Important Dates
February 20-24 Mid-Winter Break, No School March 13 I-Connect, Reimagining Middle Schools Committee Feeback, 9:00am March 17 Professional Development Day, No School March 21-24 6th Grade Science Camp |
Greetings Chinook Middle School Community,
Semester grades are now available which makes is a great opportunity to sit down with your student and help them evaluate their progress and set goals. The following suggestions from edutopia.org may be a helpful resource to support goal setting at home. SMART goals are: S = Specific Here is a practical example, starting with a typical, but not especially SMART, goal:
Here is a way to make it SMARTer:
But it’s not SMART yet because it has no action plan or benchmarks. Here is a pretty SMART goal:
Goals do not necessarily have to be about grades. They can also be about helping with chores at home, trying something new, asking questions during class, showing kindness, etc. News and updates are below. In Partnership, James Peterson Principal |
Black History Month – A Legacy of Excellence
Black History Month is an annual celebration of African American achievement and recognition of the role Black Americans have played throughout history. The purpose of Black History Month is to remember both the important people of African descent and the important events in Black History, while also recognizing that the struggle for racial justice continues to this day. Some examples of how Black History Month is being recognized include:
- Featuring Artists of Color in Art classes
- Analyzing the works of Frederick Douglas
- Studying African American poetry
- Celebrating Black mathematicians, engineers, scientists, inventors, and their achievements
- Embedding the stories of civil rights activists in reading and writing lessons
- Understanding the cultural influence of Black musicians
- Celebrating Black History and culture from around the world in world language classes
First Semester Grades
The last day of the first semester was Friday, January 27. Semester grades are being mailed home and are now available in ParentVUE and StudentVUE.
Learn how to access grades on our Grades & Attendance webpage.
Last Chance: Complete the Family Engagement Survey by February 14
The Bellevue School District’s Department of Family Engagement is hosting its annual Family Engagement Survey from January 17 to February 14, 2023. Please look for an email from Panorama Education, dated Tuesday, January 17, 2023, with a survey link and instructions.
The purpose of the survey is to gather feedback from you, our families, around how our school informs, supports, and empowers you to contribute to your student’s success. Your valuable feedback is essential to the continuous improvement and advancement of the family engagement practices in our school community, and we thank you in advance, for your participation.
For more information, please visit: Family Engagement Survey
Imagine the Possibilities at March I-Connect Meeting
Save the date for the next I-Connect meeting when the topic will be: “Have Your Say: How Would You Reimagine Middle School?” All parents are invited to attend onMonday, March 13, 9:00-10:30 am in Room 1402.
Discuss innovative possibilities to improve the middle school experience for our students. Join Principal James Peterson, and guest speaker Melisa Macias, Ed.D., Director of Teaching and Learning for the Bellevue School District (BSD), and give your input. Mr. Peterson and Dr. Macias are members of BSD’s Reimagining Middle Schools Committee. What has this committee been doing? Learn about the revolutionary concepts being considered and give your feedback. This is an opportunity for Chinook parents to make an impact.
Signs of Suicide Lessons
To start second semester, we will be completing the second half of our Signs of Suicide (SOS), suicide prevention lessons and BIMAS2 well-being screenings for students for 7th and The SOS teaches students how to notice warning signs of depression or suicide in themselves or a friend and encourages asking adults for support.
Students who have not yet received the SOS lesson will receive the SOS lesson at school sometime between 2/27-3/10.
Parents will receive a letter explaining SOS via email and can choose to opt their child out of the lesson and/or well-being screening prior to their child receiving the SOS lesson and BIMAS2. To learn more about SOS, check out https://sossignsofsuicide.org/parent.
Mental health resources, recorded parenting skills presentations, and more can be found at our new Mental Health Resources webpage.
We all have a role in preventing suicide in our community. You don’t have to have any special training to ACKNOWLEDGE warning signs of depression or suicide, show the person you CARE, and TELL a trusted adult or professional.
Apply to be a Youth Mentor with Rainier Athletes
Rainier Athletes is seeking volunteers for their youth mentoring program. Volunteers are paired with BSD students and need to be willing to commit to one year of mentorship.
Learn more about Rainier Athletes and sign up to become a mentor.
