Grant Awards – Education Foundation of Pendleton

$1,500	On October 23, 2019, approximately 800 students from Pendleton High School participated in a biannual Career Day, which provided an engaging opportunity for students to learn about a diverse array of professional, technical and skilled labor careers. Workers in several different career clusters offered presentations. Students were able to listen to keynote speaker Chris Thomas, a PHS graduate, who has established a successful career in music composition. Chris’s dynamic and interesting message provided students with valuable insight into the career choice process. $1,500 was awarded to cover the cost of his three days of instruction and workshop time.
$500	Alice Thomas, Pendleton High School Art and Career Technical Education Instructor, invited 170 students to participate in several field trips to see the revolving art exhibits at the Pendleton Center for the Arts and at the Betty Feves Memorial Gallery at BMCC. Students participated in discussions and evaluations of art work that they observed and studied, met and conversed with gallery staff and wrote responses to questions about their experiences.
$1,347	All fifty Hawthorne Alternative High School students were invited to participate in a school-wide School Mascot Grid Art Project. The project began this fall and will continue through March. Artist-in-residence Jan Peterson-Terjeson is working with students over many sessions to create a wolf, the school mascot, on individual wooden squares. The project will be completed in the spring, so that it can be displayed at the Pendleton School District’s Art Show. Eventually, the piece will be permanently displayed at the PTECH building.
$561	On January 17th-18th, 2020, three fifth grade students will attend the Elementary Honor Choir in Eugene, Oregon. The Honor Choir gives students the opportunity to participate in a music experience that is not available in Eastern Oregon. Students will be able to sing songs in two-part harmony, sing in different languages, experience mixed meter, cooperatively work in ensembles, learn under a qualified director, and much more. Elementary music teachers Andrea Dinkel and Cassandra Pinard believe this experience can serve as a great introduction to choir and future honor choir opportunities available in middle and high school.
$800	First semester middle school drama students attended a production of Portland Center Stage’s “In the Heights” on October 10, 2019 and the second semester students will travel to Portland on April 26, 2020 to see “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night.” Due to the fact that Sunridge Middle School is a Title 1 school, John Summerfield, drama teacher, was allotted free tickets for his students to see the performances. Mr. Summerfield stated that these are high-quality theatre productions at a very affordable cost and the trip to Portland is always a highlight of the school year for his students.
$1,513.42	On November 25th and 26th, Jill Gregg, program director for ASPIRE (Access to Student Assistance Programs in Reach of Everyone) accompanied approximately 40 Pendleton High School students on a two-day “college tour” to the Willamette Valley. Students visited University of Oregon, Lane Community College, Western Oregon University and Mt. Hood Community College. A second day trip to Eastern Oregon University in December allowed students to tour the campus, attend an admissions information session and meet current college students. Mrs. Gregg stated that for many students at PHS, this is their only opportunity to visit a college campus outside of BMCC, as they don’t have the resources to travel to the valley and see college campuses on their own. In the past, these trips have really opened the minds of students and their options for post-secondary education and have inspired them to apply to college.
$2,000	Kathryn Youngman, foreign language teacher at Pendleton High School, will be taking 30-40 students to Eugene, Oregon in May to attend the Foreign Language and International Studies Day. The event, attended by close to 1,000 high school students from throughout the state, provides students with the opportunity to explore possible foreign language careers and study abroad opportunities and exposes them to other languages besides the two taught at PHS. This will be the 20th year taking Pendleton students to this conference and Mrs. Youngman stated it is an event that they eagerly anticipate.
$8,380	The Oregon coast will be the destination as over 80 Honors Biology II students from Pendleton High School travel across the state late in May of 2020. In preparation for the upcoming trip, classroom teacher Schelle Hand Bixler will spend considerable class time teaching her students about the ecological relationships between the animals, plants, and algae living in the sandy beach, rocky tide pools, estuary, and nearshore ocean habitats of the intertidal ecosystem. On the spring field trip, students will be expected to extend their learning as they tour Bonneville Dam, visit two marine aquariums, explore the sandy beach and rocky tide pool habitats, ride in a research vessel in Yaquina Bay, look for whales, and much more. It is Mrs. Bixler’s hope that this field trip fosters an appreciation for marine ecosystems that students will carry them into adulthood.

$1,500	6th grade social studies program students were connected with a Native educator who shared contemporary, relevant, and living history as a component of their curriculum. This provided a first-person resource that is inseparable from their culture and identity. It gave historical, tribal and individual perspective, and taught the inclusive story of place that has been told since time immemorial. Social Studies teachers Chris Demianew and John Summerfield coordinated this activity. $1,500 was awarded to cover the cost of his three days of instruction and workshop time.
$2,790	On April 26th, approximately 12 upper class students from Nixyaawii Community School departed for Portland to visit Lewis and Clark College, including the Native Student Union. Teachers Zack Brandsen and Chelsea Hallam accompanied the students on this trip. They also visited the Portland Art Institute and were given a guided tour. On their second day, they attended the TEDx Talks and spent the day listening and absorbing information presented by an eclectic collection of speakers from all walks of life. $2,790 was awarded to help cover event tickets and hotel and food costs.
$860	Pendleton High School Art Teacher Alice Thomas accompanied her students when they visited exhibits at the Betty Feves Memorial Art Gallery and the Pendleton Center for the Arts. Approximately 100 students in her program were expected to participate as part of six different art classes. Visits to the galleries occurred between February and June. Students were required to submit a written evaluation/reflection for each visit. $860 was awarded to cover transportation and art class expenses.
$1,300	On May 17th, forty students in the ASPIRE/School to Careers Programs at Pendleton High School attended the Oregon Tradeswomen Association’s annual Career Fair. This event exposes female high school students to opportunities in the trades and promotes supporting inclusion of females in non-traditional career fields. The event included speakers, workshops, hands-on activities, employer and college booths plus additional experiences for the students. Jill Gregg, ASPIRE Coordinator and Christina van der Kamp, School to Careers Program Coordinator stated that this event has become a very popular opportunity. $1,300 was awarded to cover lunch costs and transportation to Portland.
$3,640	This year marked the 23rd year Schelle Hand Bixler accompanied her Honors Biology II students at PHS to the Oregon Coast. Approximately 77 students (all seniors) attended during two separate field trips. No incentive was offered to go other than the chance to participate in a fun, educational trip to explore our coast. With their classmates, students were able to see and touch most of the organisms studied in class. They also participated in several activities performed by working biologists. This trip has definitely become the highlight event for seniors in their last semester of high school biology. Mrs. Bixler’s hope is that this trip fosters an appreciation for marine ecosystems that students will carry with them into adulthood. $3,640 was awarded in this grant cycle ($4,000 awarded in the fall) to cover the costs of transportation, hotel, and tour fees.
$1,410	Jill Gregg, PHS ASPIRE Coordinator, once again organized a two-day college tour to the Willamette Valley on May 18th -19th. Students visited two public 4-year universities and two public community colleges. At each college, students attended an information session, met face-to-face with admission counselors, toured the campus, and had an opportunity to get the “feel” of different types of post-secondary schools in our region. 42 students and four chaperones went, with ASPIRE providing funding for 28 of those students. This year, ASPIRE coordinated with ECMC (Education Credit Management Corp.) who paid transportation costs. $1,410 was awarded to cover the costs of meals and hotel.

