Dolphin Dispatch

December 1 - January 31: "Read Around the World" Reading Challenge

January 27: International Day of Commemoration

January 28: Make Up Day (for 11/12 closure)

February: Black History Month

February 1: Chinese New Year

February 2: Groundhog Day

February 14: Valentine's Day

February 14-28: Spirit Week (Stay Tuned for Announcement of Theme Days!)

February 21: President's Day

February 21 - 25: No School (Mid-Winter Break)

Check out our online calendar for more dates and details.

As you know, there has been a large increase in positive COVID-19 cases in our community due to the highly contagious Omicron variant. Staff is working hard to maintain mitigation measures at Newport Heights.

You can help by:

1. Send your child to school with at least two well-fitting masks. One to wear and one as a backup in case the other becomes soiled.

2. Keep your child home when sick. This is especially important given that more mild cases of COVID-19 can mimic common cold symptoms.

3. Inform the school if your child has tested positive for COVID-19 or has been a close contact to a positive case.

If you feel sick and have symptoms of COVID-19, get tested right away, even if you're vaccinated. Early testing is important to help prevent COVID-19 from spreading to friends, family, and the community.

A full list of King County operated testing sites can be accessed HERE.

Here are some other private businesses/labs that offer testing:

Walgreens offers free drive through testing at some locations. Appointment required.

CVS offers free testing as some locations. Appointments required at most locations.

Indigo Urgent Care offers testing at Bellevue location, but it is not free. Call your insurance for coverage information prior to scheduling.

GS Labs has a testing location in Bellevue, but it is not free. Call your insurance for coverage information prior to scheduling.

The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for ages 5-11 is becoming available across King County, Washington state and nationally. Availability varies by location. Use the links below to find a COVID-19 vaccine clinic near you:

• Washington State Department of Health Vaccine Locator
• Vaccines.gov

If your child is a patient of Allegro Pediatrics, please find out more here about their upcoming vaccine clinics:

• Allegro Pediatrics COVID-19 FAQ

If your child is a patient of Kaiser Permanente of Washington, please find out more here about their upcoming vaccine clinics:

• Kaiser Permanente COVID-19 FAQ

If your child receives care via UW Medicine, you can learn more about how to schedule an appointment here:

• UW Medicine COVID-19 Vaccine Updates & Information

You may also check with your local pharmacy to find out if they have COVID-19 vaccines for ages 5-11 available, and how to make an appointment.

Bellevue School District is experiencing SEVERE staffing shortages. Immediate Openings for:

Substitute Teachers - Bacherlor's Degree or higher is required

Substitute Paraeducators - High School Diploma or equivalent is required

Substitute General School Assistants - High School Diploma or equivalent is required

Substitute Bus Drivers - High School Diploma, good driving record and CDL required

3rd Vaccine Clinic - Volunteers Needed!

NHE has scheduled a 3rd, somewhat smaller vaccine clinic to provide a second vaccine dose for those who received their first at our second clinic. (The vendor will be scheduling directly with families who received previous doses)

They have requested 4 volunteers for next Wednesday, January 26th from 1:00-5:00.

Volunteering for the whole time, or even just a portion would be very much appreciated.

Please email volunteer@nhe-pta.org if you would be able to help – even for a portion of the time would be appreciated.

Are you ready to go on an unforgettable journey from the comfort of your favorite reading chair? Experience every continent and the vastly different landscapes and cultures that make up our amazing planet.

For each region, you are welcome to choose any reading that you’d like - Poems, picture books, chapter books, audio books, fiction, non-fiction...it all counts. You can read yourself or have someone else read the books to you. Books can be set in the region, about characters from the region or written/illustrated by people from the region.

Completed reading logs should be turned in to president@nhe-pta.org and any student who turns in at least one log will be entered into a drawing for a prize. (reading log does not need to be filled completely to qualify)

There will be two prizes given, one to the K-2 grade range and one to the 3-5 grade range.

Reading Log - List

Reading Log - Coloring

Check out our new STEM program at

https://nhe-pta.org/Page/Programs/mathchallenge

Goal: Every NHE student is represented in PTA by at least

one important adult in their lives.

Status: Currently 33% of our students are represented. We are 1/4 of the way there!

Join Here

There is NO obligation or expectation to volunteer or attend meetings. (But we do LOVE to meet members and find fun opportunities for those that want to help!)

Membership assistance is available. We do not want funds to stand in the way of those that want to join. Please email president@nhe-pta.org to request a confidential scholarship.

Goal: $30,000 will fully fund our budget for the 2021-22 school year.

Status: We are 43% of the way to our goal.

Donate Here

And remember to ask your employers about their Corporate Match Plan. Many local employers will match the donation you make up to 100%!

Every dollar contributed to our Pass the Hat fundraiser goes directly to support the programs offered by the PTA. A donation of $100 covers our spending per student, but any amount is appreciated. Every dollar counts!

We are a 501(3)(c) non-profit organization. All donations are 100% tax deductible. Our Tax ID number is 91-1208399.

Two levies renew funding for students, staff, and schools

What’s on the ballot for the February 8, 2022 election?

Bellevue School District is asking our community to consider renewing two levies to continue funding for our students and schools. The levies bridge the gap between state funding for our district and the cost of tools, programs and facilities our students need to become creators of their future world.

Renew Education Programs and Operations Levy

Continues funding for critical day-to-day school operations to ensure EVERY student in our district has access to:

• High quality teaching and learning by funding:
  • Additional school staff
  • 7th period classes and tutorial at middle schools and high schools
  • World languages in middle school
• Supports to ensure the wellbeing of students by funding:
  • Additional school nurses
  • Counselors
• Student programs not fully funded by the state including:
  • Special education
  • STEM programs and AP classes
• Opportunities for students not funded by the state including:
  • Orchestra, band, music, and art in elementary schools
  • Athletics
  • After school activities

Renew Technology and Capital Projects Levy

Maintains our investment in student technology and facilities, so every BSD student has access to a safe and modern learning environment. Renewal of the Technology and Capital Projects Levy continues critical funding for:

• Exceptional education for all students
  • Access to new technologies and software that support student learning
  • Collaborative STEM learning
  • A computer or tablet for every student
  • Integrated digital curriculum
  • Software maintenance and updates
• Classroom technology and training for teachers
  • Technology for teaching and learning in our classrooms
  • Professional development to ensure our educators have the technology training they need
• Maintaining and updating our school buildings
  • Large scale school improvements like the carpeting, roofing, and heating and cooling systems
  • Repairs and maintenance to our school buildings

Notes from the Backpack is a PTA podcast designed for parents, featuring real conversations with real parents, experts and educators who offer real-life advice, ideas and strategies parents can use to help their children succeed in and out of school.

Families in Transition: Lessons from the Military

Listen Now

It’s surprisingly easy to make a DIY lava lamp! This quick and simple science demonstration uses a few common items to explore density and buoyancy.

Instructions and the science behind why it works can be found HERE.

Newport Heights PTA is a volunteer-powered association of NHE families, staff, and community supporters, who act collectively on behalf of our children.

Our mission is to make every NHE student's potential a reality by promoting partnerships between home, school and community, engaging and empowering families and supporters to advocate for all children.

Email: communications@nhe-pta.org
Website: https://nhe-pta.org
Location: 5225 119th Avenue Southeast, Bellevue, WA, USA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewportHeightsPTA/