Cherry Crest Chronicler

April 4, 2023

Dear Charger Families,

I want to thank all the students and families who participated in and attended our Cherry Crest Variety Show and Online Auction last Friday night.  More than 100 student performers across 33 acts entertained and amazed a sell out audience of 500 family, friends and staff.  It truly was a magical and special evening.  I extend my gratitude and appreciation for the time, energy and efforts of our performers as well as the incredible efforts of the PTSA Variety Show chairs and associated volunteers.  Finally, I’m grateful for the generous contributions from families through the online auction as well as to our corporate sponsors Julia & Mark Krill Realty and Gallagher Construction.  Your contributions help maintain Cherry Crest’s ability to provide an exceptional educational experience for each and every child.

After a few years of remote COVID schooling and limited in person activities, it sure has been wonderful this year gathering as a community for schoolwide events like the Variety Show.  What’s more, we have a number of fun events on the horizon including our Festival of Cultures on Wednesday April 19 and our beloved Comm(Unity) Walkathon on Friday May 5th right after school.  I look forward to seeing you at one or both of these events.

Thank you for taking a few moments to read the important dates and announcements in the parent newsletter below.

Dusty Steere, Principal Cherry Crest Elementary

If your student is already enrolled in a BSD school, you do not need to submit a new enrollment. They will automatically move up to the next grade.

BSD Preschool Registration is now open! Please click here to register! Contact elp@bsd405.org with questions.

• Convenient locations in BSD elementary schools
• Qualified and caring BSD educators
• Tuition assistance for qualified families
• Spanish and Mandarin curricula
• Preschool – K curricula alignment for kindergarten readiness
• A fun first school experience that promotes adaptive and social skills

Counselor’s Corner. Hi Cherry Crest families!  This month is Arab American Heritage Month – Check out the resources below to find out ways to learn more as a family!

• Interested in learning more about how Arab American Heritage Month came about? Check out this article, which includes an interview from the Arab American Institute’s President about the Arab American experience.
• Looking for a fun way to learn more about Arab American culture with your family at home? Check out the Arab American National Museum’s virtual tours of their core galleries!
• For some superhero fun, check out the comic book series, Ms. Marvel, which features a Pakistani American teen who develops superpowers. The series has also been made into a show on Disney+! (Common Sense Media rates the show as 10 years old and up.)

Please feel free to reach out any time for support or resources of any kind.  My website also is a great resource for all sorts of topics: Ms. Mykela’s Website.  Not finding what you need?  Let me know by emailing me at: fantonem@bsd405.org. I’m here for you and your family!

Attendance Matters.  With spring break approaching, we’d like to remind you of the process of notifying the school for a pre-arranged absence. Each student in the Bellevue School District is given 5 Pre-Arranged absence days per year, which are excused.  Parents may use these, for example,  for extra-curricular sports, family events, private school interviews, or extended weekends or breaks.    For an absence of one or two days, we ask that you email cherrycrestattendance@bsd405.org at least one school day in advance.

If a student will be absent for 3 or more days, parents are required to fill out a Pre-arranged Absence form.   You must submit the completed form at least 5 school days before the absence.   Download and fill out the Pre-arranged Absence form and email it to cherrycrestattendance@bsd405.org  or have your student pick up a paper copy from the main office.  This form can also be found on the Cherry Crest Elementary School website under “Report an Absence”

Please contact cherrycrestattendance@bsd405.org if you have any questions.

Principal Chat on Friday 4/21 @ 8:30 am.  Cherry Crest families are invited to attend monthly virtual meetings hosted by Principal Dusty Steere and PTSA leadership.  All chats are hosted online via Microsoft Teams and include information from the principal as well as ample time for questions and comments. Use this form to submit a question or topic for the next Principal Chat.

• April 21   Virtual Principal Chat 8:30 – 9:15 am  Join Via Teams

Cell Phones and Smart Watches.   Recently, teachers have noticed that students’ smart watches are becoming an increasing distraction during class time.  Similar to our school policy for cell phones (off and away during the school day), we are asking that all smart watches stay at home or inside backpacks during the school day.  Please refer to our student handbook on page 19 and 20 for additional information and guidance about telephones and messaging your child during the school day.

Smarter Balanced Testing. This spring students in grades 3-5 are required to complete the Smarter Balanced Assessment for English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics online per WA State law requirements for public schools. 5th grade students are required to also take the Washington State Assessment for Science.

Find below our testing schedule this spring. Please avoid scheduling vacations or time away from school during these important assessment windows. Vacation requests may not be granted if they conflict with state standardized testing.

The Washington Comprehensive Assessment Program website contains test-related resources for parents and students: https://wa.portal.cambiumast.com/summative-smarter-balanced.html. You can also try out a Smarter Balanced practice or training test at home!

For more information, contact Cherry Crest Assistant Principal, Erin Stedman (stedmane@bsd405.org), or Chris Lindberg, BSD manager of state testing (lindbergc@bsd405.org). To opt out of testing, you can complete a form and submit directly to Erin Stedman. If you’d like to receive a copy of this form, please email Mrs. Stedman (stedmane@bsd405.org) and she will work with you on next steps.

Travelling to/from Cherry Crest Elementary by Car?  Student safety is a top priority at Cherry Crest and nowhere is this more important than in the parking lot and neighborhood surrounding our school.   Thank you for reviewing and following the these safety protocols for arrival/departure.

• Keep your speed down.  City speed limit during arrival/dismissal is 20 m.p.h.
• Follow all directions from Cherry Crest staff entering and on campus
• During pick up, prominently display your child’s name placard to aid our staff caller.
• Limit congestion by following recommended routes into/out of school.
• Save yourself time and gas by putting your child on the bus.  Riding the Bus at Cherry Crest
• Cherry Crest’s Drop Off and Pick Up Procedures

Share Your Feedback: New BSD Websites. The district recently announced that in 2024, all BSD websites will move to a new platform, Finalsite. The “Listen and Learn” phase of the new website project is underway. This phase offers opportunities for BSD staff, students, families and community members to continue to share their feedback on what they need and expect from BSD’s websites.

Website User Survey:  Complete the Website User Survey by April 10, 2023, to share your perspectives on BSD’s district and school websites. The information gathered will help Finalsite begin the first phase of the website redesign process.

Cherry Crest Elementary prepares all students to become life-long learners through inquiry, collaboration, and discovery.  Each student will feel a sense of belonging in our Comm(UNITY) while learning social-emotional and academic skills to be successful in an ever-changing and diverse society.