With just one more day left of the school year, it’s safe to say that the BSD learning community has a lot to celebrate! From joining together again for in-person learning, to achieving great things in academics, athletics and activities, our students and staff couldn’t have done it without the support of our entire community. Thank you to all the families, friends and community members who uplifted our learning community this year.
A special congratulations goes out to BSD’s Class of 2022! We wish you the best in your endeavors after high school and can’t wait to see what you accomplish as leaders of your future world. And thank you to the teachers, paraeducators, support staff, PTSAs and community partners who helped create opportunities, fostered a positive learning environment, and made it possible for yet another graduating class to achieve this milestone. Here’s to coming together BSD strong and doing it all again next year!
This is the last BSD News & Events newsletter of the 2021-2022 school year. Watch your inbox in August for back-to-school updates.
Inside BSD Schools
Thank You, Grad Success Coaches!
Recently, Bellevue High School Graduation Success Coach, David Richardson, led a discussion between high school students and Chinook Middle School students and parents in preparation for their transition to high school.
Graduation Success Coaches like Luis Monfeda Rendon (Interlake High School), Kelly Aiken (Newport High School), Sida Oweis and Regi Raban (Sammamish High School), and Mariela Stockdale (Highland Middle School) support students throughout the school year. Graduation Success Coaches are a dedicated group of educators who work with individual students to ensure they remain steadfast on their journey to completing requirements for graduation. They are an integral part of many students’ connection to school and a trusted resource for far more than just academics. Graduation success coaches partner with classroom teachers, families, students and administrators to ensure that each and every student has a pathway to success.
Juneteenth – Celebrating Black History Beyond February
Juneteenth, which is a combination of “June” and “nineteenth,” is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. It marks the day when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1865, taking control of the state and ensuring enslaved people were freed, after the Emancipation Proclamation was passed a full two and a half years prior. Last week, BSD welcomed historian and author, Dr. Quintard Taylor, who led the BSD community in deeper learning about Juneteenth: The Evolution of the Nation’s Newest Federal Holiday.
Construction Pre-Apprenticeship Program Approved at Interlake High School
BSD’s Building Industry Technology – Core Plus Construction was recently approved as a registered state pre-apprenticeship program by the Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council. This will entitle students to continue their careers in the construction industry after graduating. Congratulations to the Interlake program and to all the individuals who were advocates for this state-recognized program!
Spring 2022 Sports Teams Excel Athletically and Academically
High school athletes across the district dominated not only on the field, court, course and pool, but also in the classroom. Most notably, all BSD high schools had strong showings in the rankings for the WIAA Scholastic Cup. Congratulations on a successful season!
The district has compiled a list of summer resources for families. Families are encouraged to review the important information on summer learning, childcare, community programs, and details to prepare for the 2022-23 school year. This list will be updated periodically as more information becomes available.
Children 18 and younger are welcome to participate in the free summer meal program offered by Nutrition Services. The summer meal program provides free, nutritious meals to help children get the nutrition they need to learn, play and grow. Summer meals will be offered at Lake Hills Elementary and Sammamish High school.
Superintendent Search: Complete an Online Survey to Help Inform the Profile of BSD’s Next Leader
The Bellevue School District Board of Directors is excited to get your feedback through an online survey. The information gathered will help create a leadership profile to guide the search for superintendent candidates. The next BSD superintendent will begin the position in July 2023.
The School Board has hired Human Capital Enterprises (HCE) to lead the search. Over the coming weeks and months, we invite you to be part of the process! BSD staff, families and students are encouraged to share their perspectives through an online survey, available in three languages. The survey will be open through June 30.
Community Engagement Officer Program to Begin, Replaces School Resource Officer Program
BSD is currently reforming and renewing its School Resource Officer Program, addressing the laws passed by the Washington State Legislature requiring changes to SRO programs in K-12 education settings. Our aim is to launch a new program structure in fall 2022. This body of work has been ongoing in partnership with district administrators and the Bellevue Police Department.
The district recognizes safety, collaborative problem-solving and relationship building as the most important roles for an officer assigned to the school district. With the importance of community and relationship building being central to these roles, the title of School Resource Officer will be changed to Community Engagement Officer (CEO) to better reflect the expectations and role of the officers assigned to BSD.
The district is in collaboration to finalize an agreement, with the City of Bellevue and the Bellevue Police Department, to have six CEOs assigned to the school district beginning in fall 2022. These officers will work district-wide, providing resources and training to students and families to foster overall school safety and trusting relationships between youth and law enforcement.
The BSD website has been updated to include a Mental Health Services section, which expands mental health resources for students and families. Some of the content included was previously available on our website but has now been compiled in the same area, with a more user-friendly interface.
Students and families are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the content to better understand mental health topics including anxiety, depression, eating disorders, substance abuse and suicide prevention.
As Assessed Values of Homes in Bellevue Increase, Levy Dollars Collected Remains Consistent
As a Bellevue property owner, you may have or soon will receive your new property assessment from the King County Assessor. Assessed value increases for homes in Bellevue are significant, and this may cause some residents to have questions about their property taxes and how they relate to BSD’s February 2022 levy.
The district levies dollar amounts approved by voters — not property tax rates — so as the assessed values for the district increase, the tax rate will decrease proportionately. The amount of local school property tax paid by an individual homeowner depends on how much their assessed value varies versus the total assessed value for the district.
As we prepare for the reopening of school on September 1, 2022, families should anticipate that free meals will no longer be available for all students attending a BSD school. With the expiration of USDA waivers at the end of this school year, Nutrition Services will return to traditional methods of payment for school meals (free, reduced price or paid).
Look for the 2022-2023 application for school meal benefits online on the Free & Reduced Price Meals webpage by August 15, 2022.
New: Students determined to be eligible for reduced price school meals will be able to receive lunch for free. Due to new state funding, the $0.40 copay for a reduced-price lunch will no longer be collected. Students eligible for reduced price school meals will continue to receive breakfast for free in schools that offer the program.
Although school is almost out for the summer, the district still encourages families to continue taking preventative measures against the spread of COVID-19. According to the Washington State Department of Health, lessons learned over the first two years of the pandemic have identified the importance of the following layered protections to prevent COVID-19 transmission and related outbreaks:
Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines have recently been authorized for emergency use for children aged six months to five years. Find a vaccine provider near you at kingcounty.gov/vaccines.
Wearing masks for personal protection and source control.
Enhancing ventilation to reduce transmission of aerosolized viruses.
The Bellevue School District partners with local organizations and non-profits to support our students and families. Visit our Community Partner webpage to learn more about these organizations, find out about their services and how you can engage with them. Upcoming events include:
Ring the Last Bell of the Year with Bellevue Schools Foundation
The school year is almost over, but the last bell has not rung. BSF is grateful for your support of critical programs like computer science, mental health and National Board Certification for teachers. To continue to support these programs and more, we need to raise $200,000 this summer. Let’s ring the last bell of the year together! Consider making a donation here.
Applications for PSESD Student Board Positions Now Open
The Puget Sound Educational Service District (PSESD) Board of Directors is currently seeking Student Representatives to serve on the Board. Their goal is to select two students who will be entering their junior year in the 22-23 school year (one in Pierce County and one in King County).
BSD utilizes Let's Talk! to exchange messages with families. Find messaging options on our website.
Please contact staff at your student's school about schedules, attendance and any other school-specific questions or concerns. Visit https://bsd405.org and select Schools in the top menu to find your school.
