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

We’ve journeyed together through February’s challenges, and I’m filled with gratitude as we welcome the promise of spring. Thank you to our families for your patience as we navigated recent inclement weather. I particularly want to express my gratitude to our dedicated transportation, maintenance, custodial, and food services staff, who responded with only short notice and remained committed to student safety. Thank you for going above and beyond, we appreciate you today and every day!

March is Music in Our Schools Month, and I am so proud of our exceptional student musicians and dedicated music educators who nurture their talents. The passion, discipline, and creativity we witness in our programs is evident in their achievements. 

Congratulations to our amazing musicians for their recent success at the Commencement Bay Music Educators Association (COMBMEA) contests. The Goodman Middle School Jazz Band earned a superior rating, which is the highest possible score, at the COMBMEA regional Jazz Festival. These dedicated musicians wowed the judges and fellow performers with their inspiring performance. 

Peninsula High School (PHS) and Gig Harbor High School (GHHS) dominated at the regional COMBMEA Solo/Ensemble Competition, securing 19 spots in April’s state contest. PHS choirs also earned 5 spots at state. At the Quincy Jones Square Jazz Festival in Bremerton, GHHS Jazz 1 took home first place.

Kudos also to all 10 of our district’s elementary choirs, who performed in the District Choral Festival on February 11. Hundreds of bright voices sang beautifully during two performances, in a standing room only GHHS gymnasium. We're beyond proud of all our music students and teachers and their talent and achievements!

Along with members of our school board, I have been advocating for education during the 2025 state legislative session. Hundreds of education-related bills have been heard in the House and Senate to date. As you may know, our state has been significantly underfunding education, particularly in the “Big Three” key funding priority areas: Special Education, Materials, Supplies, and Operating Costs (MSOC), and Student Transportation. 

We have been regularly talking with legislators and submitting testimonies on behalf of PSD, focusing on these three priorities. This graphic illustrates the gap that exists in between what the state funds and what PSD actually pays each year in these three areas. We will continue to advocate for full state funding for education until the last day of the session on April 27.

I would also like to address concerns about possible federal government funding impacts. As Chief Financial Officer Ashley Murphy shared at the most recent board meeting, approximately 4% of our district’s revenue comes from the federal government. Of that 4%, we only stand to lose approximately 20% of our federal funding, or approximately $1.5 million. “We are in a good position when it comes to the potential federal impacts,” said Murphy, who added that nothing is official yet, but other area school districts could potentially lose significantly more of their federal funding.

I am so proud to share that our own Unified Sports athletes Jaybe Jones and Riley DuCharme, along with Coach Jennifer Buys, recently met with members of Congress and their staff in Washington D.C. These Peninsula High School students advocated for the continuance of funding for the life-changing work Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools bring to education. 

Special Olympics athletes, Unified partners, and staff from 47 states shared their personal experiences during the Special Olympics’ “Capitol Hill Day.” What an incredible example these students are of our district’s commitment to inclusion!

We are wrapping up our winter sports season, and I want to congratulate all our bowling, basketball, swimming, wrestling, and flag football athletes for their dedication and hard work. Both PHS and GHHS launched their first-ever girls flag football teams. This season was just the beginning, and we cannot wait to see the future of flag football in our district. 

A special shout out to the PHS girls wrestling team for their second place finish at state, including three individual state champions: senior Mira Sonnen, junior Bailey Parker and junior Lindsey Shipp. And congratulations to GHHS junior Aiden Hammer who won two state titles in swimming. A round of applause also goes to the GHHS boys’ basketball team who had a fantastic season and competed in the state tournament. Spring sports kick off this week, so let’s continue to cheer on our amazing athletes.

I am honored to announce that Peninsula School District has been selected as one of three districts nationwide to receive the 2025 Innovative Technology Integration Award from the Center for Digital Education and the National School Boards Association. This award reinforces our district’s position as a leader in educational technology integration and our commitment to preparing students for success in an increasingly digital world.

I’ve recently expanded my social media presence to share more frequent updates and celebrate our district and student achievements. Please connect with me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/krestin-bahr-psd. You can also follow me on Instagram at instagram.com/supt_k_bahr. As we welcome March and the renewal of spring, I’m optimistic about the learning happening through our district. Thank you for being a part of our community. 

Sincerely, 

As we approach the end of this school year, consistent school attendance becomes more important during these final months. Even a few missed days here and there – though they may be excused absences – can significantly impact your child's learning journey. These days of school contain essential instruction, meaningful projects, and important assessments that help prepare students for their next academic year.

At Peninsula School District, we believe our community is strongest when we work together. By ensuring your child attends school consistently through the end of the year, you're providing them with the best opportunity to finish strong and celebrate their growth and achievements. Here are some attendance tips to make the next few months a success for your child;

For more detailed information about our attendance policies and resources, please visit our newly updated attendance policy web page at www.psd401.net/attendancepolicy.

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

Future aviators learned about the Aviation Academy at Henderson Bay at last week's open house at the Gig Harbor Vintage Aero Museum. Students tried virtual reality flight simulations, met industry experts from Rainier Flight & Museum of Flight and sent postcards into space with Blue Origin. The Aviation Academy enrollment interest process is now open through March 14 at psd401.net/aviationacademy.

The recent sunshine was perfect for outdoor learning at Evergreen Elementary. The 2nd/3rd grade and 4th/5th grade Eagle Quest classes, as well as the outdoor Transitional Kindergarten students spend time learning outside every day.

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.