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December: A month of contrasts as we navigate the never-ending to-do lists and balance the joy of time with loved ones. Our STARs returned on Monday to a fifteen-day sprint as we look to closeout this calendar year of 2025. We'll conclude our 2025 run with a themed Spirit Week and a schoolwide Pep Assembly on 12/19 to celebrate the accomplishments of these last twelve months. Our Winter Break officially begins on Monday, 12/22. Our STARs return from that break on Monday, 1/5 as we come back together to celebrate the start of 2026.
This December update is designed to get you the dates and information you need to navigate the coming weeks. These will be busy days with events and games nearly every evening. Should you need anything or have any questions, we encourage you to reach out by email, phone, or a visit to our North office.
With special consideration of the many holidays and celebrations this month, our North team wishes you and your family the happiest of holiday seasons. We are grateful for the opportunity to serve you as part of our North community.
Happy December and goNorth!
With Gratitude,
Holly, Drew*, & Tyler
North Middle School
HSullivan@everettsd.org - ABaeWilliams@everettsd.org - TReam@everettsd.org
Phone: 425-385-4800
*Please Note: Drew Bae Williams is currently away on leave and will return later this month.
This fall, North has enjoyed the partnership and service of three gifted professionals. Each has been filling since late August for members of our North team that recently welcomed new babies to their family.
- Ella Strittmatter served in place of Shawn Madigan teaching math, science and PE classes.
- Alisha Gosline has been filling-in for Yasmin Carmona as our Administrative Paraeducator.
- Shaun Monaghan has been serving as our Sixth Grade Principal in place of Drew Bae Williams.
Alisha Gosline will continue as our Administrative Paraeducator until the upcoming Winter Break. Yasmin Carmona will be returning to North in January
Families often ask why so many schools rely on portable classrooms. Today, Everett Public Schools uses 103 portables across our elementary schools, which is equivalent to the size of two and a half elementary schools. These portable classrooms were needed to help our district keep up with growth, but were never meant to be a permanent solution for our students. On February 10, 2026, voters will consider two measures that address this ongoing space challenge.
Proposition 1, the School Construction Bond, would fund a new elementary school and add permanent classrooms at existing schools, helping reduce the reliance on portable classrooms. The proposal also includes rebuilding Lowell Elementary, improving learning spaces at Cascade and Everett High schools, and updating roofs, heating and cooling systems, playgrounds, and safety features districtwide.
Proposition 2, the Education Levy, is a renewal measure. It is not a new tax. The levy continues funding for staffing, academic programs, student services, and day-to-day school operations that are not fully covered by the state.
Both these measures will be on the ballot on February 10. You can learn more at: www.everettsd.org/bond-levy-2026
Recently, more of our students are coming to school with uncharged Chromebooks. Unfortunately, we do not have the capacity to charge large numbers of Chromebooks quickly and often times, these students miss needed opportunities due to their dead device. As part of their nightly routine, we ask that every student plug-in and charge their Chromebook. This practice ensures that they have the needed battery life for the following academic day. This plug-in-at-night practice is a habit that students need to master now as this will be required through high school and beyond. Whether it is a note or nightly verbal reminder, we thank you for your help in reinforcing this practice.
This month, we will utilize several of our STAR blocks to explore the concept of integrity. This study will be part of our weekly social-emotional learning lessons and are designed to collectively consider integrity as a valued framework for our lives. Simply defined, integrity is our "inner compass," and who we are when no one is looking. More specifically, we'll dive into the four traits associated with integrity including of honesty, trustworthiness, consistency, and courage.
- Honesty: Telling the truth, even when it’s hard.
- Trustworthiness: Others can rely on you to do what you say.
- Consistency: Acting with the same values at school, at home, and with friends.
- Courage: Standing up for what’s right, even if it’s unpopular.
Ahead of the forthcoming Winter Break, our students will be participating in our second round of diagnostic testing during the second week of December, from Tuesday, December 9th through Friday, December 12th. These are important, interim assessments that occur three times across the school year. While it is hard to believe, it is time for this second administration as the third/final round of diagnostics occurs just before our Spring Break.
Our team will use the student-specific academic data gained through these assessments to inform short and long-range planning for January and beyond. Additionally, this data will inform our ongoing intervention efforts and will update each student's iReady pathway. This pathway provides curated content in both reading an math to students on a weekly basis. Once a student completes a diagnostic, this pathway is updated to match their newly identified needs.
Ahead of this second round of diagnostic tests, we simply ask that our students arrive to school on time and give their best effort. With relevant data, our team will be better able to serve our STARs in our collective efforts to maximize their academic growth.
December is a full month in every regard, including teams associated with our Winter I seasons. Currently, we have six teams in action across three sports and as hard as it is to consider, our Winter II seasons are just around the corner. Shortly after our return from Winter Break, both Girls Basketball and Coed Wrestling begin.
As before, Girls Basketball will be limited to two teams, a seventh grade team and an eighth grade team. Sixth graders can participate in wrestling as a practice-only sport. Seventh and eighth grade wrestlers do participate in meets. Sixth graders cannot compete against other schools but this practice-only season provides a great opportunity to learn and grow in the sport.
