Tillicum Times
September 11, 2023
Dear Tillicum Families,
We had a terrific first week of school! Students are quickly settling into routines. Our WEB leaders did an outstanding job helping new students find their way around campus, assisting with lockers, and supporting the transition to 6th grade students with the transition to middle school.
Thank you for being an active participant in your child’s education. We appreciate your support and encourage you to contact the school if you have questions at any time. For more information, please visit our website at bsd405.org/tillicum.
Dusty Steere
Principal – Tillicum Middle School
IMPORTANT DATES
- 9/15 Picture Day
- 9/18 Sports/Clubs/Activities and After School Bus Schedule begins
- 9/18 Tillicum Curriculum Night @ 6:15 pm
- 9/18-10/6 Signs of Suicide Lessons for all 7th/8th grade students
- 9/21 6th grade meeting with 8th grade WEB leaders during tutorial
- 9/22 Ice Cream Social @ 6:00 pm
Please visit our Tillicum website for the most current information. https://bsd405.org/tillicum
Picture Day. Photographers from Dorian are on site at Tillicum this Friday, September 15 to take student pictures in the upper gym. Order School Pictures HERE. We also need a few more family volunteers to support picture day. Follow the link to sign up to volunteer: SIGN ME UP!
Curriculum Night Monday September 18th@ 6:15 pm. We have begun an exciting and productive school year, and we look forward to sharing the excellence of Tillicum Middle School with you on this important night. The staff has planned a full evening providing you a true flavor of our school, your student’s daily schedule and some of our regular routines. The evening begins at 6:15 pm in the commons with an opportunity for families to hear from incoming Principal Dusty Steere and our PTA in addition to a musical performance the Advanced Band before meeting your child’s teachers beginning at 6:45 pm with first period.
I’ve linked additional details here including a building map and a schedule form for your student to complete for your reference (or you can view their schedule online in ParentVue).
We look forward to seeing you at Tillicum on Monday, September 18th at 6:15 pm.
After School Sports Signups. The registration window for Fall Sports closes September 12. Fall sports offerings include: Boys soccer, Girls Basketball, Co-ed cross country, Girls Golf.
Due to overwhelming interest in middle school athletics, all Jubilee REACH programs are registered FROM THE STUDENT’S NETWORK CREDENTIALS (school email address and password) through a MS Forms registration. Jubilee coordinators then load all selected participants into the FinalForms roster for that sport.
Register for Sports HERE. (must use student login credentials)
Questions about Tillicum sports? Reach out to Jubilee Coordinators Patrick “PJ” Davis and Christina Steinauer.
Tillicum also offers a variety of after school clubs and activities in addition to the Jubilee Reach sponsored sports above. Additional information about Tillicum clubs/activities/sports can be found here: https://bsd405.org/tillicum/tigers.
Activity Bus Routes Begin September 18. Students must attend tutorial prior to attending after school activities (2:35 – 3:05) and present a tutorial pass obtained from their teacher to the coach. Activity busses depart from Tillicum at 4:15 pm with bus drivers requiring students to show an activity pass for boarding. Activity Bus Routes and drop off times can be viewed here. https://bsd405.org/wp-content/pdf/transportation/activity-bus-schedule-tillicum.pdf
Ice Cream Social Friday September 22. Students, families and staff are invited to join Tillicum Middle School PTA Ice Cream Social from 6 – 8 pm on Friday, September 22nd. Join us for some yummy treats, fun music with a lit up dance floor and great times catching up with friends and building comm(unity).
Middle School Attendance at High School Football Games. Students and families should note the highlighted change below as communicated by the BSD High School Principals and Athletic Directors. As the 2022-2023 fall sports season and school year begin in earnest, we are very excited to welcome our communities back and look forward to another successful year for all of our athletic programs. We believe that athletic events at all District high schools are an opportunity to support friends, athletes, the high school communities, all while watching some of the highest levels of competition in high school athletics in the state of Washington.
As a group, it is our intention to ensure the safe and orderly operation of all activities on high school campuses in the District. As such, please know that any middle school student attending varsity games at any District high school during the 2023-2024 school year is required to be accompanied by a parent or supervising adult. Unaccompanied middle school students will not be admitted.
When preparing to attend any athletic event, whether varsity or sub varsity, please note that all spectators at any District high school will watch contests from the designated stands. Restrooms and concession areas will remain available for breaks and refreshment.
You can purchase tickets ahead of any game by accessing the District’s Hometown Ticketing Box Office https://bsd405.hometownticketing.com/embed/all?schools=2
Thank you for your cooperation and we hope to see you at many events during the fall season.
Join the Middle School Student Well-Being Adoption Committee. BSD has a strong commitment to supporting well-being for all our students. This includes supporting their social, emotional, and mental health growth. During this school year, the district will need to review, renew and update curriculum materials and determine what will be best for students. We encourage you to join the Adoption Committee.
The committee will be responsible for a variety of tasks including determining criteria for curriculum selection keeping students at the center, exploring available curriculum, listening to feedback from various stakeholders, and identifying professional development needs for educators. For more details about the commitment, please read the Middle School and Well-Being Adoption Committee responsibilities document.
The Adoption Committee offers a unique opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of our middle schoolers. As a member of the team, you will have the chance to make curriculum recommendations that meet the needs of our students and community.
If you would like to take part in the committee, please complete this short interest form.
For questions, please contact Wendy Powell ([email protected]), Secondary Social Emotional Learning Curriculum Developer or Melisa Macias ([email protected]), Director of Teaching & Learning.
Data Verification and Attendance Policy Acknowledgement. If you have not done so already, please log on to ParentVue to acknowledge the yearly Attendance Policy Agreement- we are required to get this for every BSD student each school year. This is done through the online Data Verification Process. Even if you don’t believe there are changes to your student’s data, you must review your student’s demographic information, emergency contacts and health information as well as acknowledging the attendance policies each year. https://bsd405.org/departments/district-technology/online-student-data-verification/
SOS and BIMAS2 for 7th/8th grade students. Beginning on September 18th we will be offering Signs of Suicide (SOS) suicide prevention lessons and BIMAS2 well-being screenings for students in 7th & 8th grades. The SOS teaches students how to notice warning signs of depression or suicide in themselves or a friend and encourages asking adults for support. The BIMAS2 well-being screening is a self-report of student well-being in a variety of areas of functioning, including social, behavior, executive functioning, emotional, and academics.
Parents have received a letter explaining SOS via email and can choose to opt their child out of the lesson and/or well-being screening prior to their child receiving the SOS lesson and BIMAS2. To learn more about SOS, check out https://www.mindwise.org/parents/.
We all have a role in preventing suicide in our community. You don’t have to have any special training to ACKNOWLEDGE warning signs of depression or suicide, show the person you CARE, and TELL a trusted adult or professional.