Superintendent Brower Newsletter
January 2026
Dear Eatonville Students, Staff, Families, and Community Members,
Happy New Year! As we welcome 2026, I hope the holiday season brought you cherished moments with loved ones and a chance to recharge. This time of year invites us to reflect on the past and dream big for the future and I am filled with gratitude and optimism as I look back and ahead.
2025 Reflections: Gratitude and Excellence
This past year has been remarkable in so many ways. I am incredibly grateful for the time I’ve spent learning from our nearly 2,000 students. Whether visiting classrooms, attending assemblies, cheering at games, or admiring performances, I am continually amazed by their thoughtfulness, creativity, and determination. From our youngest preschooler to our graduating seniors, each student brings unique gifts to our district.
As adults, we owe it to them to provide the tools they need to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally so they can emerge as the leaders our world so desperately needs.
Honoring Our Staff and Teamwork
Equally inspiring are our staff members, who work tirelessly each day to ensure students have the support they need to succeed. From teachers and paraeducators to bus drivers, custodians, office professionals, and administrators, every team member plays a crucial role in fulfilling our Eatonville Promise: Every student will be known, valued, and supported.
One of my greatest joys as superintendent has been listening to and learning from our dedicated staff. Their collaboration, professionalism, and shared commitment to continuous improvement fuel our mission and strengthen our district.
Academic Focus: Math and Student Achievement
Our strategic plan continues to guide our work and keep us accountable as we focus on student achievement and preparation for life beyond high school. This includes our Portrait of a Graduate, which identifies the skills, knowledge, attributes, and competencies necessary for a successful transition after graduation and aligns with both state requirements and Eatonville’s values.
As part of this focus, I am very appreciative of the work of our math committee members, who meet regularly to examine best practices for high-quality math instruction and to review our current instructional materials. Their thoughtful, collaborative approach reflects our commitment to ensuring all students receive strong, consistent, and engaging math instruction that supports both foundational skills and critical thinking.
2026: A Year of Opportunity
As we step into this new year, we have much to celebrate and important work ahead. January is School Board Appreciation Month, and I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to our board members for their countless volunteer hours, thoughtful leadership, and unwavering commitment to our students and community. Please join me in thanking them for their service.
I also want to thank our community for your continued support of Eatonville schools, particularly through the approval of vital levies. Your trust allows us to provide the resources, programs, and opportunities our students need to succeed, and we work hard every day to honor that trust.
Looking Ahead with Hope
As we move through 2026, I am confident that by working together with commitment, teamwork, and a shared focus on academic success we will continue to make meaningful progress for our students. Thank you for being an integral part of this incredible community.
Here’s to a productive and inspiring year ahead.
We are Eatonville Strong.
With gratitude and hope,
Jay Brower
Superintendent, Eatonville School District
Turf installation
The 4,000 pound ecology blocks are arriving to build a safe, strong retaining wall for the stadium.
Foundation for the new light poles
We are proud to share that Eatonville School District has been recognized with a Board of Distinction Award. This honor reflects the board’s strong governance, dedication to student success, and commitment to serving our schools and community. We are grateful for the leadership and service of our board directors and their continued support of all students.
GRITS student farmers preparing the garden for winter.
The CTE Life Savvy Club has been busy learning real-world skills that spark confidence and creativity, recently practicing sewing, making delicious pumpkin pie completely from scratc and baking festive Grinch cookies from the ground up.
WES TK has been learning all about food preparation and cooking this fall. From learning to use knives to cut fruit, to making homemade butter, measuring ingredients for cornbread, and processing applesauce, to understanding that recipes tell us how to make delicious food, they have loved being hands-on with their snacks!
CCA 7th grade student, Landon, sewed his very own pair of pajama pants and they turned out fantastic.
Four 4th grade girls organized a craft sale and used the money they earned to support children through our school’s Giving Tree, showing incredible teamwork, entrepreneurship, and kindness.
