Connections Newsletter

Message from the Superintendent

August 26, 2025

Dear Northshore Community,

This last Sunday, I had the opportunity to work alongside so many of our community members, Northshore parents, students, staff, Board Directors, and volunteers as part of Community Serve Day. What an amazing experience. I started off at Kokanee Elementary, visited Northshore Middle School, and ended my day at Arrowhead Elementary. Thank you to the hundreds of volunteers who helped prepare our schools for the first day of school. From spreading bark (I was sore on Monday!), to weeding, cutting back blackberry bushes, and setting up classrooms - everyone had an important role. It was especially heartwarming to see our students working alongside their family members. 

I want to give a special thank you to Northshore Community Church who helps organize, with a number of other churches, this amazing gift to our students and staff. As I get to know Northshore better, it becomes even more clear how invested our full community is in the well-being of our students. Thank you. 

Earlier this month, on August 14, I had the honor of attending the Northshore Wall of Honor celebration, where we recognized remarkable individuals connected to our district who have made a lasting difference. Their stories truly embody what it means to strengthen our community through educational excellence. I encourage you to learn more by visiting our Northshore Wall of Honor website. I am especially grateful to the Wall of Honor Committee for their tireless work to make this event possible and proud of our Northshore 2025 graduate, Kandyce Diep, who was awarded a scholarship for her commitment to serving the community through humanitarian and community service efforts. I have no doubt that she will continue to make a difference here at home and beyond.

As I shared in the last Connections Newsletter, one of my priorities as your Superintendent is to ensure open, consistent communication and meaningful engagement. As part of my Entry Plan, there are a number of opportunities for our families and broader community to engage with me directly. I have launched the “What Matters Most” tour in an effort to learn about the values and priorities of our families, students, staff, and the broader Northshore Community. The first community-wide event is September 18, 2025, 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the Administrative Center Board Room (3330 Monte Villa Parkway). I hope to see many of you there. Spanish, Portuguese, and ASL interpretation will be provided. 

Finally, I am really looking forward to the start of school next week. Our teachers, school administration, and support staff have been working hard to ensure the very best experience for your children and family. 2025-26 is going to be a great year and I look forward to celebrating all of our students’ successes with you. 

Please remember to review important start of school information below in the Connections Newsletter. The next newsletter will be published on September 23. 

Sincerely,

Dr. Justin Irish
Superintendent
Northshore School District

Follow me on Instagram [@northshoresupt] to stay connected throughout the year!

News and Updates

This is an exciting time as we prepare for the 2025-26 school year, and the resources on the Back-to-School website will help you prepare your student for learning on the first day of school. Visit the page to find details about when school begins, start and dismissal times, meals, transportation, school supply lists, health services, and more.

This fall, we invite Northshore families and community to meet new Northshore Superintendent Dr. Justin Irish during his “What Matters Most Tour” as he continues to get to know our Northshore community. The purpose of the tour is to grow Dr. Irish’s knowledge of the District, identify community priorities to support the District’s Strategic Plan, and provide an intentional and inclusive structure for relationship building. The What Matters Most tour reflects the Superintendent’s personal commitment and strong desire to engage authentically and learn from and with students, families, staff, and partners. Interpretation will be provided in Spanish, Portuguese, and ASL. We invite you to share your experiences with him on any of the following days:

• September 18, 2025, 6:30-7:30 p.m. - Admin Center Board Room (3330 Monte Villa Parkway) 
• October 16, 2025, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. - This will be a virtual meeting. The Zoom link will be provided as we draw closer to the meeting date and shared through multiple communication channels. 
• October 23, 2025, 6:30-7:30 p.m. - Admin Center Board Room (3330 Monte Villa Parkway)

In addition to these opportunities for families and community, students and staff will have additional opportunities to connect with Dr. Irish. See more about how he is learning and engaging with Northshore on our website.

