...
May Newsletter: 2025
May greetings as we collectively enter this final full month of our school year. May is a month of celebrations beginning with our Teacher Appreciation Week followed this Sunday by Mother's Day. These are important opportunities to express our gratitude to those who do so much for us. Ahead of this coming weekend, we want to wish a Happy Mother's Day to all the amazing caregivers and nurturers in our lives. This includes everyone who fulfills the important role of motherhood - Your selfless love is a model for us all and much needed in our lives.
On campus, May is also a month of testing as our state exams span much of the coming weeks This week, all of our students will engage in the state reading exam followed next week by the equivalent math exam. Please see the below update related to these important exams.
Finally, we want to thank everyone who came together last Thursday for our Multicultural Night. Our theme, A Taste of North, purposefully highlighted the many cultures and customs that make us, North Everett, such a remarkable community. We appreciate everyone who participated, from our organizers and volunteers, to our immensely talented student performers. It was an inspirational evening for all and we are grateful (see the below section for pictures + more).
Thank you for taking your time to read through our monthly newsletter. We appreciate your participation, partnership and support.
Celebrating Our North Teaching Team!
This week, North is participating with communities across the country in celebrating our teachers. Truly, we should celebrate our educators everyday, in honor of the importance that education plays in our lives. That noted, this week is an important one and we invite our students and families to share in this celebration. Our North PTA will be representing our North community in partnering to span the week with treats and other expressions of gratitude. If you and your family are able, please know that teachers sincerely value notes, cards, or emails of appreciation. Names and individual specific email links are available via our school website. Please join us as we celebrate our outstanding team of teachers here at North!
Honoring Our Asian American and Pacific Islander Communities
This month, we have the collective opportunity to come together to celebrate and honor Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPI Heritage Month). Across May, we honor and celebrate the rich, diverse cultures, histories, and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. From the vibrant traditions of East Asia to the unique heritage of the Pacific Islands, we honor the resilience, creativity, and strength of these communities, past, present, and future.
At North, our collective learning includes opportunities to explore local connections, specific to Everett, Seattle, and the surrounding areas. We invite you and your family to join us in honoring Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage. Together, we know that our collective learning about one another's heritage builds a more inclusive, collaborative community. Honoring Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month provides us all with a wonderful opportunity, and we welcome your involvement as we learn and celebrate across the month of May.
State Testing Across May
Last week, our eighth graders kicked off the 2025 state testing season with their participation in the WCAS Science exam. This week, our sixth and seventh graders join as all of our STARs will take the Computer Adaptive Test (CAT) for English-Language Arts on Tuesday and Wednesday. Dates for each of the specific state tests are listed above, as part of our Important Upcoming Dates section.
Purposefully, our messaging to our students is simple - compete, meaning give your best today to grow forward. As a school, growth fuels us and is our comprehensive, schoolwide focus. They have worked for nearly nine months to get to this point and we are confident that our STARs are ready. That noted, we need to be mindful of their everyday responsibilities, especially across the coming three weeks. Below are a few related asks in this regard.
First, we are expecting each of our students to ensure that their Chromebooks are charged at home, each evening, and brought to school ready for login/participation. Second, we are asking that students get needed rest across testing weeks and arrive on-time each morning, ready for first period. Finally, dinner the evenings before testing and breakfast the morning of will be other vital elements tied to student success.
As noted in last week's pre-testing discussions, we are simply asking and expecting our students to give their best across each of these exams. As noted, we are challenging our STARs to compete. In doing so, they are not competing against anyone other than themselves. A large majority of our students have participated in these Washington state exams before and this spring's tests provide each of our STARs with an opportunity to apply all that they have learned across these past nine months. We believe they can "handle hard better" in giving their all on each of the four forthcoming exams.
Post SBA Party Planned for June 5th
To celebrate the efforts of our STARs, we are hosting a Post SBA Party (aka Spring Dance) for sixth, seventh, and eighth graders on Thursday, June 5th. This opportunity will be free to all students who earn their ticket by 1) giving their best and 2) remaining respectful of others across on our state exams. This dance will begin immediately after school, running from 3:00pm to 5:00pm. Along with music via a DJ, students will be able to eat, engage in games, and enjoy other activities across this time. As we wrap-up testing for the year, we want our STARs to celebrate their efforts and growth. A schoolwide party certainly seems in order.
