February 4, 2022 | Issue 2.4.22
Camp Kindness
February 3, 10, 17, March 3, 10, 17 8:00 am

Puesta Del Sol Library

Do you consider KINDNESS essential? Want to empower your child with greater self-awareness and resilience so they can thrive in daily life? Join the FREE Kind World Explorers parent + child club led by 5th grader Nina Coelho and her mom!

This is a free parent-led club which focuses on fostering generous, courageous, and compassionate character in our kids and community. Our Puesta del Sol club kicks off in February and will meet 6 times. Activities will consist of a mix of crafts, games, mindfulness and reflection time! The first 3 weeks we will focus on ways to practice COMPASSION towards ourselves and others. The last three classes we will practice strengthening our EMPATHY muscle! This club is not a drop off class, it is for both the parent/caregiver and their child(ren) to attend together! If you have a toddler no worries - bring them along! If you can't make it, they can join with a parent friend! You and your child will be invited to safely share your thoughts and feelings, listen with intent, and offer support or a kind gesture! Let's help make our world a little kinder TOGETHER!

Email Nina and Dhaarmika with any questions dhaarmika@gmail.com 

Register here.

** Limited space — open to grades K-5 until all spots are filled. ** We’re also looking for a few more parent and kid volunteers to support or lead class activities!
Recording of Jessica Fenton's Holocaust Presentation

A recording of the "DEI's Plática/Conversations presents: Jessica Fenton" is now available for viewing. Jessica is a parent of a kindergartener at Puesta and graciously shared the remarkable story of her grandparent's survival from the Holocaust with our school community.
You can also support Jessica's work through the Holocaust Center for Humanity (https://holocaustcenterseattle.org/). Contact Carla at diversity@puestadelsol.org with any questions from the presentation.
View the recording here: https://youtu.be/_vhzsVtpPX4
DEI Plática Presents: Jamie Cho, Ph.D.

Wednesday, March 9th, 7:00 pm

Conversations with Children: Let's Talk About Race and Racism

This conversation will center race and how to talk with children and answer their questions about racial differences and racism. Children's understanding of racial categories develop early and are influenced by the narratives offered by the adults in their lives. It is vital that adults are having conversations with children as they try to make sense of what they are observing in their family, neighborhoods, schools, and communities. Through these conversations, families and educators have the power to raise a generation of critical thinkers who strive for social justice and equity.

Jamie Cho, Ph.D. (she/her) is a faculty member at Bellevue College. Originally from California, she has worked in the field of education as an early interventionist, inclusion specialist, teacher educator, field supervisor, consultant and researcher. Additionally, she has five years of experience as a Parent Education instructor. She has her BA in Psychology with a minor in Education and her doctorate in Special Education from UC Berkeley. Jamie is committed to social and climate justice and has been working to create systemic change within school systems through a values-driven model. She is also mom to three children, ages 13, 10 and 7.

Searching for Host Families

Puesta del Sol is looking for host families for our 2022-2023 Amity interns. Host families play a vital role in the success of the program. By welcoming an intern from another country into their home, volunteer host families gain friendship, understanding, knowledge and a connection to the world. Host families will experience new tastes and customs and have the chance to practice their intern's language. Your children will learn about different parts of the world from the intern and may receive extra help with their own language studies.

At Puesta del Sol, our host families typically host for 13 weeks but offer longer durations. You may select to host for Fall, Winter or Spring or half-year, and we will extend full-year if necessary. The Amity Committee needs 20 host family applications for 6 interns to ensure improved matching and experience for our interns and families. You may make a preference for male or female and/or time of year. We are in need of families interested in hosting male interns.

To apply to be a host family, please fill out an application.
Go to www.puestadelsolpta.org and check out the Amity page under Programs & Events.
Questions? Email us at amity@puestadelsolpta.org
Volunteer for Fifth Grade Graduation!

Class of 2029 (current Fifth Grade Families), let's made this year's 5th Grade Graduation great!

We are looking for energetic, creative volunteers who love to organize to plan this years 5th Grade graduation for Puesta del Sol Elementary. Planning starts NOW so we can be ready for June.

Interested in helping? Please email: events@puestadelsolpta.org.
Do you have the skills to translate material for the PTA into Spanish?

Our goal is to message in both Spanish and English on as many pieces of communication as possible.

