The Pendleton School District has announced the appointments of Kevin Dinning, Director of Human Resources, and Heidi Paullus, lead Principal of Washington Elementary School, for the 2024-2025 school year.
Dinning is currently the principal at Washington Elementary. Prior to his time in Pendleton, he was superintendent of Ione School District. Dinning began his administrative career as a secondary principal and then elementary principal with the Bonners Ferry School District in Idaho.
Dinning is pleased with his new appointment but will miss leading Washington Elementary. “Being part of the Washington family has been and continues to be a blessing. I am proud of the hard work, focus on improvement, and commitment to kindness that the staff and students have embraced this year. The Pendleton School District and community have continued to be a great place for my family. I look forward to supporting Washington Elementary School and the Pendleton School District from a position that allows me to engage with a broader range of the district staff and community.”
Paullus is currently the vice principal at Washington Elementary. Before becoming vice principal at Washington, she was an instructional coach with the InterMountain Educational Service District (IMESD). Paullus has worked in education for 25 years as a teacher, instructional coach, and administrator.
“I’m pleased to remain at Washington Elementary as the lead principal. We’ve made good progress over the past year with our building goals and priorities, and I look forward to continuing this work alongside our teachers, staff, students, and families.” Paullus said.
According to Superintendent Kevin Headings, moving Dinning and Paullus into these administrative positions will be beneficial to the district. “HR responsibilities have been divided among our current directors, in addition to their other full-time responsibilities, for several years. Having Mr. Dinning assume all Human Resource responsibilities will allow our other directors to focus on supporting our schools with our district goals and mission.” Headings continued, “and appointing Mrs. Paullus to the lead principal position at Washington Elementary was the right move. She has gained the trust and respect of Washington’s staff, students, and parents over the past two years.”
Dinning and Paullus will begin their new positions on July 1, 2024.
https://wes.pendleton.k12.or.us/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/02/PSD-Shield-logo-color.png1050975rthornburghttps://wes.pendleton.k12.or.us/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/03/washington-wildcats.pngrthornburg2024-05-08 11:04:452024-05-08 12:42:25Pendleton School District Announces Administrative Changes
Kindergartners from the Pendleton Early Learning Center and first graders from the district’s elementary schools enjoyed the Pendleton School District Farm Day on April 24-25, 2024. The event was held at Sunridge Middle School. The event was organized by Kylee Hunt, Agriculture Teacher at Pendleton High School, and students enrolled in Agriculture classes at the middle school and Pendleton High School ran the event.
A variety of stations were set up in the large field adjacent to the school parking lot. Students rotated to each station, learning about the parts of a pig, different types of cows, what products goats can provide, and what commodities are grown and produced in Oregon. Animals, including swine, a steer, sheep, goats, ducks, chicks, and a bunny, were big hits for the young learners.
PHS Freshman Isabelle was helping at the sheep station, where fluffy wool was made into bracelets or key chains for the kids to take home. She said the students seemed ready to learn and were having a lot of fun doing it.
At one station, students made their own “Garden in a Glove” with grass, wheat, and bean seeds placed in each finger of a glove. The welding station highlighted welding equipment and let the students “weld” two crackers together with spray cheese.
Kaitlyn, an eighth grader at SMS helping at a station, said she was enjoying seeing all the kids’ faces and hoping the experience leads them to find new interests as they get older. “It’s also good to learn where everything comes from and how we get food on the table.”
Alden, Addison, and Bethel, three kindergartners who were asked about their favorite part of Farm Day, all agreed that petting the sheep was one highlight because they were so soft and petting the rabbit was also great, as he was very cute. It was fun to see him hopping around.
PHS Teacher Hunt said she is grateful for Abbie Wilks, who was the Farm Day Committee chair and did a lot of work organizing and planning the stations. Hunt also appreciates the help of the Ag students and the teachers and staff who bring the students. “Farm Day is a great opportunity for our older students to share what they have learned and for young students to see what agriculture is about; plus, it’s a lot of fun!” Hunt said.
