Ardmore Community Newsletter: November 2024
Dear Ardmore Families,
We can't believe that we are already in November it feels like yesterday when we welcomed our kids into the building and saw the smiles on their faces.
The past couple of months have been busy, and students have been learning so much from our youngest students building strong foundational skills that will help them in elementary school to our 5th graders enhancing their skills to support them as they transition to middle school. We are so proud of all our kids, and we continue to strive to ensure that every student feels a strong sense of belonging, with each one affirmed in the identities they hold alongside their peers.
We want to do this work in collaboration with you. This year, for our family events, we will hold community gatherings themed around the seasons. We hope that, through these events, we can celebrate and learn with and from each other about different holidays and traditions, fostering cross-cultural connections. We plan on doing similar themes in our assemblies for the students, where we hope student will want to participate by sharing something meaningful to them that represents who they are. If you would like your child to share something in these assemblies, please have them speak with their teacher or reach out to us directly. We would also love for families to participate in assemblies as guest speakers or by showcasing something important to your family or cultural background for our kids to learn from. We are excited to start with our fall festival family event and hope to see you there. Please see below for more information.
Sincerely,
Tina Bogucharova-Principal
Yusra Obaid-Assistant Principal
Ardmore Community Handbook Ardmore-Community-Handbook-2024-2025.pdf
Save the Date
11/5: MLL Coffee 8:30-9:30
11/5: Veterans Day Assembly
11/8: Taproot Theater Assembly
11/11: Veterans Day. No School.
11/13: PTSA Monthly Board Meeting
11/22: Ardmore Family Event: Fall Festival
11/22: Arabic and HIndi Bilingual Program Open House
11/25-11/26: Teacher Parent Conference Days (Half Day Schedule for students)
11/28-11/29: Thanksgiving Break. No School.
Please follow our Calendar for future events https://ardmore.bsd405.org/our-school/calendar
Multilingual Learner Coffee Parent Event
Is your child in the MLL program? Please join us for our second gathering. There will be coffee, breakfast treats, and a short presentation on how we use students’ assets to develop academic skills through ‘Can Dos’. You will get to create a ‘Can Do’ for yourself and your child. So please join us to continue our collaboration.
When: Tuesday, November 5th, 8:15-9:15 am
Where: Ardmore room 105
Diwali Celebration
Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights is celebrated on October 31-November 1.
The Bellevue Library is hosting a Diwali Celebration, and all are welcomed!
The event is on November 9th at 3:00-4:30PM at the Bellevue Library, in partnership with the Bellevue School District.
https://kcls.bibliocommons.com/events/671bf1558fc0a32800095c45
South Asian Parent Group Meeting
Please join us for the South Asian Parent Group meeting.
This meeting is open to all South Asian families of the Bellevue School District and it is an open forum for community building and strengthening connections.
This peer group will include facilitated discussions on topics that are of interest to families.
When: Tuesday, Nov 19 - 8:15am-9:15am
Where: Ardmore Elementary
SouthAsianParentsgroupflyer2025.png
Family Event: Fall Festival
Join us for a multicultural celebration and potluck!
Our community will have the opportunity to come together and make connections while learning about each other's traditions.
Students will have the opportunity to showcase their hobbies and talents on the stage. Signup link for a spot in the showcase is on the flyer.
Spotlight on Bilingual Education
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Last week the Seattle Times Reporter was at Ardmore interviewing students, staff and parents of our Arabic Bilingual Program.
We are very proud of our staff and students, and it is a tremendous honor to showcase our bilingual programs throughout the Puget Sound area.
The upcoming 2025-2026 Choice School Application period will open from December 9th-January 17th and we need your help to spread the word about our programs.
Interested families are invited to our Open House event on November 22 at 5:00 to learn about the programs.
Here are the flyers:
Spotlight on Instruction
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5th graders are starting the Literacy unit on Ecosystems. | 5th graders learn about being unique individuals while being a part of a cohesive community. | 3rd graders write about themselves in a narrative writing piece. | 1st graders learn about Global Goals and animals in the wildlife sanctuary |
School Assemblies Schedule
We welcome families and community partners to join us in planning our school assembly series.
If you are interested in partnering with us please contact us.
Assembly programs are usually 25 minutes long and they will take place on the following days.
Fall Assembly: Dec 19th
Winter Assembly Feb 14th
Spring Assembly April 1st
Summer Assembly Jun 16th
Safety Drills
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.
Please let us know if you have any questions.
Panorama Student Survey
Bellevue School District is launching the Fall 2024 Panorama Student Survey to gather valuable insights into students' experiences and to further support their growth and well-being. The survey will focus on several key areas, including school climate, sense of belonging, and social-emotional learning (SEL), offering students an opportunity to share their perspectives. Learn more on the Panorama Surveys webpage on the district website.
Free Family Workshop – Transition to Middle and High School
Join Bellevue LifeSpring for an upcoming free family workshop, Everything You Need to Know for Your Child's Transition to Middle or High School presented by Sistema Escolar.
In this session, families will learn how to navigate their child’s transition to middle or high school with ease. Sistema Escolar will provide expert guidance on the entire process, available resources, and what families can expect during this important phase. Don’t miss out on essential information to help support your child’s educational journey.
This workshop is free to attend and open to all Bellevue families. Snacks and childcare are provided.
Register today! Space is limited.
Workshop presented in English
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Bellevue Family Hub
Stevenson Elementary School
14220 NE 8th St, Bellevue, WA 98007
How to talk to Children about the Election
At Ardmore elementary school, the safety and well-being of our community is our top priority. We understand that election times can be stressful times for some staff and families. As a district, we have several resources that are shared leading up to election seasons to support us in caring for our community. Please see resources below for your review and discussion. Please know that as a school community we will always do everything possible to support and care for every member of our community. Should you have any questions or need support, please reach out directly to Mrs. B or Ms. Obaid.
Resources for families:
• https://www.kpbs.org/news/politics/2024/02/13/how-to-talk-to-your-kids-about-voting-and-the-election
• https://childmind.org/blog/guidance-for-speaking-to-kids-about-the-election/
Too Sick for School?
How to Know When You’re Too Sick for School
As we enter the time of year when colds and fevers tend to appear unexpectedly, the Bellevue School District wants to remind families of some important guidelines regarding when students should stay home from school. Students experiencing certain illnesses may be required to stay home to rest and recover.
The Bellevue School District's nurses and attendance team have provided helpful guidance on which symptoms indicate a student should remain at home and when they may safely return to school. Keeping sick students at home, along with encouraging regular handwashing, helps protect everyone—especially those with fragile immune systems or acute medical conditions. Learn more on the Too Sick for School webpage.
Donate to the Ardmore PTSA
We need your help!
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
- Ardmore Elementary School
- Family Engagement
- Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA)
- Principal