Bellevue Schools Foundation Needs Your Help
As you may already know, Bellevue Schools Foundation (BSF) raises about $2M annually to enrich our schools and enhance student learning. Much of that funding goes right into Chinook and other schools through grants! BSF makes an impact at Chinook in many ways school – from robotics, to culturally responsive libraries to Mental Health Assistance… and so much more.
BSF is looking for about 5-7 wonderful people committed to furthering public education in the area that work at some of our mid-sized companies, in government or at the district in Bellevue to join the board of directors for BSF. BSF wantw to strengthen relationships with our corporate and civic communities while we strengthen our schools.
Learn more and contact the Foundation here.
Reimagining Middle School Update
The Reimagining Middle School Committee continues its work in the new year by starting the design prototype phase to reimagine middle schools. The prototype phase allows the committee to test possible solutions to the identified areas for improvement. This allows for the development of continuous short cycles of innovation and improvement. The committee continues to center its work to reduce and remove barriers in search for equitable outcomes. Read the full update here.
Student Handbook Reminder
As noted in the Chinook Student Handbook, laser pointers and aerosols/sprays are not allowed on campus. Students should not bring or apply body sprays (Axe sprays, etc.), colognes, or perfumes anywhere at school including the locker rooms (please use stick, gel, or roll-on deodorants instead). Using aerosols/sprays at school can cause health problems and concerns for many people on our campus (students with Asthma, etc.). If you choose to apply these scents, please do so prior to coming to school. Students choosing to bring any of these prohibited items to school will have the item confiscated.
In Case You Missed It
8th Grade Promotion: Save the Date
8th grade Promotion is scheduled for Wednesday, June 21st, during the school day. This is the last full day of school (June 22nd is a shortened two hour day). See the full District Family Calendar here. Please note: the date may change if there is an emergency school closure that extends the school year. More details coming soon.
National Random Acts of Kindness Day – February 17, 2023
Chinook students and staff will perform acts of kindness on February 17. National Random Acts of Kindness Day began in New Zealand in 2004 and is now celebrated in multiple countries around the world. Every act of kindness is significant. Sometimes the smallest gesture can make a difference in someone’s life and even change the world. The Random Act of Kindness Day reminds us about the importance of uplifting and encouraging others, including ourselves.
What is AVID?
AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) is an elective course offered in most all Bellevue School District secondary schools. It is a nationally recognized program for motivated students to grow their academic, collaborative, and leadership potential so they can realize their College/Career goals.
During Advisory this month, students will learn about our AVID elective class and, if they are interested, will have the opportunity to complete an online application for AVID. In addition to the application, there is an interview component to determine if students are a match for the AVID elective class.
Learn more about the AVID elective class here.
February’s Advisory Focus
Community: Students will provide feedback on their Advisory experience, and advisories will have the opportunity to get together for some fun on Tuesday, Feb. 14th.
Academic: 6th and 7th grade students will learn from current AVID students how they can benefit from the AVID elective. If they are interested, they will have time to complete an online application.
Social-Emotional: Students will participate in a lesson designed to build self-awareness.
Safety: We will have a school-wide safety drill on Thursday, Feb. 16th.
Save the Date: Bellevue Schools Foundation Spring for Schools, April 1
Join the Bellevue Schools Foundation to join us at Spring for Schools on April 1st! This event provides critical programming for our school community and the total of 18,000+ students in every school in Bellevue School District. Here’s a snapshot of the Foundation’s support at Chinook.
Please be sure to indicate Chinook Middle School when you register here! With student performances, an Education Showcase, appetizers, and more, the evening promises to be a fun one in support of our students and community.
Learn more and register to attend.
Breakfast
Breakfast is available every day. Cost: $2.50 (free for students who qualify).
Daily Menu Includes: Assorted Cereals, Mini Bagels, Banana Bread, English Muffin Sandwiches, Cinnamon Roll, Pancake on a Stick, Oatmeal Round. See the full menu.
Donate to 6th Grade Science Camp
The expected cost for 6th Grade Science Camp has gone increased and is expected to be approximately $325.00 per student. You can help reduce the cost for all students by donating. Make a donation.
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.
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.
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.