Reading is what’s on my mind. I ask you to join me in a year of reading. Like, do it. Read. And not on your phone, because that looks like you’re on your phone. Pick up a book or a magazine, a kindle or a newspaper and read in front of your children. I am curious what will happen to our children’s habits – and maybe our own – if we put down our phones and our frenzy and read.

My dad wasn’t perfect, but he did one thing perfectly right and that is he thought all reading was good reading. He was a voracious reader and particularly enjoyed Louis L’Amour books and history. I read Papillon and The 900 Days in middle school because I saw him reading them. He never told me they weren’t my right level or that the topic was too heavy for a young person. I’ve always appreciated that.

Every once in a while, he would head to our neighborhood bookstore and bring any kid who could move fast enough to jump in the car. He knew exactly what he wanted in the bookstore, so the only rule was to get your pile to the cash register before he was ready to leave. He never judged – comic books like Garfield collections, graphic novels, “grown up” novels, books that were maybe too young for us – they were all worthy. No reading was bad reading. Here’s me and Pickle Pickle Pickle Juice by Patty Wolcott. I do love pickle brine and all things vinegar, and I loved this book.

The Pacific Beach Library was a block away from my elementary school. My school had quite a small library, but once a week we would walk to the PB Library and were allowed to check out as many books as we could carry back to school. Riches!

Before devices and smart phones, a book was a convenient piece of portable entertainment. In fact, “mass market” paperbacks were printed in “pocket” size so they could fit in your pocket. How great is that? And unlike the brainless numbing that happens when we scroll social media, you must hang onto things when you read. You must hold a plot, or a character’s qualities, or a chronology in your mind as you move through the story. You hear the language by decoding punctuation. You need to translate the descriptions into sensory information like visualizing something or imagining the cold or the heat. It’s quite remarkable, and I worry that we are losing the habit and the skill to do this.

I fell away from reading for a while. Work, raising children, discovering the mindless lull of scrolling content like dog rescue videos all combined to let my bookcase and mind get dusty. I would pick up a book and set it down – it was too hard! My brain was tired. Bring me puppy videos.

Luckily, I work with people like Mrs. O, who get athletic with things like reading stamina. I read two pages. I read four pages. I read a chapter. Suddenly, my brain had rebuilt my reading muscles and I was glued to my book. Instagram sent me a, “Are you there? We miss you.” notification. I do not miss it.

Hello Parents and Caregivers,

My name is Selena Koopmans and I would like to invite you to try Honeycomb, a School Directory App, with us. Last year I started using Honeycomb with my kids' classes and this year I have expanded it to include all classes at Arrowhead. Honeycomb helps families connect and collaborate to share the mental load. I think Honeycomb can help us team up to make parenting a little less overwhelming and bring us closer together. 

Tap here to download the Honeycomb App and Opt-in to our growing School Directory:

https://joinhc.app/R1C1Arrowhead

(Only one parent should register per household; you can add other adults in your household during account set-up.)

While Principal Bailey is helping to spread the word about Honeycomb to our community it is NOT an official school app. It's built for and run by parents, and will help us build the kind of strong, supportive, inclusive community we all need.

Please watch Honeycomb’s quick explainer video for more info. 

ParentSquare is the district and school's communication platform which translates in home languages to families. ClassDojo is utilized by some teachers for communication but optional. Honeycomb is our platform for private parent-to-parent collaboration.

If you have any issues, you can reach out to the Honeycomb team at hello@honeycomb-labs.com. They love hearing from you! You can also reach out to me at selenakoopmans@gmail.com with any questions about our Arrowhead community on the App. As we welcome more families to try the App with us, we also welcome your feedback.

Honeycomb has the potential to become a full school directory, with an opt-out option as mandated by FERPA (this would be a PTA decision). For now, we are taking an OPT-IN approach and hoping for widespread participation. If you want to be included at this time, please use the above link to download the app and join. You can also reach out to me for a personal invite link. Again, once you join - you choose what information to share (or not).

I am passionate about building an inclusive community and took the initiative to bring this to our school because when we were a new family 2 years ago, I personally found it challenging to connect with other parents without a school directory.

Warmly,

Selena Koopmans

At Arrowhead, student safety is a top priority. Arrowhead’s Safety Plan includes a policy to help ensure the safety of all students, families, and visitors to the school as they enter or depart from the parking lot.

