Your Ellensburg Schools

It has been an unexpectedly busy fall. Students have enjoyed many annual activities including our awesome District-wide Veterans Day and holiday programs and concerts, our sports teams going to State competitions, and this year featured the premiere of the first Washington state production of “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.” We are always so proud of our students, not only for their accomplishments, but for the grit and tenacity they demonstrate in and out of the classroom.

We have also faced some challenges this fall. As you are likely aware, the District has been working with Department of Justice (DOJ) team to finalize their investigation and reach a settlement agreement with them. We have always known that the most likely scenario would be to enter into a settlement agreement at the end of the investigation.

When I received notice of the investigation and started looking into the history of events it was clear from the beginning that we did not follow our own district policies and procedures, and would end up with a settlement agreement. Straying from the procedural process was a conscious decision made by my predecessor and it resulted in a series of semi-related investigations into specific incidents, rather than a comprehensive HIB and/or Title IX investigation as called for by the law and our own policies. She was honest about owning that decision when interviewed (according to the DOJ team). Throughout the entire investigative process, we were open and honest with them. That stance was appreciated and their team expressed to us that they believe everyone they interacted with during the investigation was working with them in good faith.

Under the agreement, ESD will be required to implement a series of reforms, including hiring a third-

party consultant to support implementation of the agreement, provide training to staff and students, designating a Spanish-speaking liaison for Latino families, and creating a new reporting system to monitor and track all reports of harassment.

We appreciate the work of the DOJ team, as well as the openness and honesty of our staff,

administrators, students, and families that were interviewed. We will begin working hard to fulfill our obligations in the agreement in order to improve our systems, and responses, so all students feel valued and safe in our schools and community. If you would like to view the full agreement or a summary of the agreement, visit our website here.

We also launched our District Strategic Planning Committee this fall. We are nearly 60 members strong with representation from ESD administrators, teachers, staff, students, parents and community members. We are about a third of the way through the process, with the group weighing in on our new vision statement and the Portrait of an Ellensburg Graduate. We are excited by how the process is going and look forward to our next meeting in January.

I always have the most fun going out to see our students. Earlier this month I had the honor of presenting the morning announcements at Lincoln and even got a certificate, as you can see.

Finally, I just want to take the opportunity to wish each of you a restful and happy holiday season filled with laughter and joy.

Your Partner in Education,

Superintendent Troy Tornow

Three more Ellensburg teachers have joined the prestigious ranks as National Board Certified Teachers!

National Board Certification is the highest professional credential for teachers in the U.S., recognizing those who meet rigorous standards of excellence. The process is built on five core principles: commitment to student learning, expertise in subject matter and teaching methods, effective classroom management, reflective practice, and active collaboration within learning communities. It showcases educators’ dedication to improving their craft and making a lasting impact on students.

According to the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, "National Board Certification was designed to develop, retain and recognize accomplished teachers and to generate ongoing improvement in schools nationwide. It’s the highest certification a teacher may obtain in addition to being the most respected one.".

In order to gain this distinction, teachers undergo a rigorous program of study and testing. The process, which can take up to three years, ensures that teachers have the skills and knowledge to be recognized among the top teachers in the nation in their field of expertise.

Joining our cadre of National Board Certified Teachers are Schelaine Barnsley, Kayla Werner-Hastings, and Tiffany Price (see below). Also of note, Ida Nason Aronica Dean of Students Cynthia Hilburn renewed her National Board Certification as a middle school generalist. Board Member and former ESD Librarian Cathie Day also renewed her certification in Library Media/Early Childhood through Young Adult.

Congratulation to these ladies who join a growing group of ESD teachers who have sacrificed their own time to be the best teachers they can be! See a full list of ESD's National Board Certified Teachers!

Students and staff gathered at Ida Nason Aronica in October to celebrate two statewide awards!

The school was honored with the inaugural "Washington Schools on the Rise" award by the Association of Washington School Principals. This award "celebrates schools where students and adults collaborate to improve culture and amplify student voice."

Ida Nason Aronica was also named the Pacific Education Institute's FieldSTEM School of the Year!

Here's what they had to say about the school and why it was chosen.

"In just a few short years, Ida Nason Aronica Elementary has created a school vegetable garden and a native first-foods garden dedicated to namesake Ida Nason Aronica. Their students have engaged in numerous high-quality field experiences, all while integrating crucial components of the John McCoy (lulilaš loot-lee-o-ash) Tribal Sovereignty curriculum across subjects like science, English Language Arts (ELA), and social studies," says PEI.

"Ida Nason Aronica Elementary is a shining example of what FieldSTEM looks like in action," said Megan Rivard, PEI Associate Director for the Columbia Basin & Coast Region. "They’ve built a strong, culturally relevant, and sustainable program that inspires their students and engages the larger community. Their dedication to place-based learning, honoring the legacy of Ida Nason Aronica, and providing their students with opportunities to grow into changemakers is truly remarkable."

Lincoln students have spent the past several weeks on a food and supply drive to help Josie's Misfit Ranch. The local non-profit organization helps animals in need in our county. Students have been making their case in photos and videos on Facebook this month.

