First graders at Washington Elementary were treated to their own Pumpkin Patch at their school on Friday, October 27, 2023. Pendleton Walmart donated pumpkins to all the first graders, which is four classes of about 80 total students. The pumpkins were set out in the grassy field behind the school.
On that day, first grade teachers told their students they were going on a “walking field trip,” but they didn’t reveal why. The students walked through the school’s front doors and around the building to be greeted by pumpkins just for them.
Makenna Watkins, First Grade Teacher, said when the students arrived in the area, they stood in a big circle and were told what the expectations of the event were. Then on the signal word of “Pumpkin!” they went to choose their own pumpkin to take home at the end of the day. Photos of each class were taken, too.
“The students had such a great time, and they are still talking about it!” Watkins said. She also shared that although students were encouraged to choose a pumpkin they could actually carry themselves, there were still a few who struggled with very large pumpkins.
With the extra pumpkins from the day, the students are going to do some pumpkin investigations, like counting the seeds from the pumpkins, seeing if the seeds float or sink, and tasting pumpkin puree.
Washington Elementary thanks Pendleton Walmart for their generous donation of the pumpkins.
PHS Leadership Organizes Canned Food Drive
/in News - District & All Schools /by rthornburgDistrict Food Drive Aims High to Help Community
All schools in the Pendleton School District worked hard for their community this holiday season through the district-wide Annual Food Drive. Organized by Leadership Class students at Pendleton High School, this annual effort collects non-perishable food items from schools across the district.
According to Lea, PHS Senior and Chair of the Food Drive Committee, the goal of this year’s drive is to collect more than 2,000 food items. At the high school, students have donated food items in their Advisory class, and leadership students have kept track of which class has given the most. There are two categories that can win prizes.
PHS students recently traveled to the other schools in the district to pick up those donations.
Lea said the drive has gone well. “I like that this project helps people in our community, and I like being part of that. I also think students feel good when they can help someone less fortunate,” she said.
PHS brought in more than 2,800 cans of food. The expected total for the Food Drive is more than 8,000 cans. The food will be given to St. Mary’s Outreach and Salvation Army in Pendleton.
New Faces in Pendleton SD – Trisha Bunker
/in District Site News, Washington School News /by rthornburgThe Pendleton School District is happy to feature new PSD teachers.
November is National Native American Heritage Month
/in News - District & All Schools /by rthornburgNew Faces in Pendleton SD – Janice Zaugg
/in District Site News, Washington School News /by rthornburgThe Pendleton School District is happy to feature new PSD teachers.
Fall Parent/Teacher Conferences
/in News - District & All Schools /by rthornburgParent/Teacher conferences will be held on November 20 & 21, 2023. Please contact your student’s school if you have questions.
K-5
Monday, Nov 20: 4 – 8 pm
Tuesday, Nov 21: 7:30 am – 7:00 pm
SMS
Monday, Nov 20: 4 – 8 pm
Tuesday, Nov 21: 7:30 am – 1 pm, 2 – 7 pm
PHS
Monday, Nov 20: 4 – 8 pm (commons)
Tuesday, Nov 21: 7:30 am – 1 pm (virtual), 2 – 4 pm (virtual), 4 – 7 pm (commons)
1st Grade Pumpkin Patch at Washington
/in District Site News, Washington School News /by rthornburgFirst graders at Washington Elementary were treated to their own Pumpkin Patch at their school on Friday, October 27, 2023. Pendleton Walmart donated pumpkins to all the first graders, which is four classes of about 80 total students. The pumpkins were set out in the grassy field behind the school.
On that day, first grade teachers told their students they were going on a “walking field trip,” but they didn’t reveal why. The students walked through the school’s front doors and around the building to be greeted by pumpkins just for them.
Makenna Watkins, First Grade Teacher, said when the students arrived in the area, they stood in a big circle and were told what the expectations of the event were. Then on the signal word of “Pumpkin!” they went to choose their own pumpkin to take home at the end of the day. Photos of each class were taken, too.
“The students had such a great time, and they are still talking about it!” Watkins said. She also shared that although students were encouraged to choose a pumpkin they could actually carry themselves, there were still a few who struggled with very large pumpkins.
