PHS students have been as busy as Santa’s elves during the month of December with several projects and events!
Adopt A Child
18 youth from the Pendleton area will have a great Christmas thanks to this annual program at the high school. Clubs, sports teams and individual faculty members at PHS adopt a child and purchase gifts and other items for them.
Canned Food Drive
This is a district-wide effort with all PSD schools collecting canned goods/non-perishable foods to donate. The district collected a total of 5,251 food items. Here are the amounts collected per school:
PHS 2,919
Sherwood 683
Washington 682
Sunridge MS 531
McKay 436
This year, PHS’s collection of 2,919 cans was 48 more than last year. Josh Linehan’s Advisory Class won the contest by bringing in 865 cans. His Advisory students were able to “pie” (throw pies at) losing classes that didn’t bring in any cans — Lunny, Haguewood and Speer — at the Christmas Assembly on December 12th.
Little Bucks Day
On December 18th, the very popular annual Little Bucks Day happened at PHS, with 27 children participating. Led by students from PHS Leadership, the children took a school tour, did arts and crafts, played games like Pin the Tail on Rudolph, decorated cookies, went on a scavenger hunt, and more.
Christmas Assembly
All PHS students enjoyed the assembly on December 12th, which included Principal Pat Dutcher pulling a “sled” with Shelby McQuinn, PHS Secretary, as part of the staff team in the Run Rudolph Run competition.
Also, during the Santa’s Wish List portion of the assembly, Santa (Vice Principal Curt Thompson) granted a wish for one of the high school’s foreign exchange students, Blanca, from Spain. Her wish was to be Bucky at a basketball game.
Thank you to PHS Leadership students, staff and others who made all of these service projects and festive events possible. Now, you deserve a long winter’s nap!


PHS December Events
/in District Site News, High Schools News /by rthornburgPHS students have been as busy as Santa’s elves during the month of December with several projects and events!
Adopt A Child
18 youth from the Pendleton area will have a great Christmas thanks to this annual program at the high school. Clubs, sports teams and individual faculty members at PHS adopt a child and purchase gifts and other items for them.
Canned Food Drive
This is a district-wide effort with all PSD schools collecting canned goods/non-perishable foods to donate. The district collected a total of 5,251 food items. Here are the amounts collected per school:
PHS 2,919
Sherwood 683
Washington 682
Sunridge MS 531
McKay 436
This year, PHS’s collection of 2,919 cans was 48 more than last year. Josh Linehan’s Advisory Class won the contest by bringing in 865 cans. His Advisory students were able to “pie” (throw pies at) losing classes that didn’t bring in any cans — Lunny, Haguewood and Speer — at the Christmas Assembly on December 12th.
Little Bucks Day
On December 18th, the very popular annual Little Bucks Day happened at PHS, with 27 children participating. Led by students from PHS Leadership, the children took a school tour, did arts and crafts, played games like Pin the Tail on Rudolph, decorated cookies, went on a scavenger hunt, and more.
Christmas Assembly
All PHS students enjoyed the assembly on December 12th, which included Principal Pat Dutcher pulling a “sled” with Shelby McQuinn, PHS Secretary, as part of the staff team in the Run Rudolph Run competition.
Also, during the Santa’s Wish List portion of the assembly, Santa (Vice Principal Curt Thompson) granted a wish for one of the high school’s foreign exchange students, Blanca, from Spain. Her wish was to be Bucky at a basketball game.
Thank you to PHS Leadership students, staff and others who made all of these service projects and festive events possible. Now, you deserve a long winter’s nap!
Superintendent Video Message – December 2024
/in News - District & All Schools /by rthornburgGO-STEM Hub Visit at Sherwood Elementary
/in District Site News, Sherwood School News /by rthornburgWelcome to PSD – Zoe Reeder
/in District Site News, High Schools News /by rthornburgZoe Reeder
Beginning and Advanced Metals/Agriculture 2/Science Teacher
Pendleton High School & Hawthorne High School
Zoe grew up in the United Kingdom and Rogue River, OR. She has lived in Pendleton for about two years and completed her student teaching at Pendleton High School.
She attended Oregon State University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Agriculture Science and her master’s degree in Agriculture Education.
About working in the Pendleton School District, Zoe said, “I am most excited about getting to know the amazing community in and outside of the school district!”
When she has spare time, Zoe likes to fish, play with her dog, and explore new places.
Pendleton High School FFA Program
/in District Site News, High Schools News /by rthornburgWelcome to PSD – Sami Spriet
/in District Site News, Sunridge News /by rthornburgSami Spriet
7th & 8th Grade Science Teacher
Sunridge Middle School
Sami grew up in Pendleton and graduated with the Pendleton High School Class of 2020.
She went to college at Eastern Oregon University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Ecological Biology as well as her Master of Arts degree in teaching.
“I am super excited to get to know all of the students as well as get to work with some amazing people!” Sami said about her new job.
When she has free time, Sami likes to attend concerts, read, be outdoors and spend time with friends and family.
Patriotic Assembly at the PELC
/in District Site News, Early Learning Center News /by rthornburgWelcome to PSD – Meghan Hoyt
/in District Site News, Early Learning Center News /by rthornburgMeghan Hoyt
Kindergarten Teacher
Pendleton Early Learning Center
Meghan grew up in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and western Washington. She moved to Pendleton this past summer.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Central Washington University and her master’s degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis on social and emotional learning from The University of Washington.
About working in the Pendleton School District, Meghan said, “I am so excited to connect with all of my students; I am looking forward to seeing their growth once spring comes. I enjoyed my initial teacher training through PSD. They inspired so many ideas that I look forward to implementing in the classroom, from academics to classroom management.”
When she has free time, Meghan said, “I am a new mom, so spending time with my daughter is my absolute favorite thing to do. We also love camping, hiking, and fishing.”
Pledge and Student Jobs at McKay Creek Elementary School
/in District Site News, McKay Creek School News /by rthornburgWelcome to PSD – Marjorie Carter
/in District Site News, Washington School News /by rthornburgMarjorie Carter
Special Education Teacher
Washington Elementary School
Marjorie said she experienced a lot of different communities growing up but spent most of her time between Pendleton and Bothell, Washington. She attended school in the Pendleton School District from third to eighth grade before moving to Bothell. She has lived in Pendleton for a combined total of 40 years.
She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education from Western Governors University.
About working in the Pendleton School District, Marjorie said, “What excites me most about working in the Pendleton School District is that I get to support students from my own neighborhood to become the best version of themselves.”
In her free time, she loves to cook new foods.