September 16, 2024: Public Education - Legacy Work

September 16, 2024: Public Education - Legacy Work

Northshore School District logo in blue

Message from the Superintendent

September 16, 2024

Dear Northshore Colleagues: 

Last Thursday, I witnessed something truly powerful - a former Northshore student, once unsure of his path to graduation, accepting his diploma after many months of hard work. And now, he is considering college. This is what public education is all about. It’s not just about knowledge - but empowerment. Jon, and students like him, are why many of us have dedicated our lives to public education. We provide each and every student, regardless of life circumstances, the opportunity to grow, learn, and realize their dreams - even if those dreams seem unattainable at times. 

It was such an honor to celebrate with Jon, his family, our staff, and school board representatives. I want to share special thanks to the following staff who helped make this moment for Jon possible: 

  • Executive Director David Wellington, who encouraged Jon to look at our high school online option before working towards a GED; 
  • Principal Brian Matthias, who helped get Jon enrolled in Northshore Online Academy Program; 
  • Northshore Online Academy teacher Lisa Jackson, who provided individualized support to Jon as he navigated online school while working full-time; and
  • Northshore Learning Options counselor Cameron Whitney, one of our dedicated counselors who provided additional guidance and encouragement. 

Student Jon, wearing a black cap and gown, stands with Executive Director David Wellington and Principal Brian Matthias

It was this dedicated team of Northshore educators who helped Jon get across the finish line and I am so excited to see what he does next. I know there are many stories like this in all of our schools - I see evidence when I am out in your buildings and classrooms. So, I also want to thank each of you for believing in our students unconditionally and supporting them along their K-12 journey. You are what makes Northshore great. 

Last week was full of notable events. On Monday, the Seattle Times ran a joint Op-Ed submitted by Northshore School Board President Amy Cast and School Board Presidents from Yakima and Vancouver. In the publication, our elected leaders encouraged the state legislature to fix our outdated funding model. 

The final sentence of the Op-Ed is particularly strong, “Our public schools need state leaders to provide a coherent educational strategy that centers student needs for our modern world, provides a funding model that revolves around that need and in the meantime ceases to place new requirements on an already-strained educational system.” I want to thank President Cast for her leadership and unwavering support. We are very fortunate to have such dedicated, student-focused School Board Directors. 

I also want to celebrate the work of our Food and Nutrition Services team. For a number of years, our staff has been working to diversify our school menus - ensuring that the nutritious and delicious meals we serve reflect the cultures and needs of our students. This month, Northshore’s Food and Nutrition team is once again a leader in our region, pledging to serve 28% plant-based menus by 2027. Read more about this commitment and the work underway outlined in a press release from the Humane Society of the United States. Congratulations to all of our food and nutrition services staff! Thank you for prioritizing our students, their health, and identifying culturally responsive and sustainable meal options. 

And finally, ongoing and authentic engagement with our full Northshore community is key to our students’ success. Similar to the past two years, I will be hosting in-person and online learning sessions for families, students, and staff over the course of the school year. The purpose of these regularly scheduled meetings is to provide district updates and progress but also hear directly from you. 

Family sessions will take place this fall and culminate in a Family Symposium. 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 Saturday, September 28 at North Creek High School. Interpretation will be provided. Please share the invitation with your friends and neighbors. I really hope to see a lot of our families there! 

I will also continue to host student and staff meetings at each school. These learning sessions will continue to inform my thinking and influence district-level decisions and system improvements. Your principal will let you know the date of my school visit. I am really looking forward to being back in school with you, learning from you, and supporting our students together. 

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.

New Resource from DOH and OSPI: Safety Study Hall

Created by the Department of Health in partnership with the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and other organizations, Safety Study Hall is a website resource on several health and safety issues for schools, students, and families/caregivers. This state-level website, mandated by the Washington State Legislature, currently focuses on the topics of: Opioid Overdose Prevention Strategies, Secure Storage of Prescription and Over-the-Counter Medication, and Secure Storage of Firearms and Ammunition. As part of RCW 70.54.490, the District must provide a prominent link to the Safety Study Hall on our district and school homepages, and districts must communicate this resource to families multiple times per year. The first communication to families will be next Monday via the Connections Newsletter.

Superintendent and Northshore Leadership Listen & Learn Sessions

Superintendent Tolley’s fall and winter Listen & Learn sessions are an opportunity to share information and hear back from families, and staff are welcome to participate. School Board representatives will also be present at each session. Dates are set and available on the Superintendent’s website, and the first session for Spanish-speaking families will take place on Saturday, Sept. 28 from 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at North Creek High School.

2024 Community Serve Day Video

Thank you again to the many staff that supported the 2024 Community Serve Day! It is such a gift to our students and families. Please share the Community Serve Day video, featuring Arrowhead Elementary, with your school communities.

Two students display their colorful, traditional dresses

 

Celebrating Hispanic and Latino/a/x Heritage Month

Northshore celebrates the rich diversity of our school communities! This month, we are celebrating National Hispanic and Latino/a/x Month from Sept. 15 - Oct. 15, celebrating the histories, cultures, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino/a/x peoples of Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America.

Important Dates

Calendar

The following section features non-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

Sept. 18

  • Early Release Wednesday

Sept. 23

  • School Board meeting, 7 p.m.

Sept. 25

  • Early Release Wednesday

Oct. 2

  • Early Release Wednesday

Oct. 4*

  • Rosh Hashanah - Judaism
  • Feasts of Trumpets - Non-Denominational Christian

Oct. 12*

  • Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) - Judaism

Oct. 16-23*

  • Feast of Tabernacles - Non-Denominational Christian (High Days are first, last, and Sabbath)

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

Sept. 15-Oct. 15

  • Hispanic and Latino/a/x Heritage Month

Sept. 16*

  • Mawlid-al-Nabi - Islamic

Sept. 16-18

  • Chuseok - Korean culture

Sept. 17

  • Tet Trung Thu - Vietnamese culture
  • Moon Festival - Celebrated in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and Vietnam cultures

Sept. 22

  • Mabon - Neo Pagan

Oct. 3-12

  • Dashain Festival - Nepalese Culture
  • Navratri/Dussehra - Hindu Culture

Oct. 4

  • Feast of St. Francis of Assisi - Christian
 

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.

 

 

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