Warrior Word
WSD Department Updates: Fall 2024
Welcome to the Warrior Word! ❄️
We're thrilled to share the latest edition of the Warrior Word—your go-to source for news, updates, and highlights from the Wahluke School District! 🎉
As we dive into the second half of the school year, we're celebrating student and staff achievements, community events, and more. The Warrior Word helps keep us all connected and informed as we work together to provide exceptional educational opportunities for every student.
Thank you for being part of the Wahluke community, where Every Student, Every Day is our motto!
Welcome to 2025!
Wahluke is thrilled to announce that one or our teachers has recently earned the status of National Board Certificated Teacher. Nikki Ashby completed her program in Health Education. Nikki joins the ranks of other Wahluke staff with NBCT; Steven Bator, Jan Bender, Nathan Benfield, Laura Catlin, Melissa Hattaway, John Ellsworth, Kristen Erickson and Lauren Kanyer.
National Board Certification is the most widely respected professional certification program available in education and provides numerous benefits to teachers, students, and schools. It was designed to develop, retain, and recognize accomplished teachers, as well as generate ongoing improvement in schools nationwide.
We are proud of what these teachers have accomplished in earning their National Board Certificate. This is a long and rigorous process. Congratulations!
Substitutes Needed:
We have a need for substitute BUS DRIVERS and substitutes in all of our departments. Being a substitute may be perfect for those individuals who might want to work part time, or more, and be able to choose when you can work. Please view our substitute listings and all job postings and apply at https://wahluke.tedk12.com/hire/Index.aspx
Go Warriors!
Liz Leitz
WSD HR Department Director
In the coming months, students will be participating in State Assessments. It is important that our IEP teams determine whether or not a student can participate in the regular state assessment with accommodations or if they will need to participate in an alternate assessment. Accountability Assessment Decisions Participation in statewide accountability assessments is a critical element of equity and access to education. Recognizing that, federal and state laws require that all students enrolled in public schools participate in statewide:
• on-grade level academic assessments in English Language Arts (ELA), mathematics, and science, designed to provide accountability for the effectiveness of instruction in schools; and,
• on-grade level English language proficiency for both knowledge and skills in reading, listening, writing, and speaking for students eligible for English language development (ELD) services.
The Washington Access to Instruction & Measurement (WA-AIM) is an alternate assessment based on alternate achievement standards aligned to the Common Core State Standards for students with significant cognitive disabilities. The WA-AIM is built off of Access Point Frameworks that expand upon the mathematics and English language arts Common Core State Standards and the Washington State science standards to provide students with significant cognitive disabilities a continuum of access points to the standards. The WA-AIM will measure student knowledge and skills through the use of twice annual administered performance tasks. The WA-AIM will be used for federal and state accountability in grades 3-8 and 10 for ELA and Math and can be used to meet a student's graduation pathway requirement. Science will continue to be administered in grade 11.
Guidelines for Statewide Accountability Assessments
WIDA Alternate ACCESS (Alternate ACCESS) is a large-print, paper-based test individually administered to students in grades K-12 who are identified as English learners (ELs) with the most significant cognitive disabilities. Alternate ACCESS is intended for ELs who participate, or who would be likely to participate, in their state's alternate content assessment(s). Alternate ACCESS meets U.S. federal requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (IDEA) and the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) for monitoring and reporting ELs’ progress toward English language proficiency.
WIDA Alternate ACCESS Participation Decision Tree
Disability Awareness Months:
January:
March:
April
Parent/Resource Corner:
Special Education Resource Library
Special Education Technology Center (SETC)
LaDonna Fogle
Special Education Department Director
These last three months have been packed full of learning and experiences. November started off with Día de los Muertos ofrendas and events in multiple schools. We also sent our secondary admin along with others to La Cosecha to prepare for dual language to roll up to the junior high and high school.
While that was going on the McDonald’s HACER Education Tour visited Wahluke High School as one stop of their 13-city tour. There was an assembly for all students and then students who wanted to were able to attend a scholarship writing workshop to hone their skills - and were rewarded with lunch from the McDonald’s food truck!
