Family News

Dear Granite Falls Families,

As we close another week across Granite Falls School District, I want to begin by acknowledging the heartbreaking tragedy that occurred yesterday at an elementary school in Bend, Oregon. I also want to share some important information about our continued commitment to school safety, high-quality teaching and learning, and exciting opportunities for our elementary students.

Our Hearts Are With Bend, Oregon – School Safety Remains Our First Priority

Yesterday's tragic school shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, has left school communities across the Pacific Northwest heartbroken. We grieve alongside the families who have lost loved ones, the students and staff who experienced this unimaginable tragedy, and the entire Bend community.

No family should ever have to experience such a loss. No child should ever have to fear going to school. And no educator should have to face the unthinkable while doing the work they love. As a superintendent, these tragedies weigh heavily on my heart. They also reinforce the tremendous responsibility we share to keep our students and staff safe every single day.

In the Granite Falls School District, safety is our first priority, and it guides the decisions we make throughout our schools. Over the past two years, we have continued to invest in safer facilities, strengthen security practices, and improve emergency preparedness.

Some of this important work includes:

• Building security: We are working to rekey exterior doors throughout the district to strengthen access control and ensure our buildings remain secure.

• Securing exterior doors: We have reinforced expectations that exterior doors must never be propped open. Keeping our buildings secure is an essential part of protecting our students and staff.

• HVAC and facility improvements: Our investments in heating and cooling systems do more than provide safe, comfortable learning environments. They also reduce the need to open windows and exterior doors to manage classroom temperatures, helping us maintain secure buildings throughout the school day.

• Emergency preparedness: We continue to practice safety drills, review emergency procedures, and work closely with law enforcement and emergency responders. Just yesterday, our schools participated in the Great Washington ShakeOut, practicing the actions students and staff should take during an earthquake.

• Supervision and relationships: We know that school safety is about more than locks, doors, and procedures. It is also about the relationships our staff build with students, the care and supervision provided throughout the school day, and creating environments where children feel safe, connected, and comfortable speaking up when something is wrong.

I also want to remind our families that you are important partners in keeping our schools safe. Please continue to follow school visitor procedures, use designated entrances, and share concerns with school staff or district administration. We all have a role in creating safe school communities.

We cannot eliminate every risk, but we can remain vigilant, continue improving our practices, and prepare for situations we hope never occur. Above all, I want to thank our extraordinary staff members who show up every day with a commitment to keeping children safe, cared for, and supported. Their work matters more than words can express.

Our Commitment to High-Quality Teaching and Learning

We believe every student deserves access to high-quality instruction, meaningful learning experiences, and the opportunity to reach their full potential. An important part of this commitment is ensuring that what students learn in our classrooms is aligned with Washington State Learning Standards.

These standards establish what students should know and be able to do at each grade level and in each subject area. They provide a consistent foundation for learning, helping ensure that students develop the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful as they move from one grade level to the next.

Washington State has been reviewing and updating learning standards across several subject areas. As these changes occur, our Teaching and Learning team is carefully reviewing the updates and working with our educators to ensure that instruction, curriculum, and assessments remain aligned. Our commitment is straightforward: Every student, in every classroom, deserves access to rigorous, engaging, and standards-aligned instruction.

While our teachers bring creativity, expertise, and their own instructional approaches to the classroom, the learning expectations remain consistent. We want students to be challenged, supported, and encouraged to think critically, solve problems, communicate effectively, and apply what they learn.

We are also committed to continually examining our instructional practices, strengthening collaboration among educators, and using student learning information to identify opportunities for improvement.

High expectations and strong relationships go hand in hand. We want our students to feel supported and encouraged while also being challenged to grow academically. This work is central to our district's commitment to Every Student. Every Day. Future Ready.

Elementary STEAM – Inspiring Curiosity and Building Future Scientists!

We are excited to share some of the great work underway to expand hands-on science learning opportunities for our elementary students! This school year, Granite Falls School District has dedicated additional instructional resources to STEAM education at both elementary schools.

Mountain Way Elementary, serving students in kindergarten through second grade, has 1.2 full-time equivalent teaching positions dedicated to STEAM instruction. Monte Cristo Elementary, serving students in grades three through five, has 1.8 full-time equivalent positions.

STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. By bringing these subjects together, students have opportunities to investigate real-world questions, explore ideas, build solutions, and discover how different areas of learning connect.

To support our teachers and students, the district has also purchased ACCELERATOR Pro from the Institute for Arts Integration and STEAM. This comprehensive instructional resource includes more than 500 lessons, units, assessments, and student resources, along with planning tools and professional learning opportunities for educators.

