Letter from Superintendent Mark Johnson
November 2018
Hello Nooksack Valley!
It is hard to believe that we’re already entering the Holiday Season. This is a great time for reflection, both personally and professionally. More specifically, it is a time to remind ourselves of all the things we have to be grateful for.
Personally, I am very grateful for so many things.โฏ I’m grateful for our amazing staff who are so committed to ensuring the success of ALL students.โฏ I’m grateful for our community for the support they give to this critical work we do together. I’m grateful for the families for giving their children their best every day, and for entrusting us in the process.โฏ I am particularly grateful for the children who enter our doors yesterday.โฏ They are why we are here.โฏ They are our calling.โฏ They inspire and challenge us to be our very best, every day.
A challenge we are experiencing is student enrollment growth. We are the fastest growing school district in our region, growing about 250 students since our last bond issue in 2015. The result is our elementary schools are significantly beyond capacity, with multiple temporary portables at Sumas and Everson. Our school board has fully endorsed the recommendation of our 18 member Facilities Committee to address this issue. See below for more information.
With appreciation,
Mark Johnson
Superintendent of Nooksack Valley Schools
Professional learning communities drill right into student needs
At-need students fed over the weekend through Open Hands program
Schools expanding offerings into multiple events
Sumas Elementary teacher met with families outside of school early in the year
Fourth-graders get hands-on at Riverside Park
Program puts focus on enrichment and support at the same time
Enrichment opportunities connect students to experiences
Emily leads by example as captain of the NVMS cross country team
Interactive portions keep students talking, energetic about math
