School Board Earns Fifth Consecutive Board of Distinction Award
Join Us for School Showcase Presentations
Renewal Levy Resolution Approved for February Ballot
Dear Peninsula School District Families and Staff,
November brings shorter days, cooler weather, and one of nature's most beautiful transformations. As a former science teacher, I’ve always been fascinated by how trees turn yellow, orange, and red. Fall colors are a dance of subtraction and addition. One of my favorite science lessons is about photosynthesis and how the pigments hide in leaves all summer, until autumn when the golden colors are revealed. I created a short video explaining the science behind how nature removes what hides the leaves’ beauty, then adds something new to make them glow.
National Young Readers Week is November 10 to 14
This month also brings National Young Readers Week, November 10 to 14, an annual celebration that encourages children's love for reading and highlights the importance of literacy. Reading opens worlds, builds empathy, and strengthens the bond between children and the adults who read with them. One of my favorite books to share with students and my grandchildren is The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy, a gentle story about friendship, kindness, and the questions that matter most. I hope you can find time to read together with your children and discover a new favorite story.
We Honor Our Veterans for Their Service
On Veterans Day, we pause to express our deepest gratitude to the veterans in our schools and community. Your service embodies the principles that guide our district—excellence, courage, character, curiosity, and culture—and your example enriches our entire community. As a proud Purple Star school district, we remain committed to supporting military-connected families and addressing the distinct challenges they navigate. To all who have served: your dedication, bravery, and sacrifice inspire us daily. While we formally recognize Veterans Day on November 11, our appreciation for your service extends throughout the whole year.
Celebrate Native American Heritage Month
This November, we celebrate Native American Heritage Month by honoring the rich cultural legacy and ongoing contributions of Indigenous peoples across our nation. Our district is home to more than 100 students with Native American heritage, representing tribes from all across the United States. Peninsula School District sits on the traditional lands of the Puyallup Indian Tribe, whom we work with to ensure our curriculum and various support systems reflect their history, culture, and life today for all students, while providing cultural learning opportunities for our Native youth through our Native American Education Program.
School Board Earns Fifth Consecutive Board of Distinction Award
We are proud to share that the PSD Board of Directors has earned the 2025 Board of Distinction award from the Washington State School Directors’ Association (WSSDA), marking the fifth consecutive year our board has achieved this prestigious recognition. Peninsula was selected as one of only 15 medium-sized district school boards recognized statewide and one of 30 total school boards to earn this distinction out of the state’s 295 school districts.
WSSDA specifically commended our board's sustained, data-driven literacy initiative, including the three-year strategic planning process with community input, the $1.5 million investment in the Core Knowledge Language Arts curriculum, and comprehensive staff training. This award reflects our board's unwavering commitment to student success and their collaborative approach to governance.
Join Us for School Showcase Presentations
Our students are showcasing their work again during this year’s Focus on Education Weeks, with hands-on demonstrations of cutting-edge programs and innovative ways of learning. For example, Voyager Elementary will share an interactive exhibit about its Learning Garden, and Minter Creek Elementary will share end-of-unit celebrations and projects related to the new language arts curriculum. Key Peninsula Middle School will demonstrate their “We Will Write” tool that engages students in writing, peer feedback, and instruction. The Vaughn Elementary team will showcase tools and strategies used to help students regulate their emotions and build self-awareness.
School administrators will also be sharing their School Improvement Plan (SIP) details with the public. These presentations are open to the public and will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. The dates, locations, and schools presenting are as follows:
November 5 at Peninsula High School (Purdy, Swift Water, Harbor Ridge, Henderson Bay, Peninsula)
November 6 at Goodman Middle School (Discovery, Harbor Heights, Goodman, Henderson Bay, Gig Harbor)
November 12 at Key Peninsula Middle School (Evergreen, Vaughn, Minter Creek, Key Peninsula, Peninsula)
November 13 at Kopachuck Middle School (Artondale, Pioneer, Voyager, Kopachuck, Gig Harbor)
School Board Approves Renewal Levy for February Ballot
At the October 21 meeting, the Peninsula School Board approved a resolution to place a Replacement Educational Programs and Operations Levy (EP&O) on the February 10, 2026 ballot. The three-year EP&O Levy would replace the expiring 2023 levy and provide continued investment in district staff and programs. More information will be shared in the coming months, but you can find out more about the levy and financial details at psd401.net/levy.
As we move through this month of gratitude and reflection, I encourage you to prioritize moments with your family. Connect and read together. Ask your children, “What made you curious today?” Join your students every chance you can at games, concerts, and family nights—belonging boosts learning.
Last week’s all-abilities basketball clinic at PHS was buckets of joy! Thank you Seattle Storm & Special Olympics Washington for championing inclusion.
Our NJROTC cadets had an amazing opportunity to meet with engineers from Blue Origin, and hear about the many postsecondary pathways and careers in STEM.
Military families joined Superintendent Bahr, Board President Natalie Wimberley and district staff for a Purple Star Fall Celebration, complete with dinner, trivia and prizes.
Command Master Chief Robert Stockton shared about NJROTC and JBLM Representative Breanna Nassar talked about services like counseling, tutoring and a food bank that is offered to military families.
The PSD Board of Director Student Representatives present news and updates from their high schools to the board and public.
Purdy Elementary students practiced bus safety drills with the help of Gig Harbor Fire and Medic One volunteers for National Bus Safety week.
The weekend of November 7-9, the Thriving Generation Community Campaign is sponsoring a phone-free challenge for all residents with smartphones, regardless of age. To raise awareness of the value of face-to-face interaction and phone-free play and activity, the campaign is raffling off prizes to those who commit to going phone-free and then follow through.. There are two levels of “phone-free:”
Rotary Phone Level - Go completely phone-free, or make calls only from 5 p.m. Friday to 8 p.m. Sunday, and earn two entries into the prize drawing.
Light Phone Level - No entertainment, no social media, utility only, to earn one entry into the prize drawing.
Special Education Parent Advisory Committee Resource Fair is Nov. 17
The Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (SEPAC) Family Resource Fair is on November 17 from 5-7 p.m. at Swift Water Elementary School. Our Special Education Department is partnering with the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) to provide the required paperwork for our families. Please go to this link or scan the QR Code on the DDA Paperwork Night Flyer. Meet other families, connect with community partners, and gather valuable information and support. Childcare is provided.
Thank You To Our Transportation Team
Peninsula School District celebrated School Bus Safety Week from October 20 to 24, and we proudly honored the skilled professionals who form the backbone of our daily educational operations. From Bus Drivers to Mechanics and Support Staff, a student’s school day begins the moment they step onto the bus.
We appreciate the professionalism, dedication, and expertise of our transportation team. Watch this short video about School Bus Safety, and remember to always stop for school buses!
The Peninsula School District does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. If you have questions or complaints regarding alleged discrimination, please call the Peninsula School District Educational Service Center at (253) 530-1000 or visit our office located at 14015 62nd Ave NW, Gig Harbor, WA 98332, and ask for one of the following coordinators: Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator, compliance@psd401.net; Title IX Compliance Coordinator, titleix@psd401.net; 504 Compliance Coordinator, 504@psd401.net; ADA Compliance Coordinator, ada@psd401.net.
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