Dear Newport Heights Families, 

We are very excited to be ready to welcome you all!  We are just a few days away from the first day of school!  This newsletter is filled with many “nuts and bolts” details about school:  school supplies, the school day schedule, meals – lunch, arrival and dismissal routines, transportation, and preschool specific information.  Lastly, we want to put a date on your calendar – Curriculum Night.  Curriculum Night is an opportunity for parents/guardians to learn about their child(ren)’s classroom and learn more about the school – our hopes and goals for the upcoming year.  Curriculum Night is scheduled for Wednesday, October 4.  While we are still working on the exact schedule, anticipate that it will be an afternoon or evening event. Information with the time and details for Curriculum Night will be coming out soon. 

Upcoming Key Dates 

September 5th – First Day of School Grades 1-5 

September 8th – First Day of School – Kindergarten 

September 11th – First Day of School – Preschool 

October 4th – Curriculum Night  

  

School Supplies 

We recognize children often like to bring their own supplies to supplement what we provide at school. Items you may choose to send with your child will be shared with the rest of the class and help us stretch school resources further. Thank you in advance for sending any or all of these suggested supplies to school. Your contributions promote all children’s academic success. 

***Donations are not required and are completely optional. You may drop your donations, in a bag labeled by teacher name, to the PTA room (room 1142). Please do not drop off until the second week of school. 😊 Thank you!!!*** 

If possible, each student will need to have a backpack to carry items to and from school in.  Additionally, students may like having a water bottle at school (we have water bottle fillers around the school) and a lunch box if they are bringing lunch to and from school.  If your family needs assistance in getting a backpack or any other school related items (clothes, shoes, etc.), please reach out to our Family Engagement Specialist, Ana Lewis, [email protected], and she will be able to share information about resources with you. 

  

School Schedule 

Newport Heights Elementary School may arrive at 7:45 and doors open to students at 7:50 AM. 

• Kindergarten and 5th grade students will wait for the doors to open at the “Music Entrance”:
  

       When doors open, students will report to their classrooms. 

• First, Second, Third and Fourth Grade students will wait for doors to open at the “Forest Entrance”  

      When doors open, students may report to their classrooms. 

• Families who want to walk with their child(ren) may wait in these locations with their children, and should say their goodbyes at the school entrance. 
• If families have a need to enter the school, they must enter through the main office and sign in using the district’s “Lobby Guard” sign in system. 

 

A warning bell rings at 7:50 to alert students that school will start in 10 minutes.  Students are expected to be in their classrooms, ready to learn by 8 AM. 

School begins at 8:00 AM.  Students arriving at 8 AM will need to pick up a note in the main office as teachers take attendance promptly at 8 AM.* 

Students in grades K-5 have a 15 minute morning recess, a 25 minute lunch, and a 20 minute recess following lunch. 

We utilize a staggered dismissal to help ease crowding.  At the end of the day, teachers walk their classes to the front of the school to ensure students are out of the building at 2:30 PM on M, T, Th, F.  Teachers support students in reaching the correct bus and also help students reunite with parents at parent pick-up. 

Buses leave promptly at 2:35 PM on M, T, Th, F 

We ask parents/guardians to make certain your child knows the way they are going home. We understand occasionally plans change throughout the day and ask you to notify the office as soon as possible. It is a challenge to reach students to notify changes after dismissal. 

*The only unlocked doors after 8 AM are the front doors which allow entry into the main office. 

School lets out at 12:15pm on Wednesdays. Buses will leave promptly at 12:20pm 

Preschool teachers will provide specific information to their families about arrival and dismissal procedures. 

2023-24 Bell Schedule 

Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri Bell Schedule 

School begins at 8:00 am and dismisses at 2:30 pm 

Doors open at 7:50 

 

Staggered Dismissal

Parent / Car Pick Up  2:25

After School Care  2:25

Bus/Walkers  2:30

  

Grade	Recess	Lunch	Recess
Pre-School		11:05-11:30	N/A
Kindergarten	9:00-9:15	11:00-11:25	11:25-11:50
1st Grade	9:00-9:15	11:35-12:00	12:00-12:25
2nd Grade	9:20-9:35	12:05-12:30	12:30-12:55
3rd Grade	9:20-9:35	11:00-11:25	11:25-11:50
4th Grade	9:35-9:50	12:05-12:30	12:30-12:55
5th Grade	9:35-9:50	11:35-12:00	12:00-12:25

