Topics:
Important Dates
|
Greetings Chinook Middle School Community,
I hope this message finds you well and that you had a chance to enjoy the lovely weather over the weekend. Contrastingly, this past Tuesday, during our evacuation drill, we experienced much colder temperatures and we were all glad to get back inside as soon as possible. It’s amazing how quickly the weather can change, reminding us to appreciate and make the most of the sunny days when we have them! In Partnership, James Peterson Principal |
Course Selection for 2024-2025 Due
Current 6th and 7th grade students have received course selection information and request for next year’s courses are due now.
See our Registration Hub for more information.
Cell Phones- Away for the Day
Research shows that access to cell phones at school has a negative academic and social impact on students. When students do not have the freedom of accessing their phones during school hours, they are more engaged socially and academically.
Per BSD Policy, Telecommunication devices will be turned on and operated only before and after the regular school day and during the student’s lunch break, unless an emergency situation exists that involves imminent physical danger.
This means, students may use cell phones only:
- Before school in the Commons until 7:40 a.m.
- During Lunch in the Commons
- After school to communicate about after school plans.
Parents/guardians that need to send an emergency message to their students may contact the Chinook office at 425-456-6600.
Students are expected to Keep cell phones, earbuds, and electronics powered off and out of sight or in designated area (per each teacher’s expectations). Classrooms have pocket charts behind teacher desks for students to store cell phones during instructional time.
The following process will be followed when students violate these expectations.
- Step 1: Device held in main office until after school, picked up by student.
- Step 2: Device held in main office until after school, and parent/guardian contacted.
- Step 3: Device held in main office until after school, and parent/guardian is contacted. Conference with administration and one week with device left at home or kept in office during school hours.
8th grade Promotion
Save the Date: June 17 at 12:30 PM. Date subject to change in event of emergency closure that extends school year.
I-Connect: A town How Meeting with Chinook Administrators
When: Tuesday, March 19, 8:30am-9:45am
Guest Speakers:
- Rachel Belcastro, Assistant Principal
- Susie Q Challancin, Dean of Students & Admin. Intern
Come join Rachel and Susie at the 6th I-Connect meeting of the year in the Library at Chinook Middle School to build community, discuss important issues, and share feedback about your and your teen’s experience at Chinook.
All parents and guardians are invited to attend.
The meeting will begin promptly at 8:30 a.m. Please arrive a few minutes early to sign in. Coffee and tea and light breakfast 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])
——————————————————————————————————————-
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
8th Grade Blue and Gold Bash
Calling all 8th grade caregivers!! The PTSA is hosting the 8th grade end of the year party! Mark your calendars for June 14th starting at 6pm. We hope to celebrate our students with a night to remember. Please visit our website page for more information as well as donation asks. While we have a budget from the PTSA, we’d like to raise more funds to make sure all our students have a great time. If you have any questions, please reach out to Danielle or Kim at [email protected]
Staff Appreciation: INTERNATIONAL LUNCHEON!!!
Join us on April 2nd in celebrating our amazing teachers and staff by donating a meal to our fan favorite International Luncheon! Teachers and staff have voted this their favorite event every year! Have a special dish you make for your family that represents your culture? Bring it in! Love making a sweet dessert? Bring it in! Love food but hate cooking….no problem…buy it at the store, heat it up at home and drop it off…we’ll never know it wasn’t homemade! Sign up here to support our teachers and staff!!!
Chinook/Mariners Day
Enjoy a day at the ballpark with your Chinook community! May 31st join us in cheering on the Mariners vs. the LA Angels at our Chinook/Mariners Family night!!! We are very excited to have our families all gathered together and enjoy a night game for what looks to be an exciting season for the Mariners!
Tickets are only $18…please contact Debbie at [email protected] for more information!
