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Important Dates
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Greetings Chinook Middle School Community,
As we navigate our increasingly digital world, it’s crucial for us, especially as parents, to understand the impact of constant texting on our students’ concentration and mental well-being. At Chinook Middle School, we value a learning environment that minimizes distractions and promotes independence. To this end: Minimize Distractions: We’ve noticed that texts from parents, even with the best intentions, can significantly distract our students. Please limit communication during school hours. Per BSD Policy, students are only allowed to use their devices before school, during lunch, and after school. Foster Independence: Encouraging your child to solve problems on their own is a valuable skill. Let’s give them space to grow. For further insights, I recommend reading Why you should stop texting your kids at school by Jocelyn Gecker, Education Writer, which discusses the broader implications of this issue. Let’s work together to ensure our students have the best possible environment for learning and growth. In Partnership, James Peterson Principal |
Course Selection for 2024-2025 Due
Last chance to select courses for next year.
See our Registration Hub for more information.
ROCKStore Donations Request
As part of our school’s Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (PBIS) system, students schoolwide earn Behavior Points which can be redeemed at our ROCKStore. ROCKS stands for:
- R- Respect
- O- Ownership
- C- Compassion
- K- Kindness
- S- Scholarship
We are looking for community donations to spice up our prizes/awards. We are looking for things like:
- Fun school supplies
- Board games
- Movie tickets
- Museum passes
- Cooking lessons
- Escape rooms
- Game and event tickets
- Museum of Flight
- Zip Lining
- Gift cards
Please contact [email protected] Thank you!
Life Threatening Allergies
Within our school community there are students who have a life-threatening allergic reaction (anaphylaxis). Some common life-threatening allergens are foods such as peanuts, tree nuts (e.g., almond, cashew, hazelnuts, pistachio), eggs, and fish, bee or other insect stings, latex, lilies, and some medications. We have a comprehensive Procedure for Anaphylaxis Prevention and Response. While it is not possible to achieve a completely allergen-free environment, Chinook takes reasonable measures to reduce the risk of exposure to allergens for all students, particularly students with potentially life-threatening allergies. This includes:
- Fully implementing Individual Health Plans for students.
- Annual staff training to reduce the risk of exposure to allergens, and to respond appropriately if a
- student exhibits symptom of anaphylaxis.
- Available allergen aware and peanut/tree nut free areas in the cafeteria.
- Latex balloons are not permitted at school.
We also ask for your support in limiting the allergens that are brought to school. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Panorama SEL Survey
On April 16, during Advisory, students will be invited to participate in the Panorama survey. The invaluable data collected will serve as a foundation for refining our educational practices and pinpointing areas of strength and growth as perceived by students themselves. Rest assured, all student data from this survey, like any other screeners or assessments, will be treated with utmost confidentiality and security.
Read the full family letter here.
In Case You Missed It
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.
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!
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!
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.