The Bear Facts

Help us raise funds for World Vision and provide support for those in need by ordering a Hope Week T-shirt. Plan to participate in the Matthew 25 Challenge during the week of January 31 – February 4. Read more for details.

Online reenrollment is quick, easy, and usually takes about 5 – 10 minutes. Using your Bear Creek username and password, please log in to reenroll now. Current Bear Creek student spaces will be reserved until February 2.

The PTF is pleased to collect items for a March online Used Uniform Sale and is taking your donations. Drop off clean and gently-used DENNIS-brand items at the Farmhouse, Monday, February 7 – Friday, February 11. Read more for a list of items accepted.

Please join us online on Wednesday, February 9, at 7:00 p.m. for the annual State of the School. The presentation will entail an overview of the school’s finances along with a look forward to our vision for the 2023 – 2024 school year, including updates about the initiatives related to our 2024 Strategic Plan. 

The Bush School and The Northwest School in Seattle has invited Bear Creek students ages 5 and older to participate in their upcoming COVID-19 vaccine clinics on January 30 and February 4. Read more for all the details.

If your child tests positive for COVID-19, complete this form to report details to Bear Creek's health team.

You may order free COVID-19 test kits through the U.S. Postal Service (limit 4 per household). You may also order free at-home rapid test kits (limit 5 per household) through Washington State Department of Health.

If your child has recently been vaccinated for COVID-19, please upload his/her vaccination card to the health portal when the series is complete. Review information from School Nurse Lea Hysom.

If your child is identified as a close contact of a COVID-19 positive case at school, Bear Creek's health team is available to provide testing at school as a convenience to parents, with appropriate consent, furnished by completing these two items in the health portal:

• COVID-19 Student Testing Program Consent (sign electronically)
• Atlas Genomics Student Consent Form (print, sign, upload two pages)

Congratulations to the forensics team for its great showing at the Kamiak Invitational held on January 21 – 22 and hosted online by Kamiak HS. Read more for all the details.

A 4-year course planning tool is now available for the Class of 2024. This optional tool is intended to help sophomores prepare to select their junior year courses at the beginning of March. For help finding and using the tool, watch this video and book an appointment with Mrs. Schuldt.

During spring semester, juniors will meet individually with Dean of College and Academic Advising Colleen Murray (cmurray@tbcs.org) to talk about interests and goals and receive college suggestions so they can begin researching and planning possible college visits. Appointments will be available January through March. Read more to learn how students may schedule an appointment.

Our annual Senior Blast overnight trip is scheduled for March 7 and 8 at Sleeping Lady Mountain Resort in Leavenworth. This retreat is a special opportunity for the senior class to spend time together and plan for the end of the school year. Register by submitting the consent form online by Friday, January 28; see the detailed instructions emailed recently.

Parents of students in grades 9 – 11 are invited to join Upper School Division Head Carol Miller and Deans of Students Kevin Davison and Dave Urban online for conversation about the happenings in Upper School on Friday, January 28, at noon. Topics include course registration, student leadership application process, digital citizenship program, and more. Join the meeting.

Students interested in playing an Upper School spring sport (boys soccer, boys baseball, boys and girls track & field, girls tennis, and girls golf) must attend an interest meeting during activity period on Tuesday, February 1.

Students and their parents are invited to learn more about Bear Creek's Advanced Placement (AP) program on Tuesday, February 1, at 7:00 p.m. This event is recommended for freshmen and their parents and any student considering an AP course for the first time. Join Teams Meeting.

Parents are invited to join V.P. for Academic Affairs Karen Blankenbeckler, Division Head Carol Miller, and Dean of Students Kevin Davison for conversation about the happenings in Upper School. Join the Q&A on Tuesday, February 8, at 11:00 a.m.

Students have until Tuesday, February 8, to add or drop any of their courses.

Juniors may sign up to sit for the SAT at Bear Creek on Wednesday, March 23, during the school day. The sign-up deadline is February 11.

We would like to honor our graduating seniors on social media. Read more to see how to help our Marketing and Communications team honor each member of the Class of 2022!

Winter Ball has been rescheduled! All Upper School students are invited to celebrate Twilight in Tokyo at Winter Ball on Saturday, March 12, from 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m., at The Golf Club at Newcastle

If you missed the webinar presented January 19, 2022, you may watch the recording and download a copy of The Compass Guide to College Admission Testing. These resources are also available on the College Advising page of the school website.

The latest from the Office of Academic and College Advising for freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors is posted in Naviance Student. Please email Ayoleida Paramo (aparamo@tbcs.org) if you cannot access Naviance Student or need the parent credentials again.

Upper School students may attend all home boys and girls basketball games this winter! Note listed theme nights below. Seating is limited, so students will need to sign up for each game. Look for the announcement posted in the General channel on the BC Upper School Student Body Team approximately two days prior each game. Go Grizzlies!

Parents are invited to join V.P. for Academic Affairs Karen Blankenbeckler, Division Head Jenn McDonough, and Dean of Students Nathan Pettit for conversation about the happenings in Early Middle School/Middle School. Join the Q&A on Tuesday, February 15, at 11:00 a.m.

The 2022 book list has been revealed! Students in grades 4, 5, and 6 are invited to sign up for Battle of the Books which will be held online on Friday, March 18. Find all the Battle of the Books details online and encourage your child to start reading today.

Parents are invited to join V.P. for Academic Affairs Karen Blankenbeckler, Division Head Jenn McDonough, and Dean of Students Nathan Pettit for conversation about the happenings in Early Middle School/Middle School. Join the Q&A on Tuesday, February 15, at 11:00 a.m.

Please congratulate the following students who were recognized at Chapel on January 25:

• Abby A., grade 1, for Enthusiasm
• Hudson H., grade 1, for Dependability

The 2022 book list has been revealed! Students in grades 4, 5, and 6 are invited to sign up for Battle of the Books which will be held online on Friday, March 18. Find all the Battle of the Books details online and encourage your child to start reading today.

Join us online for our Lower School Division Head Connection on Thursday, February 3, at 11:45 a.m., with Division Head Kristen Gephart who will speak on the grammar stage when Lower School focuses on learning how to learn. Read more for details.

New Date! On Thursday, February 10, grade 2 students will perform their puppet show, The Rabbit Who Wanted Red Wings, in the Upper School's Diamond Performing Arts Center. Read more for details on attending and streaming.

Parents are invited to join V.P. for Academic Affairs Karen Blankenbeckler, Division Head Kristen Gephart, and Dean of Students Tressa Parker for conversation about the happenings in Lower School. The next Q&A will be held on Wednesday, February 16, at 11:00 a.m. Join the meeting.