Somerset’s May Family Communication
Greetings Somerset Families!
Staff Appreciation Week is May 6-10th. I am incredibly proud and grateful for our Somerset staff! They provide high quality instruction matching current research on best pedagogy and exceptional levels of care to support the social and emotional needs of our students. Our staff are not only great educators but also fantastic humans! I hope you will take the extra time this month to send your teachers a handwritten note, email, or Talking Point text to let them know how much you appreciate the partnership you have had with them this year. I am grateful to our PTSA chairs and volunteers who are working to plan a week that shows how much our educators are valued and appreciated.
School Pool
We are one of 16 schools that are participating in the Spring 2024 SchoolPool Challenge during the week of May 6-10! Bellevue SchoolPool is a program that encourages families and students to explore sustainable transportation options for their commute to and from school and alleviate congestion at drop-off and pickup times and locations. During the Challenge students and families are encouraged to walk, bike, carpool or take the bus to and/or from school. The Spring 2024 SchoolPool campaign provides students with a fun activity booklet and prizes. As a participating school we receive these items to distribute to students, plus a direct monetary incentive. It has been a great partnership with the City of Bellevue and looking forward to another great week!
2024-2025 Student Information Survey for all current k-4 families
Each year in May we ask families to provide us information regarding their plans for the upcoming school year to better help us assign students to classroom and align our staffing allocation. This is an internal school survey to help our Somerset team proactively plan. Students currently enrolled will automatically transition into their next year’s classroom. There is no additional paperwork or forms needed for that to happen. This survey lets us know that your plan is to return so we place your child in a classroom, not returning so we remove them prior to making classroom assignments, unsure of your plans (we will assign them to a classroom, until we hear back from you). This year we have added questions related to transportation because we are reviewing our systems for arrival and dismissal. We recognize that family plans can change over the summer but we try our best to get the most accurate information in June because so much planning takes places during July and August. Click here to fill out the Forms survey. You will need to fill one form out for each k-4th student. It should take about 3-5 minutes to complete.
Photographing and Recording Students at School
It is exciting to see our students shine at school, special events, and PTSA activities. Out of respect for families who choose to keep their child’s image private and not have it on social media or used for marketing or promotion of any kind, we respectfully ask that parents refrain from taking pictures or videos of any students other than their own when attending school-related events including but not limited to class parties, field trips, assemblies, special events of any kind – at or about school. Our teachers and school staff can capture group photos to share after they have verified the photo release for their students.
In Partnership,
Cathy Elder
PTSA Partnership
Teachers and Staff Appreciation Week
Let’s celebrate the incredible dedication and hard work of our teachers and staff members at Somerset during Teachers and Staff Appreciation Week, from May 6th to May 10th! Join us in honoring these unsung heroes with a week filled with gratitude and recognition. Here’s a glimpse of the guidelines for the week:
- Monday May 6 – Morning Treat/Coffee Day
- Tuesday May 7 – Flower/Plant Day
- Wednesday May 8 – Staff Appreciation lunch provided by PTSA.
- Thursday May 9 – Gift Card Day
- Friday May 10 – Card Day
We encourage every class to customize their celebrations to honor our teachers and staff in unique and meaningful ways. Room parents will provide detailed information to each class to ensure a week filled with love, appreciation, and recognition for our incredible educators. Let’s make this Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week unforgettable!
Field Day is Coming
Field Day Volunteers Needed
Field Day is set for Friday June 7!!! We are in the midst of planning a fun-filled day of outdoor games for all our students to celebrate the end of the year together with their class! Sign up to volunteer (click here) – it is a great way to see our kids in action (quite literally)! We hope you can join us!
Field Day Shifts
AM shift (8:30am – 12noon / Setup & Games): 3rd to 5th grade
PM shift (1pm – 4:30pm / Games & Teardown): Kindergarten to 2nd grade
Note: All volunteers are required to complete a BSD volunteer background check by Friday May 31. If you previously have done one within the last 3yrs (and it’s still valid), you do not need to do it again.
