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The Newsletter of
Bellevue High School PTSA
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WELCOME TO THE 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR! |
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Welcome to the new school year and we hope everyone has a fantastic first day back! We really enjoyed meeting so many parents and caregivers during the Freshman Orientation and New Student Orientation sessions last Tuesday. Thank you for your involvement and support.
The BHS PTSA is ready to kick off another year of support for our BHS students, teachers, staff, and community, but we can’t do this without your help and contributions. There are lots of ways to get involved, but the first thing you can do is join the PTSA. We invite all new or returning parents, guardians, students, staff, and interested community members to join the Bellevue High PTSA online. Please use the following link to join:
SAVE THE DATE:
Our first PTSA General Membership Meeting will be on September 13 in the BHS Library in person, and through Teams. Dr. Anderson’s Principal Coffee will start at 8:15am, followed by our PTSA General Membership Meeting from 8:45am. Please join us to hear from Dr. Anderson and get to know our PTSA.
Jaclyn Schwartz and Tanya Stoney
BHS PTSA Co-Presidents
presidents@bellevuehighptsa.com
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THRIVING AT BELLEVUE HIGH |
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Parents’ Community Engagement Program to Launch with Panel Discussion: “Thriving at Bellevue High”
The Bellevue High School (BHS) PTSA is set to introduce an exciting new program this year aimed at building community. It is called “I-Connect” – an initiative to encourage new and returning parents/guardians to build relationships, foster participation, and strengthen our school community.
I-Connect kicks off Wednesday, September 20th with a panel discussion in the library where the topic will be: “Thriving at Bellevue High: Success Strategies from the Experts.” The meeting will run from 8:15 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. Panelists will include:
Jocelyn Alexander, Assistant Principal
John Hill, Director of Athletics and Activities
Lorenzo McKinney, Graduation Success Coach
A BHS counselor, TBD
Athena Bao, BHS Class of 2023
Panelists will offer key tips for parents and their students to not just survive at BHS -- but to thrive -- academically, emotionally, and socially. We will also ask returning parents to share their insider tips.
I-Connect meetings will take place monthly. Some will be in the mornings, and some in the evenings. Meetings are open to all BHS parents and caregivers, regardless of PTSA membership. Come to one meeting or come every month; the choice is yours.
Parent Sharon Pang, who will be I-Connect Chairperson this year, steered the program for the last two years at Chinook, and is enthusiastic about introducing the program at BHS. “We’ll examine some vital issues this year, including college admissions pressures and the effect of artificial intelligence on student learning,” she said. “Plus, we’ll get to know members of our BHS community along the way, and we’ll also have a little fun.”
BACKGROUND: The I-Connect concept was born in 2014 when a parent, Asako Yoshimura, and her family moved from Seattle to Medina Elementary School. She felt that as families move into a new school community, whether from across Lake Washington, within the United States, or from abroad, they could always use a friendly place to get to know people and make connections. She saw a need for a place where parents could see each other regularly and were encouraged to speak up. Yoshimura joined with two other moms and created I-Connect, a safe environment to share thoughts and experiences face-to-face so parents could get to know, understand, and support each other. Subsequently, I-Connect offshoots began at Chinook and Odle Middle Schools. In 2017, the Washington State PTA bestowed a “Local PTA and Council Award of Excellence” on the I-Connect program.
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RSVP FOR THE PARENT SOCIAL ON SUNDAY 9/10!
Connect with Class of 2024 Parents
Hear about Senior Year and Graduation Events
Enjoy a Taco Truck and Drinks!
It’s GO time! Our kids are SENIORS and we are in the home stretch to ensure that our students have a fun and memorable final year of high school!
As your parent leads for the graduating class of 2024 our role is to raise funds as well as plan and execute key graduation celebrations for our grade. Our efforts fall under the PTSA and we rely on YOUR help in supporting our nearly 400 seniors!
These CAPSTONE EVENTS are important for providing a sense of community and closure in an important chapter in our student’s journey. They offer an opportunity to celebrate, reflect and create lasting memories that will carry them into the future:
· Prom
· Baccalaureate
· Senior Breakfast
· Grad Night
We are also focused on bringing together our awesome parent community and INVITE YOU to kick off this exciting year with us! Please join us at the home of David and Leslie Feller on Sunday 9/10 from 5:30 – 7:30pm where you can connect with other 2024 parents, learn about everything related to graduation, and get any questions answered. And, to celebrate together!
We are excited to connect and look forward to seeing you there! Please RSVP here.
