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Washington Wildcat Logo

CTUIR Fisheries Program Visits 3rd and 4th Graders at Washington Elementary

April 25, 2025/in District Site News, Washington School News /by rthornburg

Third and fourth grade students at Washington Elementary School experienced some exciting hands-on learning with a visit from CTUIR Fisheries in mid-April.

Representatives from the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation program brought young and adult lamprey and Coho salmon for the students to see and touch. Students learned that lampreys have been living on Earth for 400 million years.

Shaun Montgomery, Assistant Project Manager for Umatilla Hatchery Satellite Facilities, said it’s effective when children learn through interactive experiences. He said 500,000 Coho salmon are released each year through the program. “We want young people to learn about the salmon recovery program the tribes are doing and how important it is to the environment and to the tribe’s first foods,” Montgomery said.

Due to the COVID pandemic, third and fourth graders missed out on the annual field trip to visit the fisheries site. Shawndine Jones, Walk to Language Teacher at Washington, said the school appreciates the staff from the program visiting the school for those students who missed out a few years ago. “Thanks to the CTUIR Fisheries staff, students enjoyed this hands-on experience and learning about the importance of salmon and lamprey,” Jones said.

Washington Elementary thanks these visitors for sharing their time and knowledge:

Aaron Jackson
Kanim Moses-Conner
Jerrid Weaskus
Shaun Montgomery

 

https://pendleton.k12.or.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Washington-Wildcat-W.png 1842 2000 rthornburg https://pendleton.k12.or.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/pendleton-school-district.png rthornburg2025-04-25 14:55:382025-04-25 14:55:38CTUIR Fisheries Program Visits 3rd and 4th Graders at Washington Elementary
Sherwood logo

Sherwood Starts Hot Breakfast in the Cafeteria Again

April 24, 2025/in District Site News, Sherwood School News /by rthornburg

Students at Sherwood Heights Elementary recently started eating breakfast in the cafeteria. This may not sound like a big deal, but it’s a welcome change for the school.

At the start of the 2024-25 school year, the school had a program called Breakfast After the Bell, which was mandated due to the high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price meals. Due to the school’s large student population, it was impossible to fit all students in the cafeteria in the morning to eat breakfast at the same time. So, the school had to offer cold/to-go style breakfasts that students ate in the classroom. Breakfast was served after the first bell, so students didn’t start eating until 8:00 AM.

The school recently revised the breakfast protocol, serving breakfast earlier, starting at 7:30 AM and having students arrive at staggered times between 7:30 and 8:00. This way, they are able to accommodate all students who want to eat in the cafeteria.

TJ Presley, Sherwood Principal, said the recent change allows the school to provide hot breakfast options to students, and all food is served on a tray and eaten in the cafeteria. Presley said this has helped in other ways around campus, such as less mess in the classroom, less waste of food because students are choosing what they want to eat, less garbage , and less interference with instructional minutes during the school day.

“We are also hopeful that the hot meals will improve our attendance and on-time arrivals for the start of the school day,” Presley said.

If breakfast is the most important meal of the day, Sherwood Spurs are on their way to success!

 

https://pendleton.k12.or.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Sherwood-logo.jpg 253 356 rthornburg https://pendleton.k12.or.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/pendleton-school-district.png rthornburg2025-04-24 13:27:202025-04-24 13:27:20Sherwood Starts Hot Breakfast in the Cafeteria Again
read books

PELC Celebrates March Madness with Books

April 18, 2025/in District Site News, Early Learning Center News /by rthornburg

College basketball teams and their fans across America were consumed by the March Madness basketball tournaments last month. But the Pendleton Early Learning Center was busy with its own March Madness!

For the fourth year in a row, the school staged its March Madness Book Battle, a competition to promote the love of books, reading and fun. The program is organized in much the same way as the big basketball competitions. First, the kindergarten teachers choose the Sweet Sixteen – 16 books they want to compete. Each classroom reads the books, then votes on which ones they like best, whittling down the 16 books to the Elite Eight.

Students in classrooms read the books again until they are down to the Final Four. Eventually, the competition comes down to two contenders. This year, they were Mortimer by Robert Munsch, about a boy who won’t be quiet and go to sleep, and Frankie by Mary Sullivan, about a new puppy who has to share with the dog already living in a house.

On the morning of Monday, April 7th, all classes read the two books for a final time and chose their champion. Then they waited for all the votes from all the classrooms to come in.

