Washington Admin Heidi Paullus Rachael Olson 2024-25

Washington Elementary Leaders Set Goals for the Year

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The new Principal and Assistant Principal at Washington Elementary School have started the 24-25 school year strong. Heidi Paullus and Rachael Olson are both new to their jobs, although they were both in the building last year. Principal Paullus was the previous assistant principal, and Olson was an administrative intern before assuming the role of Assistant Principal this year.

Their goals for Washington this year are to:

  • Provide effective academic support to students
  • Provide strong, solid support in classrooms
  • Provide emotional resources to support students
  • Effectively implement curriculum
  • Ensure continuity in intervention strategies

Paullus’ and Olson’s overall goal is to address the needs of all students and to always have the attitude that every student can learn.

“We want to be leaders who want to know more about our students every day and what they need to grow,” Olson said. She is excited about a new app on teachers’ iPads called Notability, which allows teachers to move around the classroom while teaching. This app can lead to increased student engagement and help with classroom management.

Paullus said she and Olson working as a team is another key to success at the school, as well as knowing your “why” every day. “I love my job. Getting to be here with the kids is why I work in education. We have amazing students, an amazing staff, and amazing parents to work with,” Paullus said.

For the 420 Washington Wildcats at school every day, that sounds like an amazing start!

To read more about Washington Elementary, visit their website at https://wes.pendleton.k12.or.us/ or find them on Facebook and Instagram.

Washington Elementary Staff 2024-25 Washington Admin Heidi Paullus Rachael Olson 2024-25

FACT Oregon in Umatilla County

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FACT Oregon is coming to Umatilla County October 15-17, 2024.

FACT 1 FACT 2

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Pendleton School District is Seeking Applicants for Vacant School Board Position

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District Seeking Applicants for Vacant School Board Position

Pendleton – Due to a recent vacancy, the Pendleton School District is seeking applicants for Position 3 on the Pendleton School Board; 3 years remain on this term. Applicants must be legally registered voters who currently reside and will have resided within the district boundaries for one year immediately before the appointment.

Please submit applications no later than October 30, 2024, to the Pendleton School District Office at 107 NW 10th Street, or they may be emailed to Ronda Thornburg – Board Secretary

Application letters should include:

  • Full Name
  • Physical Residence Address
  • Phone Number
  • Email address, and…

Address the following:

  1. Why you would like to serve on the School Board?
  2. A list of prior involvement in district activities.
  3. A description of your understanding of the role of an effective board member.

Should you have any questions, you may email Patrick Gregg, Board Chair.

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2023-24 State Assessment Results

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The Pendleton School District has received the 2023-2024 state assessment results from the Oregon Department of Education.  The Statewide Assessment System (SBAC) includes summative assessments administered annually, as required by the State and Federal Departments of Education.  These assessments are given to students in grades 3 – 8 and 11 in the areas of math, language arts and science.

Scores improved from the previous year in 9 of the 17 areas tested, specifically in the following grades and subjects: grade 3 math, grade 3 language arts, grade 4 math, grade 4 language arts, grade 7 math, grade 8 language arts, grade 11 science, grade 11 math and grade 11 language arts.

The highest gains are in grade 11 language arts with a 19.9% increase in the number of students meeting the achievement standards, grade 8 language arts with an 11.6% increase and grade 7 math with an 11.8% increase.

The areas where test results dropped by 5% or more were grade 5 science, grade 5 math, grade 5 language arts, and grade 6 math.

PSD administrators, teachers and staff continually work toward academic improvement and success for all students in all areas.  The district will dive deeper into the test results in the coming weeks to identify specific areas which may need a more focused effort.

