Past Issues

It’s time to Read Around Lacey! From January 17–31, elementary students can visit participating local businesses and read aloud a short writing sample or book excerpt. A business representative will listen and then share the importance of reading and writing in their work.

Download a Map and get started!

There will be no school on Monday, January 20, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. This National Day of Service encourages all Americans to volunteer to serve others and improve their communities in honor of Dr. King's legacy.

NTPS Military Department invites all active, veterans, reserves, and national guard spouses/partners to our Military Connect Coffee Circle. Come join us for an opportunity to connect with others from 9:30–10:30 am on Tuesday, January 28, in the NTPS District Office Boardroom. Timberland Library will share an overview of their services. RSVP so we can provide enough light breakfast items. Children are welcome, but childcare is not provided.

RSVP to Attend

Share the heritage and cultures of our community at the Lacey Cultural Celebration from 10:00 am–6:00 pm on Saturday, February 1, at Saint Martin's University (5300 Pacific Avenue SE, Lacey, WA 98503). Enjoy music and dance performances, traditional arts and crafts, food from around the world, and more. See more information on the Lacey Parks Culture & Recreation website.

Please join us for a virtual presentation from 5:30–6:30 pm on Wednesday, February 5. An Armed Forces Community Service Financial Readiness Program Manager will provide military families with an overview of classes offered and more. RSVP to receive the meeting link. Questions? Contact militarysupport@nthurston.k12.wa.us.

RSVP to Attend

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, including our recently announced bookmark contest winners!

Help us create our 2025 Month of the Military Child Virtual Art Wall! This year’s theme is Military Children: Brave, Fearless, and Resilient. All NTPS students are invited to participate, and all participants will receive a participation goodie bag. Submit your artwork along with the Virtual Art Wall Entry Form to MilitarySupport@nthurston.k12.wa.us by Friday, February 7. Learn submission details and more on the NTPS Military Support Page.

Help celebrate National Mentoring Month by becoming an NTPS Lunch Buddy! Lunch Buddies dedicate 30 minutes to one hour each week at a local school during lunch or recess to play games, talk, and have fun! You need to be willing to listen, empathize, encourage, and empower your mentee.  

Supportive relationships help students grow and develop. Youth with mentors are more likely to experience increased graduation rates, better attitudes about school, and improved attendance, academic performance, and behavior.  

Learn more about how you can become an NTPS mentor.

The 2025 legislative session begins on January 13. The NTPS School Board has approved the district’s legislative priorities, which focus on equitable access to learning opportunities, quality programs, and future success. Read our 2025 legislative priorities.

Thank you to everyone who attended the October 15 Community Conversation on Accelerating the Future. Community members and partners discussed increasing student involvement in specialized course options such as Advanced Placement, honors, and dual credit. This Community Conversation relates to NTPS Strategic Plan Goal 4: Continuous Growth—All Students, All Subjects.

After each Community Conversation, the NTPS School Board issues a board determination to lay out the next steps. The board determination from the October 15 meeting is now available on the Community Conversation webpage. 

One afternoon last month, many incredible Timberline High School students stayed after school to tie fleece blankets for those in need of warmth in our community. THS Leadership students delivered the blankets to City Gates Ministries in downtown Olympia to help provide some warmth and comfort during the cold months.  Visit our district’s Facebook and Instagram pages for more examples of learning and fun in our schools!

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by North Thurston Public Schools (@ntpsnews)

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 December 10 meeting, where the Board: 

• Recognized the South Sound Reading Foundation for our longstanding partnership, and heard updates on meaningful student opportunities to collaboratively engage and apply learning to solve challenges in their classrooms, schools, and communities. The Board also heard from Envision Career Academy students about many of the great things happening at the school! 

You can register to vote online, by mail, or in-person. Visit the Thurston County Elections Office website to learn more.

Next up in our school video series is South Bay Elementary! Watch the Welcome to South Bay video to learn about a caring community built around student success.

January is School Board Recognition Month. Our School Board directors play a crucial role in supporting student learning by creating a clear vision and establishing strong policies for our district. We appreciate your service as champions for public education!

