Hawk Herald

Many years ago, I was lucky enough to have one of those experiences where you get to witness a human hero close up. It was the early ‘90s, and I was flying to Seattle from home in San Diego. On our flight was a young mother and her toddler. They had already traveled from somewhere in the Midwest and, after Seattle, were on their way to Alaska. The toddler was tired and fussy, and so was the mother. Shortly after takeoff, the toddler got even more fussy. So did the mother. “If you don’t settle down, I’m going to pour this water on you. Do you want water on your head?” I remember her saying. We all had that, “Oh man,” feeling, where you don’t know what’s going to happen next, but you know it’s not good.

What happened next was that we heard someone singing a lullaby. I turned around and saw an older woman, who was sitting in front of the mother and baby, up out of her seat. I think she was either on her knees or sitting on the armrest. She was hanging over the back of her seat with her hand on the baby, singing very, very softly. The baby’s cries got quieter, and further apart, until eventually, both the baby and the mother were asleep.

The seatbelt sign was still on. We hadn’t reached cruising altitude, but no flight attendant told the woman to sit back down. No fellow passengers made a sound. We all became a sort of support crew for our hero, who hung over that seat for a good hour to let the mother and baby rest in peace, love and safety. You know how tall airplane seats are. It was a feat of physical endurance and courage.

I was maybe 20 at the time, and I think about that woman almost every day. It takes a lot of courage to lean in and DO SOMETHING. We are a culture of mind your own business and leave me alone. We are a culture of don’t tell me what to do and worry about yourself. But that woman saw a situation that simply couldn’t be allowed to continue and she did something. What a gift that was for me to witness.

That experience changed me as a traveler and adult in public space, but it also shaped the kind of educator I became. It shapes how I lead Arrowhead. I am grateful to work with people who, like that woman on the plane, take courageous action to love, support, and redirect children into places of peace, confidence, safety and independence. I came to Arrowhead because that’s who was here but I’ve also hired those kinds of people. Being able to manage our own emotions so we can take care of children is simply one of the most important things adults must do.

That’s it. That’s the Hawk Herald update. When you can, be the woman who broke the rules to sing a lullaby on the plane.

Kristin

Kristin Bailey

Principal

kbailey@nsd.org

5th Grade Camp April 15-16

We are excited for our 5th grade outdoor education experience at Camp Cedar Springs April 15-16! Camp information and final reminders were sent to families via Parentsquare recently.

We want all students to go to Camp. Please reach out to your child's teacher or office staff if you have any concerns.

Let's Celebrate what makes our Community vibrant!

Join us Tuesday, April 21, 5:30pm-7:00pm in classrooms and the gym!

• Connect with other Arrowhead families through conversation and a meal
• View students' identity projects
• Bring a favorite family meal to share at your table

Questions? Ideas to share? Please contact identitynight@ptaarrowhead.org

Kindergarten Enrollment has begun!

We are thrilled to welcome our Hawk Class of 2039! Please find more information regarding Enrollment on the district website below. All kindergarteners must be 5 years old on or before August 31, 2026

https://www.nsd.org/schools/get-started/enrollment

Please call the office if you have any questions or need help enrolling.

Kindergarten Open House May 19, 4:30-5:15pm

Welcome incoming Kindergarten families! Meet our teachers in their classrooms and play on the playground!

From the Office

The Lost & Found Rack is Overflowing!

Please check the Lost & Found rack located in front of the Library next time you are on campus. All unclaimed items will be donated to Treads & Threads this spring.

Please clearly label all of your child(s) belongings so they can be returned to them when they are misplaced on campus.

Health Room News

Camp Cedar Springs, 5th grade

Monday April 13th is your last opportunity to bring in any needed medication or over the counter products that your student may need for camp.

** Reminder – we cannot accept any medication or product without the medication authorization form which requires your provider’s signature. Students are not allowed to self-carry any products in their backpack or luggage.**

Spring break

If you are traveling for spring break, please be sure your student is well rested and does not have ill symptoms when returning to school on Monday April 13th.

Many students who travel and arrive home late the night before school, are not ready for school first thing Monday morning. It is always ok to arrive later in the day. Please inform the office if your student is arriving late or is absent the day we return.

Seasonal Allergies

The allergy season is starting very early, and predications are that it will extend longer than usual. Tree pollen - cedar, alder, birch, and cottonwood are the major culprits in March and April. “Allergy eyes” is sometimes confused with pink eye which can be a viral or bacterial infection that is contagious. 

See below for some tips to help distinguish between the two and links for more information. 

Is it Allergies or Pink Eye? 

•   Allergies typically affect both eyes at once, while pink eye typically starts in one eye before spreading to infect both eyes.
•  Pink eye is associated with mild itchiness while allergies have intense itchiness and burning.
• Pink eye can have a mucus-like discharge of pus while allergies can produce a white stringy discharge.
• Pink eye can crust your eyelashes, causing your eye to stick shut—allergies should not.
• Pink eye is contagious, so people around you or living with you may be infected.

Eye allergies typically cause symptoms like:

• Burning
• tching
• Light sensitivity
• Redness
• Swelling of the eyelids
• Watery eyes

Pink eye typically occurs in one eye, but it can eventually spread to the other eye. You can experience symptoms in one or both eyes:

• Redness
• Itchiness
• Green or white mucus-like discharge
• Dried, yellow crust in eyes (especially in the morning)
• Sensitivity to bright lights
• Swollen around the eye(s)
• Gritty feeling in the eye(s)

https://allergyasthmanetwork.org/allergies/pollen-allergy/what-is-tree-pollen-allergy/

https://www.nwasthma.com/pollen-count/

You are not alone. There are community supports for mental health, suicide prevention, substance abuse, self-harm, and more. Use this link for more information. 

