PLE Principal Update
August 30, 2021
Dear PHamily,
We are very excited to welcome our Eagles back for the first day of school this week on Wednesday, September 1st for our 1st-5th grades! Please remember that Wednesdays are early released days. Kindergarten will start on Friday, September 3rd. Preschool will start on Tuesday, September 7th.
Our school looks amazing. We are tremendously grateful to all the staff who have created inviting classrooms for our students, PTA for buying and distributing supplies for each student, Lighthouse Church and Jubilee Reach for volunteering this past Saturday to help us get our school ready.
This newsletter has a lot of information regarding the beginning of the school year. Please take a few minutes to review the information and please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.
Warmly,
Dr. Macias, PLE Principal
Principal's Coffee
Below, find the recording of the Principal's Coffee presentation as well as a pdf of the slides that parents can reference. If you were unable to attend, you'll find information about arrival/dismissal, lunch/recess schedules, COVID precautions and protocols and lots more.
CLICK HERE to view a recording of last Thursday's Principal's Coffee. The recording and slides below have been updated to address some of the questions brought up by parents during the meeting.
Ice Cream Social
Join us at our annual Ice Cream Social next week on Thursday, September 9th from 5:30-6:30pm! The PTA’s Ice Cream Social is fun tradition at PLE where our community of families can come enjoy a frozen treat handed out by our very own teachers and staff! All of our PLE community is invited whether you’re in-person or virtual schooling this year. We will have a drive-thru option for families as well. After you grab your frozen treat, families are welcome to play on the playground! Please respect mask and social distancing guidelines!
We hope to see you there!
PLEASE wear masks and social distance.
PLE Device Deployments
All new students, kindergarten and second graders to Bellevue School District will checkout their District-issued device from our school. Please come to PLE to get your child's device if you have a student in second grade or new to 1-5 grade on August 31 – 9-10:30 am outside the front office.
Kindergarteners
Each of our kindergarten students will be using a district iPad this year. Families can obtain one for their child on Sept. 8th from 12:00-1:30 PM. There will be a team outside the front office to distribute the devices.
Second Graders
Returning 2nd graders will exchange their current school-issued iPad, power cord and stylus for a new Lenovo 11e laptop at their school's laptop deployment day. Newly enrolled 2nd graders will also get a Lenovo 11e laptop.
PLE Preschool
- Luly Garcia– Specialized ECEAP Lead ELP
- Darrell Dunning- Special Needs Assistant ELP
- Kim Smith - Special Needs Assistant ELP
- Isata Mansaray- Special Needs Assistant ELP
- Pauline Loofburrow- Special Education Lead
- Laura Siddall- Specialized Lead Inclusion
- Rachael Zilliott- Special Education Lead
- Emmy Park- Special Education Lead
- Agrima Ahluwalia- Special Education Lead
- Kelli Brakebush – Site Supervisor
Preschool models:
Classrooms include students from Special education, ECEAP and general education preschool and PALS plus. You will have all the models.
Hours will include:
- Working Day (6:30am-6:00pm) *
- School Day (8:30am-3:00pm)* Wednesday dismissal (12:45)
- Half Day preschool (8:30am-11:30am/12:00pm -3:00pm) *
Drop Off and Pick-up:
Preschool is planning parent drop off and pick up at exterior preschool classroom doors. Parents need to park their car to retrieve their child. Please do not leave your car unattended by the bus and car rider pick up area. Classroom teachers will contact to specific what door your child should drop off.
Creative Curriculum: This year all of our early learning classrooms will be using the same curriculum ‘Creative Curriculum’. The Creative Curriculum® is research-based and supports the development of the whole child. High-quality, comprehensive resources empower educators to intentionally teach and care for our youngest learners during the most critical and formative years of development. This curriculum has been previously used in our ECEAP classrooms but will be new for some of our early learning educators. This year educators will receive professional development and coaching by their site supervisor around implementing this new curriculum in their classrooms.