Teacher Rachele Johnson said the kids love getting to read two stories every single day, and reading the books repeatedly helps the students learn about intonation and punctuation. In the case of the Mortimer book, students were able to sing the song and thump their feet like the characters in the book.

“As teachers, we love to see their excitement about reading, and we get to read picture books that might not normally fit the themes we are doing,” Johnson said. Plus, teachers mix in math related to counting the votes and concepts like having your own opinion no matter what the group thinks, and having your favorite book.

So, who was the school’s March Madness Champion? It was Frankie by quite a lot of votes. It’s hard to compete with a story about a cute puppy.

 

https://pendleton.k12.or.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/read-books.jpg 543 800 rthornburg https://pendleton.k12.or.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/pendleton-school-district.png rthornburg2025-04-18 13:43:482025-04-18 13:43:48PELC Celebrates March Madness with Books
McKay Logo

McKay Students Artwork for District Art Show

April 8, 2025/in District Site News, McKay Creek School News /by rthornburg

Students at McKay Creek Elementary have been creating artwork for the Pendleton School District Art Show in May 2025.

https://pendleton.k12.or.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/mckay-logo-clean.Blue_.png 960 1162 rthornburg https://pendleton.k12.or.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/pendleton-school-district.png rthornburg2025-04-08 12:46:552025-04-08 12:46:55McKay Students Artwork for District Art Show
PELC sign

Community Read-In at the PELC

April 2, 2025/in District Site News, Early Learning Center News /by rthornburg

In early March, the Pendleton Early Learning Center celebrated its annual Community Read-In. More than 90 volunteers came to the school to read with the Kindergarten students. Volunteers included students from Sunridge Middle School, parents, grandparents, ALTRUSA members, law enforcement officers, and more!

 

https://pendleton.k12.or.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/PELC-sign.png 616 995 rthornburg https://pendleton.k12.or.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/pendleton-school-district.png rthornburg2025-04-02 17:17:172025-04-02 17:17:17Community Read-In at the PELC
McKay Basket Weaving 2025

Basket Weaving in 3rd Grade at McKay Elementary School

March 5, 2025/in District Site News, McKay Elementary /by rthornburg

There is a sign hanging in Noele Mead’s third grade class that says, “Perseverance is pushing yourself to work through challenges and obstacles.” Students have been practicing this concept while working on a basket weaving project for several weeks.

Mead wanted to start the basket project in November during Native American Heritage Month, but it didn’t work out. Gayla Blankenship, Indian Education Coordinator from CTUIR (Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation), works with students at McKay Creek Elementary and is teaching the basket weaving. Blankenship said baskets like these are traditional root-gathering bags, and the hands-on learning the students are doing relates to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) curriculum.

Abigail, a third-grade student, said she found the weaving to be fairly easy and she likes that she will have a basket at the end to give to her dad. She is using colors of blue, white, and hot pink.

Another student in the class, Bryar, said, “I like how the basket grows up as you weave and it gets harder and harder; your fingers start hurting so it makes it feel like you’re working super hard.” Bryar chose pastel colors like Easter because he doesn’t like darker colors and will use the basket for huckleberry picking.

Third grader Benson said weaving the basket has been challenging and tricky, but fun to do. He said he will use his blue and green-colored basket, reminiscent of the ocean, to carry eggs from his family’s chickens at home.

Their teacher, Mead, said the students have really made progress working on their baskets, with some even taking them out to recess to work on them. The class will end the project soon, so some students will need to finish them at home.

Mead said she hopes the class project will demonstrate to her students that not everything is easy and that perseverance really matters. “Many students thought this would be easy to do, but it’s not, and it’s important just knowing that they can do hard things.”

McKay Basket Weaving 2025 McKay Basket Weaving 2025 McKay Basket Weaving 2025 McKay Basket Weaving 2025 McKay Basket Weaving 2025 McKay Basket Weaving 2025 McKay Basket Weaving 2025 McKay Basket Weaving 2025 McKay Basket Weaving 2025

https://pendleton.k12.or.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/McKay-Basket-Weaving-2025-7.jpg 665 529 rthornburg https://pendleton.k12.or.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/pendleton-school-district.png rthornburg2025-03-05 09:24:492025-03-05 09:24:49Basket Weaving in 3rd Grade at McKay Elementary School
Sherwood logo

