Our School
Welcome to Arrowhead Elementary!
At Arrowhead, we are committed to increasing and deepening student understanding in all content areas through the study and implementation of research-based learning models and the use of high quality teaching materials. Arrowhead’s School Action Plan is closely aligned with the implementation of literacy curriculum as well as the Northshore School Board’s adopted strategic plan.
Arrowhead Elementary
6725 NE Arrowhead Dr
Kenmore, WA 98028
Office Phone: 425.408.4000
Office Fax: 425.408.4002
Vision Statement
At Arrowhead, we create resilient and empathetic learners who confidently navigate their world through being innovative, creative, critical thinkers.
Project Based Learning
We are a Project Based Learning (PBL) school. What does that mean? PBL is a student-centered teaching method that involves a dynamic classroom approach in which students acquire a deeper knowledge through active exploration of real-world challenges and problems.
Students work on a project over an extended period of time – from a week up to a semester – that engages them in solving a real-world problem or answering a complex question. They demonstrate their knowledge and skills by creating a public product or presentation for a real audience.
As a result, students develop deep content knowledge as well as critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, and communication skills. Project Based Learning unleashes a contagious, creative energy among students and teachers.
In Aug 2021, our staff were trained by PBLWorks over the course of 3 days. This PBL 101 training "creates the space for active, hands-on project planning, peer collaboration and feedback, and reflection on learning that leads to sustained change." Staff came away excited and ready for the school year. To learn more about what projects our classes are working on visit our Project Based Learning page.
Parent Involvement
Our mission involves forming meaningful partnerships with parents and the community. Quite simply, when a community is focused on working together for the benefit of all students, school becomes a special place for students, parents and staff members. Our PTA has consistently been recognized as one of the top in the state. In May of 2009 and May of 2011, the Washington State PTA recognized Arrowhead Elementary PTA as our state's Outstanding Local Unit, evidence of the special relationship our school has with our community.
We are so thankful for the volunteer hours that are regularly donated to support our school. Here are a few ways our community supports our school:
Classroom volunteer opportunities
- Attending parent/teacher conference
- Assisting with track and cross country
- Art Docent program
- Library volunteer program
- Field trip supervision
- Before-school playground supervision
- Parking lot safety volunteers
- Arrowhead PTA Membership—the goal is 100% membership!
- Participation in a PTA activity—see the PTA Web site
- Participation in company volunteer programs (Microsoft, Boeing, etc.)
At Arrowhead, parents and staff work together to form a solid foundation of respect and learning that continues to enhance the educational opportunities and activities for all children. Opportunities for involvement at home:
- Communicating daily with your child regarding learning opportunities
- Talking positively about learning, school, and teachers
- Providing a study space and time for homework
- Reading with and to your child daily
- Communicating concerns and celebrations to the teacher
- Extending and enriching your child’s learning
Over the years, alumni have supported Arrowhead through volunteer work and monetary donations, funding such things as our fifth-grade sailing trip, books for students and other materials and activities. We love the fact that many of our graduates return to volunteer in our classrooms and some even join us as student teachers! The ties former students and families have with our school, speak to the special relationships we develop with one another. It is true that once you are part of the Arrowhead community, you are always a member.
The Arrowhead Action Plan
Every year, all Northshore schools write an action plan designed to improve student learning in targeted areas. This year all plans will align with the district’s Strategic Action Plan. Review the Northshore School District Strategic Plan.
At Arrowhead, we create resilient and empathetic learners who confidently navigate their world through being innovative, creative, critical thinkers.
Each year, we identify goals that guide the work we do to ensure each of our students learns at high levels and, ultimately, is prepared for success in career, college , and life.
Supporting student performance not only requires a safe, caring, and mutually respectful environment, but also a careful consideration of the Northshore Strategic Plan goals that align with our students’ needs. Identifying Strategic Plan goals and actions to meet the chosen goals requires that we engage in a cycle of continuous improvement. The inquiry process that drives our cycle of continuous improvement is outlined below.
All of our efforts to ensure exceptional levels of student learning are rooted in our commitment to equitable access and outcomes for students. For the 2022-23 school year, we will build off of what we learned from our work over the last three years on Domains 1, 2, and 3.
We will continue to keep key aspects of what we have learned from Domains 1 and 2 in mind while further incorporating strategies related to Domain 3. To inform this work, our Equity Team and SDLT Team completed an initial review of Domain 3 of the Northshore School District Equity Inventory.
While we are working toward the same Domain 3 goals as last year, we have incorporated student feedback and ideas into our instructional strategies for this year’s work. You will see student language in our action plan under the “equity strategies” we will strive to use.
At Arrowhead we believe each child deserves to be a responsible and persistent learner, open to and accepting of diverse cultures and perspective, and empowered to advocate for and pursue their own educational passions. To achieve this we scaffold the important social skills of racial and civic literacy from kindergarten to 5th grade and exit them prepared to be confident learners in the more complex social setting of middle and high school.
Arrowhead will be building our School Action Plan around the following Goals and Measures:
Goal 3: Growth for Every Student, Elimination of Outcome and Opportunity Gaps
Each student actively engages in rigorous standards-based curriculum, effective instruction, timely, targeted enrichment and intervention, and proactive social-emotional supports.
Measure: Students in grades K-5 who have been identified as below grade level standards in reading fluency will make more than one year's growth in reading fluency as measured by fall and spring iReady, WAKids and classroom based assessments.
To make progress toward our specific goal, we will create collaborative learning opportunities. This means that staff will use formative assessments to create groupings that support accelerated and individualized learning opportunities for students who are below standard in fluency. We will also use Project Based Learning to integrate content areas and create real-world learning experiences for children.
To ensure equity focus to our work on this goal, we will focus on Domain Three: Teaching, Learning, and Self Reflection; specifically 3B - educators are well informed of the diverse backgrounds of students and families, 3D - students and families have the opportunity to be experts in the classroom, school, and district, and 3G - educators are knowledgeable about creative, innovative, and equitable instructional approaches.
Goal 4: Innovative, Creative, Critical Thinkers
Each student engages in culturally relevant and cognitively challenging, real-world learning, while applying knowledge and skills in a variety of ways.
Measure: Students in K-5 will confidently and effectively design a solution or response to an authentic real-world scenario as measured by classroom-based assessments that include student self-assessment and street data.
To make progress, toward our specific goal, we will create collaborative learning opportunities. This means that staff will elevate student voice and integrate content areas to create authentic scenarios and topics for children to explore.
To ensure equity focus to our work on this goal, we will focus on Domain Three: Teaching, Learning, and Self Reflection; specifically 3B - educators are well informed of the diverse backgrounds of students and families, 3D - students and families have the opportunity to be experts in the classroom, school, and district, and 3G - educators are knowledgeable about creative, innovative, and equitable instructional approaches.
See the full School Action Plan for specifics on instructional practices and equity strategies for Goals 3 and 4.
Facility Information
Our school was built in 1957, giving it a long-standing history in the Arrowhead community. Over the years, we’ve undergone both major and minor renovations. Over the last few years, our gym floors have been refinished, the entire ventilation and heating system was replaced as well as the roof. Each classroom has an interactive white board, projector, document camera and sound system to meet the needs of both pupils and staff. Outside, our students benefit educationally from two natural garden habitat areas. Additionally, Arrowhead students enjoy a variety of options for play on the grounds with the beautiful backdrop of St. Edward’s State Park behind the school.