Are you a Registered Nurse who might be interested in exploring the rewards of school based nursing, supplementing work hours or simply maintaining nursing licensure credentials? We would love to discuss available opportunities as a substitute school nurse with the Northshore School District -- this is a great way to transition into community nursing with K-12 school age children.

Contact: Cindy Mato

Health and Nursing Supervisor

425-408-7728

cmato@nsd.org

Stay well,

Anne Janssen, RN

ajanssen@nsd.org

Library News

Give Back RESULTS from MARCH 12!

Our GiveBack Day at MODPizza raised $427.68 for our library and the Third Place Books Give Back raised $249.50! for a total of $677.18!  Many thanks to everyone who showed up for a fun evening of pizza and books! The money will go to very good use for our student readers!

Soda Float – Still time to meet the Challenge!

Your 4th and 5th grader can still participate in the Arrowhead Soda Float Reading Challenge! Read 13 of the listed books and join in for a celebration of reading! See the list here. Soda Float forms are due MONDAY, APRIL 20. Our celebration will be on April 21st!

April is National Poetry Month!

Feeling generous? Donate a book to our library! Please see our wish list on this link.

Follow on instagram at arrowheadhawksread.

Hope to see you soon @ the library!

Ginny Allemann, Teacher-Librarian

vallemann@nsd.org

PE News

Welcome to PE!

April PE Newsletter

Thank you, Volunteers!

NSD Ready Start & Tuition Early Childhood Programs Enrolling Now for 2026-2027

Northshore preschool programs are currently enrolling children ages 3–5. The preschool years are among the most important for shaping early learning and development. Northshore School District is committed to supporting our youngest learners by helping them build school‑readiness skills, cultivate friendships, and experience a strong sense of community and belonging. The district proudly offers a variety of inclusive general education learning environments.

Our preschool programs include both FREE and tuition-based options.

FREE Programs: Head Start and Ready Start

Eligibility is based on a child’s age, family income, and opportunity gaps.

• Head Start is located at Woodmoor Elementary.
• Ready Start is located at Sorenson Early Childhood Center.

Spaces are filled on a first‑come, first‑served basis for eligible families, and families are encouraged to apply as early as possible. All information provided is confidential and used only to determine eligibility. The district does not require, check, or report immigration or DSHS status.

View the applications for income‑eligible free preschool.

The tuition based Ready Start classroom is located at Sorenson Early Childhood Center.

Spaces are also filled on a first‑come, first‑served basis, and families are encouraged to complete an application as soon as possible.

To learn more about any Northshore preschool program, visit the Northshore Early Childhood District website.

For questions, families may call (425) 408‑5517.

Sharpen your skills over Spring Break!

PTA Corner

Arrowhead Elementary Parent Teacher Associations mission is to positively impact the lives of all children and families within the Arrowhead community. We strive to support and advocate for our children by partnering with staff, families and the wider community to create a safe, inclusive and healthy learning environment allowing our students to excel personally, academically and socially.

Join the PTA Board for the 26-27 School Year!

Are you looking to get more involved and make a positive impact at Arrowhead? Serving on the Arrowhead PTA Board is a great way to be a part of helping Arrowhead grow and thrive. Our board members play a vital role in our PTA operations and help keep our programs and events going all year.

We are currently seeking recommendations and interest for the board positions for the 2026-2027 school year. You can find descriptions of the board positions on this link.  

Recommend yourself or someone else for a board position! Email: execteam@ptaarrowhead.org

Or email with any questions! 

**Save the date for Beverages with the Board the evening of Tuesday, May 5th!**

There is no April PTA Meeting. Our last PTA General Meeting is Tuesday, May 26: At 6:45pm in the Arrowhead Library. Zoom will also be available. Childcare will not be provided.   

PTA Meeting Minutes:

View past PTA meeting minutes on this Link.

Password: H@wksAw3s0me20

Community Night!

Community Night (previously called "Identity Night") is coming up on Tuesday, April 21 at 5:30pm-7:00pm. We hope you can join us for this important event that aims to celebrate the diversity reflected in every member of our amazing Arrowhead community!

Check out the Highlights newsletter for more details!

Celebrate Earth Day!

Keep collecting all that plastic film and keep it out of our environment and landfills! Our collection drive will be April 20-April 24 and you can drop it off in the collection bin in the main office. Then Ridwell will pick it up and all the plastic film gets a new life in new products like decking! 

Plastic film is considered light, thin plastic packaging: produce bags, bread bags, ziploc bags, plastic grocery bags, bubble wrap, cereal bags, plastic shipping envelopes, dry cleaner bags, and more! Plastic film must be clean and dry. More information will be coming.

Check out the Highlights newsletter for more details!

PTA Awards are an important part of our year. This is the time to celebrate and honor our PTA volunteers and Arrowhead staff, as we know Arrowhead would not be the place it is without our amazing volunteers and staff! Please take a moment to nominate someone. Nomination forms can be found on this link.

Nominations are open for the 4 PTA Award categories:

• Golden Acorn (up to 5 recipients)
• Outstanding Advocate
• Outstanding Educator
• Honorary Lifetime Membership

Nominations due April 24th. Awards will be presented at the May 26 General Membership PTA Meeting.

Arrowhead Hawks SOAR by being Safe, Kind, and Responsible

At Arrowhead, we create resilient and empathetic learners who confidently navigate their world through being innovative, creative, critical thinkers.

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.