Tiger Tales #7

Dear Medina families,

Throughout the year we have 'Community Days' where our school will engage in a school-wide activity. It's a way for us all to connect across grade levels and create a sense of belonging. This year, in preparation for UNITY DAY on October 21, we partnered up classrooms and students talked about how to spread kindness. They created a project together which will be posted in the atrium next week with each student's contribution represented. Every student at Medina matters and each one makes a difference. The next time you're in the school, come take a look at our school-wide project and our celebration of the community we are a part of at Medina!

In partnership,

Lara Lyons
Principal, Medina Elementary School

Each Friday teachers will select a student to be a 'Tiger Ticket Winner' from each classroom. I announce these students' names over the intercom and they come to the atrium to have their photo taken with Pawlie the Medina tiger (which is then posted in the atrium) and to receive a little Medina prize. Congratulations to the winners this week!

What fun we had at our first family fun night!

Thank you all for joining us on Thursday! It was a fantastic event with lots of popcorn, prizes, students of all ages, and cheers of 'bingo!" happening throughout the evening. A big thank you to the parents and teachers who volunteered to help out. We look forward to hosting another family fun night and connecting us all in the community.

I hope you will drop in, grab a cup of coffee and a treat and settle in to hear a speaker. On Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 8:10-9:00 we will have a guest speaker talk with us about technology.

Tom Duenwald, Director of Education Technology and Assessment, will be talking with us about BSD's goals with technology, the ways AI is being considered, and the balance we want to have with instructional technology and the classroom. Please come join us!

This past week we conducted an earthquake drill and practiced what we would do if we were at school in the event of an earthquake. Students learned about Drop, Cover, and Hold On and then we practiced. In fact, October 15 around the world is when millions of people practice what to do in an earthquake.

Please talk to your child about our drill today. An important next step might be planning a drill in your own home and checking to make sure you are prepared in the event of an earthquake or other natural disaster.

For more information on earthquakes and general preparedness, you might want to visit the Washington Emergency Management Division (https://mil.wa.gov/personal) or Great Washington ShakeOut (https://www.shakeout.org/washington/index.html) websites.

Great Shakeout: Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills - Select Your ShakeOut Region

Last year four Medina Elementary School 5th Graders, engaged in a service-learning project for one of our after-school clubs, DI (Destination Imagination Destination Imagination). The project included educating elementary school friends, conducting neighborhood surveys, reaching out to Medina's City Mayor, and joining a Medina City Council meeting to present an initiative. The team even went to DI Global in Kansas City in May.

On October 9, our Medina City Mayor met with the students and announced that the city of Medina will celebrate the 1st Indigenous People Day on October 12! This is a testimony to the hard work, commitment, and leadership of our Medina students and the parents and teachers who have partnered to help make their idea a reality. Congratulations!

Dear BSD students, staff, families, and community,

You are invited to participate in the upcoming BSD Sustainability Summit, where students, staff, and families can:

• Learn about inspiring projects at many Bellevue schools,
• Find opportunities for community actions and initiatives,
• Develop a youth climate project idea and get grant application help during the 6–7 p.m. workshop.

Wednesday, October 28

3–7 p.m.

Bellevue City Hall

RSVP for the summit

Come to be inspired, and go forward with more tools to help your school and community!

All are welcome: students, staff, families, and community members.

For more information:

https://ecolearn.org/bellevue/

Planned by BSD students!

Cell Phones/Smart Watches

We discourage students from bringing cell phones and smart watches to school. However, we understand that many families rely on them for communicating with each other after school. Please remember that cell phones/smart watches brought to school are brought at the owner’s own risk and families need to understand that the phones are easily lost. If a loss occurs at school, it is not the responsibility of the school.

If Cell Phones or Smart Watches are brought to school, they must remain OFF and in backpacks during the school day, including recesses, lunch, and bus rides. Cell Phones and Smart Watches will not be used during school to communicate. If a child needs to call a parent during the school day, they can use a school phone in the office or classroom. Families that need to communicate with the child should call the front office or email the classroom teacher to relay the message.

The State of Washington and Bellevue School District require students attending school to meet state immunization requirements or have a completed and approved exemption on file. Families should review their students’ immunization status and ensure all required documentation has been submitted to their school.

School nurses are reviewing records and will notify families whose students are missing required immunizations or documentation, per Bellevue School District Policy 3413 and Procedure 3413P, Student Immunization and Life-Threatening Conditions. Students who do not meet state requirements and do not have an approved exemption on file will be excluded from school beginning December 1, 2026, until requirements are met.

If you have questions about your child's immunization status, please contact your school nurse. You may also review your student's immunization records through MyIR Mobile, Washington state's online immunization record portal. Thank you for helping us maintain a healthy and safe learning environment for all students.

Flu and COVID Vaccine Clinics

The Bellevue School District is partnering with the Seattle Visiting Nurse Association, who will be onsite at BSD schools this fall to administer flu (influenza) and COVID vaccines. Flu shots are available to individuals ages 4 years and older. COVID vaccines are available to individuals 5 years and older.

Upcoming Vaccine Clinics

Thursday, October 22 – Tillicum Middle School

Learn more about the upcoming clinics and other opportunities to access vaccines and immunizations.

Join us for an informative event designed to raise awareness and understanding of dyslexia. Learn about its impact, challenges, and strengths, and discover resources and strategies to support our students with dyslexia. Together, we will foster a more inclusive and supportive environment for all learners.

Date: Tuesday, October 27

Time: 6:00-7:30 p.m.

In-Person Location: Wilburton Instructional Service Center, Rainier Room, 12241 Main Street, Bldg. 1, Bellevue, WA 98005

Online Location: Join via Microsoft Teams

Learn more about the event.

October

21: Unity Day (ask your child to wear orange in support of our unity!)

23: PTA Trunk or Treat!

28: 8:10 Pastries with the Principal

November

13: Picture re-take day

11: NO SCHOOL: Veterans Day

16-20 Parent-teacher conferences

26: NO SCHOOL: Thanksgiving

27: NO SCHOOL: Thanksgiving holiday