PENINSULA Compass SCHOOL DISTRICT - Peninsula School District
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PENINSULA
SCHOOL DISTRICT
Compass
Learning in Action
School Board Recognition
Winter 2021 School Construction Update
A Message from the Superintendent
by Dr. Art Jarvis
became more apparent that fall 2020 students from unseen germs and danger.
would require us to deliver school online
and we’d need to plan ways to begin to Among all of those daily challenges, our
return students when circumstances federal, state, and local agencies became
permitted. My appreciation goes out to close partners. We gained assistance
four groups of people who have done with internet connections, devices,
an amazing job to deliver on that need: emergency coordination, protective
teachers, support staff, statewide agency equipment, testing, special funding,
partners, and families. guidance, coordination, athletics, and
much, much more. It is a fact that we
Our teachers redefined their work from simply could not have functioned without
top to bottom -- curriculum, attendance, the contributions of these partners.
grading, schedules, assignments,
materials, and instructional delivery. Health attestation forms became a
A long with the phrase, “We have never Issues such as devices, poor internet
done this before” is a second phrase connectivity, and distance complicated
heard somewhat frequently, “Wow, have the relationship between teachers
symbol between families and schools
that we could keep children and staff
safe if we worked together to avoid
we learned a lot!” Both are so true as we and students. With exhaustive effort, spreading the virus. In many cases,
examine our online remote learning and teachers created ways to connect families had to give up their work and
the hybrid models developed to support with their students that were creative, normal lives to stay home and help
partial in-person learning. innovative, and functional. their children navigate the new world of
remote learning. The loss of the normal,
When the governor closed schools on The work of our wonderful support secure world in which children were
March 13, teachers were largely put staff changed in ways that none had safely entrusted to teachers and schools
in the position to try to salvage what imagined: buses stopped running regular required families to step in and become
they could of the remainder of the routes; breakfast and lunch delivery “school”.
school year. They translated classes was reinvented; assistant principals
and teaching to a wholly different became COVID-19 coordinators; and As we approach the anniversary of the
environment and figured out how to unimagined protocols were developed pandemic shutdown, we will soon start
move on. It may have been one of the to keep students and staff safe. Office to see the benefit of vaccines followed
more difficult tasks many teachers have staff communicated with homes through by a slow return to “normalcy”. We offer
taken on over their careers. hours of telephone calls and emails. heartfelt thanks to all who have helped
Our custodians and maintenance ensure the education of our children
As we moved through the summer, it staff worked hard to protect staff and is secure.
Teaching and Learning During COVID-19
by Melissa Wisner, Executive Director of Learning and Innovation
On this journey, we learned how education isn’t really about a place;
truly critical schools are to students, it is and has always been about the
educators, staff, families, and our relationship between our teachers and
community. We deployed new tools staff and their students. The magic that
and instructional strategies to continue occurs in our district every day has the
meeting the varied needs of our power to transform, uplift, and shape our
C OVID’s seismic presence in March
2020 swept across our entire world
and changed education unlike any other
students. We have emerged stronger,
more focused, and changed for the
better because of this transformative
future generations.
In this issue of the Compass, we are
event in the long history of schools. As shared work on the part of the Peninsula pleased to share just a few of the
we watched the unthinkable closure of School District community. amazing stories highlighting how our
our buildings, we took a collective breath staff and students have adapted and
and committed to recreating teaching Along the way, we discovered that persevered this school year.
and learning in this new era. learning never stopped because
Pictured on cover: Vaughn Elementary music specialist Lisa Mills provides remote instruction.
2 Peninsula School District | Compass
We Appreciate Our School Board
J anuary was School Board Recognition Month in Washington State, and we’d like to thank our board of directors for serving
Peninsula School District’s staff, students, and community. PSD’s Board of Directors are elected from five geographical areas
within the district’s boundaries and serve four-year terms. Together, they work to oversee the school district.
In honor of School Board Recognition Month, we asked our board members why they choose to volunteer to serve on PSD’s
Board of Directors.
Why We Serve . . .
?
What Do School Board
Directors Do?
1. Hire, supervise, and evaluate
the superintendent.
