Cougar Connect: June 2025

Clyde Hill Families - It is hard to believe that this is the last big monthly newsletter of the 2024-25 school  year!  This newsletter is designed to help us conclude the current school year while also preparing us for the upcoming school year.  For those families who are finishing their year(s) at Clyde Hill, we hope your time at Clyde Hill Elementary holds many wonderful memories, and we are honored to have been part of your educational journey.  For those students and families who are returning for the 2025-26 school year, we look forward to continuing our partnership! 

Usually, I save the important dates for the end of newsletters as they typically signal the conclusion of a letter; however, the unique hours that accompany the end of our final days of school prompt me to put this section front and center.  All I can ask is that you please keep reading after this section. 

 

Important End of Year Dates:

• Thursday, June 19th:  Juneteenth National Holiday
  • No School
• Friday, June 20th:  Typical School Day
  • Field Day!!!
• Monday, June 23rd:  School Dismisses at 12:15
  • We are running on a Wednesday time schedule even though it is a Monday. 
  • This is because we are making up a Wednesday snow day from February.
• Tuesday, June 24th:  School Dismisses at 10 AM
  • This is the typical 2 hour last day of school.

In addition to knowing the school dates, please make sure you are aware of the differences in aftercare dates.  

• Right at School will continue to operate on site at Clyde Hill through June 24th for any day that students have school.
• Bellevue Boys and Girls Club will be closed the week of June 16-20 for staff training. 
  • If your child typically attends BBGC, please make sure your child is aware of how they are going home and share this with their classroom teacher via email.  

 

School Performances - Amazing Clyde Hill Cougars!

While I admit that this past week has been a busy one with a school event at either Clyde Hill or my own child's school every evening, you cannot complain when you get to watch the performances of our amazing Clyde Hill Cougars!  Going back to the last week of May, our students have been on stage demonstrating their amazing musical talents:

• 4th grade students from Clyde Hill joined 4th grade students from Medina along with choir students from Chinook Middle School and Bellevue High School to perform in the Bellevue High School Auditorium.  
• The next evening, our 5th grade students demonstrated how much they have learned and progressed in their first year as band or orchestra students at their end of year concert!
• In the first week of June our Kindergarten and 1st grade students wowed their families with outstanding performances in their musicals.
• Next week, we eagerly await the musical performances of our 2nd and 3rd grade students!

It is a wonderful celebration of the end of our year!  It highlights so much growth not only as musicians but also the growth as a community of learners pulling together to create something far greater than any one individual!  It has truly been wonderful watching each grade level shine on stage!

 

Monday, June 9th - Principal Coffee

This coming Monday is the final Principal Coffee of the 2024-25 school year.  This coffee will be from 8:30 -9:30 AM.  If you have not had a chance to attend, these are informal gatherings.  In this one, I will share several end of year celebrations about our students and gather feedback from the families in attendance as we think towards the 2025-26 school year.  From the feedback gathered, I will then reach out to our greater community to gather feedback from those of you who are not able to attend if you wish to share your opinion.  

 

Field Day:  June 20th

Field Day is just two weeks away!  This is always an exciting afternoon for our students as they get to participate in a variety of fun activities.  To make this event happen, we need your help!  We need parent volunteers to help us run the various events at Field Day.  The events will be planned with all the materials and directions provided.  You will just need to arrive, help with minor set up, and support students as the participate in the activity.  Staff members will be present at Field Day supervising and supporting students.

Below is the SignUp Genius if you would like to sign up to help run a station.  

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B45A4AA28A4FBC34-57204170-field

*A HUGE Thank You to those of you who have already signed up!!!

 

Lastly, unless they are called out on an emergency, Field Day historically ends with the Fire Department spraying the field with water using a large arcing spray of water.  The kids love it, but those who stay out on the field get soaked.  Please talk with your child about this.  If they think they will be out on the field, please send a towel (or two) in their backpack so they can dry off afterwards.  With Field Day ending at 2 PM and a limited number of bathrooms, changing clothes will not be realistic, so please send towels!

 

Looking Ahead to the 2025-26 School Year

 

The 2025-26 school calendar is now available online at:  https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1742942284/bsd405org/iciu8g6kl86ffcqiqi7o/2025-2026-Staff-District-Calendar.pdf

 There are several key dates that I want to highlight for families. 

• First, please note the first days of school:  September 2nd for grades 1st - 12th and Friday, September 5th for Kindergarten.
• It's not on the district calendar, but I can share with you that Tuesday, September 16th is Clyde Hill's Curriculum Night.
• October 10th is a non-student day but could become a school day if there is an emergency closure prior to October 1st.
• Elementary Conferences will be held the Week of November 3rd - 7th. Each day of this week will be a half day at the elementary level.
• There will be no school on November 10th as well as November 11th for Veteran's Day.
• March 27th is a non-school day that can be used as a make-up day for closures prior March 13th.
• May 22nd is a non-school day that can abe used as a make-up day.
• June 23rd is slated as the last day of school with June 24th and 25th also reserved as make-up days.  

 

Building Classes for 2025-26

 The last thing I want to share with our Clyde Hill families is that our staff have been working diligently to build classes for the 2025-26 school year.  Those classes will get built in our student information system prior to July 1st.  Once Summer School ends at the end of July, the system rolls over to the new school year.  At that point, you may see a teacher name attached to your child.  Please, please, please do not get attached to any teacher name attached to your child's in early or mid August.  There is a good chance it could change by the end of August.  Official teacher assignment will be sent by email on August 27th.  Anything you see online before then is not official.  

 

Finally, on the Clyde Hill website, I will be sharing summer learning resources before we head to Summer Break.  I will send an email when that page goes live.  Additionally, if families want to host any playdates up at the school and want to post that information on the website, send it to me a week in advance, and we can keep a page of playdates posted as a way for families to continue connecting over the summer.  

It's an honor to serve as the principal of Clyde Hill Elementary, and I look forward to continuing our journey together in the 2025-26 school year!

 - Amy MacDonald