Issaquah School District

🐝The school buzzed with enthusiasm and joy during Wednesday’s annual “Nuthtown” event at Cedar Trails Elementary. Students holding handfuls of pretend dollar bills shopped at booths hosted by students from Kaitlin Nuth’s Learning Resource Center 2 (LRC2) class. Others hustled back out to the hallway, where they could complete a variety of “jobs” for paper tickets. Next, students could turn in tickets from jobs at the Nuthtown Bank, for more play money.

“Welcome to Nuthtown! It’s very exciting that you’re here,” Nuth said, welcoming a new group of classes just outside the borders of the “town.” She explained the event to the visiting students, who each received an initial amount of pretend dollars to spend. “Let’s go shopping!”💸

Each year, in preparation for the event, students in Nuth’s class study economics, including learning about consumers and producers, community helpers and best practices for running a business. Then, they work with students in their cohort, paraprofessionals and staff to plan and create a variety of products, each made out of recycled materials. In the 10 years since the inception of Nuthtown, they have never repeated the same product. This year’s offerings ranged from blue-and-green glittery (electric) candle holders, to squishy flat soccer balls themed to acknowledge the World Cup in Seattle. There were handmade “fidget” toys, cardboard helicopters, cheerful bumblebees and sparkly popsicles. ✨

With some help from assistive devices and paraprofessionals, Nuth’s students greet the shoppers, answer questions about prices, and exchange their products for play money.

“I got the last one!” a young shopper exclaimed loudly, holding a squishy fidget toy in the air. Classes and grade levels visit Nuthtown in several rounds so that it isn’t too crowded in the small hamlet. Between each wave of shoppers, the students and staff restock their wares.

A new group of students arrives at the town limits, and excitedly begins taking on the “jobs,” which include tasks such as sharpening pencils, folding towels, cleaning windows, testing markers to determine which ones are out of ink, and picking up a pretend “mess” of colorful foam toys. “I have $14!” one student declares, waving the bills above their head on the way from the bank back to the storefronts.

Before leaving town, all visiting students and staff are encouraged to add their names to a large butcher paper sign on the wall, a visual representation of the fact that Nuth’s students and the Cedar Trails staff members make clear: Everyone who visits becomes part of the Nuthtown community. 🫶

🎶📈 Congratulations to Skyline High School juniors Sourya Jaladi, Kruthik Ankam and Ayush Agarwal on earning national recognition through the 2026 High School Fed Challenge! 👏

Their research paper, “The Economics of Music Catalogs: Why Yesterday’s Hits Have a Discount Rate,” was selected as one of just 12 student papers nationwide for publication in the Journal of Future Economists by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. 🌟

Even more impressive, their work was reviewed by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve, including Chair Jerome Powell.

Way to represent Skyline High School and ISD with your creativity, critical thinking and economic insight! 🎓✨

Photo (L-R): Kruthik Ankam , Skyline IB Business Management Teacher, Anna Dineen, Ayush Agarwal and Sourya Jaladi.

🎉WE ARE ONE WEEK AWAY! 🎉

Graduation ceremonies for Liberty, Issaquah and Skyline high schools are on June 11, 2026. Today we’re sharing reminders about where to park, and what you can and can’t bring to the commencement ceremony at T-Mobile Park.

👜 Clear bag policy: Because these events are hosted at T-Mobile, we must follow their facility rules, which require clear bags. Read the rules in detail on your school’s senior webpage, which also includes other excellent graduation information:
🎓https://issaquahhigh.isd411.org/student-life/seniors
🎓https://liberty.isd411.org/student-life/seniors
🎓https://skyline.isd411.org/student-life/seniors

🚫 Prohibited items: Large bags, outside beverages (except for sealed water bottles), professional cameras, tripods, coolers, weapons and noisemakers are not allowed. No exceptions are made, and no exemptions are allowed into the stadium. We cannot hold prohibited items; anyone who brings them will have to return the items to their vehicle.