One of the busiest times of the day on our campus is the arrival and dismissal of over 300 students. Arrowhead staff members monitor student safety and traffic flow during these times. We need YOU to help us keep the students safe and traffic flowing smoothly. We want to stress the need for everyone to pay attention to our student safety patrol and crossing guards, as they direct student and vehicle traffic.

Please take a moment to read and refresh your memory of “Arrowhead’s Parking Lot Guidelines” in order to keep our students safe. The Speed Limit in the parking lot is 5 mph.

Arrowhead Parking Lot Guidelines

We’re excited to share some fantastic news—this year’s 2025–2026 Cover Contest received over 15 incredible submissions! After thoughtful consideration and voting by our staff, we’re thrilled to announce the winners of this year’s contest are Londyn Smith (Front Cover) and Myriam Stephen (Back Cover). 

We were truly blown away by the creativity, talent, and effort shown in each and every submission. It brought us so much joy to see our students express themselves in such unique and meaningful ways. We wish we could choose them all, we are so proud of all who participated!

Arrowhead Cross Country is coming on strong mid-season! At our home meet on Tuesday, October 7, we had several podium finishes (including a 2nd for 3rd grade girls and a 1st and 2nd for 4th grade boys!) It is so fun to see what kids can do when they train for it and put their mind to it!

Thank you to all of our home meet volunteers! We could not do it without you.

Two more meets at Westhill and Kenmore Middle School! GO Hawks!

From the Office

Arrowhead Calendar and Website

As we kick off the new school year, here are a few updates to help things run smoothly:

📝 Reporting Absences:

Please report your student’s absence through ParentVue. If you prefer, you can still leave a voicemail on our attendance line at (425) 408-4010.

🚗 Afterschool Plans? Let Us Know Early!

If your student’s afterschool plans are changing, please email ahattendance@nsd.org before 11:00 AM. This helps us make sure everyone gets where they need to go safely!

🔔 For emergencies after 12:00 PM, please call the office at (425) 408-4001.

Thanks for helping us keep things running smoothly—we’re looking forward to a great year ahead!

*This message was drafted/summarized using AI.

Thank you for your patience waiting for Transportation to confirm our number of bus passes allowed every day for our new school year. We have 5 passes daily on both of our big busses.

Please call the office if you have any questions or need a bus pass for your child.

 We love our volunteers!

Please plan a few extra minutes the next time you are campus to volunteer or visit for us to print your visitor badge. You will be asked for your license. We can also access your information with your name and birthdate. For people who visit/volunteer frequently, we will save your badge to reuse. All visitors must check out of this system before leaving every time.

 All volunteers in the Northshore school district are required to complete an online volunteer application  before being able to volunteer in classrooms or on field trips. All Volunteers have to renew their application annually and will receive an email alert one month before their application expires. All field trip Chaperones must be Level 2 status to go on a field trip.

We appreciate your patience and partnership as we get our new system running smoothly and ensuring our campus is safe.

Health Room News

Health Screening Day

Our school wide health screening day is Monday Oct. 27 (K - 3, and 5th grades).

If you would like to opt-out your student from vision and/or hearing screening, please contact Nurse Anne.

School health screening is state mandated and is done to identify students who may benefit from a more in-depth exam from a provider. It is similar to the screening done at well child Dr. visits. If your student is already followed by a vision or hearing provider and has had an exam in the last 6-12 months, it may not be necessary to do this screening at school, it is your choice.

Volunteers are still needed!!

We still need a few volunteers to help with screening day. This is a short time commitment, Monday afternoon, Oct 27 from 12:30m – 3:30pm. Please contact the office if you can help and to confirm you have your Level 1 volunteer status. Thank you!!

Colds and illness:

The illness season is already hitting with many viruses including Covid circulating in our wider Puget Sound area. If your student is not well, please keep them home. Medicating a student to send them to school puts everyone at risk. If you are not sure about sending your student to school, please call to discuss your students’ symptoms with the nurse.

Any medicine your student may need during the school day, must be discussed with the nurse. Please do not put any kind of medicine, including Tylenol, inhalers, vitamins, cough drops, liquid medicines, etc. in your child's lunch box, water bottle, backpack, or pockets. Unidentified medicine can never be given at school. Any medicine, supplements or over the counter products must always be brought to school by an adult and accompanied with completed paperwork. See the following link for more information.

https://www.nsd.org/schools/get-started/health-services

Please see the following NSD link if you need any resources for your student or family:

https://www.nsd.org/resources/support/assistance

Contact: Cindy Mato

Health and Nursing Supervisor

425-408-7728

cmato@nsd.org

Best,

Anne Janssen, RN

425.408.4006

ajanssen@nsd.org

Library News

Technology Tidbits

All students in grades 2 - 5 received a new chrome book Oct. 3. Please consider protecting your child's device with a Device Protection Plan.

