Mack Memo

Mack Memo ~ Parent Newsletter

9/28/2020

Dear Mack Families,

My name is Amanda Albright, and I am blessed to serve as Bellevue Christian’s Faith Integration Coach. A significant part of my job involves supporting and leading teachers in the work of Teaching for Transformation.

Earlier this month, I went on a five day backpacking trip with my sister through the North Cascades. We trained for this trip all summer, going for day hikes with our backpacks stuffed with dumbbells and snacks. On our day hikes, we were always a little in a hurry. We would leave early in the morning, before the sun was up, and hike up and back down the mountain as fast as possible to get back to civilization and the things waiting for us. I told a friend, “We’re just very destination-oriented.” My friend said back, “and the destination is the car?” I laughed, wondered, and continued my speedy-hiking habit. Then, we left on our trip and I realized that I’d built a habit out of this destination-focus. As soon as we started each morning, I started repeating to myself, “Hurry up and get to camp, hurry up and get to camp.” I had formed a habit of speeding to the destination, even when the whole trip really could have been about enjoying the trails and the exploration.

I’ve started wondering how often in life I’m doing this—how often am I so focused on where I’m going, that I’m speeding past the beauty along the way? At school, it is easy to get caught up in a destination focus. We are excited about completed projects and work well done. We are excited about the rites of passage and transitions that come with finishing the school year. We should be excited about these things! There are many exciting destinations ahead for the wonderful learners at Mack Elementary. Someday, our students will graduate and begin new meaningful and purposeful adventures in God’s Story, and we couldn’t be more excited or more proud.

In the meantime, on our way to those destinations, there is so much beauty to be enjoyed! My prayer and hope for the learners (teachers and students!) of Mack Elementary is that they would See God’s Story unfolding through their learning every day, and that they would Live God’s Story as they seek to meet the real needs of real people, through the real work of their learning. Let’s celebrate and look forward to the destinations ahead and enjoy the beauty of the journey we’re on together.

Oct

1 & 2

NO SCHOOL

As a reminder, there is no school on Thursday and Friday. These are professional development days for BCS faculty. Enjoy the long weekend!

Reminders

Parent Portal

Our Parent Portal is your best go-to resource as a parent. You can find it HERE . If you still have questions, please call our front office or email us. If you don't see something there that would be helpful for parents, please let us know by sending us an email . We are happy to help!

Dismissal changes/early dismissal

We would also like remind you of the procedures for any dismissal changes during the school year:

Parents, please e-mail the respective teachers (and cc: the Mack office) by Noon when your child's after school plans change from their standard dismissal plan. If your child rides the bus, please include that in your email as well.

Teachers will e-mail their reply to parents by the end of the student lunch time.

If parents have not received an e-mail response from the teacher, then the standard dismissal plan will be used.

Please be sure to always cc: mackoffice@bellevuechristian.org when e-mailing teachers about dismissal plans. This ensures the information is relayed, particularly if the teacher has a substitute that day.

If leaving midday for an appointment, please come to the office and sign your child out. The office will call your child out of class to come to the office. If possible, please notify the teacher and the office by e-mail in advance.

Parking Lot Etiquette

Thank you for continued patience as we release your child curbside at the end of the day. We are moving toward a rhythm that seems to be working. As a reminder, please do not jump the line if you are waiting to get to the second loop. Instead, please wait for someone in a bright yellow vest to flag you forward when it is safe. A colored place card for your vehicle was delivered to your oldest child last week. If you need an additional one, please contact the office and we will be happy to provide another one.

Elementary School Portraits

By now, you should have received an email with your child's online proof. (The email used was your child's first contact in RenWeb.)

Please find the instructions on how to proof and order photos on the Mack Parent Portal or click here.

First order deadline is 10/4.

If your child missed picture day, they may have their portrait taken during retakes on Monday, 10/5.

Last order deadline is 10/26.

Questions? Find answers in Vakker's FAQ

or call Vakker at (425) 455-2827.

HEALTH SCREENING

Cold symptoms and other illnesses can mimic COVID-19 symptoms and we ask that you err on the side of caution and reference the flow chart provided here.

Thank you for completing your child's health screening via the Magnus app every morning before arriving at school. This is another important step to ensure your child is safe to come to school. Questions about the app can be directed to Kevin Thomas.

Parents in Prayer

Do you or someone you know need prayer? Parents in Prayer is a community of Mack parent who 'gather' weekly to spend time in corporate petition to Christ, on behalf of the Mack faculty & staff, the student body and each other.

Please consider joining the first meeting on Monday, 10/5 at 1 pm, via ZOOM.

Meeting ID: 409 868 9122

Passcode: Nq8Sdb

For questions, email BCSMackPIP@gmail.com