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Important Dates
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Greetings Chinook Middle School Community,
As we approach mid-winter break, I want to express gratitude for all of the support we receive; Chinook is an amazing community! When we return, students will begin planning for next year’s classes. It’s an exciting opportunity for them to explore new interests and set goals for the future. Thank you for your continued support. Let’s make the most of our break and return ready for the journey ahead. Reminder- there is no school next week as we are closed for Mid-Winter Break. The next Chinook Community Newsletter will be February 26. In Partnership, James Peterson Principal |
Course Selection for 2024-2025
Current 6th and 7th grade students will receive course selection information Feb. 26- March 1in Social Studies classes.
Current 8th grade students will receive course selection information on March 4 in Social Studies classes
More information coming soon.
Multi-Language Principal Coffee
Tuesday, February 27
8:15am-9:00am in the Chinook Library.
Guest Speaker: BSD Safety and Security Department
Topics:
- Best practices to be safe online and protect students from extortion and harassment.
- Strategies for promoting digital safety and responsible online behavior among students.
I-Connect
Thursday, February 29, 2024
6:30pm-7:45pm
Topic: Fentanyl in Our Community
Guest Speaker: BSD Health Services
Come join BSD Health Services in the Library at Chinook Middle School as we learn about the drug fentanyl in our community. All parents and guardians, as well as middle school students, are invited to attend.
- King County has seen over 1,000 fatal fentanyl overdoses in 2023, surpassing a record set last year by an astounding 47%.
- In Bellevue, fake prescription drugs and vaping pens have been found to be laced with fentanyl, and some BSD students have been hurt.
- One can buy illicit fentanyl in WA on the streets or online for anywhere from 50 cents to 5 dollars a pill.
We will discuss:
- What an opioid is, and what it does
- What fentanyl is, and what we are seeing in the community
- What the signs of drug use/abuse are
- How to recognize an overdose, and how to respond to save a life
- Why teens take risks, and how to talk with your child about fentanyl
Bring your own questions for the audience Q&A portion of the program!
The meeting will begin promptly at 6:30pm. Please arrive a few minutes early to sign in. Coffee and tea and light snacks will be served.
I-Connect meetings are informative monthly gatherings that provide an opportunity for parents and guardians to network with others in our school community. Chinook PTSA proudly sponsors this program.
Chinook I-Connect Co-Chairs 2023-2024: Stephanie Hsu & Michelle Pflaum ([email protected])
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What is Chinook I-Connect? Chinook I-Connect is an award-winning PTSA program that connects new and existing parents/guardians to build relationships, foster participation, and strengthen our school community. With this in mind, I-Connect puts together informal, monthly meetings that focus on topics that are relevant to the middle school parent community, such as education, parenting, diversity, and community. We believe that by meeting face-to-face, sharing our experiences and thoughts, and giving each other tips and advice, we will strengthen and enhance our Chinook family. More info: http://www.chinookptsa.org/i-connect.html
Chinook is Hiring
Chinook is hiring for a General School Assistant position to support our Career and Technical Education Department. The position is 34 hours per week. Learn more and apply here: Bellevue School District – General School Assistant – CTE (Temporary) 2023-24 Chinook Middle School (tedk12.com)
Community Awareness – Rise in Cyber Kidnapping Schemes
Cyber kidnappings aim to get an individual to believe that a loved one has been kidnapped, are in immediate danger and a ransom must be paid. These schemes often involve the use of technology such as artificial intelligence voice spoofing, caller ID spoofing, and social media activity to convince unsuspecting victims to pay money. Click the links below for guidance and tips for Safety from the Bellevue School District Safety and Security Department.
Community Awareness – Rise in Cyber Kidnapping Schemes – Bellevue School District (bsd405.org)
Safety & Security – Bellevue School District (bsd405.org)
Free Cooking Classes
Newport FCCLA is holding three fun cooking classes for young chefs grades 3-8! Enjoy a night out while your kids have a blast in our cooking classes! Young chefs attending our class on Friday February 9th will learn basic knife skills and food safety while make delicious spring rolls with fried rice. Dinner will be provided, and they will get to enjoy custom sundaes for dessert! Those attending our yakisoba with miso soup class on February 13th will learn how to make tasty stir fried noodles with a warm hearty soup. In addition to enjoying their fabulous Japanese meal and learning even more advanced knife skills, the young chefs will get to enjoy a special dessert prepared by one of our fabulous club members. On Thursday February 15, kids will get a chance to learn pan frying skills and expand on their knife skills through cooking an amazing breakfast for dinner combo! Classes are $75 separately but are $70 each if parents sign up for more than one class or if there are multiple siblings signing up! We can’t wait to see you there and cook some amazing meals!!!
