Bellevue Blast - Oct 20, Vol. 9

BELLEVUE BLAST

The Newsletter of

Bellevue High School PTSA

Join The PTSA!

October 20th, 2020

Bellevue Schools Foundation

While school may look differently this year, supporting our students and teachers is more important than ever. A centerpiece of the PTSA’s mission is to raise money to help fill in the gaps where our school funding falls short. Our goal this year is to raise $55,000, and we hope you will join us in supporting our school by making a donation. Every donation, no matter the size, will help Make an Impact.

Donations will help fund:

Mental heath counseling
Remote classroom supplies for teachers
Math and Reading programs
College Preparation (reimburse teachers for time spent writing college recommendation letters)
Grants for academic, athletic and school clubs
Parent Education Speaker Dr. Laura Kastner on October 13
DUI Assembly in the Spring for all students
Staff Appreciation
And, so much more

DONATE NOW TO MAKE AN IMPACT!

All donors will be recognized on the PTSA Honor Roll. Gifts up to $299 will be listed on the Silver Honor Roll. Gifts of $300 or greater will be listed on the Gold Honor List and gifts of $1000 or more will be listed on the Wolverines Honor Roll.

If your company offers matching, please take a moment to submit a match request and stretch your donation. Bellevue High PTSA’s tax id number is 91-1459440.

Should you prefer to write a check, please make it out to Bellevue High PTSA and mail it to 10416 SE Wolverine Way, Bellevue, WA 98004.

Got questions? Contact Dana Kaefer at fundraising@bellevuehighptsa.com.

Thank you very much for your support!

BHS BAND FUNDRAISER

Our BHS Holiday Evergreen Fundraiser is back and better than ever!

While we are all "home for the holidays" let us help you decorate your home in style.

Once again, we are partnering with Sherwood Forest Farms from Lacey, WA and will be offering fresh and fragrant wreaths, door swags, centerpieces, and cedar garlands. Please check out our sales webpage at www.sherwoodfundraiser.com/BHSBandBoosters2020. Sales begin on Monday, October 19. The last day to order is Friday, November 13th.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, all of our items this year are offered for direct delivery only. We are making it easy for you to order holiday greenery for out-of-town relatives and have it delivered directly to them, OR for your relatives/friends across the country to order directly from the webpage for delivery to their homes.

Thank you for supporting our BHS Band students. All funds raised will assist our Marching Band, Concert Band, and Jazz Bands. Go, Bellevue!

Please contact Stephanie McIntyre at 425-233-4736 or at csmcintyre@comcast.net, if you have any questions.

BHS SPIRIT EVENTS!

It’s time for spooky season! Bellevue High is celebrating Halloween this year with a crazy costume contest during 2nd period team classes on October 29th. Make sure to turn on your cameras because the most participated class gets a shoutout on the ASB Instagram and the Bellevue Bulletin.

Also, from October 28th-30th there will be a pumpkin carving expo at Bellevue High School, so we welcome you to drop off your coolest pumpkins in front of the school so they can be collected and displayed!

ORCHESTRA BOOSTER CLUB

The BHS Orchestra Booster Club will hold a virtual meeting on Tuesday, October 27 at 7pm.

If you are interested in volunteering, the club is searching for an individual to assume the role of treasurer.

Please visit the Bellevue Orchestra website www.BellevueOrchestra.org for more information or contact Michael Linscott the Booster president at silvaviator@gmail.com.

SENIOR SUPPORT - UPDATE

October 21: UC Mentor Application Workshop (tentative)

Our counselors presented to seniors last Wednesday. If your senior missed it, the meetings were recorded and are available in the BHS Senior! Team Channels, or see the links below. We separated into 2 channels by student last name, but the presentations had the same information. We also uploaded the stand alone PowerPoint in Naviance: Document Resources in the “Presentations” folder.

Senior Guidance A-Mc presentation by Ms. Quintana, Ms. Smith and Ms. Robinson

Senior Guidance Me-Z presentation by Ms. Manesh Berger, Ms. Klipper and Ms. Hansen

Follow Up Information:

FERPA: I have attached a copy of the FERPA to this email. Please sign and return this document to Ms. Littrell (littrell@bsd405.org) before your Senior Blitz appointment.
Break Out Sessions: Information about helpful breakout sessions is below.
Naviance: Use this link to find helpful videos about using Naviance during your college application process: https://www.screencast.com/t/Eibj9gqU
Additional College Application Support: Ms. Hansen, our College & Career Advisor, is available to help with creating college lists, application advice and essay review. She can be reached hansenl@bsd405.org. In addition, Counselors will be available every Wednesday in October from 12:30 to 1:00 BHS Seniors! channel to offer application support.
Requesting Counselor Letters of Rec: Use this link to request a Letter of Rec from your counselor: www.tinyurl.com/counselorletterofrecrequest

ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSES

Dear BHS families of students in Advanced Placement Courses:

The College Board will be supporting "in person" Advanced Placement testing at schools this May. They are also planning to have a "contingency" testing option if schools face closures due to safety concerns. To assist students and families CB is waiving exam cancellation fees and unused exam fees. As a result of this, we can offer a later exam payment due date to BSD families; March 1, 2021 instead of October 30th.