TS Gold: Our early learning teachers complete the Teaching Strategies Gold Assessment three times a year and submit scores in November, February, and June. You may have some familiarity with this assessment as it is a component of the WaKIDS program that your Kindergarten Teachers have been completing in the Fall. Early learning teachers have lots of experience with TS Gold and have systems in place to complete the assessment during normal scheduled curricular activities. For more information visit the TS Gold Website
For questions about preschool, please contact Rebecca Mayes at mayesr@bsd405.org
Kindergarten
We’re looking forward to a wonderful year in kindergarten. We hope you all are well and enjoyed your summer. Over the next few weeks, there will be lots of information. Here are some things that you need to know right now to begin this fabulous year!
‘WaKIDS’ Family Conferences-meeting with parent(s) and kindergarten student
Our purpose is to begin to form relationships with our families/children to promote success for everyone. We encourage you to share any pertinent information: previous preschool experiences, gather important information like contact information, health history, dismissal-bus/pick up, etc.
- When? Choose one time slot on Sept. 1st or 2nd.
- How? Please click the link provided by one of the Kindergarten teachers already
- Where? Microsoft Teams (directions to follow at a later date).
Kindergarten Camp-Fri. Sept. 3rd, Wed. Sept. 8th, Thurs. Sept. 9th, & Fri. Sept. 10th
Our purpose is to acclimate students to school, enable the teachers to get to know students in terms of social-emotional skills/needs, academic skills/needs; all students are given opportunities to interact with one another; and get to know all kindergarten teachers in all 3 rooms. The teachers will make observations during the 4 days to create balanced classrooms to support student learning.
Final Class Assignments
Teachers and administrators will meet to configure balanced classrooms. An email with your child’s final class placement will be sent to each family over the weekend prior to Monday, Sept. 13th.
- Please note that your child’s teacher/classroom assignment for the school year maybe the same/or different from where they were assigned during Kindergarten Camp. Please inform your child of their final teacher/classroom assignment to ease in the transition to school on Monday, Sept. 13th.
Technology Device Deployment
Each of our kindergarten students will be using a district iPad this year. Families can obtain one for their child on Sept. 8th from 12:00-1:30 PM. There will be a team outside the front office to distribute the devices.
Lastly, we look forward to meeting with you during our family conferences. If you have any concerns or questions, we’ll be happy to discuss them then. Attached you will find information about our kindergarten team!
Warm regards,
Phantom Lake Kindergarten Team
Mrs. Banerjee- banerjeek@bsd405.org
Mrs. Bramzel- bramzelm@bsd405.org
Synergy Online Student Verification for 2021-22
The Online Student Data Verification process for the 2021-22 school year will start on Wednesday, August 18th, 2021. This is only for students in grades K through 12. Preschool students are not included in this process. The data verification process is available in 22 languages other than English.
On August 18th, families can:
- Update their address online and provide the required proofs of address electronically.
- Update their student's demographic data.
- Manage student's emergency contact list.
- Update student's photo permissions.
How can I update my student's information on August 18th?
- Logon to ParentVUE to update information. Upon your first login, you will be directed to Data Verification.
Questions:
- Please contact us at dataverification@bsd405.org. You can also go to our district website to learn more.
- If you are having trouble logging into your ParentVUE account, please contact parenthelp@bsd405.org for assistance.
First Day of School Photos
First Day of School Photos
Communications is requesting some school spirit photos from families!
"Hey, parents and students! Share your #BSDSchoolSpirit on your #BSDFirstDay of school with us! Take a photo wearing your school spirit wear or colors and share the photo with us. Tag us on social media or email the photos to communityrelations@bsd405.org, and we may post them on our website and social media."
Bus Riders
Many of you know that we implemented a new student tracking system for bus riders. By implementing this system with fidelity will help significantly with contact tracing as we enter the new school year. In addition, the system will let you know if a student is getting on a bus that is not assigned to the student and will provide parents with information regarding when the bus will be arriving at their bus stop.
