Click here to view the District 2022–2023 calendar for families.

*More information in the message below

In the Monday issue of the Seattle Times, there was a good article interviewing Chris Reykdal, the WA State Superintendent of Public Instruction. The interview discussed the same problem Bellevue is grappling with; declining enrollment and funding, but with the view that this is happening and will happen to districts all over the state. This is a sad but unfortunate reality that I truly did not even think of 10 years ago. As we are in the midst of public comment sessions for the elementary school closures, I need to remind myself to view this situation as the glass half full. I believe that IS will have accommodations in the future that are equitable, meet the needs of our community, and provide the global and 21st-century education demanded of our students. I encourage you to view the future of IS thru this lens and by the way, read the article too.

What an awesome sight to see such a fantastic turnout and support for International School at the Winter Auction! It truly was a night to celebrate our community. In addition to celebrating student performances, activities, and achievements, 160 parents and teachers raised their bid cards and clicked to bid or donate. While we’re still working to close the books on the auction – there’s still time for donors to request company matching donations (email vpfundraising@isptsa.org for assistance) and for you to donate if you couldn't attend. Early projections show us nearly doubling our fundraising target and raising approximately $70,000 for the PTSA after expenses. With funds secured, we’re working to ensure these funds are used to expand support for students and teachers at IS by providing opportunities, experiences, and equipment. Thank you! Questions? Contact VPFundraising@isptsa.org.

Thank you for coming to the MS Parent Social and Parent Night Tuesday, February 7. We had a good turnout: ~50+ people; almost filled up the library. Find out more info here.

Questions? Contact parent-rep2029@isptsa.org, parent-rep2028@isptsa.org, or parent-rep2027@isptsa.org.

If you are not sure whether you have joined or not, please check your email for your WA PTA membership ID card (means you have already joined) or an invitation to join (means you haven’t joined or renewed your ISPTSA membership yet, please click join now)!

Questions? Please contact Honglian Gao at membership@isptsa.org

National PTA President Anna King sat down with NBC’s Kate Snow, Turnaround for Children Founder and child psychiatrist Dr. Pamela Cantor and Excellence Community Charter Schools Co-CEO Dr. Charlene Reid to answer questions from parents on pandemic learning loss following the release of the Nation’s Report Card. Watch the discussion on TODAY Parents' Facebook page to see what they said. Questions? Contact info@pta.org.

All Bellevue School District high school seniors are welcome to apply for these scholarships. Information and online applications can be found here.

The deadline for submission of the applications is Friday, May 5 at 11:59 pm. 

We are looking for parents to serve as judges for the scholarship. The adjudication work can be done from home, online at a time convenient to you between May 11 – May 19. If you are interested in volunteering, please fill out this Google form by May 10.

Questions? Emailed to scholarships@bellevueptsacouncil.com

Choosing a summer program that is fun, educational and affordable is no easy task. Brodrick Clarke, VP of Programs at the National Summer Learning Association joined our Notes From the Backpack podcast to help. He shares tools families can use to find high-quality summer programs and offers tips for finding a program that will be a good fit for your child. Listen now. Questions? Contact National PTA.

Position descriptions can be found here. Send nominations to nominations@istpsa.org. You can self-nominate or nominate someone you believe in! Questions? Contact the Nominations Committee.

Learn more about these positions here. Please email board@isptsa.org if you have questions or if you're interested in signing up. Thank you!

Hello, parents of Titan athletes! Do you have any pictures of athletics your child is part of and would like to share with the school? If so, please submit your photos for inclusion in the yearbook by uploading them to www.hjeshare.com. The school code is gotitans513. Choose candid for photo type. If you see a yellow warning sign, one or all of your images is not of a high enough resolution. Photos must be submitted in digital form as a .tif or .jpg and be at least 300 dpi (PPI). Questions? Contact Vivian Tan.

The 2023 International School Talent Show is coming up and we want YOU to participate! Show off ANY talent, from singing, dancing, playing an instrument, or standup comedy! The talent show will be on Friday, March 31 after school, with participants being required to come to an audition on Monday, March 13, and a dress rehearsal on Monday, March 27.