Military-connected families and staff: Join us for a Military Cookies, Cocoa, and Crafts afternoon from 2:00–4:00 pm on Saturday, December 14, in the NTPS District Office Boardroom. All ages are invited (childcare is not provided). RSVP for the Military Cookies, Cocoa, and Crafts event so we have plenty of supplies and refreshments. Questions? Email militarysupport@nthurston.k12.wa.us

RSVP to Attend

The Highly Capable Program is available to identified students in kindergarten through 8th grade who require advanced learning and enriched instruction. High school students can choose more challenging classes through their counselor. The services offered depend on the grade and need, and students must meet certain standards in testing and academic performance to qualify. Families can submit applications for the program now through Sunday, December 15. Learn more about the Highly Capable program and application process.

All district and school offices will be closed to the public during winter break, from Monday, December 23, through Friday, January 3. We hope you have a restful break! 

The City of Lacey is updating their Comprehensive Plan, which serves as a guiding document for community growth, housing, parks, economic development, transportation, public services, and more. They want to hear from NTPS families and students.

Share your input!

We know that students do their best when they feel safe, and NTPS is dedicated to creating school environments where students practice safe behaviors. This year, in partnership with the North Thurston Education Association, we added a new Behavior Support Team to help with this goal. The team has nine staff members who are specially trained in behavior management.

The team is already collaborating closely with teachers and principals to support students who are having behavior challenges. As the team continues to collaborate with schools, we hope to see positive changes in student behavior throughout our district.

Winter weather is just around the corner, so it’s a good time to review the school closure and delay information on our website. Notice of any school closure or delay will be posted to our website by 6:00 am. We will also send messages via School Messenger (email and text) — please be sure to check your settings in Skyward and School Messenger. 

Last month, North Thurston High School students collected money during lunches to go toward Thanksgiving meals for families in need. Students chose which teacher's bucket to put their donation in, and the teacher with the most donations wore a turkey suit during school!   Visit our district’s Facebook and Instagram pages for more examples of learning and fun in our schools!

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 October 1 meeting, where the Board: 

• The November 6 joint meeting with the Nisqually Tribal Council, where River Ridge High School students shared their experiences participating in the dual credit courses available through the Native Perspectives program.
• The November 7 meeting, where NTPS principals presented their School Improvement Plans, focused on 9th-grade passing rates, middle school assessment scores, and foundational reading skills at the elementary school level.

Local school superintendents reflected on districts’ mobile device expectations, construction updates, state education funding, and more during the November 2024 Superintendents Roundtable. Watch now!

The third community meeting to talk with Superintendent Troy Oliver has been rescheduled to 6:00–7:00 pm on Wednesday, November 13, at Timberline High School. Troy has hosted meetings at various times and locations around the district to meet with and hear from community members.

We hope you can join us! RSVP: communications@nthurston.k12.wa.us

There is no school Wednesday, November 27 through Friday, November 29 for Thanksgiving break. District offices and school buildings will be closed.

Military-connected families and staff: Join us for a Military Cookies, Cocoa, and Crafts afternoon from 2:00–4:00 pm on Saturday, December 14, in the NTPS District Office Boardroom. All ages are invited (childcare is not provided). RSVP for the Military Cookies, Cocoa, and Crafts event so we can provide enough supplies and refreshments. Questions? Email militarysupport@nthurston.k12.wa.us

RSVP

The Highly Capable Program is available to identified students in kindergarten through 8th grade who require advanced learning and enriched instruction. High school students can choose more challenging classes through their counselor. The services offered depend on the grade and need, and students must meet certain standards in testing and academic performance to qualify. Families can submit applications for the program now through Sunday, December 15. Learn more about the Highly Capable program and application process.

Thank you to all veterans in our NTPS community and beyond! We are grateful for your sacrifice, your bravery, and your service. Our schools recognize Veterans Day through activities that honor the veterans among our staff, families, and community. This year, assemblies throughout the district included student musical performances, flag processionals, veteran guest speakers, and more.

We are so proud that Lydia Hawk Elementary 3rd-grade Teacher Maribel Vilchez has won the prestigious 2025 Horace Mann Award for Teaching Excellence!

One of only five educators in the nation to receive this honor, Maribel was selected by an expert panel for her excellence in the classroom, dedication to equity and diversity, engagement with families and communities, commitment to professional development, and advocacy for the teaching profession.

