PANTHER PRIDE
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From the PrincipalDear Fernwood Families, What a fabulous start to the school year! It has been wonderful to welcome our returning students and families back to Fernwood and to greet so many new Panthers joining our community. There is an exciting energy across our campus as students reconnect with friends, meet their teachers, and settle into the rhythms of a new school year. Our teachers and support staff have been incredibly intentional during these first days, taking time to build relationships, establish positive routines, and create classroom communities where every student feels known, valued, and a true sense of belonging. Through class meetings, shared expectations, and opportunities for students to share their strengths, interests, identities, and ideas, we are laying the foundation for classrooms where students feel safe to be curious, ask questions, take risks, and learn alongside one another. Be sure to read your teacher’s newsletters to learn more about how these communities are taking shape. Adding to the excitement this year is the opening of our new playground and turfed field! It has been so much fun to see students exploring these new spaces, playing together, being active, and simply enjoying being kids. These spaces offer even more opportunities for connection, inclusion, imagination, and joy—and we are thrilled to finally see them filled with students. As we begin a year focused on Staying Curious and Filled with Wonder, we are reminded that some of our most important work begins with listening—listening to our students, remaining open to their perspectives, and staying curious about what helps each child learn, grow, and thrive. Thank you, families, for all you do each morning to help your child arrive at school ready for the day and for your continued partnership in their education. A strong school community is built together, and we are grateful to begin another year of learning, curiosity, wonder, and belonging with all of you. WIth appreciation, Cassie Morton, Principal |
MARK YOUR CALENDAR |
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9/15 - Curriculum Night - 2nd & 3rd - 5:00pm 9/15 - Curriculum Night - 4th & 5th - 6:15pm 9/17 - Student Picture Day |
DISTRICT INFORMATION |
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Northshore Required Documents Annually the District provides parents/guardians with notification of forms that must be acknowledged, including:
Permission to Withhold Student Directory Information We ask that you login to ParentVUE today to view these forms. If you have never logged into ParentVUE, you will find instructions on how to do so when you click the link above. Please know that when you next login to ParentVUE, you will be prompted to download, read, and take action for each of the forms listed above. Additionally, secondary students will be prompted to download, read and acknowledge the Rights and Responsibilities Handbook when they login to StudentVUE. Families with elementary students are encouraged to review the handbook together in ParentVUE with their students. These forms must be completed no later than Oct. 15.
The forms are available in English, Spanish, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, Russian, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Korean, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. If you would like to access a paper copy of these forms, please contact your school’s main office.
If you have any questions about these forms, please contact Student Services at (425) 408-7725 or by email at studentsvcs@nsd.org.
Volunteering in Northshore All persons interested in volunteering in the Northshore School District must complete their volunteer application and background check online. Family members of students and community members who volunteer at more than one school will only need to complete the application once a year. Once approved, applications will be available for all school office staff to access districtwide. Volunteers can learn more and complete an online application here.
Please note: The District has two levels of background checks. A Level 1 Background Check, or Washington State Patrol Background Check, is required of all classroom volunteers that will only have interactions with students while District staff is present. If a volunteer plans to chaperone, serve as an athletic volunteer, drive students in their own car or another role that could require the volunteer to be alone with a student(s), the District requires a Level 2 Background Check, or National Background Check, which has a cost of $12.95. A Level 2 Background Check is only required once during the duration of the volunteer's time in the District. In subsequent years, the volunteer will renew with a Level 1 Background Check. For more information, please visit www.nsd.org/volunteer. |
COUNSELOR CONNECTION |
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Counselor Connection Welcome to a new school year! Hello! My name is Jennifer Brisbine, and I am so excited to serve Fernwood as your child’s school counselor!
The Counselor Connection is intended to provide you with updates regarding the school counseling program here at Fernwood. School counselors provide students with support, guidance, and competency skills to help them with their social-emotional growth and development. School counselors serve all students!
Counseling Team Updates: Again this school year, we are thrilled to welcome Hannah Dickinson back to the counseling team. Ms. Dickinson serves a limited number of Fernwood students, as our mental health specialist once per week. Ms. Dickinson has served Fernwood the last few years. We are also welcoming a school counselor intern, named Tami Usai. Ms. Tami will be at Fernwood on Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can read more about Ms. Tami on our school website linked here
Is your child feeling uncertain about school? As we settle into the school year, you may find your child has mixed feelings. At the start of each school year, students and teachers alike can experience mixed emotions (excitement with unease, for example). As a parent you also may have similar feelings at this time. Please know that as a school community, we consider students’ social-emotional well-being as our top priority. Take comfort in knowing we strive to nurture a safe and welcoming learning environment. You may be wondering what you as a parent can do to help your child who may be struggling with anxiety or school refusal.
