September 11, 2023: Connections Newsletter Message

Sept. 11, 2023

Dear Northshore Community, 

I hope all of our students, staff, and families had a great launch to the 2023-24 school year. Thank you again to the many individuals, including hundreds of volunteers, that helped provide students with such a joyful and positive beginning to the new school year. You are appreciated. 

As we enter our first full week of school, I am really excited for our youngest learners. Many kindergarten students will begin their academic journey in Northshore this week. While some of our families and students may be nervous about this big milestone, I know that our youngest learners are in good hands. Our talented and committed kindergarten teachers and educational support staff have thoughtfully planned opportunities for students to practice routines, meet friends, and participate in fun community-building activities. I look forward to getting out into our kindergarten classrooms to see our students’ learning in action. 

September is already shaping up to be a busy month. Like last year, I will be hosting in-person and online learning sessions for families, students, and staff over the course of the year. The purpose of these regularly scheduled meetings is to provide District updates but also hear directly from you, about what is going well in Northshore and what can be improved. 

Family sessions will take place in the fall and spring, and I will continue to host student and staff meetings at each school. Similar to last year, these learning sessions will help to inform my thinking and influence District-level decisions and system improvements. 

The schedule for this year’s family learning sessions are posted on the Superintendent webpage. The first session is for our Spanish-speaking families on Thursday, September 28 at Northshore Middle School. Spanish interpretation will be provided. Please share the invitation to attend with your friends and neighbors. I really hope to see you there! 

Below in the Connections Newsletter you will find a number of reminders and important resources including, but not limited to: 

• Student bus assignments and stop information;

• Information about school meals including menus and how to pay for meals;

• Resources to help prevent suicide, including gun safety information. Sept. 10-16, 2023 is National Suicide Prevention Week; and

• Key dates for Northshore. 

As a reminder, the Connections Newsletter is published on the second and fourth Monday of every month. If you have school-based good news to share with the Northshore Community, please use this form to let the Communications team know.   

I hope everyone has another great week in our schools.  I look forward to connecting with you soon. 

In partnership, 

Michael Tolley
Superintendent