December 22 to January 2 - Winter Break, No School
January 5 - First Day Back to School after Break
January 6 - Levy Information Forum, Kopachuck Middle School, 5 p.m.
January 19 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day, No School
January 20 - Levy Information Forum, Swift Water Elementary, 5 p.m.
January 26 - Levy Information Forum, Evergreen Elementary, 6 p.m.
Highlights of the Month
A Family Tradition of Reading
Favorite Books from Our Own Librarians
Building Strong Readers in PSD
Listening and Learning at Student Advisory Symposium
Unified Sports Participants Share the Power of Inclusion
Student Athletes Lead at Sportsmanship Summit
Dear Peninsula School District Families and Staff,
December brings shorter days, twinkling lights, and a countdown to winter break. As we finish out 2025, I hope you'll find a chance to connect with your children and build special traditions together.
A Family Tradition of Reading
Every family has their own rituals, whether it's baking together during the holidays, taking weekend hikes, or curling up with a good book. In my family, reading was our tradition. Growing up in a family of readers and writers, one of the first core values I learned was a love of reading. My grandmother, Edna Hatlestad Hong, was a talented writer who published 12 books and translated all of Søren Kierkegaard volumes into English. Some of my most treasured early memories are spending time with my grandmother, reading together. This winter, I can’t wait to visit our elementary schools and read aloud some of my favorite children’s stories to our students.
Favorite Books from Our Own Librarians
Are you looking for ideas for the next good book for your student? Our school librarians have shared some of their favorite book titles, perfect for reading during winter break or gifting for the holidays. December is also Read a New Book Month, so take this opportunity to check out these recommendations and cozy up with a new book on a rainy day.
Reading truly does ignite imaginations and open doors. Our elementary and middle schools are three months into our new English language arts curriculum, and we are hearing from teachers and students that learners are already thriving. The content is engaging students, from the human body in first grade to mythology and fables in 4th grade to brain science in 7th grade. With high-quality curriculum and comprehensive professional development for our teachers, we are empowering students to become confident readers.
Listening and Learning at Student Advisory Symposium
I had the privilege of meeting with students in November for our third year of the Superintendent Student Advisory Symposium, and once again, I was deeply impressed by their thoughtfulness and insight. Twenty-four students, eight from each of our three high schools, joined me for a three-hour workshop focused on honest dialogue about student success, mental health, and belonging. Students shared their experiences, highlighted programs and practices that are making a difference, and worked collaboratively to design new solutions to support PSD students, staff, and families. I learned a tremendous amount from their perspectives, and I'm grateful for their willingness to actively shape the future of our district.
Unified Sports Participants Share the Power of Inclusion
Our own Unified Sports partners and athletes joined board members and district staff to lead a breakout session at the annual Washington State School Directors' Association conference. Their presentation highlighted how important inclusion is in our schools and shared how special education parent engagement builds trust and drives outcomes. The growth of Unified Sports is a testament to how our students elevate inclusion every day. Later this month, we are excited to celebrate Peninsula High School’s national recognition as a Special Olympics Unified Champion School.
Student Athletes Lead at Sportsmanship Summit
Student athletes from across the Puget Sound League came together last month for the inaugural Sportsmanship Summit, a student-driven event centered on sportsmanship, leadership, and building positive athletic culture. I am deeply proud of our Peninsula High School and Gig Harbor High School students who serve on the Student Athlete Leadership Council and represented PSD at Silas High School in Tacoma. Their commitment to elevating sportsmanship and strengthening relationships across schools reflects the very best of our district values and demonstrates the positive impact our students have beyond our community.
December is a reminder that learning happens everywhere: in classrooms, on athletic fields, and at home. Whether your family tradition is reading or something else, these moments together matter. Ask your children what they're learning, share a favorite book together, or simply get outside and explore. Every moment of curiosity counts.
Our Veterans Day Weekend drone show became an unexpected lesson in resilience. When technical challenges delayed the launch, our student-led Performance Drone Team stayed calm and worked through each problem until the show could safely go on. Our community showed incredible patience, watching students put their skills to the test in real time. When the drones finally lit up the harbor, it stood not only as a tribute to our veterans, but also as a testament to perseverance, teamwork, and problem-solving. Thank you to our sponsors for supporting this innovative program, and to our veterans for their service and sacrifice. Sign up for the Drone Team newsletter to get details on upcoming drone show dates!
Gig Harbor High School drama students performed The Play That Goes Wrong, a whodunit play within a play, where everything that could go wrong did.
Peninsula High School drama students performed a bold reimagining of Hamlet through Reader’s Theater, where every line and pause carried the story.
Key Peninsula Holiday Shuttle is Now Running
The Peninsula Transit Pilot Program has officially begun service. From Black Friday through December 26, the program is partnering with the Key Peninsula and Gig Harbor Holiday Shuttle to offer seven-day-a-week free transportation between the Key Peninsula and Gig Harbor. This expanded holiday schedule supports residents who need access to shopping, seasonal events, healthcare appointments, and essential services during the busiest time of the year. For route details, go to the Peninsula Transit website.
Replacement Educational Programs and Operations (EP&O) Levy
Peninsula School District will place a Replacement Educational Programs and Operations (EP&O) Levy on the February 10, 2026, ballot. This measure is a renewal of the levy voters approved in 2023, which is set to expire at the end of 2026.
Local levy funding makes up about 17% of our overall budget and helps support student programs and services that are not fully funded by the state. If approved, the 3-year renewal levy would continue to fund essential programs and staff, such as:
Academic Excellence: The levy supports educators, early childhood education, arts, music, curriculum updates, highly capable programs, and technology specialists who keep learning connected and engaging.
Student Support: Levy dollars support nurses, psychologists, counselors, speech and language support, and paraeducators who help meet students' everyday needs.
Safety and Security: The levy helps fund safety and security measures across our district, including school safety officers who help keep our campuses secure.
Athletics and Activities: The levy funds student athletics at middle and high schools and other after-school activities, clubs, and other enrichment opportunities.
Music and the Arts: The levy funds music and the arts across our schools, including band, choir, performing arts, and the fine arts.
Maintenance and Custodial Services: The levy helps fund preventative building and athletic field maintenance as well as custodial teams who keep our schools clean and ready for learning every day.
Go to psd401.net/levy for more information about the levy renewal and community information forums in the coming months. Are you registered to vote? You can check your voter registration status or register to vote at https://voter.votewa.gov.
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. If you have questions or complaints regarding alleged discrimination, please call the Peninsula School District Educational Service Center at (253) 530-1000 or visit our office located at 14015 62nd Ave NW, Gig Harbor, WA 98332, and ask for one of the following coordinators: Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator, compliance@psd401.net; Title IX Compliance Coordinator, titleix@psd401.net; 504 Compliance Coordinator, 504@psd401.net; ADA Compliance Coordinator, ada@psd401.net.
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