Satsop Elementary School
Satsop students are in their third week of school, with classes beginning Aug. 31. Principal Marsha Hendrick said having a short week and a holiday (Labor Day) eases the students and staff from the summer back to school.
Enrollment at the school is 72 students, which Hendrick said was up by about three or four students.
“We lost a big sixth-grade class, who graduated out, and picked up a big kindergarten class,” Hendrick said.
She said the students were eager for the challenges ahead in the school year, and that the first few weeks had been going well. Activities at the school include a book fair, a well-attended open house on Sept. 15 and an upcoming Washington State Fair field trip for fourth, fifth and sixth grade students.
Simpson Elementary School
Larger than anticipated fifth and sixth grade classes have prompted the creation of a new multiage classroom at Simpson Elementary School.
Simpson has three fifth-grade classes and four sixth-grade classes with 28 students in each room. One sixth-grade class has 29 students. The new combined class of both fifth and sixth grade students would be made up of three to four students pulled from each class. This will reduce the class size in each classroom to about 24 students, with one sixth-grade class topping out at 25.
Stephanie Klinger, principal of Simpson Elementary, said the school was asking families of fifth and sixth grade students to volunteer to transition, and then with the assistance of her staff, she would create a class list.
In a letter sent home, Klinger said the benefits of a multiage classroom included having children learn from each other, with older students solidifying their learning by teaching others. Other benefits, said Klinger, are that students develop connections with others across grade levels, and as leadership skills develop, bullying is decreased.
Also in the letter, Klinger said teachers in multiaged classrooms often use a project-based learning approach and may engage in differentiated instruction — where lessons are designed based on learning style, readiness and interest.
A teacher has been hired for the combined class and the classroom is expected to be ready by the end of the week, with students transitioning at the beginning of next week.
Klinger acknowledged that moving classrooms after school has already started may be difficult for some students as teacher-student relationships have already been established. Some parents had said they preferred if their child remains in their current class.
“I really love to hear that these connects have been established already,” Klinger said. The parents, she added, had been thoughtful and interested in the process.
Klinger said teacher Chad Martin would begin classes on Friday, Sept. 23. His position was approved at the Montesano School Board meeting held Sept. 22.
Elma High School
Elma High School is off to a great start this year, Principal Darrin Lowry said in an email.
The EHS staff started off with lessons of their own — professional development meetings focused on helping students achieve academically, while freshmen students learned the ins and outs of EHS at the Freshman Flight Academy, headed by Emily Wamsley and Christi Kershaw.
Thanks to Eric Smith, technology director, the high school implemented online registration, and almost every student had been registered by the first day of class, Lowry said.
The school hosted an open house with all the food donated by the Elma branch of Our Community Credit Union and Gordon’s Select Market.
“I have not seen that many parents at an open house in a long time. A big thank you to our parents and guardians,” Lowry said.
Lowry thanked the maintenance, grounds and custodial staff for their hard work in completing renovations at the school and athletic field with the school was able to host its first varsity home game at Davis Field in a few years. After the game, Lowry said the school held its first dance of the year, deejayed by teachers Emily Wamsley and Jamie Jo Hiles.
