Language Access Website Accessibility
BSD405.org
(425) 456-4900
12400 NE 32nd St.
Students
Families
Community
Staff

Principal Chronicler – February

Home → Principal Chronicler – February
Announcements, feature, Featured, Principal1

Cherry Crest Chronicler

February 2, 2024

Dear Cherry Crest Families,

I want to take a moment to thank you once again for your support for our school. Last week’s live auction was a huge success! Celebrating our students together with staff and parents made for a truly fun and joyous event.

Please take a moment to read below about an extended silent auction opportunity. There are many items still available for purchase – teacher experiences, classroom art, and more! Your donations give directly back to the school for General School Assistants, classroom experiences, such as, field trips and curriculum enhancement opportunities for all students. Thank you for supporting Cherry Crest!

We hope your students will join us for the first ever Cherry Crest dance next Friday evening, 2/9! Celebrating peace, love, and our chargers, we will dance the night away at this fun PTSA sponsored event. I can’t wait to boogey on down with all of our Chargers! Doors open at 6 PM at the Cherry Crest gym. Bring your family for dancing, games, other activity stations, and desserts with friends and classmates.

February is Black History Month. As a school, we acknowledge and celebrate that “Black is Beautiful.” Together, we will make a quilt with poems and drawings to represent all of the things in our world that are black and beautiful. Lunar New Year begins on February 10th. Look for more information below about helping us with a beautiful school display for this celebration!

Have a wonderful month, Chargers! We’re so grateful for this incredible COMM(UNITY)!

Feel free to contact me ([email protected]), or our assistant principal, Amy Chu, ([email protected]) with any questions you may have!

Sincerely,

Erin Stedman, Principal Cherry Crest Elementary School

IMPORTANT DATES

  • District Cultural Calendar
  • 2/2 Extended Auction Open ONLINE!
  • 2/2 February Principal Coffee
  • 2/7  PTSA Spelling Bee Finals @ 6:15 PM
  • 2/9  PTSA School Dance @ 6 PM (the gym)
  • 2/9 @7:00pm Extended Online Auction Ends
  • 2/14  PTSA Variety Show Tryouts # 1@ 12:45 PM – 3 PM (Music Room)
  • 2/15  PTSA Variety Show Tryouts #2 @ 3-6 PM (Music Room)
  • 2/16  PTSA Variety Show G5 MC Tryout 12:35-1 PM (Room 107)
  • 2/19-2/23  Mid-Winter Break (No School)
  • 2/29  G5 Band Concert 6:30-7:45 PM at Odle Middle 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/

Silent Auction Begins TODAY.

Auction Extended Online until February 9

Thank you for joining us at last weekend’s in-person auction! Please remember to submit corporate matching so your dollars go further.  Missed out? View our extended auction online today! All items are available to “buy now,” first come first serve. Choose from exciting teacher experiences for your child, family fun packages and more! Items will be listed until Friday, February 9 at 7:00pm with pick up available at the Cherry Crest Dance.

Heartfelt thanks to our top sponsors: Gallagher Construction LLC, Julia & Mark Krill at Windermere and Popcorn Party Play and Cook who helped underwrite the costs of the auction. All long-time supporters, we value their continued commitment to Cherry Crest – especially Julia & Mark Krill who have been supporting Cherry Crest’s Auction since 2008!  And thank you to Bellden Cafe who sponsored our fun photo booth, giving us all special keepsakes of the event! Thank you!

Carpooling Reminders.

Please be sure to plan ahead! If you are carpooling, all scheduling should happen prior to dismissal. Calling parents to check about carpooling while in the car lane holds up our line. We appreciate you making plans prior to the school day.

You can review our arrival and dismissal procedures HERE.

Lunar New Year Display & Family Volunteers Needed.

We are looking for parent and student volunteers to help us with our Lunar New Year display at Cherry Crest. If you have artifacts or decorations to share, please let us know! We hope to have a table to share artifacts with students throughout the month.