$4,000	Honors Biology II classes (approximately 83 students, all seniors) will again travel this spring to the Oregon Coast to learn about the ecological relationships between the animals, plants, and algae living in the sandy beach, rocky tide pools, estuary, and near shore ocean habitats. Schelle Hand Bixler, Teacher, indicated this very popular trip provides a chance for her students to participate in a fun, educational trip to explore our coast with their classmates.
$1,680	The Foreign Language Club at PHS will be taking students to the University of Oregon in May to attend the Foreign Language and International Studies Day. Kathryn Youngman, Foreign Language Teacher, states the one-day conference includes presentations on a wide variety of foreign languages and is attended by approximately 1,000 high school students from around the state. It is estimated 30-40 students will attend.
$600	On December 13^th, John Summerfield, Drama Teacher at Sunridge Middle School, will take approximately 60 students and 6 chaperones to Portland Center Stage to see a professional production of “Christmas Memory/A Winter song.” This trip is highlighted in another article in this newsletter.
$850	Elementary Music teachers Andrea Dinkel and Cassandra Pinard, will take two fifth grade students who have auditioned and have been nominated to participate in the 2019 Northwest Mega Conference in Portland in mid-February. The students will perform with other selected students from around the state. The educators will also receive professional development in their subject area, and collaborate with other educators.
$675	All fourth grade students (approximately 250) in the Pendleton School District will be invited to visit Heritage Station, the Umatilla County Historical Society Museum, to learn about the history of Umatilla County. These visits will occur in April and May 2019. The award covers the cost for admission to the museum. Ellen Wardell, retired fourth teacher, is the coordinator for this project. Fourth grade teacher representatives are Mike Heriza and Jason Campbell.
$1,131	Teachers Kelly Simpson and Mitch Morioka at Hawthorne Alternative High School will invite their students to participate in a community weaving art project in February. The art work developed will be on display at the School District Art Show in April and then on permanent display at the PTECH building. Artist in Residence Jan Peterson-Terjeson will build the curriculum, acquire supplies and begin work sessions with the students.
$840	A total of 135 PHS students as part of Alice Thomas’ six different art classes will be invited to view art exhibits at the Pendleton Center for the Arts and the BMCC Betty Feves Gallery. During these visits, students will discuss and evaluate the art work they observe. This will help make a connection to the art industry, as well as to art and artists outside of the classroom.
$240	Sherwood Heights Elementary fourth grade teacher Mike Heriza is coordinating a field trip for 100 4^th graders to visit Tamastsklist Museum. Students should gain a greater understanding of Columbia Basin tribes, both past and present. Pre-trip curriculum designed locally for 4^th graders and a guest visit from CTUIR will teach about sovereignty, treaty rights, taxes and other issues concerning federally recognized tribes in the US.
$2,000	Twenty-five PHS Orchestra students, led by Emily Muller-Cary, will participate in a workshop/performance activity to commission a work from PHS orchestra alum and professional composer Chris Thomas. Mr. Thomas will also work with the young musicians to prepare the work for performances and will visit Sunridge Middle School orchestra and elementary strings classes.

$1,000	In March, several PHS students, under the direction of Kristin Swaggart, Culinary Arts Teacher, demonstrated their knowledge of the restaurant and food service industry by developing a new restaurant concept at the ProStart Management competition in Salem, Oregon. In April, eight of PHS’s culinary students competed and earned six of the top nine highest scores in cooking and baking competitions at the Oregon Coast Culinary Institute Invitational in Coos Bay, Oregon.
$2,400	A trip that has become the highlight event for seniors in Schelle Hand Bixler’s Honors Biology class traveled to the Oregon coast in May. On this field trip, 46 students visited the Bonneville Dam and fish ladder, the Hatfield Marine Science Center, explored the beach and tide pool habitats, and rode in a research vessel in Yaquina Bay and on the ocean
$600	Pendleton High School’s Art Teacher, Alice Thomas, arranged for 96 students in grades 9 through 12 to view gallery exhibits at both the Pendleton Center for the Arts and the Betty Feves Memorial Gallery at BMCC several times between February and May
$2,000	The ECMC (Education Credit Management Corp.) program at PHS helps low-income, first-generation, college-going students further their educational goals. In March, Sonia Cooley, ECMC Teacher, took approximately 25 students to visit and tour several college campuses including Mt. Hood CC, Portland State University, Western Oregon University, Oregon State University and Lane CC.
$1,000	Mitch Morioka, teacher at Hawthorne Alternative High School, provided students the opportunity to engage in an art project this spring. Assisted by Jan Peterson-Terjeson, Artist in Residence, students created two embossed metal panels, one to keep for themselves and the second to become a part of the art installation at the school.
$1,000	Pendleton High School ASPIRE and School to Careers program took 31 PHS and SMS students to the Oregon Tradeswomen Association’s annual career fair in May. This activity is highlighted on page one of this newsletter.
$700	In May, 12 PHS and SMS students were selected to attend the 34^th annual Oregon Writing Festival at Portland State University. Cynthia Purvis, teacher at Sunridge Middle School, traveled with the students who gathered with other students from across the state to share their writing, participate in writing workshops and attend presentations by nationally known professional writers.
$1,000	In April, several students from Nixya’awii Community School embarked on a trip to visit Portland State University where they took a walking tour of campus and visited the Native American Student and Community Center there. They also traveled to Lewis and Clark College to partake in a writing workshop. On the second day, they attended and toured TEDx Talks and spent time listening and reflecting on lectures.