2. Set the vision, mission, and
David Olson Lori Glover Deborah Krishnadasan strategic goals for the district.
PRESIDENT VICE PRESIDENT DIRECTOR
“Prior to becoming a
3. Review, revise, and adopt
“The school board provides “Serving as an elected
school board director, an opportunity for me to school board member has
policies.
I was actively involved give back to this great allowed me to impact the
in community service community, utilizing all of educational experience of 4. Establish and oversee the
projects, focused on the experience I gained as not only the 9,000 students district’s budget.
helping at-risk youth. a volunteer in the schools we serve today, but the
Serving on the school over the past 30 years.” thousands of students and 5. Monitor the district’s progress
board was a natural community members our toward its goals.
calling for me.” schools will serve in
the future.” 6. Serve as community
representatives.
Chuck West Natalie Wimberley
DIRECTOR DIRECTOR
“I serve because I want all “My service is deeply
students represented to rooted in a commitment
include those that are not to ensure that all children
going off to college. I serve have access to a rewarding
to provide the foundation pathway to graduation and
for everyone to succeed.” a healthy preparation for
the life that comes after
high school.”
Peninsula School District | Compass 3
2020-2021 Learning
Action
in
The Beat Goes On at Vaughn Elementary School
important means of connection, helping
in building relationships and clarifying
questions. I receive and respond to lots
of messages from students every day.”
During in-person instruction, students
have learned with instruments such
as ukuleles, glockenspiels, drums,
tambourines, and jingle bracelets.
Keeping a beat, performing rhythms,
learning the names of strings, and
learning melodies are among
the lessons.
For in-person cleanliness, students are
seated at desks, instruments used are
carefully cleaned, and each student has
a personal instrument bag. Mills is able
P eninsula School District specialists
have balanced teaching in-person
students and remote learning students
Vaughn 3rd-5th graders have been
learning to play the recorder this school
year. Mills provides live instruction via
to deliver instruction from the front of
the class and work with students during
practice time.
throughout the school year. This Zoom, and students also prepare and
challenge is admirably carried out by send videos of their playing. “Music is fundamental, especially during
many staff throughout the district, a pandemic, because it helps us find
including Vaughn Elementary School “Preparing a performance for video is a order, synchronize with the rhythms
music teacher Lisa Mills. great way to motivate them to practice, around us and inside us, feel happiness,
and for me to accurately assess how the find beauty, and express our emotions in
Now in her eighth year at Vaughn, Mills, instrument learning is going,” Mills said. a healthy way,” Mills said.
who was a student at Vaughn herself
and has the self-described dream-come- Success stories from remote instruction
true of teaching at her neighborhood have included a student who requested
school, shares the possibilities of using some extra instruction time after
the powerful language of music for having trouble with the recorder. As
creative expression. a result, the student felt confident to
continue practicing and soon after
A typical day includes Zoom instruction performed mini recitals for parents
to remote learners before switching and grandparents. Another student
gears to visit in-person classrooms was excited to learn of family history
with a pushcart of musical instruments. in the military following a Veterans Day
Flexibility is key, and providing remote project that invited students to interview
instruction has necessitated a new a veteran and sing U.S. Armed Forces
reality in how to best deliver music service songs.
instruction remotely. Mills, like many
staff in the district, has taken classes, “The messaging function in Schoology
studied technology platforms, and [PSD’s learning management system]
networked with other teachers to allows students to message their Lisa Mills, Music Specialist
implement new ideas. teachers,” Mills said. “This has been an
4 Peninsula School District | Compass
Helping High Schoolers with Academics, Basic Needs
J ennifer Buys, a success coach who
splits her time between Gig Harbor
High School and Peninsula High School,
we give everything we’ve got,” Buys said.
“I can give them an air high five and
virtual hug. On kids’ faces, you can see
recognizes some high school students the difference this makes.”
are struggling to learn remotely from
home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Buys acknowledges that the COVID-19
This is why she, along with a small pandemic has increased basic needs for
group of other staff, give students the many of her students. “The number one
opportunity to come to school for thing that has helped us is connecting
extra help. with community partners, especially
since COVID,” Buys said.
