COVID-19 Safety at NHE - How Families Can Help
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.
4. Opt-in for Weekly Pooled COVID-19 Testing for your child (read on for info about what this looks like.)
COVID-19 TESTING
Testing may only occur with parent consent. To participate you must opt-in for the COVID-19 testing by completing this COVID Testing Consent form.
- Each Wednesday, students with parental consent take a COVID-19 PCR test. (Students swab their own noses.)
- Each "pool" is about 5-15 testing samples, and this pool is tested for COVID-19 by an outside laboratory.
- Results of any positive pools are typically received the next day.
- If a pool comes back positive a diagnostic test is given to each student in the pool individually.
- Students who test negative can return to class. Students who test positive will be sent home.
Find a Vaccine Near You
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:
If your child is a patient of Allegro Pediatrics, please find out more here about their upcoming vaccine clinics:
If your child is a patient of Kaiser Permanente of Washington, please find out more here about their upcoming vaccine clinics:
If your child receives care via UW Medicine, you can learn more about how to schedule an appointment here:
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 Hiring
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
Membership Goal Status - 33%
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!
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.
Fundraiser Goal Status - 43%
Status: We are 43% of the way to our goal.
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.
FAMILY Connections - Ana Lewis
Happy New Year!
We are happy to report that thanks to the generosity of the Newport Heights PTA through their holiday gift card drive in November, we were able to provide families who asked for holiday assistance, but were not covered by a community partner, with $25 gift cards per student. Thank you NHE PTA!
We also thank the Newport Hills Swim and Tennis Club for including Newport Heights in its Giving Tree Program. Thanks to both organizations, Newport Heights families received gift cards to local stores and grocery stores.
2022 Family Services Programs
Please contact Ana Lewis, lewisa@bsd405.org if your family would like to participate in the following programs:
Eastside Baby Corner—gently used and new clothing or items for elementary-aged students. Deliveries made on Thursdays with a week turnaround from when the family order is placed.
Breaktime Mealtime Safeway Food Vouchers
Bellevue LifeSpring, Breaktime Mealtime Safeway food vouchers are given to qualifying families to use during school breaks. Vouchers are distributed the week prior to school breaks which are:
Mid-Winter Break: February 21-25, 2022
Spring Break: April 11-15, 2022
Summer Break: Begins June 21, 2022
Currently enrolled families DO NOT need to reapply for this program. If your family missed this opportunity for the Winter Break, please complete this Free & Reduced Priced Meals Program application. THEN complete the Family Connections Welcome Form.
Counselor's Corner - Maggie Mosholder
I recently read this article that was a reminder that kids really want quality time with us. Their behaviors are actually “bids” for connection. According to the Gottman Institute, a “bid” is “when people reach out for attention, affirmation, affection, or any positive connection” and we as parents can “turn toward” our kids in these instances by conveying interest, love, and respect. By turning toward our children, we are actually building up their self-esteem, social competence and confidence, as well as their mood.
As we know, our children are being impacted by the changes in routine, social isolation and loneliness, increased screen time, and possible family stress, and our students may be making an increased number of “bids” for our attention. Sometimes these “bids” can be easy to miss because they may be as simple as idle chit chat, or be interpreted as whining, or even problem behavior.
An article published on Psychology Today describes three different “bids” that children may be making during this time:
“The special one-on-one time bid” might sound like “Can I stay up late with you?” or “I want to cook just with Mom, not with my brothers!” With outing restrictions, overwork, and stress, it may be tough to carve out that special one on one time with each child, but it can be simple, or you can get creative – watch a movie, play catch or shoot hoops, or go for a hike. Even 10 minutes of quality time can be impactful.
“The bid for positive feedback” might sound like “No wonder I can’t get this – I’m not good at math” or “I don’t have any friends”. These statements are a bid for positive feedback, and kids often say them to seek simple reassurance (although they can be an opening for a deeper conversation as well!)
And the “playful bid” might look like your child engaging in silly behaviors while doing homework, or your teenager teasing you about your cooking. Kids have an important need to laugh and connect through playfulness, and “research shows that social laughter is one of the most powerful ways we can connect with others.” This is a great opportunity for a lighthearted moment amid the heaviness of the pandemic and other stressors.
Your students have shown so much grit and perseverance as we finished up a very challenging and emotional first half of the year. Both you and your students deserve to take a big deep breath, check-in with yourselves and each other, and recharge before the new year.
Be well 😊
Warmly,
Maggie Halela-Mosholder & Masha O.
NHE school counselor & NHE school counseling practicum student
Notes from the Backpack podcast
Families in Transition: Lessons from the Military
Newport Heights PTA
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/
