Tiger Tales
Newsletter #33 - May 3, 2024
· Language Access: Español | 简体中文 | Pусский | Tiếng Việt | 한국어 | العربية
Dear Families,
How can it be May already? While warmer temperatures and sunny weather are a welcome change, this month also means Smarter Balanced Testing, Talent Show and Family University to name some of the upcoming events. If you have a chance, check out the vegetables growing in the Medina Spirit Garden. We are in the process of figuring out how to donate some of the produce to local food banks as well as provide ways for our students to experience some of this bounty!
May is also Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month as well as Jewish American Heritage Month. We celebrate the unique identities represented among our families and staff and honor the contributions of those who came before us as we strive to build affirming spaces in the school and beyond.
Along the lines of strengthening our Beloved Community, we ask for patience and grace for each other these last few weeks, as the days become more packed with activities and an increasing list of tasks to complete. Specifically, around the parking lot and car loop areas, please be mindful that we all contribute to the smooth and safe arrival and dismissal of our students. While we may get frustrated, please keep in mind that our kids are watching how we react and respond to stressful moments. If you have a concern, please do not hesitate to reach out to us so we can problem-solve together.
In partnership,
Betty & Brenda
Upcoming Events
May 6-10: Staff Appreciation Week, see Medina PTA Byte for more details
May 10: Family University, 6-8pm, Medina Elementary
May 22: Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast, 7:45-8:30 Medina Elementary
May 27: Memorial Day, No School
June 7: No School for preschoolers, Conference Day
June 18: 5th Grade Promotion, 8:30-9:30am, Multi-purpose room
June 18: Last Day of school, school dismissal at 10:05am
Join us for some F. U. N.!
Here's the agenda for the evening:
6-6:45 Keynote from Dr. Kastner,
Parenting the Stress-Resilient Child: Building Skills in the era of Stress and Media.
6:50-7:25 Session 1
- Option A: Digging Deeper into Keynote Presentation with Dr. Kastner
- Option B: 4th and 5th grade student panel (geared toward K-3 families)
7:25-8:00 Session 2
- Option A: Setting up Technology to Promote Student Well-Being with MHAT Counseling Team Technology is everywhere in our lives. It can provide great benefits; yet when not used with age-appropriate limits and supports, excessive technology use can affect students’ social and emotional functioning. In this session participants will learn about the dual nature of technology, how to support your student in responsible use, and help parents set limits when necessary.
- Option B: Middle School Student Panel (geared toward grades 4-5 families)
Date: May 10th Friday
Time: 6:00-8pm
Where: Medina Elementary, Starts in Cafeteria
Pastries with Principals
We had the biggest turn out yet for our final Pastries with Principals event this past Wednesday. Thank you for coming and bringing a friend (or two). We had great discussion and learned how our district (and school) are preparing our students to be active and engaged citizens in our community and beyond. Please check out the PowerPoint slides below.
Here are our district curriculum developers, if you wish to contact them with any questions:
Patty Shelton, sheltonp@bsd405.org
Amber Anderson, andersonam@bsd405.org
Eric Nelson, nelsone@bsd405.org
SchoolPool Campaign Next Week!
Our school is one of 18 schools participating in Bellevue SchoolPool’s Walk & Roll to SchoolPool campaign during the week of May 6-10!
Bellevue SchoolPool is a program that encourages families and students to explore sustainable transportation options for their commute to and from school and alleviate congestion at drop-off and pickup times and locations. During the campaign, students and families are encouraged to walk, bike, carpool or take the bus to and/or from school.
This fall, the campaign is centered around National Bike & Roll to School Day on Wednesday, May 8, but SchoolPool encourages students to try a new way to school any time during week!
SchoolPool also provides students with a fun activity flyer and other items including reflective shoe stickers, shoelace tags, and seeded sticky notes that can be planted in the ground.
For resources including how to set up a bike train or walking school bus and carpooling tips, visit www.BellevueSchoolPool.org and look under “Resources for Students and Families.”
