The Husky Monthly

As we look to wrap up our first semester of the 24-25 school year this week, we have much to be encouraged by, thankful for, and proud of in the progress our students have made this school year thus far. Similarly, we have big plans, hopes, and expectations for the second half of this school year. We continue to have room for growth in many areas and are committed and dedicated to making daily improvements and progress in ways that will add up to big gains for students. We need and appreciate your collaboration and support as we work to provide each student with the education and experience they each need and deserve.

The school community (students, staff, & families) has been involved in the strategic planning process since last spring when the staff, students, and families were involved in defining and articulating our identity as a school community. We are so excited to share that the school board approved the below maxims and husky mascot at the most recent school board meeting. We are looking forward to bringing this to life in all facets of our school community.

Due to recent inclement weather school closures, the school district calendar was amended by the School Board at the January 13th meeting.

Beginning second semester, Tuesday January 21, our school day will begin 2 minutes earlier at 8:13am and end 10 minutes later at 3:30pm. After school activities will begin 10-minutes later. Adding 12 minutes to the school day, in conjunction with the revisions listed below, will allow us to make up lost instructional time in a way that is beneficial to all students with minimal impact on the overall calendar, after-school activities, bussing, and families. Please see below for buttons/links to the revised calendar and bell schedules which can be found on our website.

The following previously scheduled half day Fridays are now full school days:

• Friday, February 7

• Friday, February 28

• Friday, March 7

• Friday, March 14

• Friday, April 11

Thank you for your understanding and continued support of our students and school. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the school.

Actions Taken:

• Board approved North Central ESD 2025-26 Local Service Plan as proposed.
• Board approved the 2025-26 established budget calendar as proposed.
• Board approved the revised 24-25 school calendar as proposed.
• Board approved Sherman County School maxims & mascot as proposed.

*This serves as a brief summary. Complete board meeting minutes are approved at the following board meeting.

January is School Board Appreciation month. Please take a moment to thank Bryan Cranston, Seth von Borstel, Kristie Coelsch, Scott Susi, and James Alley for their dedication, efforts and time spent investing in our students and school community. We are grateful for their commitment to our students and community!

We are so fortunate to have eager and invested community partners for Sherman County School. One such partner is the Sherman County Soil and Water Conservation District. Each month, Marylou Martin and her team come during our K-5 students’ Specials class period and provide a variety of hands-on enrichment classes related to conservation, agriculture, and the environment. So far this year, students have learned to identify animals based on their tracks, discussed recycling, studied and built animal habitats, and explored an interactive watershed model. Our 2nd graders hiked to the nearby Bill Todd Nursery to learn about the parts of daffodils and plant their own bulbs to bloom this spring. Our 4th and 5th graders were able to observe the fish life cycle in action as they hatched, monitored, and released trout eggs. The 4th grade class traveled to the Cabral ranch to see their young fish released, and then planted trees near the pond before enjoying a BBQ lunch provided by the Cabral family. Marylou and her team have even more exciting topics and activities to explore in the second semester. Thank you for providing engaging and relevant learning for our students!

Additionally, Sherman County Soil and Water Conservation District facilitated participation for students grades K-12 in the National Association of Conservation Districts’ annual poster contest. The theme for the contest this year was “May the Forest Be with You Always”. Many of our students participated, and Remington Manley, Addilyn Eiesland, Willow Woods, Kyler Selby, Sara Tolentino, and Beth Burgess won their age categories at our local competition, allowing them to compete at the state level contest. Two of these students, Remington and Beth, also won the state competition. Their posters will now be entered in the national contest later this year. Congratulations to all of our winners!

January 14-16 - Final Exams (end of 2nd quarter)

January 17 - No School

January 18 - Husky Chess Invitational

January 20 - No School

January 24 - Middle School Dance

January 31 - K-5 Quarter 2 Character Assembly

January 31 - FFA Central Oregon District Showcase

February 2-3 - FFA Central Oregon District Convention

February 3-7 - National School Counseling Week

February 10 - School Board meeting

February 14 - No School

February 17-21 - National FFA week

February 17 - No School

February 24-March 1 - Missoula Children's Theater

February 25 - FFA Sectionals Contest

February 28 - State Chess Championships

Thank you to the below donors for helping make our 1st chess tournament a possibility!

• Puddletown Chess
• OSCF (Oregon Scholastic Chess Federation)
• Franklin Conklin Foundation

Parenting Hack: Asking the right questions

“How was school?”

“Fine.”

Do you ever feel like you lack the questions to get your student talking about school? This is common, but conversation with your child is vital to being involved and providing support at all ages.

The trick is to ask about things that are specific, but open-ended. Move beyond "fine" and "nothing" conversation stoppers and ask questions that keep the conversation flowing. Sometimes, begin by answering the question yourself, with an anecdote from your own day. Try one of these conversation-starters:

1. Tell me about the rose and thorn of your day. (highlight and low point)

2. What was the hardest thing you had to do today?

3. Who did you play with/sit with at lunch today?

4. What's the biggest difference between this year and last year?

5. What rules/expectations are different at school than our home? Do you think they're fair?