Erin Zacharias

Welcome to PSD – Erin Zacharias

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Erin Zacharias
Special Education Teacher
Sunridge Middle School

Erin grew up in Pendleton and Pilot Rock. She attended Lincoln Elementary and graduated from Pilot Rock High School.

For college, she went to Grand Canyon University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Special Education.

About working in the Pendleton School District, Erin said, “I am excited I get to work with all the same coworkers I have had for the last two years and collaborate with them in a different role.”

In her free time, Erin likes to cook, bake, go on walks, and watch movies.

Erin Zacharias

SMS Weight Room

Sunridge Middle School Receives Grant for Weight Room Equipment

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Students at Sunridge Middle School have some new equipment to help them get physically stronger this school year. The school received a grant of $7,850 from the Pendleton Foundation Trust to purchase new items for the weight room.

They purchased 20 40-pound dumbbells, 10 weight benches and three floor mats.

Tim Cary, P.E. Teacher, said the new equipment has allowed them to expand the variety of lifts, allowed for a safer environment to exercise in, and provided the opportunity for several students to lift more weight and set new goals.

“We want to say thank you to the Pendleton Foundation Trust for helping us continue to improve our facilities. The grant money has truly changed the weight room and the students’ attitudes in a very positive way,” Cary said.

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SMS Pottery

Sunridge Middle School Students Create Pottery

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New this year at Sunridge Middle School is an opportunity for students to try their hand at pottery using electric pottery wheels. Principal Piper Kelm said the school purchased 25 new wheels for classes this year.

In a recent art class, students in 6th, 7th and 8th grades were each seated behind a pottery wheel with lumps of clay, working hard to create ceramic mugs.

Wayne Small is the new Art Teacher at SMS. He said one thing he really likes about pottery is that students who feel that they aren’t talented in drawing or painting can be given the confidence to excel with clay. “Pencils and paint are readily available materials, and the students who do well practice constantly. But with clay, everyone starts closer to the same ability level, so it gives those students a chance to feel successful in the visual arts,” Small said.

Natalie, a 7th Grader, was working on her project to make a mug for her little cousin. She had never worked on a pottery wheel before but said, “It’s pretty fun, and I like how it’s turning out.”

Two other 7th graders, Jacob and Miles, were working together on forming a cup. Jacob said it’s hard to shape the clay, but he took the class because he would like to do more art projects. Miles said he has liked the drawing and now the pottery. “I like the creativity of the class,” he said.

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SMS 5th Grade Night

Sunridge Middle School – 5th Grade Night

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On Tuesday evening, May 21, 2024, Sunridge Middle School staff was on a mission to get fifth grade students and their families excited about middle school! The school hosted the 5th Grade Night to introduce fifth grade students from the district’s three elementary schools to Sunridge, where they will attend sixth grade in the 24-25 school year.

The event got off to a great start, with families enjoying hamburgers served by SMS Leadership students. Then, Principal Piper Kelm introduced all of the sixth-grade teachers and went through a short slideshow to discuss what sixth grade is like. She reiterated that some things are the same in middle school, like math, language arts, and science, but some things are different because students go to separate classrooms for each one. Other points Kelm made were the school’s No Cell Phone Use policy for students during the school day and three-minute passing times to get to your next class.

Principal Kelm also mentioned that sports are available, more food choices at lunch, the importance of regular attendance, and the social-emotional learning and supports that Sunridge Middle School has in place for students.

A couple of students from SMS Leadership talked about fun school spirit/dress-up days, Friday reward activities, and student Activity Nights that occur throughout the year. “You will want to get involved in these activities here!” they said.

After the presentation, fifth graders and their parents toured the sixth-grade hallway and classrooms, met teachers, and asked questions.

Principal Kelm said that 5th Grade Night is always a positive time to showcase SMS and connect with fifth grade students and parents. “We want them to feel comfortable when they arrive at Sunridge in August, and introducing them to our building and teachers now helps in that process,” Kelm said.

Currently, the Pendleton School District has 238 incoming fifth graders to the middle school in the fall.

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SMS Bronc

School Play at Sunridge Middle School

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Students at Sunridge Middle School will be presenting the play “The Raven & the Rue Morgue” on March 19-21, 2024.

The play is based on stories by Edgar Allan Poe. It has 14 actors, five singers, and three crew members doing technical work. Abby Foust, a senior at Pendleton High School, is also an assistant director. The play is rated PG as it is a “whodunit” mystery with some references to violence.

The play will be performed at 7:00 PM on Tuesday, 3/19, Wednesday, 3/20, and Thursday, 3/21, at Sunridge Middle School.

Admission is FREE and open to the public.

PHS Forecasting 2024

PHS Forecasting Night

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PHS Forecasting Night was a success on February 28, 2024! Thank you to all the students and families who joined us to learn about opportunities at PHS.