If you happen to follow AWSL on social media you may have noticed quite a few videos with a familiar location - Wahluke JH’s migrant program hosted La Chispa for several local school districts at Wahluke High School. It was a great leadership opportunity for our middle school students.
December was a blur of catching up on reporting and preparing for the upcoming WIDA ACCESS testing. It’s when all the behind the scenes work happens in our district.
We hit the ground running after winter break. Our last building was trained on the WIDA English Language Proficiency Standards. Now the real work starts as we work as a district to ensure all of our students have meaningful access to content with appropriate language support by their teachers. Wahluke JH took a deeper dive into their WIDA ACCESS scores from last year during a staff meeting and we will be following up with another training this week. That annual language assessment is coming up in the month of February, but should be on our minds all year long. We also had the first Newcomer PLC meeting as we look closely at our system to support New to the US students in Wahluke.
Finally, January 29th will be our general Winter PAC meeting in collaboration with the Student Success Department - Be Well, Wahluke. We are excited to work together to help our families and secondary students learn more about their social emotional well-being, drug and alcohol prevention, and other topics.
Bethany Martínez
Multilingual & Multicultural Services Director
As the winter season wraps up, we're taking a moment to celebrate the dedication and achievements of our Warrior athletes! ❄️🏆 From hard-fought battles to moments of teamwork and perseverance, this season has been truly unforgettable. Thank you to our athletes, coaches, and supporters for making it all possible!
Jose Espindola
Athletic Director
November
Students from Saddle Mountain and Morris Schott who are part of the after-school program worked with Mr. Betz and his FFA students at the high school to learn about seed dispersal. The experience was fantastic for students! The 21st century program plans to continue partnering with Mr. Betz for more engaging and enjoyable projects.
December
Students had a short but busy after-school program for the month of December. From Winter concerts to spirit week students still enjoyed attending after-school programs. Most programs concluded the session with a pizza party, hot coco and some fun activities for students.
January
The robotics students from Morris Schott Elementary participated in a tournament at Foothills Middle School, where team 73204K secured a spot at the VEX IQ state championship by winning the Alliance championship.
Congratulations to Kaiden Gutierrez, Daniel Macias and Alexis Gallaga! The State Championship is set to occur in Redmond, and further details will be provided soon.
Robotic students head off to Ellensburg Saturday, January 25, 2025 to compete and hopefully have other teams make it to state.
Claudia Ramirez
21st Century Program Director
WHS GEAR UP
November 2024
We started off November with a celebration for all first-generation students. Students played a kahoot and ate conchas and hot chocolate. They also went on a trip to Yakima Valley College and participated in another National First Generation day event. Parents also got to attend. November was also the month where students had to submit college applications to the University of Washington. Miss Licona, along with Mr. Hjelm and Mrs. Jaakola stayed after school to help students apply and review essays! Other trips and events included LIGO Observatory, the CASHE Conference at WSU Pullman, Financial Literacy Night with HAPO Bank, and WSU Onsite Admissions.
December 2024
In December we had another institution offer on-the-spot admission to our seniors, this month it was Central Washington University. We also had our first financial aid night where parents and students received individual support with their financial aid application. Parents who had no prior knowledge attended an informational first and then received the support. We have a lot of gratitude towards our different partnerships, Big Bend Community College, Columbia Basin College, and the US Marines were all able to join us and offer information to students and assist with individual support. We also had another partner, Pacific Northwest National Laboratories come in and present to students in different science classes.
WJH GEAR UP
November 2024-
November was a month full of learning and creativity! We had the pleasure of hosting HAPO Community Credit Union, where parents received valuable insights about credit cards, student loans, and the process of opening bank accounts. It was an informative session that helped families better understand financial management. Students also got a chance to research various colleges and universities while decorating delicious cookies during lunchtime. It was a fun and interactive way to expand their knowledge about future opportunities! Additionally, our students have been actively engaged in daily activities during both morning and lunchtime.