Farm Day was on Wednesday and Thursday for students and also included an evening event open to the public on Wednesday.
https://wes.pendleton.k12.or.us/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/Farm-Day-April-2024-8.jpg17491677rthornburghttps://wes.pendleton.k12.or.us/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/03/washington-wildcats.pngrthornburg2024-04-30 16:08:162024-04-30 16:08:16Pendleton School District Farm Day
Hundreds of Pendleton School District students took field trips to the annual District Art Show on April 9 and 10 to see their own artwork and that of fellow students in the district. The event at the Pendleton Convention Center was also attended by hundreds of district parents, families, and community members.
A wide variety of artwork was on display at the event, from textiles, wooden collages, and painted masks to bird sculptures and paintings.
The show kicked off on Monday, April 8, with an Opening Night celebration that included free books and cookies handed out by Altrusa International of Pendleton.
Abbey Prevot, Art Teacher at Pendleton High School, and John Bradt, Art Teacher at Sunridge Middle School, organized this year’s show. “It’s very exciting to have the show up, and for me, it’s completely new. It’s great to see all K-12 art together. It’s helped our programs make connections with the elementary schools and be able to collaborate on this huge project,” Prevot said.
Bradt said since this is the first year he and Prevot have organized the event, it was a little stressful, but the show turned out great. His favorite part is the variety of the art, even within each classroom where they are doing the same project, but all the pieces look different.
The district thanks the Education Foundation of Pendleton for funding this year’s art show.
https://wes.pendleton.k12.or.us/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/IMG_3309-scaled.jpg25601920rthornburghttps://wes.pendleton.k12.or.us/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/03/washington-wildcats.pngrthornburg2024-04-11 15:19:092024-04-12 08:02:05PSD Art Show Recap
https://wes.pendleton.k12.or.us/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/Art-show.png500566rthornburghttps://wes.pendleton.k12.or.us/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/03/washington-wildcats.pngrthornburg2024-04-05 17:46:082024-04-12 07:53:27District Art Show
The Pendleton School District School Board has selected Mrs. Anne Sokoloski as the new Principal at McKay Creek Elementary School.
Sokoloski is currently the Dean of Students at Loma Vista Elementary School in the Hermiston School District. Prior to that, she was a Counselor at Desert View Elementary in Hermiston and a Child Development Specialist at the Pendleton Early Learning Center in Pendleton.
“I am thrilled to return to Pendleton to serve as principal of McKay Creek Elementary,” Sokoloski said. “The past two years as Dean of Students at Loma Vista in Hermiston have been invaluable in helping me grow as a leader. The Hermiston School District, colleagues, students, and families have played a pivotal role in my career, and I appreciate their support and collaboration.”
Sokoloski earned a bachelor of science in Speech Communication from Oregon State University and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Eastern Oregon University. She received her Professional Administrator Licensure from Lewis and Clark College in 2019.
According to Superintendent Kevin Headings, “Mrs. Sokoloski possesses the qualities we are looking for in our next McKay Elementary principal. She’s a skilled leader, student-centered and a strong communicator. Finding someone with knowledge and understanding of our region and who is familiar with Pendleton is an added bonus.”
Sokoloski will replace the outgoing principal, Sherri Kilgore. Sokoloski’s contract begins on July 1, 2024.
https://wes.pendleton.k12.or.us/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/03/Anne-Sokoloski-scaled.jpg25601920rthornburghttps://wes.pendleton.k12.or.us/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/03/washington-wildcats.pngrthornburg2024-03-13 08:07:212024-04-12 07:52:44District Selects New McKay Creek Elementary School Principal
On Wednesday, February 28, 2024, all of the students at Washington Elementary School got to spend time with an author in their school. Gary Hogg, author of the Spencer’s Adventures and Charlie Bacon books series, plus other books for young readers, visited the school thanks to funds from Altrusa International of Pendleton and the Parent Club at Washington.
Hogg started the all-school assembly by relating a story of him and his children encountering spider monkeys in the jungle on a family trip. His descriptions of a monkey jumping in the car and several of his children trying to get the monkey out of the car had Washington Wildcats engaged and laughing. Hogg explained that everyone has stories to tell. “You have a voice in the world, and the world needs your author’s voice,” Hogg told the students.
