Ardmore Community Newsletter: Jan 2026

Dear Families,

Happy New Year. We hope you enjoyed the winter break celebrating the holidays and welcoming the new year. We are excited to welcome our students back to school this Monday, January 5th.

December was a very busy and joyful month for our community, filled with special events and meaningful visits. Below, you will find highlights from our visits with Trevor Noah, Hadi Patrovi and Representative Osman Salahuddin.

During December, we also celebrated Russian Heritage Month and honored our Russian speaking community. Students enjoyed a Russian play during our December assembly, and during library time they learned how to create Russian nesting dolls, which will be displayed around our school. We also came together as a school to celebrate Arabic World Language Day.

This month, we will hold our Martin Luther King Jr. Assembly on January 16th, and we will continue to uplift and celebrate our multicultural community every day.

As we move further into the school year, we know our students will continue to grow and develop new skills. At times, this growth may include a range of behaviors as students learn and practice self regulation strategies. We will continue to communicate and partner with you to support our students.  We value our partnership with families and work closely together to ensure every student feels supported as they learn and grow.

 

We are excited for January and the months ahead. Please see the information below for upcoming events. As a reminder, our after school clubs will begin this week.

Warm regards,

 

Yusra Obaid – Principal

Renee Barut-del Fierro – Assistant Principal

Ardmore Community Handbook   Ardmore Community Handbook 2025-2026

 

Save the Date

 

Jan 8th Kindergarten and preschool Open House 5:30-6:30

Jan 9th Hindi World Language Day

Jan 14th Dardasha Family Coffee 8:20-9:30 am

Jan 19th NO school MLK day

Jan  22nd MLL Coffee  from 8:15-9:15am

Jan 26th Non student day

 Please find important non school days here  Non School Days

 

Please follow our Calendar for future events https://ardmore.bsd405.org/our-school/calendar=

 

Celebrating Russian Heritage and Russian Speaking community

 

 Special Visits 

 

Arabic Program Application 2026-2027 Enrollment 

Open Enrollment for Incoming Kindergarten Arabic Program- Program is open to all interested students

Enrollment for our Kindergarten Arabic classes are open apply now through January 16, 2026 (4:30 p.m.).

To apply, please use the following link:

https://www.bsd405.org/academics/language-programs/arabic-bilingual-education-program

The K–5 waiting list will open on January 22.

Please feel free to share this information with any families who may be interested and invite them to our Jan 8th open house.

If your child is already in the program you don't need to reapply next year.  

Student Safety 

Washington state law and Bellevue School District policy require all schools to hold at least one drill per calendar month while school is in session. This month, we will be conducting a lockdown drill and practicing actions to help keep us safe in the event of a threat or intruder.

Please note that a lockdown is considered a preventative measure and is not the same as an Active Threat.

During a lockdown drill, students learn about the importance of listening to school staff and following instructions quickly and quietly.

Lockdown is initiated when there is a threat to the campus or school. All threats are taken seriously. In the interest of student safety, lockdown may be initiated while the nature of the threat is evaluated. Staff are trained to lock classroom doors, shut off the lights, close the blinds, and to continually assess the situation.

Please talk with your student about preparing for emergencies and disasters. Encourage them to talk about their concerns and express their feelings. Emphasize that even though sometimes things happen that we may not expect, there are lots of things we can do to help us stay safe.

 

For more information on talking to your child about school safety, you might want to visit the website https://www.mhanational.org/talking-kids-about-school-safety

Winter 1 After-School Clubs starting Jan 5th

 

Our After school winter 1 season will start this Monday Jan 5th. If your child was selected you should have received a talking point confirming. If you would like to be put on the waiting list please call the office to put your name. All sign ups are closed

Winter clubs will run Jan 5–Feb 13. The activity bus is available Mondays and Thursdays. Bus route information is below.

Dabke Dance (K-3): Wednesdays 12:30-1:20

Arabic Activity (3-5)Thursdays 2:35-4:15

Indian cultural  Dance (K-5): Thursdays 2:35-4:15

Soccer Club 2-5: Wednesdays 12:30-2:00

Russian club K-5 Grades K-1 on Mondays, Thursday Grades 3-5  2:35-4:15

Aztec Dance Club K-5  Mondays 2:35-4:15

 Highland Middle school Open House

Highland Open House if you have 5th grader transitioning to Middle school you can attend Highland Middle school information session on Jan 6th from 5:00-6:00 PM

 

Local Levies Help Fund Learning and Safety

Washington state does not pay for all the costs of running public schools. Local levies approved by voters help fill that gap so that students have the tools and support they need to learn and grow. All levies approved by BSD voters stay in the Bellevue community to support our students and schools.

BSD has two levies on the February 10 ballot. The Educational Programs and Operations Levy helps pay for teachers, counselors, and programs such as art, music, athletics, and advanced classes. The Technology and Capital Projects Levy funds student laptops and tablets, network systems, and safety improvements in school buildings

 

Ballots Arriving Soon – Learn About the Levies

Ballots will be mailed to Bellevue voters around January 23–24 for the February 10 election. The ballot includes two replacement levies that continue local funding for our schools.

The levies support student learning, classroom staff, safety programs, technology, and building maintenance. This funding helps make sure every student has access to safe and supportive learning environments.

 

How Local Levies Help Students Every Day

Bellevue School District is funded by federal, state and local funding, including voter-approved levies. BSD has two levies up for renewal on the February 10 ballot.

Local levy funding helps pay for classroom teachers, student health services, and special education. It also provides one-to-one devices, up-to-date technology, and training for teachers.

The levies also fund safety measures like secure entrances and emergency preparedness. These levies help maintain the quality of education and safety standards families expect in Bellevue. Visit our levy renewal web page to learn more.2026 Renewal Levies - Bellevue School District

 

PTSA Support 

 

Please consider donating to the Ardmore PTSA to help us fund fieldtrips, assemblies, educational workshops, and family events.

We appreciate your support and partnership!

https://bit.ly/donateardmoreptsa