Video of Battle of the Books at Sherwood Elementary School

March 5, 2025/in District Site News, Sherwood School News /by rthornburg

 

https://pendleton.k12.or.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Sherwood-logo.jpg 253 356 rthornburg https://pendleton.k12.or.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/pendleton-school-district.png rthornburg2025-03-05 08:27:082025-03-05 08:27:08Video of Battle of the Books at Sherwood Elementary School
McKay Logo

McKay Video – School Assemblies & Student Leadership

February 17, 2025/in District Site News, McKay Creek School News /by rthornburg

 

https://pendleton.k12.or.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/mckay-logo-clean.Blue_.png 960 1162 rthornburg https://pendleton.k12.or.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/pendleton-school-district.png rthornburg2025-02-17 11:04:212025-02-17 11:04:21McKay Video – School Assemblies & Student Leadership
Sherwood logo

GO-STEM Hub Visit at Sherwood Elementary

December 13, 2024/in District Site News, Sherwood School News /by rthornburg
https://pendleton.k12.or.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Sherwood-logo.jpg 253 356 rthornburg https://pendleton.k12.or.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/pendleton-school-district.png rthornburg2024-12-13 16:19:172024-12-13 16:22:58GO-STEM Hub Visit at Sherwood Elementary
PELC sign

Patriotic Assembly at the PELC

November 22, 2024/in District Site News, Early Learning Center News /by rthornburg
https://pendleton.k12.or.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/PELC-sign.png 616 995 rthornburg https://pendleton.k12.or.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/pendleton-school-district.png rthornburg2024-11-22 09:32:192024-11-22 09:32:19Patriotic Assembly at the PELC
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Latest PSD News

  • Washington Wildcat Logo
    CTUIR Fisheries Program Visits 3rd and 4th Graders at Washington ElementaryApril 25, 2025 - 2:55 pm
  • Sherwood logo
    Sherwood Starts Hot Breakfast in the Cafeteria AgainApril 24, 2025 - 1:27 pm
  • read books
    PELC Celebrates March Madness with BooksApril 18, 2025 - 1:43 pm
  • Karen Demianew
    Congratulations, Karen DemianewApril 18, 2025 - 10:45 am
  • bus stop sign
    Bus Routes 13 & 16 on April 10, 2025April 10, 2025 - 9:05 am
  • McKay Logo
    McKay Students Artwork for District Art ShowApril 8, 2025 - 12:46 pm

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  • May 2025

Calendar of Events

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2025-04-28

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1 event, 6

8:00 am - 9:00 am Event Series

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May 6 @ 8:00 am - 9:00 am Event Series

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Meets in the District Office boardroom

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3:00 pm - 4:30 pm

Open House

May 8 @ 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm

Open House

Join the PELC as they celebrate 10 years! They are also recognizing the Wildhorse Foundation for their generous grant funding of the library.  Presentation at 3:45 pm.

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3 events, 12

2025-05-12

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9:30 am - 2:00 pm

Spring Concert

May 12 @ 9:30 am - 2:00 pm

Spring Concert

The PELC invites you to their Spring Concerts: 9:30 am - Bees, Owls, Dragonflies 10:25 am - Squirrels, Foxes, Racoons 11:10 am - Coyotes, Beavers 1:25 pm - Bears, Otters

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2025-05-26

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No school due to Memorial Day observed.

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2025-05-27

Art Show

Art Show

May 27 @ 8:00 am - May 29 @ 5:00 pm

Art Show

Pendleton School District Art Show at the Pendleton Convention Center. Evening only on 5/27/25.

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May 28 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

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Hawthorne Alternative High School Graduation @ Hawthorne

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May 28 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

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Scholarship Night is by invitation only in the auditorium.

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2025-05-27

Art Show

2025-05-29

Seniors Last Day

Seniors Last Day

May 29

Seniors Last Day

Congratulations Class of 2025!

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May 29 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

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Baccalaureate in PHS Auditorium

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PHS Graduation

Congratulations, Class of 2025!  Graduation will be held in the Round-Up arena on Sunday, June 1, 2025.  More details to come.

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May 12 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm Event Series

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May 28
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May 12 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm Event Series

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May 26
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No School – Holiday

May 27
May 27 @ 8:00 am - May 29 @ 5:00 pm

Art Show

May 27
May 27 @ 8:00 am - May 29 @ 5:00 pm

Art Show

May 28 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

HAHS Graduation

May 28 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Scholarship Night

May 27
May 27 @ 8:00 am - May 29 @ 5:00 pm

Art Show

All day

Seniors Last Day

May 29 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Baccalaureate

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June 1
June 1 @ 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm

PHS Graduation

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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.

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