June 2025
Happy June Everyone!
Reminders
You can find all of our closure dates at: Bellamente.org/calendar
Maven Graduation; Friday August 22 4:30pm
Closed Thursday June 19th
Closed Friday July 4th
Closure: August 25th- August 29th
Closed Monday September 1st
Staff Transitions
We are excited to welcome back Miss. Tara on July 7th and Miss Loleisa on June 16th!
Family Socials
We had a fantastic time at our whole school family social. Thank you to all who came and to the parents who helped organize it! We will be planning more for the future and will keep you posted. We failed to take any pictures so if anyone happened to take some please send them our way!
Our Acclimation class also had a get together last month too! Thank you all for helping to build our community!
Supporting deeper, more meaningful learning for your child
Bella Mente uses progressive teaching practices inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach to education. We know how important it is for you, as the parent, to ensure that your child is set up for success as they move through our classrooms and eventually transition into kindergarten. We recognize that because this is our field of expertise, it is our job to make learning visible to our families so that they can also support the approach. At our school, we embrace the Reggio Emilia philosophy because we believe children deserve more than just memorizing facts, they deserve to understand, to create, and to lead their own learning.
While rote memorization focuses on repetition and recall, the Reggio Emilia approach centers on exploration, curiosity, and connection. Children are encouraged to ask questions, investigate real-world topics, and engage in hands-on experiences. This leads to stronger comprehension and a genuine love for learning.
In our classrooms, children express themselves through drawing, building, movement, conversation, and storytelling, we call these the “100 languages of children.” These forms of expression allow them to make meaning in their own unique ways. Instead of memorizing the “right” answer, children learn to think critically, make connections, and explore multiple possibilities. This fosters flexibility and creativity which are skills they’ll use in all areas of life.
Children learn and grow together, sharing ideas, negotiating, and listening to others. This builds strong social-emotional skills and self-confidence.The Reggio Emilia approach honors each child’s voice and curiosity. It helps them build a strong foundation for both future school endeavors and all other areas of their world.
Block Play
Geometric reasoning, spatial logic, symmetry awareness, balance assessment, problem-solving, part-to-whole relationships, visual-motor integration, spatial prediction, structural analysis, measurement concepts
Clay Play
Tactile discrimination, fine & gross motor coordination, spatial awareness, pressure modulation, sculptural planning, bilateral integration, transformation observation, sequencing, material manipulation, symbolic representation, perseverance
Paint Play
Visual-spatial planning, emotional expression, symbolic representation, design thinking, pattern recognition, motor coordination, sensory exploration, aesthetic judgment, decision-making, self-regulation
Dramatic Play
Symbolic thinking, perspective-taking, narrative construction, memory recall, emotional rehearsal, social negotiation, role flexibility, language development, scenario planning, executive functioning
Water Play
Systems thinking, fluid dynamics, transformation observation, volume estimation, regulation and control, hypothesis testing, pattern tracking, temperature awareness, cause-effect analysis, sensory processing
Sand Play
Spatial planning, structural reasoning, pressure control, experimentation, force and resistance analysis, problem-solving, texture differentiation, material comparison, early engineering concepts
After School Program Fall Registration 2025
Our program is full for the Fall. If you still need to register you will be added to our waitlist.
Quickbooks ACH Fees
It has come to our attention that Quickbooks has begun adding a convenience fee of $25 to invoices when you pay via ACH. If this is your preferred method of payment please be aware of this. If you are wanting to explore other payment options please
take a look here or reach out to us with any questions.
https://www.bellamente.org/payment-options
Going Paperless
We are working on updating our files to be electronic. We recognize the sustainability value in being paperless for us and our community. We will have all of our forms online by the beginning of the next school year. Please expect the email to update information to come in August. Prior to that if you need to send over immunizations or anything else please send it to our email with your child’s name in the subject line in addition to the content. For example: Cascade Bishop - Immunizations.
Rate Increase
We work hard to provide affordable rates for our families and proper wages for our employees. We will be adjusting tuition rates in September and they will be as follows:
As of September 1, 2025:
Newcomer: $2250
Acclimation/Independence: $1950
Adventure/Discovery/Maven:$1850
School-Age:
Stem/Pathfinder: $460;
Roxhill, Highland Park, Arbor Heights: $600.
Gatewood, and Fairmount Park: $600 + $50 Transport Fee
*Transportation is based off of transportation for the 2024-2025 school year. We will not know which schools will have busses available until late August and we will reach out once we can confirm transportation plans for each school. The transportation fee applies to the school which we use a van service to pick up students.
Tax Information
Bella Mente Early Learning Center East
9051 20TH AVE SW suite 1
Seattle, WA 98106
(206) 321-6448
EIN# 13-4368329