She is a National Board-Certified Teacher and a specialist in bilingual English and Spanish education. Congratulations, Maribel! We are proud to have you representing our district!

Kudos to our Timberline High School Associated Student Body, which hosted more than 500 student leaders from around the state during the Association of Washington Student Leaders (AWSL) fall conference on October 26! The conference focused on empowering student leaders to recognize their potential and inspire change within their schools and communities.

“The ASB Students from Timberline created a conference experience that was second to none,” said AWSL Director James Laymen. “Our hope as an organization is to create opportunities for students to lead and see what they are capable of. The Timberline crew did that, and then some. They knocked it out of the park, and we could not be prouder of their efforts.”

Watch this student-produced video to see some highlights of the day. Way to go, Blazers!

We continue construction and modernization efforts around the district thanks to voter support!

• We are well into Phase 2 of 3 at River Ridge High School. We expect the new commons and kitchen to open in January 2025. Check out some new construction photos and a project timeline.
• We have begun work at Nisqually Middle School to add a turf field, rubberized track, lighting, and seating to provide more capacity for school and community athletics events.
• Work is well underway to replace the southern portion of the Raj Manhas Activity Center on Sleater-Kinney Road! This will enable us to increase enrollment at our Ignite Family Academy for the 2025-26 school year and provide beautiful new space for our Family & Youth Resource Center, the South Sound Reading Foundation, and NTPS Student Records.

Learn more about current NTPS construction and modernization efforts on our Building Our Future webpage. 

As part of his entry plan, Superintendent Troy Oliver would like to meet with recent North Thurston Public Schools graduates to hear their reflections on their educational experience. If you are or know of a recent graduate (2020-2024) who would be interested in meeting with Troy in December, please email superintendent@nthurston.k12.wa.us.

Winter weather is just around the corner, so it’s a good time to review the school closure and delay information on our website. Notice of any school closure or delay will be posted to our website by 6:00 am. We will also send messages via School Messenger (email and text) — please be sure to check your settings in Skyward and School Messenger. 

The Fall 2024 Community Connections newsletter is hitting about 40,000 mailboxes in our community. This quarterly publication shares many of the great things happening in NTPS with our local community – including our Teacher Academy program, expanded free breakfast and lunch options, construction updates, and more. Read the latest issue!

Check out some highlights from this season’s high school athletic events! There’s still time to “catch” a game or two before the fall sports season ends—see upcoming events and purchase tickets ahead of time on each school website.  Visit our district’s Facebook and Instagram pages for more examples of learning and fun in our schools!

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 October 1 meeting, where the Board: 

• Recognized our partnership with Intercity Transit. 
• Heard from Salish Middle School student leaders about their experience starting a Future Business Leaders of America chapter. 
• Got an update on NTPS Strategic Plan Goal 5: Preparedness for Post-Secondary Success. 

Local leaders are working to make Martin Way a more pedestrian-friendly, accessible corridor. Pedestrians and bicyclists face high traffic volumes, high speeds, wide travel lanes, and few opportunities to cross the street safely. Thurston Regional Planning Council (TRPC) is working on a project to identify up to 10 locations for crosswalks along Martin Way.

TRPC wants to hear from NTPS families: Where should those crosswalks go? And what other safety improvements are important to you? Please share your feedback in this brief survey.

• National School Psychology Week is November 11-15. Thank you to all our school psychologists for the important work you do to help our students be successful at school, at home, and in life!

• American Education Week is November 18-22. This week honors many who work in our schools, including Education Support Professionals Day on November 20 and Substitute Educators Day on November 22. Thank you for all you do to keep our schools thriving! 

On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Monday, October 14, we honor the past, present, and future of Native peoples throughout the United States. The NTPS School Board and the Nisqually Tribal Council meet twice a year to grow our partnership, including:

• Enhancing cultural and academic opportunities for Native American students, such as the Native Student Program.
• Implementing the Since Time Immemorial curriculum for all NTPS students.
• Providing staff professional development on tribal sovereignty, Since Time Immemorial, and more.

Learn more about our partnership with the Nisqually Tribe.

Our next Community Conversation will focus on Accelerating the Future: Exploring increased student participation and proficiency in specialized course options such as Advanced Placement, honors, and dual credit. Join other community members from 6:00–8:00 pm on Tuesday, October 15, in the NTPS District Office Boardroom (305 College Street NE). Please register to attend by October 10.