$3,920	Approximately 69 Honors Biology II students at Pendleton High School will participate in overlapping field trips to the beach so that the first half will go May 15/16 and the second half will go May 16/17, 2018. During this trip to Newport and Lincoln City, these students will visit two aquariums, explore the sandy beach and rock tide pool habitats, ride in a research vessel in Yaquina Bay and on the ocean, capture crabs and flatfish and look for whales, seals and dolphins. It is expected that students will extend their knowledge of our marine ecosystem by exploring these habitats first hand and search for and handle animals discovered there. This year they will also visit the Bonneville Dam along the way to Newport. This field trip each year is the highlight of Schelle Hand Bixler’s Honors Biology class.
$1,165	On October 18, 2017, Sonia Cooley, ECMC Instructor at PHS, took 30 students to the Hawk Point Challenge Course in Walla Walla where they participated in a Ropes Course. Additional information about this trip is highlighted on the front page of this newsletter.
$2,427	For the 17^th year, the Foreign Language Club at PHS will be taking students to Eugene in May 2018 to attend the Foreign Language and International Studies Day at the University of Oregon. Kathryn Youngman, Foreign Language Teacher, estimates that 30-40 students will participate. The event is attended by approximately 1000 high school students from throughout the state. It provides students with an opportunity to explore possible foreign language careers and study abroad opportunities.
$1,075	The 5^th grade team at Washington Elementary is planning to host author visits via Skype during this school year. The writers contacted have created fictional and non-fiction work that is included in the 5^th grade reading curriculum anthology and the 2017-2018 Battle of the Books literature. It is an amazing opportunity to connect students with working writers. The teachers hope to infuse energy and inspiration into their daily reading and writing. The Skype visits also introduce students to potentially new technology that they could use in the future to more easily connect to the world outside the classroom. 5^th grade teachers at Washington Elementary include Kathy Gregory, Hollie Chay, Stephanie Smith, and Brenda Giesen.
$1,400	John Summerfield, Sunridge Middle School Teacher, was given 35 tickets to a production of Portland Center Stage’s “A Christmas Memory/Wintersong” performed at the Armory Theatre in Portland on December 14, 2017. The tickets normally sell for $20 to $75 and were provided at no charge because Sunridge is a Title I school. The production is geared to a school audience as a 12:00 PM matinee, so students will drive down and back in the same day. Mr. Summerfield indicated this is a quality theatre production at a very affordable cost and his students will greatly benefit from the experience.
$2,270	Thirty-seven ASPIRE (Access to Student Assistance Programs in Reach of Everyone) students participated in a three-day college tour to the Willamette Valley November 8-9, 2017. On this trip students visited Oregon State University, Lane Community College, University of Oregon and Western Oregon University. At each college, students attended an information session, met face-to-face with admission counselors, toured the campuses, and had the opportunity to get the feel of different types of post-secondary schools in our region. Jill Gregg is the program director and stated this trip has become a very sought after opportunity at PHS.

$1,000	Justin Adams, Business and Marketing Instructor and FBLA Advisor, took 31 PHS students to the State Leadership Conference in Portland in early April. Areas of focus within this organization include education, leadership, and personal enrichment. Students competed in a number of different events.
$1,000	Sixty-one PHS Senior Honors Biology II students traveled to the Oregon Coast to learn about the ecological relationships between the plant life and animals living in the sandy beach, rocky tide pools, and estuary of the intertidal ecosystem. Biology teacher Schelle Bixler overlapped the two field trips in late May. This trip has become the highlight event for seniors in their last semester of high school biology.
$1,200	In February, Emily Callendar, PHS, Sunridge Middle School and Elementary Strings teacher, arranged for Lisa Ornstein, a professional fiddle player, to conduct workshops in classrooms during strings class times. 300 students participated. This has been a successful nine-year tradition and is a highlight of the year for students
$364	On April 10^th Cheryl Carlson, Music teacher at Sherwood Heights Elementary, took 40 fourth and fifth grade students to Eastern Oregon University to participate in the District VI Children’s Choir Festival.
$1,100	In mid April, Sonia Cooley, ECMC instructor, took 23 PHS students in her program (Education Credit Management Corporation) to visit college campuses in Central Oregon Community College, OSU Cascades (Bend), U of O, Linn-Benton Community College and Concordia University. This program helps students realize their potential by investing in, creating, and providing innovative education solutions.
$620	In February, five students from the PHS Robotics team competed in a robotics league qualifier tournament at South Meadows Middle School in Hillsboro. They also traveled to Portland for the state competition at Benson Polytechnic High School. Any PHS student is able to participate in the Robotics Club through taking elective robotics classes. Michael Dinkel teaches this program.
$278	March 13-24, 6^th graders at Sunridge Middle School traveled to the Pendleton Center for the Arts to view a group of Chuck Close prints being shown at PCA. Each class visited the art center to experience the exhibit and participate in a guided discussion about Closes’ process.
$1,000	Twelve Sunridge Middle School students selected based on their writing talent, interest in writing and ability to represent the school district positively, attended the annual Oregon Writing Festival in May at Portland State University.
$1,000	Four PHS students enrolled in Foods classes, and who participate in the FCCLA (Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America) club, attended the State Leadership Conference in April. Students participated in events such as Advocacy, Nutrition and Wellness and Speech. Two students participated in the mock interview event. Kristin Swaggart, Culinary Arts teacher, indicated students who attended benefitted, regardless of their career interests.
$1,547	During the spring months, nineteen Hawthorne Alternative School students were invited to participate in an art project, allowing them to study 3-dimensional design, encompassing a strong emphasis on elements and principles of design, personal voice, exploration of new media and development of techniques and skills. In March, the East Oregonian wrote and published an article on the students and their project. Artist in Residence was Jan Peterson-Terjeson.
$800	In May, nine graduating students at Hawthorne Alternative School participated in a one-day activity at Silverwood Theme Park near Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. The park has created an event that tests the principles of physics and science using rides and games
$600	On May 4-5, PHS Foreign Language teacher Kathryn Youngman, took 27 students from her Spanish and French classes to the University of Oregon Foreign Language and International Studies Day. It is attended by approximately 1,000 high school students from around the state and provides students with an exposure to other languages and an opportunity to explore possible foreign language careers.

