Connections Newsletter
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Message from the Superintendent |
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Dear Northshore Community,
The recognition of our amazing educators continues! Congratulations to Ric Calhoun, the Campus Supervisor at Inglemoor High School who was named the 2025 Washington Education Association (WEA) Education Support Professional of the Year. Ric’s impact extends far beyond keeping students safe. From establishing student support programs to coaching sports teams, he consistently works to ensure all students feel valued and supported while at school. Please help us in celebrating Ric and all that he does for students each and every day.
March is Music in Our Schools Month, and we are proud of our vibrant music programs. Many of our students recently qualified for the state solo and ensemble contest in April. And on March 28, Bothell High School’s Jazz Band will perform at Hot Java Cool Jazz in Seattle — a celebration of some of the region’s best young jazz musicians. These same Bothell Jazz students were recently featured on New Day Northwest (pictured above). You can watch the segment here. Congratulations to our students on their hard-earned achievements and inspiring musicianship.
March is also Youth Art Month, celebrating the creativity of our talented students. Thank you to everyone that has already stopped by the Northshore Administrative Center to see our students’ artwork on display through March 31. If you can’t come in person, you can get a sneak peek here. We also invite you to a reception next week on March 31, from 6–7 p.m., to honor these Northshore artists, their families, and teachers.
March is Women’s History Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the incredible women in our Northshore family—our educators, School Board Directors, staff, and parents—who make a difference every day for our community’s children. I want to personally honor my own mother, who was a teacher in the deep south and committed her life to improving the lives of her students through education. Her belief in the potential of each and every student and courage in the face of adversity inspires me to this day. |
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In other news, I continue to present the 2025 State of our Schools to our broad community. On Wednesday, March 19 the Northshore Special Education Community PTSA hosted me at one of their meetings. And on Thursday, March 20, I presented information at the Hindu Temple and Cultural Center. Information presented included progress towards our strategic plan goals, updates on our construction projects, and improvements to family engagement and partnerships. I want to thank these organizations and many others for hosting the State of Our Schools engagement series.
Finally, as I have shared previously, this current Legislative session is critically important to public education. It is the paramount duty of the state to amply fund public education. Unfortunately, state funding hasn’t kept pace with the true cost of educating our over 22,000 students. The Northshore Board of Directors and Northshore Council PTSA were in Olympia again last Thursday, March 20, 2025 advocating on behalf of our students, staff, and broader community. They met with the majority of our delegation and expressed support for Senate Bills 5263 and 5192. Passage of these bills would result in a needed increase in funding next year for Northshore.
To learn more about state funding, please visit the Board’s webpage. You can also learn more by visiting the 2025-26 Northshore Budget Development webpage. We will continue to share Northshore’s perspective with our elected officials and the impacts that underfunding education has on our students.
Please review the Connections Newsletter for more information, including the 2025 Superintendent Search process. The Community Survey is now open but will close on March 31.
In partnership,
Michael Tolley Superintendent |
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Successful Students, Schools & Staff |
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Congratulations to the 25 Northshore School District seniors who have been named National Merit finalists. These students were named semifinalists in the fall and by moving on to the finalist level are now in consideration for scholarships. The students are:
There are more than 15,000 finalists nationwide this spring, and all will receive a Certificate of Merit attesting to their distinguished performance in the competition. Scholarships will be shared over the course of the spring as announced by National Merit. Congratulations to these students for earning this wonderful recognition and opportunity! |
Congratulations to all the Northshore educators who recently earned or renewed their National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) credential. This year, Northshore had 4 educators earn the NBCT and another 14 renew their credential. The District now has 168 current NBCTs. National Boards is recognized as the gold standard in teacher certification and is issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. To review a complete list of educators receiving this accomplishment, please visit our website. |
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Washington DECA’s State Career Development Conference took place Feb. 27 - March 1 in Bellevue. Over the course of the conference, more than 600 industry judges and DECA volunteers assess and evaluate thousands of DECA students in competitive events. Northshore School District high school students competed against 5,500 students from across Washington and did an outstanding job. Seven students finished first in the state in their competitive events. Almost 100 students from Northshore high schools finished in the top 10 in their events and will have an opportunity to compete at the International Career Development Conference (ICDC) in Florida in April. Congratulations to all students who participated and good luck to the students who will continue to participate at the ICDC for achieving this honor! |
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On March 1-2, the robotics teams from Woodinville High School and Bothell High School competed against 33 other schools in this year’s FIRST Robotics Competition Challenge. Both teams delivered outstanding performances, and brought home prestigious awards recognizing their excellence:
