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Cherry Crest Chronicler – May 2023 Parent News

Home → Cherry Crest Chronicler – May 2023 Parent News
Announcements, Featured, Principal0

Cherry Crest LogoCherry Crest Chronicler

April 28, 2023

Happy Friday Charger Families.  This year it has been the month of April that came in like a lion, roared all month long with wind and rain, and is now going out like a lamb.  I hope you can enjoy the warmer weather this weekend.  Even more so, I pray that the weather stays nice into next week as we gear up for our Walkathon on Friday May 5th.

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month! With more than 60% of our students and families identifying as Asian, we honor the identities of our Asian students as we work together to help them feel seen, heard, and celebrated throughout our school. Students will see murals and displays throughout the month to acknowledge and inform about cultural heritages across Asia. We will work with staff to share valuable resources and information to promote celebrations and learning at the classroom level. Additionally, our assembly team is working to recognize Asian culture and heritage via student leaders who will share content across all grade levels.

Reading is always a great tool to celebrate and honor this month at home. Below are family resources as you, too, recognize AAPI Month at home with your children!

Thank you for taking a few moments to read the important dates and announcements in the parent newsletter below.  As always, reach out to me if you have any comments or questions.

DustySigClean2015

Dusty Steere, Principal Cherry Crest Elementary

IMPORTANT DATES

May

1-5    SchoolPool Challenge
5       Walk-a-thon
7       Walk-a-thon donations due
8-12 Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week
19     Volunteer Appreciation Coffee and Awards Ceremony 8:15 am
23     PTSA General Membership Meeting @ 7:00 pm  Click here to join the meeting
29     Memorial Day (No School)

June
2       Virtual Principal Chat 8:30 – 9:15 am  Join Via Teams
16     Field Day
19     Juneteenth – no school
21     G5 Promotion Ceremony 8:30 am
22    Last day of School

Please remember to regularly visit the Cherry Crest & PTSA websites for the most current information.

https://bsd405.org/cherrycrest      https://www.cherrycrest-ptsa.org/

We are one of 16 schools that are participating in the Spring 2023 SchoolPool Challenge during the week of May 1-5!

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 Challenge students and families are encouraged to walk, bike, carpool or take the bus to and/or from school.

This year, students are encouraged to participate in the SchoolPool Challenge Art Contest. Students may draw a picture of their trip to or from school in an art contest brochure that will be provided. Students may return their drawings to the school office with parent/guardian signature. The Bellevue SchoolPool team may select a drawing for future posters, signs or web postings. Be on the lookout for these brochures, coming home soon!

SchoolPool also provides students with fun items such as pens, erasers and lenticular stickers, and participating helps raise money for our school.

For maps of walking and biking routes in our schools attendance area, visit the Routes to School web map. Click on our school to find a printable map for your route.

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

Walk-a-thon is Friday, May 5!  Students, teachers and staff look forward to gathering with families on Friday, May 5 from 2:30 to 4:30pm at Cherry Crest’s track.  Check your child’s backpack for a Walk-a-thon t-shirt and information handout.  Walk-a-thon is a long-revered tradition both as a fun-filled community event and important fundraiser.  Help us raise $40,000 to maintain classroom supports and curriculum enrichment for all students!  All donations are tax deductible.

 Checklist:

  •  Fill out the online permission slip (one per student) by Wed, May 3
  •  Sign Up to volunteer by Wed, May 3 (all parents/guardians are requested to fill at least one shift)
  •  Students should wear their Walk-a-thon t-shirts to school on Friday,  May 5
  •  Donate online by Sun, May 7 to be eligible for fundraising prizes

Teachers will distribute student badges to track laps just before walking begins.  View the full details on the Walk-a-thon website: https://www.cherrycrest-ptsa.org/walk-a-thon/.

Time to Check the Lost and Found.   The Lost and Found is overflowing with jackets, lunchboxes and other items.  Unclaimed items will be donated to charity after May 5.  Walkathon is a great time to check out the hanging rack and bins placed outside the front doors each day for easy parent access.

If you can read this, thank a teacher! May 8 – 12 Is National Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week. Our PTSA leaders have organized ways to celebrate teachers and staff each day of the week.

