“Important: This handbook has not been updated for 2020-21 due to COVID special circumstances. Please contact the office on 425-456-5800 or email [email protected]” Family Handbook Somerset Elementary School 14100 Somerset Blvd. SE Bellevue, WA 98006 Judy Bowlby, Principal Cathy Elder, Assistant Principal Ruth Embaye, Office Manager 425-456-5800 - 1 - Welcome to Somerset! Somerset is one of 18 elementary schools in the Bellevue School District serving students in kindergarten through fifth grade. We believe the diversity in our community is one of our greatest strengths. Our school currently serves approximately 650 students representing regions from around the world. More than 34 languages are spoken within our school including: Arabic, Bengali, Cantonese, French, German, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Nepali, Malayalam, Marathi, Mandarin, Persian, Romanian, Russian, Saurashtra, Spanish, Taiwanese, Tamil, Thai, Telugu, Urdu, Vietnamese, amongst others. We look forward to working with our community and believe the connection between home and school plays an integral role in the success of our students, both academically, culturally, linguistically, and socially. In partnership with our district vision, we strive to affirm and inspire each and every student to learn and thrive as creators of their future world. We provide a challenging educational experience which not only supports the individual academic growth of every student, but also supports Bellevue School District’s mission. Our mission is to serve each and every student academically, socially, and emotionally, through a rigorous and relevant education that is innovative and individualized. As a learning community that values one another’s humanity, we provide courageous support for an equitable and exceptional education for all students. We are deeply committed to our district’s six shared values and strive to live them out each day. Please feel free to contact either administrator, in addition to your child’s teacher at any time if you have concerns or questions. We look forward to a year in partnership with families! Somerset Elementary - Contacts Ruth Embaye Office Manager (425) 456-5801 Main (425) 456-5800 www.bsd405.org/somerset PTSA Website http://www.somersetptsa.org - 2 - TABLE OF CONTENTS BSD School Website 4 Staff Goals and Commitments 4 Staff List 5 2019-2020 District Calendar 7 Daily Schedule 9 Attendance 9 Absences and Tardies 10 Transportation, Drop-off and Pick Up 11 Arrival and Dismissal Plan 14 After School Plans 14 Weather & School Closures or Late Starts 14 Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports 14 General Information Staffing 16 Student Placement 16 Student Progress Reports 16 Homework 16 Health 16 Medication at School 17 Lunch Program 17 Snack 17 Food at School 17 Volunteers 17 Visitor Badges 18 Photography and/or Video 18 Items from Home 18 Cell Phones 18 Birthday Celebrations 19 Lost and Found 19 Somerset PTA 19 Student Directory 19 Library 19 Emergency Information 20 Ermergency Drill communication 20 Student Placement 21 Policies and Official Notices 22 - 3 - School Media Our school, and each school across the district, has a school website (www.bsd405.org/Somerset) where you will find information related specifically to Somerset as well as information related to the Bellevue School District’s services provided at the school and at the district level. Here you can find the bell schedule, information on happenings around Somerset, The One Somerset ( monthly community newsletter from the administration) and other important information to keep you linked into the amazing work we are doing as a Somerset school community. Bellevue School District Website: www.bsd405.org Our Vision in the Bellevue School District to affirm and inspire each and every student to learn and thrive as creators of their future world. Somerset Elementary strives to create a “Safe, Learning and Fun” envriornment for each student every day! . Bellevue School District Mission Our mission at Somerset Elementary is to serve each and every student academically, socially, and emotionally, through a rigorous and relevant education that is innovative and individualized. As a learning community that values one another’s humanity, we provide courageous support for an equitable and exceptional education for all students. - 4 - Somerset Staff List 2019-2020 Judy Bowlby, Principal Cathy Elder, Assistant Principal Ruth Embaye, Office Manager Tammytyfgl., Mitchell, Office Assistant Shannon Gregory, Office Assistant Esther Duitch, Office Assistant Success Team Melisa Goldsmith, Psychologist Camille Schuyler, Counselor Amy Scott, Instructional Technology Curriculum Leader Sarah LaTorre, Special Education Hannah Hwang , ELL Kindergarten Teachers Christine Ayers Emily Shriver Elizabeth Wilbert 1st Grade Teachers Rob Brown Melia Maxwell Tara Rastetter 2nd Grade Teachers Shana Bowen Christine Brodhead Cathy Gagne Lisa McCaskey 3rd Grade Teachers Lyanne Abe Kelly Lapov Jenny Lin Megan O’Hare Kim Palmer Dana Wyant 4th Grade Teachers Kathryn Campbell