Congratulations to both teams on their incredible performances so far, and best of luck in the competitions ahead! Learn more about their competition on our website. |
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The Skyview Tsunami and Northshore Blue teams earned 1st and 2nd place respectively at the Science Olympiad Regional tournament on March 15 at Northshore Middle School. They competed against 23 teams from numerous schools in the area demonstrating their knowledge in 24 different events across all areas of science. Skyview placed 1st in six of the events, and Northshore teams placed 1st in five of the events. There are 7 teams advancing to the state competition taking place at Central Washington University on April 12, including 2 from Skyview, 2 from Northshore and 1 from Leota. Congratulations to all the students for their hard work and dedication! |
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The nonprofit Student Music Initiatives (SMI), founded by Inglemoor High School students, is running its Spring Jazz - Listen and Talk series, with performances for shoppers at the Alderwood Mall, where they collect donations for local charities. The final spring date is March 29 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in front of the food court at the mall, and they’ve set a goal to raise $2,000 this season. Students participating are from Inglemoor, Bothell, North Creek, Mariner, and Juanita high schools. SMI works to give leadership and learning opportunities to aspiring individuals while connecting communities together through the universal language and power of music. Since inception, they have raised funds for various causes including Feeding America and the American Cancer Society. |
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Thank you to Northshore Middle School’s counseling staff, administration, and our School Board Director, Sandy Hayes, for coordinating the 2024-25 NMS Career Fair. From sessions with industry professionals, to a panel discussion with college representatives, to an incredible keynote from Erin Jones, an educator and student advocate - it was a day full of information and inspiration. Thank you to the remarkable volunteers (pictured above) who gave their time and expertise to enrich the experience. |
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News & Updates |
The Northshore School Board has hired Ray & Associates to manage the 2025 Superintendent Search. The engagement process began on March 14 when a survey was distributed to all staff, families, secondary students, community partners, and the community. The survey will close on Monday, March 31 at 6 a.m. Input from the survey, Board interviews, and focus groups will shape the Northshore community’s desired qualities for the next Superintendent. The School Board will conduct interviews, with the finalists invited to participate in a public Town Hall on May 13, with more details to follow as the date approaches. The School Board hopes to announce the next Northshore School District superintendent by mid-May 2025. Please visit the Superintendent Search webpage to find links to the survey (available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian) as well as additional details on the process and timeline. |
Spring is the time of year when our schools administer state required assessments. These assessments are used for state and federal accountability, to monitor student progress toward grade level standards, as well as an option for high school students to meet their Graduation Pathways requirement. The English/Language Arts (ELA) and math Smarter Balanced Assessments are administered in grades 3 through 8 and 10, while the Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS) is administered in grades 5, 8, and 11.
Specific schedules are set by each school. Schools will notify families once their schedules are finalized. We want each student to perform at their best and encourage students to get good sleep and nutrition during these times. It is also important to minimize absences during your school’s testing schedule.
If you have any questions about your child’s spring assessments or schedules, please feel free to contact your child’s school. |
During the 2023-24 school year, the Teaching & Learning Department began planning for an adoption of updated math materials for several high school-level courses. The current materials in use in these classes were adopted over a decade ago. Northshore’s Algebra, Geometry, Algebra 2 Math Adoption Team has recommended the adoption of Savvas enVision AGA, for Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, and Algebra 2-Trigonometry. The District will hold a virtual community viewing of the curriculum materials on Wednesday, April 2 from 6-7 p.m. on Zoom (https://nsd.zoom.us/j/84287512246). During the virtual community viewing, attendees will learn about the curriculum selection process, see samples from the proposed curriculum, and have an opportunity to ask questions. Unable to attend? A recording of the session will be posted on the District website by April 4 along with a link to a family survey, which will be open until Friday, April 18. |
The Northshore School District is hosting a family symposium on Thursday, April 24 from 5:30-8 p.m. in the North Creek High School Commons. Thank you to the Northshore Schools Foundation for supporting this event, developed in direct response to family requests. This evening will begin with remarks from Superintendent Michael Tolley, and then attendees will choose 2 educational sessions to attend out of the 10 offered. You may view the sessions and register here. For planning purposes we are asking families to register prior to April 4, 2025. We hope to see you there. |
Choice school and program applications are open for all students for the 2025-26 school year, and we encourage our families to consider all Northshore options available to them. In addition to excellent neighborhood schools, Northshore offers a variety of choice schools and programs. A choice school or program may be exactly what your child needs to thrive academically and socially. Read about several Northshore choice school and program options below and their upcoming events to learn more, or visit the choice school webpage to find additional information.
