Click here to view the District 2021–2022 calendar for families.

* More information in the message below

THIS Friday, February 4, 3:45–5:45 PM

We are looking for parent volunteers to help with chaperoning the Middle School Movie Afternoon after school this Friday, February 4, 3:45–5:45 PM. The event will have popcorn and games in the large gym. Please email ASB Advisor, Matt Lyon, directly if you are interested in helping.

Please email the ISPTSA Board to learn more and sign up. Thank you!

THIS Wednesday, February 2, 7–8 PM

Join Zoom Meeting.

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89792601203?pwd=L1RiajNnZmtvaTRFeFFJMDd5bjcvdz09

Meeting ID: 897 9260 1203

Passcode: 192qZv

For questions, contact Emilie Castle, ISPTSA President.

Dear ISPTSA members, thanks to your generosity, we have collected enough membership scholarships to sponsor 20+ PTSA members! The member scholarship is confidential and available to everyone to join fee-waived.  We are inviting everyone in our community to join ISPTSA. Please invite your friends, grandparents, and even businesses to join ISPTSA. Encourage them to use fee waived membership if needed. Please help us reach our goal to support 100% of IS students by Tuesday, March 1. Questions? Contact membership@isptsa.org.

THIS Friday, February 4, 3:45–5:45 PM

This Friday, February 4, ASB will be hosting the Middle School Movie Afternoon from 3:45–5:45 PM. The event will have popcorn and games in the large gym. See you after school on Friday! Email Matt Lyon with questions.

Register by Friday, February 18

The IS French Department is inviting ALL students to participate in Le Grand Concours, a French-language national competition organized by AATF, the American Association of Teachers of French. Thousands of students all over the country take part in this annual contest. The test is developed by AATF as a motivational, extracurricular activity for students of French. The Grand Concours is on the list of approved tests published by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. All participants receive official certificates, and medals are awarded to some participants based on scores. Click here to learn more about Le Grand Concours.

The competition is scheduled for Wednesday, March 16 at 1:45 PM and takes about 1.25 hours to complete (1.5 hours for high school students). It will be hosted in-person at International School. The fee is $6 per student to cover participation costs. Once payment is made, teachers will take care of registration with AATF and will convey optional review material to students. For payment, please use the school payment system and choose the Miscellaneous category. See the screenshot below. Do not hesitate to contact your French teacher if you have questions.

The staff at International School would like to thank the parents and students for all of the wonderful food gifts we’ve received recently. The PTSA Staff Taco Bar Luncheon fed us for days. The coffee and chocolate gifts from December still power a nice caffeine and sugar buzz into January. We have no doubt the upcoming Chinese New Year’s Breakfast will be a wonderful start to the day and second semester at the International School. The support of staff by the IS community is valued and appreciated. Thank you! Questions? Email Stephen Miller.

Last week the district shared communication that there is a shift in COVID testing to move away from pool surveillance testing and to prioritize diagnostic testing. Our Principal Russell White shares a bit more about this change. Read the update here. Questions? Email BSD.

This past fall, our high school counselor, Colleen Courtney, was out on maternity leave. Today, we welcome her return. We also wanted to thank our interim high school counselor, Jamie Johnson, for her expertise and support this fall. To reach out to Jamie Johnson, email johnsonj@bsd405.org.To contact Colleen Courtney, email courtneyn@bsd405.org.

We are grateful to have robust counseling and mental health support for our students. Thank you to our generous ISPTSA for funding one of our Youth Eastside Services therapists—we love PTSA! Currently, we have two therapists from Youth Eastside Services, Ellie and Madison, along with our two MHAT Counselors, Alison and Melissa. We encourage all students and families to reach out if they need support. If you are interested in accessing any of our services, email Arty Christianto, MS Counselor.

For the second year in a row, International School was awarded the AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award for AP Computer Science Principles! IS was one of 760 schools across the nation that was recognized. Learn more about this award and see the list of awarded schools HERE. For questions about this award, contact the College Board.

Bellevue School District is asking our community to consider two levies in the February 8 election. These levies are not new taxes but renew current levies that expire later this year. These levies bridge the gap between state funding for our district and the cost of staff, tools, programs, and facilities our students need to become creators of their future world. Click here to learn more about our levy renewals.

On the ballot:

Continues funding for critical day-to-day school operations to ensure EVERY student in our district has access to high-quality teaching and learning, supports to ensure the wellbeing of students, student programs, and opportunities for students such as performing arts, athletics, and after-school activities.