📸 Plan your photo opportunities: Because there are not opportunities to take photos with your student and family and friends inside T-Mobile, you’ll want to plan ahead to take photos of your graduate in their cap and gown during parties and other events. You can also take photos with your graduate when you meet them after the ceremony outside the stadium.

🚗Parking and ADA accessibility information can be found on the senior webpages under “Event Day Details”

👏 ACT and Gibson Ek families, just as in years past, we’ll also be celebrating with photos and social media posts from your graduates’ ceremonies. Your school staff teams are sharing details and information directly with you about the festivities; and, Gibson Ek families, friends and fans can find information on the GEHS senior page:
🎓 https://gibsonek.isd411.org/student-life/seniors

🎭 🎶Excited students in kindergarten through fourth grade filled the audience facing the stage at Sunny Hills Elementary on Wednesday morning, for the final dress rehearsal of the fifth grade musical, “RATS! The Story of the Pied Piper.” 🐀 ⭐

“You have worked incredibly hard, and I can’t wait for the school to see you perform today,” music teacher and director Dayle Walters said just before the school performance. The fifth grade musical is a long-standing tradition at Sunny Hills, and has been performed annually since at least 2006, Walters and Principal Cami Przybylski said.

This tradition and the school’s grade-level concerts really offer Sunny Hills students the opportunity to learn how to be great audience members and wonderful performers, Przybylski said.

Fifth grade students chose the musical they wanted to perform. They run the lights, the sound (music and microphones), designed and painted the sets, and made posters to advertise the performance, Walters said of the cast and crew, who have been working on the production since January.

The show is filled with lively songs, funny moments, great puns and, best of all, exuberant fifth grade cast and crew members. The next performance is at 6 p.m. on June 4 at Sunny Hills, for families and the Sunny Hills community. Break a leg, fifth grade! 🌟🎉

🗓️Families are invited to save the date for the Back-to-School Resource Fair, which will be on August 12 this year. The event offers new and gently used clothing, school supplies, medical care such as vaccines, support completing forms, and additional resources. Families who plan to attend are asked to register, to help us plan for attendee needs.

💛 Hosted in partnership with the Community Clothing Closet and the Issaquah Schools Foundation, the Back-to-School Resource Fair is aimed at ensuring all enrolled ISD students are equipped with the essentials they need to start the new school year confidently and prepared for success.

The event will be from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Clark Elementary, 335 1st Ave. S.E., Issaquah.

District staff will offer support completing forms such as the Enrollment Verification Process (EVP), the application for Free and Reduced Price Meals, and athletic registration in FinalForms.

Additional resources at the fair will include the Issaquah Food Bank, the Circle, Cultural Bridges, The Garage, King County Library System and the City of Issaquah Recreation team.

If you plan to attend, please register for the event: bit.ly/ISDresourceFair2026

Additional details are available on our website: isd411.org/resourcefair

😎 Welcome, June! We are sharing the months on our 2025-26 printed Student Art Calendar and the incredible artwork it features, created by students from all grades across the district.

🏄 Featured art in this post is by Airen Zhang, a then-first grader at Cougar Ridge Elementary. Airen shared these words about the inspiration for this piece: “I dream of surfing with my brother someday.”

Additional art shown inside the calendar grid includes artwork by the following students, who also shared their inspiration:

🌳 Nathan Welch, a then-10th grader at Issaquah HS: “This is a watercolor and ink piece of locusts glowing on tree branches in the dark. It was inspired by a friend of mine who provided an art prompt. With this piece, I was able to experiment with metallic watercolors and delve deeper into my watercolor skills while trying something new.”

🎨 Luke Li, a then-second grader at Creekside Elementary: “Pay respect to the classics. This is a culture collision between the classic painting of the girl with the pearl earrings and modern punk boy visitor.”

View our Cultural Events Calendars: https://www.isd411.org/about-us/equity/religion-and-culture

🔧✈️ Hands-on learning is taking flight at Liberty High School!

