Washington Students

4th Grade STEM Week at Washington Elementary

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Washington Elementary – 4th Grade STEM Week

Washington Elementary had its annual 4th Grade STEM Week earlier this month. Every year, the teachers organize this special week of instruction focusing on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math learning.

This year, there were five stations, each lasting one hour. Two stations used kits from GO-STEM to make catapults and straw structures. Another station involved the construction of tin foil boats, and another was marbles on ramps made from pipe insulation. The last station was coding on Code.org!

According to Michelle Herburger, 4th Grade Teacher, students enjoyed each session, returning ready to share what they had learned. The students also really enjoyed seeing their teachers dressed up as scientists in white lab coats and big white wigs.

What do teachers want the kids to take away from STEM Week? “We really focus on thinking and trying during this time. We offer students the supplies with limited direction and allow them to work together to make mistakes and learn from each other. It is a structure we don’t get to utilize much, and students aren’t used to not having a scripted plan given to them. They persevere and process so many concepts in such a short amount of time,” said Herburger.

Washington’s teachers said it’s powerful to have fun with the students and to watch this style of learning. They said they listen to the conversations that students have with each other and appreciate the respect they have for their peers and their learning. “We love it when they see success after several failed attempts. We love it when it’s time to stop, and they don’t want to. It reminds us why we became teachers.”

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Posted 5/25/2023

Sherwood Students

Sherwood Heights Elementary Spring Field Trips

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Do you remember going on field trips in elementary school? Most people can remember a trip to a pumpkin patch, a local farm, a science center, a museum or art center, or maybe a local historical place. But combine more robust academic requirements, increased testing in schools, and the COVID pandemic, and many schools have not had field trips for a few years.

The principal and assistant principal at Sherwood Heights Elementary are changing that this spring. Principal Ronda Smith said they are trying to create a culture of memories through learning outside the school building. “Field trips offer an opportunity for students to be kind and responsible to each other in a different setting and learn to be a school family together,” Smith said.

In May and June, Sherwood students in various grades will go to the Heritage Station Museum, and Blue Mountain Community College, walk to a local park, participate in the Pendleton High School FFA Farm Day, attend track meets, and, have a field day.

TJ Presley, Assistant Principal, said many of the trips and events create chances for students to cooperate, take turns, and be independent. “This summer, when a little kid closes his eyes and thinks about school last year, what will he remember? We want them to remember something great and end the year on a positive note so the student can’t wait to return to their school family in August.”

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PELC Farm Day

PELC Farm Day Field Trip

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If you think there is nothing cuter than a kindergartner petting a cute, fuzzy chick, you are probably right.

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5th grade BMCC

5th Grade Field Trip to BMCC

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All fifth graders in the Pendleton School District got a glimpse of the community college in their own hometown on Wednesday, April 19th.

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PELC Salmon Field Trip

Pendleton Early Learning Center Salmon Field Trip

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A chilly, rainy morning couldn’t dampen the excitement of kindergartners from the Pendleton Early Learning Center as they enjoyed a field trip to the Pendleton Accumulation Site of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) Fisheries Program on Wednesday, April 12th.

At the site in Mission, the students got an up close, first-hand look at some fish. They got to touch small Coho salmon and larger Steelhead salmon held in nets in tanks. But the stars of the show were the Pacific lamprey, which are eel-like fish that are anadromous, meaning they migrate from fresh water to the ocean during their life cycle, as salmon do.

The lamprey, held in a large cooler, were handled by Kanim Moses-Conner from the CTUIR Fisheries Program. When he opened the lid and lifted one of the wriggling fish out, squeals erupted from the young students. Moses-Conner pointed out the lamprey’s sucker-like mouth, gills and undulating body, explaining that they are part of an ancient superclass of jawless fish that have been on Earth since before the dinosaurs. After donning gloves, the kindergartners each got a turn to hold the lamprey, much to their delight.

This PELC field trip is part of a learning unit about Salmon or the Núsux Life Cycle, which has been taught by Shawndine Jones, Walk to Language Teacher at the PELC, and Mildred Quaempts, Umatilla Language Master Speaker for CTUIR. The kindergartners receive two or three lessons in the classroom about the salmon life cycle, how important salmon are and learn Umatilla words for types of salmon and where they live: rivers, Columbia River, ocean. Quaempts said the lessons focus on Áwni Tkʷátat, traditional foods like water, salmon, deer, roots and berries. “CTUIR believes that teaching to respect and honor Áwni Tkʷátat will promote a healthy lifestyle. Children must experience learning about Áwni Tkʷátat and stories, so the children will get cultural exposure at school and home,” Quaempts said.