The start of the school year is just around the corner, but there is still time to enroll in Northshore schools if you or someone you know has not yet completed the sign-up process. Enrollment for grades K-12 takes place online, with guidance available on our enrollment website. If you’re interested in learning about our preschool programs, visit our Early Childhood webpage to learn more.

Northshore School District has adopted the Standard Response Protocols, which are five different building designations for students, staff, and visitors in the event of school-related emergencies. This is a change from the four building designations used in past years. By adopting these protocols, it brings the terminology used in Northshore into alignment with local law enforcement and many other school districts in Washington. The building designations are:

• HOLD: Used to keep hallways and common areas clear of occupants. Examples of when hold would be used include: medical incident, privacy issue, or altercation.
• SECURE: Used to safeguard people within the building due to a potentially harmful hazard. Examples of when secure would be used include: police activity in the surrounding area, suspicious people or circumstances outside on or near campus, or wildlife on or near school grounds.
• LOCKDOWN: Used to secure individual rooms and keep occupants quiet and in place to isolate students and staff from active threats of violence. Examples of when lockdown would be used include: confirmed explosives, armed intruders, and other mortal threats.
• EVACUATE: Used to move people from one location to a different location in or out of the building. Examples of when evacuate would be used include: fire, chemical spills, earthquake, or threats.
• SHELTER (sometimes referred to as Shelter-in-Place): Used to limit exposure of students and staff to violent weather and hazardous materials. Examples of when shelter will be used include: windstorms and lightning, or chemical or other contaminants released into the environment.

To learn more about these building designations and how our staff and students respond to each, please visit our Safety and Security website.

Did you know that you can ask for interpretation and translation services from the District? The District will provide an interpreter for any meeting important to your child’s education and will provide all vital information in your preferred communication language – at no cost to you. If you need an interpreter for a meeting or need a form or letter from the District translated, please ask your child’s teacher or school office staff. For questions or help, you can contact the Language Access Coordinator Aspen Brooks at abrooks@nsd.org or 425-408-7783. For more information, please see the Northshore School District’s newly published Language Access Plan website.

Annually the District provides parents/guardians with notifications that must be acknowledged, including:

• Washington State Attendance Letter 
• Rights and Responsibilities Handbook 
• Weapons Letter 
• Technology Use Agreement
• Interpretation and Translation Services
• Meningococcal/HPV Letter (Secondary Only)
• Permission to Withhold Student Directory Information (optional form)

We ask that parents/guardians log in to ParentVUE soon to view these notices. If you have never logged into ParentVUE, you will find instructions on how to do so when you click the ParentVUE link above. Once logged in, you may be required to complete missing required information, and then you will be prompted to download, read, and take action for each of the notices listed above. Each parent/guardian must acknowledge these notices the next time they  log into ParentVUE, Typically, only one parent/guardian per household will need to provide updates to the state-required information. This is required annually to ensure we have current information for each of our families. These steps are required before parents/guardians can access student grades and other information. If you need assistance, please review this step-by-step guide on the District website or contact your child’s school. 

Please note: When you begin to confirm/update your family information in ParentVUE, please select “2025-26 Annual Update,” rather than the “2025-26 Student Enrollment” button. Only use the “Student Enrollment” button if you are enrolling a new student in Northshore.

We encourage Northshore families to prioritize student safety and consider the impact on neighborhood traffic patterns and parking when dropping off and picking up your students. Please be good neighbors, drive according to the law, and keep student safety in mind. In an effort to reduce the car traffic near our schools, please review and consider these resources and safety tips.

Northshore School District recognizes that the dangers of gun violence are significant. The importance of speaking openly about this sometimes-controversial topic and the value of discussing preventative measures is vital to the safety and security of our students, schools, and the broader community. We all share a role in the safety of our children and community. The District’s Safety and Security Department has compiled resources, including tips for talking with young people about firearm safety, resources to support the safe storage of firearms, and more.

