Tiger Tales

Welcome to the 2022-2023 School Year! We are thrilled to see our students in a few weeks and to hear about their summer experiences. This newsletter is intended to provide some general information to help us all prepare for the first few days of school, including a few important dates. In the meantime, please enjoy the rest of the summer and reach out to us if you have any questions. Our office is scheduled to open on August 22rd.

First Day of School:

· Grades 1-5: Students will begin Thursday, September 1st, 8:05-2:35

· Kindergarten: Students will begin Wednesday, September 7th, 8:05-12:20.

All class assignments, 1st - 5th grades will be emailed out by their teacher by 4pm on Monday, Aug. 29th. Kindergarten placement will be emailed no later than September 6th.

Please know that our staff consider student strengths and academic and socio-emotional needs to ensure balanced classrooms. We are sorry that we cannot honor requests to change classrooms based on teacher or classmate preferences. We adhere to this practice in an effort to be equitable for all families. Thank you for your understanding and support.

Back to School Day – Tuesday, August 30th

11:00 am – 1:00 pm – Membership! Events! Activities!

Come to the Covered Area in the Medina playground and meet members of our amazing PTA! They will have tables set up with information on PTA membership, programs and events planned for the school year, and what after- school clubs and activities will be offered and when the online registration opens.

11:30 am – 12:30pm: Teacher Meet & Greet Hour

Students and families are invited inside during this hour to meet their new teacher and take a self-guided building tour. Doors will close for the day promptly at 12:30 pm and families will be directed to return to the Covered Area so teachers can return to their training session. There will also be the chance to hop on and look around one of the big yellow school buses. Please see the PTA website for more information. http://medinapta.org/Home

Transportation Information

If you reside outside the walking perimeter and require transportation, you will be notified by the Transportation Department prior to the start of the school year with information on your designated pick-up and drop-off point and time.

See here for the bus route website: https://bsd405.org/departments/transportation/bus-routes/ or please call Transportation at (425)456-4512.

We encourage you to have your child ride the bus or walk to school with a group of other children. You can also carpool with neighbors. Traffic around Medina is very congested during pick-up and drop-off times. Fewer vehicles make the transition easier for everyone! Plan for a few extra minutes in your morning or afternoon routine if you drop your child(ren) off or pick them up. All students who arrive between 7:45-7:55am will be supervised under the covered area (see purple dot on map).

Prompt and regular school attendance by students is important to support their growth, development, and daily learning. At Medina, student supervision begins under the covered recess area (to left of main entrance) at 7:45. There is no supervision before 7:45am.

Front doors open at 7:55am, when students will walk to their classrooms. Remember that a student is considered tardy if they are not in class by 8:05am. Thank you in advance for your support in ensuring your child(ren) is/are on time and ready to learn each day.

If your child will be absent or late, please email medinaattendance@bsd405.org or call the Medina Attendance Hotline at 425-456-5401 as soon as you are aware an absence will occur. We value your child’s safety and need to know where they are if not in school. The school requires a written note or phone message from the child’s legal guardian explaining the absence or late arrival. If a student misses more than half of the day (50%), it is considered an absence.

We will include a detailed 2022-2023 bell schedule in our next family newsletter before the start of school, but here's what to expect:

• School starts at 8:05am every day.
• On Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, school ends at 2:35pm. On Wednesdays, school ends at 12:20pm.
• Lunch will be indoors in the cafeteria. Students will be eating lunch in the following grade level lunch groups: K/1, 2/3, and 4/5.

All BSD elementary schools in Bellevue now provide their students with the core school supplies. Medina, with the generous support of our PTA, provides all students with everything they’ll need. The only personal items students will need will be back packs, lunch bags/boxes. The rest are options per family. Whatever materials you send your student to school with should be well labeled with their full name. See our Medina Website for this list: https://bsd405.org/medina/.

BSD Nutrition Services will start charging fees for student meals for the 2022-23 school year. Families can use PayPAMS for online payments for meals, set up low balance reminders, and automatic deposits. Families can also stop by Medina's office to pay for meals by check or cash. Application for Free and Reduced-Price Meals is available online at https://bsd405.org/services/nutrition-services/free-reduced/.

Only lunch is served at Medina. View weekly lunch menus to plan ahead.

Online Verification through ParentVUE

Every year, all BSD families are asked to update student information through the online student verification process. Beginning on Wednesday, August 17, online data verification will begin for the 2022-23 school year. This process is not required for students enrolled in preschool. Language support in 22 languages is available to families to help complete data verification.

Families can update their student’s information by signing in to ParentVUE. The first time a family logs in after August 17, they will be directed to data verification. Verification allows families to:

• Update their addresses online and electronically.
• Submit required proof of residency.
• Update their student's demographic data.
• Manage emergency contact lists.
• Update photo permissions for their student.

Before and After School Care

BSD offers before and after school childcare through our community partners Right at School and the Bellevue Boys and Girls Club. Locations include district elementary schools and Bellevue Boys and Girls Club sites.

Health & Safety

The Bellevue School District remains committed to the health and safety of our students, staff and community. The district continues to follow the guidance provided to schools by the Washington State Department of Health and Public Health — Seattle & King County regarding COVID-19 health and safety.

In advance of the new school year, the district still encourages families to continue taking preventative measures against the spread of COVID-19. Access Resources and Recommendations provided by the Washington State Department of Health, including materials for families in multiple languages.

Annual School Holiday and Cultural Calendars

The Bellevue School District invites families to stay informed about events and activities that take place throughout the year. The district Family Calendar includes scheduled holidays, events and school breaks in a printable format. The district Cultural Calendar invites the community to acknowledge the cultures, traditions and holy days observed by those in our diverse learning community.

Once school starts, future newsletters like this one will arrive in your inbox on Monday afternoon. You will also get a brief text message with a link to this newsletter as well. We will do our very best to communicate everything here for you to reference as needed in an effort to cut down on too many emails.

We look forward to seeing you all either at Back to School Day on 8/30, or on the first day of school. Until then, rest, have fun, and be safe.

In partnership,

Betty Nhan, Principal

Kati Weiland, Assistant Principal