MONDAY MESSENGER

November 25, 2019

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THIS WEEK:

NEXT WEEK:

LOOKING AHEAD:

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

SEE HOW YOU CAN HELP OUT

IS and the ISPTSA are currently seeking the following volunteers:

Click here to learn more and sign up.

PTSA NEWS

SUPPORT ISPTSA WHEN YOU SHOP THROUGH AMAZON!

   

Support ISPTSA as you shop for the holidays and beyond.  AmazonSmile (smile.amazon.com) will donate 0.5% of the purchase price from your eligible purchases. It’s easy to sign up and costs you nothing !  

Simply follow these instructions to link your Amazon.com account to AmazonSmile, and choose “Bellevue International School PTSA” as your charitable organization. Whenever you shop on Amazon, open your browser to  smile.amazon.com , shop as you normally do, and our students benefit!   AmazonSmile has all the same products, prices, and shopping features as Amazon.com. The only difference is that AmazonSmile Foundation donates 0.5% for eligible purchases to ISPTSA when you shop through smile.amazon.com .

To learn more about AmazonSmile, click  here .

MEMBERSHIP BY THE GRADE

For those of you who like numbers—like the Fly Guy from The Seattle Times —below is our current PTSA membership listed by grades. The percentages indicate the number of students supported by PTSA members in each grade. A bit more membership support in each grade would be amazing! Membership in PTA advocates for all of our students—at the administration level, the district level, and the state level. 

Click here to renew your online membership or join for the first time . Checks and cash are accepted, as well as credit cards. You may also print out this form and mail it with payment. Membership scholarships are available to all parents and guardians at IS with no qualifiers needed; fill out a membership form, indicate membership scholarship for payment, and you will join our wonderfully supportive community immediately. 

Please contact  [email protected] with any questions.  

SAVE THE DATE—SPRING SOCIAL IS MARCH 28, 2020!



The PTSA will host our Annual Spring Social Fundraiser to celebrate our students, school, and community on the evening of Saturday, March 28, 2020 . Please mark your calendars now to ensure that you can join us for this fun community event. Stay tuned for more information!

ARE YOU A PARENT OR GUARDIAN OF A 10TH GRADER? PLEASE HELP!

Your help is needed! We still do not have anyone volunteering to be parent representatives for your child's class, and the Staff Appreciation Luncheon hosted by 10th-Grade Families is right around the corner.

Can you please step up to help organize the luncheon on Wednesday, December 11, to show the IS staff how much 10th-grade families appreciate all that they do? (That cute hamster is begging you to! Also, we will help you!)

If you can take a little time to help out your child's class—either as a class representative or just for the luncheon—please email [email protected].

ADVOCACY NEWS

Attention Students!  

Applications are now open for serving as a  page in the Washington State Legislature.  Students from across the state are selected for one-week sessions.  

Click here for more information and a video about the House Page Program .

Click here for more information and a video about the Senate Page Program .

Click here for the online application . 

Click here for the paper application .  

Contact me if you have questions or would like to talk to an IS student who served as a page a few years ago. 

Thanks, 

Krista Hammer

ISPTSA Advocacy Chair 

THANK YOU!

Thank you to IS junior Jasna Chong who accompanied PTSA's Outreach VP Meribeth Nordoef-Pederson and Advocacy Chair Krista Hammer to provide public comments to the Bellevue School Board last Tuesday. Jasna, Meribeth, and Krista spoke in favor of a Capital Projects Bond and in favor of rebuilding International School. The Bellevue School Board approved the resolution asking voters to consider a capital bond in the February 11, 2020 election. The bond would fund safety improvements at all of our schools and the replacement of aging buildings, one of which is International School.  

For more information, visit the district's 2020 bond information page.

IF ANY OF THESE LOST ITEMS BELONG TO YOU, PLEASE FIND THEM—ASAP!

Come into the school and pick items up this week!

Anything not claimed by THIS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27 , will be sent to Goodwill!

PLEASE HELP US FIND OUR NEXT TESTING CENTER COORDINATOR!

A big thank you to Crystal Aimes, our fantastic GSA (General School Assistant) for the work she has done at IS in creating amazing systems to support our Testing Center! Crystal will be moving on to Clyde Hill to take a position as a para-educator. While we will certainly miss her, we are glad that her talents will continue to serve students in our district. 

Do you know anyone that would be interested in applying for this GSA role? 

 

Hours are as follows:

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8:15 – 3:45

Wednesdays from 8:15 – 2:30

 

Duties include:

Maintaining our Testing Center online sign-up system, communicating directly with teachers, supporting students in small group and one-on-one testing, supporting standardized testing in the spring, general support in the office, and lunchtime supervision. 

 

This role includes health, vision, and dental benefits. Students of full-time employees also have the option of attending International School. Please share this information with any qualified candidates that might be interested in the position.   

