Class of 2012 News -- March 22, 2009

Hello Freshparents:

The freshmen may have enjoyed starting school at 10:15 am last week but I found it nerve wracking to leave for work with two sleeping teenagers in the house. Somehow it all worked out but I am happy that everyone is back on the “normal” schedule again … at least for the next few weeks. Here’s the latest news …

New Superintendent for BSD
Making the Move to Newport
PTSA Meeting
Spring for Schools Luncheon
Yearbook
Staff Appreciation Luncheon
On-Line Petition in Support of Education
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New Superintendent for BSD
At a special meeting on Sunday, March 22, the Bellevue School District Board of Directors named Dr. Amalia Cudeiro as the district's next superintendent.

Each board member spoke at the meeting. They said they had been looking for an instructional leader, a bridge builder and someone who would challenge leaders in an intelligent way and that all candidates met their criteria. They gave a special thank you to public and staff who took part in the public process. Board members reviewed the more than 600 comments and used the information in subsequent interviews with each candidate. They said that on Saturday Dr. Fink pulled his name from the pool of candidates. Mrs. Bushnell expressed the hope that staff and community will join together and move forward in support of Dr. Cudeiro.

The board said that Dr. Cudeiro "brings an exceptional and unique aspect to this job, based on her personal and inspirational story of immigrating to the US from Cuba, learning English, and eventually earning a doctorate from Harvard. She will be an inspiration to parent and students. She has a track record of building strong teams and working with teacher and administrator teams. She would like Bellevue to be the model in the US for how schools can close the achievement gap."
------------------------------------------------------------------
Making the Move to Newport

I know, I know – your student has already moved to Newport but this is still something worth reading. Many of you attended the Making the Move to Newport presentation last spring in the Newport Commons, presented by Audrey Bennett, our PTSA leader extraordinaire. The PTSA and school administration are preparing for this year’s version of the presentation to the parents of current 8th graders. We are asking you to think back to the summer and early days of freshman year and let us know what you would’ve liked to know back then but didn’t. Did anything blindside you or your student? Did anything in particular confuse you? Is there an important deadline that you missed? Conversely, was there any part of the presentation that you would eliminate? Please email me if you have comments to contribute.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PTSA Meeting

The next PTSA meeting convenes at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, March 25 in the school library. Plan to attend!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Spring for Schools Luncheon

Spring for Schools brings together school, community and business leaders to hear from students who have benefitted from Bellevue Schools Foundation funds – and raises funds to ensure students succeed in Bellevue schools. Please consider joining your school’s table! The Spring for Schools benefit luncheon will be held on Thursday, June 4, 2009 at Meydenbauer Center from 11:30am – 1:30pm. Contact our BSF Rep Karen Tokita at atkaren@yahoo.com to attend.
www.bsfdn.org
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yearbook

The Newport Yearbook is in desperate need of wrestling and boys basketball photos. The staff could also use more girls’ soccer photos. Please send photos ASAP to driscollk@bsd405.org.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Staff Appreciation Luncheon

The theme for the next staff luncheon on May 1 is Spring Fling. Contact cordovafamily@comcast.net if you can contribute a salad or another dish.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On-Line Petition in Support of Education

We are learning from legislators that they hear from healthcare advocates much more than they hear from education advocates. Although we appreciate the value of healthcare, we need to change this balance if we are to achieve our goals. We are at a critical juncture, when final decisions are being made about which bills will pass this session. Legislators, especially our Senators, need to hear from parents and PTA members again.

Please do all that you can this week to support the Washington State PTA’s efforts to pass a bill this session which will keep the momentum going towards our #1 priority issue this session, long overdue education finance reform!

Here is a link to an online petition which will be delivered to legislators. Please sign today and forward to your contact lists. http://gopetition.com/online/25946.html