Dear Bellevue Families,
As we prepare to begin a new school year, I want to extend a warm ‘welcome back’ to each of you. August brings with it not only the excitement of returning to classrooms, seeing friends, and meeting new teachers—it also signals a fresh start, filled with promise, potential, and endless possibilities.
One of the greatest privileges I have as Superintendent is witnessing the incredible brilliance, creativity, and compassion of our students. In the Bellevue School District, we believe that every child belongs, every voice matters, and every student deserves the opportunity to thrive. Whether your student is entering kindergarten, stepping into their final year of high school, or somewhere in between, we are committed to creating learning environments that are joyful, inclusive, and academically rigorous.
This year, we’re focused on strengthening relationships—between students and their teachers, families and schools, and our district with our wider community. We know that students learn best when they feel seen, safe, and supported, and that learning comes to life when it is rooted in strong relationships. We are also focused on innovative learning opportunities for students—from Maritime Welding at Interlake to Glass Blowing at Sammamish to career-connected internships at Big Picture School.
Finally, since this is the Kids & Pets issue, I’d like to take a moment to shout out my two best friends/rescue pups – Maggie and Prosser. These two rascals bring me unconditional love and affection. They don’t judge me for any decisions I make (unless I feed them late). And they protect me with such fierce loyalty from every other human being, dog, or rabbit. In a job as complicated as superintendent…I’m thankful for Maggie and Prosser. (I apologize to all of my Bellevue neighbors who have ever been aggressively barked at by my dogs while on a walk.)
To learn more about all of the innovative things happening in our district and to get relevant back-to-school updates, visit us at bsd405.org. Let’s make this school year the best yet here in Bellevue.
With excitement,
Dr. Kelly Aramaki