November 18, 2024: Northshore is a special place thanks to you

Message from the Superintendent

November 18, 2024

Dear Northshore Colleagues: 

This is a busy time of year, and I see all that you are doing to support students, their families, and each other. I am really fortunate that my job as Superintendent takes me into all of our Northshore schools and many of our classrooms. In all of these spaces, I ask students how things are going. They consistently share how much they appreciate the support of their teachers, counselors, school leaders, and other school-based staff. You are one of the reasons Northshore is such a special place. Thank you. 

This evening, Nov. 18, I hope to see many of you at the Conversations with the Board from 6-7:30 p.m. in the Canyon Park Middle School Library. This is an opportunity to have a two-way conversation with your elected Board of Directors about the development of our 2025-26 school year budget, next steps, and other topics of community interest. 

Additionally, the 2025-26 Budget Development webpage launched and was recently updated. On the webpage, you can find a helpful one-page document about our anticipated $6 million shortfall for the 2025-26 school year, the School Board’s budget development guiding principles, a timeline, and other information.

November is also Native American Heritage Month! In Northshore we recognize and honor the histories, contributions, and experiences of all Native, Indigenous, Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian peoples represented in our district community. In response, this evening, Monday, Nov. 18, our District will host a Racial and Educational Justice Community Panel celebrating Native American Heritage, Hispanic and Latino Heritage, Hindu Heritage, and Disability History and Awareness. The community panel will take place from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the Administrative Board Room, 3330 Monte Villa Parkway. All Northshore families, students, and staff are invited to attend this educational and celebratory event.

The Bothell Knights of Columbus once again partnered with Northshore School District to deliver jackets and coats to our students. Warm winter coats and jackets were delivered to nurses or a Care Team lead at nine of our schools. One school staff member shared “The kids have been over the moon with their jackets. One of our students instantly ripped the tag off and wore his coat with pride all day long, even in classes.” A huge thanks to the Bothell Knights of Columbus for supporting this program and our students. You can view some of the program’s volunteers delivering coats below in District Highlights. 

Finally, my next Listen and Learn session will be with our Native American students and families on Dec. 3, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Food and childcare will be provided. I am grateful for our partnership with the Eastside Native American Education Program (ENAEP) and their support of this upcoming event. If you are aware of Native American families in your school community, please share this information directly with them. The full list of my Listen and Learn sessions can be found on the Superintendent Webpage. 

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.

Thank you to our elementary school teachers and staff for the work taking place this week and next as you meet with families to discuss the achievements and opportunities that lay ahead for their students. Your care and guidance in conversation with families lays the foundation for a strong school-home relationship. Thank you for all that you do.

Teacher Nicole Malecki at Skyview Middle School was selected for National History Day’s newest Silent Heroes program, “Untold Stories from the Korean War,” which is sponsored by a grant from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Through the program, Malecki and a group of Skyview students are researching the lives of two underrepresented servicemembers from the Korean War era. The only teacher selected from Washington, Malecki and her students are meeting regularly with a historian and research mentor while conducting their research. Their efforts will result in published profiles telling the stories of their veterans’ lives and service and a visit in the spring to Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, where they will read the eulogies at the servicemembers’ graves. Congratulations to Malecki and her students for this amazing opportunity. Read more on the National History Day website.

Thank you again to the Bothell Knights of Columbus for offering this program to our schools.

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. 

Nov. 18

• Conversations with the Board, 6-7:30 p.m. in the Canyon Park Middle School Library

Nov. 19, 21-22, 25-26

• Elementary Conferences - Early Dismissal for Elementary Schools Only (see dismissal times)

Nov. 20

• Early Release Wednesday

Nov. 25

• School Board Study Session, 5:30 p.m. Topic: Goal 5, Ready for Lifelong Success After Graduation
• School Board Regular Meeting, 7 p.m.

Nov. 27

• Half Day (see dismissal times)

Nov. 28

• Thanksgiving - No School

Nov. 29

• Native American Heritage Day - No School

Dec. 4

• Early Release Wednesday

Dec. 9

• School Board Regular Meeting, 4:30 p.m.
• School Board Study Session, 6 p.m. Topic: Comprehensive Counseling Plan

Dec. 11

• Early Release Wednesday

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.

Nov. 1-30

• Native American Heritage Month - U.S. Culture

Nov. 20

• Transgender Day of Remembrance - U.S. Culture

Nov. 24

• Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib - Sikh

Dec. 1-31

• Universal Human Rights Month - U.S. Culture

Dec. 1

• First Sunday of Advent - Christian

Dec. 3

• International Day of Persons with Disability

Dec. 8

• Feast of the Immaculate Conception - Christian
• Buddhist Enlightenment Day - Buddhist

Dec. 12

• Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe - Mexican Christian

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.