April 1, 2024: Appreciation for NSF and Care for Ruby Bridges’ Staff

MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

April 1, 2024

Dear Northshore Colleagues: 

The month of March closed out with a number of events and celebrations across the district. 

Last Friday I had the opportunity to surprise Alex Carpenter, an Innovation Lab High School science teacher, and congratulate her on being named the Peer Physics Teacher of the Year! I caught up with her as she was leading a PEER workshop for her Northshore colleagues. Anchored in real-world phenomena, PEER Physics is a student-centered approach for teaching and learning physics in high school. If you know Alex, please help me in congratulating her on this national recognition of her work and the transformational teaching happening in her classroom. 

Then on Saturday, March 30 I attended the Northshore Schools Foundation (NSF) event - All in For Kids 2024 Fundraiser. It was great to see so many staff, families, and our broader community all together supporting our students and the unique role of our foundation partner. I want to take this opportunity to thank Executive Director Cara Anderson-Ahrens, her team, and the foundation board. We couldn’t do the important work of educating our students without their partnership. The foundation funds classroom grants - enhancing core curriculum through field trips and hands-on activities, helps remove barriers so that our students thrive - supporting basic needs, books, musical instruments, and school supplies, and creates opportunities for authentic connections between students and the community by collaborating with local businesses, hosting district-wide career fairs and helping to recruit mentors. In fact, at the Student Justice Conference held on March 22, the foundation funded the keynote and on May 4 will be our primary sponsor of the 2024 Family Engagement Symposium. NSF is a valued partner, helping us provide wrap around support for our students and families, and I am deeply grateful for their unwavering commitment. If you didn’t have the opportunity to attend the All in For Kids event, but would still like to donate or get involved there are a number of ways outlined on the Northshore Schools Foundation website.

As I mentioned in the Connection Newsletter last week, this is a season of celebrations and observances. For those observing Ramadan, celebrating Holi last week, or Easter yesterday, I hope your time with family and friends was joyous and fulfilling. A full list of upcoming observations and dates are listed below under Important Dates. 

April is also School Library Month. All throughout the month of April we will be celebrating literacy and the powerful role our teacher librarians play in supporting our students’ learning and love for reading. Watch for district social media posts from our dedicated librarians including quotes from students and pictures that capture the joy found within our Northshore libraries.

Finally, I want to close my message this week acknowledging the pain and sadness our friends and colleagues at Ruby Bridges are experiencing. Over the last two weeks, they have suffered a tremendous loss with the unexpected deaths of two staff members. The weight of the loss is heavy, and through it all they have continued to support students and families who are also grieving. Please keep these colleagues in your thoughts and prayers. Nothing fully prepares you for the loss of a school community member. Our schools are like family - we care deeply for one another, spend countless hours together, and depend on each other. Losing a colleague is devastating. 

Please take care of yourself. And take care of each other. 

I hope you each know how important you are to the Northshore family. You are seen and loved. If I don’t see you before spring break, I hope you each take time to slow down, spend time with family and loved ones, and find joy. 

In partnership, 

Michael Tolley
Superintendent 

HIGHLIGHTS FROM AROUND THE DISTRICT

Have a story you would like to see shared in the "Highlights from Around the District" section of this message and on our website? Submit using this form.

Reminder: 2023-24 School Year Calendar Updated with Inclement Weather Dates

Please update your calendar! Due to the two inclement weather days affecting the Northshore School District this winter (Jan. 17 and 18, 2024), school will now be in session as a full day on Friday, May 24 and Monday, June 24. The last day of school is now Tuesday, June 25 with an early release. Dismissal times on the last day of school vary and will be communicated with families directly from the school. Download the updated 2023-24 one-page calendar on our website.

Employee Assistance Program

First Choice Health is the Employee Assistance Program provider for the Northshore School District. This is a benefit provided at no cost to you by the District. You, your spouse/domestic partner, and any dependent children up to the age of 26 have FREE and CONFIDENTIAL access to counseling services, legal and financial consultations, ID theft and fraud support, childcare and eldercare referrals/resources, and home ownership assistance.

The EAP offers up to 4 sessions face-to-face or telehealth (no co-pay, deductible or premium) with a qualified clinical expert who can assess your concerns and develop a plan of action. Call (800) 777-4114 or visit the First Choice EAP website to request an appointment. Username: nsd

Mental Health Resource: Care Solace

The District has partnered with Care Solace to provide mental health care coordination. Northshore students, staff, and family members looking for help with mental health or substance use can use Care Solace to quickly find treatment options matched to their needs. Care Solace is a complimentary and confidential service. Care Solace’s team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and can provide support in any language.

If you would like to use Care Solace to help you find a mental health provider:

• Call 888-515-0595 available 24/7/365
• Visit https://www.caresolace.com/site/nsd and either search on your own or connect by video chat, email, or phone for assistance.

