December 4, 2023

MONDAY MESSENGER

Visit Our Website

Donate to PTSA

Translate Newsletter

SHOUT-OUTS!

The following are shout-outs and thank-yous from various members of our community.

Thank you, Jennifer, Fenghua, Amanda, Li, Brenda, Christen, Kyoko, Emilie, Swati, Nina, Courtney, Fay, Sharon, David, Vivien, and Annie, for all your help with the Senior Poinsettia and Wreath Fundraiser. An extra-large thank you to Kayoko Price for spearheading this project. Without you, the senior events at the end of the year would not be possible!

THIS WEEK:

• Monday, 12/4, 7 PM • HS Choir Concert
• Tuesday, 12/5, 7 PM • MS Choir Concert
• Wednesday, 12/6 • Staff Appreciation Luncheon Hosted by the 6th Grade Families*
• Wednesday, 12/6, 7 PM • MS Orchestra Concert
• Saturday, 12/9, 8 PM–10 PM • HS TOLO

NEXT WEEK:

• Monday, 12/11, 4 PM–7 PM • Drama Auditions
• Monday, 12/11 • Choice Schools Application Period Opens
• Monday, 12/11, 6 PM • Information Night for Costa Rica and DC Focus Week Trips in IS Library
• Wednesday, 12/13 • Winter Market*

LOOKING AHEAD:

• Tuesday, 12/19, 4 PM–7 PM • Drama Callbacks
• Wednesday, 12/20–Monday 1/1 • No School (Winter Break)
• Wednesday, 1/3 • Staff Appreciation Luncheon Hosted by the 10th Grade Families
• Thursday, 1/11, 8 AM–1 PM • MS Jazz Festival
• Monday, 1/15 • No School (Martin Luther King Jr. Day)
• Friday, 1/19 • Choice Schools Application Period Closes
• Friday, 1/26 • End of First Semester
• Friday, 2/2 • International School Winter Auction Gala*
• Tuesday, 2/6, 6:30 PM • Admitted 5th Grade Parent Night for 2024–2025
• Thursday, 2/8, 6:30 PM • Middle School Parent Night
• Wednesday, 2/14 • Staff Appreciation Luncheon Hosted by Our Chinese Community
• Wednesday, 3/6 • Staff Appreciation Luncheon Hosted by the 11th Grade Families
• Wednesday, 3/13, 7 PM • HS Orchestra Concert
• Thursday, 3/14, 7 PM • MS Orchestra Concert
• Wednesday, 4/3 • Staff Appreciation Luncheon Hosted by the 7th Grade Families
• Tuesday, 4/16, 6:30 PM • 8th Grade Parent Night
• Monday 5/6–Friday 5/10 • Staff Appreciation Week
• Wednesday, 5/8 • Staff Appreciation Luncheon Hosted by the 8th Grade Families
• Wednesday, 6/5 • Seniors and Staff Luncheon Hosted by the 12th Grade Families
• Wednesday, 6/5, 6 PM • MS Orchestra Concert
• Wednesday, 6/5, 7 PM • HS Orchestra Concert

Click here to view the ISPTSA Calendar, which can be added to your personal Google or Outlook Calendar.

Click here to view the District 2023–2024 calendar for families.

*More information in the message below

Orange denotes new/updated calendar entries.

6TH GRADE STAFF APPRECIATION LUNCHEON

In order to express our gratitude to the hardworking and dedicated staff members here at the IS, the 6th Grade families would like to show our appreciation by providing lunch to them during the upcoming 6th Grade Staff Appreciation Luncheon on Wednesday, December 6. We are kindly asking any 6th grade families who can to please assist us by signing up to donate money. We are still $500 short! For any family that signed up, but has not donated yet, please use Zelle: treasurer2@isptsa.org. Questions? Email Kai Gao, 6th Grade Parent Rep.

THE ISPTSA ANNUAL WINTER MARKET IS BACK!

Let's celebrate winter, winter holidays, and our international community with a European-style Winter Market. Come to sell or shop - or both!

