Newsletter

The Facilities Advisory Committee met on Tuesday, January 21, to finalize the Building Condition Assessment (BCA) for all district facilities. This thorough review confirmed what we have anticipated: Whitson Elementary School has reached the end of its serviceable life. With this understanding, the committee has shifted its focus to a critical question—what steps should we take next?

To address this, the committee has tasked the Construction Services Group (CSG) with developing three potential options as a starting point for further discussion. These options include possibilities for building new facilities, consolidating campuses by repurposing and upgrading existing structures. While these ideas are still in the early stages, they will help frame the committee’s ongoing dialogue as we consider the educational needs of our students, the long-term vision for our district, and the financial realities we face.

It’s important to note that no decisions have been made, and the options will continue to evolve as we gather data, evaluate costs and logistics, and seek input from the community.

The Facilities Advisory Committee will meet monthly over the next several months to refine these options and explore additional possibilities. We are committed to working collaboratively to develop a solution that ensures a safe, effective learning environment for all students.

Thank you to the committee members for their dedication and valuable contributions to this important process. We will continue to share updates as our work progresses.

For the safety of all students, staff, and visitors, we kindly remind everyone that parking in fire lanes in front of the school is strictly prohibited. These lanes must remain clear at all times for emergency vehicles.

Please use designated parking areas when dropping off or picking up your child. This ensures a smooth traffic flow and helps us maintain a safe environment for everyone.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding. Together, we can prioritize safety for our school community.

AVID is a transformative program designed to help students achieve college and career readiness by building essential skills like collaboration, organization, self-advocacy, and critical thinking. By fostering a school-wide culture of high expectations and academic excellence, AVID ensures all students have access to the tools they need to succeed, regardless of their background.

Some highlights of the AVID program include:

• Structured Tutorials: Small-group sessions focused on academic growth and problem-solving.

• College and Career Readiness Activities: Opportunities for students to explore college campuses, hear from guest speakers, and engage in career exploration.

• WICOR Strategies: A proven framework that emphasizes Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization, and Reading.

• AVID Elective Classes: Targeted support to help students develop both academically and personally.

This generous grant will also fund professional development for teachers and staff, equipping them to incorporate AVID strategies into classrooms across all grade levels. The results of AVID speak for themselves—nationwide, over 90% of AVID students who apply to college are accepted, and AVID students are four times more likely to graduate on-time than their national peers - proving its effectiveness in closing the opportunity gap.

We are deeply grateful to WSVEF for their investment in our students and their continued commitment to creating engaging, innovative, and equitable learning opportunities. Their support is making a real difference in our schools and community.

We look forward to sharing updates about the program’s rollout and celebrating its positive impact in the months to come. This is a significant milestone for White Salmon Valley School District, and we are excited about the bright future this program will help create for our students!

We’re excited to share an update about our partnership with WAGAP and their Community Youth Center. For over 25 years, the Youth Center has been a vital resource for our community, but the deteriorating condition of their current facility has made a move necessary to ensure the continued success of their programs.

We’re pleased to announce that the Community Youth Center is in the process of relocating to the Park Center building, with an anticipated opening date of February 10. This new location—right across the street from the school and adjacent to the park and splash pad—will provide a much-needed upgrade while enhancing accessibility for students and strengthening the connection to our community’s outdoor resources.

To support this transition, adjustments have been made to transportation:

- Students at Whitson Elementary will now walk to the Youth Center, accompanied by a designated Youth Center employee to ensure their safety.

- Students at Henkle Middle School and WPSIS will continue to ride the bus as usual but will be dropped off at Rhinegarten Park, near the new location.

This collaboration represents an exciting opportunity for the Youth Center, WAGAP, and our district to continue providing a safe, enriching environment for students after school. We are thrilled to see how this partnership will positively impact our kids and the community as a whole.

We’ll keep you updated as we approach the February opening date. Thank you for your continued support of these important initiatives!