Somerset’s February Principal Communication
Greetings Somerset Families!
As we begin February, I would like to wish a very happy and prosperous Lunar New Year. Many of our students are excited for the traditions, special time with family, and foods associated with their upcoming celebrations.
Snow Make-up Day:
The district will use Friday, March 22, 2024, to make up the day missed on January 17 due to the emergency snow closure. Students should plan to attend on this Friday as a normal school day on regular schedule.
Student Showcase
I hope you plan to attend and support our students and PTSA tomorrow at the Student Showcase. Members of our PTSA have been working very hard to create this special opportunity to connect, showcase student talents, and highlight the many programs PTSA sponsored programs. The event is free and open to all families. There will be a special auction for t-shirts designed by students in our Somerset classes. Funds raised will support the ongoing curriculum enhancements and activities PTSA provides our Somerset students.
Progress Reports
Progress reports provide communication between teacher and family on how individual students are progressing in their grade level standards. The progress reports are visible in ParentVUE on February 9th after 12:00 pm. Read below for more details on how to access the report.
I’m excited to share that Spring for Schools 2024 registration is live! You are invited to attend Bellevue Schools Foundation’s annual event on Saturday, March 30 at 5:00 p.m., and I truly hope to see you there! Bellevue Schools Foundation is a community partner supporting ALL students in the Bellevue School District, including Somerset! Details to links and more information below.
In Partnership,
Cathy Elder
For safety, drive with patience and caution in school zones. Follow speed limit signs, respect no u-turns, and abide by pedestrian laws. School crossing guards are there to guide, please respect their directions.
Somerset Elementary Information
Progress Reports
You will have access to view your child’s progress report on Parent VUE. They will be made available starting on Friday, February 9th after 12 pm. Please be patient if you don’t immediately see it. Our district works hard to upload them in a timely manner. Progress reports will not be emailed or printed. Please contact your child’s teacher if you are having trouble accessing Parent VUE and they can work with you to provide support. You will need to visit https://bsd405.org/departments/district-technology/grades-attendance/ to log into Parent VUE and/or find details on how to activate and set up your account if you have not done so already.
Valentine Celebrations-Individual Valentine cards, no food items.
Classroom teachers or room parents will provide information related to classroom celebrations. If students are in a class that is distributing “valentines” please make sure that they do not include any food treats. Many pre-packaged boxed valentines at our local retail stores have a card and an extra item. Items such as stickers, erasers, or other non-food items are fine. We do not distribute candy, chocolates, or small sugary candies in this valentine distribution to ensure the safety of children who may have food allergies and sensitivies. Please reference communication from your child’s teacher for further details.
Student Council February Spirit Day-
Student council’s spirit day for this month is “Duplicate Day.” It’s set for Friday, February 16th. This is the last day before Mid-Winter Break. Students are invited to dress like a friend, or friends, from their class. Many classes will have a pre-established “class duplicate” uniform that all students can wear in case to ensure they feel included. This could be as simple as a certain colored t-shirt.
February 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.
As we review already practiced drills, some students will evacuate from the café after eating their lunch. This is often one of the “what if”questions students ask. What if I am in the bathroom, what if we are at recess, what if we are in the café?
Rocket Run: Birthday Fun Run with the Principals
Every month Mr. Moe-Lobeda, Ms. Yen and I host a Birthday Fun Run for all students who have a birthday in that month. Students 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 Speaks t-shirt on their Fun Run Day!
| February 14 * |
| Mar 13 |
| April 17 |
| May 8 |
| June 12 (June & July) |
Changes to Somerset Bus Route 39
| Bus_Stop_Desc | AM RT | AM TIME | PM RT | PM TIME | WED RT | WED TIME |
| 13915 SE 42ND PL(ELIGIBILE RIDERS ONLY) | 23 | 08:41 AM | 39 | 03:45 PM | 39 | 01:30 PM |
| SE 42ND ST & 134TH AV SE | 39 | 08:35 AM | 39 | 03:59 PM | 39 | 01:44 PM |
| 130TH AV SE & 129TH PL SE | 39 | 08:37 AM | 39 | 03:55 PM | 39 | 01:40 PM |
| 130TH AV SE & SE 46TH ST | 39 | 08:38 AM | 39 | 03:53 PM | 39 | 01:38 PM |
| 130TH AV SE & SE 47TH PL/SOMERSET PARK | 39 | 08:41 AM | 39 | 03:51 PM | 39 | 01:36 PM |
Register for Spring for Schools, Hosted by the Bellevue Schools Foundation
I’m excited to share that Spring for Schools 2024 registration is live! You are invited to attend Bellevue Schools Foundation‘s annual event on Saturday, March 30 at 5:00 p.m., and I truly hope to see you there! As a reminder, Bellevue Schools Foundation provides critical funding to our school– you can take a look at the programs supported in our classrooms here. Students at Somerset love over 100 titles of multi-cultural books found in each of their classrooms. We benefit from mental health supports that BSF funds. The evening will offer attendees a chance to connect with one another and teachers, and explore the initiatives funded by BSF in their signature Education Showcase.
Event registration is free, and childcare will be provided as capacity allows. Additional event details can be found here. The purpose of the evening is to raise funding so that BSF can continue to provide transformational opportunities for our students and teachers — please consider making a donation here.
UPCOMING IMPORTANT DATES
February 14: Birthday Fun run
February 19-23: Mid-winter break-No school
March 22: Snow make-up Day-School
For more information and important dates please follow this link to our Somerset PTSA: Link to Somerset PTSA
Bellevue School District Official Announcements
4th grade Social Studies Textbook Adoption
4th grade social studies classes are engaged in experimental use of new materials during the 2023-24 school year. The resources include The State We’re In: Washington (Grades 3-5 Edition) textbook and Washington, By and By: A Community Planning Graphic Novel.
We invite community members to explore the resources using the links below.
The State We’re In: Washington (Grades 3-5 Edition)
Washington, By and By: A Community Planning Graphic Novel
Feedback survey: Thank you for providing feedback on the resources:
4th Grade Social Studies Curriculum Adoption Family & Community Survey
Attend the 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.
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.
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]