November is Native American Heritage Month and McKay’s amazing teachers are creating and engaging some exciting opportunities in their classrooms that include: Art, Music, Stories, History, and Traditions.

Music teacher Mrs. Norquist reached out to our CTUIR friends and received support with excellent videos on jingle dancing, fancy dancing, singing and drumming. The students are loving it!

First grade is focused on giving thanks using Jake Swamp’s book called Giving Thanks:  A Native American Good Morning Message.  It is a message of gratitude for all the things that nature provides. Students did their own chalk painting representing Mother Earth.  Pictured are two of our friends, Derek Carlson and Aliyah Reddington with their artwork.

Second grade spent a week concentrating on various tribes and completed an art project to hang in the hallway.

Third grade engaged in a unit from Journey’s that featured Native American legends.  They learned about local legends from both the Umatilla and Cayuse tribes.

Fourth grade has been studying Oregon’s First Peoples, People Groups, and Language Revitalization.

Fifth grade is concentrating on the importance and significance of “Keeping History Alive,” using Scholastic News and learned about “Life of Indigenous People” and “Trade Routes” from Studies Weekly.

We also acknowledge two of our outstanding students, Riley Cline-Carnes and Traves White at the November Board Meeting.  Riley was recognized for his work ethic and respectful nature and Traves was highlighted as being prepared, a good friend, polite and respectful.  Congratulations to you both we are very proud that you are part of our Mustang family “air high five!”

The District’s Title VI Coordinators worked together to bring us the Indigenous Dress Week.  Leighton Pennington, went into classrooms to give a brief explanation of the significance behind each day.  We reminded our students that the week of dress-up is to honor and to remain respectful and responsible if they choose to participate.  Thank you, Leighton, for all of your work bringing this together.