Note – this will only apply to students who have registered prior to our fall deadline, October 30, 2020.

Please read the additional information regarding the registration, payment and testing dates for the Advanced Placement Exams for 2020-2021.

Fall 2020 – AP Registration

All students (both Hybrid and Virtual) will register for AP exams in their AP classes similar to last year, by signing into myap.collegeboard.org
Students will use the class “join codes” to register for their exams, teachers have provided this to the students
Some students may need to create a College Board account.
In-class Registration (joining process) is to be completed no later than October 30, 2020. If this is not done by October 30^th, students will incur a College Board imposed late registration exam fee of $40 per exam.
Virtual students enrolled in AP course outside of the student’s home school will join/register in the virtual teachers class, after the joining/registration process is complete, Lynn Semler will assist virtual students to allow for testing at their home school should we have “in person exam testing” this year.
Payment for the exam will be made at the student’s HOME school
AP exams are $95 per exam
Payment Deadline: March 1, 2021, payment method is the same this year as last year.
Exam Dates are May 3-14, 2021
BSD Scholarship deadline: February 12, 2021
Any student who qualifies for Free & Reduced Lunch, are to apply as early as possible for the 2020-2021 school year. If a student qualifies for free or reduced price meals, they may be eligible for decreased fees to participate in other school programs (such as AP exams). Complete Part 5 of the application (Sharing Information) to give permission to Nutrition Services to share school meal eligibility information with other school programs. https://bsd405.org/services/nutrition-services/free-reduced/
Students that register and pay during Bellevue High School’s registration period will pay $95 per exam (Free & Reduced students or scholarship students fees will be adjusted)
Cancellation Fees – This year the College Board will waive all cancellation fees. This means it is to the student’s advantage to 1. register/join for all courses by October 30^th and 2. pay for the exam by March 1^st. Full refunds will be provided if the students decides against taking the exam for any reason.
Late Registration Fees imposed by College Board: Students who register/join sections for any AP exam after October 30, 2020 will pay a $40 per exam late registration fee , imposed by the College Board.
Self-Study Exam Takers– students who are not enrolled in an AP course have the opportunity of taking an exam. If your student is interested in doing this, please contact Lynn Semler, BHS AP Coordinator at semlerl@bsd405.org It is important to coordinate this prior to October 30^th to avoid late registration fees.

Should you have any questions or need additional information please email, Lynn Semler, BHS AP Coordinator at semlerl@bsd405.org

BHS BAND BOOSTER FUNDRAISER!

THE GOODWILL TRUCK IS COMING ON SATURDAY October 24th!

BRING YOUR GOODWILL DONATIONS TO THE “FILL THE TRUCK” EVENT AND SUPPORT THE BELLEVUE HIGH BAND ON SATURDAY October 24^th from 9 am – 12 pm in the lower parking lot of BHS.

Help the Bellevue High School Band Boosters raise money by cleaning out your closets and garage. Goodwill is bringing a truck to BHS on Saturday, October 24^th to accept donations of used goods. Normally, Goodwill does not pay when you donate your stuff, but they have a special program for schools. The more trucks we can fill, the more money to support the Bellevue High Band (and you'll get a donation tax receipt).

You can bring almost everything (OLD TVs, COMPUTERS, SMALL ELECTRONICS, RIPPED CLOTHING, BROKEN TOYS, etc. - what Goodwill can’t sell to the public, they sell to scrap dealers). Please note that items CANNOT be any bigger than an end table. Additional exclusions at

http://www.seattlegoodwill.org/donate/donate-items/donation-guidelines

Please note, you’ll unload your own stuff from your car and we ask that you wear a mask. Thank you!

This is a fundraiser for the Bellevue High Band Boosters

CHIPOTLE FUNDRAISER FOR CLASS OF 2022

Hey Bellevue! We wish we could see you all in person. We are excited to work on leadership projects and focus on rebuilding our school spirit.

Chipotle Fundraiser: We are partnering with the Downtown Bellevue Chipotle to raise money for our class. On October 28^th from 4:00-8:00pm, come down and order a filling meal while supporting your community! Due Covid-19, our class office is even more dependent on these fundraisers. See you guys there!

Chipotle Fundraiser will benefit the BHS Class of 2022. Make sure to follow our Instagram @bellevue2022 for more information and announcements.

EXPLORE THE ARTS AND EXPRESS YOURSELF

Reflections is a National PTA arts recognition program that helps students explore their own thoughts, feelings and ideas, develop artistic literacy, increase confidence, and find a love for learning that will help them become more successful not only in school, but in life.

