Richard Gordon Elementary was named after the astronaut Richard Gordon, a graduate of NK High School and a member of NASA’s Apollo 12 Mission in l969. With space travel as part of the history of Richard Gordon, we celebrate this theme of learning and adventure in our schoolwide efforts each day. Each October, we recognize Richard Gordon’s birthday and use this as an opportunity to build school pride and inspire students to learn and dream big.
Gordon Elementary School Mission: Assure High Levels of Learning for All Students
Building on a strong history and tradition of academic excellence, our staff is dedicated to working as a team to create a positive and safe learning environment for all students. Our positive practices help support students so they can achieve and succeed. We build our expectations around the following:
Our Gordon Way: STAR Expectations include -
- S: I am Safe with my body and words.
- T: I use Teamwork by building community with everyone.
- A: I Act respectfully to all people and things.
- R: I am Responsible for my effort, work and actions.
We are unique in that we have two programs on our campus. Serving 446 students, we have a K-5 program and the district’s parent choice program, North Kitsap Options, serving students in grades Kindergarten through 8, including Middle School Options Program (MSOP).
Our academic program strongly emphasizes Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). Our Family STEM Nights, held twice yearly, are well attended and help support the love of inquiry-based learning. Additionally, the arts are a valued part of our educational program. Volunteer Art Docents teach different art mediums in our DaVinci Room, a classroom dedicated to inspiring creativity in all our students. Our Music program features a before-school strings course for small groups of students and opportunities to perform in the community.
In addition to our Family STEM Nights, we offer monthly K-3 Family Reading Nights in our Library, PTA Fun Nights, Family Fall Carnival, and other offerings to promote family engagement. We value partnerships with community organizations such as Stillwater’s Environmental Center, Indianola Garden Club, Suquamish Tribe, Kitsap Strong, NK Fire and Rescue, North Kitsap Schools Foundation, the Kingston Library, Kingston Middle School, and Kingston High School.
North Kitsap Schools Foundation has generously supported our Before School Academic Lab, serving students in grades 2-5 and funding items for our K-3 classroom Cool Down Kits.
Academic Achievement Recognition
2012 - Gordon Elementary Washington State Achievement Award -Science
2013 - MSOP Washington State Achievement Award-Reading