Maintains our investment in student technology and facilities, so every BSD student has access to a safe and modern learning environment. Renewal of the Technology and Capital Projects Levy continues critical funding for student technology, classroom technology, technology training for educators and maintenance and updates to our school buildings to ensure they are healthy, comfortable, and safe.

Don't forget to turn in your ballots by February 8! For questions, contact the Bellevue School District.

THIS Thursday, February 3, 6–7:30 PM

Please join us for this family-focused informational session where Dr. Jared Taylor and his team will provide information about identifying challenges related to anxiety in your child at home and at school. Read more HERE. Please email specialedfamilyres@bsd405.org with questions.

In this edition of Let’s Talk, Dr. Jarvis, Interim Superintendent, talks to Heather Edlund, Executive Director of Teaching and Learning, about the importance of keeping schools open for students’ academic, social and emotional health. Dr. Jarvis also thanks staff across the district for their extraordinary, professional efforts to make this possible while keeping students and staff safe. Watch the full video here. For questions, contact the Bellevue School District.

Please participate in the BSD Family Grading Survey by TOMORROW, February 1. This is an anonymous, seven-minute survey on grading. Consider your family's overall experience with grades and grading in Bellevue School District. Your input will help guide district work around grading practices. While the focus is on grades 6–12, all BSD families are invited to complete the survey. Questions? Email Anna Van Windekens, BSD Research Scientist.

“Coaching my first flag football season was a great experience. Thank you to all the players and high school volunteer coaches who put in the time and effort to help make it a fun and successful season.” —Coach Trent Stauffer

Flag football offered by Jubilee Reach and Coach Trent Stauffer was a success at IS. About 45+ middle school students signed up and played weekly from November to January against teams from Big Picture, Tyee, Chinook, and Highland. Coach Trent Stauffer will be coaching middle school basketball with registration beginning Monday, March 7. Questions? Email Coach Trent.

Register NOW to be sure your paperwork is completed in time for spring high school sports and activities (many begin on February 28). Learn more on the BSD Athletics Webpage and your neighborhood high school athletics webpage:

Contact your neighborhood high school for registration, testing, and tryout details, or call BSD Athletics with questions at (425) 456-4010.

For baseball players whose neighborhood school is Bellevue High School, BHS Baseball Season is less than 6 weeks away! Interested players can sign up for more information and the season schedule by emailing Carl Hellings, BHS Baseball Boosters President. 

Bellevue School District is working with our community vaccine partners to organize future clinics for our students on Wednesday, February 9, and on Wednesday, March 2, 1–5 PM, at the Wilburton Instructional Service Center (WISC) at 12241 Main Street in Bellevue. The district will send sign-up links and details for each clinic via email closer to the clinic dates. Please visit the BSD Vaccinations webpage to download the required consent form and get updated information. For questions, contact the Bellevue School District.

Discover a new passion or learn something new! For middle and high school students looking to expand their horizons, UW Youth & Teen Programs offers engaging courses in a variety of exciting subjects. Learn more HERE. Registration closes March 7 or when the class fills, whichever comes first. Questions? Contact UW Youth & Teen Programs. 

With 60+ camps, Summer J Camp is 10 weeks of fun. Running June 21–August 26 with options for kids in pre-K through 10th grades (and job opportunities for anyone older). Bus transportation is available along with an extended care program and swim lessons. Registration opens THIS Wednesday. Sign up by March 11 to get our Early Bird Discount and save 10%. Click here to learn more! Email Aliza Glatter from SJCC with questions.

Inspiration and Incubation (i2) Grants fund inspiring projects that involve multiple schools, pilot new curriculum or instruction, engage students in critical issues, involve youth in service of other students/schools, or build school communities and partnerships. Hear from our Bellevue School District educators and curriculum developers about the new i2 grants they recently received. Questions? Contact Bellevue Schools Foundation.

ISPTSA has partnered with Smith Brothers to raise money for our organization! Click here and use our code InterPTSA at checkout to set up a new account with home grocery delivery. YOU get $15 off your first delivery order and International School will receive a gift of $50! You'll even get the iconic porch box with your first delivery. For questions, email Wendy Clough of Smith Brothers.

A year-round essential and a best-selling t-shirt! Click here to shop for this and more! Orders can be picked up from Winner's Sportswear Bellevue for free or delivered. Proceeds benefit ISPTSA. Email Melissa, VP of Community, with questions.

Raise funds for ISPTSA with the Box Tops for Education app. By scanning your grocery and office supply store receipts, qualifying products will be instantly credited to our school. It's easy and adds up fast! Download the app on your phone, and select IS by searching zip code 98005. Questions? Email ISPTSA Fundraising.