Join us for a fun community night of food, crafts, music, gifts, and more at the annual ISPTSA Winter Market in the International School Commons on Wednesday, December 13, 6 PM - 8:30 PM. Come and check out all the tables or host a table yourself! Pay for a table here. Are you a musician? Sign up to perform! Last year was amazing, don't miss out! Please note that the form has been updated and should work now. Questions? Check out our website or contact Melissa Richardson, ISPTSA VP of Outreach.

COMING SOON - INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL 2024 AUCTION

Last year, almost 200 people joined the IS PTSA Auction to celebrate the school and raise funds to inspire and support our students and teachers. We're looking forward to another great night together.

• Save the Date! - This year's auction will be on Friday, February 2. More details coming soon. You won't want to miss this fantastic night celebrating IS students, teachers, and the community.
• Donate to the Auction! - Do you have season tickets? Consider donating tickets to a game or a performance for the auction. Gift cards, hosted dinners, boat rides, weekends at vacation homes, and unique experiences make great donations that help us raise funds. Email VPFundraising@isptsa.org today to inquire about donation opportunities.
• Join the Auction Team! - Help make the auction a success and enjoy the rewards. We're looking for volunteers to assist in the following roles: Food and Decorations, Marketing and Ticket Sales, Auction Procurement Support, and Auction Night Programming. Email VPFundraising@isptsa.org to join the team. Thank you!

Questions? Contact Phil Bloch and Gang Chen, Co-VPs of Fundraising.

CONNECT WITH YOUR CLASS

Connect with classmates and class families! Join your class FB group to share information, discuss ideas, and organize activities - for families, students, or parents only! 

• Class of 2024 (12th Grade Families)
• Class of 2025 (11th Grade Families)
• Class of 2027 (9th Grade Families)
• Class of 2028 and 2029 (7th & 8th Grade Families)
• Class of 2030 (6th Grade Families)

Questions? Email Melissa Richardson, VP of Outreach

ISPTSA MEMBERSHIP 2023–2024

Unlock a Year of Excellence: we cordially invite you to join or renew your ISPTSA Annual Membership today. Your contribution is the driving force behind our exceptional school programs, elevating the educational journeys of our students.

Questions? Contact membership@isptsa.org.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

We are looking for Volunteers to help us support our school! We need your help!

Outreach (Email vpoutreach@isptsa.org if interested in one of the following positions):

• Volunteer Coordinator
• Membership Chair (contact membership@isptsa.org)

Communications (Email vpcommunications@isptsa.org if interested in one of the following positions):

• Monday Messenger Liaisons

Community (Email vpcommunity@isptsa.org if interested in one of the following positions):

• Grade Parent Liaisons for 8th grade
• Staff Appreciation Chair

Learn more about these positions here. Please email the respective Board Member if you have questions or if you're interested in signing up.

BELLEVUE PTSA COUNCIL

DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION SESSION AND APPLICATION WORKSHOP

Join the BSD Special Education department and Bellevue Special Needs PTA on Wednesday, December 6 at 6:00 PM, for an informational session and workshop about the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA). There will be a brief presentation on eligibility and services. Find out more here. Questions? Contact BSD.

NATIONAL PTA

PROGRAMS

National PTA offers a variety of programs that parents and caregivers can take advantage of right away. Find out more here. Questions? Contact programs@pta.org

CALL FOR PRESENTERS FOR THE 2024 NATIONAL PTA VIRTUAL CONVENTION

The call for presenters for the 2024 National PTA Virtual Convention is NOW OPEN and YOU are invited to share your workshop proposals. We are seeking thought leaders with impactful ideas and experience to help us achieve our mission.

All proposals will be peer reviewed and chosen based on their demonstrated effectiveness to engage and inspire excellence for PTA leaders. Applications must be submitted by 9 PM, December 10. All proposed presenters will be notified of their workshop status by mid-February. Find out more and apply here! Questions? Email info@pta.org.

