Welcome to PSD – Sami Spriet

November 25, 2024/in District Site News, Sunridge News /by rthornburg

Sami Spriet
7^th & 8^th Grade Science Teacher
Sunridge Middle School

Sami grew up in Pendleton and graduated with the Pendleton High School Class of 2020.

She went to college at Eastern Oregon University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Ecological Biology as well as her Master of Arts degree in teaching.

“I am super excited to get to know all of the students as well as get to work with some amazing people!” Sami said about her new job.

When she has free time, Sami likes to attend concerts, read, be outdoors and spend time with friends and family.

Pendleton School District Superintendent Announces Resignation

November 5, 2024/in District Site News, News - District & All Schools /by rthornburg

Pendleton School District Superintendent Kevin Headings announced he will not look to extend his contract past the 24-25 school year and will resign effective June 30, 2025. Headings was hired as Superintendent of Pendleton School District in April of 2022. He signed a three-year contract through June 2025.

Headings said upon being hired, he was thrilled with this new chapter in his life and excited about the opportunity to lead Pendleton School District as superintendent. Headings said he’s pleased with what’s been accomplished during his time as superintendent and positive with the direction the school district is headed.

However, while Headings said he was excited with the new opportunity and the progress of the district overall, he realized over time that his heart is still in working as a building principal. “I’m pleased with our work around improving instruction and making our buildings safe for our students and staff and I’m confident with the direction the district is headed. I look forward to finishing out the year strong.” Headings said, “But I’ve realized, over the past year and a half or so, that my heart just isn’t in it. I kept thinking it would change, but it really hasn’t. I’ve been a principal in several different districts and superintendent in two. Working as a building principal with daily interactions with teachers, staff, students and parents is truly where my heart and passion are,” Headings said.

Headings said he is grateful for his time in Pendleton and for the opportunity the Pendleton School District afforded me. He has enjoyed getting to know the people of Pendleton, working with the various staff in the district, and working with the school board, he said.

Welcome to PSD – Erin Zacharias

October 24, 2024/in District Site News, Sunridge News /by rthornburg

Erin Zacharias
Special Education Teacher
Sunridge Middle School

Erin grew up in Pendleton and Pilot Rock. She attended Lincoln Elementary and graduated from Pilot Rock High School.

For college, she went to Grand Canyon University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Special Education.

About working in the Pendleton School District, Erin said, “I am excited I get to work with all the same coworkers I have had for the last two years and collaborate with them in a different role.”

In her free time, Erin likes to cook, bake, go on walks, and watch movies.

Sunridge Middle School Receives Grant for Weight Room Equipment

October 22, 2024/in District Site News, Sunridge News /by rthornburg

Students at Sunridge Middle School have some new equipment to help them get physically stronger this school year. The school received a grant of $7,850 from the Pendleton Foundation Trust to purchase new items for the weight room.

They purchased 20 40-pound dumbbells, 10 weight benches and three floor mats.

Tim Cary, P.E. Teacher, said the new equipment has allowed them to expand the variety of lifts, allowed for a safer environment to exercise in, and provided the opportunity for several students to lift more weight and set new goals.

“We want to say thank you to the Pendleton Foundation Trust for helping us continue to improve our facilities. The grant money has truly changed the weight room and the students’ attitudes in a very positive way,” Cary said.

Sunridge Middle School Students Create Pottery

October 17, 2024/in District Site News, Sunridge News /by rthornburg

New this year at Sunridge Middle School is an opportunity for students to try their hand at pottery using electric pottery wheels. Principal Piper Kelm said the school purchased 25 new wheels for classes this year.

In a recent art class, students in 6^th, 7^th and 8^th grades were each seated behind a pottery wheel with lumps of clay, working hard to create ceramic mugs.

Wayne Small is the new Art Teacher at SMS. He said one thing he really likes about pottery is that students who feel that they aren’t talented in drawing or painting can be given the confidence to excel with clay. “Pencils and paint are readily available materials, and the students who do well practice constantly. But with clay, everyone starts closer to the same ability level, so it gives those students a chance to feel successful in the visual arts,” Small said.

Natalie, a 7^th Grader, was working on her project to make a mug for her little cousin. She had never worked on a pottery wheel before but said, “It’s pretty fun, and I like how it’s turning out.”

Two other 7^th graders, Jacob and Miles, were working together on forming a cup. Jacob said it’s hard to shape the clay, but he took the class because he would like to do more art projects. Miles said he has liked the drawing and now the pottery. “I like the creativity of the class,” he said.

2023-24 State Assessment Results

October 3, 2024/in District Site News, News - District & All Schools /by rthornburg

The Pendleton School District has received the 2023-2024 state assessment results from the Oregon Department of Education. The Statewide Assessment System (SBAC) includes summative assessments administered annually, as required by the State and Federal Departments of Education. These assessments are given to students in grades 3 – 8 and 11 in the areas of math, language arts and science.

Scores improved from the previous year in 9 of the 17 areas tested, specifically in the following grades and subjects: grade 3 math, grade 3 language arts, grade 4 math, grade 4 language arts, grade 7 math, grade 8 language arts, grade 11 science, grade 11 math and grade 11 language arts.

