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.
Welcome
Parent Orientation
Plan to attend our Parent Welcome and Orientation meeting for parents of all entering freshmen (transfer and reenrolled) as well as parents of all transfer students entering grades 10 and 11 on Thursday, May 8, 8:15 a.m. – 9:15 a.m., at our Upper School on Redmond Campus. Join V.P. for Academic Affairs Karen Blankenbeckler, Division Head Carol Miller, Dean of Students Dave Urban, and additional administrative and advising staff for a broad overview of the Bear Creek experience and receive information and resources that will help make for a smooth and successful transition to our school community.
Preparing for a New School
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:
- Review the Upper School Course Catalog and additional Course Selection resources.
- Book an academic advising appointment with Dean of Academic Advising Ayoleida Páramo (aparamo@tbcs.org) beginning in March.
- Complete the New Student Course Preferences form online. Also see Math Placement below.
If you have questions regarding courses, please contact James Woollard or Amanda Hale at registrar@tbcs.org.
Portal Access
Update your contact information and view your billing account on the (New Parent Portal. Log in using the same credentials used to log in to the Admissions Portal. If necessary, click the drop-down menu on the column at the top portal page to switch from the Admissions Portal to the New Parent Portal.
If you have any questions about accessing the New Parent Portal, please email Communications Manager Sini Fernandez (sfernandez@tbcs.org).
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, 2025. 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.
Immunization Requirement
Washington State law (RCW 28A.210.080) requires that all children enrolled at a public or private school must have documentation of the required immunizations or an exemption in order to attend school or preschool, including those attending an alternative school program such as Running Start, vocational technical school, or virtual school. The immunization records must be on file at the school by August 1 or prior the first day of attendance (for mid-year enrollees). See www.doh.wa.gov/vaxtoschool for additional details in multiple languages.
To help the school and our families meet this requirement, The Bear Creek School uses the School Module, an online system provided by the Washington State Department of Health. The School Module allows Bear Creek to quickly and efficiently check if your child has the vaccines required for school. This saves the health team from entering vaccination dates and frees up time to care for students.
On or before August 1, all new students and all returning preschool and grade 7 students must upload a medically verified Certificate of Immunization Status (CIS) form to the health portal. Children cannot attend school until these records are provided. We cannot accept any forms that have been mailed, emailed, or dropped off.
A medically verified Certificate of Immunization Status (CIS) form is a:
- CIS printed by a health care provider from the Washington State Immunization Information System (IIS). This is medically verified by the Immunization Information System.
- CIS printed from MyIR which is a free Department of Health site that allows families to view and print their official immunization records themselves. This is medically verified by the Immunization Information System. You can access your child’s immunization record at any time at MyIRMobile.com. First-time users will need to register. Users who previously had an account on MyIR.net should be able to use those credentials to log in and access immunization records after connecting your mobile phone number to your account.
- CIS completed by hand.
- Must be verified with a health care provider signature
or - Must have medical vaccination records attached so it can be verified for accuracy by school staff
- Must be verified with a health care provider signature
If your child is on a delayed schedule, also have your child's health care provider complete and sign the Certificate of Exemption. See Health Services for more information or contact Lea Hysom, school nurse, at lea.hysom@tbcs.org if you have any questions about your child's immunization records.
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.
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. Students may confirm their enrolled courses by checking the Student Portal. (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 Camp
Summer Camp 2025 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 June announcing your child's Back-to-School Registration is ready for your attention. Back-to-School Registration is due by August 1, 2025, 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 25, 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.
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 on Monday, August 25, 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
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)
- Division Head Rachael Urban, rurban@tbcs.org, 425-898-1720 ext. 803
- Division Assistant Minette Williams, mwilliams@tbcs.org, 425-898-1720 ext. 808
Lower School (grades K – 4)
- Division Head Kristen Gephart, kgephart@tbcs.org, 425-898-1720 ext. 115
- Dean of Students Tracy Whitfield, twhitfield@tbcs.org, 425-898-1720 ext. 442
- Division Assistant Cady Reimer, creimer@tbcs.org. 425-898-1720 ext. 116
Middle School (grades 5 – 8)
- Division Head Jenn McDonough, jmcdonough@tbcs.org, 425-898-1720 ext. 229
- Dean of Students Daniel Bates, dbates@tbcs.org, 425-898-1720 ext. 209
- Division Assistant Suzanne Grant, sgrant@tbcs.org, 425-898-1720 ext. 215
Upper School (grades 9 – 12)
- Division Head Carol Miller, cmiller@tbcs.org, 425-898-1720 ext. 539
- Dean of Students Dave Urban, durban@tbcs.org, 425-898-1720 ext. 733
- Division Assistant Patti Domas, pdomas@tbcs.org, 425-898-1720 ext. 532
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
- See instructions on Attendance page; email attendance@tbcs.org
Health Services
- Director of Health Services and School Nurse Lea Hysom, lea.hysom@tbcs.org, 425-898-1720 ext. 399
Back-to-School Registration
- Communications Manager Sini Fernandez, sfernandez@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 James Woollard or Amanda Hale, registrar@tbcs.org, 425-898-1720 ext. 537
Admissions
- Director of Admissions Christie Hazeltine, admissions@tbcs.org
- Admissions Associate Carrie Nordberg, cnordberg@tbcs.org (coordinates Parent Mentor program)
Also check out the online directory of faculty and staff.