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My Parent Portal

Vidigami

Read this tutorial if you have questions about Vidigami.

To Do List

Parent/Teacher Conference Sign Ups

Grade 6 Field Trip Sign Ups

Check out these new Axis Parent Resources.

During the regular school year, stay up-to-date on all the school news and announcements, read

The Bear Facts  and   US Weekly

Lunch

Today's Menu

Go to Food Services page to add money to your lunch account, see price list, and find other information.

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Attendance

If your child will be late, absent, or picked up early, please inform the school.

Redmond Campus Students

  • Email attendancered@tbcs.org (preferred) or
  • Call the school (425-898-1720) and leave a voicemail message or speak with the Attendance Coordinator

If a student is absent and unexcused (i.e. we did not receive prior notification), we will attempt to contact his or her parents via email and phone to ensure the child is not expected to be at school. If we are unable to contact parents, we will call the emergency contacts on file for the student.

If there is a change in your K – 6 child's regular dismissal routine (e.g. he/she normally rides the bus, but won't today, or he/she normally has sports practice, but today will ride the bus), please email this information to the following three people:

Valley Campus Students

  • Email valley.office@tbcs.org (preferred) or
  • Call the school (425-885-9401) and leave a voicemail message or speak with the office staff

Reporting Illness

If your child is sick, please ensure that you leave details in your email or phone message regarding your child's symptoms: fever? rash? vomiting? congestion? coughing? etc. The school nurse will follow up if necessary. See also Bear Creek Health Policies.

Prearranged Absences

If you know in advance that your student will be absent from school, please complete the appropriate form. Instructions and signatures needed are found on each form. These forms are not required for routine events like orthodontist appointments.

Chapel

Memory Verse Audio Files

NIV, copyrighted by Zondervan, 1984 Music by Nicole Klimisch and Chandler Faraone

Academic Advising

Course Selection Resources and Catalogs

Upper School Academic Advising for Grade 8

Beginning October 1, grade 8 families may sign up for an individual advising appointment with Emily Schuldt, Dean of Academic Advising. She will help your child map out his or her high school academics.

Course Preferencing Instructions

Forms

Registrar Forms

Upper School Forms

Middle School Forms

Advanced Placement (AP) Program

AP Course Description Videos

College-Level Challenge

Bear Creek's AP Program gives students the opportunity to rise to college-level challenges in high school, enables them to potentially receive both high school and college credit, and prepares them to enter higher education well-prepared for its demands. College applicants who have taken AP courses in high school are often viewed more favorably by college admissions staff and traditionally have outperformed non-AP college students academically.

Upon completion of a Bear Creek AP course, students take the nationally-coordinated AP Exam in May. According to their performance on the exam, students may be awarded credit or advanced standing from the colleges that they attend. The exams are scored on a scale of 1 to 5, with a grade of 5 receiving the rating of “extremely well qualified.” Generally a score of 3 or above earns college credit. Students are encouraged to evaluate the credit policy for each college or university of interest. Credit policies vary from college to college.

AP courses are college-level courses taught by Bear Creek faculty with guidance by The College Board.

The College Board's AP Program

What courses are taught at Bear Creek?

Bear Creek offers the following AP courses:

  • AP Calculus AB*
  • AP Calculus BC*
  • AP Statistics*
  • AP Biology*
  • AP Chemistry*
  • AP Physics 1*
  • AP Language and Composition
  • AP Literature and Composition
  • AP European History
  • AP U.S. History
  • AP Music Theory*
  • AP Computer Science A*

* See course catalog for prerequisites.

Upper School Course Catalog

Additionally, students who are passionate about a subject not listed above may choose to study independently for any (except language) of the AP Exams offered by the College Board, e.g. AP Psychology, AP Macroeconomics, or AP Art History. Bear Creek will administer the AP Exam in May at the designated time.

How does an AP course compare to other high school courses?

Advanced Placement classes are designed to mirror courses offered on college campuses. They are more challenging and require personal discipline and independent study techniques. Students will experience an increased reading load and longer writing assignments in most AP classes. AP courses attract students who are academically motivated, personally invested, and diligent.

AP courses culminate each May with a national examination in each subject area. Students may earn college credit based on their exam score (typically with a 3 or higher).

What skills would enhance my ability to succeed in an AP class?

Students who choose to enroll in AP classes typically bring a well-developed skill set in the following areas: ability to analyze content, draw comparisons, and effectively reason through problems. They must be able to read perceptively and independently. Additionally, students need to be proficient in writing concise and clear essays. Students must have a minimum of a B in prior academic department coursework to qualify for AP course enrollment.

