Weekly Principal Newsletter, Week of March 2

Good morning, Freshman completed their blitz meetings last week and our counselors continue to follow up with any who were absent.  This week, sophomore English classes will come to the library for their blitz meetings.  Counselors present a brief lesson on the registration process and help individuals select classes for the 2026-2027 school year as needed.  All 9^th & 10^th grade registration are due by March 9^th. 

You’re invited to join me next Wednesday, March 11^th, for our next Principal Coffee. Topics will include School-wide attendance and student parking.  There is always time for questions and other emerging topics.

In partnership, Vic Anderson, Principal

 

CONTENTS

1.      Share your Feedback: Complete the District Family Survey – NEW!

2.      BSD WANIC Skills Center Open House: Automotive Program – NEW!

3.      PTSA Scholarship Opportunity for Seniors – NEW!

4.      Community Input Survey: Supporting a Modern Hebrew Language Offering-NEW!

5.      World Hindi Day & Film Festival: Celebrating India’s Unity & Diversity – NEW!

6.      Student Parking

7.      Grade Level Blitz Meetings February/March

8.      Attendance Matters: New Semester, New You!

9.      Visit the BSD Welcome Center!

10.  Health Services Update

11.  School Day SAT for 11^th Graders, March 3^rd – UPDATED!

12.  Updates from our Library - NEW

13.  Updates from our College & Career Center

14.  Important Calendar Dates

 

Share Your Feedback: Complete the District Family Survey  

Your feedback is very important to us as we continuously work to improve the experience of our students and families. Beginning Monday, March 2, we will launch our annual Family Engagement Survey.  

As part of our commitment to our community, we strive to foster belonging, strengthen our partnerships with families, and support student well-being and academic growth. This survey is an important opportunity for you to share what’s working and where we can improve.  

Access the survey. It should only take a few minutes to complete. The survey will be open March 2 – 20.  

Thank you for your continued trust and partnership. 

 

BSD WANIC Skills Center Open House: Automotive Program

The Washington Network for Innovative Careers (WANIC) Skill Center Programs recently hosted several open houses to give students and families the opportunity to see the unique classrooms and learn about WANIC offerings for students in grades 11-12. The final WANIC open house for this year is:

Automotive Program  

March 4, 2026

1:00-3:00 p.m.

Bellevue High School

 

PTSA SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY FOR Seniors

Calling all BHS Seniors! Are you looking for a way to help pay for college? Every year, WSPTA awards a $2,500 scholarship to four outstanding high school seniors. Please see all the rules and apply HERE today!

Applicants must have a 3.4 GPA, write about their community service, and list four volunteer/work experiences they have been a part of.

All applications are due March 12, 2026.  Include our BHS PTSA # 2.3.148 in your application.  Questions? Please email scholarship@wastatepta.org

 

Community Input Survey: Supporting a Modern Hebrew Language Offering 

The BSD Multilingual Department invites you to complete a community input survey as we explore the possibility of offering the Modern Hebrew language beginning in the 2027–2028 school year. 

This is an opportunity to share your perspectives and help co-design the program through your input. Your voice and feedback are essential as we consider future language offerings for our students. 

Please complete this brief survey by March 8. All are welcome to provide input, including parents/guardians, students, staff and community members. 

 For questions please reach out to multilingualinfo@bsd405.org. 

Take the survey. 

 

World Hindi Day & Film Festival: Celebrating India’s Unity in Diversity 

Join us for a vibrant celebration of India’s Unity in Diversity — an immersive experience that brings together culture, cuisine, creativity and community. Hosted by the Indian Consulate, this interactive event invites participants to explore the many languages, traditions and stories that shape India through an engaging Understanding India session, hands‑on workshops in Indian heritage arts, and a flavorful Indian food festival showcasing regional cuisines. Enjoy an Indian film festival movie that reflects the richness of Indian storytelling, and wrap up the celebration with exciting prizes. Attend to learn, taste, watch, create and celebrate the spirit of India together! 

Saturday, March 21 

2:30-7:30 p.m. 

Interlake High School 

RSVP to attend. 

 

STUDENT PARKING

As our enrollment continues to grow, parking availability has become increasingly limited. At this time, we are at capacity, with 15 students remaining on the parking waitlist. The waitlist was frozen in December, and in January we communicated that we are no longer able to issue additional student parking permits. We recognize that this is disappointing, particularly for students who have recently earned their driver’s license.

Some students and families have asked why we stopped issuing permits when open student parking spaces may still be visible on certain days. There are several important reasons for this decision. We must reserve parking for students who attend part‑time due to participation in WANIC or other approved programs, and we know that daily attendance naturally fluctuates. In addition, we cannot oversell permits to the point where all student spaces are filled on high‑attendance days, which would result in students parking in staff, visitor, or other unassigned areas.