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Forecasting Flyer

Forecasting Family Night at PHS for Grades 8-11

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All students and families of eighth through eleventh grade students in the Pendleton School District are invited to a Forecasting Family Night on Wednesday, February 28, 2024, at Pendleton High School.

The purpose of the event is to learn about academic opportunities and student activities available at PHS for students who will attend in the 2024-25 school year.

The event from 5:00 – 7:30 pm will include:

  • PHS counselors giving short, informative presentations in the PHS Auditorium at 5:15 and 6:00 pm
  • Dinner & drinks at food trucks; individuals who attend a presentation will receive a meal ticket
  • Information tables about academics, AP programs, CTE classes, athletics, music, clubs/activities, college credit opportunities, School to Careers & more
  • Prizes
  • Music

“This is an opportunity for us at PHS to showcase our school community and all we have to offer students,” said Karen Demianew, PHS Counselor, “plus a great chance for families to see the school and ask questions to help their students plan for next year.”

Attendees are asked to park in the PHS Student Parking Lot.

For more information or questions about Forecasting Family Night, please contact Pendleton High School at 541-276-3621.

Forecasting Flyer

Kingslack at SMS

Guest Speaker Discusses Leadership at SMS

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When Lieutenant Colonel ShaiLin KingSlack spoke to students at Sunridge Middle School, she was open and honest about her experiences in school. “Going to school wasn’t always easy for me; there were some hard things, like being singled out for the color of my skin or not getting chosen for sports,” KingSlack said. But she just kept going and focused on what she was passionate about, like music, art, and things she liked, regardless of negativity from other people.

KingSlack was at SMS on January 23, 2024, speaking to Native American students about leadership. KingSlack works for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers/Walla Walla District. A graduate of West Point Military Academy, she is an experienced and decorated soldier who was deployed to Iraq and served in Europe. KingSlack currently oversees more than 800 engineers and professionals in civil works, interagency programs, and operations of Corps of Engineers projects for Eastern Washington, Idaho, and parts of Oregon, Nevada, Wyoming, and Utah.

When she started at West Point and in her early career in the U.S. Army, KingSlack said she didn’t know if she was cut out to be a leader, but she found her purpose in defending America by serving her country in the military.

“Being a leader can be inherent, but it can also be taught,” she said. Things leaders do are encouraging others and being loyal to others, she emphasized to students. She encouraged students at this stage of their lives to discover their “mission,” which could be getting good grades, becoming better at playing a musical instrument, or doing well in sports.

KingSlack said that students can later turn their strengths into leadership skills. “Not every leader is a good leader, but try to be a good one.”

In addition to visiting SMS, KingSlack spoke to students on January 23rd at Pendleton High School and Nixyaawii Community School. The presentations were organized through the Title VI program in the Pendleton School District.

Kingslack at SMS Kingslack at SMS

 

SMS Brooks Gibbs

Guest Speaker Promotes Emotional Resilience at SMS

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Remember the saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me?” A guest speaker at some Pendleton schools on December 13th used that concept for his message to students. Brooks Gibbs is a resilience educator with a Ph.D. in Social Psychology. At an assembly at Sunridge Middle School, he spoke to all the students in the school about taking personal responsibility for how they feel and how to protect their emotions from the effects of mean or aggressive behaviors through emotional resilience.

In an example with a student volunteer, Gibbs had the student pretend to be mean to him. In the first scenario, Gibbs got very angry and upset about the comments. In the second scenario, instead, he was calm and kind and treated the person like a friend. “The more upset you get, the more you are giving them power and playing their game in losing mode,” Gibbs explained.

He went on to say that when people are using mean and negative words toward you, you can choose not to get upset and that nobody can hurt your feelings without you giving them permission. He teaches students two basic principles when dealing with aggression:

  • Don’t get upset (Emotional Resilience)
  • Treat them like a friend (The Golden Rule)

Seventh grader Kale said he learned that getting more frustrated will end up making the person have more fun, and staying calm can help in an aggressive situation. Kenzie, another seventh grader, said her takeaway from the assembly was to always be nice and kind to other people.

Gibbs said physical violence does require adult intervention and encourages students to seek help if they feel they are in danger or cannot handle the aggression on their own.

Piper Kelm, Principal at Sunridge Middle School, said increasing emotional resilience in middle school students is a perfect fit because, since the COVID pandemic, a lagging skill in many young people is the ability to self-regulate and adjust to adversity in their lives. “Any tools and strategies we can help provide to our students benefit them and our school climate,” Kelm said.

In addition to visiting SMS, Gibbs presented at Washington Elementary, Pendleton High School, and Nixyaawii Community School. The presentations were funded through Title XI funds in the Pendleton School District.

Gibbs is a popular youth speaker who has been hired by more than 3,000 schools to present his message to students, parents, and educators. For more information about him and his program, visit www.brooksgibbs.com.

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Phone:  541.276.6711  Fax:  541.278.3208

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