PLE Weekly Community Outreach

Hello Phantom Lake Elementary School Families,

I hope this message finds you well! I wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude and share some highlights from our recent Veterans Day assembly. Our celebration was truly special, and having our incredible community present made it even more meaningful. A big shoutout to the Tillicum Middle School band, choir, and orchestra for their fantastic performance – it showcased the strong bond between our schools and the vibrant spirit of our neighborhood.

I'm thrilled to announce that our Read-A-Thon was a tremendous success, thanks to the overwhelming generosity of our community. Your support continues to amaze us, and it's a testament to the strong connections we share.

On another note, if anyone is interested in volunteering for crosswalk duty in our neighboring areas, we welcome your help. Guidelines will be provided to ensure a smooth and safe experience for all.

Thank you for being a part of our wonderful community. Your involvement makes a real difference, and we appreciate each and every one of you.

Wishing you a fantastic week ahead!

Principal Snookal

Individual photo retakes are on December 11th.
Class photo day is March 18th.

Please start submitting photos for the yearbook as we go through the year and make wonderful memories. You can email pleyearbook2020@gmail.com with all the amazing moments you've captured!

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.

November Virtue = Gratitude
November 2nd Step = Emotional Management

The Bellevue Schools Foundation supports PLE in many ways! This year we are launching our Salmon in the Schools Program, benefitting all students in our building as well as a Student Green Team. Our beautiful Bioswale is in it's second year of development and has been funded by BSF as well!

Please explore the links below to learn more about BSF's partnership with Phantom Lake and BSD and check out the initiatives that directly impact your students.

• Find out more about the Bellevue Schools Foundation by watching short videos here.
• Look at the BSF partnership program page and their Intro Video
• Join BSF's BFF campaign:
  So, what's a BFF?! A Best Friend Forever, of course! And what's BSF? Well, hopefully you know us by now, but if not, here's an intro. This year, Bellevue Schools Foundation is contributing nearly $1 million to support essential programs throughout the entire school district. Check out the programs that are inspiring so many in our community to become BFFs of BSF. Learn how you can make an impact in the lives of your student-- become a BFF now!
  

How do donor-supported Bellevue Schools Foundation programs and scholarships benefit students at your local school? Bellevue Schools Foundation will be investing nearly $1,000,000 in our schools during the 2023—2024 school year. Thanks to the generous donations from parents, educators, and stakeholders in our community.

Click below to see how PLE is benefiting!

Phantom Lake Elementary

Hi families,

We have an exciting fundraiser coming up with Creatively Yours for our school! Creatively yours is a ceramic studio inside Crossroads Mall that offers a variety of paint-it-yourself ceramics. Stop by with your family or a group of friends to paint something fun between November 7th-12th. All you have to do is mention Phantom Lake Elementary when you check out and they will donate 15% of your purchase back to our school!

Date:

November 7th-12th

Hours:

Monday - Saturday: 10 AM - 9 PM

Sunday: 10 AM - 6 PM

Location:

Creatively Yours Bellevue

Inside Crossroads Mall

15600 NE 8th St STE G1

Bellevue, WA 98008

Final Read-a-Thon Update

Together, we exceeded our fundraising goal, raising a total of $22,261! Students read a total of 2,938 hours! Thank you, students, parents and teachers, for all your support! Your donations will help us provide opportunities for student field trips, class supplies, community and social events, grants for teachers and so much more!

THANK YOU!

Top reader: Mark Jr. M., 47 hours (Fisher)

Top fundraiser: Alex L., $2,100 (Thompson)

2nd highest reader: Leahnora M., 44 hours (Murowchick)

2nd highest fundraiser: Mark Jr. M.,$2,055, (Fisher) and Leahnora M., $2,055 (Murowchick)

Top reader in each K-5 class: Santos L. (Banerjee), Alena K. (Bramzel), Link H. (Bauman), Ellie D. (Conner), Kavin G. (Cristy), Mark Jr. M. (Fisher), Rose T. (McGaffey), Willow S. (McGlocklin), Leahnora M. (Murowchick), Shivi S. (Niemann), Siya B. (Oconnor ), Nina M. (Pallat/Ling), Johnston H. (Sanchez), Kailey H. (Swim) and Alex L. (Thompson)

Top fundraiser in each K-5 class: Julian D. (Banerjee), Aiden K. (Bramzel), Link H. (Bauman), Evan L. (Conner), Leah K. (Cristy), Mark Jr. M. (Fisher), Oscar H. (McGaffey), Austin V. (McGlocklin), Leahnora M. (Murowchick), Owen T. (Niemann), Elijah F. (Oconnor), Luca L. (Pallat/Ling), Emmy M. (Sanchez), Skylar N. (Swim) and Alex L. (Thompson)