Next week, students will create dragon scales to add to our dragon that will also be displayed in the main entryway. Students can write a wish for their new year and add some fun colors and decorations to their dragon scale. Tables will be set up in the entryway during recesses on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week (2/6 & 2/7) for this fun schoolwide project.

To help with our display, you can sign up HERE.

Running Club is Coming Back March 1st.

Please be on the lookout for Running Club information. Students can join this fun PTSA sponsored club that takes place during lunch recesses on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Students earn tokens for milestones, and those who earn marathon and ultramarathon status, will receive a principal certificate and surprise visit in their classroom!

This club encourages healthy habits and provides a fun structured activity for recess time! Thank you, PTSA, for your support. We love hosting this club at Cherry Crest!

First Semester Report Cards.

Report cards will be available on ParentVUE on 2/9 at Noon. Please celebrate your child’s successes and set goals together! This is a great opportunity to reignite your child’s love for learning. While every child grows at a different pace, it’s important to highlight what they’re doing well and use growth areas as an opportunity to talk about goal setting and perseverance. We’re so proud of all of our learners!

4= student consistently shows above grade level caliber work independently.

3= student consistently shows grade level caliber work independently or with some teacher guidance.

2= student consistently shows approximating grade level caliber work independently or with consistent teacher support.

1= student consistently shows the need for supports to approximate any work and is not independent yet.

Ensure you have access to see the progress reports for 1st semester on ParentVue: https://bsd405.org/departments/district-technology/grades-attendance/

Here’s the most critical info within the above link:

National Friendship Month.

February is National Friendship Month! Below, our wonderful counselor, Ms. Mykela, shares some fun ideas you can do at home to support your student with friendship building.

  • Check out these fun ideas to celebrate friendship with your kids at home!
  • This great list of read-alouds can be wonderful conversation starters about what makes a great friend and how we can be that to others.
  • And here are even more activities to foster conversation and action around friendships at home.

Odle World Languages and Culture Night Invitation.

Come celebrate World Languages Culture Night @ Odle!  This special world languages event features rich cultural experiences including live performances, cultural activities, and cultural foods. All the Odle families and neighborhood communities are invited to join. This is an amazing opportunity to learn and appreciate world languages and cultures at Odle community. This event is funded by Bellevue Schools Foundation Arts, Enrichment & Innovation Grant, and Odle PTSA Educator Grant.

 Time and Date: 5-7pm, Thursday Feb 8th, 2024

 Location: The Commons, Odle Middle School

 Address: 502 143rd Ave NE, Bellevue, WA 98007

 Looking forward to seeing you at Odle World Languages Culture Night!

Attend the BSD Certificated Staff Job Fair.

Attend the BSD Certificated Staff Job Fair

Join us for the Certificated Staff Job Fair on Saturday, February 10, 2024, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Highland Middle School to learn about certificated positions in the district. Representatives from schools and departments throughout the district will be available to answer questions about working in Bellevue. Screening interviews will be available.

Certificated positions include: Administrators, Elementary and Secondary Teachers, Special Education Teachers, Counselors, Social Workers, School Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, Speech-Language Pathologists, and School Psychologists.

4th Grade Social Studies Textbook Adoption.

4th grade social studies classes are engaged in experimental use of new materials during the 2023-24 school year. The resources include The State We’re In: Washington (Grades 3-5 Edition) textbook and Washington, By and By: A Community Planning Graphic Novel.

We invite community members to explore the resources using the links below.

The State We’re In: Washington (Grades 3-5 Edition)

Washington, By and By: A Community Planning Graphic Novel

 Feedback Survey

Thank you for providing feedback on the resources: 4th Grade Social Studies Curriculum Adoption Family & Community Survey.

At Cherry Crest, we’re looking for 4-6 student volunteers to read the graphic novel linked above and provide student feedback: Student Survey for Washington By and By Graphic Novel

Graphic Novel: Washington By & By

Please let us know if your child is interested by emailing, [email protected].