Here are some tips and be sure to check out additional resources linked below: *Talk to your child about their feelings, explore and answer their questions *Without judgment, validate your child’s feelings (talking about worry makes it smaller) *Follow routines with consistent bedtime and wake-up schedule *To manage wellness, make good nutrition choices, and keep sleep and exercise a priority *Practice deep breathing to help regulate the body’s stress response *Use Second Step’s strategies when big feelings show up: Stop, Name the Feeling, Calm Down What is currently happening in the school counselor program? We have begun classroom lessons this week and will continue throughout September in order to connect with students, review some self-regulation and conflict management strategies, and share how students can access their school counselor.
If your child needs additional support from your school counselor, please do not hesitate to reach out. Best Regards, Jennifer Brisbine jbrisbine@nsd.org and 425-408-4554 Resources for returning to school: |
IN THE KNOW |
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26-27 Fernwood Parent and Student Handbook Our 26-27 Fernwood Parent and Student Handbook is linked here. This handbook offers specific information about the policies and guidelines at Fernwood Elementary.
Picture Day is September 17th Soon your student will be bringing an order envelope to order picture packages or you can use this link to place an order: mydorian.com. All order forms are due on September 17th. Late order can only be processed on line at the link above. The purchased pictures package should arrive in November and will be sent home with students. Helpful tips for picture day:
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Curriculum Night Please make it a priority to attend your child’s Curriculum Night. This meeting is for parents only. This is an important opportunity to meet your child’s teacher, find out about the instructional focus for your child’s grade level, and learn about our school-wide focus and goals. This year, Curriculum Nights will be held in-person and WILL BEGIN IN THE CLASSROOM. We appreciate your attendance in our shared efforts to form a strong home-school partnership in support of each child achieving their greatest potential. *If you need an interpreter for Curriculum Night, please contact LeAnn Edison @ ledison@nsd.org |
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Sick Student? Please review the district information on when you have a sick student, liked here.
Fernwood Ukulele Club (Keiki Nani) - 4th and 5th graders If you are in 4th or 5th grade and are interested in joining Keiki Nani, please fill out this form by Thursday, September 23rd. Please email Mrs. Teter with any questions: cteter@nsd.org |
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Fall Parent Teacher Conferences Parent- teacher conferences will be held in November. This is an opportunity for teachers and parents to engage in conversation around the growth and progress of their student(s). The schedule has changed from previous years. This year the schedule will be as follows:
Wednesday, November 25th is a half day, with dismissal @ 12:35pm |
PTSA INFORMATION |
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Final Days to Sign Up! Don't miss out! The interest form for our Fall after-school enrichment programs is wrapping up on September 17th. We have 4 classes to choose from for the Fall after-school term: Tuesdays from 4:00-5:00 PM
Dates: 10/6 - 12/8 (No class 11/17 & 11/24) Thursdays from 4:00-5:00 PM
Dates: 10/8 - 12/10 (No class 11/19 & 11/26)
Submit your Interest Form by September 17th to be entered into the randomized draw for class enrollment. To learn more and submit your interest form, visit the Fernwood PTSA After School Website. Scholarships are available for those in need. Questions? Reach out to us at fernwoodptsaafterschool@gmail.com. |
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Join the Fernwood PTSA 🩷🖤 Your PTSA membership makes a real difference at Fernwood. Membership dues help provide classroom supplies for teachers, support school assemblies and field trips, and enrich our students' educational experience. Join by September 30 for a chance to win a $100 Visa Gift Card. Sign up everyone in your household—each membership is a separate raffle entry! Purchase a PTSA membership for only $18
Spiritwear Buy your Fernwood Elementary Spiritwear now! Wear your spiritwear every Wednesday to show your Panther Pride 🐾 https://daxemapparel.com/collections/fernwood-pta-spiritwear
Want to help? Don’t forget to check out the Volunteer Interest Form! 📝 Take a look at all of the amazing volunteer opportunities available in 2026-27 at Fernwood! See something of interest? Signup and join the team! Help make this year the most memorable year for all our kids! https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/10C0F4FAEAF28AAFAC70-65389016-fernwood?useFullSite=false
Scholastic Book Fair 📚 Get ready to shop for your next favorite book (or two) in October! The Scholastic Book Fair is coming to Fernwood Elementary October 12th through October 16th. More information to come in the next few weeks! |