The Bark Community Edition 10/24/2025

Dear Bulldog Families, 

 October has flown by, and it’s been filled with exciting moments here at Bennett! This past week, we celebrated Unity Day with a fun-filled spirit week. Students wore orange to show they are united against bullying, and we came together to celebrate kindness, inclusion, and community.

During our school-wide assembly, Mrs. Ahuja’s 4th grade class was recognized with the Golden Bulldog Award for exemplifying the Bennett Way, congratulations to these amazing students! We also introduced our new Pawsitive Paws rewards system, which encourages students to show positive behavior and school spirit. Ask your child which reward is their favorite or which one they’re most excited to earn!

As we head into the final stretch of October, we’re looking forward to our Fall Fest classroom celebrations next week. Each teacher, in partnership with room parents, will host a festive event to honor the season. On October 31st, students are invited to participate in Comfy Cozy Day by wearing a cozy fall outfit of their choice. This can mean anything from festive seasonal pajamas to lounge or leisure wear, whatever feels comfy and cozy and represents fall for your child.

With the crisp fall weather settling in, please remember to send your child to school with a warm coat. Being in the Pacific Northwest, rain-ready gear like waterproof shoes and hoods is always a good idea. Recess is rarely canceled due to bad weather, so please ensure that your students have suitable attire daily. It is also a good idea to pack an extra set of dry clothes if your student(s) enjoy playing in puddles! 

Our Lost and Found is filling up quickly, please stop by to check for any missing items. We have gathered a substantial collection of coats, jackets, sweaters, sweatshirts and a variety of lunch containers. Check through it during pick up and drop off!

Thank you for your continued support and partnership. We’re grateful to share this season of learning and celebration with you.

 With Bulldog Pride,
Jessica Strazzulla - Principal Bennett Elementary

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Upcoming Dates

Save these dates on your calendar!

• 10/31- Fall Fest Class Celebrations-Comfy Cozy Day
• 11/3,11/4,11/6,11/7- Elementary Conferences (Early Release) Book Fair Week
• 11/5- Literacy Night
• 11/7- Veterans Day Assembly
• 11/10- No School
• 11/11- Veterans Day - No School
• 11/14- Picture Re-takes
• 11/18 PTSA Meeting @ Bennett Elementary Library 
• 11/27-11/28 Thanksgiving Holiday - No School

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Safety Reminders

We’d like to share a few important reminders to help keep our school community safe, respectful, and welcoming for everyone.

We’ve recently received concerns from our neighbors about increased traffic and parking along NE 18th Street and 179th Place NE during pick-up and drop-off times. These areas are not designated for school use, and parking there can block driveways and create safety hazards. To help keep traffic flowing and ensure student safety, we strongly encourage families to use our designated pick-up and drop-off lane. Thank you for helping us be thoughtful neighbors and keeping our routines safe and efficient.

Additionally, we’ve seen an increase in the use of golf carts, scooters, and electric bikes on and around our turf field and blacktop area, as well as dogs being brought onto the turf. While we love seeing families enjoy our campus, we ask that everyone follow the posted rules to protect our field and surrounding areas. We've had reports of close calls, increased trash, and damage to the turf, which impacts the safety and enjoyment of our space for all students.

If you notice someone not following the posted guidelines, we kindly ask that you offer a friendly reminder. Together, we can maintain a safe, clean, and respectful environment for our entire Bennett community.

Thank you for helping us be good neighbors and continued support and care.

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Veterans Day

We are excited to invite Bennett veterans to join us for our Veterans Day Assembly on Friday, November 7th at 9:50 AM. This special event is a meaningful opportunity for our school community to honor and recognize the service of those who have served in the armed forces.

If you have a veteran in your family who would like to attend, please email our fifth-grade teacher, Stephanie Ottaway, at ottaways@bsd405.org. Be sure to include the veteran’s name, your student’s name, and their teacher and grade level so we can properly recognize them during the assembly.

We will also be honoring veterans who are unable to join us or who are no longer with us. If you would like to share a photo of a veteran in your family, please send it to Ms. Ottaway as well.

Thank you for helping us celebrate and remember the brave individuals who have served our country. We look forward to sharing this special moment with our community.

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Bennett Bulldog Family Wall! 📸🐾

 Families, we’re excited to co-create our Bennett Family Wall near the entrance of the building—and we’d love for you to be part of it!

If you'd like your family to be included, please submit one or two 4x6 family photos. On the back of each photo, include:

• Your family name
• Your student’s name
• Their grade and teacher’s name

You can drop off your photo in the designated box in the office. Feel free to:

• Send it with your child
• Drop it off yourself
• Bring it during Conference Week

Our goal is to have a beautiful representation of our Bennett families by Friday, November 21st. Thank you for helping us celebrate our amazing community!

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District News and Resources

 

Family Literacy Night: Understanding Reading Skills and Assessments

 Join BSD Teaching and Learning for an informative evening designed to help families understand how students learn to read and how schools assess foundational reading skills. We will share insights on:

· What reading development looks like

· Understanding assessment

· How assessments support your student’s learning

Whether you're new to literacy assessments or looking to deepen your understanding, this session will offer practical insights and resources to help you support your student's learning. Let’s work together to support strong readers and confident learners!

Event Details

Date: Thursday, November 20

Time: 6:00–7:00 p.m.

Location: Wilburton Instructional Service Center

Address: 12241 Main street Bellevue, WA 98005

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 The Impact of Federal Staff Reductions on Student Services

 At Bellevue School District, our mission is to affirm and inspire each and every student to learn and thrive as creators of their future world. We recognize that external policy shifts — such as changes in federal education staffing — can have significant impacts on vulnerable students and families. In light of recent developments, we stand firm in our commitment to maintaining essential supports and protections.

The Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) recently issued a statement on behalf of State Superintendent, Chris Reykdal, outlining how federal layoffs may affect oversight and services for students with disabilities, those experiencing homelessness, migratory students, and other vulnerable groups. Read Superintendent Reykdal’s full message.

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Contact Us 

Feel free to contact us: our amazing Office Manager Melanie Pierson piersonm@bsd405.org

strazzullaj@bsd405.org - Principal

Main Office call (425)456-4800

For attendance bennettattendance@bsd405.org or call (425)456-4801

Follow us at https://www.instagram.com/bennett_bulldogs