When he was in elementary school, Hogg told jokes to his fourth-grade teacher, who finally encouraged Hogg to turn those jokes into stories into books that would be read worldwide. And that’s what Hogg has done. He encouraged students to listen to their teachers, who are working hard for students and whose “superpower is hearts that hold hope for all of their students.”
After the school-wide assembly, Hogg conducted workshops in the school library with each grade level. During the fifth grade, the author outlined a few strategies for effective writing:
Use fancy colors
Use interesting size descriptions
Put names on things
Describe places
Be a detail detective
Students then worked on writing personal narratives. One last piece of advice from Hogg was, “Remember, there is only one you in the world. When you write, to be powerful, you have to be original.”
Gary Hogg grew up in Burley, Idaho, with a mom who loved to read and a dad who loved horses. He is the author of 26 books and has visited more than 3,700 schools. Learn more about him at garyhoggbooks.com
https://wes.pendleton.k12.or.us/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/03/GH2.png732889rthornburghttps://wes.pendleton.k12.or.us/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/03/washington-wildcats.pngrthornburg2024-03-05 09:50:032024-03-05 09:50:03Author Gary Hogg Visits Washington Elementary School
On Thursday, January 25, 2024, the Oregon Department of Education released graduation rates for school districts in Oregon.
The Pendleton School District’s graduation rate for 2022-2023 was 76.70%, as compared to 81.99% the previous year. This number includes Pendleton High School, Hawthorne High School, and Nixyáawii Community School. Kevin Headings, district superintendent, said, “Our rate dropped slightly, and while that’s of some concern, there are a lot of positives in our numbers. Considering all our students have been through the past few years, we’re considering these numbers a success.”
The graduation rate for Pendleton High School (PHS) for 2022-2023 was 82.4%, above the state average, but a decrease from 89% in 2021-22. Hawthorne High School’s rate continued a 5–year upward trend with a 44.7% rate, as compared to 39.1% in 2021-2022. Nixyáawii Community School’s rate was 76%, which was a slight decrease as compared to 2021-2022.
Headings said the real improvements were among our Native American students. PHS’s Native American graduation rate was 82.4%, which represents a 10% increase from last year and is 13% above the state average. Nixyáawii Community School’s Native American graduation rate was 78.3%, which is a 2% increase over last year and well above the state average. PSD’s overall Native American graduation rate was 80%, which is 12% above the state average and a 13% increase from last year. “Our staff have not stopped working to help all students graduate. Our overall numbers continue to be positive with continued improvements in key areas,” Headings said.
“Although the district would like to see more students graduate, the results across the board are positive, especially with our Native American students,” Headings said, “These increases reflect the many hundreds of hours PSD staff, students, and families pour into their efforts to find success. We are working to improve and grow at all levels in our schools and remain committed to every student, every day,”
https://wes.pendleton.k12.or.us/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/04/2019-PSD-ESED-logo-color.jpg480446rthornburghttps://wes.pendleton.k12.or.us/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/03/washington-wildcats.pngrthornburg2024-01-25 08:04:322024-01-25 08:04:32District Responds to ODE Graduation Rate Release
The Pendleton School District School Board has approved the appointment of TJ Presley as Principal of Sherwood Elementary School, effective July 1, 2024.
Presley is currently the vice principal at Sherwood Elementary. Prior to his time in Pendleton, Presley worked in Pilot Rock School District, where he taught middle school math before being hired as their secondary principal and athletic director. Before going into public education, Mr. Presley worked in senior-level management at the Wal-Mart Distribution Center in Hermiston.
Colleagues describe Mr. Presley as a talented leader who is thoughtful, considerate, and passionate. He is also described as a leader who has a high level of integrity and puts the needs of students, staff, and parents at the forefront of every decision he makes.
Mr. Presley earned a bachelor of science in business and management/finance from Western Oregon University in 2007. He earned his Master of Arts in education from Eastern Oregon University in 2017.
According to Superintendent Kevin Headings, appointing Mr. Presley as principal of Sherwood was an easy decision. “Mr. Presley has proven to be a skilled and talented administrator – both during his time in Pilot Rock and in his two years with Pendleton. He has the respect of the Sherwood staff, students, and families. He possesses the qualities needed for Sherwood Elementary’s continued success – high integrity, student-centered decision making and strong communication skills. We’re fortunate he works in Pendleton School District.” Headings said.
