| Important Dates
April 26 PTSA Meeting, 6:00pm May 3 I-Connect Meeting, 9:00am May 29 Memorial Day, No School June 19 Juneteenth, No School June 21 8th Grade Promotion, 10:45am June 22 Last Day of School, 7:45am-9:45am
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Greetings Chinook Middle School Community,
Our students have once again given us reason to be proud. Students in our QSA (Queer Straight Alliance) Club promoted a Day of Silence on Thursday to silently protest the bullying and harassment LGBTQ+ students face every day. This stand against bullying and harassment aligns with Bellevue School District Policy No. 0130 – Equity and Accountability, Policy #3207 – Prohibition of Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying, and Policy 3211 – Gender-Inclusive Schools. Many students chose to participate in this silent protest, and many did not, instead focusing on everyday routines. All students modeled mutual respect and kindness. Our students’ acceptance and respect for one another, their strong sense of caring, and their deep appreciation for the diversity in our school and community make Chinook strong. We truly have wonderful Chinook Kodiaks! In Partnership, James Peterson Principal |
Outside Learning Approval
In some cases, students may be granted credit for learning experiences completed outside Bellevue School District (BSD), provided the learning experiences meet the criteria outlined within the district procedures. Approval for credit (not necessarily a grade) must be obtained prior to enrollment and/or participation in the outside learning experience in order to be eligible for consideration for high school credit on the BSD transcript. In order to receive credit for any approved outside learning experience, students must continue to be fully scheduled in a Bellevue School District school, taking the minimum required credits during the regular school day (7 credits for students grades 6-11, and 6 credits for students in grades 11 and 12). Students may not drop a course and/or shorten their schedule in order to have a learning experience outside the regular program.
Learn more about the steps for outside learning approval.
PTSA Meetings: Save the Dates
On Wed., April 26th, please plan to attend the Spring General Membership Meeting from 6:00 – 7:00 PM at Chinook. There is a remote option is TEAMS: Click here to join the meeting (TEAMS Meeting ID: 284 459 560 290, Passcode: 4sUvbP)
The final PTSA General Membership Meeting for the 2022-2023 school year is on Wed., June 14th, from 6:00 – 7:00 PM at Chinook (a remote option will be available). This is an important meeting to attend to vote in next year’s Chinook PTSA Executive Board (President, Vice President, Secretary & Treasurer).
Incoming Superintendent to Speak at May I-Connect Meeting
We are pleased to welcome Dr. Kelly Aramaki, Incoming Superintendent for the Bellevue School District (BSD) at a special I-Connect meeting on Wednesday, May 3, 9:00-10:00 a.m. in Room 1402. This meeting is open to all Chinook parents.
We will have a conversation with Dr. Aramaki and hear about his thoughts as he prepares to take over as Superintendent on July 1.
Dr. Aramaki has a long history in the field of education. He has served as a teacher, principal, and executive director of schools. Before being named Incoming Superintendent by the Bellevue School Board, he served as BSD’s Assistant Superintendent. His professional accomplishments include the National Milken Educator Award, 2013 Washington State Elementary Principal of the Year, and the 2013 Northwest Asian Weekly Visionary Award.
Dr. Aramaki grew up in Bellevue. He is a graduate of Newport High School. He graduated from the University of Washington (UW) earning a B.S. in Zoology with a Minor in Music. He earned his M.A. in Teaching from Columbia University with an emphasis on early childhood and the inclusion of students with special needs in the general education classroom setting. He then returned to UW where he earned his Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies.
Please arrive for this meeting at 9:00 a.m. sharp.
Become a School Board Director
Are you interested in student, staff and community well-being? Consider a candidacy for becoming a school board director.
The Bellevue School Board of Directors is made up of five community members, one from each geographic region of the district. Districts 1,2 and 4 are open for election in 2023.
Candidates who are interested in running for a school board position must file a Declaration of Candidacy with the King County Elections office during the filing period. The filing period begins the Monday two weeks before Memorial Day and ends the following Friday. There is no filing fee for school board positions. For step-by-step instructions, please refer to King County’s Candidate Manual.
IMPORTANT: The State of Washington requires all candidates and elected officials to a file a financial disclosure statement and report all campaign finances to the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC).
Qualifications and additional resources can be found on the district’s Become a Board Member webpage.
Hear from Board President, Sima Sarrafan.
Bellevue SchoolPool Challenge May 1-5
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.
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.
Updated Schedule: Change in Quarantine Notifications for Spam and Phishing Emails
On Tuesday, April 4, the Technology Services Department sent a message about switching email spam and phishing filters from a two-step process through Barracuda and Office 365, to a direct process using only Office 365. Technology Services postponed the effective date for this change from Tuesday, April 11, to Monday, April 24. This gives BSD staff more time to learn about the changes, its impact, and tools for adapting to the changes. Review the full message and how-to resources:
Thank you for your continued assistance with protecting BSD’s data, critical information and technology systems.
Got questions? Please contact the Service Center at help@bsd405.org or x4321.
ImPACT Test Dates for the BHS Fall Sports Season 2023/24, calling all athletes participating in BHS Fall Sports
No registration needed, just show up – the impact test takes approximately 30 – 45 minutes.
ImPACT Testing will begin at 2:00pm
- May 3rd and May 10th – Football Team impact testing in the Lower AUX Gym
- May 17th – Girls Soccer Team impact testing in Room 1113, the History Hallway
- May 24th the Volleyball Team – Room 1113, the History Hallway
- May 31st – Boy’s Water Polo Team – Room 1113, the History Hallway
- June 14th – ImPACT testing – Room 1113, the History Hallway
Students need to bring their fully charged laptop to take the ImPACT test for the May & June test dates.
- July 5, July 12, July 19 and July 26 – BHS Fall Athletes ImPACT testing – Room 0108 (basement) **no laptop needed.
- August 15th – Football Team – Room 0108 (basement) **no laptop needed.
- August 17th for Fall sports Teams – Room 0108 (basement) **no laptop needed.
Impact testing is required for Football, Soccer, Divers, Volleyball, Water Polo prior to participating.
Please contact Kelli Mayer, BHS Athletics & Activities at mayerk@bsd405.org if you have any questions.
In Case You Missed It
Opportunities for Service
Join Camp Kindness Counts to take part in service projects every month. Visit Camp Kindness Counts to learn more.
Stay Healthy
We strongly recommend you and your student to stay home if you are having cold-like symptoms. Please visit: https://bsd405.org/services/health/too-sick-for-school/. Giving a fever reducing medication just before returning to school does not make a student well. It may only mask the fever until the medication wears off. In this situation, a student needs to be home so others are not exposed to illness.
What are the fever reducing medications? Acetaminophen (Tylenol), Iburpofen, Aspirin, Naproxen, Dayquil, Nyquil
What to do if you have COVID-19 symptoms: https://doh.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2023-02/420456-COVID19DecisionTrees.pdf
If you have one or more of these new, changed, or worsening symptoms: Fever (≥100.4°F) or chills, Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, Muscle or body aches, Loss of taste or smell, Congestion or runny nose, Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, Headache, Fatigue, Sore throat, Cough.
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 phamn@bsd405.org
Sex-based Discrimination, including Sexual Harassment: Title IX Coordinator: Jeff Lowell, (425) 456-4010 or lowellj@bsd405.org
Disability Discrimination: Section 504/ADA Coordinator: Heather Edlund, (425) 456-4156 or edlundh@bsd405.org
Mailing address for all three: 12111 NE 1st Street, Bellevue, WA 98005.