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I love the start of the school year. Today is our first day with kindergarteners on campus. It feels like our 1st and 2nd graders were Kindergarteners five minutes ago, and now they’re big kids.
At Arrowhead, I like to think that we let children experience all the right kinds of challenges. There was a parent my first year here who said she wanted to “help the child meet the road, not help the road meet the child.” My daughters were in 7th and 9th grade that year and boy, that was helpful advice for me as a mom. Being able to stand back and let your children learn important lessons on their own, without rescuing them or preventing anything difficult, is anti-intuitive. My parents, like many parents in the ‘70s, believed that anything that didn’t kill us made us stronger. Thankfully, we’ve moved past that mentality, but it’s still important for children to learn that small challenges won’t be the end of all that’s good.
Here's a very unhappy 5-year-old me who learned that I would survive losing the Old Maid Marathon. I can tell from the way my dad is holding me that I was probably close to a melt-down. I did survive, and I am still horrible at Old Maid.
School shouldn’t be hard or miserable. Being miserable doesn’t make you stronger, it makes you tired. It makes you not care about trying. At the same time, we want our students to learn that being lonely sometimes is okay, that they can solve small problems on their own, and that they have a lot of power over their situation at any given time. Learning to lose, to be alone, to have a kid be mean to you and realize you don’t like them, or learning to stand up for yourself, these are all important lessons for our children, and we don’t want to rescue them or prevent these experiences.
The whole, wonderful year stretches ahead of us. We will have good days and bad days. We will succeed and fail. We will make friends, and we will have disagreements and misunderstandings. We will repair friendships that tore. Through it all, we will be a community and we will love and take care of each other.
Kristin Bailey
kbailey@nsd.org
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Arrowhead Spirit Wear is Back until Sept. 17!
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Online orders only and must be placed by Wednesday, September 17. Don’t miss your chance to gear up and show your Hawk pride every day!
25-26 Arrowhead Spirit Wear
Orders will be delivered to Arrowhead and sent home with students mid-October
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A few friendly reminders from the Office
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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.
Please don’t email transportation changes directly to teachers—they may not see them in time!
⏰ Avoid late-day pickups when possible:
We kindly ask that families avoid picking up students after 3:15 PM, unless it’s for a medical appointment or emergency. The last part of the school day is important for wrapping up learning and getting ready for dismissal.
Thanks for helping us keep things running smoothly—we’re looking forward to a great year ahead!
*This message was drafted/summarized using AI.
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Visiting and Volunteering
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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.
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Curriculum Night is an educational open house where parents and guardians will receive critical information that benefits their child's learning throughout the year.
- Sept. 16 - Curriculum Night grades K - 2, 5:30-6:15pm
- Sept. 30 - Curriculum Night grades 3 - 5, 5:30-6:15pm
5:30-6:05pm Classroom Presentations (Children are not invited to classroom presentations but may join Principal Bailey and other staff on the playground until 6:05pm.
6:05-6:15pm Parents and children can meet on the playground and mingle.
6:15pm PTA General Membership Meeting, Library
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Dorian picture envelopes will go home with students on Sept. 10. 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.
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WELCOME RUNNERS!! It’s time for the Cross-Country season to begin!
Grades 3, 4, and 5 are encouraged to participate. Practices are on campus on Tuesdays and Fridays during lunch recesses starting September 16. We will have a student informational meeting Friday, September 12 in the library at lunch recess. Meets are after school on TUESDAYS.
*Arrowhead hosts our HOME meet on OCTOBER 7th! Please sign up to volunteer. ParentSquare has a link.
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PRACTICES:
Team members are expected and encouraged to attend ALL practice sessions to be trained properly. In order to have a successful year, safety, conditioning, and running techniques are of the utmost importance.
Practices are on campus on Tuesdays and Fridays during lunch recesses. Meet in the gym.
Registration does not need to be completed in order to attend practices, but medical forms DO. FIRST PRACTICE IS SEPT 16th at lunch recess. WALK quietly to the Gym and line up at the door for instructions. *Students cannot compete without a medical form on file.*
MEETS:
Tuesday After School Meets begin at 5 pm. Runners need to arrive no later than 4:45 to walk through the course prior to the race. Usually boys race first, then girls. The order starts with 3rd graders, then 4th, then 5th. graders. All races should be done by 6:30.
*Meets are run in ALL weather, except lightning!
We enjoy running together and the team coach emphasizes team spirit & good sportsmanship at all times.
PARENTS:
1) Complete Medical Form (link below) and return to Ms. Ginny or Mr. Barstow. The medical form MUST be returned before a student can compete! Paper copies will also be distributed.