Device Protection Program (DPP)

The DPP program protects the device (Chromebook, Macbook, or iPad) loaned to your student against accidental damage for the school year. This program does NOT cover damage resulting from misuse or loss of the device. We expect all students to properly use their device and to secure it when it is not being used. If the device is used improperly or is not secured while the student is not using it, families will be expected to pay the full cost of replacement or repair. In rare cases, a fine can be waived with approval from District Technology Staff. If you want to apply for a fine waiver, please complete this form.

The standard payment to enroll in the NSD Student Device Protection Plan is $25 per year; free for students who have qualified for free or reduced-price meals and who have provided consent to share their status for fee waivers. No refunds will be given once enrolled in this program. 

Enrollment in DPP must occur before damage occurs for DPP to apply. If there is no DPP on file for a student when damage occurs and the fine is assessed, the full repair cost will be charged. Fines for damaged devices will be applied promptly and can be paid in our online payment system. We cannot take replacement items such as power cables that were purchased on Amazon or at a retail store, as use of those items may cause safety issues or void warranties.

Ms. Ramya Gautam

School Technology Specialist

rgautam@nsd.org

PE News

Thank you, Volunteers!

Picture Day Volunteers

A huge thank you to Ali W., Amber L., and Sarah S. for lending their time and kindness on Picture Day. Thanks to them, we stayed on schedule and got everyone's photo taken.

Fall Story Walk

Many thanks to our amazing volunteer, Farhana S., who put the pieces together for our Fall Story Walk in the lower forest on the primary playground. The book is Fall Mixed Up by Bob Raczka. Here's a YouTube reading...

On August 24, almost 80 community members and Arrowhead families joined together to get Arrowhead ready to welcome students and staff back. Volunteers weeded, pruned, spread bark, painted, collated take home flyers, helped with Emergency Prep supplies, and made Arrowhead shine!

We could not have done it without your help.

WE are blessed to have PTA and this community for our partners! Recently, PTA provided pizza and water for hungry Community Serve Day volunteers, hosted Kindergarten playdates this summer, and welcomed new Kindergarten parents/guardians on their 1st day of school with coffee and pastries.

Our amazing Library volunteers keep our Library in top shape, checking books in and out, helping find that just right book, and assisting Ms. Ginny with special projects.

PTA Corner

This is an opportunity to represent Arrowhead Elementary at the 46th Annual WSPTA Legislative Assembly. The Legislative Assembly is where delegates from local PTAs across Washington state gather to learn about, debate, and vote on the organization’s public policy positions. This year will include voting on legislative principles, a legislative issue, and resolutions.

We are looking for a group or individual to attend and bring the information and updates back to our Arrowhead community so we can stay involved and informed.  

October 18-19th, 2025 at the Double Tree in Seatac. 

PTA will cover registration costs.  

Please email execteam@ptaarrowhead.org if you would like to attend or get more information.

Join our October PTA Meeting: Tuesday, October 21st at 6:45pm in the Arrowhead Library. Remember childcare is provided by Champions during the meeting! Please email VP@ptaarrowhead.org if you would like to sign up.  

Highlights: Arrowhead PTA Weekly Newsletter: Our weekly newsletter provides the latest on what’s going on through the Arrowhead PTA and helps you stay connected! Link for Subscribe

Students and adults are welcome to dress up in appropriate costumes to our fall dance! Nothing scary, with violence, gore, masks, weapons or offensive attire. You will be asked to change if a costume is inappropriate. Please make sure your child won’t overheat in their costume and can easily change to use the bathroom.

There will be a live DJ, dancing games, food trucks, ice cream, concession items, face painting, photo booth, and more! This is not a drop off event - an adult needs to supervise their student. All participants need to stay in the gym or in designated quiet classrooms. Pre-sale tickets before and after school will begin November 4-7th. Concessions can be purchased at pre-sale or at the dance. Tickets cost $5 per child, adults are free. Tickets include face painting and access to a themed photo booth.

We will need volunteers! Since you already need to be there with your kid, sign up to help too! You can volunteer here: https://evite.me/kvuraxGcW1

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.