During the school year, if a student loses their card or a new student registers, during the registration process if they are a bus rider, please send an email to bsdbuspass@bsd405.org to request a new card for the student. The card will be delivered to the student by the driver.
Arrival and Exit for Students
In order to ensure health and safety protocols are being properly implemented, these arrival and dismissal protocols serve to assist in reducing traffic flow and congestion. Parent(s)/guardian(s) remain in their cars, and refrain from leaving or getting out of their cars. Students need to enter and exit the building using their assigned door. Please use the map on this link to see the entrance/exit.
- Main Office Door: Only Walkers
- GYM Door: Car riders and bus riders
Arrival
Students need to line up using the social distancing markings on the floor. Parents need to say goodbye to their kids from the sidewalk and allow kids to walk to their assigned entrance. Our Greeters will be wearing their ID badges for students to identify them.
8:15 AM- Breakfast will be available in gym. Students can enter PLE by the gym door
8:25 AM- Doors open and students walk to their grade level hallway.
8:25-8:35 AM- Students will be sitting in their hallway 3 ft apart. Dots are placed in the floor.
8:40 AM – Students who are late enter the Main office front door. This is considered late to school.
Dismissal
Students need to enter and exit the building using their assigned door. Please use the map on this link to see the entrance/exit. Parents must remain in their cars or on the street sidewalk.
- Main Office Door: Only Walkers
- GYM Door: Car riders and bus riders
3:05 Car riders dismissed (12:50 Wednesday and Early Release Days Only)
3:07 Walkers dismissed (12:52 Wednesday and Early Release Days Only)
3:10 Bus riders dismissed (12:55 Wednesday and Early Release Days Only)
Drop-Off & Pick-Up Important Information (Kinder to Fifth Grade)
- Supervision before school begins at 8:25 a.m. inside the building only. Therefore, please ensure your child remains safe by dropping him/her off any time after 8:25 a.m. but not beforehand. The school opens at 8:25 a.m. and classrooms open at 8:35 a.m. Students who arrive at or after 8:40 a.m. are considered tardy and must report to the Office.
- Unless students are involved in a supervised after-school activity, students must leave campus at the end of the school day (3:10 p.m., or 12:55 p.m. on Wednesdays.)
- NEW: We have changed our bus area and car area this year. Please refer to the map for updates.
- NEW: Please use the car riders tags that will be provided to you on the first day of school to retrieve your child if he or she is a car rider.
- If you are using the designated pick up area, please remain in your car at all times, pull forward in order to keep the traffic flow moving, and follow the directives of staff members. In order to help ease student pick up congestion, you may consider either arriving to school five minutes after dismissal when the parking lot is typically cleared out or parking your car on a side street and meeting your child by foot. Staff will remain outside with students for 10 minutes. In order to ensure student safety, any student picked up after 3:15 p.m. will need to be picked up in the main office and signed out by a parent/guardian.
- The Boys and Girls Club and district childcare leases our playground for their after school program and due to liability issues the program may not share the playground with other children. When the club and the childcare are using this space, please choose another area for your child(ren) to play. We have a City of Bellevue Park behind our school on 164th known as the Boat Park. A great place to play with parent supervision.
- We encourage you to have your child ride the bus or walk to school with a group of other children. You can also carpool with neighbors. Traffic around Phantom Lake is very congested during pick-up and drop-off times. Fewer vehicles make the transition easier for everyone! Please see the following page for a map and more details about arrival and dismissal.
- Please refrain from dropping off your child on 160th Ave SE. There is a high amount of traffic on this street before and after school, making the street a dangerous place to exit the vehicle.
- Use the designated drop-off/pick-up area to drop your child/children off at school.
- When using one of the drop off / pick-up areas:
- Pull as far forward as possible in the drop-off/pick-up lane. Drop off/pick up your child(ren) and pull ahead to exit.
