Your Ellensburg Schools

• In the past month, ESD has dedicated two schools, one brand new and one like new. Ellensburg now has four beautiful elementary schools!
• Dedicated parents, staff and community members have stepped forward to participate in the Bond/Capital Projects and Student Centered Learning committees.
• The dedicated work of our parent groups and organizations is becoming evident as students enjoy activities ranging from movie nights to book fairs and everything in between.
• We can't talk about dedication without thanking our whole ESD team, like our teachers, administrators and classified staff, who make ESD a great place to work, learn and play.
• Finally, we would like to thank the dedicated men and women who proudly served our country. Take a look at the schedule of Veterans Day events planned at our schools!

It was standing room only as Ellensburg School District welcomed members of the community and generations of the Ida Nason Aronica family to celebrate the dedication of Ellensburg’s newest school and its namesake on Sept. 30.

ESD made Washington history by being the first district in the state to name a school after a local female Native American leader. Ida Nason Aronica, the granddaughter of Chief Owhi, was significant in shaping the history of the Kittitas Valley.

In cooperation with the Kittitas County Museum, many items from the Ida Nason Aronica family collection were on display for the dedication, including baskets, beadwork and photographs. Among the items on display was the beaded dress Ida’s mother wore when her father, Chief Owhi, signed the Treaty of 1855.

Arnold Cleveland (Colville) performed a traditional wooden flute solo. Randy Lewis (Colville), Ida’s eldest grandson, spoke to the theme “What Did Ida Teach You,” sharing stories about her love of the valley and insistence on the importance of teaching generations to come. Davis Washines “Yellowash” (Yakama), provided a closing prayer in Ichishkíin S í nwit, the language of the Yakama people.

“It was an incredible evening ,” says Superintendent Jinger Haberer. “It was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the opening of our beautiful new school and to honor an incredible leader whose legacy will have a positive impact within our community for many years to come.”

To learn more about Ida, you can watch her in the 1986 PBS documentary “Everything Change, Everything Change: Recollections of Ida Nason, an American Indian Elder.”

Teachers, staff and students were joined by family, friends and neighbors for the dedication of Lincoln Elementary on Oct. 6.

The ceremony began with 4th grader Charlotte Valencia singing the National Anthem acapella. Former Board Member Dr. Meg Ludlum and current Board Member Tosha Woods were among the speakers. Teacher Cathy Savidge shared stories and reflections on her 38 years as a proud Lincoln teacher. Superintendent Jinger Haberer expressed her gratitude to our amazing Ellensburg community for supporting our bond projects and the new learning spaces at Lincoln.

The evening marked the final phase of a $59.5 million capital improvement program that replaced Mt. Stuart Elementary, built a brand new Ida Nason Aronica Elementary, and remodeled Lincoln Elementary.

When the design process began, it was evident that preserving the character of Ellensburg’s oldest elementary school was important to the community and the generations of students who attended Lincoln. The “magic closets” and cheery checkered floor are still in place, but the building also has new HVAC, mechanical, plumbing and electrical systems, and the addition of an approximately 6,000 sq. ft. gymnasium. Lincoln was originally slated to open in fall 2023, but was completed a full year ahead of schedule, and on budget, in spite of supply chain issues and labor shortages.

Morgan Middle School American History teacher Daniel Beard will sign copies of his children's book, "The Little Pickup" at Jerrol's on Oct. 29 from 2 to 4 p.m. If you can't make it to the book signing, the book is available for purchase at https://www.amazon.com/Little-Pickup-Daniel-Beard/dp/B0BGKZD416

You can read the full story of how this book came to life in the Daily Record at:

https://www.dailyrecordnews.com/ellensburg/daniel-beard-hosting-a-book-signing-at-jerrols-oct-29/article_4530e93a-4fe6-11ed-9d1b-87b34db0f39b.html

Congratulations Mr. Beard!

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Ellensburg Education Foundation (EEF) wants to help you bring more resources to our students through Learning Enhancement Awards!

Any School District employee or student is invited to submit an application for funding to support purchases and activities that the District is unable to fund.

In past years, EEF has provided support for classroom supplies and equipment, books, art and music equipment, bus fees for field trips, conferences and trainings, and other projects to enrich student learning and educators' professional development.

Award funds must be spent and reimbursed by November 1, 2023. Please submit your application at any time prior to midnight November 1, 2022.

District Occupational Therapist Kristen Floan-Wood says a sensory wall for students had been on her mind for a long time when she approach a "shirt tale" relative at a 2021 Labor Day reunion to see if he might be able to help. When his daughter Lilly overheard the conversation, she knew it was something she was destined to undertake.

The design process took about a year, and features the mountains of the Stuart range with the school's mascot eagles soaring above. The most difficult part of the design process was determining what materials would bring the wall to life.

As Floan-Wood explains, "Students with autism need to explore their environment on a sensory level and they have higher sensory needs. This group is hard on things and the sensory wall needed to be really sturdy. If there is a loose string on a sock, for example, they can focus on that string until the whole sock is unraveled."

Lilly left no loose ends on this project. "I used a router and tucked the carpet inside the groove so there wouldn't be any loose edges," she says. "I thought it through very carefully." The black trim was made out of a truck liner, to provide extra durability. "The wall is made of plywood, MDF...anything you can find at Knudsen's," says Lilly. "We reused and recycled when we could." Construction on the wall took about a month.

While Lilly was project lead and designer, she did enlist the help of her dad and sister, who helped a lot. Moving the sculpture involved the whole family, and several District employees. "We wrapped it in saran wrap, then bolted it onto a trailer to get it to the school."

When she's not planning and building art therapy installations (she has requests for two more similar projects), Lilly plays softball at EHS, has a part-time job, and is a member of the National Honor Society. She was set on a career in forensic psychology, but has been rethinking her plans since completion of the wall. "I have been looking at occupational therapy, but it will be something with psychology...or maybe I'll build walls."

At Valley View Elementary, 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students are creating art inspired by the book "Maybe Something Beautiful: How Art Transformed a Neighborhood." While at Ida Nason Aronica, the entire school is finding inspiration from the book, "The Circles All Around Us."

Ida Nason Aronica Elementary STREAM teacher Stephanie Teasley provided an update to the Board of Education at the Oct. 12 meeting, which you can view here at 3:40:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCTQOoumXwc

Check out the photos below of STREAM in action!

"Time will not dim the glory of their deeds." - Gen. John J. Pershing

Schools throughout the District will pay honor to the men and women who have served our country with Veterans Day assemblies and celebrations. Here is a full list of the events planned:

November 9

Ellensburg High School will host a Veterans Day assembly at 9 a.m. in the main gym with a brunch for Veterans following the assembly.

November 10

• Morgan Middle School assembly at 7:45 a.m.
• Valley View Elementary breakfast for Vets at 8:45 a.m.; assembly from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
• Ida Nason Aronica Elementary assembly at 10 a.m..
• Lincoln Elementary welcomes back the traditional Veterans Day parade and assembly. The parade begins at 9:40 on Walnut St. in front of the school. From there the parade route goes to Tacoma Ave, Sampson St. and 1st Ave., then back down Walnut. The assembly begins at 10 a.m.
• Mt. Stuart Elementary assembly at 2:30 p.m. in the gym
  

November 11

No school in observance of Veterans Day. Annual Ellensburg Veterans Day Parade at 11 a.m.

Email: leslee.caul@esd401.org
Website: esd401.org
Location: 1300 East 3rd Avenue, Ellensburg, WA, USA
Phone: (509) 925-8010
Facebook: facebook.com/ellensburgschools