Dear Appreciated Families, Students, Staff, and Community,

It is hard to believe that tomorrow is already Thanksgiving.

Yesterday, we had kindergarten students from Presidents Elementary visit the district office and treat the staff with “turkey caroling” songs. It was a great way to head into the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

November has been a busy and positive month. I had several opportunities to hear feedback and suggestions from students and staff members during “Voices” opportunities and enjoyed visits to several schools.

For “Student Voices,” I met with a group of students from each grade level at Pioneer Elementary. The top answer for what they would like to see at Pioneer in the future is SWINGS on the playground. This is not a surprise because this has been the number one answer from elementary students for the last eight years. They would also like to have escalators rather than stairs and slides for evacuation. When I asked them what helps their learning, they said when teachers show and clearly explain how to do something and when the teacher takes care of disruptions in the classroom. Conversations with the students were informative and made me smile.

Throughout the month, I also met with several staff members to hear their feedback. A common theme among the staff conversations was that they love working with their teams at their school/work sites. For improvements, they would like more professional development and training, and better technology at their school/work sites.

During a visit to Post Middle School, I enjoyed seeing students engaged in learning in a PE class, social studies class and a choral music class. Students in the choral music class gave a beautiful preview of one of their fall concert songs. As I walked around Post, I also saw the facility challenges that Post students and staff encounter every day. The Advisory Council for Education (ACE) is working on developing contingency plans if Post Middle School must partially or fully vacate due to a facility failure that cannot be fixed. These contingency plans will be shared during a board meeting later this year. 

We also enjoyed seeing the students learning during a visit to Stillaguamish Valley Learning Center (SVLC) and APPLE Preschool last week. The new ramps, new siding exterior, new bathrooms, and added classroom are welcome additions! We visited several classrooms where students were engaged in activities to strengthen their reading skills. We also had fun visiting one of the APPLE Preschool classes where students were practicing skills like cutting, matching puzzle pieces, and painting at stations around the room.

I appreciate each of you and hope you have many moments of laughter, joy, good food, and time with family and friends this weekend.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Chrys

Dr. Chrys Sweeting
Superintendent
Arlington Public Schools

Dr. Sweeting helped a preschooler draw a picture during a recent visit to APPLE/ECEAP.

The Arlington Public Schools Board of Directors has been named a Board of Distinction by the Washington State School Directors' Association (WSSDA) for the seventh year in a row. The board members were recognized on Nov. 20 during the WSSDA Annual Conference in Seattle.

Of the 295 school district boards in the state of Washington, Arlington was one of 49 boards to earn this honor for 2025. The awards recognize school boards that have demonstrated effective governance aligned with the Washington School Board Standards and show evidence of improving student outcomes.

Learn more here.

The Arlington Public Schools Board of Directors (left to right): Erica Knapp, Vice President; Nicole Watts, Director; Dr. Chrys Sweeting, Superintendent and Secretary to the Board; Sheri Kelly, Legislative Representative; Matt Dimond, Director; and Mary Levesque, President.

During the Arlington Public Schools Board of Directors regular meeting on Nov. 10, the Arlington Education Foundation (AEF) gave $20,242.45 to educators in the Arlington School District.

“The Foundation has proudly given more than $222,000 in grants over the past 14 years,” said AEF President Kim Deisher-Allen. “We’re especially excited this Fall to support a record 33 projects — each one filled with creativity and passion for students. Every grant represents an idea that will spark learning and joy in our classrooms. It’s such a privilege to help our teachers bring their visions to life and to be part of the amazing work happening throughout the Arlington School District.”

Teachers can apply for the classroom mini grants in the fall and spring.

Read more here.

During the Arlington Public Schools Board of Directors regular meeting on Nov. 10, the Arlington Education Foundation gave $20,242.45 to educators in the Arlington School District.

