Chinook Newsletter: October 27, 2025

Oct 27 2025

Dear Chinook Community,

It’s hard to believe we’re already approaching the end of the first quarter—October 31st is just around the corner! The past few weeks have flown by, and I continue to be inspired by the energy, commitment, and care our staff brings to Chinook students each and every day.

Last week was especially lively and fun, thanks to ASB’s Spirit Week and the Orange and Black Social. The creativity and enthusiasm from our students—and the support from staff and PTSA—made it a memorable experience for everyone. On behalf of our staff, I also want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our PTSA for the pumpkin-themed treats on Thursday; they were a hit and added a festive touch to the week.

Here's to a strong finish to the quarter and all the exciting things ahead!

Best regards,

James Peterson (Principal)

Topics

Important Dates
Multilingual Principal Coffee
NJHS Socktober
ROCKStore Opens this Week
Student Dress and Costume Guidelines
BSD Family Literacy Night
The Impact of Federal Staff Reductions
Seeking Volunteers for Levy Pro and Con Committees
In Case You Missed It

Important Dates

October 28: Multilingual Principal Coffee, 9:00 AM, Chinook room #1402
October 31: Last Day of Frist Quarter
November 7: Veterans Day Assembly (adjusted schedule)
November 10: Non-School Day
November 11: No School, Veterans Day
November 27-28: No School, Thanksgiving Break

Multilingual Principal Coffee

October 28
9:00 AM
Chinook room #1402

In partnership with our PTSA, Chinook Middle School is hosting a Multilingual Principal Coffee.

Topics include:

Academic and social supports for multilingual learners
Middle school systems: tutorial/advisory, extracurriculars, and clubs
Class placement, advanced learning, and accelerated pathways
World Language options and competency credit testing

We look forward to seeing you there!

NJHS Socktober

The last week in October is here! This also means our NJHS (National Junior Honor Society) event of collecting socks is ending too. During October, Chinook has had a goal of collecting socks to donate to Seattle Nightwatch and their mission to "Sock it to Homelessness" during the cold winter months. We have not seen many students donate socks, so this reminder is to the families of Chinook!

We are looking for brand new men's size large socks; they are collected during your students lunchtime. On October 31st, which ever lunch has the most donated socks earns 15 extra minutes of social time extended onto their lunch one day.

Thank you for your help in serving our community!

ROCKStore Opens this Week

The ROCKStore is opening Tuesday morning at 7:30 AM and will stay open until Wednesday at 3:00 PM — all online through Synergy StudentVue under “MTSS.”

Students can redeem their hard-earned points for exciting prizes like:

Stickers & school supplies
Popsicle with our principal
3D printed fidget toys
Positive call home coupons
Raffle entries

...and much more!

What is the ROCKStore?

The ROCKStore is part of Chinook’s Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) system. It’s designed to reward students for demonstrating Respect, Ownership, Community, Kindness, and Scholarship — the core values of the ROCKS expectations.

Students earn points through positive actions and can use them to shop for fun and meaningful rewards, reinforcing good habits and building a positive school culture.

Donations for prizes are gladly accepted. If you’re able to contribute or have questions, please contact suzukis@bsd405.org. Thank you!

Student Dress and Costume Guidelines

Bellevue School District’s Student Dress Policy 3224 applies during all socials and spirit days, with the goal of promoting an inclusive learning environment. School Staff will regulate student dress when:

A health or safety hazard is presented

Damage to school property will result from the student’s dress, and/or

A material and substantial disruption of the educational process will result from the student’s dress or appearance (may exist when a student’s conduct is inconsistent with any part of the educational mission/learning of the district).

This means:

No masks or decorations that cover the face
No weapons or look-alike weapons
No gore or costumes that depict violence or violent characters
Content of the costume needs to be appropriate for school
No oversized costumes that create a hazard walking in the halls
No costumes that promote the use of illegal substances or activities
No costumes that are derogatory or disrespectful
No costumes that mock/mimic another culture or race

If students are unsure whether their costume is permitted at school, they are encouraged to ASK a staff member in ADVANCE. Thanks in advance for your understanding, and support of a positive school climate and culture.

BSD Family Literacy Night: Understanding Reading Skills and Assessments

Join BSD Teaching and Learning for an informative evening designed to help families understand how students learn to read and how schools assess foundational reading skills. We will share insights on:

What reading development looks like
Understanding assessment
How assessments support your student’s learning

Whether you're new to literacy assessments or looking to deepen your understanding, this session will offer practical insights and resources to help you support your student's learning. Let’s work together to support strong readers and confident learners!

Event Details

Date: Thursday, November 20
Time: 6:00–7:00 p.m.
Location: Wilburton Instructional Service Center
Address: 12241 Main street Bellevue, WA 98005

The Impact of Federal Staff Reductions on Student Services

At Bellevue School District, our mission is to affirm and inspire each and every student to learn and thrive as creators of their future world. We recognize that external policy shifts — such as changes in federal education staffing — can have significant impacts on vulnerable students and families. In light of recent developments, we stand firm in our commitment to maintaining essential supports and protections. Read more about The Impact of Federal Staff Reductions on Student Services.

The Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) recently issued a statement on behalf of State Superintendent, Chris Reykdal, outlining how federal layoffs may affect oversight and services for students with disabilities, those experiencing homelessness, migratory students, and other vulnerable groups. Read Superintendent Reykdal’s full message.

Now Seeking Volunteers for Levy Pro and Con Committees

Volunteer committee members are needed to develop pro and con statements for the Bellevue School District’s two proposed levy renewals on the February 10, 2026, ballot. The statements will be published in the local voters’ pamphlet, which will be mailed to voters in advance of the election. State law requires that volunteers reside in the district.

The School Board will appoint up to three members to serve on each of the Pro Committees and Con Committees for the two levy renewals. The Pro Committees will write 200-word statements supporting the measures, and the Con Committees will write 200-word statements opposing them. Each committee will also have the opportunity to write a rebuttal to the opposing statement.

Applications must be submitted by Thursday, November 6, 2025. Learn more and apply.

In Case You Missed It

Chinook Student Engagement Survey Launching

Chinook is launching a quarterly student engagement survey to gather valuable insights into students’ experiences and to further support their growth and well-being. The survey will focus on key areas, including academic rigor, school climate, and sense of belonging. Students will take the survey at the end of each quarter in their social studies classes. The results will be used to guide our ongoing efforts and measure progress toward our goals.

PTSA Update

Shine on Chinook Fundraiser
Thank you to all the families who have contributed. We are currently at 61% of our goal! Every donation supports student programs, staff grants, and community events. If you would like to participate, you can donate here: Shine on Chinook Donation Page.

Reflections Art Program
The National PTA Reflections Program is now open with this year’s theme, I Belong. Students may create and submit from home, or work during Reflections Club sessions starting on October 28th, during Tutorial from 2:35 to 3:00 p.m. Submissions are due November 24th, and each entry earns ROCK points. More information is available on the Chinook PTSA Reflections page, and students may download the entry form and submit digitally here: Reflections Entry & Submission Link.

BSD Youth Cooking Club — Registration Open Through October 22nd
The Bellevue PTSA Council Youth Cooking Club introduces students to cuisines from around the world while building confidence in the kitchen. The club is open to BSD students in grades 6–12. There will be one in-person class per month at the Salvation Army, and weekly sessions online via Zoom. Sessions run 1 to 1.5 hours. Learn more and register on the Bellevue PTSA Council site: Youth Cooking Club.

Introduction to PTSA — Mandarin Seminar on October 22nd at 7:00 p.m.
Bellevue PTSA Council will host an online “Introduction to PTSA” seminar in Mandarin. The session will cover the role of PTSA in education and ways families can get involved. Speaker: Lily Yin

More information and access details are available at: Mandarin PTSA Workshop.

ROCKStore Donations Needed

At Chinook Middle School, we celebrate students who demonstrate our core ROCKS values through our Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) system. Students earn Behavior Points for showing:

Respect
Ownership
Compassion
Kindness
Scholarship

We’re reaching out to our amazing community for donations to help keep our ROCKStore exciting and stocked with great prizes! Popular items include:

Fun school supplies
Board games
Movie tickets
Museum passes
Escape room vouchers
Game or event tickets
Gift cards (any amount is appreciated!)

If you’re able to contribute or have questions, please contact suzukis@bsd405.org. Thank you!

Industry Experts Needed: Join a Career and Technical Education Advisory Committee

Attend the first in-person meeting for the Bellevue School District’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) Program Advisory Committees for the 2025-2026 school year. Your insights and expertise are essential in shaping the future of our students and enhancing their career readiness. This event will be a fantastic opportunity to connect with CTE teachers from across the district and fellow industry professionals.

Event Details

Date: Thursday, October 30, 2025
Time: 5:00-7:00 p.m. (dinner will be served at 4:45 p.m.)
Location: Wilburton Instruction Service Center
Address: 12241 Main Street, Bldg. #1, Bellevue 98005

If you’re unable to attend the event, we’d still love your participation at future advisory meetings and support in other ways, such as visiting classrooms as a guest speaker or offering internship opportunities. Please complete the survey to let us know of your interest in supporting BSD CTE Programs.

Bellevue School District Flu and COVID-19 Community Vaccine Clinics

Bellevue School District is partnering with Seattle Visiting Nurse Association (SVNA) to provide vaccine clinics for the public.

SVNA is offering flu vaccines to anyone aged four to adult, and the COVID-19 vaccine to anyone aged five to adult. SVNA clinics require insurance (most insurance accepted) or payment.

Make Your Vaccine Appointment

Find a date and location that is convenient for you and your family. These vaccine clinics are open to all in the BSD community. You do not have to be a student or staff member of a particular school to make an appointment.
Register for an appointment online.
Come to your appointment.

Stopfinder App Update

As of October 16, 2025, we’re aware that the Stopfinder Transportation App is currently experiencing technical issues. Our team has notified the vendor and is working to resolve the problem as quickly as possible. We’ll provide an update as soon as more information becomes available. Thank you for your patience and understanding!