February 6 – First Semester Report Cards Available Online
February 10 – Renewal Levy Ballots Due
February 16 to 20 – Mid-Winter Break, No School
February 25 – Kindergarten Registration Opens
February 27 to March 8 – Pioneer Elementary Enrollment Lottery Opens
Highlights of the Month
CTE Month: CTE is Career Readiness!
ICYMI: Unified Sports Celebration Video
Honoring Black History Month in February
5th Annual Pioneer Elementary Shark Tank Competition
Renewal Levy Ballots Due Tuesday, February 10
Dear Peninsula School District Families and Staff,
Happy first day of second semester! It’s been a privilege to watch our students excel in the classroom, on the field, and in the arts for the first half of the school year. We wrapped up the semester on a high note last week with captivating musical performances. Our students are truly incredible, and they remind me daily why I'm in education. They're my north star, and every decision I make comes back to one question: what's best for our students?
This past month, I've connected with dozens of community groups, schools, and parent volunteer organizations to celebrate our district's achievements and discuss our upcoming renewal levy, and I'm grateful for the warm reception my staff and I received. If you weren't able to attend a meeting about the levy, you can watch the video below or view a recording of an information session.
CTE Month: CTE is Career Readiness!
February is Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month, a time to celebrate the programs and educators preparing our students for meaningful careers and bright futures in a variety of industries. In Peninsula School District, we say that “CTE is the intersection of what you like and what you are good at. CTE is career readiness.” Our classes help students explore and build skills in many pathways, including Aviation Academy, Business and Marketing, Culinary Arts, Human Sciences, Health Sciences, Natural Resources, Navy Science, Skilled Trade: Arts, Skilled Trade: Audio, Visual, Stage Technology, and Skilled Trade: Manufacturing. Students at our three high schools can explore everything from drone certification and video game design to sports medicine and biomedical science, building on foundations established in middle school.
What excites me most is watching students discover their passions through hands-on learning. Whether programming robots, training for a private pilot license, perfecting culinary techniques, studying medical interventions, or learning skilled trades through our Pre-Apprenticeship program, students gain real-world experience connecting classroom learning to career opportunities. These programs include worksite learning and specialized courses that give students authentic glimpses into their futures. I'm grateful to our CTE teachers and community partners who bring these pathways to life every day. Learn more at www.psd401.net/cte.
ICYMI: Unified Sports Celebration Video
Watch last month’s incredible Unified Sports video, More Than a Game. With more than 20,000 views across all platforms, it showcases the amazing and inclusive things happening at Peninsula High School.
Honoring Black History Month in February
This February marks the 100th anniversary of Black History Month. This month is a special time to honor the contributions of Black leaders, innovators, and trailblazers whose work has transformed our nation and communities. As we celebrate their achievements and lasting influence, we recommit to creating learning environments where every student sees themselves reflected and valued. Our district remains dedicated to equity, inclusion, and ensuring all students experience a strong sense of belonging in our schools.
5th Annual Pioneer Elementary Shark Tank Competition
Pioneer Elementary held its 5th annual Shark Tank 3D Print and Design Competition last month, and I was honored to be one of five judges. All 4th and 5th grade students completed a unit on 3D print and design, creating inventions and innovations to solve problems in the world, big or small. An impressive 52 students and teams submitted their final prototypes for voting, with Pioneer staff and all 4th and 5th grade students selecting the top 5 finalists. Similar to the popular Shark Tank show, our panel of sharks responded to student pitches through questions, comments, and scoring. As a judge, I had so much fun celebrating our young innovators' creativity and entrepreneurial spirit at the assembly. Congratulations to our Innovator of the Year winners, Max and Kaleo, whose clean up drone took first place!
Mark your calendars, the enrollment lottery for Pioneer Elementary opens at the end of this month on February 27 and closes on March 8. Find out more at pie.psd401.net/enrollment.
Renewal Levy Ballots Due Tuesday, February 10
Ballots were mailed last week for the Replacement Educational Programs and Operations (EP&O) Levy on the February 10 ballot. This measure renews the levy voters approved in 2023, which expires at the end of this year. Local levy funding represents approximately 17% of our overall budget and supports vital student programs and services that are not fully funded by the state. This three-year renewal would continue funding essential staff and programs across our district. Mail your ballot today or drop it in a ballot box. Find your closest ballot drop box at www.piercecountywa.gov/334/Ballot-Drop-Boxes.
Thank you local voters for consistently supporting EP&O levies for more than two decades in our district. I'm grateful for your continued partnership in championing our students and schools. As we begin this new semester, I look forward to seeing all that our students will accomplish in the months ahead. That is what drives every decision we make.
The PTAS of Evergreen Elementary, Vaughn Elementary and Minter Creek Elementary came together to host an amazing 3 Schools, 1 Community Carnival. With hundreds of attendees and dozens of sponsors, the event was truly buzzing with energy all day long.
Swift Water hosted an Options Family Night and invited families to dinner and a stay-and-play evening. Students played, enjoyed time in the gym, colored, and participated in speech games, while families and teachers connected.
Our talented middle school and high school choirs all joined together for an inspiring Districtwide Choral Festival at Gig Harbor High School last month.
A new play structure was recently installed at Purdy Elementary, and students enjoyed breaking it in on a crisp winter day.
Remember to Vote by Tuesday, February 10th
The Replacement Educational Programs and Operations Levy is on the February 10 ballot. Watch this short video or go to psd401.net/levy for more information. Check to make sure your ballot was received or register to vote at https://voter.votewa.gov.
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.
Additional settings for Safari Browser.
