Originally delivered on 1/13/2023 4:01 pm

SUBJECT: Bulldog Blast 1-13-23

January 13, 2023

Please join us for Bell PTSA's Community

 Multicultural Night 

 January 19, 2023

6:30pm to 8:00pm

During Multicultural Night, we will celebrate many diverse cultures that make up the Bell community while learning fun facts and listening to beautiful music from all around the world. It is a fantastic way to connect with other families and learn about different countries, cultures, traditions, and more! We'll have a few small bites to try but we encourage you to have dinner before you arrive.

Thank you to everyone who has signed up! We have families representing Mexico, Turkey, India, France, Israel, China, Australia, Philippines, Switzerland, Egypt, and Germany. There's still room for more! If you'd like to host a table, click below to sign up.

 We need a few more volunteers for set up and clean up. Please click below to sign up if you are able to help.

Sign up to volunteer here!

For questions, please email multiculturalnight@agbellptsa.org.

We are looking for 2 more volunteers to serve on the nominating committee to help elect the 2023-2024 Bell PTSA Executive Board. 

The nominating committee helps interested community members connect with the current board to learn more about board positions and help to identify candidates for next year's board. The nominating committee will present their nominations for the 2023-2024 Board Election at the May general membership meeting. 

If you're interested in learning more about serving on the nominating committee, email president@agbellptsa.org.

Ten Bell student finalists had their Reflections artwork go on to the Lake Washington PTSA round of competition. LWPTSA Council had more than 250 entries from 36 PTAs. Each entry was evaluated by independent judges. These 60 selections earned the highest rankings and will advance to the Washington State PTA round of competition. 

Full List of 2022-2023 Council Reflections Winners (PDF)

Congratulations to Bell Student Faith (Yanjun) Li for earning the Award of Merit for her literature submission “Sit Still, Look Pretty” and advancing to the next round of competition! 


All art entries from our district will be on display at the 2022-2023 Reflections Open House

WHEN: Friday, January 20, 2023 from 5 to 8 pm
WHERE: LWSD Resource Center (16250 NE 74th St., Redmond WA 98052)

Join us in person as we showcase and celebrate the inspirational and original works of art created by student artists from local PTAs who participated in this year’s National PTA Reflections art contest, and see the winning Council-level selections moving on to Washington State PTA judging!

Art will remain on display for one week following the Open House at the LWSD Resource Center, for public viewing during business hours and whenever the Resource Center is open.

Calling all students! Create the cover for this year’s Yearbook!


This year’s theme is:

The Future's So Bright - Gotta Wear Shades

 

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.

 

Entries due by March 1

 

The winner will receive a free yearbook and other entries will be featured in the yearbook. Visit the Yearbook Contest page for all details and requirements. Questions: email yearbook@agbellptsa.org.

Fifth grade families, 

Finn Hill Middle School will be hosting an all-school open house, with incoming students and their families as their special guests, on January 24th. The night will start with casual socialization at 5:30, and then move on to open house and meeting portion of the event from 6:30-8pm. 

Washington State's legislative session began on Monday, January 9. The session adjourns on April 24. Below is an overview of the legislative priorities and supported issues for WSPTA:

Top 5 Legislative Priorities for 2023-2024

priority issues when advocating throughout the year

  • Addressing the Student Mental Health Crisis
  • Addressing Critical Gaps in Education Funding
  • Preventing and Reducing Gun Violence and Suicide
  • Addressing Funding, Inclusion, and Supports in Special Education
  • Building and Maintaining Safer School Facilities

2023-2024 WSPTA Supported Issues

additional areas of focus when advocating throughout the year

  • Creating a Diverse and Effective Educator Workforce
  • Expanding School Construction Funding Options
  • Harnessing the Benefits of Mastery-based Learning
  • Improving Equitable Identification and Access for Highly Capable Students
  • Increasing Education Equity by Closing the Digital Divide
  • Increasing Support for Equitable Family Engagement
  • Mitigating the Adverse Impacts of Climate Change
  • Supporting a Meaningful High School Diploma

We encourage community members to take action during the legislative session. We know there are endless areas of work in our communities; therefore, we encourage you to pick your top one or two issues you're concerned about. Then, reach out to your legislators and tell your story. What do you want to see changed? How has it impacted you and others, etc? Here are a few ways to get involved:

  • Subscribe to WSPTA’s Action Network Group - During the Washington State Legislative Sessions, WSPTA will send action alerts to those who have subscribed.These action alerts are quick, easy ways to communicate with your legislators on topics they are actively working on.
  • Reach out to your legislators about your areas(s) of concern. Share your story. What are you concerned about and why? What do you want to ask your legislators to do? Calling or email works great. If emailing, we encourage you to copy their legislative assistant as well.
  • Sign up to testify on a bill you’re passionate about (students too) - Email:

Winter enrichment classes began this week! 

Thank you Frances Chen for organizing these fun opportunities for Bell students.

Outdoor Basketball (Monday PM) - Spots available
Cooking (Monday PM) - Spots available  
Art (Tues PM)- Class full
Karate (Wed AM) - Spots available
Soccer (Wed PM)- Class Full 
Hip hop (Thurs PM) - Class Full

Chess (Thurs PM) Spots available
Lego Engineering (Fri PM) - Class full


Website registration has closed. If you'd like to register for a class with remaining spots, please email president@agbellptsa.org.

We are so grateful for the amazing volunteer turnout this year! Thanks so much to everyone who has signed up to help with PTSA programs and events. If you're wanting to get involved, check out our current volunteer opportunities below. 

All volunteers must be approved as a volunteer through Lake Washington School District (LWSD). LWSD stopped requiring proof of vaccination for volunteers as of November 1, 2022. 

Visit LWSD's volunteer page for information on how to apply.

Pantry Packs are weekly food packs confidentially sent home with families identified as food insecure (more information about the Pantry Packs program below).

We need weekly volunteers to deliver Pantry Packs to classrooms at Bell. Deliveries are generally done on Thursdays after school. Sign up here to help! 

The Bell PTSA rolls our popcorn machine outside (usually two Fridays per month) and we start poppin'. As the students head out for lunch recess, we are there waiting with fresh bags of popcorn. Bell students love Popcorn Friday, and so do we! 

Please sign-up!

Visit our Popcorn Friday page for more info. 

Popcorn is $0.50 per bag - purchase a popcorn pass today

Are you looking for some spiritwear for your kiddo or yourself? 

Visit our spiritwear store to get your Bulldog gear!

Spiritwear can be purchased year-round.

About Bell PTSA
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Looking Ahead
Monday, January 16
No School - MLK Jr. Day
Thursday, January 19
6:30p Multicultural Night
Friday, January 20
Popcorn Friday
Tuesday, January 24
Half-Day Elementary Conferences (no preschool programs)
Thursday, January 26
Half-Day Elementary Conferences (no preschool programs)
Friday, January 27
Half-Day Elementary Conferences (no preschool programs)
Wednesday, February 1
3:00p Dine Out | Chuck E. Cheese
Quick Links
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