Mr. Presley will officially take over as principal on July 1. He is replacing Principal Ronda Smith, who is retiring effective June 30, 2024.
https://wes.pendleton.k12.or.us/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/TJ-Presley.jpg604490rthornburghttps://wes.pendleton.k12.or.us/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/03/washington-wildcats.pngrthornburg2024-01-10 14:07:322024-01-10 14:23:25District Appoints New Sherwood Elementary School Principal
January is School Board Appreciation Month, and we recognize the hard work and dedication they give to the Pendleton School District! YOU ARE APPRECIATED!
https://wes.pendleton.k12.or.us/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/SBRM-Graphic-1-1024x819-1.png8191024rthornburghttps://wes.pendleton.k12.or.us/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/03/washington-wildcats.pngrthornburg2024-01-08 14:49:072024-01-08 14:49:07January is Board Appreciation Month
The Pendleton School District welcomed students in its ELD (English Language Development) Program to a family event on Thursday, December 14th, at the Pendleton Early Learning Center. The theme of the evening event was Winter Celebrations Around the World.
Former and current students and their families were invited. A variety of arts and crafts were set up at different tables in the PELC’s Commons, with activities from different countries. Activities included making a holiday card for England, lanterns and fortune cookies for China, a Hanukkah dreidel for Israel, mini pinatas for Mexico, and gingerbread house cookie decorating for Germany.
High School students in the ELD Program volunteered at the event, helping at the tables. Jaylene, a sophomore at Pendleton High School, was volunteering at the event “just because it’s really fun to help the kids do fun crafts.” She was helping with the gingerbread cookie decorating and said she was enjoying looking at everyone’s ways of decorating their house cookies because they were all very unique.
Auna Alferez attended the event with her two daughters, who are in third and fourth grade. She said her children like to come to family events like these. Asked what their favorite part of the night was, her two girls said, “Everything!”
According to Cary Wasem-Varela, ELD Teacher, the events the program staff previously organized were not very well attended, so they started talking to the parents. “We found out they didn’t want to come to events to fill out paperwork or be asked to serve on committees. They enjoy socializing and getting together, so we feel like we really succeeded with this arts and crafts winter event where they can have fun as a family.”
Julie Smith, Director of Special Programs for the Pendleton School District, said one of the goals at the event is for ELD staff to circulate and talk with parents and families. “Our bilingual educators help bridge the language gap so parents can share their thoughts about our program. The staff try to talk to as many families as they can to gather information on what is working well and how we can improve our programs,” Smith said.
About 115 students are currently enrolled in the Pendleton School District’s ELD Program, and they are K-12 students from all of the district’s schools.
https://wes.pendleton.k12.or.us/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/ELD-Winter-Event-12-15-scaled.jpg19202560rthornburghttps://wes.pendleton.k12.or.us/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/03/washington-wildcats.pngrthornburg2024-01-04 13:25:222024-01-04 13:42:19ELD Program Winter Celebrations Event
Pendleton School District Announces Administrative Changes
/in News - District & All Schools /by rthornburgThe Pendleton School District has announced the appointments of Kevin Dinning, Director of Human Resources, and Heidi Paullus, lead Principal of Washington Elementary School, for the 2024-2025 school year.
Dinning is currently the principal at Washington Elementary. Prior to his time in Pendleton, he was superintendent of Ione School District. Dinning began his administrative career as a secondary principal and then elementary principal with the Bonners Ferry School District in Idaho.
Dinning is pleased with his new appointment but will miss leading Washington Elementary. “Being part of the Washington family has been and continues to be a blessing. I am proud of the hard work, focus on improvement, and commitment to kindness that the staff and students have embraced this year. The Pendleton School District and community have continued to be a great place for my family. I look forward to supporting Washington Elementary School and the Pendleton School District from a position that allows me to engage with a broader range of the district staff and community.”
Paullus is currently the vice principal at Washington Elementary. Before becoming vice principal at Washington, she was an instructional coach with the InterMountain Educational Service District (IMESD). Paullus has worked in education for 25 years as a teacher, instructional coach, and administrator.
