Tillicum Times
August 17, 2023
Dear Tillicum Families,
After a briefer than anticipated summer break, I’m thrilled to be joining the Tillicum Comm(Unity) as principal. If you missed my introductory letter sent in early July, you can view it here. I’m a deeply relational individual and eagerly look forward to meeting your children and each of you in the near future.
This newsletter is called the Tillicum Times and serves as an important tool to communicate with families about what’s happening in our school. This newsletter can be translated into more than 100 languages by using the “Select a Language” tool in the upper left corner of the webpage. The drop down menu allows you to translate text on the Tillicum website as well as any other Bellevue School District website.
Thank you for taking a few moments to read the newsletter below. Feel free to contact me ([email protected]) or our amazing office Manager Suzanne Murphy ([email protected]) with any questions you may have!
Dusty Steere
Principal – Tillicum Middle School
IMPORTANT DATES
August 24/25 8th grade WEB Leader Training 9:00 – 2:00 (details below)
August 28 6th grade WEB Orientation 9:00 – 12:30 (details below)
September 1 School Visit for New 7th/8th grade students 9:00 am
September 4 Labor Day – No School
September 5 1st day of school
September 18 Tillicum Curriculum Night @ 6:15 pm
Please remember to regularly visit the Tillicum website for the most current information. https://bsd405.org/tillicum
Staff Changes. While we still have a few positions to fill, please join me in welcoming the following staff to our Tillicum Community.
- Jordyn Wearin – Applied Engineering, Robotics
- Brian Pan – Video Production
- Eliana Molina – Spanish
- Tara Weaver – Social Studies
- Ashley Richardson – Special Education
- Paul Gillespie – Entry Band
- Kimiko Nishiwaki – Coding, Media Tech
- Dusty Steere – Principal
Final Forms (action required for all families). FinalForms is the Bellevue School District Athletics and Activities online forms system. This system is the clearing house for all athletics, clubs, field trips, and student activities.
Parents/Guardians and students need to update their information each school year. If you have not already done so, please sit down together as a family to complete your FinalForms documents before the first day of school.
- Detailed information on FinalForms including how to register and/or update information can be found here.
Online Student Data Verification (action required for all families). Online Student Data Verification is a feature within ParentVUE that allows parents and guardians of active K – 12 students to update and manage their student’s demographic information. By updating student’s data, we can communicate academic progress to the appropriate contacts, distribute important information as needed, contact families in emergency situations, and respond to a medical situation appropriately.
Families can update student information through the online student verification process beginning August 23, 2023. Synergy ParentVue provides parents and guardians the ability to view the student assignments, grades and attendance. When logging on to update student information in August, a prompt will remind parents/guardians to acknowledge the yearly attendance agreement. Make sure to update your email address and the language you prefer to receive messages. Information is HERE.
Taking Care of Business Online. “90% of finding success in middle school is showing up”. While student attendance is critical, the other 10% of success is showing up prepared. The “Taking Care of Business” document linked below includes important information and links for students and families to show up on the first day well prepared for an outstanding school year.
Taking Care of Business Online Link
*note that online payments can be processed beginning August 22nd.
As always, if you have questions or need support, please don’t hesitate to contact the school.
8th grade WEB Leader Training 8/24 & 25. 8th grade students selected as WEB Leaders should plan on attending the leader training on Thursday 8/24 and Friday 8/25 from 9 am – 2 pm in the Tillicum Commons. Students should dress comfortably, bring water, snacks, and a lunch. Attendance is mandatory. Questions? Reach out to WEB staff advisors Tracey Williams ([email protected]) and Celeste Blair ([email protected])
6th grade WEB Orientation 8/28. All 6th grade students are invited to attend 6th grade WEB Orientation on Monday 8/28 at Tillicum Middle School from 9 – 12:30 pm. WEB stands for Where Everyone Belongs and is a program that pairs incoming 6th grade students with 8th grade leaders and mentors.
- The orientation takes place in the TMS Gym.
- Students will participate in large and small group activities so dress comfortably and wear shoes to be active.
- Students are asked to leave cellphones at home.
- Students should arrive between 8:45 – 9:00 am and be picked up at 12:30 pm.
If your child can’t attend WEB orientation, they will still be assigned an 8th grade WEB leader who will connect with them in the first week of school. Questions? Reach out to WEB staff advisors Tracey Williams ([email protected]) and Celeste Blair ([email protected])
School Orientation for New 7th and 8th grade students. Tillicum counselors are hosting a school orientation for 7th and 8th grade students new to Tillicum on Friday September 1st from 9:00 – 10:00 am. 6th grade students who missed WEB orientation on 8/28 are also welcome to attend.
Students should enter through the main office doors and meet in the commons directly inside the main entrance. Your student does not need to bring anything to this event. Counselors will share pertinent Tillicum information, answer questions, and provide a school tour. This orientation is for students only.
Student Class Schedules. Based on summer enrollment, we are still adjusting the master class schedule and student schedules. Draft student schedules will be available for view on Tuesday August 22nd via Synergy StudentVue and ParentVue. School counselors work hard during the last week of August to fill any holes in student schedules. Should you have questions or concerns about your child’s schedule, please review our Schedule Change Guidelines. All students will receive a paper copy of their final schedule when they arrive on the first day of school.
Getting to and from Tillicum Middle School.
- Driving to school? Please review and follow Tillicum Drop Off and Pick Up Procedures.
- Riding the bus? Find your bus route
Tillicum Curriculum Night Monday September 18. Mark your calendars now for this evening opportunity for families to visit the school, hear from the principal and meet each of your child’s teachers. The event will begin at 6:15 pm. Additional details and schedule forthcoming.
BSD Health Fair. In partnership with state and local partners, BSD will hold health fairs on Wednesday, August 30 and Thursday, August 31. The health fairs will offer immunization clinics to students in preparation for the start of the 2023-2024 school year, as well as information about community agencies, overdose awareness (watch a video shared by Superintendent Aramaki in July about this topic.), internet safety and resources from physical and mental health providers. The fairs are free and open to the public. Immunization appointments are required. Please note, COVID and flu vaccines are not currently available.
BSD nurses, athletics and activities, and technology departments will be on-hand to support families, answer questions and provide resources. Partner organizations will also be in attendance, including: Washington State Department of Health, Youth Eastside Services, International Community Health Services, and Safeway Pharmacies.