Chinook Newsletter: April 20, 2026

Apr 20 2026

Dear Chinook Community,

At Chinook, we are intentional about helping students learn how to be part of a community where everyone feels safe, valued, and able to fully be themselves. As part of that work, between April 23 and May 6, Chinook social studies classes will welcome guest presenters from the Holocaust Center for Humanity for age‑appropriate lessons focused on Recognizing and Addressing Antisemitism.

These sessions are designed for middle school students and will support learning around Jewish identity and the diversity within Jewish communities, what antisemitism is, and how it is similar to and different from other forms of prejudice and bias. Students will explore how antisemitism can show up across a spectrum of harm, including hate symbols, harmful stereotypes and online memes, suppression of identity, and conflating Jewish identity with the actions of governments.

Students will also examine the broader impact of prejudice and bias, not only on individuals, but on families, schools, and the wider community. The lessons reinforce our school’s clear stance that hate or harassment is not tolerated and support students in learning constructive ways to respond and support one another, both in person and online.

This learning is part of our broader work at Chinook to help students understand the impact of harmful language and actions, develop empathy, and take responsibility for the well‑being of their community. We are grateful to the Seattle Holocaust Center for Humanity for partnering with us, and we appreciate the continued support of Chinook families as we work together to ensure our school reflects our values of belonging, dignity, and respect.

Sincerely,

James Peterson (Principal)

Topics

Important Dates
E-Bike Safety
PTSA Updates
Important BSD Athletics Information for All Incoming 9th Graders
Share Your Feedback: Special Education Washington OSPI Parent Survey
Apply Now for the Washington State Legislative Youth Advisory Council
Community Flyers
In Case You Missed It

Important Dates

May 1-3: Chinook Musical, Once Upon a Mattress
May 4: Lockdown Drill, Time TBD
May 4-8: Walk and Roll to School Week
May 12 & 14: ELA SBA (special schedule)
May 19 & 21: Math SBA (special schedule)
May 25: Memorial Day, No School
May 26: No School
May 28 & 29: WCAS in 8th Grade Science classes (regular schedule)
June 10-12: 6^th Grade Science Camp
June 22: 8^th Grade Promotion, 12:30 PM

E-Bike Safety

We are seeing more students riding e‑bikes to and from school. For many students, this is an appealing option that offers a sense of independence and a practical way to travel. At the same time, we have seen riding over the past several weeks that raises real safety concerns, including excessive speeds, riding between pedestrians and vehicles, including school buses, and riding in areas where bikes are not permitted. These actions pose serious safety risks for students and others during arrival and dismissal.

We have clear expectations in place for e‑bikes and other personal transportation devices on school property. These expectations include required helmet use, safe riding practices, speed limits, and where riding is allowed. Families are encouraged to review the district guidance here: E-Bike Information & Guidance - Bellevue School District

Families play a critical role in reinforcing these expectations. Students must wear helmets, follow traffic laws, and comply with school rules for riding on and near campus. If your child rides to school, please also verify that their device is legal for their age. E‑scooters, E-motorcycles (which do not have pedals), and Class 3 e‑bikes, which can operate at assisted speeds above 20 mph, are not legal for riders under age 16.

Having pedals does not automatically make an e‑bike legal for underage riders. In Washington, an e‑bike must also meet specific motor and speed limits and fit within a defined class. Some e‑bikes can be modified through settings or add‑ons, and families may not always be aware that a device has been changed, which can affect whether it is legal and safe to ride. We encourage families to review their child’s e‑bike together to confirm its classification, speed settings, and any modifications or add‑ons, to ensure it remains legal and safe.

Families can learn more about Washington’s e‑bike classifications and how speed settings or modifications can affect legality here: Washington E‑Bike Laws & Classifications

PTSA Updates

PTSA Awards of Excellence Nominations: The Golden Acorn Award honors outstanding volunteers who go above and beyond in service to our students, while the Educator of Excellence Award recognizes exceptional educators who inspire, support, and enrich student lives every day. Do you know someone who deserves to be recognized? We invite you to submit a nomination and help us celebrate their impact. Deadline to nominate: May 1st

Submit your nomination here: PTSA Awards of Excellence Nomination Form

Staff Appreciation: Our popular Grab & Go will take place this Thursday, April 23rd. Sign up here to help us appreciate our staff.

