The Board meets tomorrow evening (Thursday) to determine the scope and timing of the new building. Your pledge will impact its decision. Please return your pledge form or make a gift or pledge online today. You may make a pledge and pay it at a later date, or in installments for up to three years. You may also give a single, outright gift of cash or stock. Contact Debbie Marchione, Director of Philanthropy, at dmarchione@tbcs.org or 425-898-1720 ext. 339 if you have any questions.

Please join us to hear authors Dennis Trittin and Arlyn Lawrence present Parenting for the Launch: Raising Teens to Succeed in the Real World on Wednesday, April 23, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM in the Kindel Library at Redmond Campus. Tickets $10 per person (or $8 per person for couples). Buy your tickets online.

On Thursday, April 17, the main office at Redmond Campus will be open from 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM. At Valley Campus, the main office will be open from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM. Both offices are closed for Good Friday on April 18.

Are you a LEGO Robotics fan? Have you had previous experience coaching First LEGO League (FLL) Robotics? Bear Creek is looking for parents who may be interested in coaching an FLL Team. If interested, please contact James Woollard, Director of Academic Support Programs, at jwoollard@tbcs.org.

As the weather warms and the sun comes out, our thoughts turn to summer, which means it's time to enroll your child(ren) in Bear Creek's Summer Camp: Pursue Your Passion! With 175+ registrations so far, some of our summer camps are already close to capacity. Don't miss your chance to sign up before it's too late! For information and online registration, go to tbcs.org/summer.

Mark your calendar! Registration opens soon for the 7th Annual Grizzly Open Golf Tournament on Monday, June 23 at Bear Creek Country Club. All proceeds support the Bear Creek athletics program. Early-bird pricing available until June 1.

Please pray with us for the REACH UP Campaign and the future of Bear Creek. Sign up for bi-monthly devotional emails and join us in small group prayer on Tuesdays from 8:30 AM - 8:45 AM in the Lunchroom at Valley Campus or on Fridays from 2:30 PM - 2:45 PM in the Ida Lairson Library at Redmond Campus.

Are you interested in hosting a student from another country? Each year, Bear Creek enrolls between 15-20 international students in Upper School, and about half of these students need to live with local host families. If you are interested in hosting a Bear Creek international student and helping them adjust to Bear Creek and to the U.S., please contact Emily Schuldt at eschuldt@tbcs.org or 425-898-1720 ext. 433. Though Bear Creek does not arrange or manage host families for our international students, Emily can put interested families in touch with a private homestay agency that connects international students with local host families. The hosting commitment is compensated at $1,000 per month. New host families are needed for the upcoming school year, as well as for the remainder of the current school year.

Six Bear Creek students have exhibits on display at Parklane Gallery in Kirkland through April 26. Artists featured are seniors Alex Eppenauer, Anna Fitch, Nick Hagan, Naomi Lee, and Sajan Nauriyal, and junior Roxanne Li. These artists have completed a stunning collection of artwork unique to their personal styles and thoughts. Learn more about each artist, including short video clips, at tbcs.org/artshow.

All are invited to the artists' reception tomorrow April 17, 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM at Parklane Gallery, 130 Park Lane, Kirkland. Free parking is available under the Kirkland Library. Refreshments and music sponsored by Friends of the Arts.

Seven student-artists have entered annual Congressional Student Art Competition and will have their entries on display April 23-24 at VALA Art Center at Redmond Town Center (7303 164th Avenue NE). The awards reception is on Thursday, April 24, from 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM. Congresswoman Suzan DelBene is sponsoring the contest for students in grades 9-12 from Washington's 1st Congressional District. The winning entry will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year, and runners-up will be displayed in Congresswoman DelBene's congressional office. Please stop by to view the submissions by seniors Matthew Kaiser, Jacqueline Hom, Naomi Lee, Alex Eppenauer, and Justina Goldbeck, and sophomores Mia Niikkonen and Yujin Yang.

On April 25 our Grizzlies sports teams and athletes will be recognized and honored at the annual Athletics Banquet. Doors open at 5:30 PM and dinner will be served promptly at 6:00 PM. This is a dressy affair - ties for the guys and dresses for the girls. Our keynote speaker is Bryan Clay, 2008 Olympic Decathlon Champion. Contact Lisa Gasiewicz with any questions (live2craft@comcast.net). Sponsored by the Grizzlies Booster Club.

Bear Creek's Fine and Performing Arts Department presents Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice Friday, May 2 and Saturday, May 3 at 4:00 PM and 7:30 PM. Tickets available at the door ($5 each or $10 for the immediate family).

All parents are invited and encouraged to attend spring semester Parent/Teacher Conferences tomorrow, April 17. Middle School and Upper School teachers will be located throughout the Commons at individual conferencing stations for brief 3-5 minute meetings. No appointments are necessary. Please join us to discuss individual strategies for success and to hear of your student's accomplishments. Your partnership is so important and our faculty value this opportunity to speak with you directly about your student(s)! See calendar for hours.

Parents of freshmen are invited to hear more details about the nature of the SAT redesign and how freshmen will be prepared for some of the new elements of the test. Please join the Office of College Advising for this conversation on Wednesday, April 23 at 8:10 AM in the Band Room.

Bear Creek's chapter of NHS sponsors a twice-yearly cleanup of NE 116th Street in Redmond (just east of Avondale). All Upper School students are invited. On Saturday, April 26 at 10 AM students will meet at Juel Park on 116th to don safety equipment. Two waivers are required (find them on the Parent Page in the Upper School folder). Sign up in the lounge and submit waivers to Mrs. Ballou by Wednesday, April 23.

