Principal's Message
Dear Families
I love the start of the school year. I’ve started school every single year since 1975 when I started kindergarten. Here I am with my Snoopy lunch box and my very best friend Michael (Scooby Do lunchbox). I was four, but my parents sent me to kindergarten so I could start with Michael.
Michael’s family is Mormon, and they lived right across the street. My family was Lutheran. There were four kids in my family and seven in his, and really, we were one big pack of kids. They had the pool and we had the playhouse and the dog. This was the ‘70s, so it was not uncommon for Myrna and my mom to just lock us all out of the house to play and drink from hoses and leave them alone. It was glorious. Though I didn’t appreciate it until later, it was also glorious to be raised sort of Mormon and sort of Lutheran. I didn’t know until much later in life that people actually argued about religion, or thought less of people whose worship looked different than theirs. We went to the Mormon Sunday school sometimes, and they came to ours. How lucky we were to have a million siblings, moms and dads, and two big church communities loving us and challenging us and raising us.
I tell you this because I want you to know that family, community, a variety of ways to be faithful, and range of ways to be, is the heart of who I am as a person. It’s why I’m a teacher and why I became a principal. I was raised to take care of each other. I was raised to get along. I was raised to be humble about one’s gifts, but to contribute them to the good of the community. We ask children to bring their entire selves – their aunties and grandparents and religions and foods and holidays – into our classrooms. We want to welcome everything they are. That makes us stronger.
I love seeing the Arrowhead community come back together in September and draw in our newest Hawks.
Above is Mrs. Radovich’s class during their morning flag exercise.
All around our campus children are getting to know each other and staff are getting to know our children. It’s a wonderful time.
Kristin
Mr. Barstow's class on the left checking in with their devices so he knows everychild can log in and navigate Clever. Ms. Knaggs, one of our new PE teachers, leading a "four corners" activity to build community and help children know how they are similar and different.
From the Office
Arrowhead Calendar and Website
New Process for Reporting an Absence: 4 Simple Steps
We have a new, easy way for families to let our school know when their student is absent! While we know regular attendance is one of the most powerful ways to prepare your student for success, we also know that sometimes students must miss school for a variety of reasons. Next time that happens for your family, let us know through ParentVUE:
- Login to ParentVUE
- Click the “Report Absence” button next to the name of your absent student
- Fill in the fields with the date(s) of the absence and provide an explanation
- Click to submit, automatically notifying the school of the absence
Learn more or view step-by-step images and instructions. You can use this method to report an absence of up to 4 days. As a reminder, an absence of 5 days or longer requires families to submit a Notice of Pre-Arranged Extended Absence Form.
Visiting and Volunteering
All NSD schools are implementing a new process for validating visitors and volunteers on campus through SafeVisitor Solutions. SafeVisitor Solutions is a cutting edge visitor management system developed specifically for K-12 schools and also used by districts in our surrounding area and the only one integrated with an international background screening company.
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 in a ticket holder to reuse. All visitors must check out of this system before leaving every time.
We love our volunteers! 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. 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 this new system running smoothly and ensuring our campus is safe
Curriculum Nights
Curriculum Night is an educational open house where parents and guardians will receive critical information that benefits their child's learning throughout the year. Meet Principal Bailey in the Gym at 5:30pm for a short presentation and then proceed to your child's classroom for their 6:00pm presentation.
- Sept. 17 - Curriculum Night grades K - 2, 5:30-6:30pm
- Sept. 24 - Curriculum Night grades 3 - 5, 5:30-6:30pm
Picture Day
Dorian picture envelopes will go home with students on Sept. 11. Families may also place their order online at dorianstudio.com
Extra envelopes are available in the Office. Please return your envelope by Picture Day. Here are some helpful tips to make Picture Day great!
- Schedule haircuts 7-10 days prior to picture day!
- Wear simple clothing. Solid shirts or small patterns, along with sleeves, photograph best. A simple collared shirt is a timeless classic.
- Avoid logos and text on clothing. Graphics or wording may not photograph completely and can become partially cropped out of your picture.
Cross Country
Have you heard the great news! NSD found funds to continue having elementary Cross Country (fall) and Track & Field (spring) for our 3rd - 5th grade students. We encourage all our students to join the fun and challenge of cross-country!
Coach Barstow and Coach Ginny will begin practices during lunch recess (2x/week) some time in mid-September (date announced soon). Meets are Tuesdays after school beginning Oct. 4. It’s an incredible opportunity for all our students!
Watch for more details, browse more information here, and encourage your student to participate!
Health Room News
Up-to-Date Emergency Contacts & ParentSquare
Please be sure to update your emergency contacts with the office and be sure you are signed up to receive Parent Square notifications.