K-2nd class with the most reading hours: Thompson

3rd-5th grade class with the most reading hours: McGaffey

K-2nd grade class with the most donations: Thompson

3rd-5th grade class with the most donations: Ms. Murowchick

Each K-2nd grade class that reads over 100 hours: Thompson, Conner, Bramzel, Bauman, Swim and Fisher

Each class that raised over $800: Bertha, Conner, Banerjee and Swim

Each class that raised over $1,200: Thompson, Murowchick, Fisher, Bramzel, McGaffey, Sanchez and Bauman

94 students completed the blackout bingo

$50 Class Book Raffle: Ms. McGlocklin

Raffle Winners

$20 Lego gift card: Mark Jr. M.

$20 Regal Cinema gift card: Alex L.

$20 Barnes and Noble gift card: Aiden K.

$20 Target gift card: Leonid O.

$20 Target gift card: Leahnora M.

$20 Dave & Buster’s gift card: Siya B.

$20 Creatively Yours gift card: Layla T.

$20 Amazon gift card: Evan L.

PLE branded t-shirt: Ellie D.

PLE branded t-shirt: Mason F.

https://www.myschoolmenus.com/organizations/99/sites/754/menus/43245

https://www.myschoolmenus.com/organizations/99/sites/754/menus/43247

Winter is approaching and may bring unpredictable weather. BSD encourages families to take the time to revisit the district’s emergency closure schedule protocols and our emergency closure decision-making process. During instances of inclement weather or severe conditions that could result in a delayed or canceled school day, BSD will communicate any schedule changes to families through direct messages, including email, text message, phone call, social media, FlashAlert, local media and posts to bsd405.org. Learn how to update your contact information in ParentVUE and set message preferences in SchoolMessenger to receive inclement weather and emergency communications according to your desired methods. While these decisions are made for the district at large, conditions may vary across the district. We encourage families to make personal decisions based on their specific circumstances.

Superintendent Aramaki invites our learning community to join the Strategic Plan Guiding Coalition and help shape the future of the Bellevue School District. The Guiding Coalition — a team of students, staff, families and community members, along with the Superintendent — will actively engage with the broader community to co-design the district’s next 5-year strategic plan. If you are hopeful about the future and passionate about the possibilities for innovation in education, please apply to be a part of this team.

Click here to apply. Use the pull-down menu in the form for language access. The application period for the Guiding Coalition will close on Wednesday, November 15, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. Applicants who are selected will be notified by Monday, November 20, 2023, and the first Coalition meeting will take place on Wednesday, November 29, 2023, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.

More information about commitment details, meeting dates and a tentative timeline will soon be available on the district website.

On Wednesday, November 15, 2023, Bellevue School District will bring together experts from local, state and federal agencies to provide a comprehensive look at the dangers of fentanyl and opioids in our community. The program will take place at Sammamish High School beginning at 6:00 p.m.

The evening will include a series of presentations followed by an opportunity for community members to ask questions. Presenters include representatives from the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, Youth Eastside Services (YES), BSD staff and parents sharing how opioids have impacted them personally.

In addition, representatives will be on hand to answer questions including members of the Bellevue Police Department, local health organizations, public health agencies, and Bellevue School District Safety and Security and Mental Health Assistance teams. The event is made possible with the support of the Bellevue Schools Foundation.

This comprehensive night of information is intended to give families additional knowledge that can help support their students and keep schools and communities healthy and safe. This presentation is free and open to the public.

The Families Helping Families Thanksgiving Food Drive is a long running tradition in the Bellevue community. Families Helping Families provides Thanksgiving baskets to Bellevue School District families in need. Over the past 16 years, more than 40,000 people have received support through Families Helping Families.

Each year Families Helping Families strives to provide full and delicious holiday feasts. If you would like to ensure that requested meals are made available, please contact info@familieshelpingfamiliesgive.com.

Join the City of Bellevue for a community dialogue on Thursday, November 16, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., to discuss the needs and opportunities for communities of color. This event is part of the Bellevue Centers Communities of Color (CCC) Initiative. The Communities of Color Coordinating Team includes Bellevue school district students, staff and community members. Based on community input, the coordinating team will present recommendations to City leadership to ensure that all Bellevue communities have the opportunity to thrive and grow more equitably.

