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BREADCRUMB

Chinook Newsletter: September 30, 2024

Chinook Middle School bear logo mark

Topics

  • Police Officer Visits
  • Update SchoolMessenger Preferences
  • Attend El Dia De Espanol
  • Safety, Security, and Emergency Preparedness
  • Career and Technical Education Advisory Committee
  • PTSA Updates
  • In Case You Missed It

Important Dates   

  • October 11
    • No School, Professional Development Day
  • October 16
    • Unity Day: Wear Orange
  • October 17
  • November 1
    • End of 1st Quarter
  • November 5
  • November 8
    • Panorama Survey in Social Studies Classes
    • Veterans Day Assembly (adjusted schedule)
  • November 11
    • No School, Veterans Day Observance

Police Officer Visits to Campus

We are pleased to welcome officers from the Clyde Hill Police Department to our campus periodically, especially during lunch periods. Their visits are focused on building positive relationships with our students and the broader school community. This initiative is part of their ongoing commitment to community engagement. To learn more about the Clyde Hill Police Department and their outreach efforts, click here.


Update Your SchoolMessenger Preferences for Important Notifications

BSD uses the SchoolMessenger communication notification system to send regular announcements and urgent alerts such as school delays and closures. Families may receive SchoolMessenger communication via phone call, text message and email.

You do not need to create an account to receive notifications, as you will automatically receive them to the phone number and email address listed in your student’s record. However, if you choose to set up a SchoolMessenger App account, you may adjust how you prefer to be notified. You may also view messages from the last 30 days online or by setting up the app on your IOS or Android smartphone.

Important: Families should sign up for SchoolMessenger with the same email address used for Online Student Data Verification through Synergy ParentVUE.

The following tips may help if you think you are not receiving important messages from the district or your school:

  • Email Tip: Check your Junk/Spam folder. Depending on your email provider, you may need to mark email from the Bellevue School District as “safe,” or “move to inbox” to ensure future messages will not go to hidden folders.
  • Phone Call Tip: Save the phone number 425-456-4072 in your contacts to ensure that calls show up as “Bellevue School District.” There have been reports from some families who receive the calls as “Potential Spam.”
  • Text Message Tip: Create a SchoolMessenger account and manage your contact and notification preferences. To receive SMS texts from SchoolMessenger, send a text message of “Y” or “Yes” to our school’s short code number, 67587. You will then receive a confirmation that you have registered for SchoolMessenger notifications.

Attend El Dia De Espanol

In recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, the BSD community is invited to celebrate El Dia de Espanol at Highland Middle School October 10, 2024, 5:00-7:00 p.m. We will celebrate together with food and activities!


Safety, Security, and Emergency Preparedness

Providing the Gold Standard in K-12 Safety, Security and Emergency Preparedness

September marks National Preparedness Month, the annual campaign to remind everyone that preparing for emergencies and disasters can keep them, their families, and their communities safe. The BSD Safety and Security Department is the gold-standard in K-12 safety, security and emergency preparedness. They utilize a multi-layered, research-based approach to school security to promote the safety of our students, staff and community. The team remains committed and focused on preparing and empowering our schools to respond confidently, safely and effectively to incidents, emergencies and security risks.

BSD Safety and Security recently presented a report to the school board outlining a various safety topics and accomplishments over the past year, including staff training and preparedness, advanced life-safety training, Reunification Jump-Out Team, threat assessment program, physical security, surveillance camera upgrades, opioid overdose medication, and student voice and preparation.


Career and Technical Education Advisory Committee

Support Career and Technical Education by Joining an Advisory Committee

The Bellevue School District Career and Technical Education (CTE) program is seeking business professionals to join our CTE Program Advisory Committees. There are 12 program advisory committees seeking members for the 2024-2025 school year. These committees are designed to meet state and federal guidelines for career and technical education programs and ensure that CTE programs are aligned with current industry needs and trends.

The first meeting will take place on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Newport High School. CTE teachers from across the Bellevue School District will partner with industry professionals and provide guidance and advice for district programs. Please confirm your interest in a committee and RSVP for the kickoff by October 16, 2024.


PTSA Updates

Shine on Chinook

Our annual Fall fundraiser is almost here!!! Our SHINE ON CHINOOK fundraiser will begin on Friday October 4th and only lasts for one month. Our challenge this year is to exceed our goal of $52,000 for the second year in a row. This campaign is what funds our PTSA for the year which means student programs and classroom resources, I-Connect, field trips, grants, scholarships, dances, movie night and more!! We have new incentives for our student drawing as well as an all-school prize if we reach our goal. Keep a look out for YELLOW ENVELOPES coming home with your student on FRIDAY! For more information, please check out our fundraising site!

6th Grade Families

Our PTSA will be hosting a 6th Grade Family Classic Movie Night just for you!!! To kick off our upcoming fundraiser, we thought we'd SHINE a light ON our CHINOOK 6th graders and their family. Join us Friday October 4th at 6pm for our showing of a classic family favorite!

An RSVP link was sent to all 6th grade families. You must register to attend this family event. If you have any questions, please reach out to Debbie at president@chinookptsa.org

Chinook Cultural Community

Our PTSA is working on ways to engage and celebrate the diversity within our community. Our hope this year is to introduce events that highlight holidays and global celebrations. We are also hoping this new committee will also assist parents socially in engaging with others and open communication between our families and our school. A meeting will be announced soon but we do have a sign up for families who would like to be participate in the discussion. You can find more information and register HERE as well as a multilanguage choice HERE.

