Connections Newsletter

Message from the Superintendent

Dear Northshore Community,

Thank you to the many parents and students who joined me for my first public What Matters Most event. I am grateful for the thoughtful reflections you shared about what I should know about Northshore, areas to prioritize in our 2022–2027 Strategic Plan, and the indicators you believe best represent student success. It was truly wonderful to experience the rich diversity of our community together in one space.

Our next public What Matters Most event will take place on October 16, 6:30-7:45 p.m. via Zoom. You can find more information on the Superintendent webpage, and I look forward to continuing these important conversations with you.

I am also excited to share that there are now many ways for our broader community—including students and families—to get involved in shaping the district’s critical work. Several district committees and advisory groups are currently accepting applications, with more opportunities coming soon. Please see the Connections Newsletter below for details.

As a reminder, we recently began a new State of Our District video series. If you haven’t had a chance yet, I encourage you to watch the first edition. Next month’s video will highlight the first few days of school and the many wonderful moments we’ve experienced together.

Finally, I want to take a moment to recognize that yesterday evening marked the beginning of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. To those who celebrate, I wish you a blessed time with family and friends. Please also take a look at the observances calendar in Connections for upcoming celebrations and opportunities to affirm the rich diversity of our Northshore community.

Sincerely, 

Dr. Justin Irish

Superintendent

Northshore School District

News and Updates

While it is highly unlikely the District would cancel classes or school for air quality, we will make schedule or program changes to ensure the safety of our school communities. This includes changes to outdoor recess, other outdoor activities, and outdoor sports. The District follows the Department of Health (DOH) air quality index (AQI) levels and guidance to inform our decisions impacting the health of our students and staff. Conditions change quickly and are widely variable across the District, and schools have the authority to keep students inside if they feel it is wise. If there is a program or schedule change at your student’s school, you will be notified by the school or athletic director. To learn more, please visit our district air quality webpage.

i-Ready has developed new functionality which will allow families to view their student’s diagnostic results For Families Score Report on demand from the student testing portal.  This will be available on Monday, Sept. 29 for students in grades K-8 who have been given i-Ready diagnostics in the current year. Since i-Ready is a tool to inform instruction, accounts reset yearly so reports will only be available for the current school year the diagnostics were conducted. Instructions on how to access these reports and other i-Ready information is available on the i-Ready section of the Northshore Assessment website.

Next month, organizations across the country will participate in the earthquake preparedness event called the Great Shakeout, including many of our schools. In Northshore, schools practice emergency preparedness with a drill each month, helping to improve and refine processes for student safety outlined in the schools’ safety and security plans. The plans are designed with the help of school emergency preparedness representatives, as well as local law enforcement, emergency management, and public health officials. As a reminder, each fall you will be required to complete any missing state-required information in ParentVUE, which includes confirming or revising your emergency contacts. If you have not already completed this, please log in to ParentVUE. Find additional resources on our Safety and Security website as well as the Safety Squad series of cartoons for our youngest learners to help explain why we do drills, what to expect, and more.

The Northshore School District invites our families, secondary students, and community members to get involved in supporting our schools and students in a number of different ways. One way is to participate in a districtwide committee or task force, and several committees are now accepting applications to fill vacant roles. If you have a passion for supporting students and schools across the entire district, we invite you to apply for any of the below opportunities. 

The following volunteer opportunities are currently accepting applications:

• Enrollment Demographic Task Force (EDTF) – applications due Sept. 28
• Financial Advisory Committee – applications due Sept. 26
• Nutrition & Fitness Advisory Committee – applications due Sept. 24
• Racial and Educational Justice Committee – applications due Sept. 26

Visit our website to find detailed information about the purpose of the committee or task force, commitment required, and application process.

Northshore School District believes that for all students to be successful, they must feel a sense of belonging and personal connection to our school communities. We are committed to providing our students the services and support needed to achieve this goal. Students’ perception and feedback on how they experience well-being, safety and relationships, and school climate and culture is vitally important to ensuring supportive school environments for each and every Northshore student.  

In October, we will ask our students in grades 3-12 to take a brief survey to tell us about their experience with their school. To ensure we continue to provide high-quality, rigorous learning experiences that meet the needs of our learners and prepare them for their futures, we need their feedback.