RSVP 

This conversation aligns with NTPS Strategic Plan Goal 4: Continuous Growth – All Students, All Subjects. 

The NTPS School Board hosts Community Conversations to help inform future Board determinations and keep our district focused on our commitments to our students and families. 

We could be anywhere when an earthquake strikes: home, school, work, even at the grocery store. The Great Washington ShakeOut is an annual event to practice earthquake safety. This year’s ShakeOut will be at 10:17 am on Thursday, October 17. Nearly 1 million people around the state participate each year by holding Drop, Cover, and Hold On drills and thinking about how to be better prepared. Learn how you can participate in the ShakeOut. 

Active-duty military and federally employed families: Please return your Federal Impact Aid surveys to your child's school by Friday, October 18. Survey responses are confidential and provide our district with federal funding for military support staff, school events, and more. Download the form on our Military Support page.

Military families (active duty, veterans, reserves, and national guard): Join us for a night of food, laughter, and games! The fun will take place from 5:30–7:30 pm on Tuesday, October 22, in the Timberline High School Commons (6120 Mullen Rd SE). Please RSVP for the event so we can provide enough pizza! Children are welcome (childcare is not provided). Questions? Email militarysupport@nthurston.k12.wa.us.

Families of students in grades 5–12 are invited to a Human Development & HIV/AIDS Parent Education Night from 6:00-8:00 pm on Wednesday, October 23, in the NTPS District Office Boardroom (305 College Street NE). Families can learn more about the health-related education provided at our schools, review the curriculum, and speak to a school nurse.

Please join us for a virtual presentation titled “Coping with Deployment” from 5:30 pm–7:00 pm on Thursday, October 24. American Red Cross facilitators will share resources for military-connected family members on effective ways to cope with the deployment cycle. Please RSVP for the presentation, and you will receive a Zoom link via email. Questions? Email militarysupport@nthurston.k12.wa.us.

Meet Superintendent Troy Oliver from 6:00–7:00 pm on Friday, October 25, at Timberline High School. This community meeting is an opportunity to provide feedback on what you’re proud of in NTPS and where we can improve. Please join us! RSVP: email communications@nthurston.k12.wa.us and tell us you're coming!

Conferences are a great way to discuss student progress and opportunities. All schools will be on a half-day schedule all week. Please check your school website for specific release times.

Your school will announce when conference times are available in Skyward Family Access. View scheduling instructions.

Each year, NTPS partners with the City of Lacey and the Lacey South Sound Chamber on a Compassionate Community project to recognize the importance of treating each other with kindness, respecting differences, and making our district a place where everyone belongs and feels safe.

Our 2024-25 Compassionate Community project is helping ensure hunger never gets in the way of student success. We are partnering with All Kids Win, a local nonprofit that provides weekend food to Thurston County students!

There are many ways our community can help:

• Assemble food bags as a group
• Deliver food bags to schools
• Host a canned chili or tuna drive
• Collect cash donations 

Our high school restorative centers help build school communities that invest in the power of relationships. Students manage conflict by repairing harm and restoring relationships, creating a culture of empathy, accountability, and belonging. A staff facilitator and trained student advocates use the restorative framework at each center.

>

We offer a variety of family education workshops each year to support parents in helping students be the best they can be!

Check out our Family Education Workshops webpage for information on a variety of age-based topics, including:

• Bilingual Preschool Storytime (children ages 3-5 and their guardians)
• Success in the Early Years (guardians of children ages 3-5)
• Winning at Parenting (guardians of students in grades K-5)
• Tweens & Teens (guardians of students in grades 6-12)

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. For returning volunteers, we process renewals automatically every two years and volunteer applications are approved district wide. Find out more about volunteering and apply today! 

The Highly Capable Program is available to identified students in kindergarten through 8th grade who require advanced learning and enriched instruction. High school students can choose more challenging classes through their counselor. The services offered depend on the grade and need, and students must meet certain standards in testing and academic performance to qualify. Families can submit applications for the program now through December 15. Learn more about the program and application process.