If you would like to sign up for the Bellevue SchoolPool newsletter, click here.
May Cultural Calendar
Monthly Acknowledgement: Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, Jewish American Heritage Month
Monthly Recognitions: Mental Health Awareness Month, Military Appreciation Month, National Physical Education and Sport Month
2024 Observances:
- May 1, 2024 – School Principals’ Day
- May 1 – 7, 2024 – National Physical Education and Sport Week
- May 3, 2024 – School Lunch Hero Day
- May 4, 2024 – Orthodox Easter
- Members of the Orthodox Christian community celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ according to the Julian calendar.
- May 5, 2024 – Children’s Day (Korea)
- Children’s Day was founded by the Korean children’s writer Pang Chong-Hwan in 1923 to instill in children a sense of independence and pride. It was designated as a national holiday in 1975. Children’s Day highlights the dignity of children and their need for love, care, and respect. It is also a day to honor adults that have contributed to improving the lives of children.
- May 5, 2024 – Cinco de Mayo
- Cinco de Mayo, or the fifth of May, commemorates the Mexican army’s May 5, 1862, victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. In the United States, Cinco de Mayo has evolved into a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage.
- May 5 (sundown) – 6, 2024 – Holocaust Remembrance Day
- The internationally recognized date for Holocaust Remembrance Day marks the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.
- May 6 – 10, 2024 – Teacher Appreciation Week
- May 8, 2024 – School Nurse Day
- May 10, 2024 – School Communicators Day
- May 23, 2024 – Vesak Day
- Vesak is one of the most important Buddhist festivals, commemorating the birth, enlightenment, and death of Siddhartha Gautama, also known as the Buddha, and celebrated at the full moon in the Indian month of Vaishaka.
- May 23, 2024 (sundown) – Declaration of the Báb
- For followers of the Bahá’í faith, this Holy Day commemorates the event when the Báb, the herald of the Baha’i Faith, announced in Persia (now Iran), that He was the Herald of a new Messenger of God.
- May 27, 2024 (sundown) – Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh
- The Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh is one of the holiest days of the Bahá’í faith. It celebrates Bahá’u’lláh, the founder of the faith as well as his teachings.
- May 27, 2024 – Memorial Day
- The national holiday was established to honor those who have died in American wars. Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day. It originated during the American Civil War, when citizens would place flowers on the graves of those who had been killed in battle.
District News and Resources
Share Your Feedback: Transportation Survey
The Bellevue School District’s Safety and Security and Transportation departments are working closely with Bellevue Police and Transportation departments to tackle traffic congestion and safety concerns around our schools.
Transportation Forums were held in person on April 25 and online on May 1. If you were unable to attend, we'd still like to hear from you! Please complete our transportation survey by May 31.
Visit the Transportation Survey webpage to learn more about what BSD is doing to help families choose sustainable transportation options and address safety concerns.
Attend the Fentanyl Community Outreach Event Presented in Mandarin
Please join us for our third fentanyl community outreach event: One Pill Can Kill. Deaths by fentanyl poisoning are on the rise in King County, and a tiny amount can be deadly. Attend the event to hear from medical professionals, law enforcement, and mental health professionals on what fentanyl is, what we are seeing in our community, and how we can prevent accidental death by fentanyl.
Event Details
Date: Wednesday, May 15, 2024
Time: 6:00-7:30 p.m.
Location: Newport High School Performing Arts Center
Address: 4333 Factoria Blvd, Bellevue, WA
This event will be presented entirely in Mandarin Chinese. Mandarin-speaking families and community members are invited to learn about the danger of opioids and learn how to keep schools and communities healthy and safe.
Thank you to the Bellevue Schools Foundation for funding this event!
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
Disability Discrimination:
Section 504/ADA Coordinator: Heather Edlund, (425) 456-4156 or edlundh@bsd405.org
Mailing address for all three: 12111 NE 1st Street, Bellevue, WA 98005.