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.

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.

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.