The Husky Monthly

Somehow we are already past the mid-way point of the 25-26 school year. We have some key updates for semester two in this newsletter, as well as some information to recap and share from semester one. Actions taken and progress made thus far this year can be tied back to our action plan and one of the three priorities that were identified out of last year's strategic planning work with the school community. Our action plan is in full swing as you'll see referenced throughout this newsletter.

📵Students have done an outstanding job adjusting to the new cell phone policy and expectations throughout the school building. Additionally, student leadership has worked with administration to begin to offer new lunch-time activities for students to engage in such as board games, ping pong, foosball, and more to come.

Strategic Plan Priority 3: Engagement & Empowerment

📈📖Another semester one student win includes our student's reading growth and performance in Kindergarten through fifth grades. Being in year two of our K-2 ECRI reading program and year one of our newly revived intervention program has shown immediate dividends in student growth in reading skills. It absolutely is a team effort, so please don't hesitate to thank your student's teachers (certified teachers & instructional assistants). They are not just doing the work, but doing it successfully and effectively. The work that is absolutely critical in order to set up our youngest students to be successful, now and in their future.

Strategic Plan Priority 1: Relevant & Rigorous Learning

🎓In continuing to support students and their future goals, at the end of semester one 17 high school students (53% of upperclassmen) have taken 34 college classes, earning a total of 120 college credits.

Strategic Plan Priority 1: Relevant & Rigorous Learning

🏫Our semester one student discipline and behavior data shows evidence of significant progress as a result of concrete actions taken in the past 6-18 months. Compared to this point in time last school year, we have half as many student discipline referrals.

Strategic Plan Priority 2: Whole Child Wellness

We are hiring! We are looking for a few outstanding folks to join our team in providing an excellent education to our students and continue to expand opportunities for our community.

We have job postings for the following positions:

• Middle school track coach (part-time)
• High school tennis coach (part-time)
• Public Library Director (full-time)

See below for the link to the postings, and contact the school with questions.

Huskies Explore - We find new ways to learn and grow

Huskies Pull Together - We work as a team to create community

Huskies Are Resilient - We take risks to overcome challenges

We are excited to be adding a class for our middle school students, called Middle School Success, that aims at helping our students be better prepared for high school. This course is designed to help students strengthen organization skills, daily planner use, assignment tracking, study skills, and time management while also providing structured time to work on missing assignments and stay caught up in their classes. Students will have support from a staff member during this time who can answer questions, help them problem-solve assignments, and support them in prioritizing what needs to be completed first.

Students may be scheduled into Middle School Student Success based on first semester grades, ongoing missing work, and/or being on the weekly D/F list. The purpose of the class is to provide consistent support and accountability so students can improve grades, build stronger academic habits, and be better prepared for high school expectations. The end-goal is we will no longer have a need for our High School Success class that serves students who are struggling to pass classes and stay on track to graduate.

Huskies Explore - We find new ways to learn and grow

Huskies Are Resilient - We take risks to overcome challenges

Our students' math performance in our upper grades (6-12) shows we need to provide additional support for students. In an effort to continue the work towards one of our long-term goals that is addressed in our strategic plan, we are excited to build in small-group math support times throughout the school day. Our math teachers will work together to identify students that need support in their current math class, and these small groups of students will work with a math teacher on that specific skill and topic. This framework will provide just-in-time support without creating an entire new class that students will need to be assigned to. Instead, they will be pulled from a non-core class on an as-needed basis to ensure they have the time and support they need to be successful in math.

Huskies Explore - We find new ways to learn and grow

Huskies Pull Together - We work as a team to create community

Huskies Are Resilient - We take risks to overcome challenges

Semester two starts the beginning of a new bell schedule for students in grades 6-12, which aims at providing and guaranteeing students are getting the support they need in order to be successful in their classes. TAT (Teacher Access Time) was formerly once a week at most, where students could visit a teacher or class of choice in order to receive the help they needed.

Starting semester two this is a daily block of time built into the school day and is structured, timely, and targeted, to help facilitate and guarantee teachers are seeing the students they need to see when they need to see them. Students who happen to not be requested by a teacher during any given TAT period have the option of several "open" enrichment sessions offered by staff.

Huskies Explore - We find new ways to learn and grow

Click the link below and check out the student-written Husky Happenings December newsletter!

Know a fantastic teacher you'd like to recognize? The Oregon Teacher of the Year nomination window is open until February 11th. See below for a link to the website.

For the first time ever, Sherman County School competed in a USCF national tournament.

Having medaled and qualified at last year's state tournament, Sherman County sent two players, Stephen Orendorff and Kennan Cranston to the U.S. Chess Federation 2025 National K-12 Grade Championships in Spokane, WA. Thousands of school-aged players from around the country participated. After seven rounds and three days, Kennan and Stephen both had wins having competed against players from New York, Indiana, Colorado, Washington, and California.

Our growing chess program continues to be well-supported by the James-Weir fund as well as the Sherman County Education Foundation. A big shout-out to Kennan, Stephen, and Coach Kevin Stuart for such a big accomplishment for the program.

Huskies Pull Together - We work as a team to create community

The annual Sherman County Art Contest is here! Be sure to see the below attachment for more information! Deadline for submissions is March 4th.

January 24 - Pinewood Derby, 10am

January 26 - FFA Central Oregon District Convention Showcase & State Degree Presentations

January 29 - K-5 2nd Quarter Awards Assembly, 8:30am

February 1/2 - FFA Central Oregon District Convention

February 2 - FFA Food Drive begins

February 2 - FFA meeting

February 9 - School board meeting

February 12 - WSU college rep visit

February 16 - No school, President's Day

February 18 - Canva & Social Media workshop, 5pm

February 19 - STEM night, 6pm

February 20 - Middle School Winter Dance, 6pm

February 21-28 - National FFA week

February 22/23 - FFA Sectional Contest

February 23-28 - Missoula Children's Theater

1/23 - Full day

1/30 - No school, Professional Development

2/6 - Half day

2/13 - No school

2/20 - Full day

2/27 - No school, Professional Development

Actions Taken:

• Board approved the North Central ESD Local Service Plan
• Board established the budget calendar for 26-27
• Board announced a budget committee vacancy
• Board approved the 25-26 audit presentation & secretary of state action plan
• Board appointed two board members for the NCESD budget committee

Other information shared

• The school board was recognized and thanked for their service (January is school-board appreciation month)
• See here for the monthly recognition of staff, students, & community members!

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

Huskies Pull Together - We work as a team to create community