Families now have access to a virtual Safety Study Hall, a library of information and resources on health and safety topics including opioid overdose prevention, secure storage of firearms and ammunition, and secure storage of prescription and over-the-counter drugs. The Safety Study Hall was created by the state Department of Health in partnership with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Seven Oaks Elementary School staff and families celebrated the opening of their new traffic garden! Traffic gardens are miniature streetscapes that give kids a realistic and fun place to learn and practice bicycle and pedestrian safety skills. Visit our district’s Facebook and Instagram pages for more examples of learning and fun in our schools!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by North Thurston Public Schools (@ntpsnews)

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 September 3 meeting, which included updates on the NTPS Summer Scholars program, student attendance, and opportunities for student voice.
• The September 17 meeting, which included updates on special education funding and student academic proficiency. 

• October is National Principals Month. NTPS is grateful for our outstanding principals and assistant principals for all they do for our students, staff, and communities.
• October 2 is National Custodian Appreciation Day. Thank you to our incredible custodians for working hard to keep our schools and buildings safe and clean!

Active-duty, veteran, reserve, and National Guard spouses and partners are invited to an NTPS Military Connect Coffee Chat from 9:30–10:30 am on Tuesday, September 24, in the District Office Boardroom (305 College Street NE). Meet other military-connected families in our community and enjoy light refreshments. Children are welcome (childcare is not provided).

RSVP

Stop by our annual Stuff the Bus event from 9:00 am–2:00 pm on Saturday, September 28, at the Hawks Prairie Walmart (1401 Galaxy Drive NE) to help support NTPS families in need! Win prizes while donating school supplies, backpacks, children's books, canned and packaged food, toiletries, and household cleaning supplies. Learn more about Stuff the Bus.

Join us at Lacey Children’s Day from 11:00 am–2:00 pm on Saturday, October 5, at Huntamer Park (618 Woodland Square Loop SE). This year’s theme is Under the Big Top! Stop by the NTPS booth to enjoy a circus-themed activity. Rain or shine, we will be there!

We have Off and Away, All Day mobile device expectations at our schools:

• Cell phones and headphones are put away in backpacks or left at home.
• Smartwatches are set to airplane mode or put away or left home.

With these expectations, we strive for a higher level of school engagement and learning, a reduced level of anxiety and distraction for students, and more positive face-to-face interactions with peers and staff!

Students may use their devices before and after the regular school day. Parents may call the school office to reach their students. Students may also get permission to go to the office to contact a parent. All students have an assigned Chromebook for school-related technology usage. In addition, schools have family-wide communication methods in an emergency. 

Research has found that mobile devices distract students from learning, contribute to peer conflict and bullying, and enable some students to engage in dangerous, high-risk interactions online. 

• In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General issued a public health advisory on the growing concerns about the effects of social media on youth mental health. 
• Supporting students in “unplugging” from social media during the school day can benefit students’ mental health. 
• Studies show that student use of cell phones and other mobile devices, such as smartwatches, during school is distracting and is linked with lower grades and test scores. 

Please support these expectations by having a conversation with your student. Thank you for your partnership!  

At the August 14 NTPS School Board meeting, the Board interviewed candidates for the open position for Director District 3, and selected Sarah Tracy. Tracy replaces Dr. Jennifer Thomas, who announced her resignation effective July 31, 2024.

“We are grateful to Sarah for her willingness to serve the community in this important role,” said NTPS Board President Gretchen Maliska. “We look forward to working with her on behalf of NTPS students and staff very much.”

The Board accepted applications and nominations for this appointment from July 17 through August 7. Tracy will fill the role through the next election in November 2025. 

Tracy holds a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy and a Doctor of Pharmacy, as well as a certificate from the Parenting Coaching Institute at Seattle Pacific University. Her volunteer experience includes serving on the board of directors of Olympia Community School, as a volunteer and PTA president at Olympic View Elementary, and on the family advisory board at Salish Middle School. Tracy is a graduate of Timberline High School. Her two children graduated from River Ridge High School.

“I’ve had a connection with North Thurston Public Schools for almost 45 years,” Tracy said. “Being involved in the schools is a part of who I am. I want to work to ensure success for all of our students. I’m really proud of our district and there’s more work to do. I want to see the district continue to grow and I look forward to participating in pushing that growth.” 