Click here to learn more about the position and apply.  

MAKERSPACE DONATIONS

 

The library’s makerspace is requesting donations of supplies to support projects. Donations can be placed in the large yellow box marked “Makerspace Donations” by the top of the gym stairs in the Commons. Thank you in advance for donations!

 

 

Thank you for everyone who has donated so far! Please contact Tara Jones with questions.

9TH & 10TH GRADE PARENTS:

If you missed our parent event on Thursday, November 7, you can now get the presentation information online.

Visit the IS Parent Night page, scroll down to the 9th/10th post, and click on the slideshow to view the PowerPoint presentation.

FENTANYL CRISIS INFORMATION

For those who were unable to attend one of the Bellevue School District's presentations concerning the fentanyl crisis, please click here to go to the district's Fentanyl Crisis Resources Page.

To see a version of the district's presentation, please click here.

STUDENT NEWS & COMMUNITY EVENTS

UPCOMING SCHOOL BOND

Our School Board approved a resolution asking the community to consider a capital bond in the February 11, 2020 election to ensure our students have enough room in high-quality learning spaces, improve the safety of our schools, and plan for the future.

The February 11 bond provides students high-quality learning spaces by replacing aging school buildings ( including IS ) and adding classrooms and student support spaces. It increases safety and security for students and schools. The bond also designates funding to purchase property for future school locations to plan for growth.

School districts rely on voter-approved funding measures to cover costs that are not funded by the state, including major construction projects. If approved in February, the local tax rate for our schools will increase by 3 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, an increase of less than 1 percent.

Please learn more about the bond and how it affects you and your students by checking out the district's 2020 bond information page. And don't forget to vote on February 11!

PARENTS NEEDED: CITIZEN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE

The Citizen Campaign Committee (also named Bellevue Quality Schools) will run the upcoming campaign for the 2020 Capital Bond for school rebuilds and remodels in Bellevue. The election will be February 11, 2020. Are you interested in joining this team of 18–20 organized and enthusiastic people to help coordinate the campaign?  

Do you need more information?  

Please Contact Krista Hammer  [email protected]  

STUDENT SELF-ADVOCACY SEMINARS 

Students: learn how to advocate for yourself with your teachers, principal, district superintendent, or board members. Even learn how to advocate for yourself with your House Representative and Senator in Olympia.

Bellevue PTSA Council invites middle school and high school students to four seminars on student self-advocacy. Parents are also welcome to attend. Also, a group of BSD students, teachers, and PTSA members have plans to advocate on behalf of the Bellevue School District on January 20, 2020 in Olympia, Washington. Please join us!

Click here to see dates and sign up.  Multiple dates are available for each session. There are no prerequisites to complete a specific session before taking another session. Stay tuned for possible additional sessions after the new year...

BELLEVUE SCHOOL BOARD HOSTS COMMUNITY FORUM ON STUDENT WELL-BEING

Tuesday, December 3, 7:45–9:00 PM (during regular School Board mtg)

Wilburton Instructional Service Center, Rainier Room

12241 Main Street, Bellevue 98005

The Bellevue School Board invites students and families to a community forum to share your thoughts on the District’s strategic goal related to student well-being. Information gathered will help inform future board work. Each board member will host a table where participants can meet and discuss ideas in an informal setting.

Light refreshments will be served. Spanish and Mandarin Chinese interpreters will be provided. For additional interpretation services, send requests to  [email protected] .

PTA PARENT EDUCATION EVENT: SOCIAL MEDIA SAFETY

Thursday, December 5, 6:30–7:30 PM

Tillicum Middle School Library

Co-hosted by Tillicum and Highland Middle Schools

 

Is social media taking up a big part of your child’s life? Do you want to know what problem signs to look out for? Do you need ideas on how to engage with your teenagers more and be less dependent on their cell phones? You are not alone! Please join Tillicum’s School Resource Officer (SRO) David Wright as he discusses social media safety, internet crimes against children (ICAC), cyberbullying, and ways that parents can be more engaged with their middle schoolers.

Click here for more info, or contact [email protected].

EDUCATION CONNECTION— SCREENAGERS: NEXT CHAPTER

Friday, December 13, 6:30 PM

Sammamish High School

The Bellevue Schools Foundation and the Sammamish High School PTSA invite you to join us for a special screening of the new documentary  Screenagers: Next Chapter, Uncovering Skills for Stress Resilience.

 

Filmmaker and physician Dr. Delaney Ruston takes the conversation around screens and teens to the next level with a 70- minute film that examines the science behind teens' emotional challenges, the interplay of social media, and most importantly, what can be done in our schools and homes to help them build crucial skills to navigate stress, anxiety, and depression in our digital age.

