Dear Families, Staff, and Community Members,
As we reach the midpoint of the school year, I want to pause and say thank you. I’m grateful for the work our staff puts in every day, the support our families provide at home, and the way our community continues to show up for kids. In a small district, every effort matters—and it truly takes all of us. I’m proud of our students and grateful for the way they represent our school every day.
I’m committed to keeping our focus on our four pillars—Relationships, Hope, Growth, and Excellence—and this midyear update shares a few examples of what that has looked like this semester. At the end of the day, it comes down to this: every student deserves to feel supported, connected, and pushed to grow.
This semester, we launched College in the High School (CiHS)—and it’s already creating real opportunity for students and real savings for families. The best part is that students can earn college credit for free, on our campus, with teachers they already know—removing barriers and helping more students see college as something they can do. Our students earned 275 Eastern Washington University credits, saving families an estimated $71,269 in tuition this semester. That number represents more than savings—it represents access and momentum. I’m thankful to the staff who made this possible and proud of the students who stepped up and took advantage of it right away.
We’ve also expanded our Career and Technical Education (CTE) options, giving students more hands-on, career-connected learning opportunities, and we already have plans in place for additional CTE options next year. Opportunities like CTE and dual credit help students connect learning to real life and take meaningful steps toward their future—and expanding dual credit opportunities is something we will continue to work on so more students have access to these options.
Supporting students doesn’t stop when the bell rings. We’ve started a weekend backpack meal program for students who need food assistance over the weekend, with help and support from local community partners. I’m truly grateful to everyone involved—this is our community at its best. We’ve also launched a new after-school snack program to help ensure students have what they need to learn and participate after the final bell. And this year we started an esports program, creating another positive way for students to connect, build teamwork, and represent our school.
We’ve also made improvements that strengthen safety, comfort, and pride in our buildings and spaces, including playground fencing, new gym mats, and window tinting. It’s been great to see students benefiting from these upgrades every day.
We also implemented a new district website and app to make it easier for families and community members to stay connected. This gives us a more consistent way to share updates, calendars, announcements, and emergency notifications in one place. If you haven’t already, please download the app and turn on notifications so you don’t miss weather closures, reminders, or important announcements. Thank you for your patience as we continue to fine-tune it—feedback is always welcome.
As we move into the second half of the year, our focus remains clear: strong instruction, positive student experiences, and steady progress on the things that matter most—student learning, student belonging, and safe, supportive spaces. A key priority this spring is continuing to strengthen attendance and engagement, because students benefit most when they are here every day. You’ll see us staying consistent with family communication and supports—and celebrating students who are making progress.
Thank you again for your continued trust and partnership. A special thank-you to our entire team—teachers, paraeducators, office staff, transportation, food service, and maintenance—for the daily work you do to support students and keep our district running.
Whether you’re helping your child at home, supporting our staff, volunteering, attending events, or simply cheering our students on—please know it matters, and it makes a difference. We’d also love to see you at school events—your involvement and feedback help make us stronger.
Thank you,
Josh Brooks
Superintendent
Naselle–Grays River Valley School District