Hello PLE Community –

Our staff has been hard at work getting our building and classrooms ready for school next week! Our hearts are open, our desks are ready, and we just cannot wait! Have a wonderful three day weekend and get ready for the excitement of the first days!

Happy reading,

Principal Snookal

Monday-Friday 7:30am-4:00pm

Access to school building:

• All visitors MUST use the main office doors to enter and exit the building
• All visitors must sign in using the LobbyGuard System in the main office and obtain and wear a name badge.
• As a reminder, families should drop their students off at the door when bringing their students to school. We promise to take great care of them and get them where they need to go!

Your student's class assignment are currently available on August 30th on Synergy. Please login to see this class assignment. https://wa-bsd405-psv.edupoint.com/PXP2_Login.aspx. We are not changing student class assignments at this time.

Please attend one of the following coffee dates:

• Thursday, 9/14 8:30-9:15am
• Friday, 9/15 2:00-2:45pm

Learn more about SchoolMessenger and create/update your account.

Nutrition Services – School Meal Benefits and September Menus Now Available

The application for school meal benefits (free and reduced priced meals) is now available. The online application, available in English, Spanish and Chinese, only takes a few minutes and is the fastest, easiest way to get approved. Complete only one application per household, and list all students enrolled in a BSD school and all household members on the application. Families may reapply during the school year if financial or household size changes occur.

View September menus and nutritional information.

Set up payment for student meal purchases using PayPAMS. Families may also pay for meals by check or cash at their student's school.

Enroll today for the district’s bus tracking program to know just when your bus will arrive. Routes for the 2023-2024 school year will be available in mid-August. Looking for ORCA card information? Learn about how all youth will be able to ride transit for free.

Update student information through the online student verification process beginning August 23, 2023. Synergy ParentVUE provides families the ability to view the student assignments, grades and attendance. When logging on to update student information in August, a prompt will remind you to acknowledge the yearly attendance agreement.

Current BSD Families:
Make sure to update your email address and the language you prefer to receive messages. This will ensure you are kept up to date throughout the year about district news and events.

Driving to School: Do not park and walk your student to the door unless you are planning on staying with your student. If you are simply dropping off, please do the following:

• Utilize the bus + parking lot entrance
• Pull up as far as possible and as close to the car in front of you as possible.
• Remain in your car. Do not leave your car unattended.

Waiting in the morning:

• Gym/lunchroom doors will open for student access at 8:30am. Breakfast is served at 8:15am and students eating breakfast may enter then.
• Main office doors will open for student access at 8:30am
• Students may wait at either entrance - there is no supervision until doors open at 8:30am.

Access to building:

• Students will walk into and out of the building in the morning and afternoons without parent/adult assistance. This includes the first day of school. If your student is having anxiety about leaving you, we have staff members who will be available to assist you and them in the transition. If you are coming into the school building you must use our LobbyGuard sign in system and obtain a badge in the main office.

Update your emergency contacts in Synergy ParentVUE starting in August 2023. More information on emergency contacts and emergency school release can be found on the student reunification process webpage. The BSD Safety and Security Department seeks to establish a culture that provides a safe learning environment through preparedness and awareness.

Stay on top of events and activities and plan for important dates by reviewing the district calendar. Previous and current printable calendars, including the 2023-24 Family Calendar, are also available online. Stay tuned for the 2023-24 BSD Cultural Calendar, which highlights the cultures, traditions and significant days in our learning community.

This year we will be learning about and practicing a new virtue each month as a school. We have also pre-scheduled all of our Social and Emotional Learning lessons to correlate with our virtue. We will let you know what the virtue and lesson are for each month.

September Virtue = Curiosity
September 2nd Step = Growth Mindset and Goal Setting

As you may or may not know our PTA is 100% volunteer run and operated and each year we face the momentous task of seeking your support and involvement in helping to serve on committees, considering stepping out of your comfort zone to chair an event, and inviting others in the community that you think would be motivated and passionate to participate in making our Phantom Lake community thrive in the incoming school year.

It is with this in mind that I reach out today to ask you to consider whether you would be willing to join us in 2023-2024, either returning to the role you have previously served, stepping out into a new role, committee or level of participation, or inviting someone to connect with us to help make this coming year a truly PHENOMENAL year for all students, staff and phamilies at Phantom Lake Elementary!

