March 4th is National Maintenance Workers Appreciation Day! Thank you to Joan Moore, Ron Greene, Mark McCuen, and Ricardo Ramos Sierra, for keeping the District well maintained for students and staff. We appreciate all you do!
💲 NMHS students were served up a 'Bite of Reality' this morning. The North Mason Chamber Education Committee, in partnership with Kitsap Credit Union, Our Community Credit Union, and Peninsula Credit Union, presented the Annual Financial Reality Fair. Business and community members man various stations at the event to help students get a 'Bite of Reality,' using an app-based activity where students get to make financial and budgetary decisions. One student was overheard saying to a friend, "Uh-oh. I have to go back to the Credit Union," when he realized he couldn't meet his budget with his current expenses.
Thank you to all of the community businesses and volunteers, as well as the group of teachers and staff, that put this event together for our students. This interactive experience, using actual examples about finances and budgeting, provided them all a great glimpse into some of the challenges that come with the being in the real-world.
🏞️🐍🥙🍰 8th Grade Tours CTE at NMHS 🌱🧑⚕️🩺
Our HMS 8th grade students had the chance to step inside NMHS Career & Technical Education classes Friday and explore the many options available to them next year. Thank you to Mr. Ottenbacher who teaches Health Careers, Mr. Sounders who teaches Culinary, Mr. Forseth who teaches Boat Building and Woodworking, and Ms. Landers who teaches Agriculture for welcoming students to their classrooms. BIG shout out to our student presenters on FCCLA and Applied Geometry.
Thank you, Deb Swaser, Career & College Counselor, for sharing how our middle schoolers are preparing for their next big step into high school!
🏀 1st Round Tournament Play TONIGHT! 🏀
NM vs. Renton @ Mt. Tahoma starting at 8 pm. #GoBulldogs
SENIORS-
If you have not already ordered, we are suggesting that you order at www.jostens.com by TOMORROW February 28, 2025 to potentially receive your order with the first initial delivery event which will be April 4th in the lunchroom. Jostens will send you an email reminder to pick up, with the email address you used in your online order.
IF YOU ORDER AFTER TOMORROW- YOUR JOSTENS ORDER WILL BE DELIVERED IN THE MAY DROP OFF
IF YOU ORDER AFTER MAY 15TH YOUR DELIVERY WILL BE AT GRADUATION!!
Keep in mind if you are borrowing or using a previous cap and gown, you will still need to order the class stole and souvenir tassel only located under the cap and gown section.
Class rings can be ordered at www.jostens.com they have a current lead time of 8 weeks.
Varsity / Letter Jackets for all classes can be ordered at www.jostens.com they have a lead time of 8 –10 weeks.
For questions please email us at mortonroffice@jostens.com, call us at 253-210-0575 or text us at (253) 346-1755.
Thanks from Your Jostens Team!
🎵 Please join us for an All-District Choir Concert! 🎵
When: Thursday, February 27, 2025
Where: Toni M. Smith Auditorium, NMHS
Time: 6:00 pm
ALL ARE WELCOME!
📢Calling all 8th grade students and families! Join us as we explore the essentials of high school, including the significance of 9th grade, the principles of The Bulldog Way, graduation requirements, and more! We look forward to seeing you on March 6, 2025 from 6-7 pm in the NMHS gymnasium.
🎓 Senior Class Meeting 🎓
The senior class had a great opportunity today to meet with counselors to learn more about the many amazing scholarships available to them through the generosity of the North Mason Scholarship Foundation and other local businesses/agencies. The counseling team has been hard at work to make this information easily accessible to seniors and have attempted to streamline the application process by creating an online version of the scholarship notebook, which must be submitted by March 18th at 3:00 pm. Please note, some scholarships require additional documents be included, beyond what is requested through the scholarship notebook.
Contact Deb Swaser, Career/College counselor, or Autumn Perry, Graduation Specialist, for assistance with the online notebook, now available on the district website. https://www.northmasonschools.org/o/nmsd/page/north-mason-scholarship-foundation
💙Administration Award - Recognizing Perseverance💙
This month's Administrator Award goes to Maurine Simons, Director of Transportation, who was nominated by district and building administrators for demonstrating the trait of perseverance. Nominating administrators shared the following reflections on how impressively Maurine handles the District's busy transportation department:
“Running transportation is extremely difficult. Maurine has done a fantastic job going with the flow, facing one issue after another, continuously problem-solving and the entire time maintaining a positive attitude!!”
“Maurine continues to work on improving practices within her department and the district. Every challenge and barrier that happens she works through and tries to learn through showing her commitment to the district, the team, and the community. She shows perseverance in the challenges of working relationships by continuing to have hard conversations and partner with district and building teams.”
“Maurine is the face of perseverance in the dictionary. She just keeps going like the energizer bunny.”
Congratulations, Maurine, on this well-deserved honor! On a day with many moving parts due to the windstorm and power outages and the accompanying challenge of quickly mobilizing your team to safely transport students home, we can see why you earned this nomination for perseverance. Thank you for all you do for the District!
🏀State Championship Play Begins🏀 Lady Bulldogs play Renton at Mount Tahoma High School on Friday, February 28th at 8pm. #GoBulldogs
💙 Recognizing Perseverance 💙
Another nomination for this month's Administration Appreciation series comes from Principal Chad Collins for long-term substitute, Mari Alexander.
“Mari has been filling in as a Long-Term substitute as our ASB/Athletic Secretary. She is a hard worker, polite with all, and is doing an overall amazing job. We really appreciate her!”