$2,000	Schelle Bixler, PHS Honors Biology teacher, will be taking approximately 80 students from her classes on a field trip to the Oregon Coast where they will explore sandy beaches, rocky tide pools, estuary and near-shore ocean habitats, as well as ride in a research vessel in Yaquina Bay and on the ocean. This will be her twenty-second year taking these students on this trip.
$1,000	Kathryn Youngman, PHS Foreign Language teacher, will take 25 students from her Spanish and French classes to the University of Oregon to participate in the Foreign Language and International Studies Day.
$2,500	Kristin Swaggart’s PHS Culinary Arts students in Foods 3 and 4 who also participate in the Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) club, will attend the FCCLA State Leadership Conference in Portland, with their main focus competing in the culinary competition.
$589	Olivia Rush, Pendleton High School Art Teacher, has made arrangements for her students to view gallery exhibits at both Pendleton Center for the Arts and the Betty Feves Memorial Gallery at BMCC several times during the school year. ($481) and ($108)
$400	John Scanlan, drama teacher at Sunridge Middle School, took students from his drama class to a production of Portland Center Stage’s “Little Shop of Horrors,” travelling down and back in the same day.
$675	Kathy Gregory, fifth-grade teacher at Washington Elementary, is planning to host three author visits via Skype during this school year. This will increase student motivation in reading and writing.
$1,500	Jill Gregg, ASPIRE (Access to Student Assistance Programs in Reach of Everyone) Coordinator at Pendleton High School, will take 42 students on a trip to visit a public four-year university, a two-year community college, and a private university. They will also visit Columbia Sports in Portland which provides a view of employment opportunities after college.
$90	Mike Heriza, fourth-grade teacher at Sherwood Heights Elementary, will take 90 4th graders for a tour and lunch at Tamastslikt Museum. Students will gain a greater understanding of Columbia basin tribes, both past and present.
$550	Anne Sokoloski, Child Development Specialist at Pendleton Early Learning Center, will again coordinate the Pendleton School District Art show to be held in April at the Pendleton Convention Center. This is the thirteenth year for this event. The public is invited to view the art display which includes projects from Pre-K through 12th grade.
$250	Cheryl Carlson, Music teacher at Sherwood Heights Elementary, will take approximately 210 fourthand fifth-grade students to participate in the District VI Children’s Choir Festival at Eastern Oregon University in LaGrande in the spring.
$2,750	Christina van der Kamp, School to Careers Coordinator, is working in a program created to connect students of PHS, Hawthorne Alternative School and Nixya’awii Community School to meaningful career related learning opportunities. They are collaborating with business and industry partners that will provide students with hands-on career training. The funding will provide the means for students to help develop a database management program as well as assist with student transportation needs to and from the business participants.

$500	The Pendleton High School Spanish and French Department students were to travel to Eugene the first of May to attend the University of Oregon Foreign Language and International Studies Day. About 30 to 40 students were expected to attend. The conference provides students with an exposure to other languages and an opportunity to explore possible foreign language careers. ($500 in addition to $1,000 granted last fall) [Special circumstances caused the cancellation of this activity.]
$2,000	In late May, 95 students in the Honors Biology class at PHS had the opportunity to participate in one of three overlapping 2-day field trips to the Oregon Coast. Students visited two aquariums, explored the sandy beach and tide pool habitats, and rode in a research vessel in Yaquina Bay. This fun, educational trip allowed students to explore our coast as they saw and touched many of the organisms studied in class as well as being able to participate in a few of the activities performed by working marine biologists. ($2,000 in addition to $2,000 granted last fall.)
$1,500	In April, 22 ECMC (Education Credit Management Corporation) students at PHS attended the Spring Best Practices meeting at Western Oregon University. ECMC is a national program designed to help students realize their potential by investing in, creating and providing innovative education solutions that support schools and improve educational outcomes. In addition to the meeting, the students visited a number of other colleges.
$841	Pendleton’s nine classes of fourth graders had the opportunity to tour local history by learning about the artifacts, treasures and information at the Heritage Station Museum. Tours were scheduled in the spring.
$1,000	In late spring, approximately 270 sixth grade students at Sunridge Middle School participated in “Shakespeare and Violence Prevention” put on by the Shakespeare Walla Walla Anti-Bullying program. They viewed a performance of “Twelfth Night” to open the dialogue on day-to-day violence and then participated in hands-on anti violence workshops, connecting the play’s themes with real-life scenarios.
$2,500	Approximately 12 Pendleton High School students enrolled in Foods 3 and 4 and who participate in the FCCLA (Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America) club, attended the FCCLA State Leadership Conference April 5-7 in Portland. The conference provided numerous opportunities in education, leadership and personal enrichment. The main focus was competing in the culinary competition. It provided students an opportunity to showcase their skills. Safety, sanitation, knife skills, accuracy, time management, teamwork, and creativity were put to the test.
$1,000	In May, seven students at Hawthorne Alternative School, who graduated this spring, were provided an opportunity to attend a one-day activity at Silverwood Theme Park near Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Silverwood has created an event to test the principles of physics and science using rides, games and other attractions
$1,370	Twelve Sunridge Middle School students who were selected based on writing talent, interest in writing, and the ability to represent the school district attended the Oregon Writing Festival in May at Portland State University. Student writers from around the state gathered to share their writing, participate in workshops and attend presentations by nationally-known professional writers.

