All About Harbor Ridge Middle School

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Opportunities At Harbor Ridge
The Harbor Ridge Community
Additional Thoughts From Parents & Students
Harbor Ridge Middle School Stats
Neighborhoods Within School Boundary

We are continuing our tour of all 17 schools in the Peninsula School District, and today we’re stopping at Harbor Ridge Middle School, located in the heart of downtown Gig Harbor. Come inside with me and let’s meet the principals, teachers, and students that create the culture here at Harbor Ridge.

Supporting Students

Brian Wickens, Principal

I’m very proud to be the principal here at Harbor Ridge Middle School. We’re located at the base of Gig Harbor, up on the hill—we’ve got a great view here. We serve from here all the way out to the Kitsap county line and from Colvos Passage out to Henderson Bay. We receive students from Purdy Elementary, Pioneer Elementary, and Swift Water Elementary School, and then our students, once they leave here, go up to Peninsula High School and to Henderson Bay.

Scott Yingling, Vice Principal

I get to be the assistant principal here at Harbor Ridge. This is my first year and I’m super proud to be a Falcon. Our values are S.O.A.R.—Safety, Ownership, Attend, and Respect—and we try to live those values every single day. 

Our staff really, really tries to connect every day and in-between every class period in everything they do with the students. We’re very student-centered here. 

And then we also focus on habits of mind. A couple of those would be empathy, sense of humor, responsible risk-taking. We try to focus on a different habit of mind every month, and both the staff and students really try to live those out in everything that we do.

Talen, Student

I’ve been here since sixth grade. What makes me excited to be here every day are the teachers and every kid here. Everyone’s really energetic, caring, empathetic, all the teachers here are really fun and they really get the kids.

Trulie Helgerson, Parent

I’ve never had a middle schooler be so excited about attending middle school. We’ve had a very supportive experience, especially through Covid. They have the option of different pathways, different classes that concentrate on where the children are academically.

Suzanne Johnson, Teacher

I teach eighth grade language arts, social studies, and leadership for seventh and eighth graders, and I have taught here for 32 years, since we opened the doors of Harbor Ridge. We have a “We Care” program that is supporting students academically and socially so that they can get caught up on things or be rewarded if they’re all caught up in other classes. We formed that program years and years ago to support kids within the school day and not be penalized or hold them after school if they weren’t caught up. We also offer Homework Club and such.

Opportunities at Harbor Ridge

Scott Yingling, Vice Principal

There are a hundred studies out there that’ll tell you that sports, after school sports, are crucial for kids, but not every kid plays a sport. I’m a theater major, so theater was really huge for me, so we do offer play. We’re going to be doing The Lion King with Tacoma Musical Theater this year. And then we have band, we have choir.

We just started Arts and Crafts, we have Spanish Club that meets once a week, and then—I’m really excited about this because I’m a huge nerd and I’ve been doing it for 30 years—but we just started Dungeons and Dragons Club, which meets twice a week, so that’s kind of cool. I’ll get to go down and talk about elves and dwarves and knights and everything with the kids—it’s gonna be great.

Elton Webb, Music Teacher

This is my first year at Harbor Ridge and it’s actually my first year teaching, period. I went to Harbor Ridge Middle School back in 2010 to 2013. I teach two beginning band classes, I’ve got a more advanced concert band class, I’ve got a choir, a piano and guitar class, which is really fun. 

Kaizle, Student

I am a seventh grader at Harbor Ridge. We had a school dance that was awesome—one gym had athletic stuff to do for the dance and in the other gym, the auction, we had actual dancing, so that was really fun. 

I like coming to school because it’s not boring, ever. All the staff are really helpful in making sure that you have fun and enjoy your time at Harbor Ridge.

The Harbor Ridge Community

Elton Webb, Music Teacher

I really love teaching here. Even when I was a student here, I could really tell that Harbor Ridge was a place that really supported everyone here. There’s a strong sense of community. Everyone I can tell really wants me to be here.  

Suzanne Johnson, Teacher

It’s just a great place to be, for staff and students. Even if staff move on and retire or move to other places, we keep getting just great new teachers and paraeducators and everyone into the buildings. 