Kim Millen & Leslie Feller, BHS Class of 2024 Parent Leads
FUNDRAISING UPDATE & FINAL FALL FUNDRAISER
$50,000 Goal
$33,670 total raised - $16,000 still to raise
This is IT! Senior year is HERE and it’s time to wrap up our fundraising efforts and focus on planning our graduation events for the Spring!
If you didn’t donate to the Fall campaign last year because you were waiting until your student was a senior, we would be grateful for your contribution NOW! This is our LAST CHANCE to raise the final 30% of what we need to ensure that we can still support several important graduation events. YOUR student will be invited to:
- Prom
- Baccalaureate
- Senior Breakfast
- Grad Night
These events provide an important sense of community and closure as well as time to reflect, celebrate and create lasting memories!
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These events touch 100% OF SENIOR STUDENTS!
- Funds are set aside for students in need so that everyone can attend Prom and Grad Night.
- Even if your student doesn't attend everything, they will likely attend at least 2-3 events as they each traditionally get over two-thirds of the senior student body in attendance. That's a REALLY HIGH percentage compared to other school events/dances which is why it is so important that EVERY FAMILY JOINS in the effort.
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We are asking for a $125 donation per family by September 29th. No amount is too big or too small - every dollar counts – and your student will benefit from your contribution!
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Checks can be made payable to BHS PTSA and in the memo line write “Class of 2024” and either dropped off in the front office or mail to: Bellevue High PTSA Class of 2024, 10416 Wolverine Way, Bellevue WA 98004
If every family joins in the effort, we will reach our goal EASILY. Only about 25% of families have donated, including via raffle tickets, so we still have a bit of heavy lifting to do. WE CAN DO IT! Just like an athletic, musical, yearbook, or other school fee – you can view this as a fee that that helps offset costs for your student’s graduation experience. These events are not funded by the school and we can only make them happen if we come together as a collective community.
THANK YOU to these families for donating last year!
$1,000: Hughes, Leland $500: Feller, Morgan, Sapp
$150 - $300: Audia, Colby, Fancey, Gese, Grieve, Halvorsen, Han, Ingalls, Isdith, Lewison, Li, Little, Mayes, Millen, Rensch, Rohde, Sevier, Shanthi, Tanase, Whitten, Wilson, Wong
$125 and under: Bakkal, Bede, Birkeland, Borberg, Corsi, Cunnington, Diefenbach, Feng, Fitzpatrick, Gou, Gulrajani, Justus Kang, Kang, Kouidri, Kratovich, LaMoria, Li, Liffick, McAughan, McDermott, Min, Moorr, Morris, Naini, Nair, Okubo, Park, Patout, Pendergast, Pfeiffer, Pujol Boe, Quinn, Ramos, Razore, Reed, Reynolds, Rubin, Saraiya, Serres, Sheppard, Sodergren, Stolte, Strandell, Tang, Thaut, Trilles, Tsai, Uyematsu, Watson, Whiting, Wong, Wu, Wyatt, Zhou
We are so grateful for your generosity and are well on our way to funding our kids’ graduation events thanks to YOU! We are excited to create a special senior year for them!
Go Class of 2024 Wolverines! Kim Millen & Leslie Feller, Class of 2024 Parent Advisors
Event details and Class of 2024 information will continue to be updated - visit our web page for more information and follow our efforts and our student Class Officers on Instagram at Bellevue2024.
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BELLEVUE BLAST VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
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Looking for a volunteering opportunity to support our BHS community?
Bellevue Blast needs student volunteers to translate weekly blasts into Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish. Working with adult leaders, you will be asked to translate Bellevue Blast regularly and earn service hours. If interested, please contact translation group leaders by September 30th.
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BELLEVUE DANCE TEAM FALL TRYOUT INFORMATION
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The dance team is having a fall tryout for our competition team on 9/27.
Details:
Tryout date: Wednesday September 27, 4-7PM in the upper auxiliary Gym
Sign up is required on final forms with updated physical and all forms signed.
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BHS ATHLETICS & ACTIVITES |
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Regular Season Sports 2023-24
Fall Sports:
Football – start August 16th
Cross Country, Boys Golf, Girls Soccer, Girls Swim and Dive, Boys Tennis, Volleyball, Boys’ Water Polo – start August 21st
Winter Sports:
Boys and Girls Basketball, Boys Swim and Dive, Boys and Girls Wrestling, Gymnastics – start November 13th
Spring Sports:
Girls Badminton, Baseball, Girls Golf, Boys Soccer, Softball, Girls Tennis, Boys and Girls Track & Field and Girls Water Polo – start February 26th
Boys and Girls Lacrosse – start TBD
Practices are mandatory beginning on these dates. If a team has a tryout, it will be scheduled for the first days of practice.