Should you have any questions about this upcoming season, please see our North Athletics site or contact our North Office during regular business hours. Student-athletes must have full clearance to participate in practices, beginning in mid January.
Our fall semester is quickly progressing and in January, we will officially transition to our second/spring semester. As we do so, our Transportation team will be establishing bus seating charts for all regular education middle school bus routes. These seating charts are needed to better ensure student safety including bus behavior and will be implemented after students return from Mid-Winter Break, on February 23, 2026.
Across the coming month of January, we will prepare our students for this forthcoming change. Understandably, students may not agree with this decision but sitting in an assigned seat will become a requirement for riding a bus to/from school. Prior to implementing assigned seats, students will have the opportunity to select a seat assignment where they feel most comfortable. This approach supports a welcoming and inclusive environment for all students. By knowing their daily assigned seat and seat partner, students can experience a greater sense of safety, belonging and reduced anxiety in what can often feel like a confined space. Knowing they have a reserved seat significantly reduces conflicts on the bus resulting from arguing over a particular seat and reduces anxiety about having to sit by (or away from) other students. Assigned seating will also help increase the efficiency of bus loading and unloading, both at our school and at bus stops, by allowing students to become familiar with their regular seating arrangements.
As we progress toward this forthcoming change, please know that we will include additional updates ahead of our February 23rd implementation date. In the interim, please reach out with any questions or suggestions.
This December, North is beginning a second year of partnership with Amira Learning. We will utilize Amira in our 6th Grade English-Language Arts (ELA) classes and our English Development (ELD) classes. more specifically, we are incorporating Amira's online reading fluency platform to enhance and accelerate literacy growth specifically in the area of reading fluency.
The Amira couples their artificial intelligence platform with targeted reading opportunities. Amira listens to students read aloud, assesses their fluency, and provides personalized coaching in real time. This 1:1 tutoring experience identifies foundational skill gaps and aligns targeted micro-interventions that help students strengthen fluency, comprehension, and overall reading confidence. Regardless of a student's reading level, there is always room for growth and we will incorporate Amira into independent student practice as a valued component of our overall reading program.
Please ask your child to login so that you can experience Amira in action. For additional information on Amira, please CLICK HERE or speak with any member of our North administrative team, our 6th grade ELA team, and/or ELD team. We would be happy to discuss how and when we are utilizing Amira as part of our supplementary classroom and home resources.
Breaks are wonderful and a meaningful time for spending time with loved ones. Purposefully, we work to steer clear of academic requirements that span breaks, including our upcoming Winter Break. That noted, we do encourage our students to "stay sharp" through daily reading and/or 30 daily minutes of iReady. This online platform is avaliable at home and while it does not replicate or replace classroom learning, it is designed to keep our students cognizant of needed content knowledge. As our Winter Break begins later this month, we encourage our students to reserve 30 minutes for daily practice. This investment will pay off in January when classes resume.
As needs arise, please consider our team at North as a resource for you and your family. We can help with resources including everyday food/meals and anticipated needs for the coming holidays. In addition, please click on the below button/link to access a resource guide that we have curated, full of information related to local, partner organizations.
North Middle partners with Sharing Wheels Community Bike Shop to bring you this 8-week program where students learn bike maintenance and repair skills, practice safe city riding and build confidence and connection as a group. Upon completing the program, students are eligible for a free bike, helmet, lights, lock and more.
This after school club meets off-site at Sharing Wheels (directly behind North) each week after school on Tuesdays. Students return to campus in time for the 5:00pm activity bus. Space is very limited; girls are especially encouraged/needed to apply. Once the next session fills up, families will be placed on a waitlist for Spring session.
Please register online at https://sharingwheels.org/youthbikeclub/ or stop in to the front office for more info.
Associated Disclosure Statement:
Youth Bike Club is funded with a grant from WSDOT and is administered by Cascade Bicycle Club. The funding comes from Washington’s Climate Commitment Act (CCA). The CCA supports Washington’s climate action efforts by putting cap-and-invest dollars to work reducing climate pollution, creating jobs, and improving public health. Information about the CCA is available at www.climate.wa.gov
Storytime with our Everett Superintendent, Dr. Saltzman is back, coming soon on December 18th. This 6th annual favorite provides a wonderful, winter evening opportunity to gather with loved ones and enjoy a favorite holiday story. The premiere, live event will take place on Thursday, December 18th at 6pm. A special video link will be sent through ParentSquare for each family to enjoy! Can’t join us at the premiere? No problem. You can watch the link anytime that works for your family. This is a tradition you won’t want to miss.
Grab your favorite mug of hot cocoa, snuggle in with your loved ones, and get ready for Story Time with Dr. Saltzman. Let’s make it a memorable and heartwarming holiday moment together!
Tis the season and and our weather is certainly getting colder by the day. Should we add snow and ice, there is always a possibility of every middle schoolers dream, a snow day. On such days, please know that any delays and/or closures will be posted on our school and district websites. For more information related to emergency closures and late starts, please CLICK HERE. Thank you, stay safe, and stay warm!
The December edition of our district's newsletter is avaliable and full of needed information ahead of this new month. Please CLICK HERE to access this month's district news.
