Bellevue School District and Superintendent,

I hope this message finds you well. I am writing on behalf of the students of Tyee Middle School, and we want to express our concern regarding the potential closure of one of the five middle schools in the Bellevue School District. It has come to our attention that Tyee Middle School may be one of the schools under consideration for closure. We, the students of Tyee, are passionate about our school and believe that closing it would be a terrible decision.

First and foremost, middle school is a pivotal time in our lives, comprising only three short years. During this time, we have the opportunity to expand our horizons, form lasting connections, and develop impactful friendships. Regardless of which middle school is closed, these friendships will inevitably be disrupted. These relationships are the foundation of our support system, shaping us into the individuals we will become in the future. The impact of friends on our lives is immeasurable, and we firmly believe that they should not be forcibly separated prematurely, especially when many of us may not feel prepared for such a change. The closure of a middle school would result in the separation of friendships that have taken years to cultivate, having a profoundly negative effect on students, something we believe should be avoided at all costs.

Secondly, our school, along with many others, is already grappling with issues of overcrowding. In our Media Tech class, for instance, we have encountered a shortage of resources, with 33 students and only 32 computers available. Moreover, some teachers, like Mr. Holzhauer, are overburdened with six classes instead of the standard five. This leaves them with minimal time for grading, lunch breaks, rest, and lesson planning. As a result, our principal, Mr. Lillie, had to seek out an additional teacher to teach some of Mr. Holzhauer's classes. This lead some students to have Ms. Coder, that is, until she could not teach anymore (for family situations). This resulted in two teacherless classes with a 50-minute session of watching YouTube videos and making 'Who am I' PowerPoints. If a middle school were to close, it would not only exacerbate the issue of classroom capacity but also lead to a shortage of educators, causing significant disruptions in the educational process. Rather than closing a school, we believe the Bellevue School District should focus on better training substitutes to ensure the continuity of quality education.

Finally, Tyee Middle School is not just a school to us; it's our second home. Many of us live nearby, which makes our daily commute convenient, with some students walking or taking the bus due to their parents' work commitments. If Tyee were to close, numerous students would face significant challenges in commuting to a new school, as their parents may not be available to drive them. While alternative transportation options like carpooling may exist, the new school's location would likely be farther away, leading to increased commute times. This valuable time could be better spent on homework, personal learning, or relaxation to alleviate the stresses of a demanding academic environment. The added stress of a longer commute, combined with the weight of our academic responsibilities and extracurricular activities, would undoubtedly take a toll on our well-being.

We cannot stress enough how much we love Tyee Middle School. It's a place where we've forged lifelong friendships, explored the world of engineering, heard inspirational stories, and created cherished memories. The closure of our school would turn hundreds of smiles into frowns, adversely affecting both students and teachers. Tyee is not only close to our homes but also at its near-full capacity. Closing a school would result in overcrowded classrooms, strained resources, and overburdened teachers, creating an educational environment that resembles a nightmare.

In conclusion, we earnestly implore you to reconsider the decision to close Tyee Middle School. Our school means the world to us, and we believe that its closure would be a grave mistake. We urge you to carefully weigh the consequences of this decision on the students, teachers, and the community as a whole. Please, let us keep our beloved school intact and flourishing.