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When the North Kitsap School District says it is All in for All Students, that motto extends beyond a commitment to providing equal, inclusive, and comprehensive education for every learner at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. Some special needs students with disabilities that affect their learning throughout the grade levels may also require additional support beyond the classroom. The NKHS Bridge Program provides these students (up to age 22) with life skills

The North Kitsap Schools Foundation (NKSF) Honor Roll program recognizes community partners who consistently invest in the success of local students and educators. Among those partners, Dr. Dan Peck stands out as one of the Foundation’s most loyal and generous supporters.

Light has long been a necessity for human existence. It connects us with growth and health, clarity and detail, perspective and understanding, safety and comfort. From Plato’s allegory of The Cave, which used light and shadow to present a world to a viewer staring at a cave wall, to a tiny SPARK that can ignite a flame that gives warmth and inspires a brighter future, or Luminaries that help provide a path and a way when light diminishes. In so many of its connotations, ligh

NKSD Threat Assessment Coordinator Star Butterton attended the Western Regional Joint Threat Assessment Training (WRJTAT) in May 2025 through a $450 North Kitsap Schools Foundation grant supporting advanced Threat Assessment Training.

We are thrilled to share this exciting milestone: the North Kitsap Schools Foundation has hired its first-ever Executive Director, Stefan Keel. This moment marks a turning point—one that strengthens our ability to fill critical gaps, amplify our impact, and build a future where every North Kitsap student is seen, supported, and inspired to reach their full potential.

As the year draws to a close and our schools glow with winter concerts, shared laughter, and well-earned moments of reflection, it’s clear that something extraordinary is happening in North Kitsap classrooms. Students are discovering who they are and who they might become. These moments don’t happen by accident. They happen because a community believes in education—and chooses to invest in it.

Last spring at Hilder Pearson Elementary, magic came through music—thanks to two North Kitsap Schools Foundation grants led by music teacher Tamera Rabura that opened the doors to orchestral experiences students will remember for a lifetime.

We are proud to launch the Luminaries program for community members alongside the SPARK payroll deduction program for our NKSD teachers and staff, creating a unified and powerful front of support across North Kitsap.

At the North Kitsap Schools Foundation, that spirit of giving shines bright all year long. Every dollar, every volunteer hour, and every act of generosity becomes part of a bigger story—one that fuels classrooms, empowers teachers, and inspires students across our community.

This year, three dedicated teachers - Camille Bothe, Mary Salazar, and Alissa Drowns turned their classrooms into living laboratories with a North Kitsap Schools Foundation grant that funded the Lettuce Grow Farmstand Project. These self-watering, self-fertilizing hydroponic towers transformed everyday lessons into hands-on experiments in science, sustainability, and gratitude.

Having served the longest tenure for any Board Trustee with the North Kitsap Schools Foundation, Dennis Peters has decided to step away from the board. Out of NKSF’s 23-year existence, Dennis served on the board for nearly half of it. As of the end of 2025, he’ll have completed 10 years of service in various roles, most notably as Treasurer and President.

This year, thanks to a North Kitsap Schools Foundation grant, Preschool Teacher Pat Muñiz brought a world of sensory discovery to her classroom. The grant funded a collection of tools designed to meet her students’ diverse sensory needs, including alternative seating, noise-canceling headphones, chew necklaces, fine-motor learning materials, and the star of the show—a brand-new funnel stand for the sensory table.

This fall, the North Kitsap Schools Foundation has awarded $103,776 in classroom grants to teachers across the district. That total represents more than just funding — it’s a reflection of what can happen when teachers, families, and community members work together to support learning.

Like any other business, we understand that challenges may arise from year to year. Just like any other local small business, we remain committed to showing up and working to build a stronger community. Given the dozens of local businesses we reach out to, we’re grateful for every one that takes the time to consider how they may be able to help our schools each year and deeply respect the difficult decisions necessary to not only keep the lights on but help out however they c

Through a simple payroll deduction program called SPARK, NKSD staff are lighting the way for classrooms across the district. It’s not flashy. It doesn’t make headlines. But it’s the kind of steady, meaningful generosity that builds brighter schools and stronger communities — one spark at a time.

This spring, learning at Vinland Elementary wasn’t confined to pages in a textbook; it came rolling right into the classroom. Thanks to a North Kitsap Schools Foundation grant, the Burkemobile and Burke Boxes transformed fourth and fifth-grade lessons into hands-on adventures filled with discovery, laughter, and plenty of wide-eyed wonder.

The North Kitsap Schools Foundation is excited to share that we’re rolling out a new messaging platform that connects directly with our website — making it easier for you to stay informed and manage how often you hear from us. Our new system gives you more choice and flexibility over what kinds of updates you receive and how often. To make this transition smooth, we’ll be starting fresh with a new contact list — so you’ll need to resubscribe to continue receiving updates.

Every great idea starts with a moment of inspiration. In classrooms across North Kitsap, teachers see possibilities: a lesson that could reach a little deeper, a project that could connect students more meaningfully to their world, or an experience that could light up a lifelong love of learning. Each fall, those ideas take shape through the North Kitsap Schools Foundation’s Classroom Grants Program, a community-powered effort that helps teachers turn imagination into action.

Imagine this: you’re in Bellingham, WA, surrounded by new faces. The catch? Every single conversation is happening in French. No English allowed. You need to introduce yourself, order your lunch, collaborate on a project, and maybe even sing a song or two — all en français. That was the challenge — and the joy — for six advanced French students from North Kitsap High School, who attended French Immersion Camp 2025 thanks to a grant from the North Kitsap Schools Foundation.

Misty Hernandez’s Suquamish Elementary 3rd grade class and art club showed us that there are a lot of fishes in our great, big sea, on this great, big world. From Pre-K to 5th grade, and beyond to include middle schoolers, high school students, and community members, Suquamish Elementary's Rock River received a beautiful refresh through NKSF grant funding to Misty Hernandez’s art club.