Admission is free and open to the public.  Advance registration is requested. 

IS STUDENT JASNA CHONG ASKS FOR YOUR VOTE

Hello, 

My name is Jasna Chong, I’m an 11th grader and I joined a pageant this summer and have qualified for nationals. I am representing Bellevue as I compete for the title of National All-American Miss and would like your support. It would mean a lot to me if you could please vote for me as the National All- American Miss Jr. Teen division People's Choice. It is $1 per vote, and ten percent (10%) of the proceeds (up to $5,000) raised through the People’s Choice Program will be donated to  Teach for America , a nonprofit organization that recruits college graduates from top universities around the United States to serve as teachers in low-income communities.  

Please help me get into the Top 11! Click here to vote before November 28th!  

If you have any comments or questions, feel free to email me at  [email protected]  or  [email protected]  Thanks everyone!

 

Sincerely, 

Jasna Chong

BELLEVUE SCHOOLS FOUNDATION

3 Ways in 3 Days: Black Friday 11/29, Cyber Monday 12/2, and #GivingTuesday 12/3

This holiday season, buy the gift that will last a lifetime. Click this link for your Amazon  Black Friday & Cyber Monday  shopping, and up to 8% of your profits will go toward helping homeless and low-income children attend pre-school in Bellevue!

#GivingTuesday  is a global day of online giving. Kick off the holiday giving season today by helping a homeless or low-income child in Bellevue go to one of our top-notch preschools. Economically disadvantaged children in our preschool programs realize a 39% increase in literacy and a 33% increase in math skills. Be a hero to a child in need.

Save the Date!

Friday, May 1, is BSF's annual Spring for Schools Luncheon at the Bellevue Hyatt Regency. Learn how your dollars transform our Bellevue district schools and support every student, every day. The Education Showcase starts at 10:15 AM, and the luncheon takes place from 11:50 AM–1:15 PM.

HOLIDAY CRAFT AND VENDOR FAIR

Thursday, December 5, 3:00–7:00 PM

Rainier & Baker Room, WISC, 12241 Main Street, Bellevue

The Bellevue Association for Educational Office Professionals (BAEOP) is holding a Holiday Craft and Vendor Fair! The event is free and open to everyone. Come take a look at the lovely holiday gifts, grab some refreshments, and start your holiday shopping! 

 

We have room for more vendors and would love to see the handicrafts and other items our BSD families have to offer! Contact Lori Hanson if you would like to reserve a table or if you have any questions. 

UPCOMING BELLEVUE GIFTED ALLIANCE EVENTS

Gifted Graduates on College Student Panel

Thursday, December 19, 6:30–8:00 PM

Bellevue High School Performing Arts Center, 10416 SE Wolverine Way

Current college students and graduates of BSD's Gifted High School Program (now Advanced Learning) discuss how to choose a college. The panel will be joined by Tina Neville, Yale graduate and CEO of Transcend Academy, on college entrance success factors; and Dr. Richard Repass, psychiatrist and expert on student mental health and stress management. Panelists include students from Columbia, University of Washington, USC, Stanford, Louisiana State University, UC-San Diego, Harvard, and University of Chicago. This is a POPULAR event and Free to BSD students and staff with BSD Card. We ask for a suggested donation of $5 for parents and $10 for non-Bellevue residents.

High School Student Panel

Wednesday, January 8, 6:30–8:00 PM

Sammamish High School Performing Arts Center, 100 140th Avenue SE

High school students who attended BSD's Advanced Learning (previously the gifted) program discuss how to choose a high school.

Please click here for more info.

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL  FUN  DRAISING OPPORTUNITY!

Bellevue Downtown Ice Rink at Bellevue Downtown Park

November 29, 2019–January 20, 2020

When you skate at  Bellevue Downtown Ice Rink and mention you are with International School at the admission counter, a $3 donation will be made to our PTSA for each paid rink admission during the dates listed above!

Visit  bellevueicerink.com for skating hours, pricing, promotions, and special events.

STUDENT SPORTS & OPPORTUNITIES

BELLEVUE WOLVERINES GIRLS LACROSSE  

Registration for the 2020 Bellevue Girls Lacrosse spring season is now open! We offer teams for 3rd–8th grades, the season runs March–May, and all skill levels are welcome!  



Please register via our website .

FREE GIRLS LACROSSE CLINICS 

Open to Elementary & Middle School Girls who are interested in trying Lacrosse or are registered with a local team and want to work on their lacrosse fundamentals. Hosted By NSI Girls Lacrosse, a non-profit club that serves the Bellevue community in the attendance areas of Newport, Sammamish, and Interlake High Schools. 



Bellevue College Gym, 2800 Snoqualmie River Road, Bellevue, WA 98005

Click here for more information and to register.

Click here to see the flyer.