Scott Yingling, Vice Principal

I have never been around a staff that is so willing to just jump forward and say, “We’re up. I want to volunteer. I want to do everything I can—today, this second—to make it better for every single kid that walks into our building,” whether that be in the classroom or after school with a club, or coaching a sport. It’s a unique staff and I love being here. It’s been an amazing experience. 

Brian Wickens, Principal

I love being the principal here at Harbor Ridge. Every day is a new day, it’s a new challenge, but we have a great staff, awesome students that come wanting to learn and they’re polite and respectful, and families that are always willing to help out and do whatever we need to make a great middle school experience for our students.

Additional Thoughts From Parents & Students

What Parents Love About Harbor Ridge

“Caring teachers and administrators, good communication, a variety of electives, wonderful counselors.”

“The energy and sense of community—a ‘we are in this together’ attitude.”

“The teachers, principal and vice principal, and location.” 

“How supportive and informative they are to new families.”

What They Wish Could Be Better

“More 6th grade sport options.”

“Better supervision and more clubs and activities for all.”

“More sports options throughout the year.” 

“We wish they had soccer for 6th graders too.”

What Their Children Love About Harbor Ridge

“Teachers, location (able to walk downtown after school for fun sometimes!), leadership opportunities.” 

“The friendly principals and teachers!” 

“Her friends, taking the bus, and the student store.”

“He loves that everyone is friendly and kind. He feels safe and happy to run into different friends during the day. He loves that they can walk between classes instead of sitting all the time.”

What Would They Tell A New Family At Harbor Ridge?

“Harbor Ridge is a positive school and community. They really emphasize that individually they are great, but all together they are even better, and can and will do great things! And let’s talk about that view. . .”

“Volunteer if you can! There are lots of opportunities. Also, the counselors and teachers are very receptive so don’t hesitate to email them.” 

“I would tell a new family that they will be welcome and supported, and don’t be afraid of asking questions or asking for help. And a cool fact: the view!!!” 

Neighborhoods Within School Boundary

Some neighborhoods include:

  • Canterwood

  • Crescent Valley

    • Colvos Heights

    • Crescent Lake Estates

    • Crescent Lake Heights Estates

    • Crescent Valley Ridge

    • North Crescent Lake Estates

  • Gig Harbor - Downtown

    • Ancich Court

    • Artena Addition

    • Fullers

  • Gig Harbor - East

    • Discovery Ridge

    • Eagle Quest

    • East Harbor Estates

    • Harbor View West

    • Loma Vista Estates

    • Montrachet

    • West Passage Ridge

  • Gig Harbor - North

    • Bayview at Gig Harbor

    • Cabalo Ridge

    • Henderson Bay Condos

    • Holly Tides

    • Lagoona Beach

    • McCormick Ridge Condos

    • Morning Point Estates

    • Olympic Sunset West

    • Purdy

    • Salal Ridge

    • Southcreek

    • Spring Hill Estates

    • Spring Tree Estates

    • Trillium Park

    • Wellington Ridge

    • Wilderness Creek

    • Woodshore Terrace Condos

  • Peacock Hill

    • Brierwood North

    • Evergreen Heights

    • Forest Ridge

    • Forrest Meadows

    • Harbor Estates

    • Harbor Glen

    • Harbor View

    • Harborcrest

    • Hawley

    • Maple Creek Estates

    • North Shore Hills

    • Northridge

    • Peacock Hill Lane

    • Peacock Meadows

    • Scandia Heights

    • The Ridge at Gig Harbor

    • The Village at Avalon Woods

    • Tuscany Park Estates

    • Valley View

    • Wedlunds

    • Westbrook Glen

    • Woodridge

    • Woodworths

  • Point Richmond

    • Daybreak Park

    • Deer Trace

    • Point Richmond Ridge

    • Richmond Beach Estates

  • Sehmel

    • Henderson Bay Estates

    • Henderson Bay Heights

    • Horizon West

    • Morning Point Estates

    • Olympic Sunset Vista

  • Sunrise Beach

    • Morningside

    • Morningside West

    • Sea Cliff Estates

    • Sunrise Trace

    • West Pass Terrace

If you want to learn more about our wonderful community here be sure to check out my blog, or for more information on buying and selling in Gig Harbor and the surrounding area go to askpaigeschulte.com.

Gig Harbor SchoolsBecca Fitzpatrick