A diverse community of lifelong learners in Lacey, Washington
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Family Newsletter
Every month, we send an email newsletter to our families, staff, and students highlighting the upcoming events, news, and more! Read the latest issue below, or check out past issues from this school year.
There is nothing quite like spending time reading with my young grandchildren. It reminds me that instilling a love of reading in children at a young age yields lifelong benefits. Reading is a foundational skill, and we work every day to help students experience the joy of reading.
This year, we have applied the results of our participation in a three-year national reading study by enhancing reading instruction districtwide in grades K-2. The Enhanced Core Reading Instruction (ECRI) is a systematic, evidence-based method for teaching young learners the foundations of language and is a supplement to the district's primary reading curriculum. ECRI’s daily routines strengthen reading skills and confidence in our young students. Our educators work to spark and reinforce the joy of reading throughout our students' educational journey!
I continue to receive questions about immigration enforcement on our school campuses. We are committed to ensuring a safe, welcoming environment where students can focus on learning. We recently added information about this issue on the NTPS website home page and each school home page so that families and the community are aware of our policy and procedure and the state guidance on this issue.
Finally, this month's Joy of Learning video shares Evergreen Forest Elementary 5th-grade students’ animal projects, where students choose an animal, and learn all about its size, habitat, and diet. They create and decorate animals from cardboard boxes and share their findings with younger students. This activity encourages creativity, research, presentation skills, and of course, joy!
Our community reading initiative welcomes award-winning author Varian Johnson for Lacey Loves to Read 2025. Varian is the author of several novels for children and young adults, including The Parker Inheritance, which won both Coretta Scott King Author Honor and Boston Globe/Horn Book Honor awards. He will visit Lacey for a special meet-the-author community event at 6:00 pm on Thursday, February 13, in the North Thurston High School Koval Center Auditorium. Learn more about Lacey Loves to Read 2025!
The SmileMobile will be at Mountain View Elementary (1900 College Street SE) from February 18-21. The dental team will see babies (first tooth) through high school students, as well as pregnant/postpartum adults. The appointment may include an examination, oral health education, fluoride varnish, sealants, simple extractions, fillings, and x-rays.
Each April, we celebrate the Month of the Military Child (MOMC) to honor our military-connected students. Show your support by ordering MOMC spirit wear! This year’s logo was designed by Dhani, a 10th grader at Envision Career Academy, and spirit wear sales benefit student-led activities at Envision. The online store will be open February 10 through March 7. Orders can be picked up at Envision Career Academy March 24–28 or shipped for an additional fee.
Is your student interested in attending our choice middle school, Aspire Performing Arts Academy? Come to application night at 6:00 pm on Monday, February 24. Enjoy performances by Aspire music groups and learn about the application and selection process. You can fill out an application that night to join the Firebirds! Learn more about applying to Aspire.
Join us during our annual Billy Frank Jr. celebration from 5:00–7:30 pm on Wednesday, March 19, at Timberline High School. Enjoy activities and presentations from our schools and community partners. Food trucks will be on-site for those wishing to purchase refreshments.
We proudly present this event in partnership with the Nisqually Indian Tribe.
Superintendent Troy Oliver spent much of his first six months meeting with community members, school district staff, elected officials, families, and students. Read a summary of what he heard: both district strengths and opportunities for improvement.
The winter 2025 NTPS Community Connections newsletter hit mailboxes last week. This quarterly publication shares information with our community about many of the great things happening in NTPS – including new efforts to build literacy skills in young students, construction updates, and more.
NTPS has begun its work to prepare a 2025-26 budget. NTPS leaders are closely watching the current legislative session, and we've started our enrollment projections for this coming school year (see the enrollment and financial update presentation from the January 21, 2025, School Board meeting). Our Board of Directors has approved the 2025 NTPS legislative priorities, which focus on ensuring all students have equitable access to continuous learning opportunities, quality programs, and future success
Recently, high school students in Career and Technical Education classes from around the district took a trip to Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Students saw firsthand different career paths in the military service by touring Madigan Army Medical Center, as well as the 2-135th Aviation Regiment (an Army Reserve Unit) where they got to go inside of a CH-47 Chinook helicopter! Thank you to the Lacey Army Recruiting office and JBLM personnel for organizing this incredible tour highlighting the many career paths offered through the military. Visit our district’s Facebook and Instagram pages for more examples of learning and fun in our schools!