Please complete the following Microsoft Form to complete registration for your student!
https://forms.office.com/r/V05TddVcuT
Pay online through www.bsd405.org/pay under “FCCLA” in the search bar. If you have any questions, feel free to contact our club advisor Dalanie Church at [email protected].
Information Event: Real Madrid Foundation Summer Camp
The USA Real Madrid Foundation Project Manager, Marcos Lerma, will host an Information Event at Highland Middle School on February 14 from 6:00 to 7:15 p.m. to meet with all the families who would like to learn more about the Real Madrid Foundation Summer Camp, to be held July 15-19 at Highland Middle School. They still have around 50 more applications available. Mr. Lerma will be selecting an attendee to give a FREE full uniform. Don’t miss it!
In Case You Missed It
Cultural Diversity Celebration
March 8th, 6pm-8pm at Chinook
Join us on March 8th as we celebrate Chinook’s multicultural community! The PTSA is excited to bring back a favorite family event to Chinook. We will have games, sampling of foods and community performances!
We would love to have families host a table that celebrates you and your cultural heritage.
By hosting a table, you’ll be able to create a display that shares with the community holidays, traditions, geographical wonders and historical facts about your ancestral country. Each table can be decorated with tapestries, flags, arts and crafts. There’s no faster way to learn about your culture than sharing the experience of food with another. Create a dish to share with others that is a favorite or one that truly represents your culture! To make this celebration more festive, we would love to have the students sign up for a performance. Whether it’s a traditional group dance, a musical performance or a piece of art….we’d love to see the kids perform and share something that represents them! Please contact our Cultural Chair, Anh at [email protected] with any questions!
Please register for a table or a performance below!
Registration: Cultural Diversity Celebration
Black History Month
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.
English Class for BSD Parents, February 13th 6:00pm at Chinook Middle School
Open to all BSD parents, this weekly Tuesday meeting will assist families in navigating BSD, building community and engagement while also assisting caregivers in developing their English skills. Taught by a trained ESL educator, we are hoping to engage our families to better connect with our community!!! Childcare will be provided for children 5 and up.
Please contact Ashley with any questions at [email protected]
To register: please sign up here.
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.
February Celebrates Career and Technical Education
Each February, the achievements and value of Career and Technical Education (CTE) in schools is acknowledged during National CTE Month. CTE provides BSD students the opportunity to engage in career-connected learning through a wide variety of programs. Students participate in authentic, meaningful experiences that connect their learning to real world applications. The 2023-2024 Career Pathways Catalog identifies ten different career pathways students can explore. Follow along on BSD social media (Facebook and Instagram) as we spotlight CTE in BSD throughout the month of February.
Arabic Language Evening – Join Us on February 28
Middle and high school students and families are invited to learn about our 2024-25 online class offerings.
Ahlan wa Sahlan!
Please attend our Arabic language evening on Wednesday, February 28, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Sammamish High School Library. Learn more about our Arabic language classes held online for middle and high school students, meet our teacher, Manar Chaaban, and meet current students and families.
Participate in activities like tatreez (embroidery) and dabkeh (folkloric dance), and enjoy food and art demonstrations. Come in your best Arabic cultural outfit (Thobe or Abaya) to enter a friendly fashion competition. Baklawa, Maamool (date cookies) and Moroccan Mint tea will be provided.
BSD secondary students who choose to enroll in Arabic language classes will attend class online through Bellevue Digital Discovery during their regular school day at their home school.
If possible, please let us know if you plan to attend through this online form.
Questions? Please email [email protected].
New Affordable Housing in Bellevue
Polaris at Eastgate, located at 13300 SE Eastgate Way, is a brand-new community in the heart of Bellevue that is available to qualifying families. In the spring of 2024, there will be 360 available units, and they will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. Interested families can learn about the documentation requirements to qualify. For assistance with the application, contact Bellevue LifeSpring. For more information on qualifications, call 425-946-2562 or email [email protected].