Students, Staff and Community Partners Share in a Season of Gratitude

As the calendar year draws to a close, the Bellevue School District would like to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to our learning community. We are thankful for the students, staff and community partners that allow us to thrive and grow. Despite challenges that may come our way, together we can continue to create schools and learning environments where compassion and inspiration flourish.

Gratitude for Our Community Partners
Bellevue LifeSpring
Bellevue LifeSpring, in partnership with the Bellevue School District, operates the Bellevue Family Hub locations at Highland Middle School and Stevenson Elementary. The Hub serves as a centralized space where families can meet with trained LifeSpring volunteers to connect with essential resources. In addition, the Hub partners with other community organizations to provide learning opportunities that support adults and teens with workshops that support their academic, career and financial futures.

LifeSpring volunteers recently decorated Mary’s Place Family Shelter. Their efforts have made the season bright and festive for many of our students and families.

Boys and Girls Clubs of Bellevue
For more than 70 years, Boys and Girls Clubs of Bellevue (BGCB) has provided safe spaces for youth when not in school. The BGCB serves over 12,000 youth in Bellevue between the ages of 3 and 18 with programming focused on academics, health and leadership. They operate school-based clubs, teen centers, a clubhouse and three clubs within public housing communities. 

Recently, Seattle Seahawks safety Julian Love visited our Lake Hills Clubhouse to unveil “Love’s Huddle.” In partnership with BGCB and UnitedHealthcare Community Health Plan of Washington, he provided the clubhouse with a washer, dryer, and a stocked hygiene locker to help students who use the space feel confident.

International Community Health Services
The Bellevue School District is fortunate to have a school-based health center at Highland Middle School, in partnership with International Community Health Services (ICHS). ICHS began as an all-volunteer clinic in Seattle’s International District fifty years ago and has now expanded to multiple locations throughout the region — providing health care services to thousands of patients annually.

The Highland Health Center is open to all BSD students and provides treatment of illness, injuries and ongoing health conditions, in addition to well-child visits and immunizations. ICHS and BSD also partner with Youth Eastside Services at the Highland Health Center to provide support for mental health and substance use concerns.

Jubilee REACH
The mission of Jubilee REACH is to bring healing, build community, and transform the lives of students and families in Bellevue. In partnership with BSD, Jubilee REACH site coaches develop relationships with students before, during and after school. In elementary and middle schools, this involves athletics and activities programs. At the high school level, site coaches engage with students and provide social, emotional and academic support.

At the Jubilee REACH center, qualified families receive assistance with rent, utilities and food support. The center offers before and after-school care, tutoring as well as beginning, intermediate and advanced-level language classes for adults who speak a first language other than English.

Thank you to the Jubilee Elves who recently supported Bellevue families in four different areas: the Groceries for Families program, Before and After School program, families served by NISO, and other families throughout the Bellevue School District.

Rainier Athletes
Rainier Athletes provides BSD students with unique wraparound mentoring that includes support from their school, community, family, coach and mentor. Dedicated mentors are paired with students and build relationships to foster greater confidence, advocacy and engagement both in and out of the classroom. Rainier Athletes supports and mentors over 100 BSD students across several school locations. In addition, they work with community sports leagues and other youth-focused organizations to cover the cost of participation, registration for youth programs, and coordination of transportation as needed.

Reflecting on her first year as a Rainier Athlete’s Program Manager, Taylor McGhee states that she is “excited to continue supporting families in the Bellevue School District as we unite every student's community of parents, teachers, and coaches!”  

Youth Eastside Services
Youth Eastside Services (YES) is an Eastside behavioral health services provider for children and youth through the age of 22. They provide prevention, diagnosis and treatments for mental health and substance use disorders. There are more than fifty YES locations in East King County, and the Bellevue School District is fortunate to partner with YES to provide free on-site, dually licensed mental health and substance use counselors to support student mental health and well-being. School year services and programs include support groups, screenings, assessments, referrals, parent education and alcohol and drug education classes for those needing intervention.

In addition to the partners listed above, the Bellevue School District shares our gratitude to the numerous community organizations that support Bellevue School District families by providing direct access to supports and services including: Backpack Meals for Kids, Hopelink, KidVantage (formerly Eastside Baby Corner), Mary’s Place, and Treehouse.

Gratitude for Our Students, Staff and Families
During this season of giving, Bellevue school district students came together to support their peers and communities. For the fourth consecutive year, students in the PACIFIC program at Interlake High School along with students in Interlake Cheer, Sparkle Cheer and Interlake Robotics gathered donations and created food bags that support over 150 students across the district.

“Measuring a school's impact extends beyond the academic achievements of the classroom and additionally encompasses the compassion and empathy for the community that it represents” – Bret Cochrun, Interlake High School Principal

At Highland Middle School, leadership students also held a drive to collect food and essential hygiene items. The donations will support students in the Highland community as well as through the Renewal Food Bank.

Students at International School recently concluded their annual Snowflake Food Drive. Donations support Hopelink’s Food Program which operates five food markets including a location in Bellevue, where shoppers enrolled in the Food Assistance Program can select items that best fit the needs of their household.

District staff recently took part in a toy drive in support of our learning community. Staff brought in hundreds of new unwrapped toys for students in partnership with Jubilee Reach.

Gratitude for the Bellevue Schools Foundation
Funding for many critical district programs and events is provided through the Bellevue Schools Foundation. For over 45 years, the Bellevue Schools Foundation has promoted and funded a multitude of learning opportunities for students. Learn more about the impact BSF has had on district schools in their annual Impact Report. 

As we look to the year ahead, we are excited to build on the incredible work of our partners and continue to support the needs of students and families. Thank you for your dedication and generosity — you are the heart of everything we do. Wishing you a joyful winter holiday and a wonderful New Year!