The Bark Community Edition 9/12/2025

Dear Bennett Families, 

This week marked a special milestone, our first week with all of our Bulldogs under one roof! Last Friday we welcomed our kindergartners, and this Monday our family became complete with the arrival of our preschoolers. It’s wonderful to see our community whole again, and we’re excited to settle in and move full steam ahead into what promises to be a fantastic year.

With all of our Bulldogs back in full stride, our car lines are busier, too! Below you’ll find some very important reminders to help keep arrival and dismissal running smoothly. The safety of our students and families is always our top priority, and we thank you for doing your part to help keep our pack safe.

In Partnership,

Jessica Strazzulla 
Principal

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Upcoming Dates

 ​​​​​Save these dates on your calendar

• 10/3 Bennett's Annual Walkathon
• 10/3 Community Wide Flu/Covid Vaccine Clinic (details to come)
• 10/7 Hearing/Vision Screening
• 10/7 Curriculum Night 5:30-7:00PM
• 10/10- No School
• 10/17 Picture Day

 

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Drop Off and Pick Up Safety Reminders

Now that all of our Bulldogs are back, traffic is much busier around school. Thank you for your patience and partnership in helping us keep everyone safe. Please take a moment to review these important reminders:

• Respect our neighbors: Parking in the surrounding neighborhood streets has made it difficult for families living nearby to get in and out of their homes. In particular, 179th Street and NE 18th Street are not designated drop-off areas and should not be used for parking or student drop-off. Using these areas creates safety hazards and has already led to near misses. We strongly encourage everyone to use the designated drop-off loop instead.

• Follow the flow of traffic: The loop is designed to keep cars moving safely and smoothly. Do not cut in front of others in line or speed off after drop-off—this puts students and families at risk. Always move forward as directed and avoid stopping in the lane.

• Stay in your car: In the drop-off/pick-up loop, please remain in your vehicle. Students should exit and enter from the right side (the sidewalk side) to stay safely away from traffic.

• Drive carefully: The speed limit in school zones is 20 mph whenever children are present. Inside the loop, please go even slower—pedestrians and children are close by.

• Parking guidelines: Do not park in handicap spaces unless you have a valid permit. Please also avoid parking on corners or moving cones—the cones are placed strategically to keep sightlines clear and traffic flowing safely. If you park in the lot to walk your child, be cautious when backing out, as little ones can be hard to see.

• Crosswalk safety: Always stop for students and our safety patrol at crosswalks. Please use the crosswalk yourself if walking across the street.

• Respect staff directions: Our staff members are out there to support safety. If you are asked to slow down or adjust your approach, please be respectful. We are all working together to protect your children.

By following these guidelines, we can ensure that arrival and dismissal are safe and smooth for all, while also being considerate of our neighbors. Thank you for doing your part!

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September Nurse News

Hello Bennett Community!  My name is Trish Ignacio and I am happy to support you and your children this year as your school nurse.  I am at Bennett on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays.  Here are a few reminders on how to keep our school community healthy and safe this year.  Thank you for doing your part!

• Too Sick for School? Please see our BSD District guidelines on when to keep your child home
• We will be holding a community wide Flu/Covid Vaccine Clinic on Oct 3^rd at Bennett after school, same day as the Walkathon.  Please stay tuned for more details.
• We are having our state mandated Hearing/Vision Screening on  October 7^th for Grades K-3 and 5 during school hours.  I will be working with the PTA to gather some volunteers for this event.  Look out for an email soon about this.
• If your child has any known or new allergies or health conditions, kindly inform me right away so we can provide the appropriate support while in school
• A friendly reminder to encourage regular handwashing at home as good hand hygiene greatly reduces the spread of germs.

Trish Ignacio

School Nurse

Bennett Elementary (Mon, Tues, Wed)

(425) 456- 4805

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Lost and Found Reminder

Our Lost and Found is already beginning to fill up, and we want to make sure items make their way back home! Please take a moment to check the Lost and Found regularly so belongings don’t pile up.

To help us return items quickly, we ask that you label your child’s sweaters, jackets, sweatshirts, lunchboxes, backpacks, and water bottles with their name and grade. Labeled items are much easier to identify and get back to the right student.

Thank you for helping us keep our Bulldogs’ belongings safe and accounted for!

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Interested in Volunteering?

Thank you for your interest in serving as a volunteer to support our students! The Bellevue School District encourages family members, friends, caregivers, and community members to get involved—there are many ways to participate and make a difference.

Because students learn best in safe, secure, and stable environments, all adult volunteers are required to complete a background check before beginning. This process helps us ensure that our schools remain a safe place for every child to learn and grow.

We truly appreciate your willingness to share your time and talents with our Bulldogs! You can start the process by completing the volunteer application here: https://www.bsd405.org/community/volunteer

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District News and Resources 

Mental Health Resources for the BSD Community

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness, spread hope, and spark meaningful action around one of the most urgent mental health issues of our time. Families are encouraged to take time to learn about warning signs, common symptoms, behaviors and risk factors — making a commitment to prioritizing suicide prevention.

A variety of mental health resources, including information about suicide prevention, can be found on the Mental Health Support section of the district website. Other topics covered include anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and substance abuse. Individuals seeking support may also reach out to school counselors and MHAT counselors.
 

The Bellevue School District has also partnered with Care Solace to complement districtwide efforts that support the well-being of students, families and staff. Care Solace is a free and confidential care coordination service that can help you quickly find mental health or substance use treatment options matched to your needs, regardless of circumstance. Care Solace is NOT an emergency response service or mental health service provider. If you have a life-threatening emergency, please call 911 or The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. The Care Solace team is always available — including nights, weekends and holidays.

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A Beginning-of-the-Year Update from BSD Operations and Finance

BSD’s Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer share an update with the community regarding the district’s plan to strengthen our finances and reserves.

Key updates include:

·       Student enrollment

·       Class sizes

·       Benefits of non-resident students

·       Commitment to transparency and accountability 

These updates will be shared with the BSD community monthly, including through School Board Meeting presentations and study sessions, bsd405.org, and the BSD News and Events e-newsletter.

Read the full September update.

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Contact Us

Front Office - (425) 456-4800

Attendance: bennettattendance@bsd405.org

Office Manager: Melanie Pierson PiersonM@bsd405.org

Principal: Jessica Strazzulla strazzullaj@bsd405.org