The meeting will take place at Stevenson Elementary School, 14220 NE 8th, Bellevue, WA 98007. For more information, please contact Marcus Johnson, DEI Community Outreach and Engagement Administrator for the City of Bellevue at mjjohnson@bellevuewa.gov.

The University of Washington School Psychology Clinic has mental health services and evaluations available for students free of charge. The following services are available for children ages 8-18:

· Counseling - using evidence-based practices. Counseling is available for a wide range of childhood issues and mental health challenges. Services start in January 2024. In-person and virtual options available.

· Evaluation – examination of cognitive, academic, and socio-emotional/behavioral concerns. Evaluations do not provide diagnosed results but do provide broad cognitive, learning, and social/behavioral profiles. Services start in January 2024.

Students will first be screened. Then a decision will be made as to the best form of treatment for each individual client and family. Services are provided by school psychology trainees and supervised by a licensed clinician/faculty member from the University of Washington.

Parents, guardians, or professionals of potential clients are asked to fill out a Service Request Form to receive services. Recruitment will end mid-November 2023. Contact spclinic@uw.edu or call 206-543-4970 for more information.

Join the City of Bellevue for a community dialogue on Thursday, November 16, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., to discuss the needs and opportunities for communities of color. This event is part of the Bellevue Centers Communities of Color (CCC) Initiative. The Communities of Color Coordinating Team includes Bellevue school district students, staff and community members. Based on community input, the coordinating team will present recommendations to City leadership to ensure that all Bellevue communities have the opportunity to thrive and grow more equitably.

The meeting will take place at Stevenson Elementary School, 14220 NE 8th, Bellevue, WA 98007. For more information, please contact Marcus Johnson, DEI Community Outreach and Engagement Administrator for the City of Bellevue at mjjohnson@bellevuewa.gov.

The Families Helping Families Thanksgiving Food Drive is a long running tradition in the Bellevue community. Families Helping Families provides Thanksgiving baskets to Bellevue School District families in need. Over the past 16 years, more than 40,000 people have received support through Families Helping Families.

Each year Families Helping Families strives to provide full and delicious holiday feasts. If you would like to ensure that requested meals are made available, please contact info@familieshelpingfamiliesgive.com.

Tuesday, November 7th 10:55-11:20am in Gym

Friday, November 10th

Monday and Tuesday, November 20th and 21st

Thursday and Friday, November 23rd and 24th

The month of October is:

Global Diversity Awareness Month: An awareness month with the goal
promoting respect toward various cultures.
National Disability Employment Awareness Month: This awareness month aims to advocate for individuals with disabilities and their inclusion in the workforce.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer deaths in women; this month seeks to boost awareness of the disease
National Polish American Heritage Month: A month selected to honor those with Polish heritage

The month of November is:
National Native American Heritage Month: This month celebrates the contributions — cultures, traditions, histories — of Native people to the United States

Movember: A month-long fundraiser that seeks to raise awareness for men’s issues such as suicide as well as prostate and testicular cancer

November 1 – All Saints’ Day, All Souls Day, Día de Los Muertos: These days are dedicated to all those who have passed away in the Christian faith as well as the Mexican and Aztec communities

November 12 – Diwali: An important celebration in the Hindu faith in which a variety of deities are praised

November 16 – International Day for Tolerance: The UN holiday was founded to encourage respect among various people regardless of culture, language, religion, or ethnicity

November 16 – Dutch American Heritage Day: This day applauds the long friendship between the Netherlands and the United States

November 20 – Transgender Day of Remembrance: This day is held as a remembrance for all those murdered because of transphobia

Learn more: https://www.diversityresources.com/diversity-calendar-2023/

November 1* – Samhain: A Pagan and Wiccan festival marking the end of the harvest season

November 1 – All Saints Day: A day to honor all holy men and women who have been canonized in the Catholic Church

November 2 – Anniversary of the Crowning of Haile Selassie: The day when Haile Selassie ascended the Ethiopian throne. This is one of the holiest days in the Rastafarian year

November 27 – Guru Nanak Ji’s Birthday: A day commemorating the birth of Guru Nanak Ji who founded Sikhism

November 12 – Diwali: A 5-day festival celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains. It honors gods, goddesses, harvests, New Years, etc.

November 27 – Jain New Year: A day celebrated on the first day after the month of Kartika.

November 30 – St. Andrew’s Feast Day: St. Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland, Greece, Russia, Ukraine, Barbados, and Romania. This day honors him, his good works, and his canonization in the Catholic Church.

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.

Learn more about SchoolMessenger and create/update your account.

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