Administration

Hello Northshore Middle School families! It is such a joy to be returning to the Northshore Middle School community. Last year was one of learning and listening for me. I have greatly appreciated your feedback, your ideas, and your support. This year, I remain curious and courageous while planning to celebrate and inspire the same in our students. I have spent my summer connecting with my family. We’ve traveled across the country to visit family in Louisiana as we do each summer. I was able to reflect again on the beauty and strength found in our diversity as a country. One of my goals over this next school year is to experience more of the diversity within our own families and community. I hope that in doing so, and in sharing that experience with you and your child, we can cultivate an environment that draws us together towards the common goals of achieving greater equity for our students and a more positive culture overall. As I traveled this summer with my 16-year-old son, we reflected on both our middle school experiences. Our memories made clear how our experiences in middle school impact so much more than our overall academic success in high school. With that said, I have two questions for you as starters for a conversation with your own child as we enter into the new school year. (And if either of you wish to share your answers with me, please do!)

● Looking back to when you were your child’s age, what would you have wished for during your own middle school experience?

● Looking ahead to this year, what do you both wish for as you think about your child’s own middle school experience?

Please do not hesitate to reach out to me by calling my office at 425-408-6725 or by emailing me at aschexnayder@nsd.org. As always, I welcome your input as well as your expertise as your child’s parent and look forward to partnering with you towards your child’s success.

Sincerely,

AmyLynn Schexnayder (Mrs. Schex)

Lead Positively

Engage Fully

Accept Readily

Decide Responsibly

At Northshore, our motto is Titans LEAD, which encompasses the four pillars we use to teach positive behaviors for the classroom and good citizenship at school and beyond. These school wide common expectations apply to every area of the school, and we regularly teach and refer to them to ensure our students know and understand the expectations of our Titan community. In order to reinforce these positive behaviors, students are recognized and rewarded for exemplifying our LEAD pillars. In addition to the academic and critical thinking skills students learn to prepare them for high school and beyond, we strive to also teach students the soft skills and character traits that will empower students to be successful, productive citizens in the future. This year we have updated our pillars to be active verbs, allowing us to best describe what it looks like and sounds like to be a Titan LEADer. Here is how we define each of our pillars:

• Lead Positively: Empower others to do their best, set an example, speak up
• Engage Fully: Do your best, pay attention, work hard, work with others
• Accept Readily: Create an inclusive environment for everyone, be kind, reach out
• Decide Responsibly: Follow directions, make safe choices