When to Send my Child to School and Medication Updates
It is not unusual for student to feel great in the morning and then worse as the day goes by. The school is not equipped for prolonged care of your sick student and sick students cannot be sent home on the bus. We require that you or an emergency contact will pick up your sick child within the hour that you are called. Please be sure to have at least one contact available who can pick up your student during the day if you are unable to.
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, or cough drops in your child's lunch box, backpack, or pockets. Unidentified medicine can never be given at school.
Please refer to the following NSD link for health services if you are unsure when to send your student back to school after illness; for COVID; and any required health forms
https://www.nsd.org/schools/get-started/health-services
Volunteers Needed for Health Screening Day
We need a few parent volunteers to help with vision and hearing screening here at Arrowhead on Thursday, October 10th at 9am (until 11:30-12’ish). Please contact the nurse if you are interested at ajanssen@nsd.org.
Clothing and Other Resources
Please see the following NSD link if you need any resources for your student or family:
https://www.nsd.org/resources/support/assistance
Anne Janssen, RN
425.408.4006
ajanssen@nsd.org
Library News
Hello Arrowhead Community!
It’s great to be back for another year of sharing the joy of reading with our students! Stop by the library to see the new arrangement, our new SmartBoard, and lots of new and favorite books! As always, jigsaw puzzles, chess, games, drawing, and other surprises await you, too! We open at 8:35 AM.
First up on September 25, we will be hosting Amanda Abler, who will be sharing her book: Big Bertha: How a Massive Tunnel Boring Machine Dug a Highway Under Seattle with Arrowhead students. Thank you to Third Place Books for bringing her to us. Autographed copies will be available for purchase.
Soda Float Reading Challenge is happening!
A reading challenge for 4th and 5th graders! We encourage our HAWK readers to read a variety of texts, and to read consistently throughout their elementary school years. For the Soda Float Challenge, students select at least 13 of the Soda Float List titles to read by the end of Spring Break 2025. They fill out their form, turn it in, and we celebrate with soda floats! Yum! So many favorite books come from this Challenge, now in our 4th year at Arrowhead! These titles are all available in print (in our library and at KCLS), in audiobook and ebook format.
Volunteers Needed!
I would LOVE to have your help in the library! I can offer volunteer tasks during library classes and jobs that can be taken home to do. I would also love to have helpers with book fairs and events. Please email me if you’re interested in helping and what your availability is.
The Arrowhead Library opens at 8:35am again this year! Stop by and start the day reading and exploring the library! Library Website here!
Hope to see you soon @ the library!
Technology Tidbits
Student Devices
Students in 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grades will be keeping their device at school. Each classroom has a computer cart where devices will be stored and charged. Please send your student to school WITH THEIR CHARGER.
Students in 2nd grade and the 1st/2nd combo class will be transporting their devices to and from school every day. Please send your child to school with their charged computer every day.
Students in Kindergarten and 1st Grade have iPads to use in their classroom. Each classroom has a cart to store and charge these devices.
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.
Mrs. Amy Smith
School Technology Specialist
asmith@nsd.org
PE News
Welcome to PE!
Thank you, Volunteers!
We are so grateful to PTA and this amazing community for their support!
Community Serve Day
On August 25, almost 90 community members and Arrowhead families joined together to get Arrowhead ready to welcome students. 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.
PTA
WE are blessed to have PTA and this community for our partners! Recently, PTA provided pizza and water for hungary Community Serve Day volunteers and hosted Kindergarten and all school playdates this summer.
Library Volunteers
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.
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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 or Renew your PTA Membership
If you haven’t joined or renewed your PTA membership yet, please take a minute to do so. Cost: $15 per person (or $25 per family). More info on our website. Or go directly to the MemberPlanet site to join. Note: If the fees are a financial hardship for your family, we have membership scholarships available. Email membership@ptaarrowhead.org to apply.
Subscribe to Highlights newsletter: Our weekly newsletter provides the latest on what’s going on through the PTA. Easy to subscribe on our website.
Committee volunteers needed!
Are you interested in getting more involved with the Arrowhead PTA but not sure where to start? There are lots of opportunities and different ways to get involved! You can find open committee member positions at the Arrowhead PTA website, HERE
Any questions please email us execteam@ptaarrowhead.org
September PTA Events
September 19: General Membership Meeting – 5:30 pm in the Arrowhead library. Join us in the library for our monthly membership meeting. Learn more about the PTA, Connect with other members of the PTA, and discover what help is needed.
For more event information, visit our calendar or follow us on Facebook.
Arrowhead Hawks SOAR be being Safe, Kind, and Responsible
At Arrowhead, we create resilient and empathetic learners who confidently navigate their world through being innovative, creative, critical thinkers.
Nondiscrimination
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.