Westhill Weekly News

Westhill Weekly News

June 15, 2026 - Have a great summer!!! See you in the Fall.

A bulletin board displays "WE ARE WESTHILL" in large white letters, surrounded by student artwork.

With Gratitude...

To the Westhill School Community,

Twelve years ago, I walked through these doors for the first time as a brand-new principal — nervous, hopeful, and completely unaware of how deeply this place would change my life. What I found here was so much more than a school. I found a community that would shape me, challenge me, and carry me through some of the most defining moments of my life.

We have lived a lot together. We celebrated the easy years — the milestones, the laughter in the hallways, the pride of watching students grow into who they are meant to be. And we endured the hard ones. We grieved the loss of beloved staff and community members who left marks on our hearts that will never fade. We navigated a pandemic that turned everything we knew upside down, and somehow — through the fear, the uncertainty, and the exhaustion — we showed up for one another anyway. That is not nothing. That is everything.

Westhill was my first principalship, and I want you to know what that means: you were my teachers. Every parent conversation, every student who pushed back and made me think harder, every staff member who gave their whole heart to this building — you taught me what it means to truly lead. I grew up here, professionally and personally, and I am a better human being because of it.

To the students — past and present — you were always the reason. Thank you for your grace, your energy, and for reminding me every single day why this work matters.

To the staff — words cannot hold the gratitude I have for you. Your dedication is extraordinary. You stayed strong when it wasn't easy, and I will carry your example with me for the rest of my career.

To the families and the broader Westhill community — thank you for your trust. Thank you for inviting me into your lives during the big moments and the quiet ones. It has been the privilege of a lifetime.

I will miss each and every one of you more than I can say. Westhill will always be home.

With a full heart and deepest gratitude,

Dana

 

 

 

A yellow sticky note with the words 'Action Items' written in black marker.

ACTION ITEMS

  • Just a final reminder to please return any missing library books!
  • Let the office know if you will be moving out of the Westhill service area this summer.
  • Pick up LOST & FOUND items before 6/16!
  • HAVE A FABULOUS SUMMER!

 

 

A word cloud displays various farewell phrases in different languages.

Celebrating Our Departing Staff

With the closing of another school year comes a season of transition. This fall, the hallways of Westhill will look a little different as we say goodbye to several valued staff members who are moving on to new adventures outside of our school community.

Saying goodbye is never easy, but we want to express our deepest gratitude for everything these educators have given to our school. They have helped our students shine, and their contributions will be felt for years to come.

  • Stephanie Dunnewind, retiring
  • Jamie Tuttle (maternity leave for Jean Rapp)
  • Annie Erlich (maternity leave for Kelly Forsell)

We are currently working hard behind the scenes to finalize our hiring for next fall to ensure a seamless transition for all students. Stay tuned for our "Welcome Back" newsletter in August, where we will officially introduce the new faces joining the Westhill family!

 

 

 

Presentation slide titled 'Highly Capable Parent Info. Night' with abstract geometric shapes.

HiCap Information

If you are wondering about our Highly Capable Service model at Westhill, please see the HiCap presentation or click on THIS LINK.

Additional information:

 

 

Two speech bubbles, one red saying 'Hola' and one blue saying 'Hello'.

DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM

Northshore Families… 

Have you ever thought about Dual Language?

Discover the world of bilingualism with our Dual Language program at Woodin Elementary! Woodin’s K-5 Dual Language Program is a bilingual educational program integrating multilingual learners and English-speaking students for instruction in and through two languages (Spanish and English) with the goal being to create students who are multilingual, multiliterate, and multicultural. Students are immersed in a rich learning experience where they can learn to navigate and communicate in both languages. If you are interested in having your child embark on a journey that opens doors to cultural diversity and expanded linguistic horizons, please contact Theresa Cussac, office manager, at 425.408.5401.

 

Estimadas famílias de Northshore…

¿Han pensado acerca del Programa de lenguaje dual?

¡Descubra el mundo del bilingüismo con nuestro Programa de lenguaje dual en la escuela primaria Woodin! El programa de kinder hasta 5to es un programa educativo bilingüe integrando estudiantes multilingües y estudiantes que hablan inglés. Los estudiantes aprenden en dos idiomas (español e inglés) con la meta de crear estudiantes que sean multilingües, multilingües y multiculturales. Los estudiantes están inmersos en una rica experiencia educativa donde pueden aprender a navegar y comunicarse en ambos idiomas. Si le interesa que su estudiante emprenda un viaje que abre puertas a la diversidad cultural y horizontes lingüísticos ampliados, por favor póngase en contacto con Theresa Cussac, gerente de oficina en 425.408.5401.

 

 

Register NOW for 2026-27 School Year

Please share the information below with any new to the area families you know or meet this summer! Enrollment drives our staffing, so the sooner we know, the better:)

NSD Enrollment Page

 

 

 

Example calendar with dates pinned

Upcoming Events

  • Monday, 6/15 @ 11:00 1st grade family picnic
  • Tuesday, 6/16 @ 10:45 Kindergarten family picnic
  • Tuesday, 6/16: year end assembly
  • Wednesday, 6/17 @ 10:45 5th grade moving up assembly
  • Wednesday, 6/17 @ 12:00 SCHOOL's OUT for SUMMER☀️

 

 

 

photo of front of Westhill Elementary

Contact info

If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us. If you need to change your child's dismissal plans- PLEASE CALL THE OFFICE not the classroom. Our teachers rarely have time to check their email or answer phones while teaching. You can reach out via the following links:

  • (425) 408-5500 front office
  • (425) 408-5510 attendance line
  • www.nsd.org/westhill
  • staff contact hours: 9:00 - 4:30