We’ve invited community organizations and professionals to offer free educational workshops, panels, and workshops for our families. Choose a topic or age level relevant to your family and sign up! Find details on the Family Education Opportunities page.
Current opportunities
Bilingual Preschool Storytime (ages 3–5 and their guardians)
Success in the Early Years (for guardians of ages 3–5)
Winning at Parenting (for guardians of K–5th graders)
Tweens & Teens (for guardians of 6th–12th graders)
Our School Board Meetings are an excellent place to hear the latest news from around the district. Be sure to review our Board meeting highlights to learn about:
The January 7 meeting, which included reflections from Chambers Prairie Elementary School students on what makes them excited to come to school, and an update on early learning offerings around our district to support kindergarten readiness.
The January 21 meeting, which included student updates on the Komachin Middle School Future Business Leaders of America chapter, and a district budget and enrollment projection update.
February 3-7 is National School Counseling Week. Thank you to our NTPS school counselors, who work daily to support our students' academic and social-emotional needs. You are integral to helping our students experience success now and in the future!
February 17-21 is Transportation Appreciation Week. Thank you to our dedicated NTPS transportation team, who work together to ensure our students get to and from school safely and on time each day.
Each month this school year, we feature a staff member who embodies our 2024-25 district theme, Joy of Learning! This month’s Joy of Learning Staff Spotlight is Beth Belisle, a teacher at Timberline High School.
“She’s amazing. Beth cares about kids and about sustaining a culture of positivity at Timberline,” said Timberline High School Principal Paul Dean. “Beth focuses on finding what assets students have and builds on that. She has a profound impact on our students and models what it means to be a leader with service at the heart of leadership.”
Tell us a little about yourself.
My name is Beth Belisle, and this year marks my 17th year in education, 15 of which have been at Timberline High School. I graduated from North Thurston Public Schools in 2001, and while I didn’t know then that I would end up where I started, it’s been a rewarding full circle moment. At Timberline, I am the Activities Coordinator, and I teach Leadership and American Literature. My passion is student leadership and helping to serve our student community through events and activities. I feel fortunate that I work for a school that supports my students’ big ideas and dreams.
Outside of the classroom, my hobbies include spending time with my family, traveling, and running. I have two young children who attend Lakes Elementary. My daughter does competitive dance, and my son plays soccer and basketball. My husband Brian and I also run an in-home cupcake bakery that we started in 2020. This side business helps to fund our family’s love of travel.
What do you like best about your job?
High school age is special because our students are just starting to test drive the adult version they want to become. My favorite part of my job is the relationships built with my students during this intense time of self-discovery. I love watching my students learn new ways to be their best self, and when mistakes happen, being a positive adult to remind them how capable they truly are. It’s really a cool experience to watch students “grow up” right before your eyes in the four years they are in high school.
In some instances, these relationships span beyond the four years that the students may sit inside my classroom. I have received college graduation announcements and have been invited to weddings and baby showers. It’s truly remarkable to watch these young people flourish into their adult selves and it’s one of the highest honors to stay connected with my students after graduation.
What does the Joy of Learning mean to you?
Change is hard for me, as I am known to be a creature of habit. I feel most comfortable within a routine I am accustomed to. Being in education has helped me to work out my “change muscle” and embrace the flexibility of learning something new. To me, the Joy of Learning means finding something that you are either interested in or enjoy doing and investing time and energy into that area. Doing so will provide you with a better understanding of its innermost workings. You can then go on to share that depth of knowledge and learning with others who may share your same passions, or those you may inspire along the way. The Joy of Learning looks like action. DOING things that help to shape who you are or who you’re aiming to become, while finding ways to enjoy the process along the way. You’re never too old to try something new!