December 2024-
December brought even more excitement! Students participated in a fun challenge of "Guess the Teacher" by identifying staff members from their old graduation photos. They also had the chance to decorate cookies while tackling an escape room workshop in the classroom, adding an adventurous twist to their learning experience. To wrap up the year, students decorated holiday ornaments with their goals for 2025, setting intentions for a bright and successful new year!
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Erika Tapia
GEAR UP Site Coordinator
ELA Curriculum Pilot
Our team has started piloting Amplify and Benchmark curriculum for grades TK-5, while our grades 6-12 are piloting HMH and McGraw Hill options. This effort will help us choose the best resources for student success in literacy and language development. Our goal is to have the committee select the curriculum in April. It will then go to the Instructional Materials Committee in May and be approved by the School Board on May 28, 2025.
Artificial Intelligence Task Force
Our Artificial Intelligence (AI) Task Force will begin meeting in February. This task force will explore policy development, establish procedures and guidelines, and support the integration of AI in our district. Stay tuned for ways you can get involved in shaping our district’s AI future.
Learning Walks
Learning walks are continuing with building and district-wide, these walks give us a unique opportunity to observe and celebrate the incredible work happening every day. Thank you to our teachers for your dedication and the impact you make on our students’ lives.
Report Card Task Force
The Elementary Report Card Task Force is writing to share an important update regarding our district’s ongoing efforts to refine and enhance our reporting practices. The Report Card Task Force has officially begun reviewing our current report cards to ensure they effectively communicate student progress and align with our educational goals.
Our objective is to develop a revised report card template that reflects best practices, supports clear and meaningful communication with families, and aligns with the diverse needs of our learners. To achieve this, the task force is working diligently to craft a draft template, which we plan to share with staff in April for feedback. Your insights and suggestions will play a critical role in refining the template to ensure it meets the needs of our students, families, and staff.
The finalized version of the new report card is scheduled for completion by May 16, 2025. This timeline ensures we are well-prepared for implementation at the start of the 2025-2026 school year.
Your input and collaboration are essential to the success of this initiative. Once the draft is available in April, we will provide multiple opportunities for staff to review, discuss, and offer feedback. More information about these opportunities will be shared as we approach the review period.
Amy Marlow
Assistant Superintendent | Teaching & Learning | IT
IT Department
Our IT department has been hard at work behind the scenes. They’ve successfully implemented Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to enhance security for all staff in the district, deployed essential technology to students. The department has been developing sustainable plans to ensure our district’s technology remains robust and accessible for all. A special thank you to our tech team for your dedication and expertise in keeping our district connected, secure, and well-supported each day. Your hard work truly makes a difference!
Amy Marlow
Assistant Superintendent | Teaching & Learning | IT
Kerri Hoffman - Program Assistant
LeeAnn Neary - District Assessment Coordinator
Erika Erazo - Grant Manager
Melissa Hattaway - Technology TOSA
Marco Rojas - Technology System Administrator
Juan Gonzalez - Technology Support Service
Miguel Tlatelpa - Technology System Administrator
Denise Schutter - Technology Office Manager
The Winter months are here and we are feeling it this week!
In December the Grant County Health Department officially declared the start of respiratory illness season. This happens when emergency department visits surpass the established transmission thresholds. It is recommended that if you have not been vaccinated for the flu that you do so. It is not too late.
This month, the Health Team, in conjunction with the Migrant Department will be hosting a parent and student night called BE WELL WAHLUKE. On January 29th, we will start with dinner at 5:00 and move into classes focusing on emotional well being. We have some great information available to aid parents in preventing substance use disorder, helping their child access mental health help and practical, evidenced based parenting tips. For the students we will be focusing on anti-bullying, social emotional learning, and a list of other classes. It will be a great night that has been in the planning for a number of months by an awesome team and we encourage all families to come and enjoy some community. Babysitting will be provided for students 5th grade and under.
In addition to this parent night, we will also be hosting one on February 19th and March 19th. February will be all about social connections and March will be focusing on nutrition and movement. Each of these nights are following the new BE WELL WASHINGTON (https://bewellwa.org/) health initiative from the Washington Department of Health. Watch for more details on these nights!!