High school students who have been
referred by teachers, counselors, or Buys participates in weekly meetings
other students may come in to school with a group of PSD staff and
to access the internet, ask questions community partners, including
on assignments, and stay connected to Food Backpacks 4 Kids, Crossroads
their school under staff supervision. This Treatment Center, Communities In
flexible model allows students to attend Schools of Peninsula, and Children's
week-to-week or day-to-day. Home Society to discuss general
Jennifer Buys, Success Coach
strategies to help district families with
Buys said that beyond helping food, shelter, and other basic needs.
students academically, she also builds They also provide direct help to students
relationships with students to help them and families on a case-by-case basis. more quickly.
feel connected and know they have
someone to help. Buys said that working together with this “To make one kid’s life better is my job,”
group of community partners provides Buys said.
“While we’re limited in what we can offer, great opportunities for helping students
Cooking with Schrock Club Offers Up Recipe for Fun
Inspired by a common interest in
learning how to cook, Key Peninsula
Middle School (KPMS) teacher Kate
about the concept of keeping youth
engaged in a productive activity during
COVID-19, with the added benefit of
Schrock began the “Cooking with learning an essential life skill,” said Tom
Schrock” after-school club with six Borgen, Rotary Club of Gig Harbor Area
students in the spring of 2020. This Governor.
fall, KPMS teacher Leah Smith joined
Schrock to co-lead the club. Schrock and Smith used money from the
grant to purchase supplies for cooking
The club meets online after school once lessons, which included teaching
a week for about an hour. They watch students how to make cookies from
instructional cooking videos and learn a cake mix, french fries, and baked
how to cook various foods together. vegetables.
The Gig Harbor Morning Rotary Club The club has grown to more than 50
Community Service Committee recently members, including 6th, 7th and 8th
awarded a $500 grant to the Cooking grade students and some of their
with Schrock Club to help fund the siblings, grandparents, and other
purchase of basic kitchen equipment, extended family members.
ingredients, and supplies.
“We are so excited to keep our club
“The committee was really excited growing,” Schrock said.
Peninsula School District | Compass 5
Kopachuck Middle School STEM Class Gets Creative
A dapting to remote learning
has required flexibility and
resourcefulness of both staff and
Mar chose this remote learning project
as a way to help students creatively
engineer a project outside the
While remote learning presents
challenges with limitations that do not
replicate the in-person environment,
students. In Tamar Mar’s STEM physical classroom. projects such as the engineering
exploration class at Kopachuck Middle unit work to emphasize interaction,
School, these qualities were exemplified “I wanted students to feel like connection, and togetherness. Students
through a recycled engineering design engineering was still accessible to them, uploaded images of their projects to
project that saw students create even with materials they had at home,” a shared media album on Schoology,
machines out of household objects — Mar said. “I strived to make sure it was PSD’s learning management system, to
from dog houses, to game tables, equitable for all students, regardless share and compliment one
to catapults. if they had a garage full of tools and another’s work.
supplies, or if they just had some glue
During a two-week unit on engineering, and an Amazon box to work with.” “I like to make media albums with our
students learned the engineering at-home projects to mimic, as close as
design process via a song. A written Prompted by a group brainstorming possible, the feel of walking around a
assignment provided the opportunity session, students headed to closets, classroom,” Mar said. “It’s inspiring and
to develop pre-construction drawings, Lego bins, kitchen cabinets, and tool creates a sense of togetherness in what
ask questions about the engineering sheds to find items to use for building. we are doing.”
process, and evaluate their creations. The results yielded creations of all kinds.
3rd Graders Complete The Great Poetry Race
T he Great Poetry Race has been an
annual project for Harbor Heights
Elementary 3rd graders, and the school’s
education tool that aids video-based
discussion, for classmates to hear. The
3rd graders eagerly took on the task.