$1,000	The Spanish and French Departments at PHS will take 30 to 40 students to participate in the Oregon Foreign Language and International Studies Day in May, 2016. This experience will provide these students with an exposure to other languages and an opportunity to explore possible foreign language careers.
$2,000	In May, 2016, approximately 120 PHS seniors in Schelle Bixler’s Honors Biology II classes will participate in the annual field trip to the Oregon Coast where they will experience exploring the sandy beach and rocky tide pool habitats, ride in a research vessel in Yaquina Bay and on the ocean, capture crabs and flatfish and look for whales, seals and dolphins.
$1,200	In January, 2016, PHS, Sunridge Middle School, and elementary students will participate in a fiddle workshop that includes a professional fiddle player who will introduce a variety of styles of traditional folk music. This will benefit approximately 200 district strings students.
$800	Two hundred fifty kindergarten students at the new Pendleton Early Learning Center kicked off the year participating in a Character Counts Assembly. This assembly provided a reminder to the students of the importance of character education traits including trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship.
$1,000	In May, 2016, approximately 64 fifth-grade students from West Hills Intermediate will experience a two-day field trip with camp-in at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry and a trip to the Portland Zoo. OMSI has renovated their facilities with hundreds of new science experiments, featured programs and exhibits to enhance student learning. This will be the sixteenth and final field trip for the West Hills Intermediate School.
$350	Students involved in the PHS Lepidoptera Club (butterflies and moths) attended the Pacific Northwest Lepidoptera Conference at Oregon State University in October. This annual meeting is for both researchers and regional Lepidoptera enthusiasts. It allowed students to enhance their knowledge about different species in the Pacific Northwest, through mutual sharing of specimens and field experiences.
$225	Between November and January, approximately 10 students from the PHS Female Robotics Team will compete in four league meets with a League Championship at the end of January. The team will build and program a robot to solve a particular course challenge. It will include Java programming, computer modeling, electrical and manufacturing in the school wood shop.
$1,000	Arrangements are underway to bring an Oregon Museum of Science and Industry science lab to the classrooms at Lincoln Primary School. All students (enrollment of 150) will participate as OMSI will meet with each class.
$1,500	Pendleton School District physical education teachers have invited Skyler Boles, Spikeball teacher, to spend a week with the children in the district. He will demonstrate the game and teach the students how to play it in their respective PE classes. Additionally, Mr. Boles will participate in a parent night at one of the schools. During a full week in November, approximately 2,000 students across all schools, grades 1 through 12 will participate.
$362	The PHS Visual Arts, Art I and Art II classes will view museum exhibits at the Pendleton Center for the Arts as well as learn about artists and art. Each of the three classes, totaling 110 students, will visit the Art Center for one class period once a month from October to May.
$191	Nineteen students from the PHS Sculpture class will travel to the Portland Art Museum in November for a one-hour guided tour and then have one hour to work on a class assignment. They will also have the opportunity to visit 5th and 6th Avenues to see Portland public art sculptures.
$142	In November, twenty students from the PHS Visual Arts Class will traveled to the Maryhill Museum at Goldendale, Washington, to view the museum exhibits, learn about regional history and enjoy seeing fine art in a gallery setting.
$500	Seventy-eight students from the middle school drama class and students from the upper division high school language arts classes will travel to Portland in January to attend a production of Portland Center State’s Great Expectations at the Armory Theater. These tickets normally sell for $20 to $75 each, but will be free to the students.
$800	The annual student Art Show at the Pendleton Convention Center will be held April 18-21, 2016. All grades K-12 in the Pendleton School District will participate. This event is open to the public and has enjoyed growing success each year.
$500	In October, approximately 125 PHS English 4 students, in conjunction with reading Dracula, attended the Oregon East Symphony’s screening of Nosferatu where they will compare the original Bram Stoker’s story with one of its many iterations. OES committed to a significantly reduced ticket price for those who attended. An OES patron has also generously donated enough books for the students to read all at the same time.
$775	Fifth graders from Washington Elementary will connect with working writers when three authors visit via Skype during the school year. The goal of the project is to increase student motivation in reading and writing. The activity will occur during their regular instructional day.