  • Monday, May 8 – Students bring flowers and cards for teachers and staff
  • Tuesday, May 9 – PTSA sponsors make-your-own snack bags
  • Wednesday, May 10 – PTSA sponsors personalized Starbucks orders
  • Thursday, May 11 – PTSA sponsors catered lunch
  • Friday, May 12 – Families donate items for dessert buffet

Thank you in advance for your contributions. Together we strengthen our comm(Unity)! Questions? Email: staffappreciation@cherrycrest-ptsa.org

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

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!

K – 4 Parent Input requested for Class Placement.  Cherry Crest teachers and staff are making plans and beginning the  important task of creating classroom assignments for the 2023-24 school year.  Creating balanced classrooms where children will be successful is a complex task and we need parent cooperation to make it work.  Please take a few minutes to share your feedback by completing the 2023-24 Class Placement Input Form.

Thank you for completing this online survey for your returning Kindergarten – 4th grade child by Friday May 12th.   

Volunteer Appreciation on May 19th.  As a small token of our appreciation, the Cherry Crest Staff invites our amazing Cherry Crest Comm(UNITY) volunteers to join us for a Volunteer Appreciation Coffee and Awards Ceremony in the café on Friday, May 19th at 8:15am

Whether you have helped in the classroom, library, lunchroom, playfield or on a field trip, we want to thank you!  Our program includes personalized messages of thanks from classroom staff, the presentation of the PTSA Golden Acorn Award and an opportunity for volunteers to provide input for your hopes, dreams and desires for family engagement in 2023/24.

Questions?  Please contact Connie Kramer.

The Queen of Kindergarten is retiring.  Help us celebrate Mrs. Nancy Cody’s contributions to the Cherry Crest community over the past 30+ years as a kindergarten teacher!  Your student can submit a Thank You note on 8.5 x 11 paper using our template or writing/drawing their own note) by Friday, May 26. Completed notes can be dropped off at the office or emailed to alissagrieves@live.com. If emailing, the file needs to be a .png, .jpg, or .pdf only. All notes from students will be bound into a book to gift to Mrs. Cody at the end of the school year.

Preschool and Before/After Care Options for 2022/23.  The Boys & Girls Club of Bellevue is offering before and after school care programs on site at Cherry Crest for the 2023/2024 school year. This program enhances the skills and knowledge young people learn at school through high-yield learning activities and focuses on three outcome areas: Academic Success, Healthy Lifestyles, and Good Character and Citizenship.

Priority registration for the upcoming school year opened on 4/24 for currently enrolled families.  Open registration for new families begins Tuesday May 2nd at 9 am.  Registration is now open (and fills quickly)! More information can be found here: https://www.bgcbellevue.org/Programs/Project-Learn-Afterschool-Program

Families interested in preschool options in Bellevue School District can learn more here: https://bsd405.org/programs/preschool.

Safety/Emergency Preparedness Volunteer Opportunities at Cherry Crest. On June 13th, we will hold a final evacuation drill to practice our Incident Command Systems with staff and students. This will be a longer drill to practice student care, medical disaster, search and rescue, and family reunification.

    • We are looking for parent volunteers who can show up between 1-1:45 pm to help us practice the family reunification process of our emergency plan should a disaster occur while students are at school.
    • If you’re interested in volunteering, please reach out to, Erin Stedman, at stedmane@bsd405.org

 

  • We are also looking for 3-4 parent volunteers to help with an emergency closet inventory on June 26th:
    • Last year we completed a full closet cleanout, reordered expired materials, and reorganized our shelves
    • This year we’d like to count items in full and create a usable inventory list to keep track of items and expiration dates

If you’d like to volunteer for this opportunity, please also let Erin know by emailing her at stedmane@bsd405.org

Now Enrolling Kindergarten students for the fall. We are now enrolling students for our kindergarten classes.  If you have or know of a student who will be 5 years old by Aug. 31, they can now enroll in kindergarten.  Learn how to enroll a student here:  https://bsd405.org/schools/kindergarten/.

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. 

The Bellevue School District acknowledges that we learn, work, live and gather on the Indigenous Land of the Coast Salish peoples, specifically the Duwamish and Snoqualmie Tribes. We thank these caretakers of this land, who have lived and continue to live here, since time immemorial.