Tiger Tales #17

It was wonderful to see students excited to be engaged in learning this first week after vacation.

The fifth grade had a special treat of being able to talk with a researcher, Jean Pennycook, who was live streaming from Ross Island, Antarctica! The researcher is part of a team of people who are studying penguins and documenting their findings. Students loved seeing the curious birds come up to the researcher's boot and seeing the fuzzy chicks. The fifth graders also had an opportunity to ask questions. Some of the questions our students asked were:

• What are some important findings you have made since studying penguins?
• What is the time difference there?
• What do these penguins eat besides fish?
• Are there other types of penguins that live there?

Inquiry is at the heart of learning, and we definitely saw evidence of this during the session. Ron Ritchhart, a research associate at Harvard University, shares: “Listening and questioning are the basis for positive classroom interactions that can in turn shape meaningful collaboration, which can then build a culture of thinking. At the heart of these two practices lies a respect for and interest in students' thinking.”

This culture of thinking was evident in the thoughts and questions that this live stream conversation inspired. What a wonderful opportunity for our fifth graders!

If you would like to learn more about this research project and see other ways you can find out information as a family such as tracking the penguin activity on the live webcam, engaging in some at-home penguin activities, following a penguin family online, or reading more about these creatures, you can do so on their website:

Penguin Science | Understanding penguin response to climate and ecosystem change

The organization, Kindering, offers free parenting classes. See some of their class offerings in January listed below:

Classes in January 2025

Technology/Media and Young Children

This training will provide a brief overview of research on media usage in young children along with current screen time recommendations. We will also discuss the best type of content for young, developing brains and how to keep children safe in the ever-changing tech landscape. This information can be used to develop a media plan aligned with a family’s values and needs.

When: Monday, January 13, 2025, from 6:00 – 7:30pm

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Social and Emotion Coaching with Young Children

Parents and caregivers will learn ways to coach their children during play to build young children’s emotional, social, and self-regulation skills. Curriculum is adapted from the Incredible Years. www.incredibleyears.com

When: Tuesday, January 28, 2025, from 6:00 – 7:30pm

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Why the First 2,000 Days Matter: A Look Inside the Brain

In this presentation, we will explore how early experiences (along with your love and attention) shape children’s brain development. This is a guided video discussion using a module from the University of Washington’s Institute for Learning and Brain Science (I-Labs).

When: Thursday, January 30, 2025, from 6:00 – 7:00pm

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

To learn more, visit the website: Parent Education - Kindering

There are many ways that our PTA supports initiatives at school that make a difference to our community (donation of winter coats, making fleece blankets for those in need, etc.). Another way parents make a difference is to help lead our BSD Foodshare program. School lunch cafeteria food that is untouched, such as string cheese still in the packaging and fresh apples, are donated to the Foodshare program for those in need. We are proud to share that so far this school year Medina has donated 1,219 pounds of food. Later this school year we will have an assembly to talk more about this initiative, and the difference it can make to others. We could not do this without the support of our wonderful PTA, thank you!

If you would like to become involved in the PTA or learn more via their newsletter, The Byte, please click here.

The Pastries with Principals event will be on January 16 at 5:30 - 6:30 PM.

We are fortunate that this event will include a presentation by the Bellevue Police and a detective to talk about online safety, crime statistics in our area, and how we can keep our children safe. We have invited the Clyde Hill parent community to also join us at this adult only event.

To assist with our planning, please fill out this form. This will also allow us to make copies of the PPT in different languages to accommodate our audience.

Join us on Friday, January 31st from 5:00 -7:00 pm for an exciting journey around the globe!

This is a wonderful event when we celebrate the many nationalities represented at Medina. You can be involved in a variety of ways. We would love to have as many people as possible host a table showcasing their country.

Some ideas for a culture table could include some of the following:

• Providing traditional snacks
• Having a game, activity, etc. people can participate in
• Displaying items, clothing, musical instruments, photos, etc. from a country of origin

Participation in a vibrant fashion show is also a possibility.

Please join our celebration of culture! To learn more, please click on the link below:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdP5KuKIVoj0cxYcNV6awYLACuJO6LKgdM8EmBx1B4c-KRk5A/viewform

January 2025 marks the second annual celebration of Americans of Chinese Descent Month in Washington! Back in May 2023, Governor Jay Inslee made history by signing Senate Bill 5000 into law, making Washington the first state in the nation to officially recognize and honor Chinese Americans. This milestone was the result of tireless advocacy from parents, students, educators, and community members, including many from BSD.

As part of this recognition, Washington schools are encouraged to dedicate time to celebrate and reflect on the incredible contributions of Chinese Americans. View this post on Facebook

January Cultural Calendar Events

As we ring in an exciting new year, we're filled with hope, energy, and anticipation for all that's ahead. The Bellevue School District is ready to make 2025 a year to remember, packed with learning, growth and plenty of fun! We start off the year with celebrations that acknowledge our global community and vibrant cultural traditions.

The following dates are based on the Common Religious and Public Holidays Calendar published by the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). Some religious holidays dates may vary because they are based on lunar cycles and moon sightings. This calendar doesn't include all holidays observed by members of the BSD community, and individuals may observe the same religion in different ways.