$1,000	At the end of May, 75 5th grade students from West Hills Intermediate participated in an overnight field trip to the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) and the Oregon Zoo. This provided students the opportunity to experience inquiry-based science content in a real setting. This is the 15th year students have taken this trip.
$1,500	In April, 13 Pendleton High School ECMC (Education Credit Management Corporation) students participated in a college visitation trip to Central Oregon. They toured Central Oregon Community College, OSU Cascade Campus, and Columbia Gorge Community College. Students were able to make a connection between academics, work, and their future plans.
$224	On April 29, 15 students from Hawthorne Alternative High School toured the Pendleton Underground. They enjoyed learning about the rich history of the Pendleton community.
$500	Teachers Kathryn Youngman and Lori Albright requested funds to take their students from the PHS Spanish and French departments to the University of Oregon Foreign Language and International Studies Day on May 1-2, 2015. The conference exposed students to other languages and the opportunity to explore possible foreign language careers.
$1,500 in addition to $1,000 granted last fall	In May, 69 PHS seniors from Schelle Hand Bixler’s Honors Biology II classes participated in the Marine Biology field trip to the Oregon Coast. They visited two aquariums, explored sandy beach and rocky tide pool habitats and rode a research vessel in Yaquina Bay. Students were very positive overall, and many said they had been looking forward to the trip all year.
$168 in addition to $1,000 granted last fall	The PHS ASPIRE program (Access to Student Assistance Programs in Reach of Everyone) coordinated two college visitation opportunities for students. In the fall, 39 students toured Oregon State University, Western Oregon University, Linfield College, Columbia Sportswear Corporate Headquarters, and Mt. Hood Community College. This spring, five students visited Whitman College, Walla Walla Community College and Eastern Oregon University. Students were provided the opportunity to visit with school representatives at each campus.
$850	Three Pendleton High School seniors, under the direction of Culinary Arts Teacher Kristin Swaggart, participated in the FCCLA State Leadership Conference culinary competition. Additional information regarding this competition is located in another article in this newsletter.
$972	Twelve 7th and 8th grade students from Sunridge Middle School attended the Oregon Writing Festival at Portland State University on May 2, 2015. They participated in the full-day conference with 750 other students from Oregon, heard an author speak, shared a piece of their own writing, and heard writing by other students.
$225	Sixty-four 4th grade students from Sherwood Heights Elementary traveled to the Pendleton Center for the Arts for four days during one week in May. This provided opportunities for the students to develop and expand their art skills and talents. It also introduced them to a very valuable resource in our community. They worked with art materials in an environment designed to allow this process to flourish.
$500	Matthew Campbell, science teacher at PHS, took 20 students on an overnight trip into the Blue Mountains for the second annual Umatilla County Lepidoptera Field Study. Students collected and identified butterflies and host plants on the Upper Umatilla River. They then camped overnight at the Umatilla Forks Campground.

$800	In April 2015, Ann Sokoloski will coordinate the Pendleton School District (grades K-12) Art Show at the Pendleton Convention Center. This will be the 10th year for the show, with student art being displayed on banners and three-dimensional art displayed on tables and easels.
$504	Olivia Rush, PHS art teacher, has planned several opportunities for her students. Her Studio Art class visited the Portland Art Museum, the Art Institute of Portland and Pacific Northwest College of Art in November. A trip to Maryhill Museum of Art for her Visual Arts classes was cancelled due to inclement weather (to be rescheduled). Once each month, students in Visual Arts classes, Studio Art and Art I will view museum exhibits at the Pendleton Center for the Arts, as well as participate in exhibit-related art activities.
$1,000	Two 2-day field trips in May 2015 are planned for a total of 89 Honors Biology II PHS students to the Oregon Coast where they will learn about ecological relationships between plant life and animals living in the sandy beach, rocky tide pools, estuary, and near-shore rocky tide pool habitats. They will also visit two aquariums and ride in a research vessel in Yaquina Bay and on the ocean looking for whales, seals, and dolphins.
$1,200	In late January 2015, music teacher Emily Callendar plans to host a fiddle workshop with a professional fiddle player to introduce a variety of styles of traditional folk music to approximately 175 PHS, Sunridge Middle School and elementary strings students. The workshops will be held in the classroom during strings class times and the clinician will present a local concert for the community.
$1,000	Kathryn Youngman and Lori Albright, PHS Spanish and French teachers, will take students to the University of Oregon Foreign Language and International Studies Day in Eugene. The overnight trip will take place in May 2015, with 30-40 students expected to participate. The conference exposes students to other languages and provides an opportunity to explore possible foreign language careers.
$60	West Hills 3rd grade teachers Andrea Cress and Amy Pitner requested funds to purchase chalk pastels and liquid watercolor supplies to provide students with additional opportunities to create art using different media. The art will be on display during the Annual District Art Show at the Pendleton Convention Center in April 2015.
$1,000	ASPIRE (Access to Student Assistance Programs in Reach of Everyone) Coordinator Jill Gregg at PHS plans two “college tours” for students. The first will be an overnight visit to the Willamette Valley to visit Linfield College, Oregon State University, and Linn-Benton Community College. The second includes a day trip to Walla Walla to visit Whitman College, Walla Walla Community College and Walla Walla University. The purpose of the trips is to expose students to different types of post-secondary options, and inspire them to apply to college.

$2,200	In April, 17 PHS juniors and seniors in the Education Credit Management Corporation (ECMC) class participated in a college visit trip to Linn-Benton Community College, Western Oregon University, and Lane Community College. This trip allowed these students to better understand the relationship of academics to the world of work and life at home and in the community. The students also employed strategies to achieve future career goals with success, as well as conducted several fundraising activities to be used toward the expense of the trip.
$600	Ten Sunridge Middle School students attended the Oregon Writing Festival in May at Portland State University. Student writers from around the state in grades 4-12 gathered to share their writing, participate in writing workshops, and attend presentations by nationally-known professional writers.
$886	Lincoln Primary School hosted an Artist in Residence in March, and 176 students in grades kindergarten, 1st and 2nd worked with artist Jeanne Leffingwell to develop art appreciation skills. Leffingwell also helped students understand communication through visual arts.
$220	For four days in early June, 78 4th grade students from Sherwood Heights Elementary school participated in an art program at the Pendleton Center for the Arts. It offered students project-based and inquiry-oriented processes and provided students with the opportunity to develop and expand their skills and talents as they worked with art materials in an environment designed to allow the process to flourish.
$600	In May, 41 Spanish and French students from PHS attended the Foreign Language and International Studies Day at the University of Oregon in Eugene. This provided students with the opportunity to explore possible foreign language careers and study abroad opportunities, as well as exposed them to other languages besides the two taught at PHS.
$220	Forty students from Hawthorne Alternative High School toured the current exhibit at the Pendleton Center for the Arts and made their own art projects following instructions given by the tour guide. Prior to the field trip, students were given a writing prompt asking them to write about ideas, techniques and mediums involved in the art work they saw.
$841	In May, approximately 250 4th grade students from throughout the school district toured the Heritage Station Museum, which taught them the value of our local history through viewing the displays, discussing the stories, and participating in the experiences great-grandparents of these students might have had.
$500 In addition to $1,500 granted last fall	Sixty-nine Honors Biology II class students at PHS participated in an overnight trip to the Oregon Coast where they visited two aquariums, explored sandy beaches, and rocky tide pool habitats. They were expected to extend their knowledge of our marine ecosystem by visiting these habitats first-hand and searching for and handling animals discovered there.
$500	PHS students study moths in May (see article in Summer 2014 newsletter (PDF)).
$233	Sherwood students learn community mapping (see article in Summer 2014 newsletter (PDF)).