“Although we’d like to see improvement and growth in all areas, we are encouraged by these preliminary results.  These improvements in nine areas, some very significant, validates all the hard work our staff do each day to educate every student, every day.” -Kevin Headings, Superintendent

“We appreciate the support from families and students who participate in these assessments.  The results of these assessments provide feedback to our teachers and administrators to help identify where our greatest needs are.” – Matt Yoshioka, Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment

Detailed state, district and school results may be found at: https://www.oregon.gov/ode/educator-resources/assessment/Pages/Assessment-Group-Reports.aspx

Wear Orange

Orange Shirt Day

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September 27, 2024

PSD Families,
Monday, September 30th, is the National Day of Remembrance for Indian Boarding Schools. This day has become known as “Orange Shirt Day” along with the mantra “Every Child Matters.” This is a message that honors the lives of our Indigenous children who have been lost and symbolizes the importance of every child.

On Monday, September 30th, the Pendleton School District will recognize this day by encouraging our students and staff to wear the color orange as a sign of our support. The Pendleton School District is dedicated to honoring the interests and values of all children by creating school environments that help them feel valued, respected, and safe. Thank you for all you do to bless the lives of your children, our students. It takes the whole community to keep our kids safe, valued, and cared for.

Sincerely,
Kevin Headings – PSD Superintendent

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Immunization Clinic and Well Child Visits

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The Student Based Health Clinic is holding well child visits and immunization clinics at the Pendleton Early Learning Center.  This is available to all PSD students with no cost to families.

October 14, 2024
November 18, 2024
December 9, 2024
January 27, 2025

Services offered :
Well Child Exams
Vision Screening
Immunizations
Referrals as needed

Please call ahead to make an appointment at 541-966-3857 or 541-966-3432

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2024-25 Bus Routes Posted

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PSD Families, the bus routes are now posted on our website (link included) under Parent Resources “Student Transportation”. You can also access and view your child’s specific bus information through ParentVue or the bus app called FirstView (links also included).
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District Seeking Applicants for Vacant School Board Position

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District Seeking Applicants for Vacant School Board Position

Due to a recent vacancy, the Pendleton School District is seeking applicants for Position 6 on the Pendleton School Board; 3 years remain on this term. Applicants must be legally registered voters who currently reside and will have resided within the district boundaries for one year immediately before the appointment.

Please submit applications no later than July 15, 2024, to the Pendleton School District Office at 107 NW 10th Street, or they may be emailed to Ronda Thornburg – Board Secretary

Application letters should include:

  • Full Name
  • Physical Residence Address
  • Phone Number
  • Email address, and…

Address the following:

  1. Why you would like to serve on the School Board?
  2. A list of prior involvement in district activities.
  3. A description of your understanding of the role of an effective board member.

Should you have any questions, you may contact the board chair, Beth Harrison.

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Washington Elementary Intern Spotlight – Keri Kubesh

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Washington Elementary School would like to thank and acknowledge Keri Kubesh, who was an intern working on her Master of Social Work (MSW) degree at the school during the 23-24 school year.

Kubesh worked closely with Maria Davis, Child Development Specialist, and Jaime Larsen, Behavior Specialist, at the school, as well as with Principal Kevin Dinning and Assistant Principal Heidi Paullus.

Kubesh did job shadowing, ran student groups focusing on Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and responded to crisis calls. She said she loved the staff at Washington and that everyone was helpful and really supportive. She is grateful for the opportunity and for the school administrators.

What was one challenge? Kubesh said trying to make the SEL student groups engaging for different students, especially those who have trouble paying attention, was sometimes difficult.

However, Kubesh said, “I’ve always worked with kids, and I just love it.”

Keri Kubesh

 

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Pendleton School District
107 NW 10th Street, Pendleton, OR 97801
Phone:  541.276.6711  Fax:  541.278.3208

The Pendleton School District assures that no person shall on the grounds of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability or income as provided by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and related authorities, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any Pendleton School District sponsored program or activity.

TITLE IX COORDINATOR: Michelle Jensen, PhD Superintendent | Phone: (541) 276-6711 | Email: Michelle Jensen

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