Students in Tom Peltzer's Aerospace Manufacturing course are gaining real-world experience using industry tools and techniques, from welding and riveting to reading technical drawings and following work orders. Through this first-year WANIC program, students are building technical skills, confidence and career readiness while exploring opportunities in aerospace manufacturing and engineering.

“One of the most interesting and challenging units in this (class) so far has been learning how to weld, especially when first starting with techniques like MIG welding,” senior William Kirk said. “At first, it seemed simple, just joining two pieces of metal. But once I actually tried it, I realized how much control and precision it takes. Keeping a steady hand, maintaining the right speed, and making sure the weld is strong without burning through the metal was harder than expected.”

🔗Hear from Peltzer and more of the students in the full article: bit.ly/ISDaerospace2026

Are you ready for GRADUATION?

👏 We can’t wait to celebrate the Class of 2026 in just two weeks! Today, check off each item on our list of logistics for the ceremonies at T-Mobile Stadium. ✅

Here are some of the most commonly asked questions we receive:

🔗Where do I find the link for the livestream ceremony at T-Mobile? On your school’s senior webpage.

🌐How can I have the ceremony translated into another language if I'm attending the T-Mobile ceremony in person? Simultaneous interpretation is available at no cost in more than 200 languages on your personal device. We'll have the QR code available for you to scan at T-Mobile, or it's available on the senior class webpage for your school. Please bring headphones to use with your device.

🚘Where to park? Mariner Garage is located south of T-Mobile Park on Edgar Martinez Drive for $20 per car plus tax. Please note that T-Mobile is a cashless venue.

📍When and where you can meet your graduate for photos? Grad Images will take individual photos of every graduate receiving a diploma at T-Mobile. These are available for purchase online through their website. For candid photos, we encourage you to photograph your graduates, friends and family prior to graduation or after the ceremony outside of the park.

⏰What time the doors open for guests? One hour prior to the start of your student’s ceremony at T-Mobile.

The answers to these questions and more are available on your school’s senior webpage:

🎓https://gibsonek.isd411.org/student-life/seniors
🎓https://issaquahhigh.isd411.org/student-life/seniors
🎓https://liberty.isd411.org/student-life/seniors
🎓https://skyline.isd411.org/student-life/seniors

🌟ACT and Gibson Ek families, just as in years past, we’ll also be sharing photos and social media posts from your graduates’ celebrations. Your school staff teams will be sharing details and information directly with you about the festivities.

As a friendly reminder, the Issaquah School Board will meet at 6 p.m.* today, May 28, 2026, at the Administration Building, 5150 220th Ave. S.E., Issaquah. Members of the community are welcome to attend the regular session of the board in person or virtually.

The agenda and meeting details are available on our website.

*Before the regular session, the board will meet in an executive session from 4 to 4:45 p.m. And, from 4:45-5:30 p.m., the board members will have a special board meeting work study session about the Strategic Plan. The executive session is not open to the public; the special board meeting is open to the public. There will be no public input and no board action during either the executive session or the work study session.

The agenda for the regular session includes:

🔷 Recap of the work study session about the Strategic Plan
🔷 Report about works in progress from Superintendent Heather Tow-Yick
🔷 Update about the Student Representatives to the School Board program
🔷 Regular report about Capital Projects
🔷 Monitoring report for Results 4: Life Management and Personal Awareness
🔷 First reading of the refresh to the Strategic Plan, priority areas and strategies
🔷 Legislative Matters
🔷 Calendar and future agenda topics

For those who would like to attend the public session virtually, the meeting will be available on Zoom and on YouTube. Links to participate are available on the School Board page of our website. Please note that if you would like to attend virtually and also make public comment, you should use the Zoom option. Meeting details and links: https://www.isd411.org/about-us/school-board/board-meetings/board-meeting-archive/may-28-2026

The dates and times of future meetings, as well as other School Board information such as School Board meeting recaps, Governance Policies, videos about the board and more are available on the School Board page of our website.