Student safety is our top priority in Northshore. If you see something - say something. Anyone can easily report tips on bullying, harassment, drugs, vandalism or any safety issue through SafeSchools Alert. Every tip submitted to SafeSchools Alert is logged and sent to district administrators. You can submit safety concerns four different ways:

• Call, 855-521-2665
• Text, 855-521-2665
• Email, 1414@alert1.us
• Website, 1414.alert1.us

The Safety and Security Department will review the tip and then assign it to the correct staff member for follow up. You may be contacted for further information. Tips or concerns can also be submitted anonymously. Call 911 if there is immediate danger. SafeSchools Alert is not monitored 24 hours a day. Any in-progress or life safety event should be reported immediately to 911.

We encourage all parents and guardians to activate their ParentSquare account so you can fully engage in communicating with your students’ schools. By activating your account, you can log into ParentSquare, allowing you to:

• Read all of the messages sent by your students’ schools in one location – no need to search your email inbox.
• Utilize two-way messaging with staff.
• “Appreciate” or comment on a post – let the school know you see their message.
• Complete forms and more.

In order to interact with any of the messages you receive from ParentSquare via email or text, you need to activate your account. Without activating your account, you will continue to receive the messages, but you will not have access to the benefits listed above. 

Later this week, parents and guardians who have not activated their account already will receive an email invitation from ParentSquare. Please join us by clicking on the “Activate your account” button in the invitation sent, or enter the email address or phone number that matches your contact information on file with the school at www.parentsquare.com/signin.

School Board News

Bond and Levy Dollars at Work

When classes begin in September, students at five of our schools will enter new building spaces at Crystal Springs Elementary, Kenmore Elementary, Maywood Hills Elementary, Sorenson Early Childhood Center, and Woodin Elementary. Funded by the voter-approved 2022 Capital Bond, these five projects eliminated 37 portable classrooms, built 6 new fully inclusive playgrounds, added two new turf fields, added Commons spaces in four buildings and a new gym in two buildings, as well as improved parking and vehicle circulation on all five campuses. 

In addition to these five projects being completed, large construction projects also continue at Inglemoor High School, Leota Middle School, and Fernwood Elementary. The magnitude of eight large construction projects taking place simultaneously was significant, with Northshore staff in Capital Projects, Technology, Food and Nutrition Services, and other departments managing complex timelines to keep all projects on track so that students can benefit in September. In addition to district employees, the contractors and subcontractors worked tirelessly to meet deadlines and make this possible for our students. Thank you to our dedicated staff, contractors, and community for your support and dedication! Learn more about these projects on our 2022 Capital Bond website.

Partnerships & Volunteers

The Northshore Schools Foundation is hosting its sixth annual Backpack for Kids supply drive! Every summer, this drive helps Northshore students get the essential school supplies they need to succeed in the classroom. Since May, the Foundation has been collecting donations, both physical and digital, through over 50 public and private collection sites. Thanks to the amazing Northshore community, they are making sure every student starts the school year ready to learn! Learn more about 2025 Backpacks for Kids on the Foundation’s website.

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. 

*Begins at sundown of previous day/ends at sundown

Aug. 26

• Ganesh Chaturthi - Hindu

Sept. 3

• First day of school for most grades

Sept. 23-24

• *Rosh Hashanah - Jewish

Additional Religious and Cultural Observances

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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. 1

• Labor Day - U.S. Culture

Sept. 1-30

• Bullying Prevention Month

Sept. 5

• *Mawlid-al-Nabi - Islamic

Sept. 5-8

• Chuseok - Korean Culture

Sept. 11

• Enkutatash - Ethiopian Culture

Sept. 15 - Oct. 15

• Hispanic and Latino/a/x Heritage Month

Sept. 17

• Constitution Day

Sept. 22

• Ghatasthapana - Hindu
• Mabon - Neo Pagan

Sept. 22 - Oct. 1

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

Sept. 23-24

• Feast of Trumpets - 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.