This week, we were able to provide almost 30 physicals for students right here on campus. A huge shout out to Wendy Preciado who is our Migrant medical assistant and did all of the legwork to get this to happen. This is the first time we were able to offer these services at school and it was a great success. THANK YOU WENDY!! Also this week, we finished up our dental sealants for our elementary school students. We had more students participate this year than ever before. We hope families appreciate that their students are receiving preventative services at school and that it does not require parents to take time off work to get this very important care for their children.
As always, if there are any questions or concerns regarding student health, please do not hesitate to reach out and give us the opportunity to help.
Jeannie Gallacci, BSN, RN
District Nurse
👉🌟 We're back TO SCHOOL! 🌟
Please remember to welcome students back warmly and let them know how much you missed them. This simple gesture will improve attendance!
Wishing you a happy and healthy 2025!
You can find our department Smore Newsletter HERE! 👉 SSS newsletter!
Gigi Calaway
Student Support Services Director
We are committed to the safety and well-being of all students and staff! And we know you enjoy hearing about the latest efforts of our Safety and Security Department! Please continue to support us in maintaining a safe and secure environment for everyone.
Here are some of our recent efforts and upcoming events:
Right Response Certification Training
We continued to provide Right Response Cert Training for more of our Special Education (SPED) and Program Directors staff on January 8 and 10. This training equips our staff with the knowledge and skills to effectively manage emergency situations involving students, ensuring a safer environment across the district.
District Crisis Plan Update
Our District Crisis Plan is now complete. In the event of a major emergency, our students will be reunified with their parents at either Saddle Mountain Elementary (SME) or Wahluke High School (WHS), depending on the nature of the emergency. An inter-agency tabletop exercise is being planned for later this year.
Monthly Safety Drills & Meetings
All district buildings held monthly safety drills and meetings with their crisis teams. These exercises help ensure that students and staff are prepared for any emergency. All our schools also held monthly safety meetings with the School Safety Operations and Coordination Center (SSOCC). This agency assists our district with emergency planning and coordination with emergency responders.
Anti-Gang/Anti-Drug Presentations
Since the beginning of this year, our School Resource Officer (SRO) has been providing presentations about the dangers of gangs and drugs. These were so well-received that he has been invited to speak to additional groups of staff, students, and even parents!
No-Trespass Letters
There are certain students and other individuals who are not permitted on our school campus, due to crimes they have committed and/or the danger they present to our students and staff. No-Trespass letters are issued for these individuals and are served to them by our School Resource Officer (SRO). All our buildings maintain copies of these letters, and whenever a new letter is issued, all our buildings receive a copy for their file. This ensures a quick and coordinated response should an unauthorized individual attempt to enter our schools.
Crisis Plan Tabletop Exercise
All building Principals led their crisis teams in tabletop exercises in November to review and test the District Crisis Plan. In the coming months they will do the same with the entire staff. These exercises keep everyone informed on how to work together in carrying out the Crisis Plan. Wahluke is always prepared for a wide range of situations.
Thank you for your continued support as we work together to make our schools a safe, welcoming, and supportive place for all students.
John McPherson
Safety & Security Coordinator
We Need Your Input! 🗺️✨
At our December coalition meeting, we worked on creating a map of our community and identifying the resources we have. Now, we’d love to hear from YOU! 🙌
What resources, programs, or organizations do you know of in our community that help support youth, families, or anyone in need? 💡👨👩👧👦
Email your ideas to ungranfuturo@wahluke.net and help us build a complete picture of the amazing resources our community has to offer. Your input is so valuable! 💛
Thank you for being part of the effort to make our community stronger! 🌟
Parent Communication with ParentSquare
The Wahluke School District uses ParentSquare for school communication, primarily with email, text, and app notifications. ParentSquare automatically generates an account for each parent, using their preferred email address and phone number.
We encourage parents to access their accounts to stay involved with their student's learning and activities at school and district from anywhere by downloading the mobile app and updating their preferences on when and how they are notified.
Dear Preschool Families,
As we moved from the crisp days of November, the festive cheer of December, and the fresh beginnings of January, this season is filled with opportunities for joy, reflection, and growth. At Preschool, we are excited to embrace all the magic that these months bring to our classrooms and community!
