Chinook Newsletter: June 1, 2026

Dear Chinook Community,

As we head into the final weeks of the school year, I want to thank you for your continued support and partnership. This is a busy and exciting time, with concerts, science camp, and promotion just around the corner. It’s a great chance to celebrate our students and all they’ve accomplished.

We’re also focused on finishing the year strong, and I appreciate all you do to support your students at home.

I continue to be grateful for the strong sense of belonging, joy, and connection we see across Chinook every day.

Thank you for being part of our community.

Sincerely,

James Peterson (Principal)

Topics Important Dates Library Books Due this Friday PTSA Updates Travel Survey Ed Tech Design Team Summer Resources In Case You Missed It

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Important Dates

• June 2: Orchestra Concert, 7:00 PM
• June 3: Band Concert, 6:30 PM
• June 4: Choir Concert, 7:00 PM
• June 5: Library Books Due
• June 9: Lockout Drill
• June 10-12: 6^th Grade Science Camp
• June 12: Last Day for Activity Bus Transportation
• June 15-18: Laptop Collection
• June 19: No School, Juneteenth
• June 22: 8^th Grade Promotion, 12:30 PM
• June 23: Final Day, 7:45-9:45 AM

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Library Books Due This Friday

As we wrap up the school year, all Chinook library books are due back by Friday, June 5.

Please take a moment to check at home for any library books and have students return them to the library as soon as possible. This helps us make sure all materials are accounted for and ready for next year.

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PTSA Updates

New at Chinook: Science Olympiad!

Join us this Thursday to learn how students can get involved in this engaging, hands-on STEM program. 

• Date: Thursday, June 4th
• Time: 7:00PM-7:30PM
• Location: Virtual
• RSVP here to receive the meeting link: https://forms.gle/zWgJz4LdC3JAsQjC8

This session is open to all interested parents and guardians — no prior experience needed!

I-Connect: 8th Graders Tell All

Incoming 6th grade families are invited to join us for a fun and informative “Tell-All” session hosted by current Chinook 8th graders!

• Date: Wednesday, June 17th
• Time: 6:30PM-8:00PM
• Location: Chinook
• RSVP: RSVP here

This is a great opportunity for incoming students and families to ask questions, ease nerves, and get excited for the transition to middle school. 

8th Grade Party: Kodiak Coachella Festival

This is free event for all 8th graders, but RSVP is required and volunteers are still needed!

• Date: Thursday, June 18th
• Time: 7:00–8:30 PM
• Location: Chinook

RSVP & Permission Slip: 8th Grade Party Permission Slip - RSVP Here
Volunteer:  8th Grade Party Volunteer Sign-up Here
Donate: 8th Grade Party Donations Here

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

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Travel Survey

We are participating in the City of Bellevue’s Districtwide Travel Survey to better understand how students travel to/from school. Please help by completing this short, nine-question survey for each school-aged child. This survey helps the city's  Bellevue SchoolPool program evaluate strategies to reduce drop-off and pick-up congestion at schools. 

Please use this link to complete the survey by Friday, June 12, 2026.

Thank you for your participation!

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Bellevue Youth Climate Action Fund

Bloomberg Philanthropies launched the Youth Climate Action Fund to help empower the next generation of climate leaders. As a Bloomberg Sustainable City, Bellevue received funds to distribute as microgrants to youth groups seeking to address climate change and its impacts on our community. The city was awarded $50,000 to fund projects through microgrants to youth teams to lead the climate action they want to see in their communities.

Microgrants of $1,000-$5,000 will enable youth-led organizations to implement new projects related to one of the following focus areas in our Sustainable Bellevue Plan(External link):

• Climate Change
• Energy and Buildings
• Mobility and Land Use
• Waste and Materials Management
• Natural Resources

Projects can be focused on climate mitigation (reducing pollution), climate resilience (adapting to the impacts of climate change), or climate engagement (getting people educated or involved).

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis from July 15 to October 1, 2026. Interested and want to stay up to date? Fill out the early interest form(External link) to get started.

Learn More - Attend the Upcoming Webinar

Get an overview of the Bellevue Youth Climate Action Fund.

• Date: June 3, 2026
• Time: 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
• Location: Online event

Register Here.(External link)

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Apply to Join the Bellevue School District EdTech Design Team

Bellevue School District is forming an EdTech Design Team and invites students, families, and staff to apply. The Design Team will review how educational technology is used across the district — including topics such as how devices are used, screen time, access to platforms such as YouTube, cell phones and other personal devices, and the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Together, the team will:

• Develop shared beliefs and guiding principles to inform future policy and practice.
• Create actionable recommendations that support student learning, engagement, innovation, and equity.

If you are interested, please complete the application survey by June 5. Applicants will be notified by June 12 if they are selected to serve.

Learn more about the EdTech Design Team.

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Summer Resources and Information for Families

The Bellevue School District seeks to support our community through the summer months when students are away from our buildings. Please check back frequently to locate information about summer meals and grocery programs, summer learning, health and immunization requirements, information from student technology services, and more. New details have been added about summer meals and important dates for fall 2026. View all of the district’s summer resources.

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View Community Flyers  

Submit a Community Flyer

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In Case You Missed It

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8th Grade Promotion Ceremony

We’re excited to celebrate our 8th grade students as they complete their time at Chinook Middle School!

Date and Time

• The 2026 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony will take place on June 22 at 12:30 PM in the Chinook Middle School Gym.

Schedule for 8^th grade Students for June 22 (6^th and 7^th grade students go to classes as normal)

• 1st & 2nd Periods: Regular class schedule (attendance required)
• 3rd Period Onward: Promotion rehearsal and preparation (attendance required)
  All 8th grade students are expected to attend the rehearsal to participate in the ceremony.

Backpacks and Attire

• No Backpacks: Students should leave backpacks, binders, and school supplies at home.
• Dress Up Encouraged: Students are encouraged to dress nicely for the ceremony. Clothing must meet BSD’s Student Dress Guidelines (Policy 3224P).

Ceremony Duration

• The ceremony will last approximately 1½ to 2 hours.
• After the ceremony, students may:
  • Leave with their families, or
  • Remain on campus until dismissal
    There will be no afternoon classes for 8th grade students.

Guests and Seating

• No Tickets Required
• Due to limited space, please limit guests to 2–3 per student.
• Doors open at 12:00 PM – please do not arrive earlier.

Chinook Sibling Attendance

• If a Chinook sibling will attend the ceremony, a parent/guardian must submit a note to our attendance office at ChinookAttendance@bsd405.org by June 8. Please remember that seating is limited.

Parking Information

• On-campus parking is extremely limited.
• Please follow all posted parking regulations.
• Do not park in the bus loading zone behind the school.

Accessibility Needs

• If you require wheelchair-accessible parking or seating, please contact Linda Harter at harterl@bsd405.org.

Final Day of School

• Tuesday, June 23: Final day of school (7:45–9:45 AM only)
  While an official school day, no tests, projects, or classwork will be assigned. 8th grade students are welcome to attend.

We look forward to honoring our 8th grade students and celebrating this important milestone with their families!

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BSD Community Service Hours Tracking is Moving to SchooLinks

Bellevue School District requires all students to complete 40 hours of community service — starting after they finish eighth grade and no later than June of their senior year — to graduate. Students have been logging their volunteer hours using the x2VOL platform. After June 18, 2026, BSD will no longer use x2VOL to track hours. Over the summer, we will transfer all approved hours for every current student from x2VOL to SchooLinks. Starting in September 2026, BSD students in grades 9-12 will receive instructions on how to log their community service hours, including any hours they completed over the summer, in SchooLinks.

Current students in grades 9-12, please enter all your earned community service hours to date into the x2VOL platform prior to June 18, 2026. After that date, continuing students please keep a log of your hours, to be entered in SchooLinks in September 2026. Both applications can be accessed via Clever.

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Together We Move Youth Conference

Event Details  
Date: June 6, 2026
Time: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Location: Renton High School-  400 S 2nd St, Renton, WA 98057

Completely Free for all Youth!

Welcome to Together We Move — a day created to explore how movement, identity, and community shape the way we show up in the world. This event brings students and community partners together to learn, reflect, and connect through shared stories and meaningful experiences.

Throughout the day, you’ll hear from speakers who move through life with purpose and resilience. You’ll take part in workshops that invite you to think, create, and challenge yourself. And you’ll join conversations that remind us that none of us move through the world alone.

Organizations are invited to table at our resource fair or offer workshops that align with the theme.

Click here to learn more.

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Secondary Grading Practices Update

We are sharing an update on Grading Practices for the 2026-27 school year. On May 7, the BSD School Board completed the first reading of the Grading Practices and Reporting Policy 2420. The Grading Practices and Reporting Procedure 2420P is also being updated. The focus has been making grading practices more fair, consistent and timely. One of the significant changes is moving from eleven grade scales to two grade scales for the 2026-27 school year. The two grade scales are:

0-100 Percentage Scale

• A: 90.00-100.00%
• B: 80.00-89.99%
• C: 70.00-79.99%
• D: 60.00-69.99%
• F: 0.00-59.99%

0-4 Rubric Scale

• A: 3.50-4.00
• B: 2.75-3.49
• C: 2.00-2.74
• D: 1.50-1.99
• F: 0.00-1.49

The Grading Practices Team has created a Family Facing Grading Practices Short Guide that will be linked to the Procedure 2420P.

On May 14, 2026, the School Board will conduct the second reading of the Grading Practices and Reporting Policy 2420.

We would also like to express our ongoing gratitude to all Bellevue School District educators who have contributed to and guided our work as well as our School Board for their guidance and support.

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Student Technology Collection

The BSD Technology Services Department will be collecting all district-issued student devices for annual maintenance and reimaging.

At Chinook, device collection will follow this schedule:

Grades 6 and 7

• Students will return their laptops during science class on June 15.
• Styluses must be placed in the stylus bay. Missing styluses will be considered lost.
• Students should keep their chargers in a safe place at over the summer.

Grade 8

• Students will return their laptops, chargers, and styluses during science class on June 18.
• Eighth graders will receive a new device when they start high school.

Online World Language Students

• Devices will be collected on June 22 as students exit their language class.

If your student will be leaving early for summer break, all devices and accessories must be returned before their last day at Chinook.

Need a Laptop for Summer Learning?
Students who need a laptop for summer learning can check one out at the Wilburton Instructional Service Center:

Wilburton Instructional Service Center
12241 Main Street, Building 1
Bellevue, WA 98005

• Mondays and Wednesdays
• July 6–24
• 8:00 am to 3:30 pm

For more details, visit the Student Technology Collection page on the BSD website.