Attend an informational meeting on April 30, 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM, in the Kindel Library to reserve your spot for this week-long trip of singing and sightseeing in Rome. Questions? Contact Peggy Roth (peggy.roth@tbcs.org). Click the article title for more information.

All parents are invited and encouraged to attend spring semester Parent/Teacher Conferences tomorrow, April 17. Middle School and Upper School teachers will be located throughout the Commons at individual conferencing stations for brief 3-5 minute meetings. No appointments are necessary. Please join us to discuss individual strategies for success and to hear of your student's accomplishments. Your partnership is so important and our faculty value this opportunity to speak with you directly about your student(s)! See calendar for hours.

Attend an informational meeting on April 30, 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM, in the Kindel Library to reserve your spot for this week-long trip of singing and sightseeing in Rome. Questions? Contact Peggy Roth (peggy.roth@tbcs.org). Click the article title for more information.

Please congratulate the following students who were recognized at Chapel this week on April 14 and 15:
Evan L., grade 5, for Intellectual Curiosity
Ben S., grade 5, for Integrity
Anastasia Z., grade 2, for Thoughtfulness

Congratulations to the Super Sleuth winners for the week ending April 4. At Redmond Campus, the winners are:
1. Andrew L., grade 3
2. Harrison L., grade 5
No winner at Valley Campus last week.

You are invited to join our students as they present a lovely program especially for their mothers. Come and be blessed with beautiful songs, a special treat, and a visit to the classroom! At Redmond Campus, Cornerstone Theater doors open at 8:20 AM, program begins at 8:40 AM followed by classroom visits at 9:30 AM. At Valley Campus, Multipurpose Room doors open at 1:15 PM, program begins at 1:30 PM followed by classroom visits at 2:15 PM. Moms, be looking for a special invitation in the mail.

Please plan to attend the Middle School Information Night on Tuesday, April 29 at 7:00 PM in the Kindel Library to find out more about the transition process for your son/daughter going into grade 7.

Did you know that Bear Creek is home to Cub Scout Pack 581? Would you like to know more about Pack 581 and Cub Scouting? Boys in grades K-3 and their parents are invited to come and see what Cub Scouts is all about on Tuesday, May 6, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM, at our monthly pack meeting in the Commons at Redmond Campus. The pack meeting will be a fun-filled evening including awards and a Rain Gutter Regatta - the boys will make little sailboats at the meeting and then race them in a half pipe filled with water. Questions? Contact Liz Hembree (lizhembree@hotmail.com).

The fourth annual Battle of the Books is tomorrow! Students in grades 4-6 will compete in the Multipurpose Room at Valley Campus through 11 quizzing rounds including Family Feud, Academic WizKids, Relay Race, and the Super Challenge finale. To prepare for this exciting day the students read from a list of 13 books, met at lunchtime to quiz one another, made banners, and practiced cheers. At the end of the quizzing, the team with the most points will emerge as 2014’s Battle of the Books Champion!

Bear Creek Preschool presents another informative talk in the Parenting Topics and Tips series. Kellie Anderson will present on Elaine Mazlish and Adele Faber's book How to Talk So Your Kids Will Listen and Listen So Your Kids Will Talk. You will learn practical, effective techniques for helping children deal with their feelings, engaging cooperation, and encouraging autonomy in your child. These events are free and open to all, so please feel free to invite your friends and relatives who may be interested in this topic. Plan to attend on April 29, May 1, or May 6 (RSVP to select date and time)

On Monday the golf teams took on Seattle Lutheran on our home course at Redmond Ridge. The girls won 25-22, despite playing with a smaller team. Junior Gracie Matthews led the team with a 52. The boys team lost a close match, 45-39. Junior Colin Diamond earned medalist honors with a 44. Two freshmen gave us notable "shots of the day" on the ninth hole: Bill Liu's 160 yard approach shot, a perfect draw to 15 feet, setting up an easy par and Colby's 45 foot putt for a not so easy par.

On Monday afternoon, the girls tennis team lost to Seattle Academy, 1-4. In the #2 doubles match, sophomore Grace Denniston and freshman Angela Tzen won (6-4, 6-2).

On Monday the golf teams took on Seattle Lutheran on their home course at Redmond Ridge. The girls won 25-22, despite playing with a smaller team. Junior Gracie Matthews led the team with a 52. The boys team lost a close match, 45-39. Junior Colin Diamond earned medalist honors with a 44. Two freshmen gave us notable "shots of the day" on the ninth hole: Bill Liu's 160 yard approach shot, a perfect draw to 15 feet setting up an easy par and Colby's 45 foot putt for a not so easy par.

On April 25 our Grizzlies sports teams and athletes will be recognized and honored at the annual Athletics Banquet. Doors open at 5:30 PM and dinner will be served promptly at 6:00 PM. This is a dressy affair - ties for the guys and dresses for the girls. Our keynote speaker is Bryan Clay, 2008 Olympic Decathlon Champion. Contact Lisa Gasiewicz with any questions (live2craft@comcast.net). Sponsored by the Grizzlies Booster Club.

Mark your calendar! Registration opens soon for the 7th Annual Grizzly Open Golf Tournament on Monday, June 23 at Bear Creek Country Club. All proceeds support the Bear Creek athletics program. Early-bird pricing available until June 1.