Students are Ready to Shine

Students at Wahkiakum School District are back and ready to shine as the new school year began Tuesday, August 27. A great deal of work has gone into classroom preparation, curriculum alignment, and schedule restructuring by the high school and middle/elementary principals.

“The first day of school is always busy but there's nothing like the excitement and energy day number one brings. Students and staff started the day with big smiles and ended the day still smiling. That's a win in my book," shared Elementay and Middle School Principal Reese on the success of the first day of school.

Teachers started back last week with in-service and professional development days focused on Social Emotional Learning standards set out by the State of Washington Department of Education. The middle school held an orientation for 6th graders to ease jitters and show new middle schoolers the ropes Thursday, August 22. The high school also opened their doors for their orientation which included school pictures. The remaining middle and high school students have filtered into the building since Thursday picking up schedules and Chromebooks.

The elementary open house was held on Monday where the majority of returning students came in to meet their teachers. Students were greeted with a big red, white and black balloon arch to build excitement. The turnout was fantastic as a lot of smiling faces were seen throughout the building. The elementary welcomed 166 students, the middle school 101, and the high school 121. Elementary numbers are down while middle school has increased in numbers so far from last year. The student-teacher ratio is approximately 17 students per teacher which is great!

The district wants to emphatically thank the parents and community during the implementation of the four-day school week. The theme for the new school year is “Shine,” and just as coal turns into a diamond when under pressure, this is an opportunity for the Wahkiakum School District to share with the world how bright they shine when under the pressure of change.