The theme for the 2020-2021 program year is I Matter Because.... Students submit their completed works of art in one or all of the available arts categories: Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography, Visual Arts. 3D Works will not be accepted this year.

Deadline for submitting your entries is Friday, November 20, 2020, 6 PM. Given the impact of COVID-19, the Reflections program will be run virtually this year, so we’ll accept virtual submission only. However, the actual physical art work will need to be submitted for the national entry subsequently. Visit Bellevue High PTSA website to learn more.

Exploring Learning Differences during COVID-19

Is your child struggling with schoolwork more than usual? Not sure if it’s due to the pandemic or if you’re seeing the signs of a learning difference? You’re not alone! Listen to the latest episode of Notes from the Backpack podcast to get advice from the experts. Love the episode? Leave a 5-star review and help spread the word!

INTRODUCING THE BELLEVUE BULLETIN

Bellevue leadership is excited to introduce the Bellevue Bulletin, a student-oriented newsletter sent out weekly to all staff and students. It will serve as a resource where they can find information on class fundraisers, club meetings, application deadlines, and more all in one place. If you have news relevant to students that you would like to submit to the Bulletin, please follow the LINK.

Calendar Of Events

BHS Community Corner

BELLEVUE SCHOOLS FOUNDATION 2020

The Bellevue School District is fortunate to partner with the Bellevue Schools Foundation, a non-profit organization that raises private funds to support our schools. Since it began, they have raised over $30M for our school district. Public funding in the United States is not enough to guarantee that our students receive a top-notch education. The Bellevue Schools Foundation helps make up the difference by asking parents, local businesses, and community members to donate.

At our school, the funding supports Signs of Suicide. Mental health counseling and screening are provided with all 7^th and 10^th grade students screened in health, helping students to balance strong academic and personal well-being. At elementary schools the funding supports computer science programming, books to reflect our cultural diversity for our classrooms and digital libraries, and training for our teacher. This year is unlike any other and with your help, BSF is also funding these critical programs; technology support needed for every child to thrive, childcare for essential workers and children facing homelessness, and Family Connection Centers to provide food and rental assistance guidance.

These critical programs give our students the continuity they need for uninterrupted learning and ongoing academic engagement.

In addition to supporting your PTSA, I hope you’ll consider donating to the Foundation, if your family is able. Whether you can give $5 or $500, your contribution helps our students receive the best possible educational outcomes.

Please take a look at the attached slides with information about program support provided by the Bellevue Schools Foundation. You can learn more at bellevueschoolsfoundation.org.

BSF Secondary Presentation Fall 2020.pdf

BSF ANNUAL CLICKATHON

The Bellevue Schools Foundation’s Annual Clickathon event will be held October 27^th and 28^th. All donations over $100 made on these two days will be matched 1:1. Our goal is to raise $350,000 from parents like YOU. Public funding is not enough to fund the exceptional programming that makes Bellevue Schools the best in the Nation. Donate here or at BellevueSchoolsFoundation.org to fund the following programs in our schools:

Training for 40+ additional counselors to address student stress, anxiety and depression;
Training for teachers to integrate cutting-edge Computer Science curriculum in every classroom;
Libraries in our 1^st-5^th grade classrooms with characters and narratives that reflect our District’s global culture;
Family Connection Centers, currently serving over 600 families and 2600 students a week;
And more!

Donations of any size from $5 to $5000 are greatly appreciated!

TEDxYouth@Bellevue High School

TEDxYouth@BellevueHighSchool is the only youth-led TEDx chapter in Bellevue. We aim to spark nuanced discussions in the world via inspirational and educational presentations. TEDxYouth@BellevueHighSchool was founded on the belief that young peoples’ voices are worthy of being heard, and to give young people a platform for change. Around 73% of the population has a fear of public speaking from underlying fear of judgment, the majority being young people, but many assert that they lack an environment where they can express their opinions. We offer a platform that encourages youth to raise their voices confidently.

This year’s theme is The World Is In Our Hands. Our event is an ongoing, virtual event where speakers of all ages and backgrounds present their opinions on global issues while also developing hope and dreams for the future. We hope to inspire students and the global community through meaningful, in-depth discussions. Notable speakers include Taylor Jones, Associate planner with the City of Fife, Mark Perez, Author and Speaker, and Jonathon DeYoe, author of the 2017 Amazon Bestseller Mindful Money.

Applications to become a speaker for TEDx Speaker is on our official website. Anybody with a story is eligible to apply. Member applications and sponsors are also open and welcomed.

We are accepting speakers on a rolling basis. People can click here to apply to become a speaker.

YOU SHOP. AMAZON GIVES.

Amazon donates .5% of the price of eligible purchases to a charitable organization of your choice for the same Amazon products at the same prices. Please shop AmazonSmile and support the Bellevue High PTSA!