In This Section

Middle School

This page contains information for new students in grades 5 – 8 and their parents. Please bookmark this page so you can follow up on all the information provided below as it is updated throughout the spring and summer.

Parent Orientation Slides - MS

If you missed our Parent Welcome and Orientation event in May or just want to review the content, please feel free to review our presentation slides. Keep reading for more information about starting Middle School at Bear Creek.

2026MiddleSchoolNewParentWelcomeOrientation (PDF)

Preparing for a New School

First day of Middle School

 

Portal Access

Update your contact information and view your billing account on your Parent Portal. 

Portal Login

Tuition Payment

Whether opting for monthly payments or a single annual payment, sign up for a FACTS Tuition Management account no later than April 1, 2026. The first payment is due on May 5. The annual fee for FACTS is $50 per household (waived if tuition and facility fee are paid in full).

If you already have a FACTS account and need to add a new student, please contact Carol Willard, Accounts Receivable Specialist, at 425-898-1720 ext. 304 or cwillard@tbcs.org.

Families receiving tuition assistance, or any other credit, or enrolling late will have their accounts adjusted after the FACTS account is set up. Contact Carol Willard to verify monthly amount due.

Grades 7 and 8 Activity Period Balloon Races

Immunization Requirement

Washington State law (RCW 28A.210.080) requires that all children enrolled at a public or private school have an official Certificate of Immunization Status (CIS) document, proof of initiation of an immunization schedule, or a Certificate of Exemption (COE) document on file to attend school or preschool.  

On or before August 1, all new students and all returning preschool and grade 7 students must have one of the required documents uploaded to the health portal. Children cannot attend school until one of these records is provided. We cannot accept any forms that have been mailed, emailed, or dropped off. For mid-year enrollees, this requirement must be fulfilled and approved prior to the first day of attendance. 

Please follow the instructions on our Health Services page on how to access and upload these documents.

Course Selection

Math Placement

The Bear Creek School is committed to placing each student in the “best fit” class for math instruction. All new students must sit for a math placement test to ensure appropriate math class placement.

Upon enrollment, parents of new students in grades 5 – 8 should complete the Math Placement Information form.

Arts and Elective Course Preferences

Students in grades 7 and 8 are not enrolled in arts and elective courses until the New Student Course Preferences form has been received. Since some classes fill up quickly, please take the following steps as soon as possible:

  1. Review the Grades 7 and 8 Course Catalog with your child.
  2. Complete the New Student Course Preferences form online. Also see Math Placement above.

If you have questions regarding courses, please contact James Woollard, Registrar, at registrar@tbcs.org.

Music Classes

Grade 5

All students in grade 5 will play an instrument in the band in addition to participating in general music class. Together with your child, please review these Beginning Band resources to help him or her choose an instrument.

Mark your calendar for Wednesday evening, September 2, at 6:30 p.m. for Grade 5 Beginning Band Night when professional musicians will meet with students in groups by instrument to teach them the basic care and handling and help students with their first notes.

Grade 6

Grade 6 students should select their music class (Band or Choir). Both band and choir classes meet twice weekly and perform in two concerts each year. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our music teachers directly:

Summer Assignments and Review

After math placement is determined, check out the Summer Assignments and Review page for required summer assignments as well as enrichment activities and ideas. Also, check out the blog post from Division Head Jenn McDonough on 9 Ways to Prepare for Success in Middle School.

Summer Reading Program

Students entering grades 5 – 8 are encouraged to participate in our summer reading program.

Summer Camp

Summer Camp

Register for Summer Camp 2026 which runs for four weeks in June and July. We are offering a selection of sports, arts, and STEM camps for kids who will enter grades K – 12 next fall.

Middle School Boys Soccer

School Uniforms

Information about uniform guidelines, dress days, and online ordering can be found on the School Uniforms page. Spirit gear may be purchased in the Grizzly Gear Shop, either online or in person.

School Supplies

Bear Creek provides most materials for our students; however, there are some school supplies that parents must purchase for their children.

Back-to-School Registration

Look for an email in early July announcing your child's Back-to-School Registration is ready for your attention. Back-to-School Registration is due by August 1, 2026, and must be complete before your child may attend school.

Fall Sports

Students in grades 6 – 8 are eligible to participate in Middle School fall sports which include boys and girls cross country, boys soccer, girls soccer, and girls volleyball. Fall sports registration opens in June and is due by August 1. 

Answers to many of your questions about sports participation are available in the Middle School section of the Athletics Program Overview. Additionally, parents and students may hear about our 2026 – 2027 Middle School athletics program at our online information meeting on Wednesday, May 13, at 7:00 p.m.

Join Teams Meeting

Sports Physical

Bear Creek requires our student-athletes to receive an annual physical exam. Please download and print the Physical Examination and Medical Eligibility forms and bring them with you to your child's doctor's appointment. Submit the signed medical eligibility form online during Back-to-School Registration (see above).

Grizzly Hoops

Grizzly Hoops is Bear Creek's basketball development program for boys and girls in grades 4 – 8. Registration opens in September, and the season runs from November through February.

Academic Teams

Bear Creek offers several academic teams (math, coding, etc.) for Middle School students. Registration opens in early June.

Drop-off and Pick-up

Review our campus maps and familiarize yourself with the morning and afternoon routines (subject to change). Families with students in both Lower School and Middle School may sign up for drop-off and pick-up supervision.

Mark Your Calendar

On every webpage, you will find a link to the School Calendar which can be filtered according to your child's division (or check out the special Middle School Calendar). Parents may subscribe to the various sub-calendar feeds and/or subscribe to email/text alerts for specific events or calendars.

Inside Bear Creek

As part of your orientation to Bear Creek, please plan to join Patrick Carruth, President and Headmaster, and Mariana Keller, Vice President for Philanthropy and Community Engagement, at Inside Bear Creek in the fall. This gathering will provide you with important practical information about how to get involved in the Bear Creek community as a parent, an understanding of how the school functions beyond the classrooms, and an opportunity to connect with other new families. Look for an email in late summer with more details.

Contacts

By Division

Preschool (P3 – P5)

Lower School (grades K – 4)

Middle School (grades 5 – 8)

Upper School (grades 9 – 12)

By Department

Tuition and Fees

  • Director of Business Operations Kathleen Lewis, klewis@tbcs.org, 425-898-1720, ext. 302

Giving or Volunteering

  • Vice President for Philanthropy and Community Engagement Mariana Keller, mkeller@tbcs.org, 425-898-1720 ext. 340

Attendance

Health Services

  • Director of Health Services Lela Powell, epowell@tbcs.org, 425-898-1720 ext. 399

Back-to-School Registration

  • Assistant Director of Digital Marketing and Communications Janeen Sorensen, jsorensen@tbcs.org

Athletics

  • Athletics Director Chad Pohlman, cpohlman@tbcs.org, 425-898-1720 ext. 431 (grades 9 – 12 sports)
  • Middle School Athletics Director Nate Campbell, ncampbell@tbcs.org, 425-898-1720 ext. 430 (grades 6 – 8 sports)

College and Academic Advising

  • Dean of College and Academic Advising Katie Gomulkiewicz, kgomulkiewicz@tbcs.org, 425-898-1720 ext. 533 (grades 11 – 12)
  • Dean of Academic Advising Ayoleida Páramo, aparamo@tbcs.org, 425-898-1720 ext. 535 (grades 9 – 10)
  • Registrar Amanda Hale, registrar@tbcs.org, 425-898-1720 ext. 537

Admissions

Also check out the online directory of faculty and staff.