SAVE THE DATES:

May 26: Chinook Skate Party at Southgate Roller Rink
May 27: PTSA General Membership Meeting #4
May 27: MOD Pizza Fundraiser Night
May 29: Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast

For more PTSA news, check out our most recent Kodiak Korner Newsletter and visit the PTSA website.

Important BSD Athletics Information for All Incoming 9^th Graders

If your 8th grade student is interested in participating in high school sports as a 9th grader, please review the linked Bellevue School District Athletics Eligibility flyer. It outlines academic eligibility requirements, key registration steps, and important dates for the 2026–2027 school year.

A key takeaway: students must pass six credit‑bearing classes during the second semester of 8th grade to enter high school athletics without restrictions. Staying engaged academically now helps keep doors open for fall sports and other athletic opportunities next year.

We encourage all families of current 8th graders—especially those considering high school athletics—to review this information carefully and plan ahead.

BSD Athletics Eligibility Flyer (English)

BSD Athletics Eligibility Flyer (Spanish)

Share Your Feedback: Special Education Washington OSPI Parent Survey

The Bellevue School District is participating in a survey from Washington’s Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), and parents/guardians of students receiving special education services in our district are invited to share their input.

This short survey is anonymous, and it’s a great way for you to share your thoughts, suggestions, and feedback about your child’s educational experience. OSPI will use the results to measure parent engagement in the state and share them with our district to help improve our parent engagement efforts. Your feedback is important to us and helps improve programs and services for children with disabilities.

Take the survey.

If you have more than one student receiving special education services, please complete the survey for them individually. If you have already completed the survey, please do not complete the survey again.

Learn More

For more information, check out the survey FAQs on the OSPI website. If you have any questions, need an alternate format (e.g., paper copy) or assistance completing the survey, contact OSPI at wism@k12.wa.us.

Apply Now for the Washington State Legislative Youth Advisory Council

The Washington State Legislative Youth Advisory Council (LYAC), the official youth advisory body to the Washington State Legislature, is currently accepting applications for its 2026-2028 cohort. Applications will close on April 30, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Students must be 14–18 years old as of August 31, 2026, and in grades 7–10 at the time of application.

Click here to apply.

LYAC is a student-led organization that empowers young people (ages 14–18) to engage directly in policymaking, meet with legislators, and advocate for issues affecting youth across the state.

View Community Flyers

Submit a Community Flyer

Student Reunification Process

What is the Student Reunification Process?

Due to an emergency event, the Bellevue School District may be required to release students to parents and guardians through our controlled Student Reunification Process.

Do not come to the school during an emergency. The campus may not be safe and your vehicle may block emergency crews. Information will be released through district communication tools such as School Messenger, websites and social media.

Please stay calm and follow the instructions given by the reunification staff. This will assist with the process of releasing students in a quick and more orderly fashion.

Download the Reunification Process Flyer: English (PDF) / Español (PDF) / 简体中文(PDF)

Learn more here: Student Reunification Process - Bellevue School District

Attend Computer Science Family Engagement Night

Curious how computer science fits into your child’s future? Computer Science Family Engagement Night is an opportunity for families to experience and learn about the vast array of computer science experiences that our students have from PreK-12.

Date: April 23, 2026

Time: 5:00-7:00 p.m.

Location: Newport High School

Address: 4333 Factoria Blvd. SE, Bellevue, WA 98006

RSVP to attend.

The event will include hands-on activities for all ages, featuring:

Student projects
Robotics
PreK-5 computer science
AI in BSD
Community partners
Rocketry
Partner vendors
Career and Technical Education (CTE)

For more information, contact computerscience@bsd405.org.

Smarter Balanced Assessment Dates

This spring, all students in grades 6-8 will take the Smarter Balanced Assessments in Math and English Language Arts. 8th graders also take the Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science.

May 12: SBA English Language Arts Computer Adaptive Test (modified schedule coming soon)
May 14: SBA English Language Arts Performance Task (modified schedule coming soon)
May 19: SBA Math Computer Adaptive Test (modified schedule coming soon)
May 21: SBA Math Performance Task (modified schedule coming soon)
May 28-29: WCAS in 8th grade Science Classes (regular schedule)

Please note these dates and plan ahead to ensure your child is present at school. Additional details and modified schedule will be shared in the coming month.