$1,500	Eighty-one Honors Biology II students from PHS will take an overnight field trip to Newport, Oregon in May 2014 to experience the coastal ecosystem firsthand.
$1,000	The Spanish and French Departments at PHS will take students to Eugene, Oregon in May 2014 for the University of Oregon Foreign Language and International Studies Day.
$800	In April 2014 and in its ninth year, Anne Sokoloski will be coordinating the Pendleton School District (grades k-12) Art Show. Classroom teachers submit the art to a building representative, and it is collected and displayed at the show held at the Pendleton Convention Center.
$1,000	Fifth grade classes from West Hills School will participate in an overnight field trip to O.M.S.I., the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. The trip will take place in May 2014.
$75	Thirty PHS Studio Art students will visit the Nightingale Gallery at Eastern Oregon University in March 2014.
$250	In November 2013, thirty-two PHS Visual Art students viewed museum exhibits, learned about regional history and enjoyed seeing fine art in a gallery setting during a visit to Maryhill Museum of Art in Goldendale, Washington.
$375	Thirty-four students from the Drawing and Painting class at PHS will visit the Portland Art Museum and the Oregon Zoo. This trip will provide students the opportunity to see firsthand some of the work from artists, art periods and different cultures. The portion of the trip to the zoo will allow for life sketching and drawing.

$1,798	388 Washington and 420 Sherwood Heights students had the opportunity to work with children’s author David Munsen, honing their creative writing skills and learning about how ideas become books.
$400 in addition to $1500 granted last fall	95 PHS students traveled to Newport with Honors Biology II teacher Schelle Hand Bixler where they explored the sandy beach ecosystem, rode in an ocean-going research vessel, and visited the Hatfield Marine Sciences Center and Oregon Coast Aquarium. One student remarked that the trip was “something I waited for the entire year,” while another said, “This would not have been as successful without your help!”
$824	175 students at Lincoln Primary School completed a week of arts enrichment with Artist in Residence Linda Davies-Gage, learning 3D drawing, color mixing, and art appreciation skills.
$1,649	391 students at Washington Elementary School are benefiting from the “Second Step Program,” a curriculum used by all students and staff, beginning in kindergarten and building each year through 5th grade. Students develop skills in the areas of listening, attention, following directions, empathy and problem solving.
$487 in addition to $1000 granted last fall	35 Students from the PHS Spanish and French departments traveled with instructors Kathryn Youngman and Lori Albright to Eugene for the University of Oregon Foreign Language and International Studies Day. “Super-ultra-omega fun times!” were reported by one student.
$452	65 2nd grade students from Sherwood Heights Elementary toured the Heritage Station Museum, the Children’s Museum and the Arts Center, as part of their social sciences unit on community and maps. For some students, this was their first visit to these local cultural resources.
$1,750	28 PHS students in the ECMC Scholars program traveled with instructor Jodi Bettineski to Portland, where they visited two- and four-year colleges, used public transportation, and visited the Nike campus, all with the aim of getting a glimpse of opportunities available beyond high school and outside of Umatilla County. Many ECMC Scholars are first-generation high school graduates who are overcoming challenges and embracing new opportunities.
$1,798	388 Washington and 420 Sherwood Heights students had the opportunity to work with children’s author David Munsen, honing their creative writing skills and learning about how ideas become books.
$400 in addition to $1500 granted last fall	95 PHS students traveled to Newport with Honors Biology II teacher Schelle Hand Bixler where they explored the sandy beach ecosystem, rode in an ocean-going research vessel, and visited the Hatfield Marine Sciences Center and Oregon Coast Aquarium. One student remarked that the trip was “something I waited for the entire year,” while another said, “This would not have been as successful without your help!”

$1,500	Ninety-five PHS students will put their Honors Biology II skills and knowledge to work at the Oregon coast this spring when they will travel to Newport with teacher Schelle Hand Bixler.
$800	Fourth grade students from all of the District elementary schools will visit the Heritage Station Museum as a hands-on supplement to their classroom history studies.
$1,000	Students from the PHS Spanish and French departments will travel with instructors Kathryn Youngman and Lori Albright to Eugene for the University of Oregon Foreign Language and International Studies Day.
$800	The artwork of hundreds of students throughout the District, from K-12, will be on display at the annual District Art Show, April 23-25, 2013, at the Pendleton Convention Center. The show is coordinated each year by instructor Anne Sokoloski.
$1,000	Fifth graders from West Hills Elementary School will take an overnight trip with teachers Jan Gundlach and Lori Powell to Portland to reinforce their science curriculum with special experiences at the Oregon Zoo and OMSI.
$415	Students from Sherwood and McKay Elementary Schools will participate in the District Choir Festival in La Grande, led by director Cheryl Carlson.
$780	Two students from Matthew Campbell’s Nixyaawii science classes traveled to the American Indian Science and Engineering Society National Conference in Anchorage, Alaska, where they presented the results of their research on the optical properties of first foods.
$200	Twelve students from Tina Williams’ art class at Homestead School will work with an instructor at the Pendleton Center for the Arts to develop special projects for display at the District Art Show this spring.

