Message from the Superintendent

The 2025-26 school year was full of steady growth and learning across all grade levels. Students deepened their learning through rigorous classroom work and expanded learning opportunities. Lemonade Day is a perfect example of one of the ways our schools provide real-world experiences that build students’ skills.  

Graduation is the culmination of a journey that begins in kindergarten and builds year after year. Each diploma reflects years of effort and a continuum of learning that the community has supported along the way. Families and community partners remain essential to our work. Their engagement strengthens schools and promotes individual student learning.  

This year reflects what is possible when students are given meaningful opportunities and supported by a community that believes in their success. 

Together, we are creating promising futures.

Year in REVIEW! 

In each of our schools, students are learning and growing as scholars. 
Explore some of the highlights from this school year. 

Serving Up Sunshine 

Over the past several months, these students expanded their learning by preparing to operate lemonade stands in the community.
Custer students operated a drive thru lemonade stand from their school. 

Each student was assigned an important role that included preparing the hand-squeezed lemonade and pureed berry flavorings, marketing, taking orders, handling money and more.  
Idlewild students extended their learning into the broader community by setting up their stands outside local businesses and selling their wares. They adapted to their different locations and worked through unexpected challenges to meet their sales goals. 

These partnerships gave students the opportunity to connect their classroom learning to real-world settings. Students developed plans, made decisions, worked as a team and took ownership of their business’ success.  

Thank you to the staff, family volunteers and Sodexo, who played a significant role in making this student opportunity a reality.

Custer and Idlewild elementary students stepped out of the classroom and into the role of business owners on Lemonade Day, serving up sunshine in a glass with lots of smiles.  

Community and Student Leaders Honored

CPSD recently presented four community leaders and four students with Washington Association of School Administrators leadership awards to honor the ways they support our schools each day. Among our community honorees is Diane Formoso, Caring for Kids CEO, who turned a simple idea into something bigger. She and her team help students arrive at school ready to learn with clothing, food and basic needs met. 

Pierce County Council Chair Jani Hitchen continues that kind of steady support. A former CPSD educator, she has helped secure long-term funding for student services and stays connected by listening to students and being present in our schools and community. 

Through their supportive acts, Cheryl Johnston-Carr and Joe Rosado of Woodmen Life remind staff that they are seen and appreciated, which carries over to students. 

Student honorees reflect that same community-building leadership. Malynki “Mal” Jackson leads with empathy and ensures others feel included. Mykel Sanders encourages his peers to stay focused on graduation and what comes after graduation. Alicia Kirabo Nyonjo balances strong academics with leadership across her school and the district. Kennedy Brown brings determination and discipline to everything she does, from academics to competition to mentoring younger students.

Celebrating Dedicated Service 

Congratulations to the employees who retired from CPSD this school year. We appreciate your commitment to providing a quality public school education to our community’s children.