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We've seen them too... Back-to-school advertisements have started and while we are just over one month into our summer, September is just around the corner.
We hope that your July is progressing well and that you are enjoying the longer days and sunshine. On campus, we are preparing for the start of our forthcoming 2024/2025 school year with much needed cleaning, repairs, and other summertime projects. Below is our midsummer update with early information related to our start in early September. This includes anticipated dates, staffing updates, and notes related to our fall athletics seasons.
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Summer Reading program
Our summertime reading program is in full swing but it is not too late to join along. This year's theme, Summer's Greatest Hits, celebrates summertime joys including warm, relaxing afternoons, good music, and great books. North and other Everett Public Schools are partnering with the Everett Public Library and Sno-Isle Libraries in challenging our students to read across these summer months. Students participate by keeping records of the books that they have read on their summer playlists (link). These playlists will be turned in when our STARs return in the fall and participating students will be invited to our Welcome Back party.
If you are not already part of a summertime reading program, please consider in joining. Summertime reading is one of the most effective ways for students (and adults) to stay sharp over these summer months.
Joining Our North Team
Each year, our North team experiences some change as we prepare for the coming year. This year is no different as we are currently hiring for two open positions. One new member of our team who is already on board is our Assistant Principal, Holly Sullivan. Holly joins North and our Everett Public Schools from the Highline Schools where she previously served as a math teacher, coach, and middle school administrator. Holly joins an existing team with Drew Bae Williams (Assistant Principal) and Tyler Ream (Principal). Specifically, she will focus her efforts on supporting our seventh grade class as they build upon their successes of the past year. In coming to North, Holly cited her enthusiasm for supporting students and families through the crucial years of middle school. She most looks forward to getting to know our North community, meeting our families and colleagues, and building upon the momentum of the recent 23/24 school year.
Please checkout our updated website later this summer to learn more about Ms. Sullivan. Additionally, please stay tuned as prior to our Welcome Back week and upcoming orientations, we will send a comprehensive update welcoming each new member of our North team.
Fall Athletics Update
In a short month (plus), our North athletics season begins with our three fall sports. Cross Country, Girls Softball, and Boys Football will all begin practice on Monday, September 9th. Cross County is coed and open to students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades. However, Softball and Baseball are limited to 7th and 8th student athletes. In order to be eligible for our fall teams, students/families must complete a couple of crucial steps. Please click here for more information and access the below-linked documents for pre-season specifics.
Orientation 2024
Please keep our 2024 Orientation dates in mind as you plan your August. Like last year, Orientation is a stop-in-whenever event as we are open three hours on both dates. However, this year we are varying the times by date to allow for more afternoon and evening flexibility. Orientation dates and times are Monday, August 26th from 1:00pm to 4:00pm, and Tuesday, August 27th from 4:00pm to 7:00pm.
Technology & Communication Updates
Our Everett Public Schools are entering into two consecutive years of exciting, much-anticipated technology upgrades. The first of those rollouts will begin this summer with the introduction of ParentSquare which will replace BlackBoard Connect as our school/home communication system. Other upgrades to transportation/messaging (fall '24), student/school meal accounts (fall '24), and our entire student information system (fall '25) are planned across the coming two years. Disruptions, if any, will be minimal and families should experience better real-time communication.
Arrival & Dismissal Information
To help you prepare, we've included a few situation-specific notes below.
Arrival: Drop-Off: If you are dropping your child off prior to school beginning (8:15am), please do so by pulling/stopping alongside our curb/sidewalk on east side of our school, along Rainier Ave. This can be safely done by proceeding south, down Rainier, so that your child can exit to the immediate right and access the sidewalk in front of our school without having to cross the street. A member of our North team will be available to assist at this drop-off location each morning.
Arrival: Bus Transportation: Students arriving to school on a bus will continue to utilize the west parking lot and bus lane. Buses will pull into our North campus and students will be able to conveniently exit onto the sidewalks immediately adjacent to our west entrances. 6th graders will utilize the west entrance near the front office to access the central quad. 7th and 8th graders will enter school via the west gate, accessing the covered play area and the west entrance to the Commons. Several members of our North team are stationed at these entrances to greet our students each morning.
Dismissal: Pick-Up: If you are planning to pick-up your child at the end of the school day, please know that dismissal/pick-up occurs along Rainier Ave, similar to drop-off in the morning. At our end bell, students who are walking home or being pick-up are asked to exit our east doors. Vehicles waiting to pick-up students stage down Rainier Ave, facing south. To avoid students crossing into the street, we ask that pick-up only occur at the sidewalk/curb, facing south. Unless you are planning to visit our office, we ask that pick-up not occur in our west parking lot as that is reserved for our buses.
Dismissal: Bus Transportation: Students riding buses home exit our west doors and proceed directly to their bus. Often times, our buses are already on site and waiting. If a bus has not arrived, we hold those students in our central courtyard until arrival. Several members of our North team are stationed at these exits and in the bus lot at dismissal to assist with any related dismissal/transportation needs. Buses typically exit our lot within 5 to 7 minutes. Families can register for the MyStop app to monitor the location of their child's bus each morning and afternoon.
Signing your child out during the school day? If you need to pick-up your child during the school day, please park in our west lot (enter from 26th Street). Several short-term parking spots remain available during the day. Please proceed to our front office and sign your child out. Please remember that photo identification is required as part of this process. Your child will be called and will meet you in our office.
Frequently Asked Questions
To help with back-to-school, below are a few questions/answers related to the fall.
When will my child receive their class schedule? Students/families may receive their 24/25 class schedules at the above-referenced orientations (8/26, 8/27). On 8/26, schedules are also likely to be live on the Home Access Center (HAC) for viewing.
Are backpacks required for all students? Yes. At North, we do not utilize lockers beyond PE. Backpacks are critical for carrying needed supplies/materials including Chromebooks and class specific folders. If your child needs a backpack for the coming year, please contact our office (phone or email) and we will quietly and happily connect with them to provide several middle school specific options.
What is the best way to meet/connect with each of my child's teachers? Teachers are always interested in connecting with families and two important opportunities in this regard occur shortly after the start of our school year. Please pencil Curriculum Night on your calendars for September 19th (6:00pm). Additionally, our Fall Conferences are due to be scheduled for fall. Conference dates have not yet been set but will be determined as the 24/25 calendar is finalized.
Are cell phones, earbuds, and other forms of personal technology still not allowed at North? Per EPS Policy 3246 and Procedure 3246P, cell phones, earbuds, and other forms of personal technology must remain stored/powered off during school hours. At North, students are required to power off and store any personal technology before entering our building. They are free to use these devices again after our 2:50pm dismissal bell (1:35pm on Fridays). We strictly enforce these personal technology expectations as the absence of these devices is beneficial to our needed teaching/learning and social-emotional environments. Please look for specifics in our student and family handbooks (online with revised versions forthcoming this August).
Is there a school store for purchasing food during the school day? North does not have a school store. Snacks are currently available for individual purchase via vending machine. A school store is a possible development but is not an active/current part of our school.
