The Bark Community Edition 3/13/2026

Mar 13 2026

Hello families, and what a beautiful snowy day! With winter weather upon us, we want to take a moment to remind everyone about safe driving practices around our school. Whether we are experiencing snow or clear skies, we have had families reach out with concerns about traffic and driving behaviors during arrival and dismissal. Snowy weather provides a great opportunity to pause and recommit to keeping our students, staff, and community safe by driving at safe speeds, allowing extra time, staying alert for pedestrians, and carefully following the directions of our staff who are outside supporting traffic flow. We also appreciate your partnership in being mindful and patient, taking turns, yielding as needed, avoid blocking driveways, and showing courtesy to our surrounding homes. These small, intentional actions help reduce congestion and ensure that everyone arrives and departs safely.

Thank you for your continued patience, cooperation, and care for one another as we work together to keep Bennett a safe and welcoming community for all.

With Bulldog Pride,

Jessica Strazzulla

Principal

Upcoming Dates

Save these dates on your calendar!

3/26- Multicultural Night
3/27- No School
4/1- PTSA sponsored Math Challenge 6:30-8:30pm
4/6-4/10- Spring Break
4/20-4/24- STEAM Week
5/25-Memorial Day
5/26-Non School Day
6/18-5th Grade Promotion Ceremony 2:30-3:30pm

BSD Cultural Calendar

Community Partnerships

26-27 Childcare: Boys & Girls Clubs of Bellevue to be Offered at All BSD Elementary Schools

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Bellevue and the Bellevue School District are pleased to announce an expanded partnership that will begin in the 2026–2027 school year. Starting this fall, Boys & Girls Clubs of Bellevue will become the sole provider of before and after‑school care for preschool and school‑age students at every BSD elementary school.

This shift brings all childcare services under one experienced provider, offering families:

Streamlined enrollment
Consistent program quality across all schools
Expanded access to enriching activities that support academic, social, and emotional growth
Stronger alignment between the school day and out‑of‑school time

Registration for the 2026–2027 school year will begin on Monday, March 16, 2026, for new families through the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bellevue online portal. Currently enrolled families will receive notification of enrollment directly through the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bellevue. Additional details will be published on the district website.

Families at Schools Near Lake Hills Blvd

City of Bellevue Update: Travel Impact on Lake Hills Boulevard

The City of Bellevue has shared that there will be a travel impact on Lake Hills Boulevard when they start construction on the Kelsey Creek Culvert project in mid-March. To complete this work safely and efficiently, portions of Lake Hills Boulevard between 151st Ave SE and 154th Ave SE will be impacted.

Lane closures

Expect periodic lane closures starting in mid-March 2026. Flaggers and signs will help guide traffic through lane restrictions during work hours.

Full road closure
There will be a full closure of Lake Hills Boulevard between 151st Ave SE and 154th Ave SE for approximately 60 days during the peak of construction. This closure will allow crews to complete the most intensive work safely and quickly. Detour routes will be clearly marked.

World Hindi Day & Film Festival: Celebrating India’s Unity in Diversity

Join us for a vibrant celebration of India’s Unity in Diversity — an immersive experience that brings together culture, cuisine, creativity and community. Hosted by the Indian Consulate, this interactive event invites participants to explore the many languages, traditions and stories that shape India through an engaging Understanding India session, hands‑on workshops in Indian heritage arts, and a flavorful Indian food festival showcasing regional cuisines. Enjoy an Indian film festival movie that reflects the richness of Indian storytelling, and wrap up the celebration with exciting prizes. Attend to learn, taste, watch, create and celebrate the spirit of India together!

Saturday, March 21

2:30-7:30 p.m.

Interlake High School

RSVP to attend.

PTSA Corner

Join Us for Multicultural Night – March 26

Our school community is excited to host Multicultural Night on March 26 in the Bennett Elementary gym, and we would love to have teachers and staff participate. This event is a fun, welcoming opportunity to celebrate the many cultures that make up our school community and to connect with students and families outside the classroom.

There are many ways to get involved — from hosting a table, sharing a cultural tradition, supporting a performance, or helping with the event — and all levels of participation are welcome. Your presence truly makes a difference and means a great deal to our students and families.

If you’re interested, please sign up here: https://signup.com/go/rVPLXtZ

We hope you’ll join us for this joyful evening of learning, celebration, and community!

District News and Resources

Your Voice Matters: Join the Ed Tech Advisory Committee

We’re excited to highlight the Educational Technology Advisory Committee and invite members of our learning community to get involved!

This committee brings together students, staff, family members, and community members to help guide how technology is used to support teaching and learning at Bellevue School District. Members will share diverse perspectives, help set best practices for using technology in meaningful ways, and review key decisions to ensure all students have access to fair, engaging, and effective learning tools.

To Join

BSD students: Please fill out the student interest form.
BSD staff, family and community members: Please fill out the staff, family and community interest form.

We welcome your participation in shaping the future of educational technology in our district!

For questions about the Educational Technology Advisory Committee, please contact Aysha Altayar at altayara@bsd405.org.

Families with High School Students

2026 College Conference: Mock Admission Case Study and College Fair

Get a behind-the scenes look at how college admission decisions are made, what students can do to stand out, and the opportunity to network with over 100 colleges and universities.

Date: April 22, 2026

Time: 5:30-8:15 p.m.

Location: Mercer Island High School

Registration is required for the Case Study portion of the evening.

Share Your Feedback: Complete the District Family Survey

Your feedback is very important to us as we continuously work to improve the experience of our students and families. Beginning Monday, March 2, we will launch our annual Family Engagement Survey.

As part of our commitment to our community, we strive to foster belonging, strengthen our partnerships with families, and support student well-being and academic growth. This survey is an important opportunity for you to share what’s working and where we can improve.

Access the survey. It should only take a few minutes to complete. The survey will be open March 2 – 20.

Thank you for your continued trust and partnership.