Krestin Bahr, PSD Superintendent | (253) 530-1002 | superintendent@psd401.net

I'm filled with pride and excitement for all the incredible achievements our students and educators have accomplished during the first semester. Our classrooms are active learning spaces where students and teachers continue to set high standards and meet their goals. Looking ahead, we'll build on this strong foundation and pursue new opportunities together.

The word about PSD's commitment to innovation is starting to spread. That's why Stanford University's artificial intelligence (AI) Tinkery team recently invited PSD educators to collaborate on innovative AI applications in education. Our K-12 educators dug into practical applications of AI in the classroom and explored ways to support teachers in creating more inclusive learning environments. The cutting-edge insights our group learned will directly benefit students' learning journeys. This knowledge will empower our teachers to create more dynamic, accessible, and personalized learning experiences for every child in our district.

Through Unified Sports at our high schools and Inclusive Sports Clubs at our elementary schools, students break barriers and foster meaningful connections and friendships. Come cheer our Unified Basketball players on this Saturday, February 1 at Mount Tahoma. Peninsula High School's two teams play at 9 and 10 a.m., and the Gig Harbor High School team plays at 11 a.m. Next weekend our teams will compete at the Unified Basketball season finale on Saturday, February 8 at Mount Tahoma. Game times to be announced.

Our elementary athletes with various skills are joining together on the court in after school Inclusive Basketball Clubs at Swift Water Elementary and Harbor Heights Elementary. These incredible clubs provide inclusive and adapted opportunities for students to come together through sport and play.

Throughout February, we join communities across the nation in celebrating Black History Month, recognizing the profound impact and enduring legacy of Black innovators, leaders, pioneers, artists, and changemakers who have helped shape our society. In alignment with our district's ongoing commitment to fostering learning spaces where every student feels valued and represented, we continue to strengthen our focus on equity, inclusion and sense of belonging in our schools.

Follow PSD on Facebook and Instagram to learn more about local Black leaders and pioneers who shaped Washington's history.

Class of 2038, we are looking forward to welcoming you in the fall of 2025! Parents of incoming kindergartners, registration for next school year opens on February 26 at psd401.net/enrollment. To enroll your child for kindergarten this coming fall, they must be 5 years old by August 31, 2025. 

Is your child between ages 3 and 5 as of August 31, 2025? If so, find out more about PSD’s Early Learning options at psd401.net/preschoolandearlylearning. If you have questions, please call (253) 530-1000.

At our last board meeting, four students from the Gig Harbor High School Astronomy Club presented their incredible work capturing and processing deep space images. Using sophisticated telescope equipment and specialized software, these young astronomers capture images through specific light filters that detect different gases like hydrogen, sulfur, and oxygen. 

The technical precision students demonstrate to track celestial objects – with accuracy to 1/3000th of a pixel – is truly inspiring. Imagine a single grain of sand. On average, a grain of sand is 0.5 millimeters. This means their accuracy is down to details smaller than the average grain of sand.

Great job to our students on their amazing work highlighting the skies above us. 

Our new psd401.ai website just launched, to help provide educators with the resources and support to confidently integrate AI into K-12 learning, fostering innovation and preparing students for the future. Explore this new AI Hub to learn more about our initiatives and join the conversation about how we can continue to innovate while staying true to our core values of student-centered, ethical and equitable education.

We understand recent changes in federal government policies and procedures may cause concern among parents and staff regarding potential impacts on PSD students. 

Our primary focus is the well-being and education of our students, and we continue to create safe, inclusive, and nurturing environments where all children can thrive. We have and we will continue to follow guidance from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and the Washington State School Directors’ Association (WSSDA). Please know that we have robust policies and procedures in place to ensure student well-being, and we continually review and strengthen these measures. 

If you have specific concerns or questions, please don't hesitate to reach out directly to your school principal. You may also report your concern through HearMeWA, our anonymous reporting system.

Your partnership helps us ensure that every child feels valued and ready to learn.

Our district came close to qualifying for federal Impact Aid last year, based on our number of federally-connected students. Our data shows we meet the enrollment criteria to receive this significant aid, but we need families to fill out the Parent Square survey so we can qualify.

Please take 5 minutes to complete the Impact Aid survey, which you can find by logging into ParentSquare and selecting Forms. This survey could help generate hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding for textbooks, materials, hiring staff and educators and more military student support.

Career and Technical Education (CTE) in Peninsula School District opens doors to diverse career pathways. Through specialized courses at Gig Harbor, Peninsula, and Henderson Bay high schools, students can explore everything from drone certification and video game design to sports medicine and biomedical science. The program builds a strong foundation starting in middle school with pre-pathway courses, then expands into rich high school offerings including hands-on experiences, worksite learning opportunities, and specialized courses like Navy Science and Skilled Trades Pre-Apprenticeship. Whether students are interested in robotics, culinary arts, or medical interventions, PSD's CTE programs provide the skills and knowledge needed for future success.

PSD recognizes and gives thanks to our School Counselors, Physical Therapists, School Psychologists, Speech-Language Pathologists, and Occupational Therapists the week of Feb. 3 - 7.

Our most recent annual report, which highlights our achievements, stories, and areas of improvement, is now available online for our community.

The Peninsula School District does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. If you have questions or complaints regarding alleged discrimination, please call the Peninsula School District Educational Service Center at (253) 530-1000 or visit our office located at 14015 62nd Ave NW, Gig Harbor, WA 98332, and ask for one of the following coordinators: Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator, compliance@psd401.net; Title IX Compliance Coordinator, titleix@psd401.net; 504 Compliance Coordinator, 504@psd401.net; ADA Compliance Coordinator, ada@psd401.net.