Academic Challenge

Academic Challenge is back!

What is the Academic Challenge?

The Academic Challenge is a free enrichment program for all students in grades K-5 at Puesta del Sol. This is an optional, non-competitive program for students to challenge themselves and foster a love of learning and exploration beyond the classroom. Each student can earn an Academic Challenge Trophy by completing 4 of the 6 activities and/or the Principal's Medal by completing all 6 activities. Awards will be given at a school-wide assembly in June.

Academic Challenges:

1. Science Fair: Complete a science project and presentation for the school Science Fair. More information will be available later in the school year.

2. Multi-Cultural Project: Projects form OR

Passport Club: Complete all Levels 1-5 AND 6 Special Itineraries for the months of November - April.

3. Math: Complete at least 10 additional hours of math outside regularly assigned classwork and homework to earn credit.

4. Book Reviews: Read 5 books at your reading level and complete a book review for each book.

5. Computer Programming: Complete at least 5 hours of programming in any computer language (e.g. Java, Python, etc.).

6. Keyboarding: Practice for at least 5 hours with any program of your choice.

See PTA website for details and for required forms

Questions : AcademicChallenge@puestadelsolpta.org

November Passport Check

Tuesday, November 28th 12:30-3pm

STEAM Room (5th grade pod)

November Passport Check is coming up right after Thanksgiving on the 28th. Join us! If your child is interested in doing the Special Itinerary worksheet this month to win a prize, the country is Canada. They can use the information from the bulletin board in the upstairs hallway or do their research on CultureGrams through their school computer.

Night out with the Puesta del Sol PTA at the Seattle Thunderbirds Hockey Game

Join Puesta del Sol PTA for a night out at the Seattle Thunderbirds Hockey game.

Sunday, February 4th, 2024 at 5:05PM

at the accesso ShoWare Center:

625 W James St

Kent, WA 98032

Tickets are $25 each and must be ordered by January 15, 2024. https://puestadelsolpta.org/Packet/SeattleThunderbirdsTix

If you would like to sit with another family, please place one order for the entire group. (No refunds).

Tickets will be emailed to the email address associated with your PTA membership approximately a week before the game.

*It is our PTA mission to support every child, financial assistance is available for this activity. If interested, please please see our Financial Aid Form.



Questions? Contact Aly at familyfun@puestadelsolpta.org

Lost and Found

To make some room for the upcoming winter season, we're planning to donate all unclaimed lost and found items during the Thanksgiving break. So, if your child has misplaced any clothing, lunch items, or other belongings, now is the time to give the lost and found a thorough check.

Please swing by the school and look through the lost and found before Wednesday, November 22 to reclaim any missing items.

We appreciate your help in keeping our lost and found area manageable and ensuring that misplaced items find their way back to their rightful owners.

Introducing NEST Time!

Has your student been telling you about this new thing at school called NEST? All our students are experiencing a new way of learning at school lately! Here is the explanation from Principals Danelle & Aishla:

"NEST = Nurturing. Every. Student. Together.

What it is: This is the whole grade level group time for push in support with intervention and extension for all students, using assessment data to focus on targeted skills to support student progress. All students in a grade level will be mixed together and grouped based on skill level to work in small groups. The groups are flexible, led by an adult, and often occur four days a week.

Why we are doing it: Inclusive scheduling of differentiated support mitigates the potential negative impact that pull out instruction can have on a student’s self esteem. When all students are served together by many different adults no one is singled out and strength based approach versus deficit approach can happen. Classroom educators have a group of educators wrapping around their students versus figuring it out all on their own. Puesta is composed of many educational experts in both English and Spanish. This includes the designated grade-level teachers, resource (SpEd) teachers, LAP facilitator, MLL teacher, and our ITCL."



If you haven't heard your student mention NEST (or "Nido" in Spanish), please ask them about their experiences. Should you have more questions, please reach out to our school leadership: edwardsd@bsd405.org or acevedoa@bsd405.org.

