The Bear Facts

Bear Creek recently was honored once again by readers of 425 Magazine as the Best of 425 in the Best Private High School category, and kindergarten teacher Jenny Shimada was again voted Best Teacher. These honors reflect on all our faculty and staff and their talent and commitment to delivering on our mission. Thank you to everyone who voted!

The entire Bear Creek community is invited to attend the Class of 2023 Commencement on Saturday, June 17, at Eastridge Church (24205 SE Issaquah Fall City Road, Issaquah) on the Sammamish Plateau. No tickets are required, and the ceremony will begin promptly at 1:00 p.m.

This summer we are offering sports-only camps, running June 12 through July 7. Check out the offerings online at www.tbcs.org/summer. Camps are for Bear Creek students (re-enrolled and newly enrolled) who will be in grades K – 12 next fall.

There are several reasons to make an appointment for your child this summer including updating immunizations, getting an annual sports physical, completing medication authorization forms and individual health action plans for allergies, asthma, and seizures, and filling prescriptions. Please ensure you are ready to upload all these documents during Back-to-School Registration this summer by making your child's appointment today.

The Grizzlies Booster Club would like to thank the entire school community for supporting the Grizzly Gear Shop this year. During the 2022 – 2023 school year, the shop reported record sales and introduced merchandise featuring Titus Jr. It was fantastic to see the community connecting at the store, wearing the gear at games, and representing Bear Greek so well.

Congratulations to the 2023 – 2024 officers of Bear Creek's chapter of the National Honor Society!

• President: Clarie Zhao
• Vice President: Freyja Drover 
• Secretary: Anna Huang
• Treasurer: Lucy Gilchrist 
• Historian: Judy Shi

Dean of College and Academic Advising Ms. Gomulkiewicz presented Academic and College Advising for Sophomores on April 26. You may watch the recording to learn how to prepare for the college admissions journey, including how college decisions are made, college rep visits to Bear Creek, extracurricular activities, testing, and touring colleges.

Don't miss your opportunity to secure your Upper School yearbook covering the activities of students in grades 9 – 12. Please note that yearbooks ($60 each) must be ordered online in advance, and we do not accept cash or checks for yearbook orders. We cannot guarantee there will be extras available for sale when yearbooks are delivered to students in June.

The last day to check out library books is Monday, May 22. All Upper School library materials checked out by Bear Creek students, parents, faculty, and staff are due Friday, June 5, to facilitate completion of the annual inventory. Thank you!

Ready to retire your spirit gear? Pass on all lightly worn and non-personalized spirit and team gear to Grizzly Thrift by Design Club. During the week of June 5 – 9, place your donations in the collection bins in the Nagel Commons. Design Club will hold thrift sales in the fall benefitting a non-profit organization.

This year we will celebrate the many accomplishments of our incredible student population at our Year-End Celebration on Friday, June 9, at 1:30 p.m. in the Diamond Performing Arts Center. Parents are encouraged to attend this celebration!

Grades 9 – 11 will sit for 90-minute science and math exams on Monday, June 12, and Tuesday, June 13. Students are only required to attend during the periods when they are sitting for exams. Read more for times and details.

On June 12 – 15, the members of the Class of 2023 will present their Senior Capstone Projects (presentation schedule). All parents, faculty, and staff are invited to attend these presentations, and seniors may invite family and friends to attend his/her presentation. Guests should allow time to complete the check-in process when they enter the Upper School building.

Senior class families are invited to attend An Evening of Honors on Thursday, June 15, 5:15 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., in the Upper School's Nagel Commons and Diamond Performing Arts Center. Read more for details.

Spring semester report cards and next year's course enrollments will be posted on the Parent Portal on Thursday, June 22. Parents and students will receive an email that morning with instructions on how to view report cards and course enrollments.

Check for Summer Assignments and Review in English, science, history, and math classes. Some assignments are optional; some are required, depending on the grade and class the student will be entering next fall.

Please congratulate the following students who were recognized at Chapel on May 23:

• Èowyn A., grade 5, for Courage and Humility
• Bryce C., grade 6, for Patience
• Timothy D., grade 6, for Intellectual Curiosity
• Quinn H., grade 5, for Courage and Responsibility
• Gerald H., grade 5, for Humility
• Ryan K., grade 6, for Genuineness and Sincerity
• Savannah S., grade 5, for Boldness
• Archer S., grade 6, for Diligence

This year we are introducing a dedicated Middle School yearbook which covers the activities of students in grades 5 – 8. Please note that yearbooks ($45 each) must be ordered online in advance, and we do not accept cash or checks for yearbook orders. We cannot guarantee there will be extras available for sale when yearbooks are delivered to students in June.