January 1 – January 31: Americans of Chinese Descent History Month

January 1 – January 31: School Board Recognition Month

January 1: Shogatsu

January 6: Día de los Reyes or Three Kings Day

January 7: Orthodox Christmas

January 20: Martin Luther King Jr. Day

January 27: International Holocaust Remembrance Day

January 29: Lunar New Year

At Medina, we will have several assemblies with our entire student community gathered to recognize important events happening this month:

• On Friday, January 17 we will honor the legacy of MLK Jr. To learn more and to discuss as a family this inspirational individual who led our nation in the fight against racial segregation, you can click here.

• On Friday, January 24 we will be recognizing Lunar New Year and 2025 The Year of the Snake. This year Lunar New Year falls on January 29 and this begins the 16-day Spring Festival. Bellevue Square will be having a Lunar New Year celebration on January 25, so to learn about Chinese New Year, Korean Seollal, and Vietnamese Tết, click here.

We are looking forward to a wonderful month ahead!

We realize it can be difficult to make the judgment call about when your child(ren) should stay home and when they should come to school. In general, if your student is contagious or cannot participate in even a modified schedule of learning, they should stay home. Otherwise, they should be encouraged to come to school. There is a great chart for you to print out here, that shares some guidelines regarding illness.

Due to the high number of students being picked up by car, Medina utilizes the full length of its pick-up lane to reduce congestion on 82nd Ave NE and 80th Ave NE. We kindly ask all families to be mindful of our neighbors by respecting their property and avoid blocking their driveways when you are waiting to pick up your child in the main entrance car loop. This helps ensure access for residents and emergency vehicles while maintaining a smooth as possible traffic flow. Following these guidelines is especially important on Wednesday, when school is dismissed early, as traffic tends to increase during this time.

Also, in the kindergarten carpark loop, please do not leave your car unattended. It is important that you park your car in an official parking spot if you need to leave your vehicle for any reason.

Thank you for your help!

The Open Transfer and Choice Schools and Language Programs application period for the 2025-2026 school year will close on Friday, January 17, 2025, at 4:30 p.m.

Apply to Choice Schools and Language Programs

Apply for Open Transfer

Nonresident Waitlist Applications

If your student is currently enrolled in a BSD school and you intend for them to remain at their current school or continue in the approved feeder pattern for the 2025-2026 school year, nothing further is required.

Students and families are invited to learn more about Bellevue School District schools and programs during the remaining open houses and information events.

Community Listening Sessions: District Budget

Our district is facing significant budget deficits, and it will take multiple years to restore our financial stability. We need to reduce spending by $16 million for the 2025-26 school year. Please bring your ideas and thoughts! Over the next couple of months, we invite you to share your ideas and perspectives to help us reduce spending and increase revenue. To begin, we will host three community listening sessions in January:

Tuesday, January 21, 2025

4:00 – 5:30 p.m.

In-person at Odle Middle School

502 143rd Ave NE, Bellevue, 98007

Tuesday, January 21, 2025

4:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Online via Microsoft Teams (link will be posted when available)

Wednesday, January 22, 2025

5:00 – 6:30 p.m.

In-person at Wilburton Instructional Service Center (WISC), Building 1, Rainier Room

12241 Main Street, Bellevue, 98005

Attendance Matters: Understanding School Avoidance

Every day of school is important and provides an opportunity for students to learn and connect with peers and teachers. Even two absences a month (excused or unexcused) can significantly impact student learning. School avoidance, which is when a child refuses to attend school or has difficulty remaining in school the entire day, can create short and long-term challenges in learning. To combat school avoidance, it’s important to understand what it may look like and how to support students who experience it. Learn more in this installment of Attendance Matters.

Save the Date: Spring for Schools

April 19, 2025, 5:30 – 10:00 p.m., Bellevue Westin

The Bellevue Schools Foundation is excited to announce our annual Spring for Schools fundraising event — this year with a special ticketed auction featuring exclusive experiences and unique items, all supporting the Bellevue School District learning community. Your participation helps fund vital programs for BSD students. When we come together, amazing things happen!

We can’t wait to see you there! Learn more and register today.

Also, a big congratulations to Homa Hassan, one of our Kindergarten teachers, for receiving a partial BSF grant to fund all our Kindergartners to go to the Seattle Aquarium. There is a new exhibit area at the aquarium, and it will be a wonderful trip for our students!

Free Money Management Workshops at the Bellevue Family Hub

Community partners Bellevue LifeSpring and Hopelink will hold upcoming family workshops on the topic of money management basics. The sessions will provide tips and tools to help families manage their budget, understand banking essentials, and improve financial credit. Childcare and snacks provided and virtual sessions available. Learn more at Bellevue Family Hub locations at Stevenson Elementary School or Highland Middle School or visit the Bellevue LIfeSpring website for additional event details.

Session in Spanish

Wednesday, January 29, 2025

5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Session in English

Thursday, January 30, 2025

5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

The location for both sessions is Stevenson Elementary School (14220 NE 8th Street, Bellevue, WA 98007).

January:

15: 5:30 - 6:30 PM Open House for Prospective Families to Medina

16: 5:30 - 6:30 PM Pastries with Principals (Bellevue Police and detective)

20: NO SCHOOL - Martin Luther King Jr Day

24: Lunar New Year Assembly for students

31: 5:00 - 7:00 PM World Culture Night

Due to the power outage and some canceled days of school, the school calendar has been altered. For your planning, the Updated 2024-2025 School Year Calendar is posted here. The three emergency make-up days have been converted to school days.