How many AP courses should I take in one academic year?

Given the high commitment level and increased demand, course selection should be considered carefully. All students in grades 11 and 12 who meet qualifications should consider at least one AP course each year. Many students carry two AP courses. Students rarely take three AP courses in a single year. Due to the advanced level of course content and necessary prerequisite skills for success, all AP course selection require approval, and students must petition to enroll in more than two AP courses.

Petition to Enroll in Multiple AP Courses 

In exceptional circumstances, students may take an AP class not typically offered in their grade; submit this petition to enroll in an AP course out of sequence.

Petition for Non-Standard Course Progression

Is there a fee to take an AP course?

While there is no additional charge to take one or more AP classes, The College Board charges an exam fee. In March, families pay online for the exam(s) prior to students sitting for AP Exams in May.

Are there any additional benefits to AP course work?

Students who succeed in AP courses generally do well in college as a result of the exposure to collegiate teaching and testing methodology, and increased academic preparation. All AP courses are noted on the official Bear Creek transcript.

NU Concurrent Credit Program

Northwest University

 

 

 

The Bear Creek School and Northwest University have partnered to offer concurrent college credit in the following courses. As an accredited university, Northwest University college credit is often transferrable to your college of choice and may be a good and economical way to jump start your college career.

In the fall, this list of courses is reviewed and updated. Applications must be submitted by the deadline; Northwest University does not accept late applications. Students must be enrolled in the appropriate Bear Creek course(s) during this school year in order to receive credit.

A representative from NU will answer questions about the program on Tuesday, September 17, 7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m., in the Andrea Lairson Library.

Application Deadline: Submit in the Upper School office by 3:00 p.m. on Friday, September 27, 2019. Fees ($50 per credit) will be invoiced to your Bear Creek account.

2019 – 2020
AP English Language and Composition (Norris) ENGL 2203 (Survey of American Literature) 3 credits
Honors Enlightenment and American Literature (Summers) ENGL 2203 (Survey of American Literature) 3 credits
Modern Christian Thought and Practice (Davison) THEO 1843 (Christianity in a Modern World) 3 credits
Worldview Capstone (Davison) THEO 2413 (Developing a Biblical Worldview) 3 credits
Strength Training (Miller) PEDU 1061 (Weight Training) 1 credit
Health (Miller) PEDU 2523 (Issues in Heath) 3 credits
AP Physics 1: Algebra-based (Graham) SCIE 1283 and 1281 (Physics w/ lab) 4 credits
AP Chemistry (Bell)* SCIE 1203/1 (Survey of Chemistry I w/ lab) 4 credits
AP U.S. History (Wilson) HIST 2503 and 2513 (U.S. History I and II) 6 credits
AP European History (Sorensen) HIST 1513 (Western Civilization II) 3 credits
Graphic Design 1 and 2 (Plourde) ARTE 1853 (Introduction to Graphic Arts) 3 credits

Questions regarding this program may be directed to Alicia Williams, awilliams@tbcs.org.

* Only seniors may apply. In addition, if students matriculate to NU on the nursing track, they would receive the 4 credits; however, they also will be required to take an additional chemistry class at NU in which they must earn a grade of B- or better.

JanTerm

JanTerm is much like a collegiate mini-semester. Students choose four topical two-week seminars that offer a greater opportunity to explore new course topics which may not fit into the traditional academic year, but are perfect for shorter, more intensive study. Courses are developed by faculty, administrators, staff, alumni, parents, and grandparents, all of whom bring tremendous creativity and personal passion into the classroom. Typically, over 75 classes are offered each year.

For an example of the kinds of courses offered, please review the JanTerm 2019 Course Catalog at a Glance or the JanTerm 2019 Class Details listed below.

Academic Events and Deadlines

Schedules, Office Hours, ...

College Advising

Naviance Student

Students may access their Naviance Student accounts through MyBC/Students without an additional password, while parents receive their login credentials via email in August. If you are a Middle School or Upper School student or parent needing assistance accessing Naviance Student, please email us.

The Office of College Advising uses a comprehensive online service called Naviance Student. Over 9000 schools and districts use Naviance to transform their college and career readiness programs. Naviance offers college planning tools and resources for a number of important areas in the college planning and application process. The Bear Creek School offers Naviance Student to Middle School and Upper School students and parents.