$800	Student artists from throughout the District displayed over 2,000 works of art at the District Art Show, coordinated by Washington Elementary teacher Anne Sokoloski.
$600	58 PHS Honors Biology II students traveled with teacher Schelle Hand Bixler to Newport to experience the coastal ecosystem firsthand. “We had a great time seeing all the things we learned of in class,” said one student.
$400	35 PHS students traveled with instructors Kathryn Youngman and Lori Albright to Eugene to explore language learning and cultural study at the University of Oregon Foreign Language and International Studies Day.
$450	12 PHS students in Sonia Cooley’s ProStart class traveled to Seattle to attend the Northwest Foodservice Show, where they took a practical look at careers in the hospitality industry.
$400	12 Nixya’awii Community School students traveled with teacher Timur Gaston to Eastern Oregon University and Baker City, where they worked with history students, librarians, and researchers to prepare for their own contributions to the Oregon Encyclopedia Project. A senior boy said, “I didn’t think college was for me, but I could come here and be successful.” A junior girl said, “I don’t enjoy the pressure of high school, but this trip makes me think I could go to college; it is different.”
$1,225	34 students in Paul Nolan’s Sunridge Middle School Leadership class traveled to Salem to attend the Oregon Association of Student Councils’ Spring Conference to hone their leadership and critical thinking skills.
$800	9 Sunridge Middle School students traveled with writing teacher, Chris Ferguson, to Portland to attend the Oregon Writing Festival at Portland State University, where they learned about the writing process, wrote their own short pieces, and practiced peer editing. “The trip was a great experience. I’m glad we had an opportunity to participate,” said one student.
$325	30 4th and 5th grade students from McKay and Sherwood elementary schools traveled with instructor Cheryl Carlson to La Grande to perform at the District Children’s Choir Festival. The students had rehearsed for months in preparation for the event. In the words of one student, “Choir is fun, amazing, and exciting.”

$750	40 PHS ProStart students attended the NW Food Service Show and Oregon Culinary Institute in Portland.
$1,200	160 students in the strings programs worked with a master fiddler in a 5-day artist workshop.
$1,000	50 West Hills students traveled to Portland to experience science at the Oregon Zoo and OMSI.
$595	17 PHS students participated in the Oregon Writing Festival.
$500	14 first-generation college-bound PHS students in the ECMC program traveled to local colleges to learn more about post-secondary options.
$465	60 Washington Elementary students watched a performance from American Theater Arts for Youth.
$180	75 Sherwood students created handmade books with artist in residence Roberta Lavadour.
$700	20 Sherwood and McKay students were selected for an All-State Elementary Honor Choir.
$900	280 4th graders learned about local history at the Heritage Museum.
$480	A new group of up to 20 young vocalists from Sherwood and McKay will rehearse for an upcoming performance with the All-State Elementary Honor Choir.
$1,400	85 PHS Honors Biology II students will again travel to the Oregon Coast.
$1,100	220 Sunridge students will experience Outd valign=”top”oor School in the spring.
$750	30 PHS ProStart students will attend this year’s Northwest Food Service Show in Seattle.
$800	About 40 PHS students will again travel to the University of Oregon to participate in a foreign language and international studies conference.
$750	353 McKay students will have a 2-week creative experience with ceramicist and artist in residence, Annie Heron.

$300	McKay Creek elementary 5th grade students traveled to Bend for an overnight science field trip. The trip included stops at the High Desert Museum, Lava River Caves and the Lava Lands National Monument.
$450	Honors Biology II students from PHS were able to see, smell and touch most of the animals and plants they studied in the classroom on their spring trip to the Oregon Coast. They netted shrimp and crabs, collected plankton, and explored sandy beaches, rocky tide pools and sea caves. They visited two outstanding aquariums and rode on the Marine Discovery boat.
$750	PHS junior and senior ProStart students traveled to Seattle for the 2010 Northwest Foodservice Show, toured the Art Institute of Seattle and experienced Pike’s Place Market.
$600	Literacy coach, Chris Ferguson traveled with middle and high school students to attend the Oregon Writing Festival at Portland State University.
$440	32 Foreign Language Club students from PHS attended the Foreign Language and International Studies Day in Eugene at the University of Oregon. The students had a great time and learned a lot about different foreign languages and cultures.
$600	Approximately 300 District 4th graders spent time at the Heritage Station Museum learning about early life in the West.
$400	PHS library assistant D-Ann Pahl, coordinated the Northwest Young Reader’s Choice Award.
$300	Counselor Barbara Larson at Sunridge engaged boys in the B.A.M. (Boys Advocacy and Mentoring) program throughout the school year.
$300	Sally Sundin at Sunridge was awarded a grant for the Art Party Crashers event.

$500	30 PHS Japanese Language students learned about Japanese culture through ancient techniques of living with nature and self-meditation at the Japanese Gardens in Portland.
$600	17 middle school and high school students attended the Oregon Writing Festival. “Being able to be together with other student writers, listen to experienced teachers and authors is an opportunity like no other to a blossoming young writer. Every year I leave the festival feeling inspired and charged to write,” said student Colee Mayfield.
$200	113 7th & 8th grade girls and 30 high school girls participated in “Girl Talk,” an investment in building positive self-esteem and conflict-solving skills.
$500	56 McKay Elementary students toured the Heritage Station Museum and were particularly intrigued with the Byrd School House and the old Caboose.
$300	K-12 art students participated in the annual Pendleton School District Art Show. Students were asked to evaluate, critique and express ideas about the art.
$400	Washington Elementary students enjoyed a school-wide music assembly and drumming workshops with recording artist Victor Johnson. “Students had joy on their faces in response to drumming and singing,” said 1st grade teacher Tracy Childress.
$200	366 students at McKay Creek Elementary attended a Writers’ Workshop with author Deborah Hopkinson. “Students learned about a real writer, the task of writing historical fiction, and about perseverance,” said 5th grade teacher Susan Fisher-Alexander.
$1,000	63 Pendleton High School seniors were able to travel to the Oregon coast on an Honors Biology II Marine Biology Field Trip. “This trip was a ton of fun and a great learning experience. We were immersed in our lessons and were able to see everything up close,” said student Tracy LeGore.
$300	74 McKay Creek Elementary 5th graders traveled to Bend to the High Desert Museum, Lava River Caves and the Lava Lands National Monument.