Please fill out this form by Friday, March 10 if you’re interested/would like to perform—more details will be sent out!

Don’t hesitate to contact the junior class officers if you have any questions or concerns: Neha Mukhara, Ted Guan, Jayna Laserna, and Nathan Sun.

Every Thursday, Jill Follett emails the IS College Newsletter to you as partners in supporting your students through high school and the college application process. If you are not receiving this, please ensure your preferred email address is listed in Synergy. Some families find their spam/junk filters are blocking it. Because it’s sent through Synergy, you can always find it in your ParentVue inbox, too. Questions? Email Jill at follettj@bsd405.org

This year’s spring musical is NEWSIES. Ticket sales are OPEN NOW (online presale closes the Tuesday before each show weekend). Find tickets on Touchbase under "My School" and "ASB Activities/Clubs." There will be assigned seating and any remaining tickets will be available to purchase at the door. These purchases are associated with a student account, so any extended family or friends tickets should be bought at the same time. For questions, please email Renuka Getchell, Drama Co-Parent.

International School will be administering the school day SAT to 11th graders Wednesday, March 22. We are looking for parents who can proctor the test and parents who can provide school support. Parents of 11^th graders CANNOT proctor the test or provide support. Find out more information here.

If you are interested in helping or have questions, contact Traci Sullivan.

An International School Update was sent through email on Wednesday, March 1 to all current IS families with great updates. Questions? Email the IS Main Office.

Starting March 14th, join the Newport Select Girls Basketball League Tuesday & Thursday evenings from 6:00-8:00 PM in the Tyee Middle School Gym to work on your basketball skills! Our professional trainer and coaches will help girls work on their skills and organize scrimmages. These are open to girls of all experience levels in 3rd – 7th grade that eventually will go to Newport High School! Questions? Email Newport Girls Select Basketball for more details on how to register.

Lake Hills Elementary is looking for High School students to volunteer at their PTA Movie Night on Friday, March 24. They need people to help with set-up and clean-up, greeting and registering guests, selling concessions (candy, popcorn, and soda) and pizza. Sign-up here. Questions? Contact lakehillsptsa@gmail.com.

Details: This event is hosted by the school. There will be adult volunteers in the rooms as well as student volunteers. Pizza and a movie will be provided for the kids; a separate room will be available for younger children and those with sensory needs. The children will range in age from approx. pre-school to 5th grade. How to sign up and ask questions: Contact Rachel Pearson, Assistant Principal, at pearsonr@bsd405.org.

The Washington State Senate Committee on Early Learning and K-12 Education staff reviewed current state laws, rules, and policies to produce the K-12 Parent's Bill of Rights. This comprehensive document details the many rights accorded to parents in our state by state law. Questions? Contact Sen. Lisa Wellman at (360)786-7641.

On Thursday, February 16, a special meeting of the Board of Directors was held for the purpose of discussion with the Community Committee and School Committee, who reviewed the school consolidation recommendation made at the February 9 Board meeting. More information can be found here. Questions? Email BSD or contact them through Let's Talk.

Dr. Art Jarvis recently announced the continued suspension of the proposed replacement for the School Resource Officer (SRO) Program, the Community Engagement Officer (CEO) Program. Further, Dr. Jarvis shared a recommendation against implementing the proposed CEO program. BSD and the City of Bellevue have agreed to maintain an excellent relationship and continue any necessary police services through usual civic and emergency channels. Bellevue Police Department will continue to respond to safety emergencies and requested service. Read Dr. Jarvis’s full statement about this recommendation. Questions? Email BSD.

Learn more about the information sessions by contacting p12mathupdate@BSD405.org. More information about BSD’s process of developing the new curriculum can be found on the AGA Instructional Material Adoption Committee webpage. Questions? Email BSD.

The March CTE Spotlight can be found here.

