Sublimity School will start out the new school year with a new principal.
Ryan Westenskow formerly worked in the La Grande School District, and will replace Missy Riesterer, who retired in June.
The North Santiam School District will also be opening Options Academy for in-person learning for Stayton High School students in grades 9-12.
“This will be happening in temporary quarters across the street from SHS until the Options Academy building is constructed,” said Andy Gardner, superintendent. “We hope to complete the building during the upcoming school year.”
NSSD is also in the middle of completing a turf softball field at SHS. Gardner said the work, including an irrigation system in the outfield, will be complete in the coming weeks.
“Working with the SHS Boosters, the gym floor at Stayton High School has been refinished and painted with new colors and Eagles,” he said. “We are excited to have the community attend games and see the changes.”
Gardner senses an overwhelming commitment and resolve from both staff and parents to have school be in person this fall.
“Most of the nervousness that has been communicated is a fear that schools will be moved to distance learning,” he said about feedback the district has received. “There has never been a time when going to school was so important to our kids. We all agree about that, and I look forward to cooperating with our families and our community to making this happen.”
Regis St. Mary
Principal Candi Hedrick at Regis St. Mary School said both campuses have undergone extensive upgrade this summer as a result of a successful Building Our Future capital campaign.
“St. Mary has new flooring, a fresh coat of interior and exterior paint, beautiful new ceilings and LED lights, and technology upgrades in each classroom,” Hedrick said. “The Regis High School classrooms air conditioning units have been installed, our counseling center has been expanded, the Chapel has been enhanced and upgraded, and the new landscaping has our grounds looking better than ever.”
Students, staff and parents are ready to return to school this fall, Hedrick said.
“We were able to fully return in January of last year,” she said. “With the protocols we had in place, we were able to finish the school year strong and healthy!”
Hedrick said outdoor learning spaces will be created on both campuses so that students and teachers will have access to flexible spacing and classroom environments both indoors and outdoors during the school day.
“Our schools will also be following the mask mandates and will continue with the increased cleaning schedules, which we began at the start of COVID,” she said. “Ensuring a healthy environment for staff and students is still an on-going priority.
The Regis St. Mary community has been “incredibly supportive during the pandemic and that has made all the difference as we navigate educational changes and new policies.” Hedrick added, “It’s clear that our children are a priority in this community, and we are thankful to have the support needed to keep our schools open and fully functioning.”
Cascade
Superintendent Darin Drill welcomed Cascade School District families to the new school year by saying, “Without a doubt, this is the start of the most unique school year I’ve ever experience. I can also say without a doubt that we have the staff and students that can handle these challenges.”
Over the summer, Drill said Cascade administrators worked hard to prepare the District for the upcoming school year.
“Obviously, this year’s opening has been challenging considering all the mandates that have been put on school districts since the end of July,” Drill said. “Many students and parents are nervous and frustrated about what school will look like for their students considering what COVID has done to all of us.”
Drill said some parents are unhappy about the mask mandate that was handed down to schools, while other parents want Cascade to follow every rule that has been given.
“The schools are stuck in the middle of the debate trying to figure out a way to best educate every student to the best of our ability,” Drill said. “Cascade is committed to doing just that… educating every student the best way we can. Cascade staff is outstanding, and I fully believe that they will once again do great things with our students.”
Recently The Oregonian ran an article that showed Cascade School District was 8th out of every school district in the state for face-to-face instruction in the last school year, Drill said.
“We accomplished that with minimal COVID issues and with no COVID spread among staff and students,” he said. “We believe that having local control over school decisions is the best way to get students into school safely and address their social emotional needs. We continue to advocate for local control with ODE and the Governor’s office and will not stop doing so. However, Cascade will not violate the law.”
Drill reports that Cascade is a part of the Willamette Career Academy this year. “The former Toys ‘R’ Us building in Salem has been renovated and converted into a career and technical education center for students in this region,” he said. “We have a number of students signed up for the career pathways that are offered and will add more students in the 2022-23 school year
as well.”
According to Drill, Cascade continues to have over a 93 percent graduation rate and over a 95 percent freshmen on-track rate, some of the highest rates in the state. “We are looking forward to a great school year,” said Drill, who told students, parents and staff, “I can’t wait to see the amazing things students will do this year!”
Santiam Canyon
Todd Miller, superintendent of the Santiam Canyon School District, doesn’t want COVID to overshadow “all the great work happening in our schools this year.”
“There is a lot of anxiety and concern over the return to school this fall, from COVID safety concerns to masks to vaccines,” Miller said. “It is a difficult time to navigate all these challenges, but our community is good at rising above and I feel confident we will persevere through this as well.”
Since the state mandates masks to be worn inside of buildings again, Miller said COVID protocols are being followed.
“Even with the new mandates, our goal remains to offer students the most effective in-person school experience we can, while maintaining and environment of safety and respect,” Miller said. “I have to say, COVID aside, we have the best systems, programs and staffing prepared for our schools this coming year that I have yet to see in this district.
“Our new campus is ready to be fully used: new junior/senior high school and new gymnasium and our elementary cafeteria,” he added. “Along with finished construction, we are adding new programs and supports from preschool through high school. We have the most amazing and comprehensive programming slated for the coming year. It is exciting!”
Miller said the district is not offering a full-distance program this year. Families who want an online learning option will either have to partner with Oregon Charter Academy or choose to homeschool.
“With that said, we do not want to lose families,” he said. “We love our kiddos and hope that conditions/mandates change so we can regain local control.”
Miller doesn’t want staff and community to lose focus on the “great things happening and new ideas taking shape.”
“I am thoroughly impressed with our team and the possibilities for the coming year, yet we stand at one of the most precarious crossroads I have ever seen,” he said. “I have confidence that all will work out. The kiddos of the Canyon deserve the best, and we intend to continue to offer it to them. We will do our job to keep our schools safe, while looking after our kids and our staff in these difficult times. It’s what we do.”