In November, we’ll focused on themes of gratitude and togetherness, exploring what it means to share, care, and appreciate the world around us. Through stories, art, and activities, your children l learned about the beauty of giving and thankfulness.
As December approached, our classrooms came alive with festive spirit! We celebrated the season through special traditions, winter-themed projects, and moments of wonder. Whether it’s crafting snowy scenes, reading cozy holiday stories, or learning about celebrations from around the world, this time of year provided so many chances to nurture curiosity anAs December approached, our classrooms came alive with festive spirit! We celebrated the season through special traditions, winter-themed projects, and moments of wonder. Whether it’s crafting snowy scenes, reading cozy holiday stories, or learning about celebrations from around the world, this time of year provided so many chances to nurture curiosity and connection among our little ones.
In January, we welcomed the new year with fresh goals, exciting learning opportunities, and a continued focus on discovery. The winter season inspires hands-on activities like exploring, talking about the weather, and engaging in projects that spark creativity and critical thinking.
We encourage you to celebrate the season at home, too! Whether it’s baking a favorite recipe, enjoying a family tradition, or simply taking a moment to reflect on all the ways your child has grown, these months are a wonderful time to create lasting memories together.
As always, we are grateful for the trust you place in us to guide your little ones on their learning journey. Thank you for your continued support and for being a part of our Preschool family.
Olga Mendez
Mattawa Pre-School Director
2025 Winter Newsletter
Celebrating Our First Year as a TK-Kindergarten Building!
Dear Families & Community,
As we continue to grow and improve as a TK-Kindergarten school, the past few months have been filled with exciting events and meaningful progress. From November to January, our community has come together to celebrate, learn, and build stronger relationships. Below are some highlights:
Parent Conferences (November): We had the opportunity to connect with families during our parent conferences, where we discussed students' progress, goals, and ways to support their growth.
Thanksgiving Celebrations: We celebrated the season of gratitude with a heartwarming Thanksgiving celebration.
Student of the Month Assemblies: We’ve recognized outstanding students who have demonstrated character, perseverance, and growth each month.
Family Music and Craft Night: Thanks to the dedicated efforts of our staff, this event was a huge success! It was heartwarming to see so many families and community members gather to enjoy crafts, music, and fun together.
Spirit Weeks: Our school spirit has been buzzing through creative dress-up days, bringing students and staff together in a fun and unified way.
Throughout all these events, we continue to focus on helping our TK and Kindergarten students feel safe, supported, and comfortable in their learning environment. By nurturing our relationships with students, we continue to build routines, procedures, and expectations that allow them to thrive. Our students are becoming familiar with their schedules and daily routines, which is helping them grow as independent learners.
Building Connections with Families
Our recent PTO meetings have been successful, with a good turnout of families and community members. We discussed ways to support students both socially, emotionally, and academically, providing parenting strategies and resources to help families at home.
TK - Kindergarten Progress
I am incredibly proud of how our TK - Kindergarten students embrace school expectations and routines. They continue to impress me with their growth and ability to become independent learners. This success is a direct result of our teachers' daily hard work to nurture their students' development.
Looking Ahead
Stay tuned for several upcoming events and activities designed to be both fun and memorable for our students. As always, our focus remains on challenging our students and helping them master the kindergarten standards and skills they need to succeed.
Let’s – BEE THE CHANGE
This year’s school theme, Let’s – BEE THE CHANGE, embodies our collective commitment to positively impact our students, school, and community. Just like bees work together harmoniously to build a thriving hive, we are working together to create an environment where every student feels valued, supported, and inspired to achieve their fullest potential.
What Does "Bee 🐝the Change" Mean for Us?
Building Connections: Just like bees 🐝 in a hive, we are stronger together. Let's prioritize building strong relationships with our students, families, and each other to foster a sense of belonging and trust that supports academic and social-emotional growth.
Excellence in Instruction: We remain committed to providing high-quality, tier-1 instruction. Through a focus on essential standards, effective teaching strategies, and data-driven decisions, we ensure that all students are challenged, supported, and successful.