Learn more about Care Solace by visiting the Northshore Mental Health webpage.

IMPORTANT DATES

Calendar

The following section features no-school days, Northshore School Board meetings, and religious and cultural observances, including dates listed on the Days of Highest Impact and Days of Fasting charts that are part of Northshore’s Religious and Cultural Observances Calendar. This aims to expand awareness about the multiple forms of diversity among our students and families, the days that students may not be at school due to religious observances, and the days that students may be fasting. 

*Begins at sundown of previous day/ends at sundown

Ugadi/Yugadi/Gudi Padwa

Ugadi/Yugadi/Gudi Padwa is celebrated by many Hindus in the southern and western part of India on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. It is celebrated to mark the beginning of the new year per the lunar calendar.  On this day families celebrate the festival by decorating homes with flowers, mango leaves, and rangoli. Special dishes are made with six tastes (sweet, sour, salt, pungent, spice, and bitter) to remind us that life is a combination of all these experiences.  Families conduct prayers at home and in the temples seeking God’s blessings for a happy and prosperous year. We wish a happy Ugadi/Yugadi/Gudi Padwa to all who celebrate!

Eid al-Fitr

Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of connection, celebration, deep reflection, and continued prayer. It is commemorated by community-wide celebrations and a prayer service in the morning, followed by meals and festivities with friends and family. Eid al-Fitr is celebrated for three days and the celebration varies each year as it is based on the lunar cycle. Eid al-Fitr does not begin until the new moon is seen, which means it starts at different times for different Muslims around the world. Eid Mubarak to all who celebrate!

Puthandu/Vishu

Puthandu/Vishu is a new year festival celebrated by Hindus in the southern Indian states of Tamilnadu and Kerala, and some northern states like Assam, West Bengal, Orissa, and Himachal Pradesh on Saturday, April 13 and Sunday, April 14, 2024. The festival is celebrated to mark the beginning of the new year as per the solar calendar. On this day families celebrate the festival by decorating homes with flowers, mango leaves, kolams, and other decorations. Families conduct prayers at home and in the temples seeking God’s blessings for a happy and prosperous year. We wish a happy Puthandu and Vishu to all who celebrate!

Vaisakhi

Vaisakhi is one of the most important dates in the Sikh calendar. For Sikhs Vaisakhi or Baisakhi is the day commemoration of Khalsa, specific practices of Sikhism. Also, it is the agricultural festival of prosperity and happiness. Sikhism was born as a collective faith in 1699. To celebrate Vaisakhi/New Year, Sikhs often visit places of worship called Gurdwaras, which are especially decorated for the occasion. Celebrations traditionally include singing, music, reading scriptures out loud, and chanting hymns. We wish a happy Vaisakhi to all who celebrate!

Passover

Passover, or "Pesach" in Hebrew, is an eight-day celebration that commemorates the Jewish people's escape from slavery in ancient Egypt. It is a celebration spent with loved ones and friends, and is a time for reflection and giving thanks for new beginnings. The day is celebrated with a special meal called Seder with a combination of tastes, sounds, sensations, and smells that have been with the Jewish people for millennia. During Passover, dietary restrictions include the avoidance of grains such as wheat, barley, oats, spelt, and rye that can ferment and become leavened. Happy Passover to all who celebrate!

Additional Religious and Cultural Observances

The following section features additional important dates, including those listed on the Full Religious and Cultural Observances chart three, which is part of Northshore’s Religious and Cultural Observances Calendar.

*Begins at sundown of previous day/ends at sundown

Nondiscrimination

Northshore School District is enriched by the many experiences and perspectives each individual member brings to our District and community. Therefore, our District prohibits discrimination based on age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, cognitive, or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability.

Civil Rights and ADA Coordinator for Staff: 
Jerred Kelly
3330 Monte Villa Parkway
Bothell, WA 98021-8972
425-408-7622 or 7604
TitleIXOfficer@nsd.org  

Title IX Coordinator: 
Jerred Kelly
3330 Monte Villa Parkway
Bothell, WA 98021-8972
425-408-7622 or 7604
TitleIXOfficer@nsd.org 

The Northshore School District shall provide equal educational opportunity and treatment for all students in all aspects of the District’s academic, activities, or employment programs without discrimination. In addition, the District provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups in its programs and activities.

Section 504 and ADA Coordinator for Students: 
Rick Ferrell
Director of Student Services
3330 Monte Villa Parkway
Bothell, WA 98021-8972
425-408-7632
rferrell@nsd.org 

Any Northshore School District staff and community member has the right to raise concerns or make a complaint regarding discrimination under this policy without fear of retaliation. The above-listed employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged unlawful discrimination.