  • Research colleges by exploring detailed information about colleges of interest, search for colleges based on the criteria that matters most to you, and save a list of colleges where you plan to apply that your college advisor can review.
  • Request transcripts and teacher letters of recommendation. View the status of these requests real-time.
  • View and register for over 75 on-campus college visits each fall.
  • Retain extracurricular activities and honors/awards from grades 9 – 12 that can be formatted automatically for a resume (useful for interviews and applications)
  • Complete online surveys that include Do What You Are, Strength Explorer, MI Advantage, and Learning Style Inventory. These help the Office of College Advising guide students and give useful information about possible careers and fields of study.
  • Research careers by taking career assessments, reviewing hundreds of careers and career clusters, and finding colleges that have programs that align with your academic interests.
  • Plan for the future by creating goals and to-do lists; keep track of important tasks assigned to you by your college advisor.
  • Read monthly newsletters posted by our Office of College Advising that are tailored to each grade level.

Events and Deadlines

Recorded College Advising Presentations

Daily Schedules

Preschool

Preschool students attend class from 8:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. and meet according to the following schedules:

P3 Classes: 

  • 2 mornings, Tu/Th
  • 3 mornings, M/W/F

P4 Classes: 

  • 3 mornings, M/W/F
  • 4 mornings, M/Tu/W/Th

P5 Classes: 

  • 5 mornings, M/Tu/W/Th/F

Cubs Club classes extend the school day by 45 minutes from 11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Lower School

Students attend Lower School classes according to the following schedule:

  • 2/3-day kindergarten meets 8:40 a.m. – 11:40 a.m. on M/W/F, and 8:40 a.m. – 3:25 p.m. on Tu/Th
  • Full-day kindergarten and grades 1 – 4 meet 8:40 a.m. – 3:25 p.m., M-F
  • Early Dismissal Schedule: 8:40 a.m. – 11:40 a.m.

Schedule Details

Supervised pre-care available in the Main Commons beginning at 7:45 a.m.

Faculty prayer time (except Mondays)
8:10 a.m. – 8:25 a.m. 

Classroom doors open at 8:25 a.m.

School day begins with pledge and prayer at 8:40 a.m.

Chapel on Tuesdays (dress uniform day)
8:45 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.

Math
8:55 a.m. – 9:55 a.m.

Morning Recess
9:45 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. kindergarten
10:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. grades 1 – 2 on playground, grades 3 – 4 on Owens Field

School day ends M/W/F for 2/3-day kindergarten at 11:40 a.m.

Lunch
10:55 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. for grades 3 – 4, followed by recess until 11:35 a.m.
11:15 a.m. – 11:40 a.m. for grades K – 2, followed by recess until noon

Afternoon Recess
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. varies by day, staggered by grade (15 minutes)

School day ends at 3:25 p.m.

Early Middle School

Students in grades 5 – 6 attend class according to the following schedule:

  • 8:10 a.m. – 2:55 p.m., M – F
  • Early Dismissal Schedule: 8:10 a.m. – 11:40 a.m.

Schedule Details

Supervised pre-care available in the Ida Lairson Library beginning at 7:45 a.m. each morning, except Wednesdays when pre-care is provided in the gym.

Faculty prayer time (except Mondays)
7:40 a.m. – 7:55 a.m. 

Classroom doors open at 7:55 a.m.

School day begins with pledge and prayer at 8:10 a.m.

Chapel on Tuesdays (dress uniform day)
9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Morning Recess
time varies by day (15 minutes) 

Math
10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. M/T/Th/F
11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. W

Lunch
11:50 a.m. – 12:15 p.m., followed by recess until 12:35 p.m.

Afternoon Recess
time varies by day (15 minutes)

School day ends at 2:55 p.m.

Middle School

Students in grades 7 – 8 attend classes according to the following schedule:

  • 8:10 a.m. – 2:55 p.m., M/Tu/Th/F
  • 9:00 a.m. – 2:55 p.m., W
  • Extra Help is available 2:55 p.m. – 3:30 p.m., M/W/Th/F
  • Early Dismissal Schedule: 8:10 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

Middle School classes meet on a 15-day rotating schedule:

JanTerm 2020 Schedule (coming soon) including lunch and activity period

Upper School

Students in grades 9 – 12 attend classes according to the following schedule:

  • 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., M/Tu/Th/F
  • 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., W
  • Extra Help is available 3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m., M/Tu/Th/F
  • Early Dismissal Schedule: 8:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Upper School classes meet on a 5-day rotating schedule:

JanTerm 2020 Schedule (coming soon) including lunch and activity period

Senior Class

Diploma Name Form

Senior Class Calendar

Email Archives

See entire Update Email Archive or the list of Headmaster Update videos archives.

If you aren't finding Updates in your inbox, check your junk mail and put the domain bearcreek.myenotice.com on your safe sender list. 