CTE stands for Career and Technical Education. The CTE Spotlight is a monthly newsletter that highlights the great work students are doing and the different career pathways in CTE. These courses are available from middle to high school. To see the entire program you can log onto the district website and see all the career pathways.

Registration for courses for the 2023-2024 school year is quickly approaching. Please make sure you check the many classes available through CTE on the district website under Career and Technical Education. WANIC is also hosting an Open House in March. Check out the CTE Spotlight for information and details regarding career pathways, WANIC and Satellite programs. Questions? Contact Marilyn Henselman, CTE Director

Irish Week 2023 in Seattle is going on now with lots of activities and will end on Saturday, March 18 with a St. Patrick's Day Dinner Dance. It's a full schedule of events, including a festival and parade, celebrating St. Patrick's Day and pride in the Irish heritage. We do hope you can join us at some or all of these Irish Week 2023 events. Check them all out here! Questions? Contact irishheritageclub@irishclub.org.

THIS Tuesday, March 7 | 5:15 - Multimedia Megillah show on Broadway, 5:45 - Party begins! Hilton Garden Inn Renton - 1801 E Valley Rd, Renton, WA 98057

Join us and bring your friends! Wear your NYC get-up! (Lady Liberty, newsboy, NYPD, I <3 NY tourist… get creative!) Questions? Find out more here or email Chabad.

THIS Tuesday, March 7

Teens in middle and high school are invited to write stories and share your love of creative writing! Get ideas for your fan-fiction, novel, poem, or short story. Snacks provided. Register for the event here. Questions? Get more information here or contact KCLS.

THIS Wednesday, March 8th, 12-4 pm with a special happy hour from 4-6 pm.

In the spirit of International Women’s Day join us at U Village for the Women supporting Women Pop-up Event where the center’s most beloved women-owned stores pay it forward by hosting a dozen women-owned Seattle businesses to sell their products. Then, mix and mingle at Jenni Kayne’s happy hour with Molly’s Bottle Shop from 4-6 pm. For more information on this event, giveaways, and day of discounts, check here. Questions? Email info@uvillage.com.

THIS Wednesday, March 8, 2023 @ 4:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.

In honor of International Women's Day, Kirkland Urban is hosting a Shop & Celebrate event featuring women-owned businesses and female leaders in our community. Check in outside of the 425 building to receive a list of participating retailers who will be hosting special shopping experiences, promotions, and giveaways (while supplies last). One of Seattle’s premier female DJs will be spinning a girl power playlist live on the promenade. Find out more information here. Questions? Contact information can be found here.

Find out more information and additional dates here. Questions? Contact DiscoverPass@dfw.wa.gov.

THIS Thursday, March 9, at 6pm, Virtual

Get to the bottom of these questions and more with our five experts, each of whom will have five minutes to share one big—and fascinating—idea. Find out more here. Questions? Contact the Seattle Aquarium.

THIS Saturday, March 11 from 7:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m. FREE

Come celebrate Holi, the Festival of Joy at our free music concert. This program will lift our spirits through music and dance, awaken our inner joy effortlessly. Find out more here.

Children and all ages are welcome. There is no admission fee! Questions? Contact the organizer here.

This Sunday, March 12

Join us for this Seattle tradition, 39 years running! The St. Patrick’s Day Dash will once again call Seattle Center home. There will be lots of family fun including the traditional 5K distance, leprechaun lap, Post Dash Bash, costume contests, live music, and more! Find out more and register here. Questions? Email info@fizzeventsnw.com.

THIS SUNDAY, March 12 @ 12:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.

HOLI is known as the "festival of colors" or the "festival of love". The festival signifies the victory of good over evil, the arrival of spring, end of winter, and for many a festive day to meet others, play and laugh, forget and forgive. Let's all enjoy the festival of color with music, food and fun! Find out more information here. Questions? Email the Bellevue Hindu Temple and Cultural Center.

Girl Scout cookies are on sale! Find out how to buy some here. Questions? Find out how to contact local Girl Scouts here.

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.

Start 2023 off with some stress relief for yourself! Signup 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.