学校基金会，与社区合作伙伴就阿片类药物（包括芬太尼）的危害进行重要对话。了解它的来源、对儿童的影响以及如何与孩子谈论风险。我们可以共同支持我们的学校，让我们的社区健康安全。

2025 年 3 月 4 日

社区合作伙伴资源博览会，下午 5:45-6:30，WISC Baker 会议室

演讲，下午 6:30-8:00 WISC Rainier 会议室

12241 Main Street，Bldg #1。Bellevue WA 98005

在线回复。 

这是机器翻译的。 如对本文档的翻译有任何疑问/疑虑，请联系languageaccess@bsd405.org。

 

This February newsletter contains quite a lot of information.  If you have any questions about these topics, please do not hesitate to reach out to any of us on staff at Clyde Hill Elementary.  We would be happy to speak with you about them.  

In partnership,

Amy MacDonald

Principal, Clyde Hill Elementary School

 

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: Karen Dejong, 425-456-4277 or dejongk@bsd405.org

Mailing address for all three: 12111 NE 1st Street, Bellevue, WA 98005.