WSD Weekly

This year, Wenatchee School District’s calendar includes four early release days for students instead of full days off for teacher professional development. Students will be released 3 hours early on the following days this school year. Mark your calendar now.

• October 7

• December 2

• March 17

• April 21

Big congratulations to WestSide High School's Leadership Club and their advisor Sheena Zacherle on being named recipients of the 2026 Central Washington Cancer Hero Award. They were presented with the award during the Central Washington Cancer Hero banquet last week.

For years, WestSide student leaders have quietly done something really special. Each year they identify someone in our school district community who is battling cancer and could use a little help, and then they get to work raising funds for that person through their annual Spaghetti Feed and Auction. That is what WE are Wenatchee looks like. When our students show up for our community.

On the anniversary of September 11th, Wenatchee Valley Tech Fire Science students did something worth knowing about. They suited up in full turnout gear and climbed stairs at Planet Fitness in tribute to the first responders who ran into the World Trade Center while everyone else was running out.

The goal was 83 floors and everyone made it. Some pushed past 100.

If you have never worn full firefighting gear, it is heavy. It is hot. It is not easy under any circumstances, let alone while climbing the equivalent of a skyscraper. Our fire science program at the tech center is engaging students in all aspects of being a first responder, including honoring those fallen heroes.

Wenatchee High School has served generations of local students, but much of the building dates to 1972 and many of its core systems have reached the end of their useful life.

WHS was originally designed for about 1,400 students in grades 10 through 12. Today, it serves more than 1,900 students in grades 9 through 12, with a broader range of academic, student support, and career and technical education programs.

While we’ve worked hard to maintain the building, we can’t stop the aging process. Major building systems have lifecycles, and several of ours have reached the end of theirs. The proposed bond would replace much of WHS on its current campus with spaces designed to meet today’s safety and learning needs.

Want to see an overview of what parts of WHS will be replaced and which ones will be renovated? Visit www.wenatcheeschools.org/bond and watch Bond Bite Episode #4 to see those spaces with Supt. Kalahar.

This fall we've been celebrating 30 years of Panther Hall of Fame, celebrating athletes, teams and contributors who represent the very best of Wenatchee Athletics. Thank you to every one of our honorees who joined us last week - once a Panther, always a Panther!

Athletes: Trey Adams, Grady Miller, Jessica Wierzbicki

Teams: 1924–27 Track Team, 1966 Boys Tennis Team, 1970 Football Team, 1983 Volleyball Team, 2016 Boys Soccer Team

Contributors: Dick Pieper, Ken Murtaugh, Dale Blair

Vintage: Chris Howell

The Wenatchee Panther Pod is a brand-new podcast all about Wenatchee Panthers athletics and activities. Hosted by Eric Granstrom, the voice of the Panthers and one of the most trusted and recognizable voices in the Wenatchee Valley, the Panther Pod takes you behind the scenes with the coaches, athletes, officials, and fans who represent why it takes more to be a Panther.

New episodes drop every Thursday. Find the Wenatchee Panther Pod on YouTube or your favorite podcast provider Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more or follow Wenatchee Athletics or KKRV on social media for links and updates.

🎤 👀 This Week's Episode:

It's homecoming week for the Panthers and on this week's Wenatchee Panther Podcast, host Eric Granstrom visits with Panther Female of the Week Amaya Cabrera Vargas (Apple Ettes Dance Team). In addition, Eric catches up with Panther Volleyball Coach Jordan McGregor following a grueling two weeks of facing state-caliber competition. Also joining the podcast is Wenatchee Panther Junior Volleyball player Kate Berry. She talks about her future in beach volleyball and emerging from the shadow of her older sister Ava Jo. A historical perspective is next with Wenatchee statistician Bruce Bennett. Finally, Athletic Director BJ Kuntz joins Eric to recap the Hall of Fame inductions the previous weekend