Karen Jackson Shanna McLean Jon Pelto Lena Pothitou-West 5th Grade Teachers Lucy Adams Andy Day Sarah Geren-Ziegler Jenny Hunter Duncan Rogers Erin Serafin Kirsten Tonning Stephen Veit - 5 - Specialists Susan Bravenec, Library Lisa Cheung, Art Elizabeth D'Antonio, Art (Fridays) Jeni Dennis, PE Jennifer Andersen-Markee, Music David Klock/ Tanya Schneider, Orchestra Mary Davis/ Jennifer Andersen-Markee, Band Instructional Support Staff Mirzaei Abbasi, Nasrin Para Educator Cori Notton, Para Educator Debbie Chiu,General School Assistant Elsa Fong, General School Assistant Jennifer Lawrence, General School Assistant Aviti Mathur, General School Assistant Candy O’Dore, General School Assistant Lisa Ortman, General School Assistant Keiko Mohr, General School Assistant Vicky Premo, General School Assistant Connie Rigor, General School Assistant Educational Support Staff Ollie Estrella, Custodian Solomon Mancol, Custodian Antonio Gebremedhin, Custodian Andrea Jenkins, Nutrition Services Karen Ruby, Nurse Mike Poole, Technology Specialist Early and Extended Learning Staff Ms. Stacia Hansford, Site Supervisor AM & PM Ms. Kris Norgaard, Teacher Assistant AM & PM Ms. Jessy Xavier, Teacher Assistant AM & PM Mr. Michael Waldrop, Teacher Assistant PM only Ms. Susan Wang, Teacher Assistant PM only - 6 - - 7 - Affirm. Inspire. Thrive. Bellevue School District Calendar 2019-2020 (For Families) 2019 September 2 (Monday): Labor Day observance, all district offices closed September 4 (Wednesday): First day of school for grades 1 through 12 September 9 (Monday): First day of kindergarten October 11 (Friday): No school, professional development day October 14, 15, 16 (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday): Elementary school early release, conference days November 6 (Wednesday): First Quarter November 11 (Monday): No school, Veterans Day observance, all district offices closed November 28 and 29 (Thursday and Friday): No school, Thanksgiving, all district offices closed December 23 through January 3: No school, winter break 2020 January 1 and 2 (Wednesday and Thursday): New Year’s observance, all district offices closed January 20 (Monday): No school, Martin Luther King Jr. Day observance, all district offices closed January 27 (Monday): No school, Non-student day February 17 through 21: No school, mid-winter break March 20 (Friday): No school, Professional development day April 10 (Friday): Third Quarter April 13 through 17: No school, spring break May 25 (Monday): No school, Memorial Day observance, all district offices closed June 19 (Friday): Last day of school - 8 - Daily Bell Schedule 2019-2020 8:40 Crossing Guard-Supervision provided 9:00 Teachers welcome students 9:05 All students in seats, ready to learn 10:50-11:40 2nd Grade Lunch & 11:15-12:00 K, 1st Grade First Recess 11:45-12:30 5th Grade 12:15-1:00 3rd, 4th Grade 1:10 – 1:30 K/1 Grade Second 1:35 – 1:55 5th Grade Recess 2:00 – 2:20 2nd Grade Thursday, Friday Monday, Tuesday, 2:25 – 2:45 3rd/4th Grade 3:35 Dismissal* 8:40 Crossing Guard -Supervision provided 9:00 Teachers welcome students 9:05 All students in seats, ready to learn nd sday 10:50-11:40 2 Grade Lunch & 11:15-12:00 K, 1st Grade First Recess 11:45-12:30 5th Grade Wedn 12:15-1:00 3rd, 4th Grade 1:20 Dismissal - 9 - Attendance Prompt and regular school attendance by students is important. Regular attendance is necessary if students are to profit fully from learning experiences offered in school. Because students miss significant instruction when they are absent from school, any absence may affect their learning. In order to set your family up for success, plan to be at school by the 9:00am bell, giving students adequate time to reach their classrooms and be prepared for the start of class at 9:05am. Frequent absences and tardies will be addressed by the principal(s). The school may take a variety of actions to help improve a student’s attendance and timeliness. (Please see the appendix for the full text of the Bellevue School District Student Attendance Policy 3122). Absences and Tardies (late arrival or early leave) If your child will be absent or late, please call the school’s main office at 425-456-5800 or email [email protected]. We value your child’s safety and need to know where he/she is if not in school. Please refer to Bellevue School District Policy 3222 for more details on what constitutes an excused absence/tardy or an unexcused absence/tardy. Excused/Unexcused Absences For an absence to be considered as an excused absence (see policy 3122), you first MUST fill out a “Request for Excused Absence” form and return it to the office. Filling out the form does not guarantee that the absence will be accepted as excused. You may obtain a form in the office or on our website. We strongly discourage families from taking vacations during school days. Research shows every absence has an impact on your child and his/her classroom, and extended absences have been shown to have a negative impact on a student’s education. Late Arrival and Early Pick Up (Tardies) Students must be in their seats at 9:05am.