LOST AND FOUND

Here we go again! Students and families, it is cold and wet outside—doesn't your student miss their warm coat? Please claim your lost-and-found items! In addition to sweatshirts and jackets, we have a growing plethora of abandoned water bottles. We will make another donation of unclaimed items just before or just following winter break. We would much prefer to have items reunited with their rightful owners! Questions? Please contact Kyla. Thank you!

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL UPDATE

An International School Update was sent through email on Monday, November 27 to all current IS families with great updates. Questions? Email the IS Main Office.

REAL MADRID FOUNDATION SUMMER CAMP

The Real Madrid Foundation Summer Camp for Bellevue School District students is returning this summer from July 15–19! This soccer summer camp is open to students between the ages of 6 and 17, of all playing levels from beginner to advanced. The camp will be hosted at Highland Middle School from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (with an option to extend the time from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.). The Real Madrid Foundation is offering fifteen scholarships, and there will be additional scholarships added if funding is available. To request a scholarship, please fill out this form by January 15. Recipients of the scholarships will be contacted on January 29. Register here. Questions? Contact them via this form.

BUS ROUTE CANCELLATIONS

THIS Monday, December 4 through Friday, December 8, the following bus routes are canceled due to driver availability: 12, 19, 32, 43, 48 and 50. Impacted school communities include Ardmore, Big Picture, Chinook, Highland, International, Newport Heights, Newport High School, Odle, Tillicum, Tyee and Woodridge. Find out more here. Questions? Contact transportation@bsd405.org.

COLLEGE FINANCIAL AID FOCUS WEEK

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form has been redesigned and streamlined for the 2024-25 college year. Because of this, the release of the FAFSA has been delayed. The new FAFSA form should be available by December 31, 2023.

To help students and families prepare for the release of the FAFSA, high schools are holding a ‘Financial Aid Focus Week’ from December 4-8. Find links to information and resources and a link to register for a free webinar for BSD families on December 6 “Financial Aid 101 with FAFSA Changes: How Financial Aid & Scholarships Work and the Looming FAFSA Changes” here. Questions? Contact BSD.

NEW BILINGUAL PROGRAMS

The Bellevue School District Multilingual Learners (MLL) department is delighted to offer two new programs for the 2024-2025 school year. We welcome a Korean Bilingual Program at Newport Heights Elementary School and a Hindi Bilingual Program at Ardmore Elementary School. Both programs will be accepting applications for incoming kindergarten students for the fall of the 2024-2025 school year beginning on Monday, December 11, and continuing until Friday, January 19. These programs are open to both in-district and out-of-district students entering kindergarten and require no prior language experience.

Families interested in learning more are invited to attend the following information nights:

• Hindi Bilingual Program Information Night: Tuesday, December 12, at Ardmore Elementary School
• Korean Bilingual Program Information Night: Thursday, December 14, at Newport Heights Elementary School

Questions? Contact HeritageLanguagePrograms@bsd405.org.

SCHOOL FUNDING 101 - UNDERSTANDING OUR MONEY SOURCES

Learn more about the district’s sources of money and how we can spend them. In school districts, we have multiple buckets of funds where our money is accounted for. Each of these funds has designated uses and we as a district are limited in how we can transfer money between these funds based on state law. Questions? Contact BSD.

BSD CELEBRATES A SEASON OF GIVING AND GRATITUDE

Over the past several months, many members of our community have sought out ways to support Bellevue School District students, staff and families. We invite all those interested to take part in the season of giving by learning more about how they can support our community partners. Whether through the giving of time, treasure or talent, we are grateful to all those who enrich and uplift our school district. Read more here. Questions? Contact BSD.

CARE SOLACE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES

The Bellevue School District has partnered with Care Solace to complement districtwide efforts that support the well-being of students, families, and staff. Care Solace is a free and confidential care coordination service that can help you quickly find mental health or substance use treatment options matched to your needs, regardless of circumstance. Care Solace is NOT an emergency response service or mental health service provider. If you have a life-threatening emergency, please call 911 or The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. Find out more info here. Questions? Contact BSD.