According to Josie's Misfit Ranch, "''misfit' animals are wounded in body or spirit who have been discarded, mistreated or ignored because they are considered less than 'perfect.' We show these animals the love and compassion they deserve, build their confidence, and celebrate all they can do instead of focusing on what they can’t."

To celebrate all of the kindness and good work of Lincoln students, Josie made a visit to the school with one of her friends.

Mt. Stuart students and staff gathered to celebrate the inaugural AWSL/AWSP Culture Kickoff Award! This award recognizes schools that have set a positive tone for the school year through intentional culture-building efforts, including engaging themes, opening assemblies, and community activities. These schools exemplify excellence in creating welcoming, inclusive, and supportive environments for students and staff.

In other exciting Mt. Stuart news, kindergarteners had their annual Balloons Over Broadway parade. Kinders marched through the school sharing their balloon creations in anticipation of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Mrs. Fife's 2nd grade class became curious about cows when she told them about the calf they were bottle-feeding at her house. They became so interested that they read some books about cows and how their stomachs work. This led to writing informational paragraphs with a topic sentence, details, and a concluding statement. The students were surprised when Mr. Fife drove out to Valley View with their Texas longhorn calf, Buddy. The kids were so excited to pet him, see how he was fed, and take pictures. It was a big highlight for Mrs. Fife's class!

Just another example of the unique opportunities our student get to experience thanks to the time and generosity of our community. Thank you to the Fife's for this fun learning experience.

What do you do when the budget doesn't quite cover all of the enrichment, reward, and celebration activities for the year? The teachers and administrators at Morgan worked to close that gap serving up burgers and fries at the annual McTeacher Night at McDonalds. Another example of the lengths educators will go to in order to provide the best possible learning environment for students.

Thank you to Morgan staff members who gave up an evening to serve students. And a special thank you to everyone who went down to support their effort!

Our girls’ volleyball team made it to state competition again this year. The girls made it to the final match, losing to rivals Columbia River in a hard-fought five set match.

Several members of the Ellensburg Volleyball team have been recognized by coaches around our state for their amazing performance at both the WIAA State Tournament and the year in general. In addition to these recent honors, both Alana Marrs and Hazel Murphy were invited to play in the Senior All-State Volleyball hosted at Burlington-Edison HS. Seniors voted by their conferences to the 1st Team ballot receive the invitation to complete against fellow seniors in all classifications from around the state.

All Tournament Team:
OH Alana Marrs, sr., Ellensburg; OH Hazel Murphy, sr.,
Ellensburg; L Aubree Roseberry, Ellensburg

All State Honors:

First Team
OH Alana Marrs, sr., Ellensburg, MB/RS Joely Tornow, jr., Ellensburg
Honorable Mention
OH Hazel Murphy, sr., Ellensburg

Congratulations also go out to the girls soccer team and cross country team for making it to State. We are all looking forward to seeing our girls basketball team work their way to another State championship

Ellensburg High School’s wrestling program is taking a two-week hiatus due to a confirmed case of pertussis, or whooping cough. All wresting activities are cancelled through Dec. 30 by order of the Kittitas County Health Department.

“It is always unfortunate when we have to cancel any activities,” says EHS Principal Beau Snow, “but this is the best move to ensure that other students don’t become infected,, which could jeopardize the wrestling season and spread into the general population.”

The illness can cause a severe cough and can be especially dangerous for infants, according to the

Washington State Department of Health (DOH). Pertussis is spread from person to person through the air when someone with pertussis coughs or sneezes. An individual with pertussis can be contagious two weeks after the cough start. An individual may also not show signs of illness for 7 to 10 days after exposure.

“The goal of getting everyone tested and stopping practice now,” states Health Officer Dr. Mark Larson, “is to get this stopped and not prolong the spread of pertussis so the team can get back to practicing as soon as possible in a safe way.”

All EHS wrestling team members and associated staff have been notified that they should contact their health care provider for a PCR test.

For more information about pertussis, please visit DOH or the Centers for Disease Control or

Prevention (CDC). For vaccinations and testing, please contact your local healthcare provider.

Congratulations to our band, orchestra, and choir students for filling our lives with beautiful music this fall and into the holiday season. Families and community members have been treated to high-quality musical experiences thanks to our talented students. And of course, the dedicated teachers who lead them: Band Director Warren Murrey, Orchestra Director Kara Hunnicutt, and welcome to our new Choir Director Tor Blaisdell.

We are also so proud of the cast of “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child." Not only did audiences love the show, Ellensburg High School has the distinction of being the first school in Washington state to produce the Tony Award-winning play. (Photo courtesy of the Daily Record)

We couldn't end the year without spreading some holiday cheer. From arts and crafts to concerts and parties, our students have been spreading cheer throughout their schools and beyond.

Students from Ida and Mt. Stuart went to Hearthstone Senior Living community to share their musical talents with residents there. Our Valley View students and families quietly donated 497 pounds of food to FISH Community Food Bank just in time for Thanksgiving. Our students are wonderful ambassadors and stewards to our community and we couldn't be more proud!