Additional email communication is archived as Messages on your Parent Portal. Put the domain(s) mail*.veracross.com on your safe sender list.

Updates from Previous Years

Preschool Update Archives

Lower School Update Archives

Grizzly Middle Archives

Upper School Update Archives

Academic Affairs Archives

Dean of Students Archives

Registrar Archives

Additional communication from the Registrar is archived on the Parent Portal (and Student Portal).

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Volunteer

Volunteer Around Campus

Volunteer in the Classroom

  • Parents of K – 6 students will sign up in their children’s classrooms
  • Parents of 7 – 12 may also help in a K – 6 classroom e.g. art docent, math stations, reading stations

Forms

Picture Order Forms

Registrar Forms

Upper School Forms

France and Spain Language Immersion Trip 2020

Holy Land Trip 2020

Middle School Forms

Holy Land Trip 2020

Field Trips and Socials

Early Middle School Forms

Lower School Forms

Health Forms

Immunization Forms

Parent Forms

Useful Links

All K – 12 Families

Preschool (P3/P4/P5)

Lower School (K – 4)

Early Middle School (5 – 6)

Middle School (7 – 8)

Upper School (9 – 12)

Health Alerts

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For more details about posted Health Alerts, see the Bear Creek Health Policies.

Back-to-School Info

New Families

Certificate of Immunization Status must be submitted by all new students in order to start school in the fall. Washington State Department of Health now offers online access to your family's immunization information.

Parents: Your Bear Creek username and password (the same credentials you used to access the Admissions Portal) are scheduled to be activated for logging in on this page and the Parent Portal in mid-July. You'll need your parent credentials to register your child for a fall sport and to access the Parent Portal to complete your Back-to-School Registration forms.

Watch for the Back-to-School Registration email coming to your inbox in mid-July!

Preschool (P3/P4/P5)

All K-12 Families

Lower School (K-4)

Early Middle School (5-6)

Middle School (7-8)

Upper School (9-12)

Family Handbook

Log in to read the Family Handbook. If you are logged in, you'll see your first name under the word Parents, e.g. WELCOME JOHN!

Parenting Resources

Help Teenagers Navigate Today's Culture

Bear Creek subscribes to Axis' All Access Pass and provides curated resources to help parents "navigate today's culture and connect with your teen through meaningful conversations that last a lifetime."

Axis Parent Resources
Login Required

Digital Citizenship

Juniors and seniors received training in best practices (internet safety, security, privacy, and building a positive digital footprint).

Digital Media and Children

Middle School Dean of Students Nathan Pettit spoke about the impact of digital media consumption on children. Vew his Tech Talk presentation slides online. Additionally, Nathan recommends the following books on the topic:

  • Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World by Cal Newport
  • Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age by Sherry Turkle
  • The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains by Nicholas Carr
  • iGen: Why Today’s Super-Connected Kids Are Growing Up Less Rebellious, More Tolerant, Less Happy – and Completely Unprepared for Adulthood by Jean M. Twenge
  • Reset Your Child’s Brain: A Four-Week Plan to End Meltdowns, Raise Grades, and Boost Social Skills by Reversing the Effects of Electronic Screen-Time by Victoria L. Dunckley

Bear Creek Libraries

In addition to housing a collection of physical and digital resources that support and enhance the curriculum, the library collection also includes parenting resources. Visit the Bear Creek Libraries and go to the Library Catalog. Then type "parenting" into the search bar.

Preparing for a Successful School Year

Bear Creek administrators discuss how to get the school year off to a great start. Watch the recording on our YouTube channel.

  • Gain insight from Early Middle School Division Head Jenn McDonough on how technology can be a tool
  • Learn from Lower School Division Head Kristen Gephart about the importance of friendships
  • Hear V.P. for Academic Affairs Karen Blankenbeckler share ways the school and parents can partner well

Social Learning on the Playground

Students in Lower School are learning how to navigate socially with others. We know these strategies have to be intentionally taught and that to fully develop these tools, students need practice over time. Teachers spend time in the classroom proactively teaching strategies and unpacking student issues on the playground to teach strategies. One tool we use with students for a common language across Lower School is called Kelso's Choice. We have adults available to help solve big problems. Kelso's Choices provide tools students can use to handle small problems: talk it out, make a deal, tell them to stop, apologize, share, wait and cool off, ignore it, walk away, or go to another game.

Parent Conversation Notes

Photos and Videos

Bear Creek uses Vidigami, Livestream, and Dropbox to share photos and video of students. Please log in to access these services.

Photos and Videos

If you are logged in, you'll see your first name under the word Parents, e.g. WELCOME JOHN!