Welcome to the 2025-26 School Year!
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Welcome to the 2025-26 School Year!
Hello Chinook Community,
Welcome to the 2025–26 school year! Below you’ll find key information to help your family prepare for a smooth and successful start in September. We’re excited to welcome our students back and look forward to another great year at Chinook!
If you need more help or have questions that aren’t answered below, feel free to reach out here.
Warmly,
James Peterson (Principal)
Topics
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Important Dates
- August 28 – New to Chinook Open House
- September 2 – First Day of School!
- September 5 – Evacuation Drill (adjusted schedule)
- September 5 – PTSA Ice Cream Social
- September 8 – Activity Bus Routes Begin
- September 9 – Picture Day
- September 11 – Curriculum Night
New to Chinook Open House
We’re excited to welcome our newest students and families to Chinook!
Join us on August 28 for our 6th Grade & New to Chinook Open House. This informal event is a great opportunity to get familiar with the building before the first day of school.
Time: 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
During the Open House, students can:
- Take a self-guided tour of the school
- Get assistance from student leaders and Chinook staff
We’re here to help our new students and families feel confident and supported as they begin their Chinook journey. We look forward to seeing you there!
Incoming 6th grade Orientation
6th grade orientation takes place on September 2, during the first day of school. Our WEB (Where Everybody Belongs) Orientation Program is designed to welcome new students, build community, and help everyone feel confident navigating Chinook.
Message to our incoming 6th graders:
We’re so excited to welcome you to Chinook! You’ll start the day with a fun orientation led by 8th grade WEB Leaders who can’t wait to meet you.
What to know:
- When you arrive, pick up your schedule in the Commons and head to your 1st period class (we’ll help you find it! 😊).
- Wear comfortable clothes.
- Please do not bring school supplies on the first day—you can bring them Wednesday.
Questions? Reach out here.
New 7th and 8th grade Student Orientation
If you’re a new 7th or 8th grade student, welcome! Orientation for new students is built into the first day of school on September 2.
- Pick up your schedule in the Gym when you arrive and head to your 1st period class (we’ll help you find it! 😊).
- Staff and students will be available to help you find your way!
Join the Chinook PTSA and Help Make 2025–2026 a Strong Year for Our Kodiaks
The Chinook PTSA leadership team has been thoughtfully planning a year filled with meaningful programs, engaging events, and opportunities to strengthen our school community. Volunteering is not required to join, but research shows that students whose families are involved in PTSA experience stronger academic outcomes, better attendance, and a deeper sense of connection at school.
Why join the PTSA?
Your membership supports the PTSA’s mission and leadership as we work to maintain a high-quality student experience. With ongoing budget pressures and evolving district priorities, the PTSA plays a key role in helping bridge gaps, advocating for students, and preserving the supportive programs and traditions that define the Chinook experience. Click here to join now!
Come say hello in person!
Thursday, 8/28: New to School Open House
Friday, 9/5: Ice Cream Social
Stop by the PTSA table at either event to learn more, ask questions, and get connected to the Chinook community.
Learn more about the Chinook PTSA:
Visit our updated website www.chinookptsa.org
We look forward to a fantastic year ahead.
Go Kodiaks!
Rhea Weiss | Chinook Middle School PTSA President
School Meals (Breakfast and Lunch)
BSD Nutrition Services offers Breakfast and Lunch for students.
Set up payment for student meal purchases. Nutrition Services uses PayPAMS for online payments for school meals. Families may also pay for meals by check or cash at school. For more information, visit the Nutrition Services page.
Complete a School Meal Application for Free and Reduced-Price Meals
The 2025-2026 Child Nutrition Eligibility & Education Benefit Application (CNEEB) is open. Qualification for free or reduced-price meal benefits is based on household size and income. Families, including those with students attending schools where meals are available at no cost, are encouraged to complete the CNEEB application to establish eligibility for school meal benefits.
Families must reapply every year. If your student(s) qualified for free or reduced-priced meals last year in the Bellevue School District, their prior year eligibility is extended for the first 30 school days to allow time for a new application to be completed. The final day they may use their prior year eligibility is October 14, 2025. After this date, meals will be charged at the paid meal price if eligibility for free or reduced-price meals has not been reestablished.