School Support Needs

  1. Our teacher's lounge is painfully low on K-Cups for coffee. If you have the mean, please order or drop off K-cups to our school when you have a chance.
  2. Do you have 50 minutes this year to speak with our students, online or in person, about your career and how you got to where you are? Our AVID program would love to hear from you. This is a way for our students to be exposed to professions and the path taken to get there, even if that path started as something else. We'd like to expose our kids to the idea that the twists and turns in the road sometimes get you where you should be, not where you thought you'd be.
  3. Do you have games that are gently used but rarely used? Are there games you wish to donate to free up space in your home? We are looking for donations to our school for gently used games for our student support center. These are games that can be played within an hour, think Jenga or fast paced card games, but we are also happy to accept any games as we have several clubs that use them too. If you could donate these items, we'd greatly appreciate it. You can find all our schools needs and volunteer needs HERE.

PTSA General Membership Meeting

October 3rd is our first PTSA General Membership meeting. Starting at 7pm in the Chinook Library, we will give a rundown on planned events, programs and vote in our budget. Join us in discussing your vision for Chinook. This is your chance to voice and vote your ideas into action!


In Case You Missed It


High School Athletics Attendance

Any middle school student attending varsity games at any District high school during the 2024-2025 school year will be required to be accompanied by a parent or supervising adult.  Unaccompanied middle school students will not be admitted.  This is a requirement for all KingCo Conference schools. Bellevue, Interlake, Newport, and Sammamish High Schools are all KingCo Conference schools and must follow this General Rule for Admission.

When preparing to attend any athletic event, whether varsity or sub varsity, please note that all spectators at any District high school will watch contests from the designated stands. Restrooms and concession areas will remain available for breaks and refreshment. 

You can purchase tickets ahead of any game by accessing the District’s Hometown Ticketing Box Office (https://bsd405.hometownticketing.com/embed/all?schools=2).


Unity Day

Wear and share ORANGE on Unity Day, Wed., Oct. 16, 2024, to show your support of bullying prevention. #UnityEveryDay. For ideas to get involved, visit https://www.pacer.org/bullying/nbpm/unity-day.asp

Unity Day

District Design Team

Get Involved in a District Design Team

The district is excited to announce the formation of our 2024-2025 Strategic Plan Coalition and Design Teams! These groups will play an integral role in advancing our strategic plan, and YOU’RE INVITED to be part of this important work. Teams include:

  • Strategic Plan Coalition
  • Sustainability Design Team
  • Inclusion and Accessibility Design Team
  • Multilingualism for All Design Team

Students, family members, community members and staff are encouraged to express their interest in serving on one or more of our Strategic Plan Coalition and Design Teams by completing this application form. We will also need one or two representatives from each Design Team to participate in the Strategic Plan Coalition. Applications will be open through September 26. You will be notified no later than October 4 if you are selected to serve on a team.


Walk & Roll to School

Our school is one of 19 schools participating in Bellevue SchoolPool’s Walk & Roll to School campaign during the week of Sept. 30-Oct. 4!

Bellevue SchoolPool is a program that encourages families and students to explore sustainable transportation options for their commute to and from school and alleviate congestion at drop-off and pickup times and locations. During the campaign, students and families are encouraged to walk, bike, carpool or take the bus to and/or from school.

This fall, the campaign is centered around International Walk to School Day on Wednesday, Oct. 2, but SchoolPool encourages students to try a new way to school any time during week!

SchoolPool also provides students with a safety tips flyer and fun items such as reflective zipper pulls and smiley face note packs.

For resources including how to set up a bike train or walking school bus and carpooling tips, visit www.BellevueSchoolPool.org and look under “Resources for Students and Families.”

If you would like to sign up for the Bellevue SchoolPool newsletter, click here.


Target Zero: Tips for a Safe Commute

Welcome back to another school year! As your children return to the classroom, Public Health – Seattle & King County would like to remind you of some important safety tips for getting to and from school. Read more.


Applications for Advanced Learning Services Now Open for 2025-2026

Applications for Advanced Learning Services for the 2025-2026 school year are open now through October 18 at 4:00 p.m. for students currently in grades 1 to 11. Please note that this is an earlier date than in previous years.

About Advanced Learning Services

Bellevue School District's Advanced Learning Services provide identified students with academic services at an advanced level and accelerated pace. Instruction is designed to meet students' cognitive and academic needs at the appropriate level. Centered program services begin in second grade at select schools. Domain Specific services are available to students in grades 1 - 9 at all schools. We welcome you to consider Advanced Learning Services for your student.

Who Should Consider Applying for Advanced Learning Services?

Students in need of advanced learning services have an exceptional ability to learn and reason beyond their same-age peers. These children exhibit a high ability to make meaning out of complex concepts or problems.

You may want to consider applying for services for your student if you have noticed these characteristics:

  • advanced vocabulary for their age
  • strong reading skills two or more grade levels above current grade in school
  • demonstrates high interest in numbers at an early age
  • is imaginative
  • finds interesting solutions to problems
  • understands information quickly
  • may prefer to interact with adults or older children

Apply Now!

Visit the Advanced Learning Services webpage to learn more about Advanced Learning Services and to apply for your student.

Please note that if your student is currently receiving Advanced Learning services, there is no need to re-apply. All kindergarten, 2nd and 5th graders enrolled in the district will be considered automatically for advanced learning services through our universal screening program.