3rd grade teachers have worked hard to
ensure remote teaching didn’t prevent While the mode of instruction is different
Shauna Coxford this learning experience. in remote learning, the Harbor Heights
3rd grade team exemplifies the work of
For The Great Poetry Race, students teaching teams throughout the district
Harbor Heights 3rd Grade Team
were asked to read poems they wrote to — focusing on essential grade standards
as many people as possible. while making learning meaningful and
Nicole Senon memorable. Harbor Heights teachers are
To fit the realities of remote instruction, purposeful in providing opportunities for
students found creative ways to read students to gather via Zoom as a grade
poetry to people outside of their level to do read-alouds and art
households in a safe manner. Students projects together.
read to grandparents over the phone,
Jacquie Boginski
FaceTimed with cousins, and held Finding creative ways to build
physically-distanced porch readings community and support relationships is
for neighbors. at the forefront of the team’s planning,
ensuring every student in 3rd grade
After students had plenty of practice, has a connection with a classmate and
they recorded a video reading their teacher at Harbor Heights, even if the
Courtney Evershed
poems on Flipgrid, a social learning connection takes place via Zoom.
6 Peninsula School District | Compass
School Nurses, Health Technicians
Provide Healthy Dose of Service
E ach school has a health team
comprised of a health technician and
a school nurse. While each building has
consistent across every building in
the school district. The district team
includes two LPNs (Licensed Practical
its own dedicated health tech, there are Nurse) that work under the direction
only eight school nurses districtwide, so of the school nurse to help support
most nurses in the district help manage students with complex medical needs.
multiple schools.
Although there are fewer students in
Health techs are the kind, friendly faces buildings, health teams are far from
most often seen by students who report idle. School nurses actively follow
to the health room. Under the direction guidelines from federal, state, and local
of their school nurse, health techs health agencies to remain up-to-date
provide first aid to injured students and on keeping students and staff healthy
administer daily medications to students during the COVID-19 pandemic. They
who have prescriptions that must be help manage health screenings, health
taken during the school day. room protocols, isolation rooms, and
school safety plans.
While school nurses have less of an
active role in health rooms, they stay In addition to COVID-19 related duties,
Miriam Atchison, Lead Nurse
busy serving students in other ways, nurses must also continue to adapt to
including processing registrations changes in other facets of school-based
for incoming students, creating health, such as changes to immunization jobs — COVID or otherwise — in our
individualized plans to ensure the safety laws. They continue to serve families buildings.
of each student based on unique health by helping to connect them with local
conditions, and reviewing student health care providers or by organizing flu The next time you see a school nurse
immunization records. vaccine clinics with community partners. or health tech, please thank them for
keeping our staff and students safe
Health teams are dedicated to working The health techs work closely with their and healthy.
collaboratively in order to keep practices nurses to help implement all of these
We Our School Nurses and Health Technicians!
A New Superintendent is Coming to PSD
S uperintendent Dr. Art Jarvis was
selected by the Peninsula School
District Board of Directors in July 2018
students be successful. Board directors
are also committed to providing an open,
transparent, and collaborative process in
as the district’s interim superintendent hiring the new superintendent.
and continued as superintendent for the
2019-2020 and 2020-2021 school years. The board hired Northwest Leadership
Dr. Jarvis will be retiring from the district Associates, a search consultant firm, to
psd401.net/suptsearch
at the end of the 2020-2021 school year. conduct the superintendent search. for more information on the
superintendent search process.
Selecting a new superintendent is one The board tentatively plans to announce
of the most important decisions the and introduce the new superintendent
board makes for the district. Finding and by the end of March 2021 in order for
hiring the right chief executive for the the new superintendent to begin in the
leadership team is critical to the success district on July 1, 2021. These dates are
of students and staff. The board is subject to change as the search process
committed to finding a superintendent continues.
who will connect and partner with the
community and help its schools and Please visit
Peninsula School District | Compass 7
Beyond
Classroom
the
B eyond the classroom instruction taking place remotely or
in-person on school campuses, PSD staff continue working hard
to provide essential services for the district to run efficiently.
How has our staff adapted
to the 2020-2021 school
year in the midst of
COVID-19?