It’s More Than a Meal Application
Did you know that completing an application for free or reduced-price meals can assist with more than just meals at school? Unlock benefits for your student, family and school with an approved application. Learn more about the benefits of applying.
Free and Reduced-Price Meal Application.
School Laptops – Important Information for All Students
- Incoming 6th graders and new students will receive their district-issued laptops during the first week of school.
- Returning students should bring their BSD laptops with them starting on the first day of classes, as they were kept over the summer. Make sure the device is charged and ready to go!
Bell Schedule
See the new Chinook bell schedule here.
Suggested School Supplies
We suggest a few basics to help your student start the year ready to learn.
Click here for the Suggested School Supply List
The district is facing financial constraints, and schools are experiencing a budget crunch. We provide the materials used in the classroom, and we welcome optional monetary donations from families to help cover the cost of school-provided supplies.
Thank you for your support!
Register for ParentVUE
ParentVUE is a centralized hub through the Synergy Educational Platform that Bellevue School District uses to share information with parents and guardians.
Families must complete the Online Student Verification Process each year.
Through this yearly verification, we ask that families update their student’s health and emergency contact information and submit documents. Health information shared in ParentVUE is only viewable by staff who support student health services.
School Pictures: September 9
School pictures are scheduled for Tuesday, September 9. All students will have their picture taken for their student ID yearbook. There is no cost for this.
If you would like to order picture packages, online ordering will be available starting August 19 at mydorian.com. Search for Chinook Middle School in Bellevue, WA to place your order. Orders may be placed up to 4 days after picture day.
Curriculum Night: September 11
Mark your calendars now.
Large Group Presentation | 5:45 PM – Featured speakers will include school administration, counselors and support staff.
Classroom Visits | 6: 10 PM – 7:45 PM – Visit each of your child’s classes to learn about the class expectations, key topics, grading policies and strategies to support your child.
Activities, Sports, and Clubs
We’re excited to offer a wide range of extracurricular opportunities again this year! At Chinook, sports, clubs, and after-school activities are open to all students and are a great way to build friendships, explore new interests, and stay connected to our school community.
More details about fall offerings—including specific clubs and meeting days—will be shared soon. Activities begin the week of September 8 and others begin later. Some meet weekly, while others meet more frequently, typically from 3:10–4:00 PM.
An activity bus will be available at 4:10 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, and will begin the week of September 8. To ride the activity bus, students must participate in a supervised tutorial and a supervised after-school activity. This is an important student safety expectation.
Key things to know:
- Activities bus service is expected to begin the week of September 8. Please note that the BSD Transportation Department is still finalizing routes. Updated route information will be shared soon.
- Registration for sports and activities will open in September.
- All students must register through FinalForms in order to participate in sports, clubs, and field trips.
- Physicals are not required for middle school athletics.
- Jubilee REACH uses a separate registration process, see more information below.
Jubilee REACH Fall Sports (Sept. 22 – Nov. 7):
- Coed Cross-Country
- Girls Basketball
- Boys Soccer
- Girls Golf (offered in partnership with First Tee)
Click here for more information and to register for Jubilee REACH sports.
Click here for season dates and other important information about middle school athletics and activities.
FinalForms – Required for Sports, Field Trips, and Activities
FinalForms is the Bellevue School District’s online system for managing student participation in athletics, field trips, and extracurricular activities. It helps ensure safety, streamline communication, and maintain compliance.
To ensure your student can participate in the 2025–2026 school year, please log in to FinalForms and complete all required documents:
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Returning families: If your account is already active, log in now to review and update your forms. You’ll be able to register for sports and activities as soon as registration opens. Look for the blue registration button to access 2025–2026 forms.
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New to FinalForms? Click here to learn how to get started.
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Note: Physicals are not required for middle school sports.
Important for new users: Each student must activate their account using an invitation sent to their BSD email. New students will be able to enroll after receiving their school-issued laptop and gaining access to their BSD email account.