Each school will determine when they will implement the survey during the two-week period of October 13-24. Students will take the survey online during school once in October and again during March 2026. Learn more about the survey on our Social-Emotional Learning webpage, where you can review the survey questions and request to opt out your student from participating, if desired.

Dr. Justin Irish, Northshore’s new superintendent, is implementing a comprehensive community engagement tour to learn What Matters Most - from you - between August and December 2025. The purpose of the What Matters Most 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 next events designed for families and the broader Northshore community are taking place:

• October 16, 2025, 6:30-7:45 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, 6:30-7:45 p.m. - Admin Center Board Room (3330 Monte Villa Parkway)

Interpretation will be provided in Spanish, Portuguese, and ASL. 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. Learn more and see additional dates to participate on the Superintendent’s website.

While we know regular attendance is one of the most powerful ways to prepare your student for success, we also know that sometimes students must miss school for a variety of reasons. Next time that happens for your family, let us know through ParentVUE.

• Login to ParentVUE
• Click the “Report Absence” button next to the name of your absent student
• Fill in the fields with the date(s) of the absence and provide a reason for the absence
• Click the “Submit” button, which automatically notifies the school of the absence

Northshore offers a Device Protection Program. The Device Protection Program (DPP) covers the device (Chromebook, Macbook, or iPad) loaned to your student against accidental damage for the school year, and enrollment is open for the 2025-26 school year in TouchBase, Northshore’s online payment system. This program does NOT cover damage resulting from misuse or loss of the device. The standard payment to enroll in the Student Device Protection Plan is $25 per year; free for students who have qualified for free or reduced-price meals and who have provided consent to share their status for fee waivers. If the assigned device is accidentally damaged, families will be charged according to a deductible schedule if enrolled in the Device Protection Program. If there is no DPP on file for a student when damage occurs and the fine is assessed, the full repair cost will be charged. Learn more about the program on our 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 due Oct. 15, 2025)

If you have not already, 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.

The cities of Bothell and Kenmore both have photo enforcement programs in place to enhance student safety and enforce school zone speed limits. These initiatives reinforce responsible driving and our community’s efforts to ensure a safe environment for everyone. During student drop-off in the morning and pick-up in the afternoon, you will see flashing beacons and speeding tickets will be issued with the help of photo enforcement to drivers who violate the 20 mph school zone speed limit near:

• Arrowhead Elementary (City of Kenmore)
• Canyon Park Middle School (City of Bothell)
• Crystal Springs Elementary (City of Bothell)
• Frank Love Elementary (City of Bothell)
• Inglemoor High School (City of Kenmore)
• Kenmore Elementary (City of Kenmore)
• Northshore Middle School & Woodmoor Elementary (City of Bothell)
• Westhill Elementary & Sorenson Early Childhood Center (City of Bothell)

The majority of our schools have school zones with flashing beacons to warn drivers of the reduced speed limit. However, not all school zones have cameras to issue speeding tickets – only those listed above currently. The City of Bothell and City of Kenmore provide additional details about their use of photo enforcement to issue tickets online. Thank you to the cities for your partnership and care in protecting our students’ safety!

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.

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.

Many cities across the United States, including Bothell, Redmond, Bellevue, Kent, Sammamish, and Issaquah have named October as Hindu American Awareness and Appreciation Month. Hindu American Awareness and Appreciation Month seeks to bring local awareness, recognition, and acknowledgment of the significant contributions made by Hindu Americans across the United States and to increase understanding of the Hindu culture.

Disability History and Awareness Month takes place in the month of October to honor, recognize, and affirm people with disabilities. The month provides an opportunity for policy makers, educators, families and communities to reflect on the disability rights movement and the work that we must each continue to do in pursuit of disability justice.

School Board News

Three of our Northshore Board Directors, Director Hayes, Director McGourty, and Director Trần, attended the Washington State School Directors' Association (WSSDA) 2025 General Assembly on Sept. 20, 2025. At the General Assembly, Board Directors from across the state vote on legislative and permanent positions as well as update the WSSDA advocacy platform. Together, they advocate on behalf of our state's students and public education. We are fortunate to have such engaged and supportive School Board Directors here in Northshore. Director Hayes, in addition to her position with Northshore, served as WSSDA's Immediate Past President.

