Spring has arrived, and with it comes a sense of renewal and fresh energy. After the long winter months, this is the time of year when we all begin to shake off the cold, step back outside, and refocus on what’s ahead. In our schools, spring is when we come out of “hibernation” and finish the year strong.
This season is also about hope. We see it in the longer days, the warmer weather, and the growth happening all around us. That same sense of possibility lives in our classrooms as students continue learning, growing, and preparing for the end of the school year. Our staff and students are continuing to do amazing and meaningful things each day, as you can see in the events and activities that are featured in this newsletter.
As we head into these final months, one thing matters more than ever—attendance. Being at school every day makes a real difference. Each day builds on the last, and staying engaged now helps students feel confident and successful as we wrap up the year. We appreciate your help in making attendance a priority this spring.
There’s still a lot to look forward to...all the projects, activities, celebrations, and important milestones, like graduation. Let’s keep the momentum going and support one another in making these last months meaningful and successful.
As always, thank you for everything you do to support our schools. It's a pleasure and honor to work in and be a part of community who supports our students and staff.
Let’s enjoy the season and finish strong, together.
Take care,
Ms. Nieraeth
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In science class, our 5th grade classes have been exploring the difference between physical and chemical changes in a fun, hands-on way! Students created their own “Temu lava lamps” using baking soda, water, and vinegar. This mixture produced carbon dioxide (CO₂) bubbles, showing a chemical change because a new substance was formed.
To make it even more engaging, students added popcorn kernels and watched them move up and down in the graduated cylinders as the bubbles lifted them—just like a lava lamp! They then compared these newly created bubbles to the bubbles in a sealed can of soda. This helped students see the difference between a chemical change (creating new bubbles through a reaction) and a physical change (releasing already-existing bubbles by shaking a soda can).
It was a fun and memorable way to bring science concepts to life!
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SJSHS held its annual Doernbecher fundraiser during March, and was it successful! This was truly a team effort, and a wonderful example of what can happen when a community comes together for a great cause. Staff, students, families, and local partners all played an important role in supporting Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, and we are proud to share that together SJSHS raised an incredible $13,500.
Throughout the fundraising period, SJSHS was filled with energy, creativity, and generosity. A wide variety of events helped make this success possible, including school dances, a fun run, local restaurant partnership nights, flamingo flocking, the SES change drive, bingo, and the always-anticipated sabotage basketball game.
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Each event gave students and families a chance to get involved in different ways, and participation across the board was outstanding.
One of the biggest highlights was sabotage basketball, which brought excitement and laughter to everyone involved while raising over $2,600 on its own. Events like this not only contributed financially but also helped build a strong sense of school spirit and community connection.
We are incredibly grateful to everyone who donated, volunteered, participated, and helped spread the word. Your generosity and enthusiasm made a meaningful difference. A special thank you goes to Santiam Canyon for their partnership and support in helping make this effort possible.
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The new Santiam High School football & track bleacher cover is officially complete and ready for our students, families, and community to enjoy.
We’re incredibly grateful to Dave and Joey Walczak, Josh Childress, and the Farline Bridge, Inc. crew, along with the generous support from Kingwood Construction, Frank Lumber, Freres Plywood, McGee Engineering, and Taylor Metal. Thanks also goes to Gale Holfert for his vision and help in getting this project off the ground
This project is especially meaningful as it honors the legacy of Dale Walczak, a devoted Wolverine fan who, alongside his wife Sharon, never missed a chance to cheer under the Friday night lights, rain or shine.
This new addition stands as a tribute to that spirit—bringing comfort to fans today and for generations to come.
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SES' 4th grade classes had an incredible visit to the High Desert Museum on April 14, where they participated in a Discovery Class on Animal Defenses. This hands-on experience brought Life Science standards to life as students explored how plants and animals survive and adapt in their environments. |
During their self-guided tour, students made meaningful connections between the exhibits and the ecosystems the 4th grade has been studying in class. One of the biggest highlights was how naturally the experience complemented their Oregon Trail unit in Social Studies, giving students a firsthand look at the environments encountered by explorers and pioneers as they settled in the Oregon Territory. |
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We are excited to share that former Santiam counselor and local author Debi Meier has generously donated her newest book, Vacation at Loch Ness: The Doorman Family Adventures, to our school library.
This latest addition to the Doorman Family Adventures series holds special meaning for our school community, as it includes an acknowledgment thanking Santiam student Alyssa Clayton for her inspiration.
Students who enjoy adventure and mystery are encouraged to explore this new title, along with other books in the series already available in our collection:
- An Encounter with a Beast
- The Queen Mary
- The Tingling Baseball
We invite students and staff to visit the SJSHS library and check out these engaging reads!