Bus Routes
From September 2 through September 12, district buses will only run immediately after school dismissal at 2:35 PM (departure around 2:40 PM). During this window, students are welcome to attend tutorial from 2:35–3:05 PM, but families will need to arrange their own transportation home.
Chinook’s after-school Activity Bus routes will begin running on Monday, September 8. To ride the activity bus, students must participate in a supervised tutorial and a supervised after-school activity. This is an important student safety expectation
Key Information:
- Busing information will be updated the week of August 18.
- Please make sure your contact information is up to date in Synergy ParentVUE so you don’t miss important transportation updates.
- Look for busing information via email and the BSD Transportation Website.
- Download the BSD transportation app, StopFinder, for real-time updates. Click here for more information about StopFinder.
- Ensure your student has their bus scan card ready for the first day of school.
- Important: Your student must know their route number to board the correct bus. Help them write it down and keep it in an easy-to-access spot.
Questions about bus service? Visit BSD Transportation.
Student Schedules
Draft student schedules will be available August 15th in Synergy StudentVUE and ParentVUE. Please note that student schedules may continue to shift as we work to balance class sizes. Final schedules will be set on September 2.
Some students may notice that they have an incomplete schedule. Counselors will be working to fill any missing classes, and everyone should have a complete schedule by August 26. All students will receive a paper copy of their final schedule when they arrive on the first day of school.
Please do not email counselors about schedule requests or missing classes. They are aware of your requests and any incomplete schedules and will be working to complete these items. Our schedule is a student driven schedule, and every effort is made to give students their first choice of classes. However, in some cases the alternate choices may be the only classes available.
First Day of School – Schedule Distribution
All students will receive a paper copy of their final schedule when they arrive on the first day of school:
- 6th Grade in the Commons
- 7th Grade in the Small Gym
- 8th Grade in the Large Gym
Lunch Assignments
- All 6th grade students have 3rd lunch.
- 7th and 8th grade students are assigned either 1st or 2nd lunch, based upon their 4th period teacher. These assignments will be shared the first day of school.
View our bell schedule, including lunch times, here: Bell Schedule - Chinook Middle School
School Counselors
Our counseling team is here to support students in reaching their academic goals, exploring future pathways, and developing the social-emotional skills needed to thrive in middle school and beyond.
At Chinook, students are assigned to a counselor by last name, which helps us build strong, lasting relationships throughout their three years with us.
- Carol Johnson (Ms. Carol) supports students with last names A–K (johnsonca@bsd405.org).
- Jamie Johnson (Mrs. Johnson) supports students with last names L–Z (johnsonj@bsd405.org).
Counselors officially return to the office on August 25 and will begin following up with students and families shortly after.
Our counseling program supports academic planning, mental health and emotional well-being, peer relationships, community referrals and family resources, bullying prevention and reporting, and much more.
Don’t hesitate to reach out!
Drop Off and Pick Up Procedures
Goal: Safely and efficiently drop students off in the morning and pick them up in the afternoon through a systematic process.
For the safety of our students, please:
- Drive slowly.
- Manage technology (no cell phones, please)
- Demonstrate respect and patience toward all
The right lane (curb) will always be drop off and pick up. The left lane is “thru” traffic. Please follow the guidance of the traffic attendants.
Planning for the First Days: The first few days of school often bring heavier traffic and longer wait times. Please plan extra time into your morning and afternoon routines.
Drop Off and Pick Up
- Drive slowly.
- Watch for students crossing.
- Pull completely forward to utilize the full length of the passenger loading zone.
- If you need to get out of the car, pull into a parking spot for continued traffic flow.
City of Bellevue Construction Alert
The City of Bellevue has shared an upcoming construction notice that may affect travel routes to and from Chinook. The Northwest Bellevue Walkways Project will involve sidewalk and accessibility improvements in the surrounding area. Construction is scheduled to begin this fall and continue through the school year.
Families are encouraged to review the City of Bellevue’s construction notice and plan ahead for potential impacts to drop-off and pick-up routines.
Click here to view the construction notice and map.
We’ll share any school-specific updates as they become available. Thank you for your flexibility and patience during this city-led improvement project.
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