Cougar Connect: Starting Strong!

With our first 5-day week completed, Clyde Hill Elementary is off to a strong start!  This week has tested the resiliency of our intermediate grade students as they have prepared for reconfiguring classrooms at 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade.  We know these changes are difficult now, but in a week, all of our intermediate grade students will be in smaller classes that will better support student learning needs.  

As we prepare for these changes, a key support has been our school counselor.  This year Clyde Hill Elementary has a new school school counselor.  The following is an introductory letter authored by our new school counselor, Mrs. Fran Gatica or known to our students as, Mrs. G:

 

Hello Clyde Hill Families!

I’m thrilled to introduce myself—students call me Mrs. G, and I’m the new School Counselor here at Clyde Hill! I’m so excited to embark on this adventure with your amazing kids this year.

As the school counselor, my mission is to support our students with all sorts of social and emotional needs—whether it’s about home life, friendships, academics, or just their own personal growth. You might spot me in classrooms leading fun lessons or small group activities designed to help students manage their feelings and stay focused. And for those who might need a bit more one-on-one attention, I’ll be here for individual check-ins too.

A little about me: I’m a patient, calm, and caring person with a big heart and a sprinkle of quirkiness. I can’t wait to build meaningful relationships with the students and be another trusted adult in their lives. I recently graduated from Seattle University with a master’s in education and counseling, and I had the joy of interning here last year, so Clyde Hill already feels like home to me.

Here’s to a fantastic year ahead!

Warmly,

Mrs. G

 

We are thrilled to have Mrs. G as part of our Clyde Hill team and encourage families to reach out to her for support as she is a wealth of knowledge and supports in many areas!

 

As we head into the school year a key event at the start of any school year is Curriculum Night.  Below are key details about Clyde Hill's Curriculum Night.

Curriculum Night

 Curricululm Night is scheduled for Monday, September 30th.  The evening is broken into 3 sessions.

5:30-6:00 - Kindergarten, 1st grade, and 2nd grade teachers will be presenting to their families. 

• You will receive additional information from your child(ren)'s teacher about this presentation in their communication with you.

6:05-6:25 Principal Presentation

• In our presentation we will highlight the many facets of our school community and the goals we are setting for ourselves as a school as we strive to create a school where all students, families, and staff feel a deep sense of belonging.

6:30 - 7:00 - 3rd grade, 4th grade, and 5th grade teachers will be presenting to their families.

• You will receive additional information from your child(ren)'s teacher about this presentation in their communication with you.

We know that in past years that parking for Curriculum Night has been extremely challenging.  We are asking any adults that can, to please walk.  For those who are driving, we are working in partnership with other nearby schools and locations with larger parking lots to ensure we can park in those lots.  As soon as we have confirmation from those organizations, we will create a post specific to parking for Curriculum Night.  

 

Volunteer Opportunity at Clyde Hill Elementary and Other Schools

🔊 Attention Parents! Your Help is Needed for School Hearing Screenings! 🔊

👂 Join Us for School Hearing Screenings in September and October 2024! 👂

Bellevue School District prioritizes the health and success of every student. That's why we're reaching out to our dedicated parent volunteers to assist with our upcoming hearing screenings. These screenings are vital in ensuring that all students have equal access to learning by identifying any potential hearing issues early on.

How You Can Help:

🤝 Volunteer Your Time: We're seeking enthusiastic volunteers to assist with conducting hearing screenings under the guidance of our trained professionals. Training would be provided ahead of the screenings in person, virtually or via video tutorial. Volunteers must complete a volunteer application using this link:  https://bsd405.org/get-involved/volunteer/  (please note there is a 2^nd link below to indicate interest in participating).

📋 Sign Up Today: If you're available during September (likely mid-late September) and October 2024, we would be thrilled to have you join our team! Simply fill out the volunteer form linked below or contact the school office for more information.

Volunteer Interest Form

📅 Flexible Scheduling: We understand that your time is valuable, which is why we offer flexible scheduling options to accommodate your availability. We are asking volunteers to commit to helping at a minimum of two schools.  Typically, the commitment involves only morning shifts and we are able to complete an entire school in one shift.

Please contact Kristen Oulton, our district audiologist with any questions: oultonk@bsd405.org or 425-456-4667

Thank you for your support and dedication to Bellevue School District

Sincerely,

The Bellevue School District Audiology & Health Services Team

 

Applications for Advanced Learning Services Now Open for 2025-2026

Applications for Advanced Learning Services for the 2025-2026 school year are open now through October 18 at 4:00 p.m. for students currently in grades 1 to 11. Please note that this is an earlier date than in previous years.

About Advanced Learning Services

Bellevue School District's Advanced Learning Services provide identified students with academic services at an advanced level and accelerated pace. Instruction is designed to meet students' cognitive and academic needs at the appropriate level. Centered program services begin in second grade at select schools. Domain Specific services are available to students in grades 1 - 9 at all schools. We welcome you to consider Advanced Learning Services for your student.

 

Who Should Consider Applying for Advanced Learning Services?

Students in need of advanced learning services have an exceptional ability to learn and reason beyond their same-age peers. These children exhibit a high ability to make meaning out of complex concepts or problems.

You may want to consider applying for services for your student if you have noticed these characteristics:

• advanced vocabulary for their age
• strong reading skills two or more grade levels above current grade in school
• demonstrates high interest in numbers at an early age
• is imaginative
• finds interesting solutions to problems
• understands information quickly
• may prefer to interact with adults or older children

 

Apply Now!

Visit the Advanced Learning Services webpage to learn more about Advanced Learning Services and to apply for your student.

 

Please note that if your student is currently receiving Advanced Learning services, there is no need to re-apply. All kindergarten, 2^nd and 5^th graders enrolled in the district will be considered automatically for advanced learning services through our universal screening program.

 

Final Thoughts

As I shared in the beginning, we are off to a strong start here at Clyde Hill!  That being said, we know that students are adjusting to being back at school.  Please make sure they are getting ample rest as the hard work of learning is definitely underway once again. 

Lastly, the staff of Clyde Hill wants to extend a huge "Thank You!" to the Clyde Hill PTA for the wonderful baked potato bar lunch that they provided to us today!  It was an amazing treat and wonderful way to end the week.  Thank you for taking such great care of us!

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.