Mid-Winter Break is halfway through, but the district hopes our BSD community has more opportunities to enjoy the well-deserved time off. With spring quickly approaching, it’s a great time to recharge before preparing to reset the clocks for several more eventful months this school year. Read on for stories in BSD’s schools, district updates, resources for families, and upcoming events.
Celebrating Black History Month – Together in Community
In celebration of Black History Month, the Bellevue School District has been shining a spotlight on our educators and district staff this February. February is also Career and Technical Education Month, and BSD is delighted to feature Kendall Johnson, CTE Teacher at Tillicum Middle School, in the video interview above.
Public Schools Week (#PSW23), February 27 - March 3, 2023, is a time to celebrate public schools and the administrators, teachers, specialists, parents and school board members who work diligently for our students. BSD invites our learning community to get involved by celebrating our schools, educators and school professionals committed to serving our students!
Also this February, the National Parent Teacher Association (National PTA) celebrated 125 years of service through its annual Founders’ Day. Today’s PTA is a network of millions of families, students, teachers, administrators, and business and community leaders devoted to the educational success of children and the promotion of family engagement in schools. Thank you to BSD’s PTAs and PTSAs who endlessly support our students and families by providing resources, building community, and being advocates for education. BSD appreciates you!
BSD also recently honored its school counselors through National School Counseling Week. BSD counselors help students dream big as they work toward their goals by providing academic achievement strategies, social emotional and mental health supports, and individualized supports to meet student needs. Read more about counselors and counseling supports at BSD.
District Updates
Planning for the Future – Review the Full Recommendations Report and Attend Upcoming Hearings
On Thursday, February 9, Interim Superintendent, Dr. Art Jarvis presented a recommendation to BSD’s Board of Directors for the consolidation of three BSD elementary schools. With the recommendation, Dr. Jarvis acknowledged that the past several months have held difficult and stressful discussions for the BSD community, and he also expressed his appreciation for the thoughtful feedback from the community, who have continued to demonstrate love of their schools despite the current challenges. He thanks school leaders, administrators, educators and families who deeply regard the district as one community, working together to continue its commitment to high quality programs and services for all BSD students.
On Thursday, February 16, a special meeting of the Board of Directors was held for the purpose of discussion with two committees Community Committee and School Committee, who reviewed the school consolidation recommendation.
An abbreviated timeline of next steps community members can expect are as follows:
Monday, February 27, 4:30 p.m. – Hearing for the purpose of taking public testimony regarding the recommendation to consolidate Ardmore Elementary School with Bennett, Cherry Crest, and Sherwood Forest Elementary Schools.
Tuesday, February 28, 4:30 p.m. – Hearing for the purpose of taking public testimony regarding the recommendation to consolidate Eastgate Elementary School with Spiritridge and Somerset Elementary Schools and to relocate Advanced Learning from Spiritridge to Woodridge Elementary School.
Thursday, March 2, 4:30 p.m. – Hearing for the purpose of taking public testimony regarding the recommendation to consolidate Wilburton Elementary School with Clyde Hill and Enatai Elementary Schools.
Thursday, March 9, 4:30 p.m. – School Board Regular Meeting, final public comment opportunity, recommendation update.
Thursday, March 16, 4:30 p.m. – (Tentative) School Board Special Meeting to take action on recommendation.
Interim Superintendent Recommends Against Implementation of Community Engagement Officer Program
Dr. Art Jarvis recently announced the continued suspension of the proposed replacement for the School Resource Officer (SRO) Program, the Community Engagement Officer (CEO) Program. Further, Dr. Jarvis shared a recommendation against implementing the proposed CEO program. BSD and the City of Bellevue have agreed to maintain an excellent relationship and continue any necessary police services through usual civic and emergency channels. Bellevue Police Department will continue to respond to safety emergencies and requested service. Read Dr. Jarvis’s full statement about this recommendation.
BSD has also published the feedback of the community engagement process that took place in November and December 2022, which included a community survey and several community sessions where the BSD learning community could share their feedback on the proposed CEO program. The report and supplemental materials can be viewed on the Community Engagement Officer Program webpage. Additional languages of these materials will be published to the website as they become available.
Upcoming Events and Reminders for Families
Math Information Sessions: Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2
Several information sessions will be held to provide families with an opportunity to engage in reviewing the new Algebra 1, Geometry and Algebra 2 curriculum resources and to learn about the direction of secondary math in the district.
Tuesday, February 28 - Newport High School, 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Friday, March 3 - Sammamish High School, 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. (Spanish translator on site)
Wednesday, March 15 - Bellevue High School, 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
It’s time to begin planning for the next school year. The course catalog for grades 6-12 is intended to assist families and students explore options available in BSD schools. Students are encouraged to consider their passions, interests and next steps while searching the available courses.
BSD is excited to soon share information about 2023 summer opportunities for K-12 students. This summer’s programs will feature a variety of in-person courses with educators to enrich and extend academic learning. The programs will provide social emotional and connection opportunities throughout the summer, and mental health support will be available through both district staff and community partners. More information will be published on the district website and sent directly to prospective families in the coming weeks.
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.
Register to Attend: Bellevue Schools Foundation Spring for Schools
Every Bellevue School District family and educator is invited to join BSF, along with business professionals, community leaders and philanthropic donors. The evening will be dedicated to ensuring that all 18,000+ students in Bellevue’s public schools have access to innovative programs and enrichment opportunities that will help them thrive in an increasingly competitive global market.
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.
Bellevue School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts of America and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination:
Civil Rights, Racial Discrimination, and Gender Expression or Identity Discrimination:
Civil Rights/Nondiscrimination Compliance Coordinator Nancy Pham, (425) 456-4040 or phamn@bsd405.org
Sex-based Discrimination, including Sexual Harassment:
Title IX Coordinator: Jeff Lowell, (425) 456-4010 or lowellj@bsd405.org