August 29, 2023

When students at Washington Elementary School enter the building for their first day of school this week, they will notice a large, new painting hanging in the foyer of their school. The acrylic painting entitled “Generations Shall Never Fade” was created by EllaMae Looney, an artist who lives in Mission. Looney, of the Yakama Nation, attended Washington Elementary from kindergarten through fifth grade and graduated from Nixyaawii Community School in 2018.

The large, colorful painting has deep meaning for Looney. It shows a woman in the center, who Looney said symbolizes missing and murdered Indigenous women. A young girl and boy on either side of the woman represent Indigenous children who were taken away from their families, put into residential schools, and stripped of their cultural identity.

Looney said her time as a student at Washington is full of good memories of awesome teachers and being very excited to put on regalia during the school’s powwow in Native American Heritage Month to show her friends how proud she was of her culture. “I want Indigenous kids and all kids to be proud of who they are. When they see the painting, I want them to see that a Washington student did that, and they can do good things in their life, too,” Looney said.

Stacey Jacobs, Tribal Attendance Family Advocate for the Pendleton School District, is the person who commissioned Looney to create the painting. Funds came from the district’s TAPP (Tribal Attendance Promising Practices) grant. Jacobs is thrilled that a former Wildcat created the painting and that the Looney family, who have been a large part of Washington Elementary for a long time, have a forever connection to the school. “I don’t expect our students to get the entire meaning of the painting, but it’s a powerful reminder of difficult challenges that Indigenous people historically endured and still face. I hope students can look to the painting by a former student creating art now and think about what they can become,” Jacobs said.

Washington Elementary kicked off its annual Kids Heart Challenge on Friday, February 17, 2023. This program focuses on whole-body wellness, helping students improve their own health and better their character while raising life-saving donations for the American Heart Association to help kids facing heart-health issues.

The Kids Heart Challenge is held at schools across the country.

Washington Wildcats will learn how to keep their hearts and brains healthy, get moving with fun activities and meet kids with special hearts.

At a special assembly on Friday, students learned about choosing a heart-healthy challenge to Move More or Be Kind. In the next few weeks, students will ask family members and friends to donate to the Kids Heart Challenge. Prizes for fundraising will be awarded, including:

• Top student in grades 1-2 and 3-5 will get to be the P.E. teacher for their class
• Top participating class in grades 1-2 and 3-5 get FREE choice P.E.
• Second top fundraising students in grades 1-2 and 3-5 will get a special lunch with the Principal
• When a student raises $50, you will instantly earn a Be The Torch wristband, 4 Heart Heroes, and a Mystery Gift

Families are encouraged to register online at: http://www2.heart.org/goto/WashingtonElementaryOR

According to Erin Donnelly, P.E. Teacher at Washington Elementary, the students are always excited to kick off this program in February. “Kids Heart Challenge is a great way to teach kids how to embrace a heart-healthy, active lifestyle while raising money for a good cause with some fun competition.”

The challenge runs through March 13, 2023. The school’s fundraising goal is $3,000.

The gym of Washington Elementary School was filled with Native American drumming, dancing and applause from students during the school’s Native American Heritage month celebration event on Friday, November 18, 2022.

The Nixyáawii Golden Eagles performed drumming for students & staff while dozens of Washington students joined the dance floor.

Fred Hill, Sr., Umatilla Language Teacher, and Mentor, spoke to the students about Native American culture, rites of passage for tribal youth, styles of the dances, and the different regalia. “We really appreciate this invitation to be here to share our culture, songs, and dance,” Hill said.

Washington Principal Coree Terjeson said “Recognizing & celebrating culture in our school is a critical experience for all of our Wildcats. A big shout-out goes to our Title VI staff and Mr. Heinrich from Nixyáawii for coordinating this event at Washington!”