Northshore Athletics Emergency Information Card
2) REGISTER ONLINE (Paper registration forms are also available in the office.) Registration must be completed before the first meet on September 30.
Northshore Elementary Sports
Use TouchBase to register.
PLEASE do not let the $45 registration fee keep your child from participating. We have some scholarships available please contact the office for more information. Free & Reduced lunch qualifiers need to reapply the Fee Waiver every year to get the $0 fee.
3) Arrange transportation for your child to and from meet BEFORE meet day!! Arrive early to avoid stress!
4) Please note that even when a meet is at Arrowhead we will not have access to medications kept in the health room. In the event your child needs an inhaler, EpiPen, etc. at a meet, please plan on attending meets and bringing the medication with you.
5) If you are able to help at our Home Meet on Tuesday, October 7, please volunteer by contacting Mr. Barstow and/or Ms. Ginny, or sign up through ParentSquare. It takes a lot of volunteers to help make a meet run smoothly. No experience is necessary.
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6) Thank you SO much for your support of the Arrowhead Hawks XC Team! Your child will really enjoy this program while he/she learns the importance of team participation, sportsmanship and school spirit, while improving their fitness level as the season goes on!
Meet Schedule:
All Meets begin at 5:00pm and usually finished around 6:00pm.
DATE HOST & VISITORS
9/30 Moorlands vs. Arrowhead, Westhill & Woodmoor
10/7 Arrowhead vs. Kenmore & Moorlands
10/14 Westhill vs. Arrowhead, Frank Love & Crystal Springs
10/21 Lockwood @ KMS vs Arrowhead, Shelton View, Moorlands & Kenmore
Questions:
Please contact Scott Barstow at sbarstow@nsd.org, 425-408-4058 or
Ginny Allemann at vallemann@nsd.org, 425-408-4012
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Up to date Emergency Contacts & Parent Square
- Students who are ill or injured and need to go home, must be picked up within the hour you are called. It is very important for all students to have an alternative contact who can pick up during the school day if you are unable to.
- Please be sure to update your emergency contacts with the office and be sure you are signed up to receive Parent Square notifications.
Medication updates:
- 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, in your child's lunch box, water bottle, 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 and any required health forms
https://www.nsd.org/schools/get-started/health-services
Health Screening Day is Thursday Oct 9, 9:00am
Our annual vision and hearing health screening for grades K, 1, 2, 3 & 5 will take place Thursday Oct 9th in the morning. We appreciate every effort for students to be in attendance when our screening team is here, they only come once!
You may “opt out” your student if you do not wish for them to be screened for either vision or hearing or both. Again, this is general screening only to see if a student may need a follow-up or a renewed exam with a provider. To opt out your student or for any other questions, please email the nurse at: ajanssen@nsd.org
Volunteers Needed!!
We need a few parent volunteers to help with our screening day at Arrowhead on Thursday, October 9th at 9am (until 11:30-12’ish). Please contact me if you are interested.
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
School Nurse Substitutes are Needed
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
Best,
Anne Janssen, RN
425.408.4006
ajanssen@nsd.org
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Welcome Back to the Arrowhead Library!
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Our library is open each morning at 8:35! Stop by and start the day with reading, making, and exploring the library! I’m Ginny Allemann, your teacher-librarian. I’ll be working hard to support our students’ growth in reading and research, tech and citizenship skills. My favorite thing about being a librarian is connecting my students to resources (digital and print) and just right books for their needs and wants! Are you searching for a book? Try Destiny Discover, our library catalog!
Arrowhead Library will be closed Monday and Thursday afternoons when I’ll be teaching library lessons at Ruby Bridges Elementary and Frank Love Elementary.
Each child will have library once a week for 45 minutes. Children can check out books each week and before school. Create a space at home for library books– read, return, repeat! Check out our Library Website here!
Coming Up - Mark your calendars!
We’ll be having a Scholastic Book Fair December 8-12! Just in time for holiday shopping.
Hispanic American Heritage Month - September 15 - October 15.
How can you support our readers?
- Encourage your child(ren) to read each day! Read aloud with them. Share a family book. Repeat.
- Volunteer– If you are interested in helping, email me. Some jobs can be done at home, and I’ll need help with Book Fairs and other projects.
Hope to see you soon @ the library!
-Ms. Ginny Allemann
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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.
Ms. Ramya Gautam
School Technology Specialist
rgautam@nsd.org
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Arrowhead Elementary: Back To School
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Hello Arrowhead families and community!
