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Upper School

This page contains information for new students in grades 9 – 12 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 - US

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 Upper School at Bear Creek.

2025UpperSchoolParentWelcomeandOrientationpresentationslides (PDF)

Preparing for a New School

Upper School Concert Band

Course Preferences

Students are not enrolled in courses until the New Student Course Preferences form (step #3 below) has been received. Since some classes fill up quickly, please take the following steps as soon as possible:

  1. Review the Upper School Course Catalog and additional Course Selection resources.
  2. New Grade 9 and 10 students: Book an academic advising appointment with Dean of Academic Advising Ayoleida Páramo (aparamo@tbcs.org).
  3. New Grade 11 students: Book an academic advising appointment with Dean of College and Academic Advising Katie Gomulkiewicz (kgomulkiewicz@tbcs.org).
  4. Complete the New Student Course Preferences form online. Also see Math Placement below.

If you have questions regarding courses, please contact Amanda Hale at registrar@tbcs.org.

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.

Upper School students enjoy Icebreaker activities

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.

Upper School biology students

Math Placement

New Upper School students are placed in the next in sequence math course based on report cards/transcripts and information provided during the student interview. Placement tests are given on a case-by-case basis only if necessary. If the math curriculum at the prior school does not match the curriculum at Bear Creek, or if there are questions about his/her preparation, students may request or be asked to take a math placement exam to ensure that he/she is placed in the proper course to ensure his/her success.

Please contact Dean of Academic Advising Ayoleida Páramo (aparamo@tbcs.org) for questions about math placement or to schedule a math placement exam.

Community Service

Students may begin logging required community service hours this summer. Please read about the community service program and requirements.

Upper School uses the MobileServe platform for tracking and approving service hours, and newly enrolled students will receive their accounts at orientation in August. Students should keep track of their service supervisors' contact information (email addresses) so they can request approval for any summer service hours after they activate their MobileServe accounts in August.

Summer Assignments

After math placement has been determined, students should complete the appropriate summer assignments.

All Upper School students have English and math (if enrolled) assignments. Some AP history and science classes assign summer work. (Note: Newly enrolled students don't get their accounts until just before school starts, but parents of new students can check their child's enrolled course on the Parent Portal.)

Summer Reading Program

Students entering grades 9 – 12 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.

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. Freshmen and all new students will receive laptop devices during Student Orientation in August.

Back-to-School Registration

Look for 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

Upper School fall sports include boys and girls cross country, boys golf, girls soccer, boys tennis, and girls volleyball. Fall sports registration opens in June and is due by August 1, and practices begin on August 24, before the first day of school.

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 with Back-to-School Registration (see above).

Answers to many of your questions about the level of commitment required, costs entailed, etc., for sports participation are available in the Upper School section of the Athletics Program Overview.

If your child is interested in participating in sports at Bear Creek (regardless of season), please feel free to contact our Athletic Director Chad Pohlman at cpohlman@tbcs.org so he can get you connected to the head coach. Many of our sports teams have summer programs including strength and conditioning, open gyms/fields, as well as camps and clinics in which we encourage your child to participate.

Boys Golf 2022

Academic Teams

Bear Creek offers math and forensics (speech and debate) opportunities to Upper School students. Registration available in August.

Drop-off and Pick-up

Review our campus maps and familiarize yourself with the morning and afternoon routines (subject to change).

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 Upper School Calendar). Parents and students may subscribe to the various sub-calendar feeds and/or subscribe to email/text alerts for specific events or calendars.

Student/Parent Orientation and Device Distribution

All freshmen and new Upper Schoolers (and their parents) should plan to attend orientation in late August.

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.