Engagement and Growth: Whether through our PLC process, interventions, or enrichment opportunities, our goal is to engage every student in meaningful learning experiences. Let's continue embracing and Bee-ing🐝 the change with ongoing improvement in our practices.
Culture of Care: Just as bees🐝 nurture their hive, we aim to nurture our school culture. Let’s continue to create a safe, inclusive, and positive environment where everyone feels seen, heard, and appreciated.
We will continue integrating our Bee🐝 the Change theme throughout the year into our work, celebrations, and initiatives. From professional development to student activities, we are committed to bringing this theme to life in every way possible.
Our Mission, Vision, and Values
Mission: Creating a quality foundation for lifelong learning.
Vision: Foster a happy, friendly, and welcoming environment where all learners develop the confidence and skills for future success.
Values: Our collective commitments at ME are:
- Consideration
- Collaboration
- Continuous Improvement
- Celebration
Every day, we strive to improve and grow as a school to fulfill our mission, vision, and values. Seeing student's smiles every day is priceless. It is a privilege to be a part of our students' educational journey, helping them become independent learners and laying the foundation for their future success.
Art Lopez
Principal
Saddle Mountain Elementary continues to focus on improving our students' reading and math abilities through intentional reading and math strategies, curriculum, and small group instruction.
SME Student Leadership:
SME 3rd grade students completed an application with teacher recommendations, and went through an interview process recently to be selected to the first student leadership group at SME with grades 1-3. The students selected were: From Left to Right - Dalia De Los Santos, Jimena Guzman, Zaylie Andrade, Mia Zitio, Emiliano Sandoval, Dominik Banderas and Santiago Tapia. Not Pictured: Samantha Martinez
WIDA Assessment:
SME Migrant students will be taking the WIDA assessment throughout the month of February (3rd-28th). The WIDA assessment tests students in their understanding of the English language through reading, listening, speaking and writing sections. Please encourage students to give their best effort so that we can measure their improvement and they can pass this assessment and never have to take it again.
SME PTO:
SME PTO meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month at 5:30 PM for dinner and the meeting begins at 6:00 PM in the library. Here are the dates for upcoming PTO meetings: Feb. 12; Mar. 12; Apr. 9; and May 14.
Please join us as we continue to talk and work together to improve the quality of education and opportunities for our students.
Latino Literacy Project:
SME has recently started the Latino Literacy Project for selected migrant parents in a 10 week program. The Latino Literacy Project is designed to improve literacy and educational outcomes within Latino communities. Its main benefits include promoting bilingualism, fostering cultural pride, and providing tailored educational resources that address the specific needs of Latino families. The project focuses on enhancing reading skills, increasing parental involvement in children's education, and offering tools to support both academic success and personal empowerment. By creating a supportive environment for learning, it helps bridge educational gaps and strengthens community ties.
Performing/Visual Arts Night:
Thursday, February 27th SME will be hosting our performing/visual arts night @ WHS auditorium from 5:00-7:00 PM. SME students will be displaying their singing, dancing, and artistic talents. Please be sure to attend this event as I am sure it will be very entertaining and worth your time.
Family Reading Night:
Thank you SME staff, students and parents for your participation in our Family Reading Night on Thursday, December 19th. It was well attended and students, parents and staff had a great evening participating in the reading games and activities! A special thank you to our SME PTO for providing food options for everyone!
Dates for the Upcoming SME Events:
January 31st: Student Recognition Assemblies - Parents of students receiving recognition will be invited to attend the assembly.
January 31st: Report cards will be sent home with students.
Thursday, February 6th - 100th day of school - students and staff are invited to dress up as a 100 year old person or wear 100 items. Flyer Link
MARCH 26-28: Parent/Teacher Conferences. Teachers will be contacting you to arrange the date and time for your conference as it gets closer.
