Skip to main content
District

January 2026 Newsletter

Posted Date: 01/09/26 (05:00 PM)
View Original Post


Pathfinder Kindergarten Center

PKC Newsletter

January 9, 2026
Pathfinder Sketch
January calendar with events including Winter Break, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and Spirit Days.
February Calendar with events including Preschool and Kindergarten Friendship Day, and Mid-Winter Break.
A graphic announcing 'Sports Day' on January 23rd, encouraging participants to wear their favorite team's jersey or colors.
A chalkboard-style graphic with the text 'CONNECTING WITH THE CURRICULUM' and 'Come play games and activities as a family with the Pathfinder staff!'.

Message from Pathfinder Principal, Ms. Harris

Hello Pathfinder Families!

Happy New Year! I hope you all had a wonderful and restful winter break. As we step into this new year, we are excited to welcome everyone back to school and look forward to a fantastic year ahead.

Pathfinder will be hosting a family fun night on Thursday, January 29th from 6:00-7:00 p.m. Our Connecting with the Curriculum event is a great opportunity to learn more about our school in a fun, engaging way. You and your Pathfinder student will spend time in your child's pod playing a variety of games and participating in reading, writing, math, science, and mind/body activities that you can do at home. We look forward to partnering with you as you explore a day in the life at Pathfinder!

Warm Regards,
Julie Harris
Julie Harris Principal Picture

Parking Lot Safety Reminder

As we get back into our daily routines, this is a friendly reminder to please slow down in the parking lot when arriving and leaving each day, and to follow the posted directional arrows. The speed limit in the school parking lot is 5 mph. Taking a few extra moments helps keep everyone safe. Thank you!

Pathfinder Library Books

We hope your child has been enjoying our library. Since several books have been damaged or lost, we thought a few reminders about library book checkout and care would be helpful:

  1. Students can check out one book each week on their class library day.
  2. Books should be placed in a plastic bag and then in their backpack when being transported between school and home. This will help keep them clean and dry. We provide a bag for each child.
  3. Library books should be kept in backpacks, out of reach of younger siblings and pets.
  4. Books should be returned to school each week on your child's library day. Kids are only allowed to check out a new book if they have returned the book they borrowed the previous week.
Be sure to return school library books to Pathfinder and public library books to the public library.

Notes from Nurse Maggie

Students occasionally need a change of clothes at school. Please send a change of clothes in their backpack in case this is needed. The health room is running low on their supply of clothes. If your child has borrowed clothes from the health room, please return them. We need easy to put on pants in sizes 5, 6, and 7. If you have gently used pants in those sizes that you are able to donate, it would be greatly appreciated.

If you have any questions, or need more information, please contact the Pathfinder health room at (425) 366-3809.

Student and family surveys open through February 2

About a few weeks ago, the district shared that they are inviting students (grades 3-12) and families to participate in a social emotional and well-being/school climate survey this year.  
 
The survey is open through February 2, 2026. The survey should only take 15 to 20 minutes to complete and is available in several languages including English, Spanish, Russian, Ukrainian, Korean, Arabic and Vietnamese.  

Our district uses this survey to get a sense of how people are doing and how to better support our students and families.

If you have any issues accessing the survey, please contact JoAnne Fabian: fabianjx@mukilteo.wednet.edu. 
Mukilteo Student & Family Survey

Mukilteo School District Ballot

Join us for an interactive session with district leaders to learn about the Feb. 10 school ballot! Approval of the renewal learning levy would sustain 300 staff members and programs like athletics, arts, and campus safety, while passage of the capital construction bond would fund dozens of projects to improve student safety, replace outdated building systems, and modernize decades-old schools. Bring your questions and hear directly from the leaders guiding this work.


January 14
4-5 p.m. 

January 21
6-7 p.m.

These are online events. Interpretation will be available upon request to communications@mukilteo.wednet.edu

MAKE DAILY, ON-TIME ATTENDANCE A HIGH PRIORITY IN THE NEW YEAR

Encouraging daily, on-time school attendance is one of the most powerful ways you can prepare your child for success, both in school and in life. When you make school attendance a priority, you help your child get better grades, develop healthy life habits, and have a better chance of graduating from high school.

When students are absent for fewer days, their grades and reading skills often improve, even among those students who are struggling in school. Students who attend school regularly also feel more connected to their community, develop important social skills and friendships, and are significantly more likely to graduate from high school which sets them up for a strong future.

However, when children are absent for an average of just two days of school per month, even when the absences are excused, it can have a negative impact. These absences can affect kids as early as kindergarten. For example, young elementary school students who miss an average of just two school days per month often have difficulty keeping up with their peers academically and tend to fall behind in reading.

When students are able to read on grade level by the end of third grade, which is when kids transition from learning to read to reading to learn, they are three to four times more likely to graduate high school and attend college, post-graduate, or professional development classes than their peers who struggle with reading.

As a parent, you can prepare your child for a lifetime of success by making regular school attendance a priority. By figuring out the reasons for your child’s absences, whether they’re physical, emotional, personal, or family related, and taking advantage of school and/or community support services to resolve them, you can help set your child on the path to success.
Do you need help with an attendance issue you are struggling with? Please contact a trusted staff member here at school, such as your child’s teacher or our Dean of Students, School Counselor, or Family Liaison. We want to partner with you to support your child’s success at school and in life!  

January Homework

As the weather remains gray and gloomy during the coming months, it is important children still have opportunities to move and play in safe environments. The Movement Choice Board encourages new ways to engage in positive movement and play each day.  

A 'Movement Choice Board' with 30 activity squares for kids, featuring instructions for physical games and exercises.
A January 2026 calendar with daily activities for children and parents, including reading, writing, and crafts.
School hours for Kindergarten and Preschool are listed on a white background.
2025-26 Mukilteo School District academic calendar showing monthly grids with school days, holidays, and early dismissals.
Pathfinder Color Sketch

Office Staff

Julie Harris, Principal
Melissa Walker, Dean
Connie Holmerud, Administrative Assistant
Rene Steele, Office Assistant/Registrar
Natalie Smullin, Office Assistant/Attendance
Email: HolmerudCM@mukilteo.wednet.edu
Website: https://www.mukilteoschools.org
Location: 11401 Beverly Park Rd., Bldg B, Everett, WA 98204
Phone: (425) 366-3800
Fax: (425) 366-3802

​ Mukilteo School District Non-Discrimination Statement

Mukilteo School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Civil Rights Coordinator and Title IX Coordinator Robert Gallagher (425-356-1300), gallagherrm@mukilteo.wednet.edu, Section 504 Coordinator Becca Anderson (425-356-1277), andersonra@mukilteo.wednet.edu, and the ADA/Access Coordinator Karen Mooseker (425-356-1330), moosekerkw@mukilteo.wednet.edu. Address: 9401 Sharon Drive in Everett, WA. Inquiries regarding ADA/Access issues at Sno-Isle TECH Skills Center should be directed to Wes Allen, Director (425-348-2220) allenwr@mukilteo.wednet.edu. Address: 9001 Airport Road in Everett, WA 98204.