Centennial Elementary

School's out and summer is officially here! ☀️

As our students begin their well-deserved summer vacation, we're reflecting on the many memories, friendships, accomplishments, and adventures that made this school year so special. We are incredibly proud of all that our students have achieved and grateful for the support of our families and staff along the way.

We wish everyone a safe, fun, and relaxing summer filled with sunshine, laughter, and new adventures. We can't wait to welcome our students back in the fall!

Happy Summer Vacation! 🌻🍉📚

🎉 That's a wrap on another amazing school year! 🎉

Today marks the last day of school before summer break, and we couldn't be prouder of all our students have accomplished this year. From learning new skills and reaching goals to making memories with friends, it has been a year full of growth, hard work, and success.

As we head into summer, we wish all of our students, families, and staff a safe, fun, and relaxing break. Thank you for being part of our school community and helping make this year such a special one.

🐾💙

Check out this week's edition of The Cub Tribune.
https://app.smore.com/n/db5e2
Issue 41

🎉📚 LAST DAY OF SCHOOL & EARLY RELEASE REMINDER 📚🎉

Thursday, June 11 is the last day of school! Students will be dismissed at 11:15 AM.

As we wrap up another amazing school year, we want to thank our students, families, and staff for all of the learning, growth, and memories we've shared together.

We hope everyone has a fun, safe, and relaxing summer break! ☀️🐻

See you back at school on August 31!

IMPORTANT DATES
June 11: Last Day of School – Early Dismissal, Grades K-12
August 31: First Day of School
September 4: No School
September 7: Labor Day – No School
September 14, 21, 28 – Late Arrival
June is: Pride Month
Monthly Calendar Graphics 25-26

You can find the full district calendar at https://www.bethelsd.org/about-our-district/district-calendar
Paraeducator Hiring Event: August 5, 2026
We’re hosting a hiring event geared towards Special Education Paraeducators, including 1:1 Instructional Paras! Come join our team to support teachers and students in special education classrooms. Responsibilities include assisting with classroom activities, working one-on-one or in small groups with students, and supervising student activities. These part-time roles are perfect for parents, grandparents and community members looking for work that aligns with school schedules. Enjoy working the same days students attend school, with the same breaks off, and make a difference in students’ lives. The next hiring event will be on August 5 from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Educational Service Center (516 176th Street East, Spanaway, WA 98387).

South Sound Pow Wow: September 26, 2026
The annual South Sound Pow Wow will be one of the first big events held at the NEW Bethel High School this fall! Mark your calendars for music, food, dancing, and much more! The event is free and runs from 1 to 7 p.m.

Upcoming School Board Meetings
School Board meetings begin at 7 p.m. and will be held at Bethel School District's Educational Service Center (ESC), 516 176th St. E., Spanaway, WA 98387 unless otherwise noted. The public is welcome! To join via Zoom, visit https://bethelsd.diligent.community/portal/
June 23: School Board Meeting
July 21: School Board Meeting
FAMILY REMINDERS
Free Summer Meals: June 22 - July 31, 2026
Free breakfasts and lunches will be available this summer at no charge to attending children 18 years of age and younger. Breakfast (8 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.) and lunch (11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.) will be provided Monday through Friday, June 22 through July 31, 2026 (no service on July 3rd) at the following open sites:
Katherine G. Johnson Elementary, 16720 Waller Rd E, Tacoma, 98446
Expedition Elementary, 18717 108th Avenue Court East, Puyallup, WA, 98374

SUN Bucks 2026
SUN Bucks, also known as Summer EBT, is a program that provides a one-time $120 benefit per year to help families buy groceries for their school-aged children when meals aren't available at school during the summer months. Learn more at: https://www.dshs.wa.gov/sunbucks

Summer School at Pierce County Skills Center
Summer school at the Pierce County Skills Center is open to incoming 9th-12th grade students. Students are welcome to attend Session 1, Session 2 or both. You can find the application link at https://pcsc.bethelsd.org/summer-school

Free preschool opportunities
ECEAP is a free, high-quality early learning program that provides preschool curriculum, social development skills, nutritious meals and snacks, health screenings, and family support services for those who qualify. Complete an interest form today at https://www.bethelsd.org/programs-departments/specialservices/early-childhood-education or call 253-800-2317 for more information.

Annual ParentVUE Student-Family Update
When you log in to ParentVUE, you'll be prompted to complete the 2026-27 Student/Family Update. This yearly update is crucial for planning bus routes and other details for next school year. Click here to learn more: https://www.bethelsd.org/resources/parentvue-student-family-update

NEW ParentVUE App
The new ParentVUE app is now available for download. This is a new version of the app you use to submit student absences, communicate with teachers, and check grades. Your login credentials will remain the same. The current ParentVUE app will stop working on August 1, 2026, so it's important to download the new version before then to avoid any interruptions. https://www.bethelsd.org/resources/enrollmenttransferstranscripts/parentvue

Teen Summer Nights
This summer, Bethel Rec will once again be hosting Teen Summer Nights. This is a free drop-in program for middle and high school students where they can get dinner and hang out with friends. Parents/guardians are encouraged to register their child in advance through this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSet3r3dquWECN4OTHMGXt4tEkxYxuwDaDGODcBSjwZmTkKzBg/viewform
Dates: June 22 - August 13 (Monday through Thursday) from 5-8 p.m.
Monday/Wednesday at Spanaway Middle School
Tuesday/Thursday at Liberty Middle School