Saddle Mountain Elementary will be hosting a family engagement event once per quarter throughout the year. Here are the dates and events for the upcoming Family Engagement Events:
THUR. FEB. 27: SME Performing/Visual Arts Night @ WHS - 5:00-7:00 PM Flyer Link
WED. APR 30: Day of the Children (‘El Dia de los Niños’)
More information will be given to parents and students as the event planning is finalized and we get closer to the actual event.
Kurt Hoffman
Principal
Every year it is the same story, I cannot believe we are halfway through the school year!! But sure enough, here we are again. Wahluke Junior High continues to do great things!
WJH was once again recognized by AWSL/ASWP for fostering a positive culture and community with the Inaugural Culture Kick-Off Award. “We applaud the intentionality behind your planning and the collaborative spirit that defines Wahluke Junior High. Your dedication to maintaining a positive school culture throughout the year will undoubtedly lead to a successful and fulfilling academic experience for everyone involved.” Alway great when we get recognized for our outstanding staff and students!
We finished first semester with our first annual CTE/Science Showcase event. Students were able to share and present their final projects for 7th grade Science, 8th grade Robotics, 8th grade Horticulture and 8th grade Video Game Design. Kudos to those teachers and the students for their work on these projects!
Winter iReady Diagnostic testing has been completed. We were able to celebrate some great academic gains our students have been making. Through the PLC process, where teachers are collaborating to ensure the best instruction possible, teachers are working hard and doing great learning activities in the classroom and it shows in the data. We will be WIDA testing in the month of February and then SBA testing will be in May. While our test scores do not define who we are, it is great to look at the data that show our students are learning everyday!!
Winter 2 sports are up and running and we have several family nights in the works. We hope that you will get a chance to stop by Wahluke Junior High and see for yourself all of the wonderful activities and opportunities our students have and are completing!
John Muchlinski
Principal
Wahluke High School has continued the implementation of school-wide WICOR strategies, a cornerstone of the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) program, to enhance student engagement and academic achievement. WICOR, which stands for Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization, and Reading, equips students with essential skills to succeed in rigorous coursework and prepare for college and career pathways. By integrating these strategies across all subjects, WHS fosters a culture of critical thinking, effective communication, and organized learning. Teachers collaborate to embed WICOR practices into daily lessons, encouraging students to take ownership of their learning while building the skills needed for lifelong success.
Fall Sports wrapped up with Girls Soccer competing in Districts and Ayshane Lopez and Stephany Elias qualifying and running in State Cross Country!
Our Drama Club has been dormant for the past few years until this year when Ms. Candi Siemens took over as the new Drama Club Advisor. Siemens and the Drama club have been hard at work rehearsing their first play which was successfully performed in November with Nightmare High School! Be on the lookout for their next performance at the end of February with “The Myths at the Edge of the World”!
Fall Conferences were again another great time with our families coming in and visiting with our teachers and getting updated on how their students were doing. Thank you to all parents, guardians, students, and staff for making conferences such a positive experience.
McDonalds Hacer, a National Scholarship Program, visits a select number of High Schools across the country each year promoting and supporting their program. Wahluke High School was 1 of 13 High Schools across the nation to be selected in partnership with CoolSpeak motivational speakers to host the event! We had an amazing assembly where students were inspired and motivated by three different presenters. WHS students had the chance to nominate staff who have inspired and supported them. Mr. Cole Collier and Mr. TJ Mallory were our two most inspiring staff selected by the students! McDonads Hacer also held a scholarship writing workshop for our students. We made this available to all students 9-12 who wanted to get better at writing scholarships and also for seniors who attended, applied for the McDonalds Hacer Scholarship. The students who participated in the writing workshop were surprised with a McDonald’s lunch! For more information on the McDonalds Hacer scholarship please visit their website.
For more information on CoolSpeak, visit their website.
Magali Gonzalez, WJH Migrant Graduation Specialist, and Lili Barajas, WHS Migrant Graduation Specialist, hosted AWSL La Chispa this year at WHS where WJH migrant students, along with WHS migrant student mentors put on a great event for migrant students around the area!
Gear Up continues its amazing work by exposing our students to more and more college visits around the state. Recently we had our Admission Days for Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University, and Washington State University where students who met the criteria could automatically enroll in that college! We had over 30 of our Seniors enroll in college!