Transportation
Although most students have been “The fall of 2020 has brought
learning remotely this year, PSD bus with it many challenges for the
drivers are still transporting small groups Transportation Department. As
of students to and from school who have we worked with the administration
been learning in-person. Bus drivers team to come up with routes and
have also partnered with PSD’s Nutrition stops for our small groups, we were
Services Department to deliver school pushed to do things in a way we
meals over the summer and school haven’t before. This has definitely
year. Bus drivers follow strict COVID-19 been a lesson in stepping out of the
safety protocols, including cleaning and box, which has been a real test in
disinfecting their buses between each our abilities. But as always, we get
bus run, to help keep students safe. the job done.”
Stephanie O’Brien-Fors
Kurt Olson, Bus Driver Transportation Supervisor
Maintenance, Grounds, and Warehouse
PSD’s maintenance staff maintains “Our staff continues to maintain
and services mechanical, electrical, our facilities and grounds, providing
plumbing, and low-voltage electronic essential services for the continuing
systems throughout all PSD schools operations of the district. With
and facilities. Groundskeepers care for COVID-19 safety protocols in place,
203 acres of land at schools, facilities, we have been able to complete many
and athletic fields, and warehouse staff maintenance and grounds projects
perform essential deliveries throughout already this year, and our warehouse
the district and manage the storage of staff have remained safe while
furniture, supplies, curriculum, and food delivering much needed
in district warehouses. These groups items to schools.”
work together to ensure facilities are
running safely and efficiently for all Jeff Otis
students and staff. Maintenance Supervisor
Tim Sicotte, Grounds Worker
8 Peninsula School District | Compass
Technology
“Our work this year has taken new The technology team within PSD’s
shape and emphasis as we’ve Department of Learning & Innovation
navigated and supported the shift to plays an integral part in supporting
remote learning. While we recognize remote learning. Work has included
remote learning does not replace all ongoing support for PSD’s one-to-
that in-person learning offers, I am one device program by ensuring
proud of the way our district’s staff Chromebooks have been provided to all
and students have embraced and students, plus distributing WiFi hotspots
grown in utilizing digital learning to families for internet access. Other
tools for classroom instruction, and work includes providing support for
the role in which our department’s tools such as Zoom, Google Education
technology staff has been able to tools and Schoology, the virtual learning
serve in supporting that work.” management system utilized by PSD, for
remote learning consistency between
Kris Hagel grade levels and classes.
Executive Director, Digital Learning
Brad White, Desktop Support Technician
Nutrition Services
“Part of our job is to make sure kids PSD’s Nutrition Services Department
get fed, and we’ve continued to learn prepares nutritious meals in schools for
how to make it work and adapt. At those students learning in-person, and
the end of the day, it’s about feeding by curbside pickup and meal delivery
kids. That’s why we’re here.” routes driven by PSD bus drivers for
remote learners. Staff also provide meal
Katie Walters kits for students during school breaks,
Nutrition Services Director so that students who need meals can
have enough to eat when out of school.
Thanks to a funding waiver extension
from the U.S. Department of Agriculture,
all in-person and remote students
under 18 years old can receive school
breakfasts and lunches free of charge for
the entire school year.
Tina Burbridge, Kitchen Lead at Harbor Heights ES
Custodial
“This year, custodians have Peninsula School District custodians are
continued working hard to clean responsible for cleaning and maintaining
and disinfect our schools, paying district schools and facilities. Custodians
particular attention to high-touch clean and disinfect classrooms and
areas. I cannot be more proud of our bathrooms, vacuum, mop, and ensure
team’s efforts to ensure each school schools and other facilities are clean
and district building provides a clean and safe places for students and staff
environment for the safety of all to learn and work. They also ensure
students and staff.” garbage and recycling is handled
properly at each site.
Candy Lawson
Coordinator of Facilities Services
Jill Clark, Head Custodian at Henderson Bay HS
Peninsula School District | Compass 9
School Construction: Elementary School #9 Update
Elementary School #9 is one of four elementary construction projects, and six projects overall, funded by the 2019 capital projects bond.
