January is Board Appreciation Month

/in /by

January is School Board Appreciation Month, and we recognize the hard work and dedication they give to the Pendleton School District!  YOU ARE APPRECIATED!

ELD Winter Event

ELD Program Winter Celebrations Event

/in /by

The Pendleton School District welcomed students in its ELD (English Language Development) Program to a family event on Thursday, December 14th, at the Pendleton Early Learning Center. The theme of the evening event was Winter Celebrations Around the World.

Former and current students and their families were invited. A variety of arts and crafts were set up at different tables in the PELC’s Commons, with activities from different countries. Activities included making a holiday card for England, lanterns and fortune cookies for China, a Hanukkah dreidel for Israel, mini pinatas for Mexico, and gingerbread house cookie decorating for Germany.

High School students in the ELD Program volunteered at the event, helping at the tables. Jaylene, a sophomore at Pendleton High School, was volunteering at the event “just because it’s really fun to help the kids do fun crafts.” She was helping with the gingerbread cookie decorating and said she was enjoying looking at everyone’s ways of decorating their house cookies because they were all very unique.

Auna Alferez attended the event with her two daughters, who are in third and fourth grade. She said her children like to come to family events like these. Asked what their favorite part of the night was, her two girls said, “Everything!”

According to Cary Wasem-Varela, ELD Teacher, the events the program staff previously organized were not very well attended, so they started talking to the parents. “We found out they didn’t want to come to events to fill out paperwork or be asked to serve on committees. They enjoy socializing and getting together, so we feel like we really succeeded with this arts and crafts winter event where they can have fun as a family.”

Julie Smith, Director of Special Programs for the Pendleton School District, said one of the goals at the event is for ELD staff to circulate and talk with parents and families. “Our bilingual educators help bridge the language gap so parents can share their thoughts about our program. The staff try to talk to as many families as they can to gather information on what is working well and how we can improve our programs,” Smith said.

About 115 students are currently enrolled in the Pendleton School District’s ELD Program, and they are K-12 students from all of the district’s schools.

ELD Winter Event ELD Winter Event ELD Winter Event ELD Winter Event ELD Winter Event ELD Winter Event ELD Winter Event ELD Winter Event ELD Winter Event ELD Winter Event ELD Winter Event ELD Winter Event ELD Winter Event ELD Winter Event

Canned Food

PHS Leadership Organizes Canned Food Drive

/in /by

District Food Drive Aims High to Help Community

All schools in the Pendleton School District worked hard for their community this holiday season through the district-wide Annual Food Drive. Organized by Leadership Class students at Pendleton High School, this annual effort collects non-perishable food items from schools across the district.

According to Lea, PHS Senior and Chair of the Food Drive Committee, the goal of this year’s drive is to collect more than 2,000 food items. At the high school, students have donated food items in their Advisory class, and leadership students have kept track of which class has given the most. There are two categories that can win prizes.

PHS students recently traveled to the other schools in the district to pick up those donations.

Lea said the drive has gone well. “I like that this project helps people in our community, and I like being part of that. I also think students feel good when they can help someone less fortunate,” she said.

PHS brought in more than 2,800 cans of food. The expected total for the Food Drive is more than 8,000 cans. The food will be given to St. Mary’s Outreach and Salvation Army in Pendleton.

Parent Teacher Conferences

Fall Parent/Teacher Conferences

/in /by

Parent/Teacher conferences will be held on November 20 & 21, 2023.  Please contact your student’s school if you have questions.

K-5
Monday, Nov 20:  4 – 8 pm
Tuesday, Nov 21: 7:30 am – 7:00 pm

SMS
Monday, Nov 20:  4 – 8 pm
Tuesday, Nov 21: 7:30 am – 1 pm,  2 – 7 pm

PHS
Monday, Nov 20:  4 – 8 pm (commons)
Tuesday, Nov 21: 7:30 am – 1 pm (virtual), 2 – 4 pm (virtual), 4 – 7 pm (commons)

First Student

First Student Safety Stand-Down Week

/in /by

First Student, LLC., the transportation company Pendleton School District contracts with to bus students, is increasing its focus on safety with a Safety Stand-Down Week from October 25-31. This is a special event in which company leaders pause to talk directly to employees about safety and provide education and training on specific safety topics.

According to materials from First Student, the company is having the event because “we have a responsibility to learn from recent safety incidents and ensure they do not happen again by reinforcing fundamental safety principles.”