四年级社会学教材选择

2023-24 学年，四年级社会课将尝试使用新材料。这些资源包括《我们所处的状态：华盛顿》（3-5 年级版）教科书和《华盛顿，By and By：社区规划图画小说》。

我们邀请社区成员使用下面的链接来了解这些资源。

我们所处的州：华盛顿（3-5 年级版）- The State We’re In: Washington (Grades 3-5 Edition)

华盛顿，By and By：社区规划图画小说 – Washington, By and By: A Community Planning Graphic Novel

反馈调查：感谢您提供有关资源的反馈：

四年级社会课教材选择家庭与社区调查 – 4th Grade Social Studies Curriculum Adoption Family & Community Survey

Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion at Cherry Crest.

Please refer to our District’s cultural calendar (linked HERE) for each month. At Cherry Crest, we aim to recognize the many celebrations, holidays, and heritages that make our world, community, and neighborhood so beautiful. If you’re interested in sharing your rich culture with us, please reach out as we’re always looking for ways to enrich our students’ experiences and for students to see themselves in our hallways and in our classrooms.

February is: Black History Month

February 5th-9th is Black Lives Matter at School Week

Black History Month is an annual opportunity to recognize the significant role Black Americans have played throughout history and celebrate African American achievement. The Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) devotes its 98th Annual Black History Month theme to African Americans and the Arts. This theme examines the wide array of history and lives of African American arts and artisans. African American art is infused with African, Caribbean and the Black American experiences. In honor of Black History Month, the City of Bellevue will exhibit a public art display featuring the work of 17 Pacific Northwest-based Black artists during the month of February. The “Elevating Voices” exhibit is available to the public at the Bellevue City Hall concourse, Monday through Friday, during business hours and evenings when City Hall is open for public meetings or events. Learn more about the exhibit.

 Here is a Black History Month Reading Room for February!

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1SdYJxMxNZU_w1YEDAkM1oGQdxH2Wj3OdPYHqKZcXtKY/edit?usp=sharing

Black Lives Matter at School Week Reading Room, connected to their guiding principals:

  • Monday: Restorative Justice, Empathy and Loving Engagement
  • Tuesday: Diversity and Globalism
  • Wednesday: Trans-Affirming, Queer Affirming and Collective Value
  • Thursday: Intergenerational, Black Families and Black Villages
  • Friday: Black Women and Unapologetically Black

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1pSYCeoCnYKbHu3N3swdRi6q1Ba15k3ELd10UnZ9oRqY/edit?usp=sharing

Reading Rooms were curated by our wonderful 2nd Grade Teacher, Ms. Nolan!

From our School Counselor, Ms. Mykela:

  • Did you know that each year’s Black History Month has a theme?  This year’s theme is African Americans and the Arts. How can you celebrate and uplift Black artists this month and throughout the year?
  • Here are some fun and engaging activities for families of all ages!
  • Click here for some more fun and interactives ways to celebrate and honor Black History Month at home with your family.

Lunar New Year begins February 10th: The Year of the Dragon

Over a billion people in China, South Korea, Vietnam, and millions around the world celebrate Lunar New Year. The start of the holiday coincides with the date of new moon in Asia.

The Lunar New Year is a time to honor deities and ancestors and to be with family. An animal represents each of the 12 years in the Chinese zodiac. In 2024, it’s the Year of the Dragon.

Some of the New Year’s greetings you’d hear:

新年快樂  (xīn nián kuài lè ) – Happy New Year

恭喜發財 (gōngxǐ fācái ) –  Wishing you prosperity and good fortune

恭喜發財，紅包拿來 (gōng xǐ fā cái, hóng bāo ná lái) –Prosperity and good fortune, give me the red envelope!

Source: https://earthsky.org/human-world/chinese-new-year-lunar-new-year/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fu_(character)

 

Online resources:  The Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art

Wing Luke Museum:  https://www.wingluke.org/lny

 

Books to read more about Lunar New Year:

https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/teaching-tools/book-lists/9-books-to-celebrate-lunar-new-year.html

 

https://childrenslibrarylady.com/books-chinese-new-year-celebrated/

 

https://www.readbrightly.com/picture-books-celebrate-lunar-new-year/

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.