Racial and Educational Justice

Cascadia College will host its 2025 Indigenous Peoples Day celebration on Oct. 13 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Mobius Hall (CC3) on the Cascadia Campus. This year’s theme, "Celebrating Indigenous Stories, Solidarities, and Hope," invites us to honor the cultures, traditions, and enduring resilience of Indigenous communities through storytelling, reflection, and community connection. The Northshore School District is proud to participate in this community event.

Bond and Levy Dollars at Work

Thanks to the support of the voter-approved 2022 Capital Bond, the District completed five construction projects on school campuses this fall and is wrapping up finishing touches in the weeks ahead. The projects at Crystal Springs Elementary, Kenmore Elementary, Maywood Hills Elementary, Woodin Elementary, and Sorenson Early Childhood Center have provided these schools with new indoor and outdoor learning spaces. The District is excited to share these completed projects with our community at open houses with ribbon cutting ceremonies, and the dates for each school are being finalized. Keep an eye on the district homepage and social media in the weeks ahead as the dates of these events are finalized and promoted to our community. We look forward to celebrating these completed projects!

E-Flyers

Our E-flyers program is currently being updated. As soon as the updates are complete, the link to submit an e-flyer will be live on our website.

Community Partners

The Northshore Council PTSA is hosting a School Board Candidate Forum on Wednesday, Oct. 8 from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Northshore Performing Arts Center (Bothell High School). Moderated by the League of Women Voters of Seattle-King County, the forum will help voters learn more about the candidates running for three open school board director positions in the upcoming November election. Community members are encouraged to submit questions for the candidates by Friday, Sept. 26. The event is free and open to all; however, campaign materials or signs are not allowed. For more information or to submit a question, visit the Northshore Council PTSA website or email advocacy@northshorecouncilptsa.org.

The City of Bothell is updating its Parks, Recreation, and Open Space (PROS) Plan, which shapes the city’s priorities for parks, trails, and recreation programs over the next six years. Community input is essential to ensure these spaces and services reflect the needs of Bothell families. Want to get involved? Here are three ways to provide feedback and share your ideas:

• Take the online survey by Oct. 13, 2025
• Connect with city staff at Cedar Grove Park on Saturday, Sept. 27, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Visit with city staff at the Bothell Library on Wednesday, Oct. 1, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For more information about the planning efforts, engagement opportunities, and online survey, visit the city'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

Sept. 23-24

• *Rosh Hashanah - Jewish

Oct. 2

• *Yom Kippur - Jewish

Oct. 20

• Diwali - Hindu

Oct. 23

• *Birth of Baháʼu'lláh - Baha’i

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. 1-30

• Bullying Prevention Month

Sept. 15 - Oct. 15

• Hispanic and Latino/a/x Heritage Month

Sept. 22 - Oct. 1

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

Sept. 23-24

• Feast of Trumpets - Non-Denominational Christian

October 1-31

• Disability History and Awareness Month
• Hindu Heritage Month
• Principal Appreciation Month

Oct. 2

• Custodian Appreciation Day
• *Day of Atonement - Christian Non-Denominational

Oct. 4

• Feast of St. Francis of Assisi - Christian

Oct. 6

• Tết Trung Thu - Vietnamese Culture
• Moon Festival - Celebrated in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and Vietnam Cultures

Oct. 7-13

• *Sukkot - Jewish
• *Feast of Tabernacles - Non-Denominational Christian

Oct. 11

• National Coming Out Day - U.S. Culture

Oct. 12

• Dia de la Raza - Latin American Culture

Oct. 13

• Indigenous Peoples’ Day - U.S. Culture

Oct. 13-17

• National School Lunch Week

Oct. 20-24

• School Bus Safety Week

Oct. 22

• *Birth of Bab - Baha’i

Oct. 23

• Installation of Holy Scripture as Guru Granth Sahib - Sikh

Oct. 31

• Halloween - U.S. Culture

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.