To find contact information for our all of our coaches please visit our school website athletics page.
Registration for the 2023/24 BHS Athletics open in FinalForms – register now for the upcoming sports seasons!
To Participate in a Sport at BHS:
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Register for Athletics or Clubs at BHS FinalForms (https://bellevue-wa.finalforms.com/)
- A student may be on only one interscholastic sport roster per season
- Parent/Guardian and Student questions need to be complete every year
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If you attend International, Bellevue Virtual Academy or Big Picture, please contact Kelli at mayerk@bsd405.org.
2.Please attend ImPACT Testing (if required)
- Athletes for most high school sports must have a current concussion baseline ImPACT test completed to participate (valid for 24 months) require ImPACT testing.
- Sports that do not require ImPACT testing are: Cross Country, Badminton, Drill Team, Swim Only, Tennis, Golf, and Track & Field (except Pole Vault requires the ImPACT test)
3.Make sure a BSD sports physical is on file with the school Athletics and Activities department, email a copy to Kelli at mayerk@bsd405.org. BSD Sports physicals are kept on file for 2 years – please be sure we will have valid BSD sports physical on file for your athletes for the whole sports season.
- * Please Note: ASB membership is required to participate in Athletics and the Athletic Fees are applied to your students account & applied when team rosters are complete. The fees include the ASB Card fee, a school transportation fee (fee amounts vary), and a $100 program participation fee per sport (maximum $300 per individual/family per school year), $150 Club sport base fee for Water Polo, Lacrosse and Badminton.
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Questions in regard to Fees/Fines, please contact Cathy Lanning, BHS ASB Accountant at lanningc@bsd405.org
Athletics Department Contacts:
John Hill
Athletic Director
425-456-7038
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BHS ATHETICS SCHEDULE Sept.5th to 9th |
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Bellevue High School Athletics Schedule
Tuesday September 5th
Boys Varsity Tennis v. Liberty High School @ Bellevue High School 4:00pm
Boys Junior Varsity Tennis at Liberty High School 4:00pm
Girls Junior Varsity and Varsity Soccer v. Shorewood High School @ Shoreline Stadium JV @ 5:00pm, Varsity @ 7:00pm
Bellevue Marching Band practice in STADIUM 7:00pm
Wednesday September 6th
Boys and Girls Cross Country at Jamboree/Class Races @ Lower Woodland Park, Seattle 4:30pm
Girls JVC, Junior Varsity, Varsity Volleyball at Issaquah High School JVC 5:15pm, JV 5:15pm, Varsity 7:00pm
Thursday September 7th
Boys Varsity Golf v. Mercer Island High School @ Twin Rivers Golf Course 3:30pm
Boys Varsity Tennis v. Juanita High School @ Bellevue High School 4:00pm
Boys Junior Varsity Tennis at Juanita High School 4:00pm
Girls Varsity Soccer v. Mountain View High School @ Bellevue High School 5:30pm
Supervisor John Hill
Stadium manager and Scoreboard Minh Nguyen
Friday September 8th
Varsity Tennis at Newport High School 4:00pm
Junior Varsity Tennis v. Newport High School @ Bellevue High School 4:00pm
Varsity Football v. Lake Steven’s High School @ Bellevue High School 7:00pm
Supervisors Thomas Gangle, Jocelyn Alexander, Cathy Wellington, John Hill
Stadium Manager Minh Nguyen
Boys Water Polo v. Kentridge High School 6:30pm
Go Bellevue!!!!
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BELLEVUE BLAST ARTICLE DEADLINE |
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The deadlines for submitting Bellevue Blast articles are as follows:
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School news and PTSA articles – Friday 6 pm deadline
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Athletics and Activities articles – Sunday 6 pm deadline
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PTSA EXECUTIVE BOARD / QUICK LINKS |
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PTSA Presidents
PTSA Vice President Fundraising
PTSA Board
Committee Chairs
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PTSA Vice Presidents Communications
PTSA Secretary
PTSA Treasurers
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BHS Administration
Principal:
BHS Athletics/ Activities
BHS Main Office
425-456-7000
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Our Address:
10416 Wolverine Way
Bellevue, Washington
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