Winter Sports have been in full swing with lots of students competing in Boys and Girls Wrestling, Boys and Girls Basketball, and Basketball Cheerleading. I hope you all can come out and enjoy some games and help cheer on our WARRIORS!
Our National Honor Society club continues their community service-based work hosting the Red Cross for another blood drive. NHS hosts two blood drives each year at WHS, one in the fall and another in the spring. If you are interested in giving blood, keep an eye out for our next blood drive in spring.
Our music program hosted its winter concert in front of a packed auditorium as Mr. Alex Maine and WJH and WHS music students performed various pieces of music. The JH and HS share Mr. Maine as a teacher with the hopes to increase numbers in our music and band program.
WHS Seniors Guadalupe Cisneros and Mia Moreno traveled over to Seattle with MGS Lili Barajas and Counselor Fabian Partida to be part of a student panel for the Gates Foundation Scholarship. Mrs. Barajas describes Mia and Lupe’s experience. During this impactful event, our students engaged with state legislators, sharing their personal high school experiences related to dual credit courses, AP classes, College in the HS classes, and the myriad of resources our school offers. They articulated their journey, highlighting the challenges they've faced and the strategies they've developed to overcome them. Their courage and determination truly shone through in their testimonies. Additionally, our students had the chance to connect with eight other students from different schools across the state, fostering a sense of community and collaboration. They also enjoyed a tour of the Gates Foundation Discovery Center and the Science Center, where they were inspired by innovative ideas and the potential of higher education. It was heartwarming to hear that our students spoke highly of Wahluke, showcasing the incredible initiatives we have in place to encourage them toward higher education. They truly made us proud with their insights and enthusiasm. Their experiences underscore the importance of the work we do here at Wahluke and the impact it has on our student's futures.
1st Semester has come to an end, marking the halfway point of the school year. It has been a very busy but very productive semester with lots of student and staff celebrations, increasing school spirit, academic engagement, and excellence. We continue to offer many different opportunities for our students and are always working on new ideas. Our College in the High School and CTE Dual Credit classes offers college credits for students who pass them with a C. We currently offer 87 college credits to our students with hopes to add more!
WHS welcomes anyone and everyone to come see our school and programs. If you would like to visit please reach out to our office at 932-4477 and set up a time to take a tour.
WHS Seniors Guadalupe Cisneros and Mia Moreno traveled over to Seattle with MGS Lili Barajas and Counselor Fabian Partida to be part of a student panel for the Gates Foundation Scholarship. Mrs. Barajas describes Mia and Lupe’s experience. During this impactful event, our students engaged with state legislators, sharing their personal high school experiences related to dual credit courses, AP classes, College in the HS classes, and the myriad of resources our school offers. They articulated their journey, highlighting the challenges they've faced and the strategies they've developed to overcome them. Their courage and determination truly shone through in their testimonies. Additionally, our students had the chance to connect with eight other students from different schools across the state, fostering a sense of community and collaboration. They also enjoyed a tour of the Gates Foundation Discovery Center and the Science Center, where they were inspired by innovative ideas and the potential of higher education. It was heartwarming to hear that our students spoke highly of Wahluke, showcasing the incredible initiatives we have in place to encourage them toward higher education. They truly made us proud with their insights and enthusiasm. Their experiences underscore the importance of the work we do here at Wahluke and the impact it has on our student's futures.
1st Semester has come to an end, marking the halfway point of the school year. It has been a very busy but very productive semester with lots of student and staff celebrations, increasing school spirit, academic engagement, and excellence. We continue to offer many different opportunities for our students and are always working on new ideas. Our College in the High School and CTE Dual Credit classes offers college credits for students who pass them with a C. We currently offer 87 college credits to our students with hopes to add more!
WHS welcomes anyone and everyone to come see our school and programs. If you would like to visit please reach out to our office at 932-4477 and set up a time to take a tour.
Cody Marlow
Principal
WAHLUKE SCHOOL DISTRICT
Email: information@wahluke.net
Website: https://www.wahluke.net/
Phone: (509)932-4565
