East Port Orchard Elementary principal Ashley Cashman highlighted her school’s focus on removing barriers to student success during the South Kitsap School Board meeting Oct. 1.

Cashman said one major change this year has been adjusting the lunch and recess schedule to give students more time to eat.

“We used to have a 20-minute lunch and then 20-minute recess,” she said. “We made a big change this year and actually have a 30-minute lunch and then two 15-minute recesses in the day…Asking kindergartners to sit for 30 minutes is a big challenge, but we do believe it ensures every single kid is actually going to sit down and eat their food rather than wanting to go out to recess instead.”

She added that the change has already made a difference: “We’ve noticed our dishes are coming back clean — kids are actually eating all their food.”

With help from Communities in Schools site coordinator Kristin Winter, EPO provides clothing, snacks and other basic needs to ensure students are ready to learn.

“We have parents who we say, ‘just bring them in,’ and they will show up in their pajamas and Kristin gets them clothes for the day,” Cashman said. “We have families who bring their laundry here, we have families who come get laundry detergent here, so it is truly removing every obstacle. Families and kids — we are their resource.”

Communities in Schools partnership

Staff and leadership from Communities in Schools of Peninsula also presented at the meeting, highlighting their ongoing partnership with South Kitsap schools. The organization provides wraparound support for students and families in several areas, including basic needs, social-emotional support, academic assistance, parent engagement, and college and career readiness.

South Kitsap High School site coordinator Denise Jackson discussed the impact of attendance interventions.

“Small interventions matter,” Jackson said. “An alarm clock, bus pass, or even a consistent morning check-in can be the difference between a student showing up or not.”

Jackson said the district’s therapy dog program has become an important support for both students and staff.

“Therapy dogs are called on to provide one-on-one support for students dealing with particularly hard situations,” she said. “Our Special Education department loves visits from our therapy dogs. It’s often noted that many students stop certain behaviors or communicate better.”

The district partners with KARE — Kitsap Animal Recovery and Education — to offer therapy dog training and certification.

Attendance focus and mentoring programs

At East Port Orchard, Winter said her primary focus has been improving attendance.

“We sadly have the poorest attendance of all the elementary schools — until this year,” Winter said.

Winter said improvements are already visible and credited the school’s emphasis on belonging.

EPO also offers an after-school reading mentoring program, led by coordinator Marissa Dryden, that pairs students with community volunteers.

“We have 18 volunteers who consistently come in Tuesdays after school, and their role is to read with kids and be a mentor,” Dryden said. “Our focus is on third through fifth grade, and we have 18 students in the program.”

The program runs for 24 sessions throughout the year, giving each student “24 extra hours of reading and mentorship,” she said. The curriculum emphasizes comprehension and vocabulary to support students who need an extra boost in reading.

Marcus Whitman and Cedar Heights programs

At Marcus Whitman Middle School, site coordinator Charlotte McMillen said her focus has been on improving attendance and reducing tardiness.

“I’ll go into a classroom and quietly ask the teacher, ‘Was everyone on time to class today?’ If the teacher says yes, then they get either popcorn or cookies. It’s been really successful,” McMillen said.

McMillen said the school has also partnered with Peninsula Community Health Services, which operates a mobile clinic that provides sports physicals for students who otherwise might not have access.

At Cedar Heights Middle School, site coordinator Aileen Willmoth described two initiatives that promote emotional well-being and community service.

Willmoth highlighted the student-led Journey of Compassion, a “Service to Others” project in which students made handmade blankets for local senior living centers.