Volunteer

We are thankful to welcome volunteers back on campus for the 2022-23 school year. 

• Volunteers with background check clearance should coordinate service time with the Volunteer Coordinator at the school.

South Kitsap Schools are inviting dads to come back to school and get involved through a national program called WATCH D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students). This father involvement initiative of the National Center for Fathering organizes fathers and father figures to provide positive male role models for the students and to enhance school security.

Watch Dogs are fathers, grandfathers, step-fathers, uncles, and other father figures who volunteer to serve at least one day each year in a variety of school activities.

For more information on this program visit www.fathers.com, contact your school's volunteer coordinator, or PTA/SA for more information.

Big Brothers Big Sisters is starting operations in Kitsap County. 

Visit the bbbs website to learn more

The Senior Tax Exchange Program will be operating in the 2022-2023 school year.

South Kitsap School District's Senior Tax Exchange Program offers qualifying residents an opportunity to receive a tax break on their local school tax (levy and bond) in exchange for their time and skills working within the South Kitsap School District. The program was created in response to concerns of local citizens who are living on fixed incomes and are experiencing rising property taxes. The program also offers more opportunities to increase the contributions of senior citizens in public schools.

To qualify for the program, residents must meet all of the following criteria;

• must be 62 years of age or older;
• own and reside in their own home within the SKSD boundaries;
• receive Social Security or retirement income;
• have a gross household annual income of more than $40,000 and less than $65,000.

Participating residents can provide their skills (valued at the current hourly Washington State minimum wage) to SKSD up to but not to exceed the resident's annual local school tax bill. The annual total may not exceed $430 per household. Participants will receive a two-party check payable to themselves and the Kitsap County Treasurer in time for the April and/or October collection deadlines. A minimum time donation is 20 hours and will be served between January and June 2023. 

*Please note that application to this program does not guarantee acceptance. The applicant must successfully clear a Washington State Patrol background check to participate in the STEP program. 

Please reach out to millera@skschools.org or call 360-874-7005 for an application.

Kitsap County offers another option for tax relief and information is available on the Assessor's website. 

The PALS (Partners in Learning Success) Mentoring Program is a school based mentoring program that fosters a partnership between schools, the community, and families. County employees, school district staff, and community members are matched with elementary school children that need additional support from caring adult role models.

Students are referred to the program by school staff members that feel they would benefit from a positive adult relationship. Each school has a school coordinator that interviews the mentors to get a good feel for their personality enabling them to make a good mentoring match. The school coordinator sends a letter and parent permission form to the families explaining the program and inviting their child to participate. Once the permission forms are returned and the mentors have gone through a two hour training they are matched to a student. The school coordinator introduces the mentor to the child’s teacher where they gain further insight into the child and the time of the visits is decided. The school coordinator introduces the student to their mentor and provides ongoing support to the mentors. They meet for approximately 45 minutes once a week throughout the school year.

For more information, contact Val Kimball, PALS coordinator at 360-443-3579.