ESC Summer Schedule
The Educational Service Center (ESC) will be open to the public Monday through Thursday during the weeks of June 15 through July 31. The building will be locked on Fridays and there will be limited coverage at the reception desk. Normal hours will resume the week of August 3.
DISTRICT NEWS
Episode 179: From roller derby to rugby
On this week's podcast we sit down with three members of the Class of 2026 to hear all about their future plans, what unique sports they play, and what they loved most about their school communities. This is the last episode of Season 4. Season 5 of the pod will return in August. Have a great summer! Check out this show and all the back catalog wherever you listen to podcasts, and be sure to like, comment, subscribe, and share with a friend! bethelsd.org/podcast

Historic farewell paves way for Cedarcrest’s future
Outside the front doors of Cedarcrest Middle School, an impressively long line of parents waits eagerly for eighth-grade promotion to begin. Colorful graduation balloons blow in the breeze under a brilliant blue sky and chatter and laughter fill the neighborhood. Just behind the school, a different kind of sound is building. The low, steady rumble of excavators echoes across the old field and track… https://www.bethelsd.org/resources/news-article/~board/headlines/post/historic-farewell-paves-way-for-cedarcrests-future

Graduation Photos
Challenger High School
Bethel Virtual Academy
Academy for Community Transition
Spanaway Lake High School
Bethel High School
Graham-Kapowsin High School
Watch all ceremonies at: https://www.bethelsd.org/resources/graduation-livestreams

Senior Features
Meet some outstanding members of the Class of 2026!
Leadership learned ... Nursing is next
Opportunities abound at Challenger
High school success leads to high paying career
All-star athlete and JROTC marksman
Cambridge program grad heading to UW
GK grad is PLU bound

A decade of Dual Language success
Two middle school students sit across from each other at lunch, chatting about their day. One speaks entirely in English. The other replies completely in Spanish. There is no confusion, no awkward pauses, and no need for translation. They understand each other perfectly, each effortlessly using their preferred language to build a bridge of friendship. Jennifer Velazquez, a Dual Language teacher at Spanaway Middle School, witnessed this moment in her classroom. “They 100 percent knew what the other one was saying, but they each had a different preferred language. And I just thought that was really cool that they could have a bilingual conversation and be able to talk to each other that way.” Read more at https://www.bethelsd.org/resources/news-article/~board/headlines/post/a-decade-of-dual-language-success

National honor for Liberty Middle School staff
The welcoming environment at Liberty Middle School is no accident. It is the result of intentional, daily hard work by the staff to ensure that every student experiences a school culture marked by connection, support, and an opportunity to grow. That dedication recently earned significant national recognition. Liberty has been named a 2026 Certified Spotlight School by CharacterStrong. The award honors schools that translate their commitment to student well-being into real, daily action through thoughtful systems and staff practices. https://www.bethelsd.org/resources/news-article/~board/headlines/post/national-honor-for-liberty-middle-school-staff

From Lego bricks to college labs: Washington students commit to STEM
The Seattle Times ran a great story featuring one of our seniors! Tristhan, from Spanaway Lake High School, has been interested in technology since the third grade when he joined the robotics club. Now he’s graduating and heading on to study Network Operations & System Security. Read more at https://www.bethelsd.org/resources/news-article/~board/headlines/post/student-musicians-scientists-excel

Middle school chamber orchestra tours community
The Cougar Mountain Middle School Chamber Orchestra had an exciting Community Outreach Tour through Tacoma and Puyallup recently! They performed at Centennial Elementary, Bethel's Educational Service Center, Tacoma's Museum of Glass, South Hill Mall, and the Barnes and Noble in Puyallup. The Chamber Orchestra consists of 7th and 8th graders who meet once a week after school for an intense rehearsal and to learn advanced music beyond the classroom. These students have worked incredibly hard this year and were super excited to share the musical experience they receive every day in our classroom with their community. Well done! https://www.bethelsd.org/resources/news-article/~board/headlines/post/student-musicians-scientists-excel
COMMUNITY NEWS
Summer of Stories at Pierce County Library
From June 1 to Aug. 31, Pierce County Library System is celebrating the art of storytelling through books, events and exciting activities for the whole family. Learn more at https://mypcls.org/learn-explore/books-movies-more/summer-reading/

Summer Reading - Pierce County Library System Let us help foster your love of reading with the Summer Reading program from your Pierce County Library from June 1-Aug. 31.

🎓 Our Kindergarteners are graduating! 🎉

Join us on June 9 from 5:30–6:30 PM as we celebrate our amazing kindergarten students and all they’ve accomplished this year. Families, please RSVP to your student’s teacher by June 5 so we can plan for this special event.

We can’t wait to celebrate our little graduates! 💙

Our fourth-grade students recently stepped back in time during an exciting field trip to Pioneer Farm! Through hands-on activities and interactive demonstrations, students experienced what life was like for early settlers in Washington. They explored historic buildings, learned about daily chores, and discovered how families lived, worked, and learned long ago. This memorable adventure brought history to life and gave students a deeper appreciation for the challenges and achievements of the past.

📢 Reminder: Early Release on Monday, June 8

Students will be dismissed at 11:15 AM on Monday, June 8, for Report Card Preparation Day.

Please make arrangements for your student’s transportation and after-school care as needed.

Thank you for your support as our staff takes this time to prepare final report cards and celebrate all of the learning and growth from this school year! 🐻📚