Congratulations on this recognition, Mari! We appreciate all you are doing.
UPDATE: A new date has been selected for the NMHS 4th Annual Talent Show. Come out and vote for your favorite act on Friday, March 21st @ 6 pm in the NMHS Auditorium. For this great evening of fun, admission is only $5 and all proceeds support the theater department. See you there!
Girls Varsity Basketball vs. Clover Park High School
Game Date: Thursday, Feb 20th, 2025
Starts: 6:00pm
Location: North Mason High School
Tickets: https://gofan.co/event/3276606?schoolId=WA23286
💙 Recognizing Perseverance 💙
Today we highlight Angela Rumrill, nominated by Maurine Simons, Director of Transportation, as part of the administration appreciation series. This month's feature recognizes employees who model the trait of 'Perseverance.'
“Angie consistently connects with her students through compassion and laughter. Her resilience and ability to meet students at their level each day make her an invaluable part of their lives. Mrs. Angie’s influence extends beyond just being a bus driver -- she is a role model and a source of comfort for the students she serves. For her unwavering commitment and lasting impact, her perseverance in life has shaped her as a wonderful bus driver for our students.”
Congratulations on being nominated, Angie. We appreciate all you do for our students!
🖍️ TIME 4 Kindergarten 🖍️ For more information on enrolling your student for Kindergarten, visit the website https://www.northmasonschools.org/page/kindergarten-forms-online-registration, or attend one of the upcoming registration nights: Sand Hill Elementary, March 10, 2025 from 5-6 pm or Belfair Elementary, March 12, 2025 from 5-6 pm.
¿Tienes un niño de 5 años? Ven a acompañarnos. ¡Registre su niño para el año escolar 2025-2026! Conozca a nuestros maestros, vea como nuestra escular.
💙 Recognizing Perseverance 💙
In our ongoing Administration Appreciation series, Joan Moore, Director of Facilities & Maintenance, nominates Carol Ames for how she personifies the trait of 'Perseverance.'
“Carol is the lead custodian at Hawkins Middle School. She is PERSISTENT, DEDICATED, TENACIOUS, and COMMITTED. She demonstrates unwavering effort and consistently puts in the effort, regardless of obstacles. She never gives up. She is fully invested in achieving goals despite difficulties and takes the initiative to find solutions and move forward. She is motivated to succeed no matter the challenges faced.”
Congratulations on this recognition, Carol!
The Community Bond Advisory Committee rounded out the site visit portion of their work last week by visiting the bus garage, James A. Taylor, North Mason High School, Hawkins Middle School and Phil Pugh Stadium. Principals Chad Collins, Alexia Hadfield, Robert Kalahan, assistant principal Kevin Pattison and Director of Transportation, Maurine Simons, led the informative tours and answered the committee's questions. Members of district leadership and the school board were also part of the tours and conversation.
This special committee was formed to assess the needs of our district and provide recommendations to the board. Their focus is on the bond proposition, which will address the current state of our facilities and necessary improvements required to ensure the students of North Mason receive every opportunity.
Next CBAC meeting is scheduled for November 13th.
For those interested in being part of one of two advisory committees underway, please visit the district website for more information:
Bond - https://www.northmasonschools.org/page/cbac
Tonight at 6 pm, the Replacement Levy Advisory Committee will meet via zoom. Please contact Jackie Young, jyoung@northmasonschools.org, for the link. The committee is still looking for members and is actively discussing district needs, so join now to have your voice heard. Visit Replacement Levy - https://www.northmasonschools.org/page/levy for more information and past meeting notes.
💙 Recognizing Perseverance 💙
The Administration Appreciation series is an ongoing opportunity for building and district administrators to highlight staff that consistently display certain traits. This week we hear from Amber Nygard, Director of Inclusive Education, who wishes to recognize Chasity Johnson for the trait of 'Perseverance.'
“Chasity is one of our district school psychologists. She is primarily our secondary psychs but she far over serves her role. She is a leader and mentor to everyone in the Inclusive Education department. Instead of shutting down when we have challenges, she pulls the team together to find ways to work together and problem solve and support each other. Everyone in our team learns to persevere and be stronger in our roles by the example that Chasity sets for us. We are incredibly lucky for the dedication and commitment she has to the NM community of students, families, and staff.”
Amber Nygard
Director of Inclusive Education
💙 Recognizing Perseverance 💙
Assistant Principal Pattison has nominated Hannah Kidd as part of the building admin appreciation series. He shares this story of her recent accomplishment, and how she demonstrates the trait of perseverance in her teaching: "Hannah recently received her master’s degree. She earned it while teaching full-time in a new building, and didn’t let anything drop. On top of this, she is a club advisor. She always puts her best foot forward to do what is best for students and our school."
Congratulations, Hannah!
📚✖️➕➗🔢GIRLS EXPLORING MATH & SCIENCE 🧬👩🔬🔬🧫
FREE EVENT FOR GRADES 5-8
Explore hands-on science and math-oriented workshops and discover career opportunities. Parents and guardians may attend concurrent workshops on guiding students for their future.
When: Sat., Mar. 22nd, 2025
Time: 9am - 12:30pm
Where: Olympic College - Bremerton Campus
Learn more: https://www.olympic.edu/document/gems-registration-form/view
Sign up today to select your workshops! There is no onsite registration.
Questions? E: OCOutreach@olympic.edu | P: 360-801-4508
