Somerset’s April Principal communication
Somerset Families,
April is here and surprisingly snow was falling outside my window for several hours today. I look forward to the warmer spring days and colorful flowers. In the fall of 2019, every Somerset student planted a daffodil bulb in the landscaping beds near the flagpole with anticipation of watching them bloom in the spring. Due to Covid and the school closures of 2020, we were not at school to watch the daffodils bloom that spring. Daffodils are hardy perennials that come back year after year, spreading and often naturalizing. Although we didn’t get to watch their first blooming season, it is a welcome sign each year when they return and share the promise of spring.
Next week (April 10-14) is spring break which means there is no school for students and staff.
There are only 9 weeks of school remaining when we return and our students in 3rd-5th grade will be taking the Smarter Balanced Assessments (SBA) in English Language Arts and math. Fifth grade students have an additional science assessment. State testing does not need to be stressful – it can be seen as an opportunity to show how much our students grow each year! And our students know so much! You can encourage your child and decrease their stress by talking together about how much they have learned and grown this year.
School Enrollment for the 2023-2024 school year is open for new to BSD students and incoming kindergarteners. If you have a friend or a new neighbor, please encourage them to go to the district website and enroll as early as possible. This is very important as enrollment determines our teacher allocation and the specific number of classrooms needed for each grade. Students already enrolled in a BSD school do not need to do anything, they are automatically rolled up into the next grade.
Our Somerset office will be sending a Forms survey for all current families to complete with your intention for next fall to help us plan. If your family is moving out over the summer and leaving our school, it is helpful for us to know prior to creating classroom assignments.
Happy Spring! I hope your family has time during spring break to get outside, explore new places, read some great adventures, and make positive memories.
In Partnership,
Somerset Principal
Cathy Elder
Somerset Elementary Information
PTSA Partnership
Hygiene Drive Thank you: Thank you for partnering with us on your Spring Collection Drive! We collected 3,413 hygiene items from our generous Somerset community. On Friday, student council members stayed after school to sort and count all of the items brought in during the two week drive. On Saturday afternoon, 13 Somerset families assembled 240 hygiene kits. Our PTSA will be donating these kits plus the remaining items not put into kits on Tuesday morning to KidVantage.
We are still looking for volunteers and leads to support the execution of two popular upcoming Spring events.
Egg Drop is a popular event traditionally held during lunch recess in the spring. Students in grades k-5 create a capsule to protect their egg from breaking when dropped from the bucket of a logging truck. Students use their best design skills following the constraints of the rules. This is a popular event that takes volunteers to coordinate and lead.
Color Run Spring Fundraiser (1 additional chair & multiple committee members needed): Help to organize our spring fundraiser in May 2023 – the family Rainbow Run/Walk! All Somerset families will be invited to join us for this event, as we raise money for our students and their Curriculum Enhancement, Programs, school grants, etc.
Kids Heart Challenge This was Somerset’s first year to partner with the American Heart Association through our PE content to promote heart health and fight against heart disease and stroke. I love and appreciate the support students had for this challenge. Heart disease is a personal fight for me. My dad was only 52-year-old when he suffered a massive heart attack that took his life. He was much too young; I was much too young! I appreciate the efforts the KIDS Heart Challenge brings to awareness and support. We had 179 students register for the challenge and our school raised over $9,000.00 surpassing our goal of $5000. My hope is the lessons the students learned will help them live healthier, longer lives.
Student Council Spirit Day- “Green Earth Day” on Friday, April 21 Somerset Student Council wants to promote Earth Day through our next monthly school spirit day. Somerset students are encouraged to wear green on Friday, April 21st!
Rocket Run: Birthday Fun Run with the Principals Every month Mr. Moe-Lobeda and I will host a Birthday Fun Run for all students who have a birthday in that month. Students will come out to the field and run one lap around the field and have a picture taken with the birthday club members of that month. Students are encouraged to wear their Somerset Shines t-shirt on their Fun Run Day!
| April 19 |
| May 10 |
| June 14 (June& July) |
April Safety Drill:
Washington state law and Bellevue School District policy require all schools to hold at least one drill per calendar month while school is in session. This month, we will be conducting a fire drill and practicing evacuating the building and accounting for everyone. During a fire evacuation, students are taught to quickly and quietly exit the building. They meet on the field at an assigned location and stay silent while attendance is taken to ensure all people have safely evacuated.
Please talk with your student about preparing for emergencies and disasters such as fires. Encourage them to talk about their concerns and express their feelings. Emphasize that even though sometimes things happen that we may not expect, there are lots of things we can do to help us stay safe.
For more information on fire safety, you might want to visit the National Fire Protection Association “Kids” page at http://www.sparky.org/ or their parent resource page at http://www.sparky.org/parents.
Please let us know if you have any questions.
UPCOMING IMPORTANT DATES
April 10-14: Spring Break, no school for students
April 19: Birthday Rocket Run with principals
For more information and important dates please follow this link to our Somerset PTSA: Link to Somerset PTSA