Debby Willsey and Randee Jez set up a lovely staff appreciation event in the staff lounge this morning.
Leslie Victor and Meribeth Haeck spent the morning getting ready for Popcorn Friday. Ana Orellana Morales, Emma Hermanrud, Kelly Keller, Sarah Chitsaz, Tamara Bonaci, and Amber Dubois joined the popcorn crew in the afternoon to make it all possible!
We had multiple volunteers running the outdoor lunch program today (and every day). Thank you Josh Sharpe, Rashmi Mehta, Andrew Harris, Whitney Pierce, Kelly Keller, Julie Arneson, Amber Dubois and all the other volunteers who are keeping this program running.
The level of volunteerism and engagement from this community is heartwarming. THANK YOU to all of our community members who volunteer their time to make the work we do possible. If you're interested in getting involved, visit our volunteer page.
Only a few days left to get those ballots in! There are three levies on the ballot. It's imperative that these levies pass. This is how we fund the gap between state funding and what LWSD students need.
Please vote YES and get those ballots in by Tuesday, February 8.
Thank you to everyone who came out and showed their support this week.
We are thrilled to announce that we're bringing back the school play! As with most of our educational enrichment programs, this too will look a bit different but we are so excited to get started. Thank you to our director, Johnmichael P. Montieth, for volunteering his time and for creating Broadway Bulldogs. And thank you to Brandy Andersson for volunteering her time to produce the play. All 4th and 5th graders are welcome to sign up. We will be hosting an information session for parents and students on Thursday, February 10 at 7pm.
Dine-Outs are one of the ways we fundraise throughout the year. We partner with local restaurants who give a percentage of sales to Bell PTSA for the day of the event. Even though our Dine-Outs look a bit different now (i.e., primarily take-out and delivery versus dine-in), it's still a great way to come together to support our school and our local restaurants. Please join us for our next event and encourage your friends and neighbors to join as well.
Where: MOD Pizza, Totem Lake
When: Tuesday, February 8th
How: Order on-line using code MOD1599, or show the flyer in the restaurant and 20% of your order will be donated to Bell PTSA!
This is a great opportunity for our school community to have a conversation with the Superintendent of Lake Washington School District. Below are examples of questions submitted. What questions do you have? Submit them below and we will ask them during the Q&A session.
Given the continued challenges with staffing shortages, what is the short-term and long-term plan to remedy this? The current approach does not seem sustainable.
Are there discussions to reevaluate the way we approach education, given what we have learned from this pandemic? Will remote learning be an option for all students going forward?
Will the district require COVID vaccinations for students to enroll next year? If not next year, do you envision this being a required vaccination at some point?
The Bell PTSA has recently been recognized by Washington State PTA as a Silver Membership Growth Award recipient! PTAs are presented with this award for enrolling 105 percent as many members as last year. That means our PTSA is growing! Thank you to everyone who has become a member so far this year: YOU are the reason our PTSA achieved this award!
If you haven’t yet signed up for a 2021-2022 PTSA membership, please consider joining today. By doing so, you are demonstrating your support for our PTSA and all we do for Bell Elementary.
Calling all students! Help create our cover for this year’s yearbook!
This year’s theme is: Expect the Unexpected
What does that look like to you? Create your artistic vision, take a photo of it (or scan it), and email it to yearbook@agbellptsa.org. Be sure to keep the original art, as we may need it. The winner will receive a free yearbook and other entries may be featured in the yearbook as well. Visit the Yearbook Cover Contest page for requirement details.
SSB 5563/HB 1590 would stabilize enrollment funding from the state and local levies.
SSB 5595/SHB 1664 increases staffing ratios (HB 1664 includes one school nurse and one school counselor in every school building).
SHB 1808/SB 5581 would reimburse districts for additional costs associated with transporting students with disabilities, students falling under the McKinney-Vento federal law, and students in the foster care system.
SHB 1723 is aligned with closing the digital divide.
SSB 5078 would prohibit the manufacture, possession, distribution, importation, selling, offering for sale, purchase, or transfer of large capacity magazines with the capacity of holding more than 17 rounds of ammunition, unless the weapon meets one of the stated exemptions.
HB 1611 would require school districts to offer universal screening for students at least once in or before 2nd grade and again in or before 6th grade.
SB 5933/HB 2095 would establish a school seismic safety grant program, capitalized by a vote of Washington voters to support a $500 million program, with $100 million per year for five years, to address retrofits and upgrades for school buildings at imminent risk due to seismic disasters.
SB 5697 - extends producer responsibility programs that include collecting, transporting, reusing, and recycling, or the proper end of-life management of unwanted products to help protect Washington's environment and the health of state residents.
SB 5697 needs to get through the Senate Ways and Means committee. The opponents (producers/corporations) have strong lobby forces. We encourage our community to TAKE ACTION by February 5 by doing the following:
Contact your legislators directly or call the legislative hotline: 1-800-562-6000. Leave a message with the operator and ask your legislators to “support SB 5697 to modernize recycling and reduce waste.”
