Education

Gig Harbor Now staff are proud to provide coverage of Peninsula School District, Tacoma Community College, private schools and home schools, emphasizing the value and experiences of learning here and beyond.

Meet the face behind Harbor WildWatch’s TikTok success

Aug 26, 2024 | By: Ronan Lynch

When the pandemic forced beaches to close, Harbor WildWatch Education Director Rachel Easton saw an opportunity. If people couldn’t visit the tides, she would bring the tides to them online. “We transitioned all of our school programs and public programs to be digital, but we weren’t getting much traction. Streaming on Facebook, we’d get a

Read More

Gig Harbor student hits disc golf pro tour, studies on the go

Aug 21, 2024 | By:

Disc golf may not be an Olympic sport yet, but when (if) that happens, Carter Ahrens, 17, will be one to watch as a potential U.S. team member. Ahrens, of Gig Harbor, is spending 2024 on the Disc Golf Pro Tour, which dad Chuck explains is the top tier of competition in the sport. One

Read More

Food Backpacks 4 Kids clothing drive is coming up. Here’s where to donate

Aug 07, 2024 | By:

Generous donors are filling up drop sites throughout Gig Harbor with gently used and new items that will be free to shoppers during the 2024 Food Backpacks 4 Kids Community Clothing Drive & Giveaway on Aug. 23-25. Donations are being accepted through Aug. 11. FB4K took over the event four years ago after coordinating with

Read More

Local women win $44,000 in Minerva Scholarships

Jul 30, 2024 | By:

Eight local women were acknowledged and awarded a combined total of $44,000 in scholarships last weekend by the Minerva Scholarship Fund. Established in 1991, the Minerva Scholarship Fund offers scholarships to women whose formal education has been interrupted, aiding them in completing their studies. Women residing or working within the boundaries of the Peninsula School

Read More

Healthy Youth Survey shows positive trends in Peninsula schools

Jul 18, 2024 | By:

Mental health outcomes for Peninsula District students are comparable to their peers in Pierce County, according to a recent statewide survey. But results also underscore recent concerns from community members about bullying at district high schools. Data from the 2023 Healthy Youth Survey showed positive trends for students across Washington.  The survey is an anonymous

Read More

PenMet Parks’ free mobile recreation program coming to local schools

Jul 17, 2024 | By:

Peninsula Metropolitan Park District on Tuesday, July 23, will launch a new Mobile Recreation program that is free to all families, with no preregistration required. The fun will include field activities, arts and crafts geared toward ages 3 to 12, but all ages are welcome. Food Backpacks 4 Kids with funding from BBQ2U will provide

Read More

14 local graduates earn Herons Key scholarships

Jun 28, 2024 | By:

In early June, 14 local high school seniors received $2,000 scholarships from the residents of the Herons Key retirement community. Since the scholarship program began in 2018, Herons Key residents have awarded more than $83,000 to seniors from Gig Harbor and Peninsula high schools. This year a student from Henderson Bay High School also received

Read More

Prosecutors charge elementary school teacher with three new counts of molestation

Jun 26, 2024 | By:

Pierce County prosecutors charged Gig Harbor resident Jordan Roy Henderson with three additional counts of first-degree child molestation, according to Superior Court documents.  Prosecutors entered the new charges against the Evergreen Elementary School teacher on Wednesday, June 26. Documents indicate that a new victim came forward after Henderson was initially charged in April.  Henderson remains free

Read More

Summer Lunch in the Park returns July 9

Jun 24, 2024 | By:

Food Backpacks 4 Kids’ Summer Lunch in the Park program returns July 9 at four sites in the Gig Harbor and Key Peninsula areas. The program fills a critical gap for many families who rely on free or reduced lunch programs during the school year. But it’s open to any kid who needs a meal

Read More

Gig Harbor Kiwanis Club a finalist for Signature Project award

Jun 21, 2024 | By:

The Gig Harbor Kiwanis Club is among 10 finalists out of 525 submissions from around the world for Kiwanis International’s eighth annual Signature Project Recognition Program. The winner will be announced at the Kiwanis International Convention in Denver next month. The local Kiwanis Club’s Signature Project is Kiwanis Cares for Kids, which provides new clothes

Read More