**Registration for the 2024-2025 School Year is now open.
Visit the Registration Hub**
**Registration for the 2024-2025 School Year is now open.
Visit the Registration Hub**
Important Dates

January 16

Martin Luther King Day Observed, No School

January 27

First Semester Ends

January 30

Second Semester Begins

February 20-24

Mid-Winter Break, No School

 

Greetings Chinook Middle School Community,

Happy New Year and welcome to 2023! I hope everyone had a wonderful Winter Break!

As always, January will be a busy time here at Chinook.  We are preparing for the end of the first semester on January 27, with the second semester starting on January 30. A reminder that Monday, January 30, will be a regular school day (making up for the emergency weather closure).

Other news and updates are below.

In Partnership,

James Peterson

Principal

[email protected]


January’s Advisory Period Focus

Community: Martin Luther King Jr. Day is Jan. 16th. Students will engage in a three part lesson to honor Martin Luther King Jr. and discuss the importance of using respectful language at Chinook.

Academic: The first semester ends on Friday, Jan. 27th. Students will have time to work on assignments, study for tests, and conference with their Advisory teacher. They will end the month with reflection and goal setting.

Social Emotional: Students will have a day to relax and play games with each other.


Chinook 5th Grade Family Information Night

5th grade families with students considering attending Chinook Middle School next fall are invited to our Family Information Night on Wednesday, January 11, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.  Learn more.


Information Nights, Open Transfer, Choice Schools and Language Programs

Families may still apply for Open Transfer, Choice Schools, and Choice Language Programs for the 2023-24 school year. Applications must be submitted by January 20, 2023, to be considered. Before applying, families can:

Learn About BSD’s Choice Schools and Language Programs
BSD offers a number of unique opportunities for students, including choice schools and language programs, to best suit their learning needs and future goals. Learn more about current offerings and apply to enroll.

Attend Family Information Nights
To help families prepare for their next grade-level transition in the 2023-2024 school year, BSD’s neighborhood schools, choice schools and choice language programs will host information sessions for prospective students and families. Review this year’s information night dates.


Encore Presentation: BSD Research Scientist to Share Chinook Student Data

Due to strong interest in last month’s in-person I-Connect meeting, “Show Us the Data: What BSD Research Reveals About Chinook Students,” there will be a special encore presentation – this time via Microsoft Teams – on Thursday, January 19, 7:00-8:00 p.m. Note: This will be a live virtual meeting, not a recording.

Recent news reports showed troubling drops in post-pandemic test scores nationwide in math and reading. How did Chinook students fare? Was there learning loss, and was it consistent across grade levels? How do students feel about their mental well-being? During this I-Connect event, we will look at what the latest data reveals, and much more.

All parents/caregivers are invited to join this presentation, “Show Us the Data: What BSD Research Reveals About Chinook Students,”
https://teams.live.com/meet/9379352580246
Tap on the link or paste it in a browser to join.

Our returning guest speaker will be Anna Van Windekens, Ph.D., Research Scientist in the Bellevue School District’s (BSD) Department of Research, Evaluation and Assessment. Van Windekens specializes in collecting and analyzing data about our students, their performance, and other vital issues related to education. She will show us the latest reports she has on Chinook, and how these statistics compare to overall District numbers. Also appearing will be Chinook Principal James Peterson, who will provide his insights and perspectives.

I-Connect is an award-winning program sponsored by Chinook PTSA.

Questions? Contact I-Connect Chair Sharon Pang: [email protected]


City of Bellevue MLK Health Fair

The City of Bellevue and the Bellevue Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. invite the community to join the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration and Health Fair, hosted online on MLK Day, January 16, from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m.

The MLK Celebration and Health Fair celebrates the Rev. King’s legacy and centers individuals and organizations experiencing or responding to racial and health inequities in our community. This year’s theme is “reinvesting in health,” with holistic wellness presentations from community partners, youth-led health and equity discussions, performance art and remarks from city leaders.

Learn more and register for this online event.


In Case You Missed It


6th Grade Science Camp- Update

We are looking forward to March 21-24 when our 6th-grade grade students will experience outdoor education at Camp Orkila. Read the full update on our website.


Private School Applications

This is the time of the year when parents will reach out for support with private school applications. All private school applications are handled by the BSD Records Department.

For private school applications, please go to the Bellevue School District website for an explanation of the procedures.

https://bsd405.org/departments/records/private-school-applications/

Please use this link to submit your initial private school application.

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=OUFKmQZ8HkmAmHkAbVdd4BMrUjpf_6pLkaCLhDpCyBVUQ0JHNVY0UjU1QlMwUUxYOEFCNUYwWkpESC4u

Please note that BSD will NOT be uploading records to third party vendors such as Ravenna and Gateway. The records department will forward your student’s records directly to the school(s) you list on the application and you will receive a confirmation email once the request has been processed.


Open Transfer and Choice School Lottery

Update: The Open Transfer and Choice Schools/Program application period has been extended to January 20, 2023.

The Open Transfer and Choice Schools/Program application period for the 2023-24 school year will be from December 5, 2022, to January 20, 2023.

Please review the Open Transfer and Choice Schools & Programs webpages and the frequently asked questions for each to learn more about the application process and programs offered.


Commitment to Nondiscrimination

Bellevue School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts of America and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination:

Civil Rights, Racial Discrimination, and Gender Expression or Identity Discrimination:

Civil Rights/Nondiscrimination Compliance Coordinator Nancy Pham, (425) 456-4040 or [email protected]

Sex-based Discrimination, including Sexual Harassment: Title IX Coordinator: Jeff Lowell, (425) 456-4010 or [email protected]

Disability Discrimination: Section 504/ADA Coordinator: Heather Edlund, (425) 456-4156 or [email protected]

Mailing address for all three: 12111 NE 1st Street, Bellevue, WA 98005.

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.