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.

Salon Day at Henderson Bay leaves students looking sharp for the summer

Jun 07, 2022

Hair dryers whirred amid a background of relaxing music Monday, Salon Day at Henderson Bay High School. Twinkling lights illuminated black and white curtains in the entryway of what had, until recently, been an ordinary classroom. Staff and volunteers revamped the room for the annual event where students can get a new look or just

Parents, teachers alarmed about lack of interior doors at Discovery Elementary

Jun 01, 2022

Special education teacher Wendi Fein was attending a threat assessment meeting this spring at Discovery Elementary School. An actual lockdown occurred during the meeting. Fein’s thoughts immediately turned to teachers and students in classrooms at Discovery that lack interior doors. As everyone hunkered down, she agonized over their vulnerability. The lockdown was lifted without incident.

With help from 3D printer, students enter Shark Tank

May 31, 2022

Has this ever happened to you? You’re at a ball game. It’s chilly. You’re wearing gloves, cheering on your favorite team. But instead of a loud clap, your hands go “thud, thud, thud.” Lame. Pioneer Elementary School student Kai Sandoval has the solution for you: The Cold Clapper. It consists of two plastic disks you

Students measure plastic waste at Kopachuck Middle School

May 24, 2022

Students in the STEAM Club at Kopachuck Middle School wanted to find out how much plastic waste was generated on their campus. They recently spent a couple weeks collecting empty drink bottles, sandwich bags, food packaging, plastic utensils and other plastic waste during lunchtime. The project was inspired by National Geographic’s Planet or Plastic?, a

Peninsula School District sticks with plan to curtail Chinese program

May 17, 2022

Despite efforts by Chinese language students to save Chinese 1 in the upcoming school year, Peninsula School District is going through with its plan to cut the entry-level course because enrollment fell short. Students organizing the campaign hosted a social media push and website, garnering testimonials from former and current students about the relevance and

‘Digital citizenship’ a key part of the curriculum at Peninsula schools

May 12, 2022

Time was, the job of an IT director was all about making sure students had enough devices and that everyone could get online. These days, Kris Hagel, director of digital learning at Peninsula School District, spends his time supporting teachers instructing students about “digital citizenship,” informing parents of ways to monitor and evaluate their child’s

Water circulation problem closes Gig Harbor High School pool

May 06, 2022

The pool at Gig Harbor High School is closed because of a mechanical failure in the water circulation system. Problems with the electrical system and pump led to the temporary closure, Patrick Gillespie, director of facilities, said Thursday. An electrician addressed the electrical issue. Now the district is working with a contractor to check out

Students rally to save Chinese language program at Peninsula School District

Apr 28, 2022

Students in Peninsula School District’s Chinese language classes are joining forces to raise awareness about impending cuts they say will spell an end to the program. District officials have already made the decision to offer classes only at Gig Harbor High School next year, ending instruction at Kopachuck Middle School and Peninsula High School. According

Inside Gig Harbor’s (Nerf) War zone

Apr 27, 2022

Ryan Pickles and Isaac Gary got lucky on opening day of Nerf Wars 2022. “The very first night, me and Ryan, we were hunting this one team called Moctezuma’s Revenge. So, we know where one of them lives,” Gary said. The team member has a twin sibling also playing the game — a long-standing tradition

Gig Harbor Dance Team boogies away with a state title

Apr 14, 2022

Members of the Gig Harbor High School Dance Team held hands and squeezed their eyes shut, praying, hoping. When second-place Shorewood was announced, “we started just immediately crying because we knew that the team that got second, it was an amazing team,” said Ashlyn Francisconi, Gig Harbor’s co-captain. Gut instinct told them they were about