News & Publications from NTPS

Stories from Around the District

  • Celebrating Our Native American Heritage

    November 15, 2018 - The month of November is a celebration of Native American heritage as well as an opportunity to recognize the resiliency of Native peoples across the United States. This month provides an opportunity for teachers and families to learn about Native cultures, their sovereignty and treaty rights, and their many contributions to society. Our district’s Native Student Program typically serves between 200-250 Native students from over 50 tribes, bands, nations, or villages. According to district data, the number of self-identified Native Americans is about 700 students. Read More!

    Comments (-1)

  • Key Communicator - Woodland Communicates!

    November 13, 2018 - Our latest Key Communicator is Woodland Elementary's Office Staff including Principal Casey Crawford. The Woodland community knows what's what around their school - from events, activities, announcements, and more (even an emergency helicopter landing in their field to aid a nearby neighborhood patient transport). Woodland, thank you for all that you do!

    Comments (-1)

  • First-time voter shares thoughts on midterm elections (11/13/18)

    November 13, 2018 - As electoral ballots are sent in and counted, Valerie Mosier, a senior at Timberline High School, shared her thoughts regarding election day as well as why she decided to vote in the midterm election. Read more!

    Comments (-1)

  • Community Conversation: Resiliency in our students (11/6/18)

    November 6, 2018 - On Oct. 24, the North Thurston Public Schools Board of Directors held their 2nd Community Conversation with a focus on emotional and mental health services and needs in our community. “Community engagement is one of the major principles by which our board operates,” said School Board President, Graeme Sackrison. “[We try] to stay in touch and listen to what people have to say so that we can make good decisions.” The event was an opportunity to hear from local professionals as well as allow members of the community to share thoughts or concerns with the board. Read More!

    Comments (-1)

  • Student Voice: Meet our student advisors (11/6/18)

    November 6, 2018 - One of the district’s goals centers around increased opportunities for student voice. That’s why superintendent Dr. Debra Clemens introduced the idea of having high school students serve on our School Board each year. Each semester two new Student Advisors are chosen by principals to be the voice of their respective high schools, as well as the voice of elementary and middle feeder schools. Read more!

    Comments (-1)

  • National Principals Month Spotlight: Chambers Prairie's Michael Suhling (10/31/18)

    Michael Suhling didn’t always want to be a principal. In fact when he was 12 years old he wanted to be on stage playing music somewhere in the world. Then something changed. At about 16 years old, the Chambers Prairie principal of four years realized he “had a gift of giving music to people in a different way.” At 18, he was on his way to music education. “I wanted to repair struggling music programs that resembled the struggling high school program I attended,” said Suhling. Read more!

    Comments (-1)

  • Fall High School Theatre Productions (10/31/18)

    October 26, 2018 - Looking for a fun evening activity? Check out the fall productions by our high school theatre groups. North Thurston's The Addams Family , Timberline's Radium Girls, and in December, River Ridge's 12 Angry Jurors. More Information.

    Comments (-1)

  • National Principals Month Spotlight: Komachin's Debbie Sarver (10/24/18)

    October 25, 2018 - Principal of Komachin Middle School Debbie Sarver has only been leading Komachin Middle School for three years, but her experience as a school administrator spans nearly 25 years in Georgia and Washington state. Read More!

    Comments (-1)

  • Celebrating Hispanic heritage helps students gain global perspective (10/24/18)

    At NTPS, 23% of our student population list Spanish as their home language, and 20% of our student population identifies as Latinx. We also have 1,075 high school students enrolled in Spanish World Language classes. National Hispanic Heritage Month is a time for us to celebrate the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. In all of our World Language Spanish classes our teachers share lessons of Latinx culture year-round. Read More!

    Comments (-1)

  • Compassion Spotlight: River Ridge shows Clover Park ♥ (10/30/18)

    As part of our work towards 100,000 Acts of Compassion in our community, check out this great story of River Ridge Boosters showing love to a rival Clover Park athletics team.

    Comments (-1)

  • National Principals Month Spotlight: South Sound's Angela Grizzle (10/17/18)

    Principal Angela Grizzle of South Sound High School (SSHS) is one of the principals around the district being recognized this month for National Principals Month. As the leader of the district’s alternative choice high school, Grizzle believes that both encouraging and challenging her students is key to helping them graduate. Read More!

