Christina T Henry

Christina T Henry is a freelance journalist reporting on local news from the Kitsap Peninsula and beyond. Chris lives in Port Orchard and formerly wrote for the Kitsap Sun. Her beats have included education, local government and that quirky and capricious grab-bag we call community news. She enjoys our beautiful PNW trails, open water swimming and cycling.

PenMet Parks’ free mobile recreation program coming to local schools

Jul 17, 2024

Peninsula Metropolitan Park District on Tuesday, July 23, will launch a new Mobile Recreation program that is free to all families, with no preregistration required. The fun will include field activities, arts and crafts geared toward ages 3 to 12, but all ages are welcome. Food Backpacks 4 Kids with funding from BBQ2U will provide

Pioneer Elementary students launch near-space balloon, and the marigolds survived … barely

Jun 11, 2024

Exciting news from the world of space exploration last week. No, not the Boeing Starliner carrying astronauts to the International Space Station, although that was cool. We’re talking about Pioneer Elementary School’s near-space balloon launch Friday. It was quite the adventure. The marigolds survived … barely. Recovering the balloon took an act of heroism —

Incoming district athletic director has plenty to say about sportsmanship

Jun 06, 2024

Meet Peninsula School District’s new director of athletics and activities. Wendy Malich, current athletic director for Franklin Pierce School District, starts July 1 in a newly created, “centralized” AD position for the district. Athletic directors at Peninsula and Gig Harbor high schools will remain in their roles. Malich has been at Franklin Pierce for 37

EPA grant helps school district buy more propane buses

Jun 03, 2024

Peninsula School District is one of 16 districts in Washington state to receive money for clean school buses in the most recent round of federal funding from the EPA’s Clean School Bus Program, part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Peninsula’s $250,000 in rebate funding will help offset the purchase 10 new propane buses to replace

Internet outages at some schools linked to attempted copper thefts

May 30, 2024

The attempted copper thefts occurred near the district’s main office in Purdy; the wires involved actually had no copper.

Peninsula High School’s TideHawks earn official recognition, funding from Navy

May 13, 2024

Peninsula School District’s NJROTC program, based at Peninsula High School, earned official recognition by the Navy, the district announced Thursday. The TideHawks NJROTC unit, established three years ago, were until the recent advancement officially a Navy National Defense Cadet Corps (NNDCC) unit. The Navy makes the NNDCC program available to qualifying secondary schools. Cadets follow

Artondale, Evergreen elementaries earn federal recognition as ‘Green Ribbon’ schools

May 06, 2024

Two elementary schools in Peninsula School District are the only schools in Washington state to earn recognition this year as green leaders under the U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools program. Artondale Elementary School in Gig Harbor and Evergreen Elementary School in Lakebay were among 41 schools, 10 districts, three postsecondary institutions and one

PSD stands for Peninsula School District and its Purple Star distinction

Apr 29, 2024

“I am a military child. That means moving every few years and constantly fighting change,” said Brendan Masini Jr., as he spoke in Olympia in early 2023 to support a bill creating a Purple Star Award for military-friendly school districts. “Whether those changes were new schools, new people, new surroundings, or watching my dad leave

Victim’s attorney says ‘red flags’ should have pointed toward teacher charged with molestation

Apr 23, 2024

Peninsula School District Superintendent Krestin Bahr on Friday sent a letter to families responding to prosecutors charging Evergreen Elementary School teacher Jordan Roy Henderson with first-degree child molestation. In it, she reaffirmed the district’s commitment to safety and offered a link to resources for children and families. “I am committed to being an advocate for

Court documents: Several students were victims of or witnessed teacher’s actions

Apr 19, 2024

Pierce County prosecutors on Friday charged an Evergreen Elementary School teacher who was arrested Thursday on suspicion of sexually abusing students with nine counts of first-degree child molestation. The Peninsula School District placed Jordan Roy Henderson, 34, on administrative leave on Feb. 26 and the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation after a student reported