Please take a moment to fill out this brief feedback/interest form to let us know your thoughts about participating with one of our many event planning committees or programs! We truly need your help to make this year a welcoming, inclusive and enjoyable one for all students, teachers and families at Phantom Lake!

Join us for a day at the park! We’d love to meet you and your family and share stories about our journeys parenting kids with 504 plans and IEPs. Learn how we promote advocacy and education while empowering families. Bring your sports equipment and sunscreen and we’ll provide snacks.

All ages are encouraged to attend!!

Time: 10am — 12pm

Where: Crossroads Park - 16000 NE 10th St, Bellevue, WA 98008 (Pavilions in the southwest corner of the park)

Bellevue Special Needs PTA

https://www.beIIevuespeciaIneedspta.com/

The Bellevue Youth Theatre is a community theater for youth, teens and families. Fall auditions, open to students age 5 and older for all performances, will take place on September 7 and 8 at Bellevue Youth Theatre. Everyone who auditions will be cast in a production. There is no cost to participate for Bellevue residents.

Learn more about auditions and upcoming productions, which include Ghost Girls, Zombies! and Disney’s Frozen Jr.

The Bellevue Family Hub has new hours at its location at Highland Middle School and recently opened a second site at Stevenson Elementary. Families can receive emergency financial assistance and support for basic needs. Students and families can also attend free educational workshops and get connected to community organizations in a welcoming safe environment. The Bellevue Family Hub is generously supported through district partner, Bellevue LifeSpring.

Bellevue Family Hub Locations and Hours

Hours effective starting September 5, 2023.

The Hub at Highland Middle School

15027 Bel-Red Rd, Bellevue, WA 98007

Hours:

· Wednesdays 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

· Thursdays 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

The Hub at Stevenson Elementary School

14220 NE 8th St, Bellevue, WA 98007

Hours:

· Mondays 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

· Tuesdays 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Appointments are encouraged and can be scheduled by emailing Help@BellevueLifeSpring.org. Walk-ups are also welcome. Learn more on the Bellevue LifeSpring website.

The 2023-2024 Official Notices are now available on the district website. English, Spanish and Simplified Chinese versions can be found on the Official Notices page. Content in the District’s 2023-24 Official Notices includes:

• Student Education Records (FERPA & Directory Information)
• Notice of Rights Under the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment
• Notice of Students and Staff Rights and Responsibilities
• Non-Discrimination
• Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying
• Notice of Child Find
• Notice of Complaint Resolution
• Notice of Pesticide, Asbestos and Lead
• Weapons
• Truancy
• Office of the Education Ombuds services

This information above can also be found on the Official Notices webpage.

Bellevue School District is committed to improving meaningful, two-way communication with families. If you or members of your family speak a language other than English, the district offers services to provide language support. We're committed to help you connect with school and district events, programs, and services — all for free! For translation or interpretation services, please contact your student's school. For more information and to know your rights, please visit the district’s language access webpage.

Attend the BSD Health Fair

In partnership with state and local partners, BSD will hold health fairs on Wednesday, August 30 and Thursday, August 31. The health fairs will offer immunization clinics to students in preparation for the start of the 2023-2024 school year, as well as information about community agencies, overdose awareness (watch a video shared by Superintendent Aramaki in July about this topic.), internet safety and resources from physical and mental health providers. The fairs are free and open to the public. Immunization appointments are required. Please note, COVID and flu vaccines are not currently available.

BSD nurses, athletics and activities, and technology departments will be on-hand to support families, answer questions and provide resources. Partner organizations will also be in attendance, including: Washington State Department of Health, Youth Eastside Services, International Community Health Services, and Safeway Pharmacies.

The Bellevue School District learning community is comprised of a multitude of cultures, traditions, histories, identities, experiences and faith backgrounds. BSD strives to acknowledge and affirm each and every student, family and staff member. In collaboration with members of the Communications Ambassadors, BSD has developed a cultural calendar that incorporates the lived experiences of our community.

Heather Snookal, Principal

Rachel Pearson, Assistant Principal

Alysia Carey, School Counselor

Debbie Gordon, Office Manager

Shawna Rooney, Office Assistant
Carrie Lascano, PTA President

Judy Hunsberger, Family Engagement Specialist