• TK Students To Celebrate Pollinators with Norwegian Barnehage

• Two New Green Schools Nominations

• GHHS is Unified Champion of the Month

• April is Month of the Military Child

• More Fun Elementary Academic Nights

• School Board Student Representative Reflections

• Congratulations Graduating Seniors

Dear Peninsula School District Families and Staff, 

April is here and spring is in full bloom! With the warm weather comes a season of growth, renewal, and celebration throughout our schools. As we approach the final stretch of the academic year, I'm thrilled to share some of the engaging activities and notable accomplishments taking place across the Peninsula School District.

TK Students To Celebrate Pollinators with Norwegian Barnehage

Our Transitional Kindergarten classes get to learn together virtually with students all the way across the world in Norway! Evergreen and Voyager Elementary outdoor TK students are teaming up with a Barnehage in Bodø, to learn how pollinators are nature’s tiny heroes and contribute to the beauty and biodiversity of our world. 

This project kicks off after spring break, and students will be collaborating and sharing projects, activities, songs, art and more through videos and photos. TKers will compare the similarities and differences of our plants and flowers, types of bumblebees and butterflies, the climate and weather, and we will teach them about the hummingbird. Students will even learn a few words in Norwegian. We are looking forward to this international experience.

I’m happy to share that Artondale Elementary and Evergreen Elementary have been nominated by the Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to be recognized as U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Honorees for 2024. Stay tuned for an exciting announcement as official awards will be presented in late April!

Last year, Pioneer Elementary was recognized as a Green Ribbon School Honoree by the U.S. Department of Education. Swift Water Elementary, Voyager Elementary, and Evergreen Elementary were also named 2023 Washington State Green Leader Schools. What a tremendous source of pride for our district to have our schools honored for their environmental stewardship and sustainability efforts.

GHHS is Unified Champion of the Month

Congratulations to Gig Harbor High School for being named the Unified Champion School of the Month for March! GHHS students celebrated their first Unified Basketball season with more than 30 students coming together to play and build community, and many more partners showing up to support students on and off the court. Because of the popularity of basketball, GHHS will add Unified Soccer at their school next year.

We celebrate and honor our military families during April, which is nationally Month of the Military Child. More than 1.6 million military children face challenges and unique experiences because of their parents’ service, and we want to thank each and every member of the military for your service and sacrifices for our country.

The STEAM and literacy nights continue at our elementary schools. Discovery Elementary celebrated Read Across America at their Family Literacy Night with Books in a Bus, a book swap, Pierce County Library and reading stations. Evergreen Elementary hosted a fantastic STEM Night with hands-on experiments, outdoor rockets, Legos, animals, and exciting exhibits. These events bring our families together to explore learning in a fun, interactive way.

As the year winds down, I want to share a few words from some of our dedicated PSD Board of Director student representatives.

Senior Sarah N. from Henderson Bay High School said, “it has been a wonderful experience getting to know the board and spending time with them, such as at the WSSDA conference. I have really enjoyed being at the board meetings, giving my reports, and learning about how the district works."

Junior Adam M. from Peninsula High School said, “I have learned a lot about how our district functions and deals with problems in our schools. I have enjoyed this opportunity because of the friends I have made and the projects that I have been involved in, such as helping with the phone policy videos, and being able to talk about the great things going on at Peninsula.”

Congratulations Graduating Seniors

Congratulations to all our graduating seniors, we are so proud of you and all your hard work! I'd like to highlight a few outstanding students who received notable awards: Alec K. from PHS was honored with the 4-year University of Washington Presidential Scholarship, a testament to his exceptional achievements. Josh P. from GHHS was awarded a 4-year national scholarship from the U.S. Army to attend Oregon State University, recognizing his potential for leadership and service. Sarah E. from GHHS received a congressional nomination, appointment and 4-year scholarship to the prestigious U.S. Naval Academy, paving the way for her future in the armed forces.

Our high school scholarship committees have been diligently working to support many of our seniors in securing funds for their post-secondary plans. The accomplishments of these stellar students remind us of the immense talent and dedication within our district. We can't wait to see what remarkable heights they will reach in the future!

During March, fifth graders had the opportunity to tour their future middle schools, and eighth grade students visited high school campuses, excitedly preparing for the next phase of their academic journey. In the next three months, we will celebrate fun year-end events at our schools, the Class of 2024 Graduation, and the growth, accomplishments, and promising new chapters that await our students as this school year draws to a close.

Sincerely,

Superintendent Krestin Bahr