Newsletter

Dear WSVSD Community,

Thank you!

On February 10, our community showed up for our students in a powerful way. Voters approved both the school bond and the Educational Programs and Operations levy, and I want to extend sincere appreciation to every person who took time to learn, ask questions, talk with neighbors, and cast a ballot. Your participation matters. Your support sends a clear message about who we are and what we value as a community.

This decision creates a legacy. Years from now, students who walk through our schools will benefit from the choices made this winter. They will learn, compete, perform, and grow in spaces made possible by the trust placed in our district and in our shared vision for the future.

We do not take that trust lightly. Together, we are committed to being responsible stewards of the resources our community has approved. We will communicate openly, plan carefully, and keep students at the center of every decision. The work ahead is significant and exciting, and we will move forward together with gratitude and purpose.

Thank you, White Salmon Valley, for believing in our schools.

Thank you for standing behind the young people who call this community home.

Thank you for coming together for our kids.

Together, we strengthen our schools, our community, and our future.

Be proud.

Rich

Bond Timeline

With voter approval secured, our focus now shifts to implementation.

The first step is the recruitment and selection of an architect and engineering team. Once selected, we will begin developing our Educational Specifications, a process that defines how our facilities will support teaching and learning for years to come. From there, we will move into schematic design.

We anticipate breaking ground in 2028.

Many details will take shape as we move through the design process, but I wanted to provide this high level overview so our community understands what comes next. We will continue to share updates as key milestones are reached.

Measles

Clark County Public Health has confirmed several cases of measles in the area. Measles is highly contagious and can cause serious illness. We are monitoring the situation and staying in close contact with local health officials. At this time there are no known cases of Measles in the White Salmon Valley / Klickitat County area.

Most students are fully vaccinated with the MMR vaccine, but some may not be or may have exemptions for medical or religious reasons. If a measles exposure occurs at school, public health guidance requires that students who are not vaccinated or cannot provide proof of immunity stay home for up to 21 days from the last exposure. This helps protect vulnerable members of our community and limit spread.

We encourage families to locate and keep a copy of their child’s immunization record in case it is needed. Records can be accessed through the Washington State immunization registry at myirmobile.com. If you have questions about vaccination status or the MMR vaccine, please contact your healthcare provider.

Thank you for helping keep our school community healthy and safe.

Supporting Attendance

Attendance Matters: Our 90 by 90 Goal

Regular attendance is one of the strongest predictors of student success. When students are present, they learn more, stay connected, and build the habits that prepare them for life beyond graduation.

Last year, 68.7% of our students attended school 90% or more of school days. This measure represents the percentage of students who are not chronically absent. A student is considered chronically absent if they miss 10% or more of the school year — which adds up quickly.

For comparison, the state average was 72.9%, which means we were below the state rate.

We can do better.

Our Goal: 90/ 90

By 2030, our goal is that 90% of our students attend 90% or more of school days. That is an ambitious goal, but it is achievable if we work together.

Why This Matters

Missing just two days per month can put a student at risk academically. Attendance affects reading levels in elementary school, course completion in middle school, and graduation rates in high school. It also impacts social development and school connection.

How Families Can Help

We know illnesses happen. We also know families are balancing a lot.

You can help by:

Prioritizing school attendance whenever your child is healthy enough to attend
Scheduling appointments outside of school hours when possible
Reaching out early if attendance becomes a challenge

We also want families to feel confident about when students should stay home. You can find clear guidance on our School Nurse and Student Health page on our district website, including information about illness, symptoms, and when to stay home.

This is a shared effort. Schools can create welcoming, engaging environments, and families play a powerful role in reinforcing the importance of showing up.

Thank you for partnering with us to support student success.

Administrative Changes

Columbia High School Co-Principal Craig McKee, and Henkle Middle School and Wallace and Priscilla Stevenson Intermediate School Principal Brian Morris, have each submitted letters of retirement effective at the end of this school year. Both have served our students and families with dedication and care, for many years and we are grateful for their leadership and the positive impact they have had on our schools.

With Craig and Brian’s retirement, and with the bond now passed, we now have the clarity to align leadership with our future one-campus, two-school model while maintaining stability during construction.

Beginning next year, Whitson Elementary School Principal Todd McCauley will serve as principal of the K–6 program and Columbia High School Co-Principal Kelly Hume will serve as principal of the 7–12 program. We will also hire two assistant principals, one primarily supporting grades 5–6 and one primarily supporting grades 7–8. Each assistant principal will work closely with their respective principal to align systems and structures in preparation for our future two-school, one-campus model, while also supporting select districtwide leadership priorities.

Recruitment for these two positions will begin soon. Staff and students at Henkle and WPSIS will have an opportunity to provide input on the qualities and experience we seek in our new administrators.

Academic State Champions

Huge congratulations to our Boys Wrestling Team! 💪📚

They’ve been named WIAA Academic State Champions with an incredible 3.944 GPA across the entire varsity roster! This outstanding achievement highlights their commitment to excellence both on the mat and in the classroom.

The team was honored with a plaque recognizing their academic success, presented during the opening ceremonies of Day 2 at the State Wrestling Meet — an incredible moment on a big stage!

We are so proud of these outstanding scholar-athletes! 🏆👏

🏆 HMS Robotics – State Tournament Highlights

HMS Robotics recently competed in the State Tournament in Sandy, Oregon, and our teams delivered an outstanding performance!

🤝 State Teamwork Challenge

🥈 95265A – The Tiger Sharks – 2nd Place
🥈 95265C – The Arctic Foxes – 2nd Place
🥉 95265B – Robo Duckies – 3rd Place

🎯 Skills Challenge

🥈 95265B – Robo Duckies – 2nd Place

🌟 Individual Team Awards

🏅 95265A – The Tiger Sharks – Inspire Award
🏅 95265B – Robo Duckies – Amaze Award

We are incredibly proud of the dedication, teamwork, and innovation shown by all of our students. Way to represent HMS Robotics with excellence!

White Salmon Valley School District

www.wsvsd.org

The White Salmon Valley School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination:

Title IX Coordinator: Craig McKee, Principal, PO BOX 157; White Salmon WA 98672 Telephone Number: 509-493-1500 Email: craig.mckee@whitesalmonschools.org

Section 504/ADA Coordinator: Craig McKee, Principal PO BOX 1339; White Salmon WA 98672 Telephone Number. 509-493-1970 Email: craig.mckee@whitesalmonschools.org

Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator: Rich Polkinghorn, Superintendent PO BOX 157; White Salmon WA 98672 Telephone Number: 509-493-1500 Email: rich.polkinghorn@whitesalmonschools.org