More Fall News -- September 30, 2008

Hello Freshparents:

Last week our students experienced their first Spirit Week and school assembly and many attended their first all-school dance. They’re settling into their schedules, doing homework, and hopefully feeling less anxious about being in high school. Here’s the latest edition of fall news.

Bellevue School Board Town Hall Meeting
Student Grades
Extended Tutorial
Clubs
Sports
Food for Thought


Bellevue School Board Town Hall Meeting

The Bellevue School Board is hosting a Town Hall to learn about the proposals being made by the Basic Education Funding Task Force. The bi-partisan group has been working on what they hope to be a major piece of legislation to address education funding in this state. Come learn about what they are recommending. This could be seen as a continuation of the discussion that was begun at the School Board meeting during the teacher strike. Many parents were awakened to the issues and want to learn what they can do to resolve the issues of how schools are funded, how teacher pay is determined, and what is meant by basic education.

Date: Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Time: 7:00 pm
Place: Sammamish High School
Who: Representatives from the Basic Education Funding Task Force
Host: Bellevue School Board

Student Grades

You may now access your student’s attendance record and grades by going to https://grades.bsd405.org/piv. I recommend that you go to the Newport website, click on Grades and then on Instructions to learn how to view grades. You need your student’s ID number and password to get started. If you are new to the Bellevue School District or lost your password from middle school, your student may request this information at Newport or you may go into the office to get it but you must have a photo ID. You may not get this information over the phone.

Attendance is updated hourly but grades are not. Teachers are not required to update grades more than a few times during the semester although some do frequent updates.

Extended Tutorial

Teachers hold tutorial on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 2:30 pm to 3:00 pm. Some students need additional time and attention or just a quiet place to do homework so they might consider extended tutorial. Extended tutorial convenes on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:15 pm to 5:15 pm. A Math and English teacher are available at these sessions to assist students.

Clubs

Students can find enrichment outside of the classroom by participating in one of the many clubs that exist at Newport. Some clubs that have already announced their first meeting are Math Club, Astronomy Club, Snowriders Club, Key Club, Knightpagers Book Club, and Ecology Club. I highly recommend that you subscribe to the Daily Bulletin published by the front office. Just email Janet Suppes at suppesj@bsd405.org and ask her to add your name to the distribution list. This email publishes all the announcements made each morning to the students so you’ll hear the news the same day they do.

Senior Fundraiser

Those of you who attended Open House may have picked up a half-page flyer with the headline “Gradnight 2009.” This flyer lists some fundraisers for the senior class, including a poinsettia sale in November. The “order by” date is wrong on the flyer – instead of November 17, it should read ORDER BY NOVEMBER 7. Each plant is $15. You may order poinsettias or participate in any of the senior class fundraisers by visiting: http://www.nhsgradknight2009.myevent.com/. Seniors are raising money for the special events planned for them in June and they would appreciate your support. As the year goes on, you’ll hear more about fundraisers for the junior class. Please be generous in your support as our time will come to ask the younger classes to support the Class of 2012!

Sports

Freshman girls interested in the Newport Gymnastics team should attend an informational meeting after school on October 10 at 3:30 pm on the Commons.

The Girls’ Cross Country team came in second at the Nike Pre-National Meet on Saturday, September 27 in Portland OR and the Boys’ team came in fourth.

Food for Thought

Julie Rooney, the Liaison for the Class of 2011, sent me this article and I wanted to share it with you. Craig Smith gives some “free advice” on making the most of the high school experience.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/craigsmith/2008196706_smitty23.html

Coming Up Next

Homecoming Primer – everything you need to know about Homecoming Spirit Week and the Homecoming Dance.