“I’m pleased to remain at Washington Elementary as the lead principal. We’ve made good progress over the past year with our building goals and priorities, and I look forward to continuing this work alongside our teachers, staff, students, and families.” Paullus said.
According to Superintendent Kevin Headings, moving Dinning and Paullus into these administrative positions will be beneficial to the district. “HR responsibilities have been divided among our current directors, in addition to their other full-time responsibilities, for several years. Having Mr. Dinning assume all Human Resource responsibilities will allow our other directors to focus on supporting our schools with our district goals and mission.” Headings continued, “and appointing Mrs. Paullus to the lead principal position at Washington Elementary was the right move. She has gained the trust and respect of Washington’s staff, students, and parents over the past two years.”
Dinning and Paullus will begin their new positions on July 1, 2024.
Pendleton School District Farm Day
/in News - District & All Schools /by rthornburgKindergartners from the Pendleton Early Learning Center and first graders from the district’s elementary schools enjoyed the Pendleton School District Farm Day on April 24-25, 2024. The event was held at Sunridge Middle School. The event was organized by Kylee Hunt, Agriculture Teacher at Pendleton High School, and students enrolled in Agriculture classes at the middle school and Pendleton High School ran the event.
A variety of stations were set up in the large field adjacent to the school parking lot. Students rotated to each station, learning about the parts of a pig, different types of cows, what products goats can provide, and what commodities are grown and produced in Oregon. Animals, including swine, a steer, sheep, goats, ducks, chicks, and a bunny, were big hits for the young learners.
PHS Freshman Isabelle was helping at the sheep station, where fluffy wool was made into bracelets or key chains for the kids to take home. She said the students seemed ready to learn and were having a lot of fun doing it.
At one station, students made their own “Garden in a Glove” with grass, wheat, and bean seeds placed in each finger of a glove. The welding station highlighted welding equipment and let the students “weld” two crackers together with spray cheese.
Kaitlyn, an eighth grader at SMS helping at a station, said she was enjoying seeing all the kids’ faces and hoping the experience leads them to find new interests as they get older. “It’s also good to learn where everything comes from and how we get food on the table.”
Alden, Addison, and Bethel, three kindergartners who were asked about their favorite part of Farm Day, all agreed that petting the sheep was one highlight because they were so soft and petting the rabbit was also great, as he was very cute. It was fun to see him hopping around.
PHS Teacher Hunt said she is grateful for Abbie Wilks, who was the Farm Day Committee chair and did a lot of work organizing and planning the stations. Hunt also appreciates the help of the Ag students and the teachers and staff who bring the students. “Farm Day is a great opportunity for our older students to share what they have learned and for young students to see what agriculture is about; plus, it’s a lot of fun!” Hunt said.
Farm Day was on Wednesday and Thursday for students and also included an evening event open to the public on Wednesday.
PSD Art Show Recap
/in District Site News, News - District & All Schools /by rthornburgHundreds of Pendleton School District students took field trips to the annual District Art Show on April 9 and 10 to see their own artwork and that of fellow students in the district. The event at the Pendleton Convention Center was also attended by hundreds of district parents, families, and community members.
A wide variety of artwork was on display at the event, from textiles, wooden collages, and painted masks to bird sculptures and paintings.
The show kicked off on Monday, April 8, with an Opening Night celebration that included free books and cookies handed out by Altrusa International of Pendleton.
Abbey Prevot, Art Teacher at Pendleton High School, and John Bradt, Art Teacher at Sunridge Middle School, organized this year’s show. “It’s very exciting to have the show up, and for me, it’s completely new. It’s great to see all K-12 art together. It’s helped our programs make connections with the elementary schools and be able to collaborate on this huge project,” Prevot said.
Bradt said since this is the first year he and Prevot have organized the event, it was a little stressful, but the show turned out great. His favorite part is the variety of the art, even within each classroom where they are doing the same project, but all the pieces look different.
The district thanks the Education Foundation of Pendleton for funding this year’s art show.