With the extra pumpkins from the day, the students are going to do some pumpkin investigations, like counting the seeds from the pumpkins, seeing if the seeds float or sink, and tasting pumpkin puree.
Washington Elementary thanks Pendleton Walmart for their generous donation of the pumpkins.
Outdoor School Transitions from 6th to 5th Grade
/in News - District & All Schools /by rthornburgPendleton School District’s Outdoor School (ODS) program recently encountered a big change. This is the last year that sixth graders from Sunridge Middle School will attend ODS. For several weeks last month (October), this year’s sixth graders attended the program. While ODS is usually run in the spring, the middle school had sixth graders attend this fall, as all fifth graders in the district will be attending in Spring 2024.
The district transition from having all fifth graders attend this traditional program instead of sixth graders was done for various reasons. The spring schedule conflicted with the testing schedule for sixth graders at SMS; also, many substitute teachers were needed for long periods of time.
The same curriculum and model, where students rotate to different stations around the outdoor camp, will be used for the fifth-grade Outdoor School program.
“Our sixth graders had a great time this fall at Outdoor School. We are excited to continue the program since it is a longstanding tradition for PSD, and we know our fifth graders will really enjoy the experience,” said John Summerfield, SMS Social Studies Teacher and ODS Coordinator.
Pendleton School District’s Outdoor School has been running for 52 years. It is held at the U.S. Forest Service’s Buck Creek Cabins/Corporation facility on the Umatilla National Forest, on the banks of the Umatilla River. Students are bused to the site every day and spend the day in field studies to learn about natural habitats and outdoor skills. The field studies are taught by federal, state, and local natural resource employees and volunteers from the region.
Monday Mugs in 4th Grade at Washington
/in District Site News, Washington School News /by rthornburgMondays are sometimes hard, so what if someone told you to take 30 minutes every Monday, have a hot beverage, and read a book? Well, for fourth graders at Washington Elementary, that is exactly what is happening.
The fourth-grade teaching team at the school started Monday Mugs at the beginning of October. After lunch, fourth graders return to their classroom, get their mug of hot chocolate, tea, or apple cider, and quietly read a book from 12:30 to 1:00 PM. According to teacher Hunter Erwin, the intention of the time is to inspire a love of reading in students. “The students can read whatever they choose, and that’s part of the beauty of this time is to embrace the sheer joy of reading,” Erwin said.
The idea for Monday Mugs came from teacher Josh McGraw, who enjoyed the activity when he was in fourth grade at McKay Creek Elementary.
Once a month, fourth graders are allowed to have a family member or loved one join them for Monday Mugs so they can read a book together.
Keep reading, Washington Wildcats!
TAPP Dinner at Washington
/in District Site News, Washington School News /by rthornburgWashington Elementary held its first TAPP (Tribal Attendance Promising Practices) Dinner on Thursday, October 26, 2023.
First Student Safety Stand-Down Week
/in News - District & All Schools /by rthornburgFirst Student, LLC., the transportation company Pendleton School District contracts with to bus students, is increasing its focus on safety with a Safety Stand-Down Week from October 25-31. This is a special event in which company leaders pause to talk directly to employees about safety and provide education and training on specific safety topics.
According to materials from First Student, the company is having the event because “we have a responsibility to learn from recent safety incidents and ensure they do not happen again by reinforcing fundamental safety principles.”
Stand-Down Week will focus on three key areas: Manage Distractions, Focus on the Task at Hand, and Apply Your Training. Some of the safety practices being re-emphasized for bus drivers are:
According to Patrick Phillips, Location Manager for First Student, the Pendleton location employees will be able to sign Safety Pledges, watch reminder videos, and get daily reminder posts during the event. First Student will also be running special safety radio messages. “The Safety Stand-Down is an opportunity for our company to reiterate to employees to get back to the basics of safety,” Phillips said.
Matt Yoshioka, Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment at Pendleton School District, said the district is pleased that First Student has organized Stand-Down Week to re-focus on safety. “Student safety while being transported to and from school is a top priority for First Student and our district, just as keeping students safe at school is,” Yoshioka said.