In Mrs. Adams' math class, students worked with measuring items with different units to compare their size and usefulness.
Weyerhaeuser Elementary
Interactive Math Adventures with Mrs. Hamilton
Mrs. Hamilton leads a hands-on math lesson focused on addition and subtraction. Students begin by writing their names on worksheets and engage in matching number sentences, like
12−8=4 to corresponding pictures. Using a whiteboard, Mrs. Hamilton helps students visualize subtraction by drawing and counting circles. Students work on real-world story problems to enhance understanding, allowing students to solve scenarios like returning shirts or counting remaining dragons. The lesson concludes with discussions on student engagement and highlighting collaborative teaching and student-focused approaches.
Reading Success with Mrs. Green
At Weyerhaeuser Elementary, Mrs. Green leads a 30-minute reading intervention for first graders using Read Well materials. The lesson focuses on key reading pillars: phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension.
Mrs. Green provides a quick review, followed by explicit teaching of a new skill, such as the silent 'e' or syllables. Students engage in guided practice with decodable words and texts, enhancing their decoding abilities. The session wraps up with a review, ensuring that early readers build confidence and proficiency. Mrs. Green's instruction and the students' participation create an environment of growth and achievement.
Michelle Montgomery, the MTSS Lead at Weyerhaeuser, utilizes ongoing data to pinpoint where each student needs additional support. She supports intervention staff with targeted small-group instruction that meets students at their individual levels.
Students transition in and out of groups based on current data from I Ready and program intervention assessments, allowing for responsive adjustments to their growth and evolving needs. Through teaming up with staff, Michelle and the paraeducator team are dedicated to ensuring every student has the chance to achieve.
Instructors Mrs. Hamilton, Mrs. Green and Ms. Holder demonstrates dedication to engaging students and enhancing learning.
Sounding Out Success: Phonics Fun with Mrs. Hilliker
At CCA, Mrs. Hilliker instructs phonics sessions using Read Well materials. Students explore new books, practicing uppercase and lowercase letters. They engage in decoding exercises, finger-tracing letter pairs like "TH," and using slinkies to stretch words. Students participate actively, reading sentences and identifying sounds. Mrs. Hilliker maintains a positive environment, ensuring students are focused and engaged, fostering a love for reading and phonics. The classroom is filled with positive energy as students participate in reading and phonics activities, demonstrating their enthusiasm and creativity.
Interactive Reading Fun with Mrs. Heersink
In a lively reading intervention session, Mrs. Heersink guides students through engaging phonics activities. Starting with tracing upper and lowercase letters, students focus on the letter "I" as in insects and read aloud from the 'flower' section.
She introduces tricky words, encouraging students to sound them out. Seven students participate actively, turning pages and trying hard with enthusiasm. The mantra "calm body, calm minds" helps maintain focus.
As the session wraps up, students tackle tricky words together, with their teacher, writing challenging words on the board. The lesson concludes on a high note with rewards, reflecting the positive and uplifting atmosphere Mrs. Heersink creates. Her work to manage the group and connect with students shines through, leaving everyone excited and engaged.
Exploring Technology and Comprehension with Mrs. Willson
In a focused session using Phonics for Reading resources, Mrs. Willson facilitates workbook and test reviews with students. Supplies are distributed, and students engage in independent practice while others read through materials. This quiet work time allows students to concentrate on comprehension and decoding skills.
The session covers intriguing topics like AI-related jobs and drone technology. Students discuss reading comprehension questions from stories such as "snack shop" and "plant shop." Students explore how apps help people and how technology is changing, with examples of innovations that previously didn't exist.
Mrs. Willson encourages students, fostering a collaborative learning environment. Students are prompted to share their thoughts and are guided to understand complex ideas. Points are counted for accurate answers, reinforcing learning and comprehension. This structured approach helps students connect reading skills with real-world applications, making learning both relevant and engaging.
