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Connections Newsletter News from the Northshore School District September 9, 2024
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Message from the Superintendent
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Dear Northshore Community:
I hope all of our students, staff, and families had a great launch to the 2024-25 school year last week. As a life-long educator the start of the school year represents a special season filled with excitement and possibility. I can remember preparing for school as a student and the enthusiasm and anticipation I felt for the year ahead - excitement about the friends I would make, my teachers, and what I might learn. Last week, as I was out visiting our schools, I witnessed this same excitement from our students.
Over the first three days, I visited eleven schools - Canyon Park Middle School, Innovation Lab High School, Westhill Elementary, Bothell High School, Maywood Elementary, Leota Middle School, Fernwood Elementary, North Creek High School, Northshore Middle School, Woodmoor Elementary, and closed out my week at Kenmore Elementary. In every space I witnessed our District’s core commitments in action. Educators and support staff were actively building learning environments that foster kindness, belonging, and community. And I saw students welcoming each other back, taking leadership roles, and diving into the new school year. It made me really proud of our students, our staff, and the entire Northshore community.
Thank you again to the many individuals, including hundreds of parent volunteers, who helped provide students with such a joyful and positive beginning to the new school year. You are appreciated.
Ongoing and authentic engagement with our full Northshore community is key to our success. Similar to the past two years, I will be hosting in-person and online learning sessions for families, students, and staff over the course of the year. The purpose of these regularly scheduled meetings is to provide District updates and progress but also hear directly from you.
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Family sessions will take place this fall and culminate in a Family Symposium. I will also continue to host student and staff meetings at each school. These learning sessions will continue to inform my thinking and influence District-level decisions and system improvements. The schedule for this year’s family learning sessions are posted on the Superintendent webpage. The first session is for our Spanish-speaking families on Saturday, September 28 at North Creek High School. Interpretation will be provided. Please share the invitation with your friends and neighbors. I really hope to see a lot of our families there!
Below in the Connections Newsletter you will find a number of reminders and important resources including, but not limited to:
As a reminder, the Connections Newsletter is published on the second and fourth Monday of every month. If you have school-based good news to share with the Northshore Community, please use this form to share with the Northshore communications team. You can also follow me on Instagram to learn more about our schools and all the good things happening within our classrooms and Northshore community.
I hope everyone has another great week in our schools. I look forward to connecting with you soon. 2024-25 is going to be a really great school year!
In partnership,
Michael Tolley Superintendent
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News and Updates
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Attendance matters! Regular attendance is one of the most powerful ways you can prepare your student for success — both in school and in life. Students are expected to attend school every day, for the full day. But if your student misses school, all Northshore families now have an easy way to report their student’s absence using ParentVUE. All schools in the district can now receive notifications of student absences using ParentVUE, and we encourage you to give it a try. Using ParentVUE to let your school know your student will be absent simplifies the process for our school offices and is simple for families, requiring just a handful of clicks. Visit the Report an Absence website to learn more or log in to ParentVUE.
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A summary of administrative changes that took place on or after July 1, 2024 is now available on the District website. Some of these changes were already shared this last spring as part of the Administrative Center reorganization and budget reduction process. Other staffing changes were made in response to retirements and or school staffing allocations. Please visit the District website to learn more.
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Annually the District provides parents/guardians with notifications that must be acknowledged, including:
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 will be required to complete any missing state-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 “2024-25 Annual Update,” rather than the “2024-25 Student Enrollment” button. Only use the “Student Enrollment” button if you are enrolling a new student in Northshore.
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The Device Protection Program (DPP) covers the device (Chromebook, Macbook, or iPad) loaned to your student against accidental damage for the school year. 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. |
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Student Safety Information
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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.
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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.
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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:
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.
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School Board News
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Bond and Levy Dollars at Work
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This fall, celebrate the start of construction on school growth projects funded by the 2022 Capital Bond, which was generously approved by Northshore voters. Events will take place at the end of September and early October at Crystal Springs Elementary, Fernwood Elementary, Kenmore Elementary, Maywood Hills Elementary, Sorenson Early Childhood Center/Westhill Elementary, and Woodin Elementary. The families and staff at the schools will receive an invitation soon, and the community is encouraged to watch for more information on our District website later this week.
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Upcoming Events
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Mark your calendars for opportunities to connect with Superintendent Michael Tolley at Listen & Learn sessions this fall and winter. Dates are set and available on the Superintendent’s website, and more details will be shared in the days and weeks ahead.
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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.
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Racial and Educational Justice
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The Northshore School District invites individuals interested in serving on the Racial and Educational Justice Committee to apply by Friday, September 20. Visit this link to submit an application. Check out our website for more information about the committee and the responsibility of its members.
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Partnerships & Volunteers
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Important Dates
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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.
Sept. 9
Sept. 11
Sept. 18
Sept. 23
Sept. 25
Additional Religious and Cultural Observances 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. 15-Oct. 15
Sept. 11
Sept. 16
Sept. 16-18
Sept. 17
Sept. 22
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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
Title IX Coordinator: Jerred Kelly 3330 Monte Villa Parkway Bothell, WA 98021-8972 425-408-7622 or 7604
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
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. |