Hello BHIS Families.

We are approaching completing our first full month of the school year! We normally put our newsletter out on the first of every month, however, we have received a few questions, and there is a lot of important information to share that might be useful for planning. Contact your child's teacher (allow 2-3 days for a response), or our family liaisons if you have any questions or concerns.

We would like to send out the BIGGEST TIGER THANK YOU ROAR to Colleen Weinstein, SPS Volunteer Enhancement Projects Program Manager, and Magnusson Klemencic Associates (MKA) for their amazing beautification of our lower playground and the Launch courtyard playground. This went over and above what we could have imagined.

We are excited to announce that the PTA & BHIS after-school enrichment program will be Mon, Tues, and Thurs this year! We are putting the final touches on some new and exciting offerings; this year we will have our first student-led class! We hope to start the PTA & BHIS after-school enrichment on Oct. 7th. Sign-up sheets should be coming home with your child soon!

In case you haven't heard, this 2024/25 school year your child's breakfast and lunch are free. However, we still ask that you make sure that you fill out the Child Nutrition Eligibility and Education Benefit or CNEEB form. This form was sent home the first week of school. Just in case you didn't fill out this paperwork, you can find this application in your respective language here.

This year Nutrition Services has revamped its website, where you can now see what your child will be served for lunch as well as the ingredients. Here is the link to check to see what's cooking!

Our crossing guards have noticed an increase in traffic due to the 15th Avenue construction diverting more traffic onto 14th Avenue. We ask that you please remind your children of the importance of listening to and following our crossing guard's instructions. Our crossing guards want to make sure every one of our students makes it to school and home safely.

Due to safety concerns for our students and our after-school program partner, Launch, this year the doors will be locked and we will ask families to leave the lower playground at 1:25 pm on Wednesdays and 2:45 pm on Mondays - Fridays. This was a hard choice to make as we know for many years the lower playground was an amazing place for families to meet and an opportunity for kids to play together after school.

However, one of the benefits of our school is being so close to another great park that we unofficially call, the Upper Playground. We hope families will continue to converse and let students play together at the Upper Playground this year. If for any reason you need to get back into the building after doors are locked, please know that you can always enter the school through the front entrance by ringing the buzzer.

Thanks for your understanding!

BHIS is always looking for volunteers to help out in our school. For the safety of our students, it is SPS policy that all volunteers complete a screening before volunteering in our, or any, school.

We are excited to host our annual Volunteer Sign-up on Oct. 24, an hour before curriculum night, at 4:00p in our school library. Don't miss this great opportunity to sign up to volunteer and get any questions you may have answered. You can also complete the course and sign up here too!

BHIS PTA partners with Rainier Valley Food Bank to provide food to our BHIS families in need. We are looking for volunteers to help deliver food to our families on Wednesdays any time after 10:30a. If this is something that you're interested in, please reach out to Adam Kennedy at adam.kennedy@beaconhillpta.org We would love and desperately need your help!

Madison Somers Mann is a graduate of BHIS, and a former student in the Dual Language Mandarin Immersion Program. Madison is currently a second-year student at the University of Washington.

Madison is currently offering one-on-one tutoring in any subject (except Spanish) at the Beacon Hill Branch Library or online. Madison's current availability is 4:30 pm on Mon, Tues, Fri, and anytime over the weekend! Madison's current rate is $40 an hour. With your written permission Madison will be able to connect with your child's teacher to support the current classroom instruction if needed. If you're interested in tutoring services for your child, please reach out to Madison at

madisonsomersmann@gmail.com or 206-335-4393

The PTA has limited financial support available for tutoring this year. If you feel you need support for tutoring, please reach out to BHIS own Family Support worker to see if you qualify for a scholarship.

Our goal is to raise $15,000, which translates to about $40 per student across our 375 students.

If you are in a position to do so, please donate an amount that is meaningful to you - your generosity is appreciated.

Donate here: https://bit.ly/BHISSupplies

Cash and check are also accepted! Please bring to the school and leave in the PTA mailbox by the front desk.

---

Every year the Beacon Hill PTA supports our school by raising the funds needed to purchase back-to-school supply items (markers, pens, paper, tissues, hand sanitizer, etc.) in bulk. Purchasing in bulk supports teachers in having the supplies they need, allows school supplies to be purchased at a better rate, and ensures equitable access to school supplies.

ANSWER: The Beacon Hill International School PTA is dedicated to promoting the educational excellence, health, and welfare of all students and their families through advocacy, community-building, and enrichment programs.

• We host regular community-building events and support the school's events through volunteering and promotion.

• We raise funds to support projects like the school supply drive, after-school programming, teacher grants, field trips, and art, library, and gym enrichments.

If you have any additional questions please message us! Please visit our website to learn more: https://www.beaconhillpta.org/

For the SPS 2024-2025 Academic Calendar click here.

OCTOBER

October 1 Start of BHIS Coat Drive

October 3 Hearing Screening (Entire School)

October 11 State In-service Day (no school for students)

October 18 Principal & PTA Chat

October 22 Picture Day (Kindergarten through 2nd grade)

October 23 Picture Day (3rd grade through 5th grade)

October 24 Volunteer Sign-Up night

• Math and Curriculum night

UPCOMING DATES

November 11 Veterans Day Observed (no school)

November 25-27 Family-Teacher conference days in elementary and K-8 schools (no school for elementary and K-8 schools)

November 28-29 Thanksgiving and Native American Heritage Day (no school)

December 3 BHIS Dental Sealant Day (Entire School - more information to come)