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During Parent/Teacher Conference week at SES, students had the opportunity to visit the SES Book Fair with their classes during their scheduled library time. This gave every student a chance to explore a wide variety of books and discover new titles that sparked their interest. The Book Fair was also open during conference hours on Thursday and Friday, allowing families to shop together and share in the excitement of choosing new books.
We are thrilled to share that the Book Fair was a great success! Thanks to your support, we reached total sales of $4,760.72. Because of this, SES will receive 25% of the profits from Scholastic, which will go directly back into the library. These funds will help purchase new books, update collections, and continue to provide engaging resources for all students.
Thank you to everyone who supported the Book Fair, whether by purchasing books, visiting during conferences, or encouraging a love of reading at home. Your support truly makes a difference in helping us build a strong reading community!
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Missoula Children’s Theatre came to Santiam Canyon during Spring Break this year. The play that was performed a fresh, fun twist to a classic tale with Beauty Lou and the Country Beast, an original country-western adaptation of Beauty and the Beast.
Set in the American West, this country-western adaptation of Beauty and the Beast follows Beauty Lou, the oldest daughter of a bronc-bustin’ balladeer. After calling a rude miner a “beast” at the county fair, she later encounters him again—truly transformed—when her family is at risk of losing their farm.
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To save her family, Beauty Lou agrees to befriend him, and together they learn to look beyond appearances and discover the beauty within.
Over 40 students from Santiam Canyon, Scio, Salem and Sublimity participated in this amazing event. Rehearsals and two performances took place over Spring Break, with both performances having over 100 people attend.
We have many community partners’ help make this possible, including the Santiam PTO. Thank you to Caroline Gillaspy for her efforts in bringing this event to the Canyon!
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SJSHS's Advanced band recently participated in the Oregon Music Education Association’s District 11 Large Ensemble Festival, held at West Albany High School. This marked their first time attending this event, making it a big milestone for the band program.
During the festival, students performed five different musical pieces and received valuable feedback from three experienced judges. They also had the opportunity to work directly with another music educator during a clinic session, where they gained helpful insights and strategies to continue improving their performance.
We are incredibly proud of how our students represented our school. In their first appearance at this festival—while competing against schools as large as 5A—they performed at a very high level and came close to qualifying for the state competition. This is a tremendous accomplishment and a testament to their hard work, dedication, and growth.
Congratulations to our band students on a fantastic performance!
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Spring sports are under way! Our High School Baseball, Softball, and Track teams are competing well within our district and region. Games and meets are happening each week, and our student - athletes are working hard. Santiam hosted the high school home track meet on April 9th and the junior high home track meet on April 8th. |
Junior High and High School softball and baseball teams are all working hard in their districts. Games are being played each week by all teams, so please come on down to the fields to cheer on all of our student - athletes. Updated schedules can be found at this link: https://shs.santiam.k12.or.us/78783_1. |
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Our 8th grade students recently visited Oregon State University for a College Experience Day. Led by the Office of Precollege Programs, students participated in a guided campus tour and explored the PRAx Center for the Creative Arts.
A highlight of the visit was an engaging Q&A session where students discussed common college myths and learned the realities of planning for higher education. This experience gave students valuable insight into college life and helped them begin thinking about their future academic pathways.
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SES recently launched an exciting, schoolwide initiative designed to celebrate positive behavior and maintain strong momentum throughout the spring season: the FANTA-stic Behavior Challenge.
This friendly challenge focuses on reinforcing positive choices, recognizing student behavioral growth, and supporting the great work already taking place across the school. It aims to build a positive environment where students feel encouraged and acknowledged for their efforts.
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The campaign officially kicked off with a video premiere at the April 2 assembly, where the challenge was introduced to all students. Posters have been placed throughout the building, and staff members were provided with materials to help reinforce behavioral expectations. As an added incentive, students will earn an outdoor FANTA soda celebration on April 30 if the school meets its goal, with additional details to be shared soon.
This initiative ensures that students’ positive choices and hard work are seen and appreciated while continuing to strengthen a culture of encouragement and growth. Great job, SES!
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Spring is a crucial time in the school year. Students are learning final lessons, preparing for tests, and completing important projects. Missing school now can make it harder to keep up.
Regular attendance also helps students stay in a routine, feel confident, and stay connected with their teachers and classmates. Many special activities and celebrations happen in the spring, and we want every student to be part of them.
We appreciate your support in making sure your child attends school every day and finishes the year strong!
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May 13th - Regular School Board Meeting @ 6pm at SCSD District Office
May 25th - NO SCHOOL - Memorial Day
May 29th - Friday School
June 5th - Class of 2026 Graduation @ SJSHS
June 10th - Regular School Board Meeting @ 6pm at SCSD District Office
June 11th - Last Day of School for Students - Early Release
June 12th - Last Day of School for Teachers
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