Jones said CTUIR is doing amazing things with the Fisheries Program to help the salmon, and it’s a good experience for the students to see the live salmon on the field trip, which hasn’t occurred since before the COVID pandemic. “The PELC is very thankful for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation Fisheries Program and staff for allowing our students to have this awesome experience,” Jones said.

Judging from the smiles on the small faces of the students, it was indeed an awesome experience!

The PELC thanks those from the CTUIR Fisheries Program who were on site for the field trip: Shaun Montgomery, Aaron Jackson, Ty Minthorn, Kanim Moses-Conner, Paul Sheoships and Jerrid Weaskus and Easton Powaukee.

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Safety First

Sherwood Heights Elementary – Safety Efforts

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Fire, lockdown, and earthquake drills are all in a day’s work for today’s students. Because they practice these regularly, they know what to expect if and when a real emergency occurs. And that is what the leaders at Sherwood Heights Elementary are counting on.

“We have a fire drill every month, and we practice one other drill every month,” said TJ Presley, Assistant Principal at Sherwood. “By practicing these scenarios, our staff and students are all more prepared and able to remain calm in situations that do arise.”

Presley and Sherwood Principal Ronda Smith said they collaborate with local law enforcement officers when they have drills, so officers can be on site if possible to help discuss response time and things that could be improved. Pendleton School District School Resource Officer Lance Zaugg was in the building at the school’s March Lockdown drill and debriefed with school administrators afterward. “We test different modalities with our alarm system and phone system to ensure we practice different methods to initiate our emergency protocols when necessary and to be as quick and efficient in a real emergency,” Principal Smith said.

Sherwood recently received two grants totaling $10,000 from the Walmart Distribution Center in Hermiston to purchase new radios for all staff in their building. Presley said the new radios are helpful, as the ability to communicate quickly between all staff in the school is essential.

In addition to physical safety, Sherwood also focuses on social-emotional safety, with regular lessons about feeling safe, trusted adults, reporting concerns, and more.

At the school’s Open House last fall, several parents asked the school leaders to tell them about emergency procedures and protocols, which Smith said they were glad to communicate about. As part of a district-wide plan, Sherwood will host an after-school safety evaluation/walk-through in May with officers from several local law enforcement agencies to identify potential safety issues that can be resolved.

“Safety at our school for students, staff, and visitors is always our number one priority, no matter what,” Presley said. “Having consistent procedures, excellent communication, practice drills, and having everyone on board are essential for our teachers and assistants to facilitate learning and for students to feel safe and learn in the best environment possible.”

Sherwood Heights Elementary and the Pendleton School District use the I Love U Guys Standard Response Protocol for emergency response; visit https://iloveuguys.org/ for more information.

Sherwood Students

Sherwood Elementary Celebrates Academic Progress & Plans for Parent-Teacher Conferences

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The months of January, February, and March before Spring Break may seem like a long, cold stretch without many days off, but for schools, that time is golden. This period of time offers the longest uninterrupted time in the school year, making it ideal for focused academic time for teachers and students. And at Sherwood Heights Elementary, they are making the most of it.

“Right now, we are really encouraging students and their parents to prioritize good attendance at school, to eat healthy meals, especially breakfast, and to get enough sleep, all of which make for a productive school day,” said Ronda Smith, Sherwood Principal.

Smith is pleased with recent data at her school that Sherwood Spurs are growing academically. Students recently completed i-Ready testing in math and reading. Comparing initial scores in September with January scores indicates that more students are on or above grade level in both math and reading, and the number of students below grade level in the subjects decreased during that time. “We are really happy with our mid-year check data, and we continue to use strategies to help students keep up the progress,” Smith said.

One strategy parents can help with is attending Parent-Teacher Conferences on the evenings of March 7 and 9. Sherwood encourages parents/guardians to make the most of the 20-minute conferences with teachers and to really focus on their child. At conferences, teachers will discuss a student’s i-Ready scores and academic progress, show samples of their work, and talk about their strengths and areas to work on and their social progress. Smith suggests parents ask these questions at conferences:

  1. What kind of academic progress has my child made since the start of the school year?
  2. How is my child doing socially and while interacting in the classroom?
  3. Is there anything I can do at home to help my child’s education?

Another thing parents can emphasize and work on with their child is “soft school skills,” which Smith explains include regular school attendance, active participation in the classroom, following school rules and teacher instructions, and completing and turning in assignments on time. Smith said these skills translate into middle school, high school, and adulthood, helping a child learn organization, time management, and the ability to focus and complete tasks. “Our goal at Sherwood is to help students grow and ultimately become a contributing part of their community.”

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Phone:  541.276.6711  Fax:  541.278.3208

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