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Northshore School District looks forward to showcasing Northshore Speaks, featuring original student spoken word poetry. This year’s event will take place virtually on Tuesday, April 22 at 6 p.m. To be considered for inclusion in the Northshore Speaks event, Northshore parents must submit original spoken word poems by video on behalf of their student using this form by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, March 30. If the student’s entry is selected, District Communications and Engagement staff will connect directly with the student and their family. Please follow the video format and guidelines when submitting entries. |
A number of students in Northshore schools are participating in a season of reflection and religious observances that may affect their food and nutrition needs during school. In support of students who will be fasting during religious and cultural observances, and through new OSPI waivers, Northshore is offering shelf-stable, take-home meal packs containing both a breakfast and a lunch each day through Friday, March 28. These meal packs are vegetarian and will be available for students to pick up during breakfast service at their school. On a daily basis, Northshore schools offer a wide variety of meal options to our elementary, middle, and high school students, including vegetarian entrees. Our Food and Nutrition Services staff at each school are available to support our community’s needs and welcome feedback and questions on school meal options. |
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School Board News |
The Northshore Board of Directors represents all of our families and residents, and board members encourage you to learn more and get engaged in the business of the District. In this section you will find information about school board meetings, including upcoming meetings and information about past meetings. Links are included for more information.
Upcoming Meetings and Topics
Past Meeting Highlights
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Racial and Educational Justice |
March is Women’s History Month, a time to celebrate the achievements of women who have shaped our communities, society, and the world, and continue to have dialogue and teach about the struggles and contributions of all women. We can also take the time to celebrate the diversity among women, including women of color; LGBTQIA2S+ women; women with disabilities; women in medicine, STEAM, education, sports, etc. Northshore honors those who have opened doors for students, like Mary McLeod Bethune, who championed education for equality, and Malala Yousafzai, who continues to advocate for girls' education globally. Maria Montessori revolutionized early learning, while Ruby Bridges bravely paved the way for school desegregation. |
Ramadan is an Islamic religious observance that began at sundown on Feb. 28 and ends on March 29 this year. Ramadan is a time for connection, celebration, deep reflection, and continued prayer. Once the sun sets, families meet for big meals and people also have a morning meal before the sun rises. For the hundreds of millions of Muslims around the world who observe Ramadan, the month is a time to focus on their faith and also perform generous acts. To learn more about Ramadan, view this message on the District’s social media from the Islamic Center of Bothell. |
Ash Wednesday on Wednesday, March 5 marked the beginning of Lent, a solemn, 40-day period leading up to Easter that holds profound significance in Christianity. Starting on Ash Wednesday and concluding on Holy Thursday, it is a season of penitence and preparation. This is a time in which many Christians remember the events leading up to and including the death of Jesus Christ. Those who participate in the Lenten season engage in prayer, reflection, fasting, and helping others. To learn more about Ash Wednesday and the Lenten season, view this message on the District’s social media from Bothell United Methodist Church. |
Nowruz took place on the spring equinox, which is the first day in the Persian calendar. The new year is celebrated at the exact moment of the vernal equinox, which was March 20, 2025, this year. Over 300 million people all around the world celebrate Nowruz, and it has been observed for more than 3,000 years. It is observed by various ethnic groups across Central Asia, the Middle East, and the Balkans, including Iranian, Pakistani, Afghan, Turkish, Tajik, and Kurdish communities. Note that the spelling of Nowruz varies by country. It can be spelled correctly in numerous different ways, including Nawrouz, Novruz, Navruz, Nooruz, Nevruz, and Newroz. |
Students from each of Northshore’s high schools and programs will come together on Friday, March 28 at Cascadia College to create space for high school students to celebrate their intersectional identities, build community and collaborate with peers and across schools, grow their knowledge and understandings about various forms of justice, meet and work with educators and community partners, and learn more about higher education opportunities. This event is organized by the Racial and Educational Justice Department, co-designed with the Student Justice Collective, and sponsored by Cascadia College. |
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Bond and Levy Dollars at Work |
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Construction on the new building at Woodin Elementary is progressing, with drywall going up in the interior spaces and exterior brickwork taking place to match the design of the current school buildings. Electrical, HVAC, and security cameras are also being installed at this time. This project is funded by the 2022 Capital Bond, which was generously supported by Northshore voters. Learn more details about this project on our Woodin Elementary construction project website. |
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Partnerships & Volunteers |
Inglemoor HS PTSA, in partnership with Northshore Council PTSA, invites you to attend an informative discussion on Thursday, March 27 at 6 p.m. in the Northshore Concert Hall at Inglemoor High School hosted by the Snohomish County Health Department on teenage substance abuse. All parents and adult caregivers are welcome to come and learn about:
They will also have confiscated items on display. Simultaneous Spanish interpretation will be provided. Learn more on the Northshore Council PTSA website. |
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E-Flyers |
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Below are links to community E-flyers that were recently approved for sharing with District families. These activities are not sponsored nor endorsed by the Northshore School District or any of its schools.
The District assumes no responsibility for the conduct during or the safety of the activities. Northshore School District shall be held harmless from any cause of action, claim, or petition filed in any court or administrative tribunal arising out of the distribution of these materials including attorney's fees and judgment or awards. |