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.

Peninsula High film students’ work showcased at the Uptown Galaxy

May 01, 2023

It’s a sunny day on a country road, as an old man riding a blue scooter greets the mail carrier and invites him to dinner. Three teens appear walking down the road, and the plot twists wretchedly. Just wait ‘til the postman takes a bite of Edith’s pot roast. “The Scoot-Scoot Man,” a horror short

Peninsula School District cuts target district office, deans

Apr 24, 2023

Peninsula School District on Friday shared details of positions eliminated or reduced because of $12 million in budget cuts for the upcoming year. The announcement revealed some teaching staff positions — including deans at some elementaries and high schools — will be among those affected, along with non-teaching support staff. In addition, the district office

‘The Old Church’ on Crescent Valley Drive for sale

Apr 10, 2023

The little roadside church on Crescent Valley Drive is a familiar landmark whose history dates back more than 100 years. Now it’s for sale, ready for its next chapter. Built in 1908, the church has seen two congregations come and go. During the latter portion of its life, three different owners used it as an

Peninsula School District issues layoff notices to 15 in non-teaching roles

Apr 07, 2023

Peninsula School District has given layoff notices to 15 employees in non-teaching positions. The district will cut the hours of 31 more as it trims $12 million from its 2023-24 budget. The district must cut payroll because enrollment remains lower than before the pandemic: 5% lower than in 2019. Also, grants that helped schools weather

11 from Gig Harbor speech and debate team headed to nationals

Apr 05, 2023

Eleven members of Gig Harbor High School’s speech and debate team qualified for the National Speech and Debate Tournament, to be held in June in Phoenix. In January, coach Chris Coovert predicted up to seven Tides debaters might make the cut, but his team greatly exceeded his expectation. The 11 Gig Harbor debaters qualified during

Peninsula School District to eliminate 40 non-teaching positions

Mar 24, 2023

The Peninsula School Board on Thursday approved a plan to cut $12 million from next school year’s budget by eliminating 40 staff positions, none of them teachers. The district needs to make the cuts, Chief Financial Officer Ashley Murphy said, because of lower enrollment coupled with the end of pandemic aid. School districts around the

Captain Seahawk slashes lunch debt at Peninsula High School

Mar 23, 2023

The $6,000 donation was one of several items deemed routine business. The gift “to pay off delinquent lunch accounts” at Peninsula High School was accepted without discussion or debate as part of the Peninsula School Board’s Feb. 9 consent agenda. The donor was none other than “Captain Seahawk,” a Gig Harbor resident who raises money

Peninsula School District embracing potential of ChatGPT

Mar 16, 2023

Kara Beloate, an English teacher at Peninsula High School, isn’t banning her students from using ChatGPT as part of their school work. She’s encouraging it. Released in November by OpenAI, ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence chatbot that has creating a buzz for its uncanny ability to engage in dialog and to create original written content

Peninsula School District likely facing $12 million budget gap in ’23-24

Mar 01, 2023

Peninsula School District is bracing for an estimated $12 million in budget cuts next year, stemming from reduced enrollment and the end of a pandemic school finance rule. The district announced the impending cuts Tuesday. The news came just two weeks after district officials and school supporters on Feb. 14 cheered the passage of a

Investigator unable to substantiate alleged slur at girls basketball game

Feb 25, 2023

Allegations of a racial slur at a Jan. 11 girls’ basketball game between Gig Harbor and Peninsula high schools are unsubstantiated, according to an investigation initiated by Peninsula School District. Following the game, administrators at both high schools received reports that a member of the Gig Harbor High team used the N-word in a comment