Finally, maintaining limited flexibility allows us to support students and families who experience short‑term or longer‑term hardships—such as injury, illness, or family circumstances—that make driving to school temporarily necessary.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we work to manage parking safely and fairly for all members of our school community.

 

GRADE LEVEL BLITZ MEETINGS FEBRUARY/MARCH

Counselors will begin meeting with 9^th and 10^th Grade English classes the week after mid-winter break.  English classes will report to the library where counselors will give a brief presentation and then meet with each student to review options and provide assistance as they complete the registration process.  11^th Grades will receive an invitation for an individual meeting with their counselor between March 9-20^th where they review the course selection process and ensure all graduation requirements are on track.

Upcoming Important Registration Dates: 

Registration Presentation & Elective Fair Rotations will be on Tuesday, February 24^th. 

9^th Grade Blitz: Feb 25th - 27^th in the Library

10^th Grade Blitz: March 2^nd - 6^th in the Library

11^th Grade/Junior Blitz (by appointment): March 9^th - 20th

Registration Deadlines:

Online Registration Tool for 9th and 10th graders is DUE March 9th

Online Registration Tool for 8th and 11th graders is DUE March 23rd

***Online Registration Tool Closes March 30^th for everyone. 

 

Attendance Matters: New Semester, New You!

The second semester is a great time for students to reset. One of the best ways to make the most of this fresh start is by setting short-term goals. These are smaller, achievable targets that help students stay on track and motivated throughout the semester. Learn more in this edition of the Attendance Matters series.

 

VISIT the BSD Welcome Center!

The Bellevue School District’s new Welcome Center is here to support families. The center provides a warm, inclusive space where families can get help with enrollment, access general information about BSD programs and services, receive language access support, and learn about volunteer opportunities. The Welcome Center is designed to nurture belonging and connection.

We look forward to welcoming you!

12011 NE 1st St

Bellevue, WA, 98005

Phone: 425-456-4235 Email: welcome@bsd405.org

 

Health Services Update: January 2026 Vaccine Guidelines for Kids

The district urges families to ensure their children are up-to-date on all vaccinations, as Washington state reports new measles cases in Snohomish and Kittitas counties. The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is safe, highly effective, and offers protection against this extremely contagious virus that spreads through the air when an infected person sneezes, breathes or talks.

To help keep our community healthy, families should:

· Stay current on all recommended vaccinations.

· Create an account at MyIR Mobile to review your child’s vaccine history and get reminders for future immunizations. MyIR users can now access their health records in Spanish.

· Contact your healthcare provider if you have symptoms or if you believe you were exposed to measles.

· Talk to your healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns.

Learn more about measles, the MMR vaccine, and ways to help keep your family healthy and ready to learn.

 

School Day SAT for 11th Graders – March 3

Bellevue High School will offer the Digital SAT for all 11th‑grade students on March 3rd during the school day from 7:30–11:30 AM. Students who wish to take the SAT must have already registered through TouchBase and purchased the Spring SAT exam for $52. Those eligible for Free and Reduced Lunch paid $0, and completed the $0 purchase so an exam could be ordered.

Juniors who chose not to take the SAT are expected to attend classes, though some schedules may be adjusted during the testing period. The SAT measures skills in reading, writing, and math, and scores may be used to meet ELA and Math graduation pathway requirements. Seniors who still need to meet a graduation pathway should contact their counselor if they wish to take the SAT. Students should open the BlueBook App on their computers and run updates.

 

UPDATES FROM OUR LIBRARY

Hey Bellevue, thanks for your patience with the library being closed this week.

The library will continue to be closed all of next week (Monday, March 2^nd THROUGH Friday, March 6^th) so keep watching for the signs at the front doors for instructions for redirection.

Except for Tuesday, March 3^rd when the library, Testing Center, and College & Career Center are entirely closed for the SATs, you may enter quietly if you're:

• ...in a 10^th grade English class, lucky you! You'll be in the library one day next week during your English class and will get a chance to meet with your counselors and talk about classes for next year. Check the schedule at the front doors or ask your teacher to find out exactly when you're in the library.
• ...taking a test in the Testing Center.
• ...meeting with Ms. Hansen or have a question for the College and Career Center.
• ...returning a library book or need to check out a library book or need help finding a library book — enter quietly and come see me at the Circulation Desk for help!

·         All Discovery language students should plan to report to the front office on Tuesday for directions.

·         3^rd and 4^th period Korean students may be redirected to a classroom supervised by a certificated substitute teacher in the building.