I hope you all had a wonderful summer, and are looking forward to the oncoming school year! We are in transition mode and there are lots of things to keep in mind for your student & the family to help have a great start to the school year!
MINDSET:
Summer has brought amazing memories, times for relaxation, and so much family & friends time, that we are not ready to leave that behind! There can be some anxiety, nervousness, and excitement students start to experience. THAT’S PERFECTLY OK.
- Set some time to talk to your student and family, and know it’s ok to have those feelings.
- Your student may not be ready to leave the nest just yet! Make a plan to prepare each other for what would help through the changes.
ROUTINES:
Time will be one of the more big changes and challenges at home. Having to wake up early, saving time for breakfast, and the route to get to school whether by bus or car.
- What are some changes at home to get everyone ready for the school changes?
- What are some routines that worked last school year?
- What are ways to make those changes in the coming weeks?
HOMEWORK AND SCHOOL WORK: Your student’s brains are going back into power mode, and it can be tiring or overwhelming. We are all here to support the best in your student’s learning experience.
- Take time for breaks and let that brain muscle rest from all the work!
- Let your student know they’re working hard, continue encouraging and motivating them.
- Please reach out to your student’s teacher and support staff if you have any questions, concerns or resources.
PBS kids has a few extra tips and resources to help through back to school!
https://www.pbs.org/parents/back-to-school
Looking forward to seeing you all again and also welcoming our new Arrowhead families!
Ms. Gonda
Arrowhead Elementary School Counselor
TEL: (425) 408-4024
Email: jgonda@nsd.org
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Scouting America - Kenmore Pack 564
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Be a Scout!
Be a part of a bike gang, hike trails you’ve never known existed, make s’mores in a corn maze, camp under the stars, race derby cars and launch rockets! These are just a few of the adventures you can have with our local Cub Scout Pack! Pack 564 has proudly served the Kenmore community for over 50 years, fostering youth development and leadership.
Do you have to be a boy? Nope! Do you have to practice a particular religion? Nope!
Scouting America is open to anyone who wants to have fun, explore the outdoors safely, and learn lots of cool things!
If you're even just a little curious, please join us for our first pack meeting of the year on Thursday September 18th in the Arrowhead Elementary Gym at 7pm.
For more information visit kenmorepack564.org or email committee@kenmorepack564.org with any questions.
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We are so grateful to PTA and this amazing community for their support!
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Community Serve Day Volunteers
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.
PTA
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.
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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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.
Welcome to the Arrowhead PTA!
The Arrowhead PTA is every child’s advocate. We seek to work within, and in partnership with the school community to develop programs, projects and activities for children and youth that promote health, welfare, safety and education.
Visit Arrowhead PTA to learn more about your PTA!
Time to join for the new school year!
Please sign up TODAY to join or renew your PTA membership. By joining you are supporting PTA programs, events, funds for classrooms, field trips, and more!
Annual cost is $25 for a family membership or $15 for a single membership. Scholarships are available, please email membership@ptaarrowhead.org
Meet your PTA Board
- President: Alicia Terrenzio
- VP: Emily Palm-Yedo
- Treasurer: Lydia Moe
- Secretary Julie Vander Laan
- VP of Programs: Whitney Connors
Hawks, we are already off to a great start getting ready for fun, PTA sponsored activities this year! Most positions are already filled! To help everything run in a smooth and organized manner, we would love to have the following chair positions filled soon so that we get to plan all the fun activities for the kids! If considering, feel free to look at the job descriptions here: https://www.ptaarrowhead.org/officerschairs/. I you are willing and able, please email Whitney at vpprograms@ptaarrowhead.org
- Support person for Dana in the fall fundraiser
- Chair for Popcorn Fridays
- Co-chair with Kelli F. for Staff Appreciation weeks
- Legislation and Advocacy representative
- Special Education PTA Representative
- A chair for the spring fundraiser - Hawk Walk
- 2nd person to help Amanda with the financial review in January (and June if possible)
- Equity and diversity PTA representative
Join us at the first PTA Meeting of the year: Tuesday, September 16th at 6:45pm in the Arrowhead Library
Highlights: Arrowhead PTA Weekly Newsletter Our weekly newsletter provides the latest on what’s going on and helps you stay connected! Subscribe HERE
For more event information, visit our calendar or follow us on Facebook.
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Arrowhead Hawks SOAR by being Safe, Kind, and Responsible
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At Arrowhead, we create resilient and empathetic learners who confidently navigate their world through being innovative, creative, critical thinkers.
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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.
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