District Art Show
/in News - District & All Schools /by rthornburgThe Pendleton School District is having its annual District Art Show April 8 through 10 at the Pendleton Convention Center.
District Selects New McKay Creek Elementary School Principal
/in District Site News, News - District & All Schools /by rthornburgThe Pendleton School District School Board has selected Mrs. Anne Sokoloski as the new Principal at McKay Creek Elementary School.
Sokoloski is currently the Dean of Students at Loma Vista Elementary School in the Hermiston School District. Prior to that, she was a Counselor at Desert View Elementary in Hermiston and a Child Development Specialist at the Pendleton Early Learning Center in Pendleton.
“I am thrilled to return to Pendleton to serve as principal of McKay Creek Elementary,” Sokoloski said. “The past two years as Dean of Students at Loma Vista in Hermiston have been invaluable in helping me grow as a leader. The Hermiston School District, colleagues, students, and families have played a pivotal role in my career, and I appreciate their support and collaboration.”
Sokoloski earned a bachelor of science in Speech Communication from Oregon State University and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Eastern Oregon University. She received her Professional Administrator Licensure from Lewis and Clark College in 2019.
According to Superintendent Kevin Headings, “Mrs. Sokoloski possesses the qualities we are looking for in our next McKay Elementary principal. She’s a skilled leader, student-centered and a strong communicator. Finding someone with knowledge and understanding of our region and who is familiar with Pendleton is an added bonus.”
Sokoloski will replace the outgoing principal, Sherri Kilgore. Sokoloski’s contract begins on July 1, 2024.
Author Gary Hogg Visits Washington Elementary School
/in District Site News, Washington School News /by rthornburgOn Wednesday, February 28, 2024, all of the students at Washington Elementary School got to spend time with an author in their school. Gary Hogg, author of the Spencer’s Adventures and Charlie Bacon books series, plus other books for young readers, visited the school thanks to funds from Altrusa International of Pendleton and the Parent Club at Washington.
Hogg started the all-school assembly by relating a story of him and his children encountering spider monkeys in the jungle on a family trip. His descriptions of a monkey jumping in the car and several of his children trying to get the monkey out of the car had Washington Wildcats engaged and laughing. Hogg explained that everyone has stories to tell. “You have a voice in the world, and the world needs your author’s voice,” Hogg told the students.
When he was in elementary school, Hogg told jokes to his fourth-grade teacher, who finally encouraged Hogg to turn those jokes into stories into books that would be read worldwide. And that’s what Hogg has done. He encouraged students to listen to their teachers, who are working hard for students and whose “superpower is hearts that hold hope for all of their students.”
After the school-wide assembly, Hogg conducted workshops in the school library with each grade level. During the fifth grade, the author outlined a few strategies for effective writing:
Students then worked on writing personal narratives. One last piece of advice from Hogg was, “Remember, there is only one you in the world. When you write, to be powerful, you have to be original.”
Gary Hogg grew up in Burley, Idaho, with a mom who loved to read and a dad who loved horses. He is the author of 26 books and has visited more than 3,700 schools. Learn more about him at garyhoggbooks.com
District Responds to ODE Graduation Rate Release
/in News - District & All Schools /by rthornburgOn Thursday, January 25, 2024, the Oregon Department of Education released graduation rates for school districts in Oregon.
The Pendleton School District’s graduation rate for 2022-2023 was 76.70%, as compared to 81.99% the previous year. This number includes Pendleton High School, Hawthorne High School, and Nixyáawii Community School. Kevin Headings, district superintendent, said, “Our rate dropped slightly, and while that’s of some concern, there are a lot of positives in our numbers. Considering all our students have been through the past few years, we’re considering these numbers a success.”
The graduation rate for Pendleton High School (PHS) for 2022-2023 was 82.4%, above the state average, but a decrease from 89% in 2021-22. Hawthorne High School’s rate continued a 5–year upward trend with a 44.7% rate, as compared to 39.1% in 2021-2022. Nixyáawii Community School’s rate was 76%, which was a slight decrease as compared to 2021-2022.