After several years of preparation, we are moving to improved secondary grading practices at all middle and high schools this school year to ensure they are equitable:

• Replacing the current 100-point scale with a 4-point scale. This simplifies grades and makes assessing student performance more straightforward, reducing subjectivity. Letter grades will not go away: the 4-point scale will translate to a letter grade.
• Giving students multiple avenues to show what they know and can do, including various assessment methods (e.g., portfolios, presentations, essays, classroom activities, and projects).
• Creating a consistent policy to allow for and accept late work.
• Setting a limit on extra credit options, which can disproportionately help students who have additional resources and support.

All families should complete the Child Nutrition Application this school year, even if your school provides free breakfasts and lunches. Download the form from our website, or get a paper application from your school and return it to the office!

Completed applications from all families support important funding for all NTPS schools. Families that complete the application may also qualify for additional benefits like waived school fees and summer food assistance. Family eligibility notifications will be posted in Skyward Family Access under the Portfolio tile.

When your student misses school, it’s important that a parent/guardian contact the school to excuse the absence so that students can make up work from those days. Absences can be reported for up to five days by calling the school or using the Attendance tile in Skyward Family Access.

• Good school attendance helps students thrive:   
• 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.  

We want to be sure our students, drivers, and community members are safe in and around school buses. Everyone plays a part!

• Families: Watch this short video about NTPS bus expectations featuring some NTPS students and review the student rider expectations in the Student Rights & Responsibilities Handbook. 
• Those who drive in our community: Refresh your knowledge of when to stop for school buses.
  • 2-lane roadway: both directions stop when the bus's red lights are flashing.
  • 3+ lanes: stop if traveling same direction as bus.
  • Turning lane: stop if traveling same direction as bus.
  • Median: Stop if traveling same direction as bus.

If your family previously set up automatic payments for school meals via the NTPS payment portal, you must set up new automatic payments for the 2024-25 school year. This applies only to families at schools with paid meal service (Aspire Performing Arts Academy, Salish Middle School, North Thurston High School, River Ridge High School, and Timberline High School).

Jarvis meets with his lunch buddy Elijah each week during the school year. They talk, eat lunch, and play games together. Jarvis is teaching Elijah chess, but their favorite game to play together is Uno. (Elijah usually wins, although they sometimes disagree on the rules.)

Thank you to the Chinook Middle School staff, families, and community members who pitched in on a campus beautification day before the start of the school year! It was a fun team effort. Great job, Orcas!

Visit our district’s Facebook and Instagram pages for more examples of learning and fun in our schools!

The NTPS School Board approved the 2024-25 school year budget at the August 14, 2024, meeting. The budget includes funding for employees, equipment, and supplies, while maintaining a 6% fund balance to ensure continued financial stability.

IT Professionals Day is September 17. We begin the school year by recognizing the hard work of our district technology team. We appreciate their dedication to keeping us all connected and our systems running smoothly. Thank someone in tech today!

Get your student’s immunizations up to date before school starts! Thurston County is hosting a free clinic from 4:00–7:00 pm on Thursday, August 15, at North Thurston High School. They will offer all school-required and recommended vaccines for students 3–18. Walk-ins are seen on a first-come, first-served basis, but appointments are available. More information on the Thurston County website.

Want to learn more about our K-12 online school? Join us for a Summit Virtual Academy information night at 5:00 pm on Thursday, August 15, at the NTPS District Office (305 College Street NE).

Register to attend

Is your student riding the bus this year? All bus riders must register to ride the bus by Friday, August 16, to ensure they have a seat for the first day of school. Registration form and information.

Register Now

Reminder: NTPS is moving to the SMART tag mobile app, so families can monitor student bus activity and receive alerts on their cell phones.

Learn more about SMART tag

Did your family participate in the South Sound Reading Foundation’s summer reading challenge? Way to go! Celebrate by turning in your child’s form and picking up the prizes at one of the following locations: 

• 12:00–3:00 pm on Thursday, August 22, at the NTPS District Office (305 College Street NE). 
• 9:00 am–1:00 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays or 2:00–5:30 pm on Wednesdays at the South Sound Reading Foundation office (2830 Willamette Drive NE, Suite A). 

The SmileMobile dental clinic is back in Lacey! The dental team serves babies, children, teens, and pregnant/postpartum people on Apple Health or uninsured. Now taking appointments for August 26-30. The clinic will be parked at Mountain View Elementary (1900 College Street SE). Call 1-888-286-9105 to make your appointment today! Details and info.