BSD NEWSLETTER

An e-newsletter was sent to BSD staff and families on Wednesday, November 22, with information about how community partners support BSD schools, mental health resources, preparing for school and program open houses, and more. Read it here. Don't receive the district newsletter? Sign up here! You can see all newsletters here. Questions? Contact BSD.

GARDEN D'LIGHTS 2023

Garden d’Lights features over half a million sparkling lights formed into the whimsical shapes of plants, flowers, birds, animals, and cascading waterfalls set amid the natural beauty of the Bellevue Botanical Garden.

• When: Saturday, November 25 – Sunday, December 31 (closed December 25) 4:30–8 PM
• Where: Bellevue Botanical Garden, 12001 Main Street, Bellevue, WA
• Cost: 11 Years and Older: $5 per person. Kids 10 and under are free.

Find out more info and purchase tickets here. Questions? Email gardendlights@bellevuebotanical.org.

LIGHTED BOAT PARADE

Each night, from late November to December 23, the Argosy Christmas Ship sails to different Puget Sound waterfront locations. Other lighted boats join in to make a boat parade. At departure, return, and/or planned stops en route, the public is invited to gather on shore, view the ships, and listen to the ship’s choir sing (broadcast via a speaker system). Some locations feature a bonfire as well!

• When: Every night from now until December 23. Get the schedule here
• Where: Waterfront Parks all around the Puget Sound. Get the schedule here
• Cost: FREE to watch on shore, Cruises have a cost.

Questions? Email the individual cities hosting the park events for the night you have a question about.

THE WINTER PORCH LIGHT PARADE

The cities of Bothell, Kenmore, Lake Forest Park, and Shoreline will be hosting the fourth annual Winter Porch Light Parade -- a winter program showcasing communities shining bright during the holiday season. These four cities invite their communities to create light displays that will become part of a virtual holiday map, marking the many traditions celebrated during winter. 

Embark on this exciting holiday light adventure at your leisure throughout the month of December. Whether you are bundled up with your family or friends, this is the perfect tradition to see the magic of lights from the ease of your car throughout four cities in the Pacific Northwest. 

• Insider Tip: The light displays are best seen between 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. -- we recommend planning your route using the virtual Winter Porch Light Parade Map. This is a self-guided driving experience.

Find out more info here. Get the map here! Questions? Contact the various cities here.

CROSS-CULTURAL CENTER WITHOUT WALLS: COMMUNITY WORKSHOP #3

Are you interested in running a cross-cultural program as part of the city's traveling Cross-Cultural Center without Walls? If so, the City of Bellevue and the Diversity Advantage Team invite you to attend our Community Workshop to learn more about how you can get involved.

• When: Wednesday, December 6, 6 - 8 PM
• Where: Sammamish High School

In this third and final Community Workshop, our staff will share the major findings from the last two Community Workshops, including the key ideas generated from over 125 community participants. Organizations will have the opportunity to start exploring partnerships and developing project ideas and will learn the next steps for submitting proposals for cross-cultural projects. We hope you can join us! Dinner will be provided. Register here. Questions? Contact the City of Bellevue.

SHOW YOUR SCHOOL SPIRIT!

Check out our wide variety of International School spiritwear! Hoodies, T-shirts, bags, and more, order now! You can pick up your order from Winner's Sportswear in Bellevue or have it delivered. Questions? Email Melissa Richardson, VP of Outreach.

SMITH BROTHERS FARMS MILK FUND PROGRAMS

Sign up for Smith Brothers Farms Home Grocery Delivery and when you do, you'll receive $15 off your 1st delivery & ISPTSA receives a $50 gift donation from SBF! It's a win-win! You get the iconic Porch Box with your 1st order & it can be filled each week with milk that is 2-days-fresh from the farm, eggs that are 3-days-fresh, fresh produce, almond & oat milk, and hundreds of grocery items that are primarily from local PNW companies!

Delivery is free with just a $10 order & there are no monthly fees, no contract. Give it a try - we get the donation if you get one delivery or remain a customer for years. Questions? Contact Smith Brothers Farms.