Ice Skate and raise money for

Puesta del Sol PTA!

Nov. 17, 2023 through Jan. 15, 2024

Located at Bellevue Downtown Park and featuring the region’s largest covered open-air ice (real frozen water) skating experience, admission/reservations can be made on-line as of NOW. Make sure to notify rink staff upon arrival that you are affiliated with the Puesta del Sol PTA (they are not able to track fundraising tally on the e-ticketing ticket reservation platform). See hours, directions and special events if interested.

We would love to get a group of Puesta del Sol families together for skating during winter break. If you are interested in coordinating this event, please reply to this week's El Sol communication or email familyfun@puestadelsolpta.org so we can add it to the next newsletter and publicize the event.

International Festival

Do you have great organizational skills?

Are you good at directing children and managing a stage?

Puesta needs TWO CO-CHAIRS for the International Festival in May.

Please consider signing up!

Responsibilities include

• Work with the PTA communications team to develop promo for the event and registration for the various acts
• Create a rehearsal calendar
• Work with Amity Interns for their dance acts, with Sra Rose for Marimba acts and coordinate with Fiesta Latina and Flamenco acts
• Recruit day of event volunteers
• Collaborate with PTA or 5th grade events for concession sales

Work is heaviest Feb/March (coordinating acts) and then the two weeks leading up to the event.

Contact : Events@puestadelsolpta.org if you are interested

President: Holly Ellis-Brown

Treasurer Deposits: Michele Snydsman

Treasurer Payables: Adam Droker

Co-Secretary: Jim Simmons

Co-Secretary: Julie Keeney

Member at Large: Joel Ingraham

VP of Membership: Jodi Sternoff

Director of School Relations: Carla Merkow

Co-Director of Educational Enhancements: Stephanie Parkins

Co-Director of Educational Enhancements: Alice Kim

Co-Director of Educational Enhancements: Jackie Zawalski

Co-Director of Fundraising: Aubra Moore

Co-Director of Fundraising: Dan Welygan

Director of Special Events: Sarah Moon

Director of Communications: Jennifer Green Li

2023-2024 BSD Family Calendar

2024-2025 & 2025-2026 BSD Family Calendar

BSD Cultural Calendar

Bus Route Information

Bellevue Family Hub

Mental Health Services

Nutrition Services:

BSD Elementary Lunch Menu Nov. 2023

Technology Support for Students & Families

Be a Bellevue School District Volunteer

Coming Soon: Open Transfer and Choice Schools and Programs Application Period

The Open Transfer and Choice Schools and Programs application period for the 2024-2025 academic year will take place from Monday, December 11, 2023, to Friday, January 19, 2024.

Open House Events:

• Puesta Del Sol Elementary School Open House, Wednesday, January 3, 2024
• Tillicum Middle School Open House, Wednesday, January 17, 2024

The Bellevue School District has partnered with Care Solace to complement districtwide efforts to provide our learning community with access to mental health care and support student well-being. Care Solace is a central hub that connects students, staff and their families to care. At no cost to you, Care Solace will quickly and confidentially find available mental health and substance use providers matched to your needs.

Care Solace helps school districts provide care coordination for every student, staff member, and family member in need. The Care Solace team is always available — including nights, weekends, and holidays — in 200+ languages.

BSD Newsletter

An e-newsletter was sent to BSD staff and families on Thursday, November 9, with information about how families can help co-design the next BSD strategic plan, family resource events, recent school board recognition, and more. Read it here: BSD News and Events: November 9, 2023

Middle School Consolidation Study

Middle School Consolidation Study - Community Forums Recap and Next Steps

Community Forum presentations

Demographer Reports Summary

Tillicum MS PTA's Response to BSD Middle School Consolidation

Bellevue School District is now hiring bus drivers!



Interested? Apply here!

National PTA 2023-2024 Multicultural Calendar

BSF Grant Awards