North Thurston Public Schools

Alumnus Spotlight! Eddie Smith was on the North Thurston High School 2002 State Champion baseball team. Now, he's the Head Baseball Coach at the University of Washington ? Read about Smith's journey from player to coach, and learn how his experience in NTPS helped shape who he is today: https://ntps.news/1m2

Each month we spotlight a staff member who embodies our 2024-25 district theme, Joy of Learning. This month we are featuring Crystal Magill, K-3 resource teacher at Woodland Elementary School. When students visit her classroom, they know they are welcome and will have fun! https://ntps.news/cmagill

Hear NTPS Superintendent Troy Oliver reflect on his first few months in the role and our great start to the 2024-25 school year!

We want our educators to experience the Joy of Learning, too! During a recent professional development day, NTPS Instructional Specialist Alyssa Knudtson worked with middle and high school teachers on ways to incorporate games into teaching and learning!

To celebrate National Principals Month, the Salish Middle School team surprised Principal David Crane and Assistant Principal Patrick Egrubay by wearing very special custom shirts. ?? Thank you to all of our building leaders for embracing a Joy of Learning (even when it means putting on silly wigs for school events).

Our partnership with the Boys & Girls Club helps ensure students experiencing housing instability have a safe, enriching place to go after school: “At the Club, they get to be kids: Have a snack, do their homework, and hang out with other kids."

We are grateful for 35 years of partnership with the North Thurston Education Foundation!

We are so proud that Lydia Hawk Elementary 3rd-grade teacher Maribel Vilchez has won the prestigious 2025 Horace Mann Award for Teaching Excellence! One of only five educators in the nation to receive this honor, Maribel was selected by an expert panel for her excellence in the classroom, dedication to equity and diversity, engagement with families and communities, commitment to professional development, and advocacy for the teaching profession. She is a National Board Certified Teacher and a specialist in bilingual English and Spanish education. Congratulations, Maribel! We are proud to have you representing our district! ??

Every morning, Lakes Elementary students join Principal Taylor Swedberg and Assistant Principal Amy Jones to share morning announcements with the whole school via video meeting! This week, a group of 4th-grade students shared the lunch menu, some tips for playground safety, and led the pledge of allegiance. Our school leaders work hard to encourage student voice and leadership!

Our transportation team works every day to keep students safe and make riding the bus fun! NTPS bus drivers Kelly Johnson and Ann Panesko and Transportation Supervisor Deron Bozeman reviewed bus safety rules with students at Mountain View Elementary this week! Now that they are a month into school, students reviewed how to stay safe while riding the bus. They practiced choosing a seat, listening for the brakes before standing, and holding hand rails as they exited the bus. After a quick ride around the roundabout, students got to choose a treat. Thank you, Transportation crew! ??