  

Wednesday Schedule 

School Begins at 8:00 and dismisses at 12:15 

Doors open at 7:50 

Staggered Dismissal

Parent / Car Pick Up  12:10

After School Care  12:10

Bus/Walkers  12:15

  

Grade	Lunch	Recess
Pre-School	10:15-10:40
Kindergarten	10:10-10:35	10:35-11:00
1st Grade	10:40-11:05	11:05-11:30
2nd Grade	11:10-11:35	11:35-12:00
3rd Grade	10:10-10:35	10:35-11:00
4th Grade	11:10-11:35	11:35-12:00
5th Grade	10:40-11:05	11:05-11:30

 

Lunch 

Lunch is available to all students.  For general information about lunch at all Bellevue School District schools, use this link:  https://bsd405.org/services/nutrition-services/ 

If you are looking for elementary school lunch menus, those can be accessed directly at: https://bsd405.org/services/nutrition-services/lunch/ 

 To purchase a meal, every student uses their student ID number to charge their account.  Families can add money to their account by bringing a cash or check to the main office at Newport Heights Elementary or they can use the online PayPams system.  Information on using the PayPams system can be found at: 

https://bsd405.org/services/nutrition-services/pay-for-meals/ 

If you are interested in Free/Reduced price meals, information on income qualification along with the online application can be found at: 

https://bsd405.org/services/nutrition-services/free-reduced/ 

  

Meal Prices 

Elementary (Preschool, Grade K-5) 

• Lunch – $3.75 

 

Milk only 

• $.50 

  

Bus Information 

If you reside outside the walking perimeter and require transportation, you will be notified by the Transportation Department prior to the start of the school year. You will be told your designated pick-up and drop-off point and time. Transportation will also send you information regarding policies and procedures for bus riders. We expect all Newport Heights students to follow Newport Heights rules and expectations, whether on campus, in the classroom, on a field trip, on the bus, or waiting for the bus. If you are in doubt about whether your student may ride the bus, please call Transportation at (425)456-4512. 

Transportation Considerations 

We encourage you to have your child ride the bus or walk to school with a group of other children. You can also carpool with neighbors. Traffic around Newport Heights can be congested during pick-up and drop-off times. Fewer vehicles make the transition easier for everyone! 

Below is the traffic map for Newport Heights Elementary. Following the map are specific guidelines for parent drop off and pick up. 

 

Student Drop Off and Pick Up 

If you need to drive to school to drop your child(ren) off, please follow these guidelines: 

• Use the designated drop-off/pick-up lane when dropping off/picking up children curbside.  Children should exit the car curbside as cars continue to move in the left hand lane. 
• When using the drop off / pick-up lane: 

• Pull as far forward as possible in the rear drop-off/pick-up lane.  Drop off/pick up your child(ren) on the curbside and pull back into the left lane to exit. 
• Remain in your car at all time, and refrain from using your cellular telephone at this time. 
• If your child needs help in unbuckling a carseat, please park your car in a parking space as adults should not be exiting vehicles in the pick-up/drop-off line. 

• Please keep the line moving!  If you need to talk with another parent or a teacher, park your vehicle in a parking space. 

• If you choose to park your car, park only in designated parking spaces. DO NOT PARK IN OR BLOCK THE DROP OFF/PICK UP LANE. 
• Have patience!  Plan for a few extra minutes in your morning or afternoon routine if you drop your child(ren) off or pick them up. 

If you have someone new picking your child up, please take a moment to share with them how the drop off/pick up lane work and give them the car tag which you received, and please make sure they are one of your student’s emergency contacts. 

 Preschool Updates 

With preschool’s first day on Monday, September 11th, more detailed information about preschool including teacher assignments, sign in/out procedures, daily schedule, snacks and lunch, and more will be sent to families once teacher assignments are completed.  

 

 

It was such a pleasure to see so many Newport Heights Families at our Meet & Greet!  The excitement and anticipation for the start of the 2023-24 school year is in the air, and we cannot wait to see all of our students and families at Newport Heights! 

In partnership, 

Brenda Naish  Acting Principal, Newport Heights

Alison Hook  Assistant Principal, Newport Heights