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Tyee MS Masks and Traffic Update

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Good Evening Tyee Community,

I wanted to take some time this evening to provide some mid-week updates about two important pieces related to health and safety.

Face Mask Updates

As you likely have heard by now, Beginning March 12, mask wearing as one of the COVID-19 mitigation measures will be optional at BSD schools, including Tyee Middle School. This means that when we return from the weekend, mask wearing in both indoor and outdoor settings at Tyee will be an individual choice for staff and families with students of all grades – with the expectation that others’ choices will be respected. Other layered protections such as testing, isolation/quarantine, and distancing will continue to be follow Department of Health requirements. Today Tyee Teachers & Staff met to debrief and discuss various implications this shift will have for staff and students alike.  Friday we will provide all students an update in a virtual assembly setting, featuring age-appropriate guidance on navigating the options and choices, and affirming our commitment to prohibit teasing and taunting. Our Teachers and Counselors want to provide as much support as your student needs. Change is difficult, and we want to support our students where they need us to. More details & Frequently Asked Questions can be found here:  https://bsd405.org/2022/03/masks-optional-at-bsd-schools-as-of-march-12/

Tyee Traffic Updates

Safety in driving and parking at Tyee is incredibly important. Our residential location provides challenges for our nearly 1,000 students and the hundreds of vehicles visiting twice a day.  Congestion is a problem we continue to work on, but we are hearing more reports this Winter of unsafe parking, speeding, and turns on neighborhood roads – including driving on the left side of the street, blocking intersections, and asking young passengers to cross the road on 40th Street and 135th/136th/138th Ave. Spring weather and daylight savings approaches, this is a great time of year to think over our daily routines. No one is more committed to the safety of our students than families, so we ask Tyee drivers please read the updates below, and drive cautiously on and around our campus.

Before School (Drop Off):

  • We’ve experienced a sharp increase in students arriving late to school since mid-winter break. In turn, students are missing instruction time.
  • Plan to arrive between 8:00-8:10am. Buses begin to arrive at 8:10, which slows traffic.
  • Please use our parking lots. Vehicles may use the south (front) or north (back) lot – regardless of student grade levels
  • Our cafeteria doors open at 8:10am – students may enter through the courtyard.
  • Drop your student off. If you need to wait with them in the car please pull into a parking stall and don’t idle on the curb.

After School (Pick Up):

  • Avoid the traffic – plan to arrive AFTER dismissal (3:30-3:40, and 2:20-3:30pm on Wed).
  • Wednesdays remain our peak congestion in all zones from 1:50-2:15pm.
  • Parking lots are the safest option, but  get crowded as cars idle before the last bell. Vehicles may use the parking stalls, when the lane is full.
  • Encourage students stay for tutorial and activities, offered 4 days a week (no Wednesdays). Extra time with teachers can help bolster study habits. Clubs & Sports provide social outlet, and Study Hall reduces the amount of homework at night. Tutorial dismisses at 3:35p, and Activities/Study Hall at 4:45p. We also have Activity Bus routes home at 4:50!

More Updates:

  • Tyee increased collaboration with City of Bellevue for safer driving and parking practices. This Spring, the speed limit will be reduced to 20 MPH on neighboring roads. Green light times at Newport Way & Allen Road were synced to our peak traffic times, and we increased reporting to Bellevue’s Traffic Patrol.
  • Campaign for more help. If you see concerns on streets, complete a Bellevue Traffic Request Form: https://bellevuewa.gov/city-government/departments/police/police-services/traffic-enforcement-request
  • Please follow driving and parking guidance from our Administrators and Staff. Thank you for your courtesy and patience!
  • Please consider buses, carpooling, walking, or bicycles when possible to help decrease the number of vehicles.

 

Cheers to a safe & healthy Tyee community in the final months of the year!

Byron Lillie, Principal

The Bellevue School District acknowledges that we learn, work, live and gather on the Indigenous Land of the Coast Salish peoples, specifically the Duwamish and Snoqualmie Tribes. We thank these caretakers of this land, who have lived and continue to live here, since time immemorial.