Somerset Smarter Balanced Testing Schedule Spring 2024
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
| 22
APRIL |
23 | 24 | 25
5th ELA CAT Serafin Hunter Adams Tonning Rogers GZ |
26
5th ELA PT Serafin Hunter Adams Tonning Rogers GZ |
| 29
Make Up 5th Grade ELA |
30
4th ELA CAT Jackson Campbell Veit Pelto McLean |
1
MAY |
2
4th ELA PT Jackson Campbell Veit Pelto McLean |
3 |
| 6
Make Up 4th Grade ELA |
7
4th Grade + All AL Math CAT Palmer Wyant Jackson Campbell Veit McLean Pelto Tonning Rogers GZ *walk to math canceled* |
8
4th Grade + All AL Math PT Palmer Wyant Jackson Campbell Veit McLean Pelto Tonning Rogers GZ *walk to math canceled* |
9
3rd ELA CAT Lapov Bowen Rotz Abe/Latorre |
10
3rd ELA PT Lapov Bowen Rotz Abe/Latorre |
| 13
Make Up 3rd Grade ELA |
14
5th Grade Capital Tour |
15 | 16
5th Math CAT Adams Hunter Serafin |
17
5th Math PT Adams Hunter Serafin |
| 20
Make Up 4th Grade Math AL Math 5th Grade Math |
21
WCAS Hunter Serafin Adams Tonning Rogers GZ |
22 | 23
3rd Math CAT Lapov Bowen Rotz Abe/Latorre 3rd ELA CAT Palmer Wyant |
24
3rd Math PT Lapov Bowen Rotz Abe/Latorre 3rd ELA PT Palmer Wyant |
Student Council Updates
May Spirit Day- Wacky Socks Day: Friday, May 31st
Students are encouraged to participate in Student Council’s Wacky Sock Day by showing off their zaniest socks…plaid, stripes, polka dots, characters, or one of each! The class with the highest percentage of members participating will be featured in the morning announcements and win a prize!
May 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 an earthquake drill and practicing what we would do if we were at school in the event of an earthquake.
In the United States, the recommended actions to take in the event of an earthquake are Drop, Cover, and Hold On.
Please talk with your student about preparing for emergencies and disasters such as earthquakes. 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 earthquakes and general preparedness, you might want to visit the Washington Emergency Management Division (https://mil.wa.gov/personal) or Great Washington ShakeOut (https://www.shakeout.org/washington/index.html) websites. You may also find the https://www.ready.gov/kids site helpful. Please let us know if you have any questions.
Rocket Run: Birthday Fun Run with the Principals
Every month Mr. Moe-Lobeda, Coach Boyd 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!
| May 8 |
| June 12 (June & July) |
UPCOMING IMPORTANT DATES
May 6-10 SchoolPool Challenge: walk, carpool, bus, or bike to school.
Staff Appreciation Week
May 27 Memorial Day-No school
June Field Day
June 18 Last day of school-dismissal time is 11:05
For more information and important dates please follow this link to our Somerset PTSA: Link to Somerset PTSA
Bellevue School District Official Announcements
Balancing Act: Supporting Studenty Stress and Anxiety
High School and Middle School Family Information Night
Date: Wednesday, May 1
Time: 7:00-8:00 p.m.
Location: Bellevue High School Performing Arts Center
Address: 10416 SE Wolverine Way, Bellevue, WA 98004
Elementary School Family Information Night
Date: Wednesday, May 22
Time: 7:00-8:00 p.m.
Location: Odle Middle School Commons 502
Address: 143rd Ave. NE, Bellevue, WA 98007
Information provided will include causes of childhood anxiety and stress, home strategies, identifying when anxiety may need additional support, and how families and students can access help within BSD and surrounding community. No registration is necessary to attend, but questions can be submitted to MHAT prior to the session via an online form.
Free Girls Flag Football Summer Camp
Girls in grades 5-8 are invited to learn to play flag football for free this summer. Join BSD high school teams along with members of the Seattle Seahawks organization to learn new skills, run drills and play scrimmage games. Camps take place at Bellevue High School Stadium on July 17, 24 and 31 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. No prior experience necessary. All students need to bring is water, sunscreen and great energy!
View the event flyer for more information and register today!
Save the Date: Bellevue Transportation Forum
What can the district, City of Bellevue or Metro Transit do to engage and encourage parents to choose environmentally sustainable transportation options such as riding the bus, walking, biking or carpooling? Attend the Transportation Forum to collaborate with district and city leaders in creating solutions for transportation challenges.
Online Event
Date: Wednesday, May 1, 2024
Time: 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Location: Online via Microsoft Teams
Registration for these events is suggested but not required. You may also request interpretation/translation support for the events through the registration form.