March 30 to April 3 – Paraeducator Recognition Week
April 13 to 17 – Spring Break, No School
April 21 to 25 – Administrative Professional Recognition Week
Highlights of the Month
Strategic Plan Survey Results and Next Steps
Purple Up! Honoring the Month of the Military Child
Progress Report: Our District-Wide Math Curriculum Review
Looking Ahead: Principal Transitions and Community Input
Dear Peninsula School District Families and Staff,
Welcome to April! As we head into the final months of the school year, I want to share important progress on several key district initiatives that are being driven by your continued partnership.
Strategic Plan Survey Results and Next Steps
Thank you to the nearly 500 parents, staff and community members who recently participated in our Strategic Plan survey. Based on your input, we are already seeing clear feedback areas emerge. Your thoughts around student and staff support, academic rigor, AI readiness, facilities, career pathways and belonging will help us plan our path forward for the next four years. To dive deeper into these specific areas, please take our follow-up survey by April 8. We will use this continued feedback as we work closely with our School Board to develop the final product.
As we look ahead, this updated Strategic Plan will continue to set high goals and aspirations for our students, maintaining a strong focus on reading, math, and fostering a true sense of belonging in our schools. We are also exploring ways to better communicate how we measure our success along the way. Thank you for your ongoing partnership and for helping us shape the future of Peninsula School District.
Purple Up! Honoring the Month of the Military Child
April is the Month of the Military Child, a time to celebrate the resilience and strength of our military-connected students. As a proud Purple Star School District, we are deeply committed to supporting the unique educational and social-emotional needs of these families. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all service members in our community for your sacrifices. To help us celebrate, we invite military families to fill out the form attached to this message and share a photo to be featured on our social media. Thank you for your service, and don't forget to “Purple Up” this month to show your support!
Looking Ahead: Principal Transitions and Community Input
As we finish the school year, our district is navigating some leadership transitions due to the well-deserved retirements of dedicated administrators. Finding the right individuals to guide our students and staff is a collaborative effort, so community input in this process is incredibly important. I want to extend a thank you to all the school families and staff who have taken time to participate in principal surveys. Your input plays an essential role in helping us identify the qualities we need most in our next building principals. We look forward to keeping you informed and will proudly introduce our new leaders to the community in April and May as we make final selections.
Progress Report: Our District-Wide Math Curriculum Review
Peninsula School District is conducting a comprehensive math curriculum review this school year, with 56 teachers piloting options across all grade levels. Our primary objective is to select a rigorous, standards-aligned curriculum based on evidence-based methodologies for district-wide implementation in the fall of 2026. Student and family feedback is a vital part of this inclusive selection process, ensuring we consider a wide range of perspectives to provide equitable access to high-quality learning for all students. The adoption committees will make their final recommendations to the School Board by early June. For an up-to-date timeline and more information, please visit Math Curriculum Review.
None of this progress would be possible without your partnership. As we look toward the last three months of the year, please note there is no school April 13 to 17. I hope you and your families enjoy a well-deserved spring break.
Gig Harbor High School's H2Whoa Dance Team took the 3A state title in Pom dance at the WIAA Championships. The girls also did fantastic in the hip hop and dance categories. H2Whoa also had an incredible showing at districts, earning 1st place in pom, 2nd in dance, and 3rd in hip hop, showcasing their versatility, precision, and competitive drive across all categories. Congratulations to H2Whoa for their dedication and hard work!
Goodman Students Performed Little Mermaid Jr.
Nearly 90 Goodman Middle School students, alongside many student helpers from Gig Harbor High School, delivered three outstanding performances of The Little Mermaid, Jr. to packed audiences. From dazzling performances to behind-the-scenes teamwork, the cast and crew came together to showcase Goodman’s school community.
PHS Key Club Receives Bronze Division Award
Congratulations to Peninsula High School Key Club for receiving the Bronze Division award for Service from the Key Club Pacific Northwest Division Conference. The award recognized students’ work of giving up several Fridays and Saturdays around the holidays where students helped raise over $1,000 for Gig Harbor’s FISH Food Bank hosting a customer donation table at Safeway. Secretary Olivia F. and Vice President Zelmay K. attended the 76th Annual PNW Key Club District Convention in Portland serving as representatives.
GHHS Senior and Debate Team Top State Competition
The Gig Harbor High School Speech and Debate team delivered an outstanding performance at state, taking home 1st place in 3A sweeps and 2nd place overall, finishing just barely behind a 4A school. Senior Autumn C. also received the prestigious Erik Helppie award, an honor that is given each year to one graduating senior in all of Washington state who made the greatest overall contribution to their community and exemplifies a spirit of helping and giving back to their team. Congrats GHHS Speech and Debate!
Interested in Joining Aviation Academy?
Is your student interested in signing up for next year's Aviation Academy? The waitlist is open!
Future, current and waitlisted students are invited to participate in our full lineup of spring events, including meet-and-greets with certified flight instructors (CFIs), mock interviews with industry experts and aviation leaders, informational nights, and premium access to a local Young Eagles flight event. For more information or to join the waitlist, go to psd401.net/aviationacademy.
Reminder: Kindergarten Registration is Open
Registration is now open for the Peninsula School District Class of 2039! To enroll your child for kindergarten this fall, they must turn 5 by August 31, 2026. Register at psd401.net/kindergarten, and sign up early to take advantage of our fun spring and summer transition events. You won't want to miss them!
The Transfer Window for the 2026-27 School Year is Open!
Are you looking for a change for the upcoming school year? Peninsula School District is now accepting Student Transfer Requests for the 2026-2027 academic year.
Whether you are requesting a transfer to a different school within our district or joining us from outside our boundaries, our application window is open from April 1 through April 30. Please note, if your student currently has a transfer to a school in our district that isn't their neighborhood school, you must reapply for next school year.
Apply at psd401.net/studenttransfers. The application window will remain open from April 1 to April 30. Families will be notified by June 15, 2026.
Early Learning Interest Form Now Open
PSD offers a range of early childhood programs to meet the needs of our youngest learners, including part-day and full-day options from Monday to Thursday, and full-day programs Monday to Friday. Each program has specific enrollment requirements.
To make enrollment easier for all families, parents can submit an “interest survey” to connect with the program that best fits their child’s needs. All programs are tuition-free for in-district residents. Click here to fill out the 2026-27 Interest Survey.
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.