The first day of school for your NTPS student depends on their grade. Elementary families are invited to Family Connections meetings on the days before their student’s first day. Find your school’s start and release times on our website.

• Wednesday, September 4: First day for grades 6-12
• Friday, September 6: First day for grades 1-5 (Family Connections meetings September 4-5)
• Monday, September 9: First day of kindergarten (Family Connections meetings September 4-6)

What are Family Connections meetings? Teachers schedule these one-on-one sessions with your family to learn more about your student's needs and to help get the year off to a great start. 

Attend your school’s open house! Open houses are a great opportunity for students and families to get to know the school space and learn about services including specialists, school meals, counseling, and more. Dates will be scheduled and announced by your school. 

Spots are still available for 3- and 4-year-old students in our preschool classrooms at Meadows, Mountain View, Pleasant Glade, and Woodland Elementary Schools! Learn more about NTPS Preschool.

Each year, our district theme offers a common focus for the school year. For the 2024-25 school year, the NTPS theme is Joy of Learning!

Every day in our schools, we see students experiencing the joy of learning. While learning should be rigorous and challenging, it should also be joyful. Meaningful learning opportunities foster curiosity and a joy of learning while developing academic and social skills to meet high standards.

The 2024-25 printed calendar, which will be available at your school this fall, includes some examples. Starting in September and throughout the school year, we will roll out short videos that highlight additional examples of the joy of learning around the district. We will also spotlight some of our talented employees who support the joy of learning in our schools!

View our annual legal notices, service announcements, procedures, and Student Rights & Responsibilities Handbook information.

Read District Notices

Need a quick list of back-to-school tasks and information? Visit our online Back to School Checklist! Get info on the first day of school, bus registration, supply lists, and more. This page is updated frequently with the latest information, so check for updates often!

Back to School Checklist

We’ve updated our district and school websites with a fresh look and feel! Changes include better navigation for all screen types, improved search, and simplified design. Take a look around!  

Have feedback? Submit your suggestions to our web team!  

Thanks to funding from state and national school nutrition programs, 17 NTPS schools will offer free breakfast and lunch to all students in the 2024-25 school year! 

Five NTPS schools will have paid breakfast and lunch service in the 2024-25 school year. Families at these schools can still qualify for free meals! 

All families should complete the Child Nutrition Eligibility & Educational Benefits Application (formerly the Free & Reduced-Price Meals Application) this school year, even if your school provides free breakfasts and lunches to all students. Download the PDF form or get a paper application from your school and return it to the office starting August 19.  

Completed applications from all families provide important funding for all NTPS schools. Families that complete the application can also qualify for additional benefits like waived school fees and summer food assistance. 

Free backpacks and school supplies will be available later this month for families in need while supplies last. We are grateful to our partners at Little Red School House for helping ensure every student starts school with pride! Interested families should contact their schools toward the end of August. 

During the NTPS Summer Scholars program:  

• Preschool students do fun activities that build social and academic skills.
• Elementary students are working on math and English language arts.
• Middle school students engaged in a fun STEM camp.
• High school students engaged in history and biology to photography and commercial arts classes to catch up, get ahead, and explore new subjects.

Visit our district’s Facebook and Instagram pages for more examples of learning and fun in our schools!

Each year, we update our Strategic Plan, which provides a roadmap for our work to ensure all students are empowered and future-ready! The plan defines student outcomes and related accountability measures. We regularly update the NTPS Board on our progress. Thank you to the students, parents, staff, community members, teachers, and district administrators who provide input on the plan.  

Summer is a busy time for construction work around the district! We are making parking lot and bus loop improvements at Komachin and Nisqually Middle Schools, completing secure entrances at several elementary schools, and continuing the modernization efforts at River Ridge High School and the Raj Manhas Activity Center. We also are completing the installation of a portable at Horizons Elementary School and making HVAC improvements at Meadows Elementary. Learn more about how we are Building our Future.

NTPS offers free summer meals (breakfasts, lunches, and snacks) to anyone 18 years old and under at several locations during the summer. No registration is required—just show up! See dates, times, and what’s available at each location.