- Remain in your car at all times.
- Please keep the line moving! If you need to talk with another parent or a teacher, park your vehicle in a parking space.
- If you choose to park your car, PARK ON THE STREET OR ONLY IN DESIGNATED PARKING SPACES. DO NOT PARK IN OR BLOCK THE FIRE LANE. DO NOT PARK IN NEIGHBOR DRIVEWAYS or other parked vehicles.
- Have patience! Plan for a few extra minutes in your morning or afternoon routine if you drop your child(ren) off or pick them up!
- Please refrain from talking/texting on handheld devices during drop off and pick up.
- The south staff parking lot is CLOSED before and after school. It will not be available for student drop-off/pick-up.
- DO NOT allow your children to walk across the parking lot areas unless they use a crosswalk. Crossing anywhere else and in front of cars or buses creates a dangerous situation.
- Remember that at high-traffic times of day, right turns in and out of the school parking lot will help traffic flow more smoothly.
- Have patience! Plan for a few extra minutes in your morning or afternoon routine if you drop your child(ren) off or pick them up!
By following these guidelines and driving safely we will be keeping everyone safe! Thank you!
The 2021-2022 Official Notices
The 2021-2022 Official Notices, Weapons Policy and Truancy Laws are available on the district website. English, Spanish and Simplified Chinese versions can be found on the Official Notices page.
Face Coverings
Konstella app to the PLE community!
One of the things many parents love about PLE is our close sense of community and building connections between families and school. The PTA is excited to announce that we now have a Konstella platform where our school community can connect together. Konstella is a free secure website/mobile platform that was created and designed for schools, PTAs and parents/guardians to help build communication and connections.
To register online, go to https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.konstella.com%2F&data=04%7C01%7Cmaciasm%40bsd405.org%7C5c883c074ff0417a747c08d9667c1875%7C994a41397c06491e809879006d575de0%7C0%7C0%7C637653505626099667%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=P6G6GW8hgFkfuUHODZTSlvXO%2Frmh%2Fsb3tb%2BC9qXy0O0%3D&reserved=0 and click on “Find My School” in the top right corner, then search for Phantom Lake Elementary. To register on your mobile device, download the iOS or android app, then tap on “Register” and type in our private invitation code LQE9BO.
After you register, you can connect with different social groups (or start a new one!), join your child’s classroom/s, check out the calendar of events or see how you can help support PLE in the Eagle’s Roost committee page! Parents and guardians can easily customize notifications and privacy preferences in Settings.
If you have any questions, please contact the PTA at phantomlakepta@gmail.com!
Save the Date- Curriculum Night
Upcoming Events and Information
August 31 – 9-10:30am- for returning iPads, checking out laptops, and any new devices (only second grade and new students at PLE)
September 1 - 1st Day of School 1st-5th
September 3 - 1st Day of School Kindergarten
September 6 - No School Labor Day
September 7- No School for Kindergarten Students due to WaKIDS family meetings
September 7 - 1st of Preschool
September 9- Ice Cream Social
September 23- PTA Meeting
October 6- Walk to School Day
October 7- Back to School/Curriculum Night at 6:30 PM
October 8 - No School
October 11-13 - Early Release for Conferences
October 15-29- Read- A-Thon
October 23- Trunk or Treat
November 4- Picture Day
November 5- Picture Day
November 11 - No School Veterans Day
November 25-26 - No School Thanksgiving
December 3- Picture Retake Day
December 20-January 3 - No School Winter Break
Questions? Contact Info.
Rachel Pearson, Assistant Principal
Mrs. Alysia Carey, School Counselor
Mrs. Debbie Gordon, Office Manager
Rhiannon Kreal, PTA President
Mrs. Judy Hunsberger, Family Engagement Specialist
Website: https://bsd405.org/phantomlake/
Location: 1050 160th Ave SE, Bellevue, WA 98008, USA
Phone: (425) 456-5600