January 6 - Levy Information Forum, Kopachuck Middle School, 4:45 p.m.
January 19 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day, No School
January 20 - Levy Information Forum, Swift Water Elementary, 4:45 p.m.
January 26 - Levy Information Forum, Evergreen Elementary, 6 p.m.
January 30 - Semester Break, No School
February 10 - Renewal Levy Ballots Due
February 16-20 - Mid-winter Break, No School
Highlights of the Month
Levy Renewal on February 10 Ballot
Visiting Classrooms and Reading with Students
FIRST LEGO League Success Across the District
Real-World Science Comes Alive with GHFMO Partnership
January is School Board Recognition Month
Dear Peninsula School District Families and Staff,
Welcome back from winter break! I hope your break was restful and that 2026 is off to a great start. This month brings student achievements to celebrate and important information to share about our schools.
Levy Renewal on February 10 Ballot
Peninsula School District will place a Replacement Educational Programs and Operations (EP&O) Levy on the February 10 ballot. This measure renews the levy that voters approved in 2023, which expires at the end of this year. Local levy funding represents approximately 17% of our overall budget and supports vital student programs and services that are not fully funded by the state. This three-year renewal would continue funding essential staff and programs across our district.
If approved, the levy will continue to support academic excellence through educators, early childhood education, arts, music, technology specialists, and curriculum updates. It funds critical student support services including nurses, psychologists, counselors, and paraeducators. The levy also supports school safety officers, athletics and extracurricular activities, maintenance and custodial services, and music and arts programs across all our schools.
Tonight is the first Community Levy Information Forum at Kopachuck Middle School at 4:45 p.m. Information forums are also scheduled for January 20 at Swift Water Elementary and January 26 at Evergreen Elementary. Ballots will be mailed in late January and are due by February 10, 2026. Learn more at psd401.net/levy, and watch the video below.
Visiting Classrooms and Reading with Students
This winter, I've had the joy of visiting our elementary classrooms to read aloud some of my favorite children's stories to students. There's something special about sharing a good book with young learners and seeing their faces light up with wonder and imagination. I'll continue visiting elementary schools across the district throughout January. These moments with students remind me why we do this work and why your support of our schools matters so much.
FIRST LEGO League Success Across the District
Our students excelled at this year’s FIRST LEGO League regional competitions in Tacoma, with teams from Discovery, Pioneer, Evergreen, Artondale, Swift Water, and Vaughn elementary schools competing in the Unearthed challenge focused on archaeology. Pioneer Elementary's Team 2 won the Innovation Project Award, the top recognition out of 28 teams, while their Team 3 earned Finalist honors. Discovery Elementary sent nine rookie teams and brought home four awards, including the Innovation Project Award for Team Tera Discovery. Two PSD teams are advancing to semi-finals: Team Artifact Hunters from Discovery and Team TheHornets6 from Evergreen Elementary.
The dedication our students showed was remarkable. Teams worked during STEAM class, recess, and after school to perfect their robots and innovation projects. As Pioneer Innovation teacher Justin Towner noted, “Our students worked incredibly hard, showed perseverance, and demonstrated what it means to learn by doing.” FIRST LEGO League gives students real-world problem-solving experience and helps develop critical thinking skills through hands-on robotics challenges. Watching elementary students tackle complex engineering and design problems with creativity and determination reminds us why STEAM education matters.
Real-World Science Comes Alive with GHFMO Partnership
Gig Harbor Fire and Medic One brought the science of fire directly into our eighth-grade classrooms at Goodman Middle School. Firefighters joined teachers Melissa Guttormsen and Tami Bradford to teach hands-on lessons about heat transfer—conduction, convection, and radiation—connecting abstract concepts to the real situations first responders encounter every day. Students heard real stories from the field, asked thoughtful questions, and made connections between classroom learning and the work firefighters do every day. As Guttormsen shared, “Students were completely dialed in—they were asking thoughtful questions, loved having the firefighters in the room, and were genuinely excited to learn from them.”
This collaboration represents exactly the kind of career-connected learning that prepares our students for the future. The firefighters, trained through UL Research Institutes’ Xplorlabs, brought important safety lessons about lithium battery safety and fire sprinklers while also introducing students to the fire service as a career pathway. Division Chief Tom Wescott noted how rewarding it was to watch students grasp complex concepts of thermodynamics. GHFMO has been a valued partner at the elementary and high school levels for years, and this middle school expansion deepens our commitment to bringing engaging and standards-aligned learning experiences to our students. We are grateful to Chief Dennis Doan and the entire GHFMO team for their dedication to education and safety in our community.
School Board Recognition Month
January is School Board Recognition Month, and I want to take a moment to recognize the dedicated individuals who guide Peninsula School District. We also welcome Matt Bruhn, our new board member representing District 2. Our school board members are volunteers who invest countless hours shaping our district's vision and ensuring every student has access to quality education. They make difficult decisions, listen to community voices, and work tirelessly to support our students, staff, and families. Their leadership and commitment to educational excellence have a lasting impact on our schools and community. Please join me in thanking our board members for their service to our district.
I'm grateful for your continued partnership in supporting our students and schools, and I encourage you to attend one of the levy information forums to learn more about this critical funding renewal for our district. I look forward to continuing to visit classrooms and connect with students this winter.
PSD Native American Education Program Grows with New Coordinator and Monthly Events
Peninsula School District's Native American Education Program (NAEP) has expanded with the addition of Coordinator Shana Yellow Calf, who supports students alongside NAEP Director Jason LaFontaine. Yellow Calf is enrolled in the Northern Arapaho tribe and is deeply involved in her Native community on the Key Peninsula.
In December, NAEP hosted a family night where more than 50 people enjoyed freshly made frybread and built gingerbread tipis together. In addition to hosting monthly cultural nights, Yellow Calf and LaFontaine visit schools to provide cultural lessons that help Native American students connect with their culture and build community. For more information, go to psd401.net/nativeamericaneducation.
Winter Performances Wowed Crowds at PSD Schools
Choirs, bands, drama departments and classrooms performed across the district during December, showcasing our students’ many talents and focus on the arts in education. From festive holiday concerts to theatrical productions, students delivered memorable performances that highlighted months of practice and artistic growth.
Celebration Honored PHS as National Banner Unified Champion
An incredible schoolwide celebration honored the amazing leadership and work of Peninsula High School students, as Special Olympics North America named PHS a National Banner Unified Champion School. The December assembly also featured an exhibition basketball game, with fans cheering enthusiastically. Congratulations to PHS!
Above photo credits: Perfect Balance Photography
Renewal Levy Information
The Replacement Educational Programs and Operations Levy will be on the February 10, 2026, ballot. The 3-year levy will replace the expiring 2023 levy and provide continued investment in our staff and programs. The levy is critical to maintaining the quality of our local schools, and it accounts for about 17% of the District’s overall budget.
For more information about the levy renewal, go to psd401.net/levy. 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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