Members of Weston High School’s HOSA Future Health Professionals Student Club showcased various healthcare careers to other students on Nov. 5 during an interactive learning fair at the school. The fair included vital signs (blood pressure, pulse, temperature), CPR/AED, phlebotomy simulation arms for drawing blood, urinalysis simulation, and glucose monitoring simulations. This is the first year the club has hosted an interactive health learning fair at the school.

“These displays give students a chance to see all the varied careers there are in healthcare,” said Weston High School CTE Health Science and PE Teacher Stephanie Jordan. “It’s not just limited to doctors and nurses.”

The HOSA club meets during lunch. HOSA club members include Kaia Powell, Caitlin Miner, Alyssa Klein, Austin Marasigan, Panny Desrosiers and Chase Ulrich.

Learn more here.

Members of Weston High School’s HOSA Future Health Professionals Student Club showcased various healthcare careers to other students on Nov. 5 during an interactive learning fair at the school.

Arlington Public Schools uses FlashAlert Newswire to communicate school closure information due to bad weather, hazardous road conditions or other emergencies to local media sources. Parents, students, staff and community members can register up to three email addresses and/or cell phone numbers in a single account and receive information at the same time as the news media. A free iPhone/Android app, FlashAlert Messenger, is also available and allows families and the public to receive emergency messages. As a subscriber, you can also view all local emergency items and news releases on FlashAlert.net.

Sign up for free today at https://flashalert.net/id/ArlingtonSD

Navigating parking lots and sidewalks during icy or snowy conditions can lead to slips, falls, or automobile collisions, leading to injury or property damage. Please travel safely at school sites when slippery conditions are present. To help raise awareness of the potential for snow and ice in driveway, parking lots and sidewalks, you can observe IceAlert signs as you enter school driveways and parking lots. IceAlert signs change color from clear to blue when temperatures drop, indicating the presence of icy conditions. The signs are installed at driveway entrances to instructional and support buildings across the district. When temperatures are above freezing, the signs are clear in color, like the example shown here.

Did someone forward this Our Schools Community Newsletter to you? If so, please sign up to receive the newsletter in your email inbox by going to the following link.

The Presidents Elementary Turkey Carolers stopped by the District Office on Nov. 25 to entertain the staff with their amazing singing!

Special thanks to Haller Middle School parents, students and staff for donating 2,100 items and more than $400 in cash to Kids’ Kloset as part of a charity drive!

Schools in the Arlington School District honored veterans by holding Veterans’ Day observances.

Congratulations to Arlington High School athletes Emme Shaffer and Tre Haines who signed letters of intent on Nov. 17!

Nov. 26
Three hour early dismissal- all students

Nov. 27-28
Thanksgiving Holidays- No School, All Buildings Closed

Dec. 22 - Jan 2
Winter Break- No School, All Buildings Closed

Jan. 19
Martin Luther King Jr. Day- No School, All Buildings Closed

Jan. 26
In-Service Day- No School, All Students

Arlington Public Schools provides equal educational opportunity and treatment for all students in all aspects of the academic and activities program without discrimination based on race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, marital status, 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. The District will provide equal access to school facilities to the Boy Scouts of America and all other designated youth groups listed in Title 36 of the United States Code as a patriotic society. District programs will be free from sexual harassment. Auxiliary aids and services will be provided upon request to individuals with hearing, vision, or speech disabilities.

The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination:                            

TITLE IX/SEX EQUITY OFFICER AND CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLIANCE COORDINATOR

Mr. Eric DeJong
Executive Director, Human Resources
315 N French Ave.
Arlington, WA 98223
360.618.6212
Email Eric DeJong

HARASSMENT, INTIMIDATION AND BULLYING (HIB) COMPLIANCE OFFICER

Mr. Eric DeJong
Executive Director, Human Resources
315 N French Ave.
Arlington, WA 98223
360.618.6212
Email Eric DeJong

SECTION 504/ADA COMPLIANCE COORDINATOR

Ms. Kerri Helgeson
Director of Special Education (HS+) & Student Support
315 N French Ave.
Arlington, WA 98223
360.618.6228
Email Kerri Helgeson