Content of Newsletter
Link to message from Superintendent Bill Newton with Cascade Locks Elementary School students.
Content of this newsletter:
- Calendar and upcoming activities
- School board information
- The power of summer learning
- Cascade Locks Elementary AVID Showcase
- HRCSD Professional Development Pathways
School-Based Health Center
Hood River County Health Department monthly tip
- Budget update
- Gorge Food Access Survey
- Students help shape school meals
- Mid Valley Elementary garden growth and needs
- Thank you, FoodCorps members
- School meals menus
New communication platform launching July 1 - ParentSquare
Better Screen Time monthly tech tip
Hood River County Education Foundation
Caring and Supportive Staff
Cascade Locks Elementary teachers and support team go above and beyond to create a welcoming, nurturing environment where every student feels valued and encouraged.
Collaborative Student Community
Students at Cascade Locks Elementary lift each other up, work together, and celebrate each other’s successes.
Last month's school board meeting
Here are a few main highlights from the Hood River County School District (HRCSD) Regular Business Meeting on May 28, 2025:
- Recognition and good news: The school district recognized the water safety classes provided to our students by the Hood River County Sheriff's Office and Wylde Wind and Water. Thank you, Joel and Fiona (picture left), for their tremendous support.
- Financial adjustments and layoffs: The school board approved a Reduction in Force (RIF) to address declining enrollment and anticipated state funding shortfalls.
- Health curriculum: The school district adopted a new K-12 health curriculum.
To learn more about school board meetings, including the schedule, livestream link, and board meeting materials, please visit this HRCSD webpage. (Our District>School Board>School Board Meetings)
Celebrating a successful AVID Showcase at Cascade Locks
We are proud to recognize the incredible staff of Cascade Locks Elementary School for hosting a highly successful AVID Showcase this spring! On May 22nd, Educators from across the state gathered at the school to observe and learn from the exemplary school-wide implementation of AVID strategies that are helping all students succeed.
Cascade Locks was selected as a showcase school in recognition of their outstanding commitment to the AVID philosophy and practices. Visitors had the opportunity to see AVID in action, engage with staff, and witness firsthand how the school has created a college- and career-ready culture across all grade levels.
This achievement is a reflection of the dedication, collaboration, and innovation of the Cascade Locks team. Congratulations to the entire staff for representing Hood River County School District with excellence!
Celebrating the success of HRCSD’s Professional Development Pathways!
This year, Hood River County School District proudly launched and facilitated four Professional Development Pathways, offering educators across the district the opportunity to engage in targeted, high-impact learning tailored to their professional goals. Designed and led by our very own HRCSD colleagues, these pathways provided meaningful support and practical tools to enhance classroom practice.
Our 2024–25 offerings included:
AVID Professional Development: Participants engaged in eight in-depth sessions throughout the year, applying strategies directly in their classrooms and earning official AVID certification and 2 in-district credits.
Tribal History/Shared History Community of Practice: Educators continued their learning from the foundational THSH training, building a collaborative community focused on honoring Indigenous histories and perspectives.
LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling): Focused on early literacy, this science-of-reading-based pathway equipped primary educators and specialists with research-based tools to support every reader. Many participants are now proudly LETRS certified.
Sheltered Instruction: This 20-hour hybrid pathway empowered educators to better support English learners through inclusive, language-rich instruction, guided by ELLevation’s Learn–Teach–Reflect model.
In total, 40 educators took part in at least one pathway this year, earning a collective 152 in-district credits. These achievements reflect a strong culture of professional growth and shared commitment to student success.
We are excited to announce that our Pathways program will return next year! If you are looking for meaningful, job-embedded professional development that’s tailored to your needs, we encourage you to consider joining a pathway. Whether you're continuing your learning or exploring a new area, there’s something for everyone.
Thank you to all participants and facilitators for your dedication and impact. We look forward to growing together again next year!
School’s out, and summer is finally here — but your well-being doesn’t take a vacation.
One Community Health's School-Based Health Center has some tips for staying healthy this summer. Whether you are traveling, working, or just chilling at home, a little self-care can go a long way. Here are five small things you can do to feel your best this summer:
- Move your body – You don’t need a gym! Walk your dog, stretch in your room, go for a hike, or dance to your favorite playlist. Movement boosts your energy and your mood.
- Drink more water – Aim for at least 6–8 cups a day. Staying hydrated helps your skin, focus, and even your sleep.
- Protect your sleep – A consistent sleep schedule helps with memory, energy, and mood. Yes, even in the summer!
- Take screen breaks – Too much scrolling can mess with your sleep and stress levels. Try unplugging for an hour a day and see how you feel.
- Check in with yourself – Your mental health matters. Whether you journal, talk to a friend, or just pause and breathe, taking time for your mind is just as important as taking care of your body.
Congratulations to the graduating Class of 2025! We wish you all the best in this next chapter.
Enjoy your summer — take care, have fun, and we’ll see you in the 2025–2026 school year!
