Northshore In Motion: Beginning the 2026-27 School Year

September 1, 2026

Dear Northshore Staff, Students, and Families,

Welcome back! There is nothing quite like the energy and excitement of the first day of school.

One of my favorite parts of being a Superintendent is getting out into our schools and spending time with our students and staff. Today, I had the chance to start the year doing just that.

My morning began bright and early with our Transportation team, greeting drivers as they arrived and prepared for their routes. It was great to see everyone rolling out of the lot, ready to welcome our students back. We are blessed to work alongside such a positive and outstanding transportation team! 

From there, I headed to Timbercrest Middle School, where staff and student WEB leaders were welcoming our sixth graders. Students spent the morning building relationships, working as teams, and getting comfortable with their new school. The vibe was amazing - thank you to the incredible staff and student leaders for creating such a welcome environment! 

At Woodinville High School, ninth graders were getting a similar welcome from student leaders who were introducing them to their new school and its culture. I even joined one activity where we had to organize ourselves in a line by height. Some of those students really grew over the summer! Thanks to the outstanding Woodinville team for bringing so much joy to the first day of school! 

I ended my day at Ruby Bridges Elementary, where students were learning new routines, organizing supplies, and even teaching one another best practices for handwashing. I also stopped by the kitchen to visit with our nutrition services staff as they prepared for lunch, and I got to be with one of our music teachers as she welcomed every student by name! 

What struck me throughout the day is how many people play a critical role in making our students’ first day a great one. Bus drivers, teachers, student leaders, office staff, education support professionals, nutrition services, custodians, families - and so many others - all contribute to helping our students feel welcomed, supported, and ready to learn. Every time I am out in schools, I am reminded how blessed I am to collaborate with such a dedicated, professional, and joyful team of educators who are deeply committed to creating meaningful experiences and opportunities for students to thrive. 

Tomorrow, I’ll be back out in our schools as the rest of our middle and high school students join us.

Thank you to our incredible staff and families for such a strong start. And most importantly, welcome back, students. We are so glad you’re here.

2026-27 is going to be a great year!

Dr. Justin Irish
Superintendent