As we enter June and the final weeks of the school year, it is a wonderful time to reflect on our students' incredible growth and celebrate their end-of-year achievements. Our students and staff continue to finish the year strong.

This spring, Peninsula School District completed our first year of surveys through the Center for Educational Effectiveness (CEE). We're encouraged that 75% of students report a positive sense of belonging and 86% of families say they feel welcome in our buildings. The results also point to clear areas for growth, including strengthening how families are informed and involved in school improvement planning, and continuing to build a culture where students show respect for one another consistently. Read more details here.

Looking ahead to next school year, data from the CEE survey will be incorporated into the new Strategic Plan dashboard, which will be available on our website this fall. Thank you for sharing your voice. Your feedback is shaping how we lead, teach, and grow together. 

Following a thorough review process, our new Math Curriculum went before the School Board for a First Reading in late May and is scheduled to be adopted on June 9. The recommended curriculum for grades K-5 is Eureka Math2, EdGems for middle school students and Amplify Desmos Math for high school students. We look forward to introducing these robust new resources to all our students, as they are specifically designed to foster deeper problem-solving and critical thinking skills.

This fall, we are thrilled to launch a new Parent Partnership Program designed to support elementary families in our community who have chosen to homeschool their students. Families will be able to access curriculum, consult with a certificated teacher, and experience enrichment opportunities. We are committed to partnering with all families to ensure student success, and more information will be shared in the coming weeks about this exciting new opportunity. 

What a phenomenal spring athletics season! I am incredibly proud of the effort, sportsmanship, and dedication our student-athletes displayed throughout the postseason. Our Gig Harbor and Peninsula fastpitch and baseball teams concluded hard-fought seasons, showcasing talented young rosters with incredibly bright futures. We also celebrate our PHS tennis singles players and golfers for qualifying for the state championships. 

In Track and Field, our athletes all delivered stellar performances, with the GHHS girls placing second at state! The GHHS Girls Water Polo team took third at state, while GHHS Golf had an impressive state run, with the girls tying for second and the boys placing fifth. Congratulations to GHHS Boys Soccer who took third in their state tournament! Individual track and field state winners include Suri Sardinia from PHS in discus, as well as the GHHS girls 4x100 team and 4x200 team!

Finally, nearly 600 middle schoolers capped off their Track and Field season with an epic district championship meet. Congratulations to all our student-athletes, dedicated coaches, and support staff on an unforgettable season of competition.

We hope to see many of you at the Maritime Parade on Saturday, June 6. Students, staff, and our wonderful bus drivers from across the district will be marching. Come enjoy the festivities and stop by our booth to say hello!

Finally, congratulations to our graduating seniors! Over the past few weeks, it has been a privilege to attend scholarship events and to recognize our Students of Distinction. Graduations are coming up: Henderson Bay High School's ceremony is on June 18, and Peninsula High School and Gig Harbor High School's ceremonies are on June 20. Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting our students all year long. Have a wonderful start to your summer.

Sincerely,

(253) 530-1002

superintendent@psd401.net

Last week's Color Run was a huge success at Discovery Elementary! More than $22,000 was raised by students for field trips, teacher funds, recess equipment, and many more programs.

Students, community members and staff came together last month for our Strategic Plan focus group at Peninsula High School. They reviewed the plan first draft and discussed goals for the next four years. Thank you to our student leaders who helped drive the process!

The Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA) recognizes student and community leaders at the regional level every year, and Peninsula School District is honored to recognize Zachary Schley and Lauren Holmberg with the Student Leadership Award. Zachary is a leader at Gig Harbor High School and a founding intern of our Performance Drone Team. Lauren, a student in our Community Transition Program, has served as a school board representative for two years.

We also celebrated the significant contributions of community members Thelma Brown and Jonathan Appleton, who received Community Leadership Awards. Thank you for your commitment to our students, staff, and families. 

Harbor Ridge Middle School had the honor of hosting visitors from our Sister City of Milna, Croatia. Guests got a firsthand look at our students in action, touring Medical Detectives, PE, and Choir. They also experienced VR headsets, Aviation Academy, and Performance Drone Technology!

Our Food Science students brought their creativity, teamwork, and competitive spirit to the kitchen as they battled for cupcake supremacy in Cupcake Wars. From unique flavor combinations to incredible decorating skills, Mr. Silva's students put their passion into every cupcake! Congratulations to the winners from each class period, and great work to everyone who participated!

Outdoor play: A partnership between PenMet Parks and Peninsula School District offers a chance for youth to play, meet new friends, participate in games, arts and crafts and more each week at various schools within the school district and the PenMet Parks Recreation Center.

Registration is now open for the Peninsula School District Class of 2039! To enroll your child for kindergarten this fall, they must turn 5 by August 31, 2026. Register at psd401.net/kindergarten,  and sign up early to take advantage of our fun spring and summer transition events. You won't want to miss them!

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.