Related Notes:
- Attending students may be picked-up or, if they typically ride a bus home, we will run post party busses to normal, designated stops.
- The dance begins shortly after school. As such, students will be required to leave their backpacks/belongings in the Commons where members of our North team will ensure the security of those items.
- Students may not leave the party/dance and return.
- Guests will not be permitted as this is a North-only event.
- Parent/guardian volunteers are welcome. Please contact our North office for more information.
Eighth Grade, Celebration of Learning on June 18th
Each spring, we have the honor of celebrating our eighth graders as they move up to high school. Of all of the levels, we get our students for the least number of years but in their short three years with us, they become a significant part of our lives and frankly, we will miss them. They enter as wide-eyed sixth graders and exit ready for high school and beyond. To honor that growth, we are hosting a Celebration of Learning on the evening of Wednesday, June 18th.
This is a two-part event with an event for our eighth graders and families (5:00pm) followed by our students-only party (6:30pm to 8:00pm). Forthcoming is a more formal invitation with additional details. For now, please keep June 18th circled on your calendars as we collectively honor our eighth graders.
Gratitude and Appreciation: Multicultural Night '25
We would like to thank everyone who was involved in our Multicultural Night last Thursday evening. This night is always one of our highlights for the year but this year's event was particularly special. As noted in the below images, the food, sharing, dancing, music, and activities of our evening spotlighted the many cultures and customs that combine to form the valued diversity of our North Everett community.
Special thanks North teacher, Kolleen Allen, the members of our Equity Team, and the many family volunteers who came together to make the evening possible, including our Natural Leaders, Erika Rabago (Saluma Bakery), Briss Balin, Maria Montano, and Angelica Gonzalez. Please plan to join us next spring as we celebrate 100 years of coming together as a community.
Family & Community Resources
LINKED HERE is an updated edition of family and community resources. Compiled by Student Support Advocate, Nicole Hoshock, this newsletter is full of information and opportunities for students and families, all local and relevant to Everett.
Nicole is on-staff at Evergreen Middle but is helping out on Tuesdays at North while Angelica is away. We're grateful for her in sharing this terrific resource as we know that you'll appreciate the information.
Everett Public Schools 2025 Graduation Dates/Times
In a few weeks, we'll turn the calendar again, this time to June and "graduation season." These weeks will include many joyous events across our community including Everett High's graduation on Saturday, 14th (11:00am at Angel of the Wings Arena). As applicable, please mark your calendars for our upcoming high school graduations in June. Ceremony details will be shared soon from individual schools.
- Sequoia High School, June 13 at 6 p.m. at Civic Auditorium
- Everett High School, June 14th - 11:00am at The Angel of the Winds Arena
- Cascade High School, June 14th - 3:00pm at The Angel of the Winds Arena
- Jackson High School, June 14th - 7:00pm at The Angel of the Winds Arena
- Transition, June 18th at 5:00 - Community Resource Center Port Gardner A&B
*Pictured are the former North STARs who were part of Everett High's Graduating Class of 2024.
Two North Staff Members to Receive Honors
Each spring, our North PTA nominates staff members for district honors. This year, our PTA nominated two members of our North team who will receive theses awards at a district ceremony in late May. We are thrilled to announce the winners of this year's awards, Mary Stolmeier and Tomas Berg.
Outstanding Educator Award - Mary Stolmeier: "Mary embraces her role in helping classroom teachers improve their literacy instruction. In all of this time in and out of the classroom, Mary has focused on excellence and equity. She has poured her heart into her work every single day. She always considers the individual needs of students and strives to make her instruction engaging and rigorous. She is structured and straightforward with kids but also caring and funny. It’s impossible to know her without admiring her."
Golden Acorn Award - Thomas Berg: "Tommy is our Campus Security Associate and a valued part of the North team. He is a friend to all staff and students. His care and concern for the safety of all on our campus can not be matched. He covers miles upon miles a day ensuring all is well. He supervises before school, passing time, during lunches and after school. Students and staff can rely on him to provide a safe escort, a calming word, or a casual conversation when needed. He approaches his work with a calm demeanor, even in the most difficult situations. It is the caring and kindness that he expresses each day that makes him so deserving of this award."
Again, congratulations to both of our awardees for their exceptional dedication, passion, and impact within and across our North community.
May Edition of EPS District News
Each month, our Everett Public Schools produce a district newsletter specifically for our Everett families. Please CLICK HERE to access the May edition of News Links.