Students entering grades K – 8 have two options for participating in our summer reading program. Complete either the AR Challenge or the Checklist Challenge this summer and earn a free dress day when we come back to school! Pick up your child's copy of the Checklist Challenge in the libraries before they close for remodeling on May 26.

Grade 5 students are invited to register for a Fun Run on Friday, June 2, 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Students will run a marked course on the trail behind Owens Field. Read more for details and registration.

Grade 8 students take exams on Friday, June 9, and Monday, June 12. Grade 7 have a math exam on Monday. Read more for times and details.

Parents are invited to help us celebrate our students' accomplishments at our Middle School Honors Assemblies on Tuesday, June 13, in the Cornerstone Theater. 

• Grades 5 and 6: 9:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
• Grades 7 and 8: 10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

Students should wear dress uniform. Early dismissal and pick up at 11:45 a.m.

On our last day of school, Tuesday, June 13, grade 7 students will participate in our annual Middle School Time Capsule Project. Please help your child collect photos and other memorabilia, especially a letter from you, his/her parent. Read more for all the details.

Spring semester report cards and next year's course enrollments (for students entering grades 7 and up next fall) will be posted on the Parent Portal on Thursday, June 22. Parents will receive an email that morning with instructions on how to view report cards and course enrollments.

Check Summer Assignments and Review for enrichment suggestions and ideas to keep your kids' minds sharp over the summer.

Optional basketball training sessions will be offered this spring and summer for boys and girls in grades 5 – 8 interested in playing Middle School basketball whether or not they played for the Grizzlies this past year. Read more for details.

Please congratulate the following students who was recognized at Chapel on May 23:

• Natalie G., grade 2, for Steadfastness
• Eva Z., kindergarten, for Sensitivity

Students entering grades K – 8 have two options for participating in our summer reading program. Complete either the AR Challenge or the Checklist Challenge this summer and earn a free dress day when we come back to school! Pick up your child's copy of the Checklist Challenge in the libraries before they close for remodeling on May 26.

On Tuesday, June 6, at 8:45 a.m. – 9:30 a.m., Lower School parents are invited to celebrate the end of the school year and honor student achievements in the Cornerstone Theater. After the assembly, students will plant the Class of 2031 tree along the path between the Main and Upper School buildings. Students should wear dress uniform.

Check Summer Assignments and Review for enrichment suggestions and ideas to keep your kids' minds sharp over the summer.

The 2022 – 2023 school year concludes as follows:

• Thursday, June 1, is the last day of school for P3 (2 days) class and P4 (4 days) classes.
• Friday, June 2, is the last day of school for P3 (3 days) class, P4 (3 days), and P5 classes.

If your child has emergency medication (epinephrine autoinjectors, inhalers, diabetic supplies) at school, please plan to pick it up in the main office on the last day your child will be on campus. All preschool medication that has not been collected by Tuesday, June 13, will be discarded. An all K – 12 medication not picked up by Tuesday, June 20, will be discarded.

As you have summer adventures, whether you go to the park, eat ice cream, or travel someplace new, have your child take a picture with Bear Bear and then upload the picture to Vidigami with a description of what your child is doing. We will post Bear Bear’s adventures on the Preschool’s Instagram @bearcreek.preschool throughout the summer.

Read more and mark your calendar for these summer play dates and join the fun on the playground this summer! Plan to attend the play dates for the class your child will be enrolled in next fall.

Congratulations to junior Braelyn Baker for winning four individual State titles in the 100m, 200m, 300m hurdles, and long jump, and to the boys Track & Field team for setting a school record in the 4X400 relay! 

Congratulations to the following spring sports athletes who were awarded Emerald Sound Conference honors in their respective sports. Read more for a complete list.

The Grizzlies boys golf has won the 2023 1A Boys Golf State Championship again! Additionally, our girls golf team earned a fourth-place trophy in the 1A classification.

Optional basketball training sessions will be offered this spring and summer for boys and girls in grades 5 – 8 interested in playing Middle School basketball whether or not they played for the Grizzlies this past year. Read more for details.

This summer we are offering sports-only camps, running June 12 through July 7. Check out the offerings online at www.tbcs.org/summer. Camps are for Bear Creek students (re-enrolled and newly enrolled) who will be in grades K – 12 next fall.

Check out BCGrizzlySports.org for the latest sports scores and game highlights as well as the team schedules. You will find cross country and track & field results on athletic.net. You can also watch the Grizzlies on NFHS Network directly from bcgrizzlysports.org. Go Grizzlies!