Welcome to the 2023-24 school year!

As a district, we work hard to make the back-to-school experience warm and welcoming for all families. Each fall, elementary students and their families meet one-on-one with their teacher to talk about the student’s strengths and growth areas. These Family Connections meetings are a great way to build relationships that are cultivated throughout the school year. At the middle and high school level, we provide extra time in advisory as we kick off a new school year to help our students build relationships with their classmates.

In addition, each of our 24 schools hosts special welcome-back events that help students get excited and feel confident about the new school year. For example, the Lacey Elementary open house in early October is a time for students and families to get classroom updates, meet specialists, and participate in a fun activity! Ignite Family Academy hosts an ice cream social for families to play games and get to know one another. And incoming Timberline High School 9th-graders participate in a “Freshman Orientation Extravaganza” filled with surprises and adventures to set the tone for their high school experience. Check your school’s website if you need more information about welcoming events.

Taking care to welcome students intentionally is one way we foster a Culture of Kindness where students feel encouraged, supported, and part of a community. Through our social-emotional learning curriculum K-12, we strengthen relationships between students in the classroom and the school community. Our intentional focus creates an environment where all students feel safe and welcome.

Thank you for embracing a Culture of Kindness. Join us in celebrating the kindness you witness in and around our schools by reporting students' acts of kindness! If you are new to our district, I extend a special welcome to the NTPS family. You can expect to hear from me monthly as we partner to provide students with an excellent education.

Deb Clemens
Superintendent

Join us for a webinar about a proposed Educational Programs & Operations levy and a proposed Capital Levy for technology, safety, and facility improvements at noon on Wednesday, September 27. Superintendent Deb Clemens will provide an overview of how the measures would support our schools with refreshed technology, safety upgrades, and program support, and there will be time for a live Q&A with district staff. Pre-registration is required. We hope to see you there! Register to attend >>

Stop by our annual Stuff the Bus event from 9:00 am–2:00 pm on Saturday, September 30, at the Hawks Prairie Walmart (1401 Galaxy Drive NE) to help support NTPS families in need. Win prizes while donating school supplies, backpacks, toiletries, canned and packaged food, children's books, and household cleaning supplies to help our families in need throughout the school year. Learn more about Stuff the Bus >>

Join us at Lacey Children’s Day from 11:00 am–2:00 pm on Saturday, October 7, at Huntamer Park (618 Woodland Square Loop SE). The theme this year is Bugs! Stop by the NTPS booth to enjoy a bug-themed activity. Rain or shine, we will be there! 

The Skyward Family Access upgrade is complete! Please take a moment to log in and familiarize yourself with the new user interface. While you’re there, you can review your family’s contact information for accuracy and complete back-to-school forms.

Did you know you can report student absences in Family Access? Use the Attendance tile to report absences and even copy the request to multiple students, if needed. This automatically sends a message to your school office – no phone call is required! Read Family Access absence reporting instructions >>

The NTPS School Board approved the 2023-24 school year budget at the August 15, 2023, meeting. The budget includes funding for employees, equipment, and supplies while maintaining a necessary reserve. Read more about our district budget >>

This year, students at eight NTPS schools will receive free breakfasts and lunches!

• Chambers Prairie Elementary
• Envision Career Academy
• Lacey Elementary
• Lydia Hawk Elementary
• Mountain View Elementary
• Nisqually Middle School
• Pleasant Glade Elementary
• Seven Oaks Elementary

No-cost meals are available due to the USDA’s Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) and a new state law. We are thankful for this extra support for our students as we head into the new school year!

Students at all other district schools can qualify for free meals using the Free & Reduced-Price Meals Application. Qualifying students at all schools can waive their ASB fees by completing a Consent to Share form in Skyward Family Access. Learn more about free and reduced-price meals >>

Families who have filled out the Free & Reduced-Price Meals application will have their eligibility notification posted in Family Access. Please log into Skyward Family Access to check the status of your application under the Portfolio tile. Look for an attachment type of Food Service Letter.

More information about free and reduced-price meals >>

You will see more buses on the road as the school year kicks off. We want to be sure our students, drivers, and community members are safe in and around school buses. Please do your part by refreshing your understanding of state laws about when you, as a driver, should stop when around a school bus. We recently posted a helpful school bus safety video from the Washington State Patrol to our Facebook page (see below).

Families should also review the student rider expectations in the Student Rights & Responsibilities Handbook.

We love our volunteers! Volunteering is a great way to support NTPS schools, and there are many opportunities throughout the year to make a difference. New volunteers must submit an application, which includes a background check. Find out more about volunteering and apply today >>

September is Attendance Awareness Month! Consistent attendance helps students thrive in school and sets up good habits that last a lifetime. Regular attendance is missing up to one school day a month, whether excused or unexcused. Good school attendance means:

• Preschoolers learn the good habit of showing up on time.
• Elementary students read well by the end of 3rd grade.
• Middle schoolers pass important courses.
• High schoolers stay on track for graduation.

You can support good attendance by:

• Making attendance the expectation.
• Using early release or days off to schedule appointments when possible.
• Setting a regular bedtime and morning routine and schedule.
• Preparing for school the night before.

When a safety-related incident occurs on or near an NTPS school, we strive to communicate quickly and accurately with families. Here are some things to know as we start a new school year:

• A lockdown means all campus doors are locked, and students remain inside their classrooms.
• A lockout means all exterior doors are locked, and the school day proceeds inside the building.

In the event of a safety-related incident, the top priority is ensuring staff and students are safe. After that occurs, school leaders will communicate with families through School Messenger to keep them updated as appropriate.

If there is a safety-related incident at your child’s school:

• Please do not go to the school unless directed.
• Please do not call your child’s cell phone. Depending on the incident, a ringing phone is a safety hazard.

We have thorough plans and processes in place to keep our school community safe. Learn more about Safety in our Schools >>

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and community members can register for free suicide prevention training offered this fall by Family Education & Support Services and CHOICE Regional Health Network. The Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) training is a 90-minute evidence-based training providing practical suicide prevention strategies for work, school, home, and community. Learn more and register >>

IT Professionals Day is September 20. We begin the school year by recognizing the hard work of our district technology team. We appreciate your dedication to keeping us all connected and our systems running smoothly!