    Comments (-1)

  • College & Career Fair: Life beyond high school (10/17/18)

    It was another successful year for the annual College & Career Fair - this was the 10th year and was hosted by North Thurston High School. Hundreds of families attended to check out all the options for life after high school. The College and Career Fair brings together over 150 vendors from different colleges and universities, community and technical colleges, apprenticeships, and military services, nonprofits and businesses who collectively offer a comprehensive range of college and career opportunities, along with financial aid and scholarship information. Read More!

    Comments (-1)

  • Breaking Down the Walls; a path to enhanced school climate (10/14/18)

    October 14, 2018 - As part of the district’s theme Everyone Belongs, North Thurston Public Schools has introduced a powerful new student engagement program to its high schools. Breaking Down the Walls (BDTW) is a nationally-recognized program founded by Living For Learning Inc. The goal? To help build a stronger sense of community within a school. Read more!

    Comments (-1)

  • National Principals Month Spotlight: Angie DeAguiar, "Fighting for what's right!" (10/11/18)

    October is National Principal’s Month! Each week we will be featuring a different principal from our district to help celebrate all the great leaders we have in our district. This week our spotlight is on outdoor enthusiast, Angie DeAguiar, Principal of Meadows Elementary school. Read more!

    Comments (-1)

  • The Olympian: Timberline's Emmit Douglas (10/6/18)

    October 6, 2018 - Runner Emmit Douglas, runs for Timberline Cross Country and has been running track since 2nd grade. He may be blind, but that hasn't hindered his drive. Read more about it in the article in The Olympian!

    Comments (-1)

  • Key Communicator: Christina Smothers (10/4/18)

    October 5, 2018 - September's Key Communicator is Financial Service's Christina Smothers! Awarded for her customer service, problem solving and top-notch communication skills. Thank you for your fantastic job, Christina! Read more!

    Comments (-1)

  • Thurston Talk: NTPS Celebrates Compassion (10/2/18)

    October 2, 2018 - Read the article Thurston Talk wrote about the NTPS Compassion and our drive to reach 100,000 acts of compassion this year along with our supportive community!

    Comments (-1)

  • True North: Helping Youth Since 1998 (9/27/18)

    September 27, 2018 - Established in 1998, the True North student assistance program, works with NTPS students to help with counseling, education, treatment, and more related to substance abuse. Read more!

    Comments (-1)

  • A week to celebrate deaf awareness (9/24/18)

    September 24, 2018 - The Pacific Northwest has a thriving Deaf community, including a rich Deaf and Hard of Hearing program in North Thurston Public Schools. Deaf Awareness Week (Sept. 24 - Sept. 29) is a week that celebrates Deaf culture and helps educates others who are interested in learning about it. Read more!

    Comments (-1)

  • Superintendent's Roundtable (9/20/18)

    September 20, 2018 - Superintendent Clemens participates in a regular roundtable with the other Thurston County school district Superintendents, moderated and broadcast by TCTV. They discuss the current issues that face education in our community. Watch now!

    Comments (-1)

  • Drama has a new face at River Ridge (9/19/18)

    September 19, 2018 - River Ridge High School (RRHS) welcomes Delaney Rogers as she takes the stage as the new Drama/Theatre and Stagecraft teacher. “I cannot think of anything more important for young people, especially in this day and age, than broadening your point of view and allowing yourself to understand and empathize with the experiences of others,” says Rogers. “Theatre not only allows for that to happen – it encourages it, and often requires it!” Read more about Delaney!

    Comments (-1)

  • Everyone Belongs at North Thurston Public Schools (9/4/18)

    NTPS is the most diverse district in Thurston County, so it’s no surprise our district theme for 2018-19 is “Everyone Belongs!” You’ll see this theme in our schools, in our calendar, and this video which focuses on just three of our district programs that promote belonging, kindness, and compassion. This simple message also fits nicely with our Compassionate Community effort and the idea that we should all promote positive behavior, respect and kindness throughout our community. #NTPSCompassion

    Comments (-1)

  • Another successful year for the Little Red Schoolhouse (8/25/18)

    August 25, 2018 - August marks the month of the Little Red Schoolhouse event. And it was another successful year! Numerous volunteers stopped by throughout the hours to participate in volunteering opportunities that involved handing out supplies to families as well as organization of the event. Read more.

    Comments (-1)

  • Alumni Spotlight: Jennie Folgia-Jones (NTHS '99) (8/17/18)

    August 17, 2018 - Stemming from her love of marketing, North Thurston Alumnae Jennie Folgia-Jones now works for the Port of Olympia where she spends her time managing the communications and marketing department.

    Comments (-1)