What makes STEAM especially exciting is that students are not simply learning about science. They are engaging in the work of scientists, engineers, designers, and problem-solvers! Through hands-on investigations, experiments, observations, questioning, and exploration, students develop important foundational skills, including scientific vocabulary, an understanding of the scientific method, critical thinking, collaboration, and communication.

Our larger goal is to strengthen science learning across the entire K–12 experience, beginning with a strong foundation in elementary school. We want students to develop confidence in their abilities, build a deep understanding of scientific concepts, and maintain their natural curiosity about the world around them.

Our Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Team is also exploring ways to integrate science more intentionally into general education classrooms so that students have even more opportunities to investigate, discover, and apply their learning throughout the school day. This is an exciting investment in our students and their futures. We look forward to sharing more examples of STEAM learning in action as the school year continues!

Closing Thoughts

Even during weeks when heartbreaking events remind us of the challenges facing schools and communities, I remain deeply grateful for the people who make Granite Falls School District such a special place. Our staff continue to show up for students, our families continue to partner with us, and our students continue to inspire us with their curiosity, resilience, and accomplishments. Thank you for trusting us with your children and for being such an important part of our school community.

Wishing you and your families a safe and restful weekend.

Dr. Dana Geaslen

Monday, October 19, 2026

• Happy Monday!

Tuesday, October 20, 2026

• Happy Tuesday!

Wednesday, October 21, 2026

• Happy Wednesday!
• 80-Minute Early Release

Thursday, October 22, 2026

• Happy Thursday!

Friday, October 23, 2026

• Happy Friday!
• GFHS HOMECOMING GAME!

Saturday, October 24, 2026

• Homecoming Dance GFHS

What a weekend for our Tigers! On Saturday, October 10, the Granite Falls Marching Band competed at the Sumner Sunset Festival of Bands and brought home second place in Division 1. This is the band’s first award of the season, and the excitement was contagious!

To our student musicians: thank you for your hard work, early mornings, long rehearsals, and the heart you pour into every performance. This award reflects your dedication and teamwork, and we couldn’t be prouder of the way you represent Granite Falls.

A big thank-you as well to the band directors, staff, families, and volunteers whose support makes moments like this possible.

Please join us in congratulating these talented students. We can’t wait to see what the rest of the season brings!

As national conversations continue about the future of special education, Granite Falls School District remains focused on what matters most: helping every student learn, belong, and succeed.

Students with disabilities are valued members of our school communities. Our work centers on strong instruction, opportunities to learn alongside peers, and individualized support. Families are essential partners, and your knowledge, questions, and ideas help us better understand and support your student.

If you have questions about your student’s special education services, please connect with their case manager or our Student Services team.

Communication looks different for everyone! Some students use speech, while others use gestures, pictures, communication boards, or devices that speak aloud. These approaches are called augmentative and alternative communication, or AAC.

We can all help students feel included by speaking directly to them, giving them time to respond, and valuing the many ways they communicate. Communication helps students share their needs, express ideas, make friends, and participate in school and community life.

If your student uses AAC—or you have questions about communication supports—reach out to their teacher or speech-language pathologist. Working together helps students communicate across school, home, and community settings.

Thank you for helping us build a school community where every student’s voice matters!

This October, we join schools and communities nationwide in recognizing National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). What began in 1945 as a weeklong observance has grown into a month-long celebration of the incredible contributions workers with disabilities make to our workforce. NDEAM highlights the importance of creating inclusive opportunities for everyone—including individuals with physical disabilities, mental health conditions, and non-obvious disabilities. By celebrating NDEAM, we reinforce our school's commitment to accessibility, inclusion, and opportunity for all students as they prepare for the future.

Menus for Lunch can be found by clicking this link:

https://menus.healthepro.com/organizations/1254

AUTUMN IS HERE—LET’S KEEP OUR TIGERS SAFE! 🍂🍁🐅

As the leaves turn and the morning air turns crisp, we’re asking our whole community to team up for a safe fall season!

🌟 5 Quick Fall Safety Rules:

1️⃣ BE SEEN: Bright/reflective gear for dark bus stop mornings!

2️⃣ WATCH YOUR STEP: Wet leaves = slippery sidewalks. Walk, don't run!

3️⃣ SLOW DOWN: Extra caution in active school zones.

4️⃣ STOP FOR BUSES: Red flashing lights mean STOP in both directions.

5️⃣ LAYER UP: Keep students warm during chilly morning drop-offs!

❄️🌧️ Be the first to know about weather updates! Make sure you have the GFSD app downloaded with notifications turned ON for instant schedule and weather alerts.

Need more help with Rooms? Click the link below for support:

https://info.apptegy.com/for-parents-and-guardians

Need more support? Email communications@gfalls.wednet.edu