·         Likely the SATs will be finished and conference rooms available by the time 6^th and 7^th period Arabic classes arrive, but they should remain flexible.

·         All classes have been assigned conference rooms for the rest of next week while the library is closed for Registration Blitz.

Meanwhile, check out these digital resources to keep your Black History Month reading lively all year long, and more fun things to do when the library is closed:

• Book Riot's mega click list of resources that includes lists of Black-owned bookstores, lists of books in several genres by Black writers, romance resources if you're not sick of Valentine's Day, and tons of stuff to deep dive on Wuthering Heights before seeing the movie.
• Enter the Bookmark Design Contest with Junior Library Guild! Submissions due next week (March 5^th) and have to be submitted by your librarian (that's me!) so send them to me before the deadline...
• Enter the Washington State Zine Contest with Washington Center for the Book! Submissions due March 27^th -- show me your zine!

FIRST SENTENCE FRIDAY

"They'd sat in the dark for so long that Naomi lost track of how long it had been." — from Sundown Girls by L. S. Stratton

As always, if you have any questions, want to find a book, have suggestions, or just want to talk about what you're reading, come see me in the library or send me an email or Teams Chat!

SARAH BRYAN, MLIS Library Specialist

 

UPDATES FROM OUR COLLEGE & CAREER CENTER

Hi Bellevue! Happy post mid-winter break! If you have questions, want to meet, or need more information just send me an email, Teams Chat, or use the link in my signature to book a meeting 😊.

COLLEGE VISITS: 

• West Point Admissions Brief, Sunday March 29th 1:00 pm, Seattle Convention Center Arch. This is a unique opportunity to learn more about West Point, life as a Cadet, and our application process. Register to reserve your!

• Bellevue College Application Workshop, Tuesday, Feb. 24th 11:00 am, BHS Library. Seniors, if you are thinking of attending Bellevue College or one of our 34 Community and Technical Colleges in WA next year, sign up to attend this workshop! You will complete your application, learn about the next steps, and hear important financial aid information.  Register here and a pass will be sent to your class.

• Save the Date: April 22, 2026 5:30-8:15 Mock Admission Case Study and College Fair, Get a behind-the-scenes look at how college admission decisions are made, what students can do to stand out, and the opportunity to network with colleges and universities from around the country!

OPPORTUNITIES:

• • Odle Camp Orkila Applications, this is a great opportunity for high school students to help others and receive volunteer hours towards their graduation. Camp will run May 17th-29th, if interested apply here: Odle Camp Counselor App

SCHOLARSHIPS: 

• Washington State Opportunity Baccalaureate Scholarship: The Baccalaureate Scholarship offers up to $22,500 for Washington students pursuing a STEM or health care bachelor’s degree. It also provides mentorship, career training, and support services to help launch your career. Apply by February 26, 2026! 

• Cameron Impact Scholarship, open class of 2027: 4-year full tuition scholarship available for students with a 3.7 GPA or higher.  Applications are due May 1^st or when they reach 3,000 application, whichever comes first. Click here for more information

• 2026 ADK Mamie Mar Education Scholarship: Alpha Delta Kappa, Beta Alpha Chapter will again be offering a $2,000 scholarship to one student in the Bellevue School District who is preparing for a degree in teaching or a closely related career in education.  This scholarship was established by the Mar family and Alpha Delta Kappa – Beta Alpha Chapter in honor of longtime Bellevue School District elementary teacher, Mamie Mar (retired).  Please email Mrs. Hansen to request a copy of this application.

• Bellevue College Foundation Scholarship: With one application, students are automatically considered for the majority of Bellevue College scholarships. Students may apply each year that they plan to enroll at BC, as long as they meet the eligibility criteria. The funds can be applied to tuition, fees, and in some cases, books purchased from the BC Bookstore. Applications are open, click here to apply by April 2nd!

THE COLLEGE AND CAREER CENTER IS ON INSTAGRAM!! Follow @bellevuehscollegeandcareer to get updates and reminders!

Lisa Hansen | College and Career Advisor

 

IMPORTANT CALENDAR DATES

Mar 2-6           10^th Grade Blitz in the Library

Mar 9              9/10^th Grade Online Registration is Due

Mar 11             Principal Coffee, 8:15-9:15am on Teams and in the Library

Mar 9-20         11^th Grade/Junior Blitz (by appointment)

Mar 23            8^th & 11^th Grade Online Registration is Due

Mar 27            Non-School Day, Emergency Make Up Day if Closure prior to 3.13.2026

Mar 30            Online Registration Closes for the 2026-2027 School Year

Apr 3               Last Day of 3^rd Quarter

Apr 6-10          Spring Break, Schools and Offices Closed