Chinook Newsletter: April 27, 2026

Apr 27 2026

Dear Chinook Community,

Spring is always a reminder of how much progress students make over the course of the year, academically and socially. We appreciate the ongoing support from families as we work together to help students stay focused, connected, and feeling a strong sense of belonging at Chinook.

Thank you for being such an important part of our school community. I hope the information below is helpful and that you have a great week ahead.

Sincerely,

James Peterson (Principal)

Topics

Important Dates
Chinook Musical: Once Upon a Mattress
Math Pathways for Rising 8th Graders
PTSA Updates
Walk and Roll to School Week
Real Sociedad Soccer Camps
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 15: World Culture Night, 6:00-8:00 PM (PTSA Event)
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

Chinook Musical: “Once Upon A Mattress: Youth Edition”

Dates:

Friday, May 1 at 7:00pm
Saturday, May 2 at 7:00pm
Sunday, May 3 at 2:00pm

All shows will be at Chinook Middle School Commons

Purchase tickets here: TICKETS (under Chinook Middle School)

VIP tickets include priority seating, a concession voucher and a commemorative program.

Thank you so much for supporting our show!

Math Pathways for Rising 8th Graders

As part of planning for the 2026–27 school year, we are expanding middle school math pathways to better reflect that students learn and develop at different rates. Students entering 8th grade will have multiple math options, including Algebra 1, Algebra 1 with additional support, and a new Math 8 course aligned to grade-level standards.

Families of current 7th grade students currently enrolled in an IMT2 Math Class received a detailed message outlining these options, including next steps and a short video students viewed in math class. We encourage those families to review that information and reach out to their school counselor with any questions as they consider what pathway best supports their student’s learning and confidence.

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.

Walk & Roll to School Week, May 4-8

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.

Learn more.

Real Sociedad Soccer Camps

We're bringing La Liga soccer to Bellevue, and Bellevue School District families get first access.

Real Sociedad Soccer Camps USA is coming to Highland Middle School this summer, offering an elite, 5-day soccer experience for players aged 4-16. Your child will develop real technique, real confidence, and real love for the game, guided by professional coaching staff trained in Spain's top-flight soccer system.

Three weeks available — choose yours:

Week 1 – July 20-24
Week 2 – July 27-31
Week 3 – August 3-7

Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Location: Upper Field, Highland Middle School, Bellevue

Exclusive BSD Discount: $150 Off

As a Bellevue School District family, use code BSD405 at registration to unlock $150 off your camp enrollment. This offer is available exclusively to BSD students — don't miss it.

Spots are limited. Register to secure your child's place today. For questions, please contact camps@realsociedadsoccercamps.com.

View Community Flyers

Submit a Community Flyer

Antisemitism Lessons

Between April 23 and May 6, Chinook social studies classes are welcoming guest presenters from the Seattle Holocaust Center for Humanity for age‑appropriate lessons on recognizing and addressing antisemitism. These lessons support students in learning about Jewish identity, understanding how prejudice and bias show up, and reinforcing our clear stance that hate or harassment is not tolerated. This work is part of our ongoing commitment to belonging, dignity, and respect for all students.

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

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.

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.