Stand-Down Week will focus on three key areas: Manage Distractions, Focus on the Task at Hand, and Apply Your Training. Some of the safety practices being re-emphasized for bus drivers are:

  • Perform one task at a time
  • Maintain situational awareness
  • Stop and restart if you miss a step
  • If you are late, stay late
  • Properly adjust your seat & mirrors
  • Look left, look right, look left

According to Patrick Phillips, Location Manager for First Student, the Pendleton location employees will be able to sign Safety Pledges, watch reminder videos, and get daily reminder posts during the event. First Student will also be running special safety radio messages. “The Safety Stand-Down is an opportunity for our company to reiterate to employees to get back to the basics of safety,” Phillips said.

Matt Yoshioka, Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment at Pendleton School District, said the district is pleased that First Student has organized Stand-Down Week to re-focus on safety. “Student safety while being transported to and from school is a top priority for First Student and our district, just as keeping students safe at school is,” Yoshioka said.

First Student

EOA TV logo

Live Broadcast of PHS Football Games

/in /by

Exciting news for PHS football!  EOA Network will be broadcasting PHS football games this year, and they are starting tonight, September 1, 2023.  You can stream the games on the following platforms:

EOAlive.TV
https://www.facebook.com/EOAliveTV
https://www.youtube.com/eoalivetv

GO BUCKS!!!!

Kevin Headings

Superintendent Message – August 21, 2023

/in , /by

August 21, 2023

Dear PSD Parents –

The start of school is only a few days away. This time of year is always exciting, with new classes, new teachers, new faces, and the overall start of a new year.

Our teachers and staff are excited to serve you and your child(ren). The principals are already back at work, along with the secretaries, teachers, and support staff, preparing their buildings, yearly plans, and school functions for the 2023-24 school year.

The safety and security of our district facilities is always our highest priority. We’ve spent a good portion of the summer making sure our emergency plans are highly functional and in place and that our buildings have strong security. Recently, our district safety team attended a regional “Safety Summit” at the Pendleton Convention Center. Our plans, procedures, and security measures are comprehensive, strong, and effective.

After attending this summit, there are several things that are important for you, as parents, to do and not do if there is an emergency/crisis at your child’s school. Please see below.

Do:

  • Go to the district website for the latest information, including where to pick up your child or what to do next.
  • Listen to local radio – 1290 KUMA or 103.5 FM – for information
  • Visit the Pendleton School District Facebook page

Don’t:

  • Call the school or district office, as the phone lines will be needed for the school/district to communicate with 1st responders and emergency personnel.
  • Go to the school – you won’t be able to get in as it will be sectioned off. First responders and emergency personnel need the space to operate.

While we know that in situations like this, stress levels will be high, it is best to be prepared ahead of time.

And now, a few logistics for the new school year. The first day of school for all our students is Tuesday, August 29.   We will have bussing routes and bussing information on our district website the week before school starts. Additionally, we have added 5 minutes to our school day, so please check the website of your child’s school, or call the school for school day start times and end times, along with any other questions you may have.

One more logistic about our school year. 6th and 9th graders will have orientation on Monday, August 28. Kindergarten and 1st graders will have a soft start from August 29-31. Again, please visit the school’s website, or call the school’s office for specific information regarding K-1, 6th, and 9th grade soft start and orientation.

We are excited to see our students and families back in our buildings and looking forward to serving you for the 2023-24 school year.   I wish you a great start to the school!

Sincerely,
Kevin Headings, Superintendent

Summer Lunch Program

/in /by

The Summer Lunch Program will be at the PELC from 11:30-12:30 beginning June 19 – August 18, Monday – Thursday (Closed July 4).

Rules of the Summer Lunch Program:
1. Must be 1-18 years of age
2. All food and milk must be consumed in the cafeteria
3. No one over the age of 18 or under the age of 1 can eat or drink any part of the meal
4. Shoes and Shirts must be worn
5. No horseplay

psd shield logo

Pendleton School District
107 NW 10th Street, Pendleton, OR 97801
Phone:  541.276.6711  Fax:  541.278.3208

The Pendleton School District assures that no person shall on the grounds of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability or income as provided by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and related authorities, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any Pendleton School District sponsored program or activity.

Accessibility Statement   |   Nondiscrimination Policy   |  USDA Nondiscrimination Statement  |  Public Complaint Procedure  |  Safe Oregon
© Pendleton School District 16R. All Rights Reserved