Happy New Year from Eatonville School District’s Student Services Team
Dear Families,
As we welcome 2026, the Student Services team extends our warmest wishes for a joyful, healthy, and successful year ahead. A new year brings fresh opportunities, new goals, and renewed hope—and we are grateful to continue partnering with you as we support every student’s growth and learning.
We are honored to work alongside families in building a strong foundation for student success. Your engagement, collaboration, and advocacy play a vital role in helping us ensure that each student feels supported, understood, and empowered to reach their full potential.
Our commitment remains steadfast: to provide personalized support, honor each child’s unique strengths, and ensure their needs are front and center in every decision we make. Whether we are working toward IEP goals, planning transitions, celebrating milestones, or addressing challenges, our team is here to support you and your child every step of the way.
Please reach out to us at any time if there is anything we can do to assist or partner with your family. Together, we can make 2026 a year of growth, connection, and meaningful progress for all students.
Warmest wishes for a wonderful new year,
The Student Services Team
Supporting Your Child’s Transition Back to School After Winter Break
Returning to school after winter break can be an adjustment for any student, and for students receiving Special Education services, a little planning can go a long way. With thoughtful routines and encouraging conversation, you can help your child feel confident and ready for a great start to the new semester.
Reestablish Routines
Ease back into school schedules: Gradually return to typical school-day routines such as wake-up times, meals, and bedtimes. Tools like alarms and visual timers can make this process smoother.
Practice daily tasks: Encourage your child to rehearse familiar school activities—packing their backpack, organizing materials, or using communication supports. This helps rebuild comfort and independence.
Support Emotional Readiness
Talk about the transition: Spend time discussing what the return to school will look and feel like. Visual schedules, pictures, or social stories can help prepare your child for upcoming activities, routines, or settings.
Acknowledge their feelings: It’s normal for students to feel excited, nervous, or unsure. Validate what they’re experiencing and offer reassurance and encouragement.
Review Goals and Expectations
Revisit IEP goals together: Remind your child of their learning and support goals, focusing on growth and progress. Frame these as opportunities to celebrate strengths and continue building skills.
Stay connected with the school team: If there have been changes in your child’s needs, routines, or behaviors over break, sharing this information with teachers and case managers helps ensure consistent support.
Make the First Week Smoother
Prepare ahead: Laying out clothes, packing supplies, and reviewing the next day’s schedule the night before can reduce morning stress.
Allow extra time: Give your child space to adjust at their own pace during the first few days back.
Celebrate small successes: Acknowledge wins—big or small—such as getting ready independently or having a positive first day. Recognition builds confidence.
Your partnership plays a vital role in helping your child transition smoothly and successfully. If you have questions or need additional support, please reach out to our Student Services team. We’re here to help make this semester a positive and productive one for every student.
WES SCC & SLC “Fun Food Friday” – Building Communication Through AAC
Our Structured Communication (SCC) and Structured Learning Classroom (SLC) students had a wonderful time participating in Fun Food Friday, where they practiced communication skills using their AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) devices.
Students visited the tasting table throughout the activity, using their devices to request items, comment on what they were trying, and many also practiced verbalizing their thoughts. It was a great opportunity to build language in a natural, engaging setting.
Foods sampled included: ice cream, whipped cream, carrot sticks, oranges, and rice cakes.
Some of the words students explored on their devices were: bowl, spoon, yummy, yucky, more, cold, wet, sticky, crunchy, and all done.
Our staff loved seeing the excitement, communication, and confidence grow with every taste!
Important Information
Superintendent: Mr. Jay Brower
Executive Assistant: Mrs. Cassie Froud
District Office Hours: 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Connect with Eatonville School District
Email: communications@eatonvilleschools.org
Website: https://www.eatonville.wednet.edu
Location: 200 Lynch Street West, Eatonville, WA, USA
Phone: 360-879-1000
Facebook: facebook.com/eatonville.school.district
Twitter: @EatonvilleSD