Join NTPS students and staff at the Thurston County Fair from July 31–August 4. See animals shown by Future Farmers of America (FFA), amazing art exhibits, exciting dance performances, and more! Take the fair shuttle, and you’ll get to ride one of our school buses!

Thurston County Fair Website

All regular bus riders must register to ride the bus for the upcoming school year. The registration deadline for the 2024-25 school year is August 16, 2024. Registrations made after August 16 cannot be guaranteed a seat for the first day of school.

Register Now!

Special needs, McKinney-Vento, and foster care? Students who the district has identified as qualified to receive special transportation services including special needs, McKinney-Vento and foster care out of attendance school boundary services do not have to fill out the registration form. McKinney-Vento and foster care students who live within the boundary of their attendance school DO need to register.

What if I register after August 16? We will process late registrations as quickly as possible but cannot guarantee your student will have a spot on the bus on the first day of school.

If you need help with the online form, paper forms mailed, or someone to walk you through the process, call Transportation at 360-412-4545.

Reminder: NTPS is moving to the SMART tag mobile app, so families can monitor student bus activity and receive alerts on their cell phones.

Learn more about SMART tag

Our district and community offer many resources to keep kids learning over the summer months! Check out these fun and educational programs and activities: 

• Lacey Timberland Library Summer Reading Program: Get a free book, an activity log, and a certificate of completion at the end of the summer.  
• South Sound Reading Foundation Summer Reading Adventure: Complete reading challenges and pick up a prize on August 22 at the NTPS District Office. 
• NTPS Summer Learning webpage: Find STEM activities, math practice through Khan Academy, and much more.

Our community celebrated more than 80,000 acts of kindness this school year as part of our Compassionate Community project! This initiative is a partnership between North Thurston Public Schools, the City of Lacey, and the Lacey South Sound Chamber.

Acts of kindness performed by our staff, students, and residents included:

• Donating money, clothing, school supplies, and food to those in need.
• Providing meals for a sick coworker.
• Donating Legos to an after school club.
• Playing UNO at lunchtime with students who needed a connection.
• Mentoring and volunteering in NTPS schools.
• Making valentines for those serving in the military.
• Listening to a friend who was having a hard time.
• Holding the door open for a friend.
• Participating in a blood drive.
• Putting together weekend bags of food for students through All Kids Win.

Thank you to everyone who reported your acts of kindness this school year. We all have a role in building a culture of kindness that spreads throughout the community. Stay tuned for information about the 2024-25 Compassionate Community project!

5th-grade students from around the district competed in the annual track meet at South Sound Stadium! This fun event is focused on competition and sportsmanship. Thank you to everyone who came out to cheer on the athletes!

Visit our district’s Facebook and Instagram pages for more examples of learning and fun in our schools!

Our School Board meetings are an excellent place to hear the latest news from around the district!

• At the June 18 meeting:
  • The community celebrated Superintendent Deb Clemens, including a performance from the South Bay Elementary Choir. Deb swore in incoming Superintendent Troy Oliver.
  • The Board recognized Timberline High School student Lelani Cherry for earning a statewide award for her art project titled “Tuesday 7:23 AM.”
  • NTPS Director of Equity and Languages Dr. Antonio Sandifer presented two awards on behalf of the district Multicultural Action Committee to River Ridge High School staff member Lois Tolbert-Wollo and student David Free, in recognition of their outstanding efforts in multicultural leadership.
  • The Board approved Teaching for Artistic Behavior (TAB) as the K-5 art curriculum. NTPS piloted TAB at three elementary schools during the 2023-24 school year. The curriculum takes a studio approach to art education that encourages student exploration.
• The June 4 meeting was a joint meeting with the Nisqually Tribe. NTPS staff and students reflected on their Native culture learning over the past year, and Tribal representatives honored retiring Superintendent Deb Clemens.

Thank you to our partners at the North Thurston Education Foundation, who awarded scholarships to 24 NTPS graduating seniors! Scholarships range from $2,500 to $14,000 and are based on academic achievement, community involvement, and other factors. Read about the 2024 recipients.

Congratulations to the 14 NTPS high school students who earned a 2024 Varsity Letter in Community Service! Each student volunteered at least 250 hours during high school, and together they served more than 4,400 hours of community service. Read about the students and their work.