We are looking for a pool of people to call upon as needed. If you are able to assist, please email communications@puestadelsolpta.org
BSD Local Capital and Tech Levy -
Election date: 2/8/2022
On the February 8, 2022 special election ballot, the Bellevue School District has two levies that are before voters. These are replacement levies and if they are not approved by votes, BSD will not be able to provide many of the wonderful programs that so many enjoy. The levies support the following:
Local Education Program and Ops Levy
  • State does not fully fund education
  • Special Education
  • 7 periods a day
  • Class sizes
  • Nurses
  • Creating Opportunities for students
  • After-school activities
  • Music, Art, Band and Orchestra at elementary schools
  • Athletics
  • Supports student well-being
  • Nurses
  • Counselors
  • Behavior Supports
Local Capital and Tech Levy
  • Student Access to Technology
  • Laptops and Tablets
  • Learning software programs
  • Integrated digital curriculum
  • Classroom Technology & Training
  • Technology that supports learning in classrooms
  • Professional development for educators
  • Supporting District Infrastructure
  • Student Information and grading systems
  • Human Resource and Accounting systems
  • Technical Infrastructure
  • Maintain & Update School Buildings
  • Large maintenance and improvement projects (roofs, carpet, painting, ventilation)
  • Update buildings for safety and other needs
The Puesta del Sol PTA Board officially endorses and supports the February 2022 BSD levy renewals and recommends votes in favor of both the Educational Programs and Operations levy renewal and the Technology and Capital Projects levy renewal.
To learn more about the Bellevue School District budget, click here for a video and click here for a PowerPoint.
February is Black History Month
Why do we celebrate Black History Month, and why is it during the shortest month of the year?
Carter G. Woodson, the second African-American to earn a Ph.D. at Harvard University, is known as the “Father of Black History.” He founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History in 1915 in recognition of the paucity of information on the accomplishments of African-Americans. In 1926, he started the celebration of Negro History Week during the second week of February, which coincided with the birthdays of abolitionist Frederick Douglass and President Abraham Lincoln. In 1976, President Gerald Ford officially recognized February as Black History Month during the nation’s bicentennial when he urged Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”
We encourage you to talk about, learn, and explore African American history and culture on your own during Black History Month and beyond, and engage with these rich local resources:
1. Visit the Northwest African American Museum’s YouTube channel for an interactive story time followed by a virtual field trip to a Black-owned business on Sunday, February 13th, 1 pm.
2. Join ParentMap's free discussion with anti-bias expert and social justice leader Dr. Scotland Nash on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 1 p.m.
3. Learn about the Afro-Latinx cultural experience with these resources.
4. Check out a virtual theater experience celebrating the stories of Jews of Color. “True Colors” will be streamed from the Stroum Jewish Community Center on Sunday, February 6th, 4 – 5 pm.
5. Books celebrating African-American heritage, traditions and achievements are available at KCLS:
President: Andrew Schnickel

Treasurer Deposits: Jasmine Hentz

Jingjing Miller

Secretary: Holly Ellis-Brown

Member at Large: Dan O'Sullivan

VP of Membership: Lourdes Dorotik


Co-Director of Educational Enhancements: Denise Latarowski


Director of Fundraising: Julie Leingang


If you are shopping at Amazon.com, remember to sign up for AmazonSmile and designate Puesta del Sol Elementary/Sunset Elementary PTA Bellevue Council 2 3 95. It costs you nothing and gets money donated to our PTA with each purchase!
Also Find us On:
Subscribe to the Puesta del Sol PTA YouTube Channel
Did you know?

Puesta del Sol is Endorsed by the Embassy of Spain

COVID-19 Testing for
BSD Students

Bellevue School District offers diagnostic testing for COVID-19. Diagnostic testing looks for infections in individuals who have symptoms of or have been exposed to COVID-19.
Testing may only occur with permission and consent.

Tillicum Middle School Sixth Grade Information Session
Domestic and International Travel Policy

The Bellevue School District follows guidance from King County Public Health.

Travel policy can be found here
There is NO CHARGE for school meals during the 2021-2022 school year! 
lunch
WSPTA Resolution 18.42 - Improving Literacy and Educational Outcomes

Did you know that the PTA is about more than just about activities and fundraising for our school?

The Puesta del Sol PTA is a member of the State and National PTA. The WA State PTA is very active in advocacy, and each year the WA State PTA reviews resolutions on educational issues. This fall the WA State PTA passed Resolution 18.42 - Improving Literacy and Educational Outcomes - which is then automatically incorporated into the official Puesta del Sol PTA platform as the State PTA is our parent organization. However, a local PTA can also choose to issue a statement of support to add additional awareness, which is what our PTA board did.

Puesta PTA Official Statement of Support passed 12/14/2021: The Puesta del Sol PTA Board officially endorses and supports the WSPTA Resolution 18.42 - Improving Literacy and Educational Outcomes.

Click on this link to learn more about this resolution and how we can advocate to support literacy in Washington State and the Bellevue School District.
i2 Grants Showcase

Wednesday, February 9th, 5pm
via Zoom

Hear from our educators about the new Inspiration and Incubation grants they recently received.

Please RSVP here.

Bellevue Schools Foundation's initiatives help support students across all 29 Bellevue School District schools, and allow all students to achieve higher levels of academic success and social-emotional well being regardless of language, gender, race, socioeconomic status, and special needs