PTSA Needs
Our PTSA is already planning for the next year and need some community support. We have a few roles we are looking to fill next. Our priorities our filling the roles of a Co-Treasurer and Vice President. Those are the main needs we have right now for next year. We also have fun chair positions like Staff Appreciation Chair and Social Chair. Please consider reaching out to Debbie at [email protected] for more information!!!!
New BSD Website Project Update
Work on the new BSD websites has been ongoing for almost one year, with the Listen and Learn project phase beginning in March 2023. Today, the project continues in the development portion of the Design and Development phase.
As noted in the project update in December, the project team has been focused on the website audit, content migration and training in the new platform. To allow more time to complete this part of the work, the Design and Development project phase will continue through summer 2024, with the new websites launching at that time. Several other aspects of the project will also take place during this time, specifically content and webpage optimization and broad staff training.
Coming soon will be the Launch and Promotion phase, in which the BSD community will learn:
- How BSD’s websites have changed
- Where to find important information on the new websites
- How to use the new and innovative features across websites
- g., navigation menus, site search, and language and accessibility tools
- Where to share feedback and submit website enhancement requests
- And more!
10 More Days to Reserve Your Seat: Spring for Schools on March 30
Bellevue Schools Foundation is hosting its annual Spring for Schools fundraiser on Saturday, March 30, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Meydenbauer Center. This year’s event is themed as a garden party, centering attendees around the Foundation’s goal to cultivate innovation in each of the District’s 28 schools. “Spring for Schools uniquely offers guests the chance to engage directly with the educators and students who benefit from the Foundation’s funding. Attendees have a chance to learn about the breadth and depth of the support BSF provides throughout the year to all 28 schools and connect with other attendees who are inspired and motivated to make a philanthropic impact in the education sector,” shares the Foundation’s Executive Director, Juliet Buder. BSF is hoping to raise $500,000 from Spring for Schools to fund essential District programs including Mental Health, Computer Science, Early Learning, Fentanyl Prevention, and Arts, Enrichment, and Innovation classroom grants.
Join the Foundation, district teachers, Superintendent Aramaki, and your fellow community members for one of the most inspiring and impactful evenings in Bellevue!
In Case You Missed It
Too Sick for School?
Spring has sprung! Please continue to be mindful that if you are sick, regardless of COVID status, stay home until you are better. https://bsd405.org/services/health/too-sick-for-school/
As of 3/5/24, the King County Department of Health (KCDOH) has not changed their requirements for when testing for COVID-19. Per the WADOH Guidance to Prevent and Respond to COVID-19 in Schools and Child Cares, Bellevue School District will continue to require those who have tested positive for COVID-19 to isolate for 5 days.
On March 1st, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released updated recommendations for how people can protect themselves and their communities from all respiratory viruses, including staying up-to-date with vaccinations, practicing good hygiene, and taking steps for cleaner air.
Recycling and Composting Reboot!
City of Bellevue and Bellevue School District are working together to reboot the cafeteria recycling and composting! Compostable items for the green containers include birch utensils, food scraps, non shiny paper products, paper boats, pizza boxes, napkins and paper towels. Items are sent to a local composting facility and turned into soil in just 8 weeks! Recyclable items for blue containers include: empty milk cartons, bottles, cans and cups. Remember to throw away plastic bags, Styrofoam soup containers, foil, candy wrappers, potato chip and snack bags.
Thank you for making a positive impact and reducing waste!
Jubilee Spring Sports Registration
- Sports Offered: Girls Golf, Boys Basketball & Girls Soccer (Jubilee REACH)
- Registration Period: Girls Golf: March 11th – 20th // Boys Basketball & Girls Soccer: March 18th – 29th
- Season Length: Girls Golf: March 26th – May 16th // Boys Basketball & Girls Soccer: April 15th – May 31st below!
Information About Language Placement Tests for 2024-2025 School Year
For information about finding the right class for middle school Arabic, Chinese, Hindi and Korean, visit the Information about Language Placement Tests for 2024-25 School Year webpage. There are different formats/sites for each of the languages. The sites are intended for students who already have a little or a lot of the language.