Rendering Credit: Integrus Architecture
Meet Elementary School #9’s Core Team
David Brooks Kelli Willson Carlyn HansonSmith Nichola Wright
PRINCIPAL TEACHER TEACHER TEACHER
Brenda Abel Jeremy Wilson Stacy Bigger
OFFICE MANAGER MUSIC SPECIALIST TEACHER
T he core planning team of educators
at Elementary School #9 was
chosen last December. The core
Driven by a belief in all learners, the team
will help plan for and design a learning
environment in which everyone develops
navigate this work during a pandemic,”
Principal David Brooks said. “It is exciting
to bring a team together and focusing on
team sets the stage for dreaming, a passion for learning, takes ownership designing a school that uses inclusive
designing, and developing the new for their learning, and contributes to a practices to empower all learners to
school’s vision, culture, learning and positive learning community. discover and develop their passion for
support systems, program logistics, and learning and making a difference in our
operating procedures. They serve as key “Knowing that we have a community community and world.”
communicators and will act as catalysts of learners ready to start in September
for growing the school and making of 2021, growing a brand new school Elementary School #9 is located on
connections that bring staff, students, culture and systems to support all Harbor Hill Drive in Gig Harbor and will be
and families together. learners is a tall order, especially as we officially named in early 2021.
Find more information about PSD’s school construction at psd401.net/capitalprojects
10 Peninsula School District | CompassPioneer Elementary School Opens Its Doors
Pioneer Elementary School opened its doors to students and staff on Tuesday, January 19. Pioneer is the first elementary school to open out of four elementary
construction projects, and six projects overall, funded by the 2019 capital projects bond.
P ioneer Elementary is the first new
elementary school to be added to the
district in 34 years.
It is the first school completed out of
four elementary construction projects,
and six projects overall, funded by
the 2019 capital projects bond. The
bond was passed by voters, approving
school construction to address extreme
elementary overcrowding and other
emergent infrastructure needs.
Pioneer Elementary School students and
“I am honored and proud staff have been housed at the Henderson
to watch our dreams as a Bay High School building near the new
community come to fruition. building site located on Skansie Avenue
Every step of the project has in Gig Harbor since the beginning of the
been a remarkable experience, as 2020-2021 school year. They were able
we have been given the freedom to move to the new Pioneer Elementary
to rethink education and create on January 19.
the space in which students
get to experience wonder and Check our website at psd401.net/
imagine the possible.” PIEbuild for more information and
photos.
Stephanie Strader Pictured: Anna Martin, Office Manager (top);
Pioneer Elementary Principal Pioneer students find their classrooms (bottom)
Peninsula School District | Compass 11#WeArePSD
Peninsula School District
PENINSULA 14015 62nd Ave NW
Gig Harbor, WA 98332
Non-profit Org.
U.S. POSTAGE
SCHOOL DISTRICT PAID
Tacoma, WA
www.psd401.net Permit No. 1501
253-530-1000
ECRWSS
POSTAL CUSTOMER @psd401 facebook.com/psd401 @psd401
PENINSULA
SCHOOL DISTRICT
Compass
Board of Directors
David Olson | Lori Glover
Deborah Krishnadasan | Chuck West
Natalie Wimberley
Superintendent
Dr. Art Jarvis
The Compass is produced by
the Peninsula School District
Communications Department.
253-530-1000 | psd401.net
TOP ROW: Voyager 2nd grade student Ali K. on her first day back to school for in-person learning; Peninsula High School student Connor B.; Elementary students
at Purdy and Pioneer watch an experiment while on a virtual field trip to the Pacific Science Center; Minter Creek 3rd grade student Reece C. shows his artwork.
MIDDLE ROW: Gig Harbor High School football workout; Harbor Ridge Middle School student Hunter B.; Evergreen 2nd grade student Aniya W. reads in class.
BOTTOM ROW: Peninsula High School’s band plays school fight song together virtually.
The Peninsula School District does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation including gender expression
or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the
Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. Inquiries regarding compliance and/or grievance procedures may be directed to the District’s Title IX and Compliance Officer, Section 504 and ADA Coordinator, John
Yellowlees, at (253) 530-1081, email yellowleesj@psd401.net. Mailing address: 14015 62nd Ave. NW, Gig Harbor, WA 98332.You can also read
