Dear North Star Families,

Welcome to a new school year at North Star Elementary! We are so excited to welcome our Huskies back and begin a great year together.

At North Star, our mission is to collectively give each child what they need, academically and emotionally, to ensure they become proficient learners. This mission is truly our North Star and will guide the work we do throughout the year.

We believe that strong relationships with students and families are an important part of creating a school where every child feels known, supported, and ready to learn. We look forward to getting to know you, celebrating our students, and working together throughout the year.

Our family newsletter will be one way we keep you connected to what is happening at North Star. Be sure to check it regularly for important dates, school events, celebrations, and other updates.

We are excited for the year ahead and grateful to have you as part of our North Star community. It’s going to be a great year to be a Husky!

Warmly,

Mrs. Rederick & Mrs. Keel

Welcome to Our School Community!

We can’t wait to kick off a fantastic new school year, and we want you to be a part of it from day one. Please join us for our upcoming Back to School Night, where you’ll have the chance to explore the classrooms, meet our dedicated teachers, and connect with other wonderful families in our community. Mark your calendars! We can’t wait to see you there!

Welcome to the start of a wonderful adventure! We are excited to invite you and your incoming kindergartener to our upcoming Kindergarten Orientation. This special event is a great opportunity to meet our fantastic teachers and learn more about our daily routines and school policies. We will also share how we can partner with you to support a smooth and exciting transition into kindergarten. We can’t wait to officially welcome your family to our school community!

The first day of kindergarten is September 3. Please save the date! We are excited to welcome our newest Huskies and begin a wonderful year of learning together!

To enter kindergarten, a child must be five years old on or before August 31. Please register your child with your neighborhood school before the first day of school. Find My School

Kindergarten registration can be completed online through K–12 Online Registration.

Elementary

• Backpack
• Reusable water bottle
• School Supply Box
• Headphones/Earbuds (Grades K-5)

*All other supplies will be provided by the school

Please see a copy of our school map for reference. For drive-up up, families will drive through the outer area of our parking lot. Your students will be walked directly to your car.

Walk-Up parents will line up outside of the gym door. Your students will be walked to you.

Our North Star PTA is a wonderful way to get involved, connect with other families, and support our students and staff throughout the year. Whether you have a little time or a lot, we would love to have you be part of our PTA community! Click the schedule of events to visit the North Star PTA Facebook page and learn more.

Regular attendance is one of the most important parts of a child’s success at school. Each day students are at North Star, they build important skills, strengthen friendships, and take part in learning experiences that cannot always be replaced when they are absent. Even missing a few days each month can make it harder for students to stay connected and keep up with their learning.

We understand that illness, appointments, and unexpected situations happen. If your child will be absent or late, please contact the school office. By making attendance a priority and communicating when challenges arise, families and staff can work together to help every student feel supported, engaged, and ready to learn. Every day at North Star matters!

At North Star, we want every student to feel safe, supported, and ready to learn. Our school wide behavior expectations are called the North Star Way. We are STARS:

Safety First
Teamwork
Always Respectful
Ready to Learn
Strive for Success

Throughout the year, staff will teach, practice, and recognize these expectations in classrooms and throughout the school. When mistakes happen, we will help students reflect, repair relationships, and make a better choice next time. Families can support the North Star Way by talking about these expectations at home and celebrating the positive choices their children make each day. By working together, we can create a welcoming school community where every student can learn and grow.

• August 17th: Office Opens 9-12 & 1-3

• August 19th: Kindergarten Orientation 5PM

• August 26th: Back to Schoo Night: 4:30PM

• August 31: First Day of School

• September 3rd: First Day of Kindergarten

• September 4: No School

• September 7: Labor Day – No School

• September 14, 21, 28 – Late Arrival

Student class placements for the 2026–2027 school year will be available to view in ParentVUE.

Please keep in mind that class placements may need to be adjusted through the end of September as new students enroll, families move, and we balance class sizes. We understand that changes can be difficult, and we appreciate your patience and flexibility as we work to create balanced classrooms where every North Star student can learn and thrive.

If your child’s placement needs to be adjusted, a member of the North Star office team will contact you directly. The updated placement will also be reflected in ParentVUE.

Great news! Every student in the Bethel School District can receive breakfast and lunch at no cost this school year.

To help our district continue providing free meals, all Bethel families are asked to complete the Child Nutrition Eligibility and Education Benefit Application at emealapps.bethelsd.org.

Each student may receive one free breakfast and one free lunch each school day. To qualify as a complete meal, students must select the following:

Breakfast: At least three items, including a grain or meat, fruit or vegetable, and milk. One item must include at least ½ cup of fruit or vegetables.

Lunch: At least three meal components. One component must include at least ½ cup of fruit or vegetables.

Students who do not select the required meal components will be charged the à la carte price for each item. Second meals may also be purchased.