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.

Elementary students get ready to rhumba with ballroom dance lessons

Nov 08, 2023

Sultry tango music plays in a half-empty portable classroom at Voyager Elementary School. Chairs and tables have been pushed aside to create a small dance floor, where students in pairs mark the beat with their feet. Step, step, step, to-the-side and close. “T-A-N-G-O,” calls out instructor Roxanne Nielsen, helping count the rhythm. It may not

Meeting planned Tuesday on fate of KGHP-FM radio station

Nov 02, 2023

Peninsula School District officials will host a meeting Tuesday, Nov. 7, to discuss the fate of KGHP-FM, the district-owned radio station that’s been in operation since 1988. The meeting is at 1 p.m. Nov. 7 at the Educational Services Center (district administration office), 14015 62nd Ave. NW, Gig Harbor. The public is welcome. Current and

Incumbent West faces challenger for board seat in Peninsula School District

Oct 25, 2023

Only one of three school board races in Peninsula School District is contested in this year’s Nov. 7 general election. Chuck West, incumbent candidate for the District 1 director seat, faces challenger Jack Mende of Gig Harbor. Running unopposed to defend their respective positions on the school board are incumbents Lori Glover, running for the

Parents team with St. Anthony to equip Peninsula school staff with bleeding control kits

Oct 18, 2023

A small group of parents, all with backgrounds in healthcare, has teamed up with St. Anthony Hospital to provide bleeding control kits in each of Peninsula School District’s more than 600 classrooms. The kits will allow for rapid response to traumatic injuries in the event of a school shooting or other emergency, like an earthquake

Teddy bears from Peninsula High School students bring comfort to Ukrainian children

Oct 02, 2023

When Iryna’s family evacuated their home because of the war in Ukraine, they left in such a hurry that they left the little girl’s pink plush elephant behind. The one she’d had since she was a baby. Now, she clings to a new favorite stuffie. Iryna is one of hundreds of Ukrainian children who received

Paramedical tattoo artist helps cancer survivors feel like themselves again

Sep 28, 2023

Nichole Shervanick works her mini-tattoo machine deftly, applying pigment with a needle as fine as a strand of hair to the lips of client Becky Logan. A numbing agent keeps Logan comfortable, and she gives a thumbs-up when asked how she’s doing. When Shervanick has added the finishing touches, she hands Logan a mirror and

Peninsula schools make course correction on teaching reading

Sep 06, 2023

One of Peninsula School District’s goals is for all students to be functional readers by the time they complete third grade. Achieving that goal would require 100% to meet grade level standards in English language arts on state assessments by 2026. District officials note that children who have not learned to read by third grade

Peninsula middle schoolers start new year in like-new buildings

Sep 05, 2023

Tuesday was a first day of school pretty much like any other: students pouring off big yellow buses. A lot of excitement mixed with the usual first-day jitters. More than a few sleepy faces. Outfits carefully chosen. Backpacks filled with a fresh stash of supplies. The school year ahead a blank slate. But for students

Badges will allow parents, district to monitor students on buses

Aug 23, 2023

Peninsula School District is beta testing a badge scanning system that will enable the transportation staff and parents to monitor the location of students riding buses. Students at Swift Water Elementary will receive their badges on the first day of school. The district will roll out badges to all other schools during the year. Students

Meet Peninsula schools’ two new armed safety and security officers

Aug 02, 2023

Peninsula School District has hired two new armed safety and security officers. Unlike school resource officers, they are employees of the district. SROs are law enforcement officers contracted by the district in coordination with a local police or sheriff’s department, typically with a cost-sharing arrangement. “PSD has not employed any SROs since the pandemic,” said