The highest gains are in grade 11 language arts with a 19.9% increase in the number of students meeting the achievement standards, grade 8 language arts with an 11.6% increase and grade 7 math with an 11.8% increase.

The areas where test results dropped by 5% or more were grade 5 science, grade 5 math, grade 5 language arts, and grade 6 math.

PSD administrators, teachers and staff continually work toward academic improvement and success for all students in all areas. The district will dive deeper into the test results in the coming weeks to identify specific areas which may need a more focused effort.

“Although we’d like to see improvement and growth in all areas, we are encouraged by these preliminary results. These improvements in nine areas, some very significant, validates all the hard work our staff do each day to educate every student, every day.” -Kevin Headings, Superintendent

“We appreciate the support from families and students who participate in these assessments. The results of these assessments provide feedback to our teachers and administrators to help identify where our greatest needs are.” – Matt Yoshioka, Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment

Detailed state, district and school results may be found at: https://www.oregon.gov/ode/educator-resources/assessment/Pages/Assessment-Group-Reports.aspx

Immunization Clinic and Well Child Visits

September 17, 2024/in District Site News, News - District & All Schools /by rthornburg

The Student Based Health Clinic is holding well child visits and immunization clinics at the Pendleton Early Learning Center. This is available to all PSD students with no cost to families.

October 14, 2024
November 18, 2024
December 9, 2024
January 27, 2025

Services offered :
Well Child Exams
Vision Screening
Immunizations
Referrals as needed

Please call ahead to make an appointment at 541-966-3857 or 541-966-3432

District Seeking Applicants for Vacant School Board Position

June 18, 2024/in District Site News /by rthornburg

District Seeking Applicants for Vacant School Board Position

Due to a recent vacancy, the Pendleton School District is seeking applicants for Position 6 on the Pendleton School Board; 3 years remain on this term. Applicants must be legally registered voters who currently reside and will have resided within the district boundaries for one year immediately before the appointment.

Please submit applications no later than July 15, 2024, to the Pendleton School District Office at 107 NW 10^th Street, or they may be emailed to Ronda Thornburg – Board Secretary

Application letters should include:

Full Name
Physical Residence Address
Phone Number
Email address, and…

Address the following:

Why you would like to serve on the School Board?
A list of prior involvement in district activities.
A description of your understanding of the role of an effective board member.

Should you have any questions, you may contact the board chair, Beth Harrison.

Sunridge Middle School – 5th Grade Night

May 24, 2024/in District Site News, Sunridge News /by rthornburg

On Tuesday evening, May 21, 2024, Sunridge Middle School staff was on a mission to get fifth grade students and their families excited about middle school! The school hosted the 5th Grade Night to introduce fifth grade students from the district’s three elementary schools to Sunridge, where they will attend sixth grade in the 24-25 school year.

The event got off to a great start, with families enjoying hamburgers served by SMS Leadership students. Then, Principal Piper Kelm introduced all of the sixth-grade teachers and went through a short slideshow to discuss what sixth grade is like. She reiterated that some things are the same in middle school, like math, language arts, and science, but some things are different because students go to separate classrooms for each one. Other points Kelm made were the school’s No Cell Phone Use policy for students during the school day and three-minute passing times to get to your next class.

Principal Kelm also mentioned that sports are available, more food choices at lunch, the importance of regular attendance, and the social-emotional learning and supports that Sunridge Middle School has in place for students.

A couple of students from SMS Leadership talked about fun school spirit/dress-up days, Friday reward activities, and student Activity Nights that occur throughout the year. “You will want to get involved in these activities here!” they said.

After the presentation, fifth graders and their parents toured the sixth-grade hallway and classrooms, met teachers, and asked questions.

Principal Kelm said that 5^th Grade Night is always a positive time to showcase SMS and connect with fifth grade students and parents. “We want them to feel comfortable when they arrive at Sunridge in August, and introducing them to our building and teachers now helps in that process,” Kelm said.

Currently, the Pendleton School District has 238 incoming fifth graders to the middle school in the fall.

PSD Art Show Recap

April 11, 2024/in District Site News, News - District & All Schools /by rthornburg

Hundreds of Pendleton School District students took field trips to the annual District Art Show on April 9 and 10 to see their own artwork and that of fellow students in the district. The event at the Pendleton Convention Center was also attended by hundreds of district parents, families, and community members.

A wide variety of artwork was on display at the event, from textiles, wooden collages, and painted masks to bird sculptures and paintings.

The show kicked off on Monday, April 8, with an Opening Night celebration that included free books and cookies handed out by Altrusa International of Pendleton.

Abbey Prevot, Art Teacher at Pendleton High School, and John Bradt, Art Teacher at Sunridge Middle School, organized this year’s show. “It’s very exciting to have the show up, and for me, it’s completely new. It’s great to see all K-12 art together. It’s helped our programs make connections with the elementary schools and be able to collaborate on this huge project,” Prevot said.

Bradt said since this is the first year he and Prevot have organized the event, it was a little stressful, but the show turned out great. His favorite part is the variety of the art, even within each classroom where they are doing the same project, but all the pieces look different.

The district thanks the Education Foundation of Pendleton for funding this year’s art show.