Weekly Update 3.14.22 – Tyee Middle School

Good Morning Tyee Families,

My apologies I was unable to get this week’s e-mail update to you on Monday afternoon as I had planned. Yesterday marked a milestone at Tyee, the first day without an indoor mask requirement. I’m proud of how our students and staff handled this transition thus far as our school community strives to foster an environment of care for ourselves and others. Please see below for updates for this week!

Byron Lillie, Principal

Important Dates	March 17: Registration Night for Incoming 6th Grade Families (Virtual) March 18: Professional Day (No Classes)
Tyee: Incoming 6th Grade Night	To current 5^th grade Families Attending Tyee Middle School in 2022-23: Tyee Middle School welcomes families and students to our 6^th Grade Registration Info Night on Thursday, March 17 at 6:00pm. The live event will be hosted Virtually over Microsoft Teams from 6:00-7:00pm. The presentation will be recorded, and the video will be posted to our website on Monday, March 21 (https://bsd405.org/tyee/) . Thank you for viewing the presentation as we work to ensure our families are well informed as their students enter the first year of middle school! Link (click here at 6pm on 3/17/22): Tyee MS Incoming 6th Grade Registration
Tyee: Lunch Update	Following guidance from King County Health Department, Tyee made a few changes to our student lunchroom experience today. We are hopeful these changes are beneficial to student social-emotional wellness while ensuring a safe, healthy, and sanitary eating experience. We will continue monitoring how these changes affect the student experience and will continue to promote both safety and flexibility where we can. This is a start and we anticipate expanding indoor seating in the coming weeks. Indoors: Cafeteria seating increased by 70+. Now up to 4 students may sit together at a table. We added tables, and plan to increase this in the coming days. We continue to provide individual chair seating, distanced at the maximum recommended 6 feet. The designated indoor eating area is the Cafeteria, seating is no longer allowed in hallways to prevent students from sitting on floors. Outdoors: Eating outside is still permitted, the designated outdoor eating area is the the covered basketball court to ensure safer supervision and to contain outdoor litter to one area. Activities: The Library and Play Areas remain open the full 30 minutes and students may eat at the beginning or mid-point of the service times.
Tyee: Student Dress Reminders	With Spring weather on the way, we get questions from families about student dress/dress code. Tyee follows BSD policy, which affirms the student and parent/guardian(s) determine personal dress and grooming, provided it does not disrupt the learning environment or create a health or hazard to the student or anyone else. Thank you to our families for talking about with your students about dressing for school. The BSD Student Dress Policy is linked here: https://bsd405.org/wp-content/pdf/policy/3224P.pdf
Tyee: Student Cell Phone Reminders	As middle school students move into their teenage years, it often comes with an important milestone – a first phone. Smartphones equipped with cameras and instant social media access changed the landscape of the school day for young people and Teachers alike, and can pose a constant distraction for users. At Tyee we strive to maximize learning opportunities. While we permit the use of personal tech and phones before school, during lunch, and after school – we prohibit phones during class time to limit distractions, ensure privacy, and prevent cheating. Thank you for partnering with our Teachers by reminding students to be sure devices are off and away during class. The BSD Student Devices policy is linked here: https://bsd405.org/wp-content/pdf/policy/3245.pdf
Tyee: Students After School	Our office staff is observing more and more students waiting in front of school for their rides home very late in the afternoon, sometimes 30-90 minutes after dismissal. We understand drivers prefer to wait for parking lot traffic to clear before coming to Tyee, but if students are not attending Tutorial or Activities, please pick them up by 3:45p (2:35p on Wednesdays). The office closes at 4:00p (3:00p on Wednesdays), and students may not remain outside unsupervised throughout the afternoon. Tutorial is available from 3:25-3:55pm every day but Wednesdays. Students can attend any of their 7 teachers classrooms. If you are concerned your student isn’t attending and would like to verify they were there, please e-mail the Teacher. From 4:00-4:45pm we have several afterschool activities, and Study Hall is available to all students – everyday but Wednesday. There is even an activity bus route to get students home. More info: https://bsd405.org/tyee/timberwolves/
Tyee: Yearbook Sales	Buy your student’s yearbook now, while supplies last! Yearbooks will go on sale during two windows: March 18-April 1 and June 7-21. Yearbooks can be purchased through the Tyee website: https://wa-bellevue.intouchreceipting.com/. Please contact Arum Schut ([email protected]) with questions!
Tyee: Mask Fundraiser 2.0	Tyee ASB is holding another mask fundraiser! These masks will be black, with our new Tyee Timberwolves logo. Masks are on sale through April 30 and can be purchased in-person at the Tyee Main Office or online at our website: https://wa-bellevue.intouchreceipting.com/. Masks are $8 and come in three sizes. All proceeds go to Tyee ASB!
Tyee: ’22-23 Registration Timeline	Below are dates regarding registration for the upcoming 2022-23 school year. For more information, please check our “Registration Central Webpage”: https://bsd405.org/tyee/2022/02/welcome-to-tyee-registration-central/ March 14-17: Presentations for current 5^th graders (@ elementary schools) March 17: Parent Registration Info Presentation (evening via Teams) March 24: Current 5^th grade Course Requests Due
BSD: Community Mental Health Forum	The Community Mental Health Forum series continues this March. In partnership with area health care partners, the BSD counseling team will offer a session titled, Is It Time to Talk to Your Kids About Drugs? This virtual session invites students and parents to watch together and discuss topics related to substance use. Pre-registration is not required. The sessions will each provide an opportunity to ask detailed questions about substance use with counselors who are knowledgeable in this subject area. Questions may be submitted in advance through this link. The Community Mental Health Forum series continues with sessions about Talking to Your Student About Substance Abuse. Sessions will be virtual and conducted in English (3/16), Mandarin (3/22), and Spanish (3/23).
Tyee PTSA Updates	WSPTA Awards Nomination: Please nominate our very own PTSA and/or board members for these state-level recognitions. Nominating group: Tyee Middle School PTSA; Contact Email: [email protected]; PTA ID: PTA 2.3.145. Link to nomination form: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=2UoBpkUpfUeSUBrdaTtaRiAoBNP9K7tItTd1ibLswadUNTJSOU00RjlGQlMySVhQV0NLRks3SlVaUy4u Tyee Finance Club is working with Junior Achievement WA to bring JA Finance Park to Tyee students. This program offers 12 lessons thru Zoom meeting. It covers personal financial planning and career exploration. At the culmination of this instructor-led program, students visit JA Finance Park, a virtual community, to put into practice what they’ve learned by developing and committing to a personal budget. Date and time: Meet every Monday from 6 to 7 pm, starting on 3/21/2022 to 6/20/2022. Fees: $20 per student. Number of students: Up to 40 students in the class. Materials: JA Finance Park Student Workbook will be provided prior to class starting date on March 21st. Information on workbook pickup will be sent out in a separate email after the registration. A computer or any device to access Zoom meetings is needed. Registration: Please click HERE to register. The registration opens from 7:00 pm on March 9th, 2022 until 11:59 pm on March 20th, 2022. Any questions please feel free to contact [email protected].