August 19, 2024: Summer Activities in Northshore

Message from the Superintendent

August 19, 2024

Dear Northshore Colleagues: 

I hope you had a joyful and rejuvenating summer. 

I am excited to welcome educators back this week for the Summer Institute hosted at Inglemoor High School. I have already heard great feedback about the sessions from staff that attended today. Thank you to all the presenters and participants. Below in today’s District Highlights you can find a link to the Institute registration, it is not too late to enroll. 

Summer was busy with preparation for this coming school year. In July I visited our summer programs at Canyon Creek Elementary School (Special Education Extended School Year and Summer Recovery Services, and the Elementary Summer Academy). Thank you to our staff for helping ensure our students were able to continue their learning through the summer months - it will make all the difference this coming year for many of our students. 

In early August, we welcomed back our school leaders at our Leadership Learning Institute. Together, we reviewed student data, participated in training, and prepared for the school year. And over 1,000 families, students, and staff attended our annual Back-to-School Resource Fair on Aug. 8 at Pop Keeney. Thank you to the many community partners that supported the event, including our own School Board Director Sandy Hayes who passed out free books to our students. The free book table was a highlight of the event. 

Last week, we closed out the Community Supported Meal program. Together, along with six faith and cultural organizations and the Northshore Schools Foundation we fed over 300 families. Thank you to our staff’s compassion, generosity, and willingness to help ensure no Northshore School District student went hungry during the summer months. 

Support Services staff have also been busy preparing six school sites for major construction, preparing school grounds, setting up teacher classrooms, and putting the finishing touches on small works projects including field installation and inclusive playgrounds. 

Last Friday, after presenting to our amazing custodial staff, I dropped by a few schools to see for myself the work that has been completed or is underway, including:  

• A new turf field at Skyview Middle School.
• At Fernwood Elementary a new stormwater treatment tank was in place.
• The modular building cement walkways were poured at North Creek High School.
• At Innovation Lab High School, the exterior of the building was being painted.
• At Crystal Springs Elementary, demolition work was underway in preparation for new construction.
• Bus loop construction was taking place at Westhill Elementary and Sorenson.
• At Bothell High School, the modular building foundation was ready and the modular buildings were sitting in the parking lot ready to be put into place. 
• At Inglemoor High School site work preparation was underway for placement of portable classrooms. The portable classrooms were sitting ready in the parking lot. 
• At Kenmore Elementary site presentation was taking place. 
• And, finally at Woodin Elementary, the stormwater treatment tank is in place and foundation work for the new building has begun. 

I am also pleased to report that we are fully staffed in transportation - helping to ensure predictable and consistent support for our students and families. This is a huge accomplishment, considering school transportation challenges felt across our region. 

Thank you to our staff for all your hard work in these critical areas!

This week, I am looking forward to spending time with our transportation colleagues, NEOPA, and Support Services. And, on Sunday August 25, I will be joining thousands of volunteers to participate in Community Serve Day - working to prepare our schools for the first day of school. 

I am deeply grateful and proud to serve such a great community and district; and I am looking forward to a strong start to the 2024-25 school year. 

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.

The 2024 Summer Institute began Aug. 19 and continues through Friday, Aug. 23 at Inglemoor High School. This is an opportunity for Northshore educators to access professional development on a wide range of topics, including curriculum areas, using technology tools in the classroom, safety trainings, and more. Classes take place between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. New classes have been added to the Summer Institute schedule. The Summer Institute app Sched will help you create a schedule, but be sure to register for your chosen sessions at pd.nsd.org to save your spot. 

Important Dates

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. 

Aug. 26

• Janmashtami - Hindu festival
• School Board meeting, 7 p.m.

Sept. 2

• Labor Day, No School

Sept. 3

• First Day of School for most students - more information about your specific school or program start date will be communicated directly from the school

Sept. 6

• Ganesh Chaturthi - Hindu festival

Sept. 9

• School Board meeting, 4:30 p.m.

Sept. 11

• Early Release Wednesday

Janmashtami

Janmashtami is a Hindu festival observed to celebrate the birth of Krishna, an incarnation of Vishnu, the supreme God. Most families fast all day and celebrate the festival in the evening at homes and in the temple. On this day people observing Janmashtami recap Krishna’s childhood with mischievous and courageous acts, friendship, love, affection, and compassion toward others, nature, and animals. Hindus believe Krishna appeared over 500 years ago to restore peace and righteousness on earth by destroying the evil forces. 

Ganesh Chaturthi

Ganesh Chaturthi is a popular festival celebrated by Hindus. On this day, Hindus worship Lord Ganesh (elephant-headed divinity) to remove obstacles before undertaking any task such as starting a new school year, new job, new business, etc. Some people observing the festival fast on this day until dawn, prepare special meals, and share them with friends. It is one of the most colorful and joyous festivals for all Hindus.

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. 11

• Enkutatash - Ethiopian culture

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

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.