Headings said the real improvements were among our Native American students. PHS’s Native American graduation rate was 82.4%, which represents a 10% increase from last year and is 13% above the state average. Nixyáawii Community School’s Native American graduation rate was 78.3%, which is a 2% increase over last year and well above the state average. PSD’s overall Native American graduation rate was 80%, which is 12% above the state average and a 13% increase from last year. “Our staff have not stopped working to help all students graduate. Our overall numbers continue to be positive with continued improvements in key areas,” Headings said.
“Although the district would like to see more students graduate, the results across the board are positive, especially with our Native American students,” Headings said, “These increases reflect the many hundreds of hours PSD staff, students, and families pour into their efforts to find success. We are working to improve and grow at all levels in our schools and remain committed to every student, every day,”
District Appoints New Sherwood Elementary School Principal
/in News - District & All Schools /by rthornburgThe Pendleton School District School Board has approved the appointment of TJ Presley as Principal of Sherwood Elementary School, effective July 1, 2024.
Presley is currently the vice principal at Sherwood Elementary. Prior to his time in Pendleton, Presley worked in Pilot Rock School District, where he taught middle school math before being hired as their secondary principal and athletic director. Before going into public education, Mr. Presley worked in senior-level management at the Wal-Mart Distribution Center in Hermiston.
Colleagues describe Mr. Presley as a talented leader who is thoughtful, considerate, and passionate. He is also described as a leader who has a high level of integrity and puts the needs of students, staff, and parents at the forefront of every decision he makes.
Mr. Presley earned a bachelor of science in business and management/finance from Western Oregon University in 2007. He earned his Master of Arts in education from Eastern Oregon University in 2017.
According to Superintendent Kevin Headings, appointing Mr. Presley as principal of Sherwood was an easy decision. “Mr. Presley has proven to be a skilled and talented administrator – both during his time in Pilot Rock and in his two years with Pendleton. He has the respect of the Sherwood staff, students, and families. He possesses the qualities needed for Sherwood Elementary’s continued success – high integrity, student-centered decision making and strong communication skills. We’re fortunate he works in Pendleton School District.” Headings said.
Mr. Presley will officially take over as principal on July 1. He is replacing Principal Ronda Smith, who is retiring effective June 30, 2024.
January is Board Appreciation Month
/in News - District & All Schools /by rthornburgJanuary is School Board Appreciation Month, and we recognize the hard work and dedication they give to the Pendleton School District! YOU ARE APPRECIATED!
ELD Program Winter Celebrations Event
/in News - District & All Schools /by rthornburgThe Pendleton School District welcomed students in its ELD (English Language Development) Program to a family event on Thursday, December 14th, at the Pendleton Early Learning Center. The theme of the evening event was Winter Celebrations Around the World.
Former and current students and their families were invited. A variety of arts and crafts were set up at different tables in the PELC’s Commons, with activities from different countries. Activities included making a holiday card for England, lanterns and fortune cookies for China, a Hanukkah dreidel for Israel, mini pinatas for Mexico, and gingerbread house cookie decorating for Germany.
High School students in the ELD Program volunteered at the event, helping at the tables. Jaylene, a sophomore at Pendleton High School, was volunteering at the event “just because it’s really fun to help the kids do fun crafts.” She was helping with the gingerbread cookie decorating and said she was enjoying looking at everyone’s ways of decorating their house cookies because they were all very unique.
Auna Alferez attended the event with her two daughters, who are in third and fourth grade. She said her children like to come to family events like these. Asked what their favorite part of the night was, her two girls said, “Everything!”
According to Cary Wasem-Varela, ELD Teacher, the events the program staff previously organized were not very well attended, so they started talking to the parents. “We found out they didn’t want to come to events to fill out paperwork or be asked to serve on committees. They enjoy socializing and getting together, so we feel like we really succeeded with this arts and crafts winter event where they can have fun as a family.”
Julie Smith, Director of Special Programs for the Pendleton School District, said one of the goals at the event is for ELD staff to circulate and talk with parents and families. “Our bilingual educators help bridge the language gap so parents can share their thoughts about our program. The staff try to talk to as many families as they can to gather information on what is working well and how we can improve our programs,” Smith said.
About 115 students are currently enrolled in the Pendleton School District’s ELD Program, and they are K-12 students from all of the district’s schools.