We are open Monday- Thursday 8am-5pm and Fridays 8am-2pm. Please call or text (541) 308-8345 or visit our website https://www.onecommunityhealth.org/sbhc to schedule an appointment.
Hood River County Health Department monthly tip
Parents — Summer break is almost here. It is a great time to reset and help your family stress less. Just a few minutes of ME TIME every day can boost overall health, sleep, and mood.
🏓 Move more, sit less
🛀🏽 Slow down, take a deep breath
🫶🏾 Have fun, feel your best
😎 Make it a happy and healthy summer
For more health tips and county health information, check out the Hood River County Health Department's Facebook and website.
Help support programs that feed our community by taking the Gorge Food Access Survey!
Your ideas make a difference. The 2015 Gorge Food Access Survey helped bring in more than $25 million to support local programs. Oregon State University Extension Office is leading an activity to learn more about food access in the Gorge to develop initiatives that improve the health of our community. Columbia Gorge Food Bank, The Next Door Inc., Pacific Source, Oregon Department of Human Services, Gorge Grown Food Network, and the Columbia Gorge Health Council are strong partners in this effort. This survey is open to anyone in our region. The survey closes on July 18. To take the survey, visit beav.es/GorgeFoodSurvey.
School meals menus
This HRCSD webpage (Department>Nutrition Services>Menus) includes the June breakfast and lunch menus for elementary, middle, and high school students.
Tech tip #10: Make a screen time plan for the summer.
Summer brings new routines and schedules, and often, parents feel the need to fill their children's time with endless activities in order to crowd out screen time and eliminate boredom. While children need activities to stay active and healthy, they also need downtime to be creative and explore new ideas.
Our goal as parents is to allow our children some breathing room to do just this, without letting screens take over.
Your family's summer screen time plan might look different than during the school year, but it doesn't have to! More time simply means more time to explore, adventure, learn, and enjoy being a kid or teen. It doesn't have to mean more screen time.
Next Actions:
Review Your Family Tech Plan. Gather your family and make a plan together. Get your kids involved. When you have a plan and post it somewhere visible, expectations are clear and there are WAY fewer screen time battles. This Quick Guide will get you started. Be sure to include:
Time limits. Time limits are absolutely essential. Technology today uses persuasive design to keep users online as long as possible. Our children and teens' developing brains are no match for these digital design tricks.
Be mindful of the content your child or teen is viewing. Our children's behavior and values are shaped by the content they consume. Decide ahead of time what platforms, channels, and/or apps are allowed. Within those options, make sure safety settings are in place and screens are being used in shared spaces.
Make a list of "Boredom Busters" with your kids. Create a list of things your kids and teens can do on their own when you are unavailable or "there is nothing to do." We have a list here to get you started. Post your list on the fridge so your kids can turn to this when you hear the words, "Mom/Dad, I'm bored!"
Rely on rhythms and routines. For younger children, make screen time predictable by allowing technology on certain days and/or times. Talk about the time limit before the screen is turned on and what you will do when their time is up. If possible, reward your child with time with you when the screen is off and away. If you can, unplug as a family for one day a week and one week out of the summer from optional technologies (social media, games, news, shopping, etc.)
Working with your kids and teens, you can create a healthier, more balanced relationship with screens and foster stronger family bonds this summer!
New communication platform launching July 1: ParentSquare
We are excited to announce that starting July 1, Hood River County School District will transition to a new, unified communication platform: ParentSquare. This platform will replace several existing tools, including Blackboard/Finalsite for mass notifications, s’more for newsletters, Peachjar for flyers, and Talking Points for two-way school-home communication, streamlining how we connect with families across our school district.
This decision comes after thoughtful consideration and collaboration. A small task force, made up of staff from multiple departments, evaluated our current system needs, reviewed several platform options, and conducted reference checks with other school districts. ParentSquare emerged as the clear choice because of its:
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All-in-one functionality for mass messages, classroom communication, newsletters, forms, and more
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Translation capabilities to support two-way communication in families' preferred languages
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User-friendly mobile app and web interface
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Integration with our student information system for accurate and timely updates
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High engagement rates reported by other districts using the platform
ParentSquare will help us build stronger connections with families while reducing the number of platforms we rely on.
We will share more information in June, including resources and training opportunities to help you prepare for the transition before the new school year begins. Thank you for your support as we make this exciting move to simplify and strengthen our communication districtwide.
HRCEF concludes its 33rd year of support
In June, the Hood River County Education Foundation will conclude its 33rd year of providing support for students, families, and educators of the Hood River County School District. Thanks to the generosity of our community, HRCEF was able to provide scholarships for 118 HRVHS seniors and alumni pursuing post-secondary education and $130,000 for impactful teaching projects, swim lessons, field trips, and after-school care grants for our K-12 students. Click here to learn more about the programs at your school, and join HRCEF as we reflect on the 2024-25 school year.