AWSP Blog

Find yourself frustrated with your current situation as a building level leader? Ever wonder who makes some of these big statewide decisions that impact the work you are doing in your school? Ever consider getting more involved in influencing the P16 education system? How about just getting better connected with other principals and assistant principals from around the state? Well, guess what -- It’s easy to get more involved with AWSP, and WE WANT YOU!

Tim Garchow, Executive Director of the Washington State School Directors'  Association, thanks principals for the enormous amount of work and dedication displayed while navigating the challenges of this year. "Our children are lucky to have you, and so are the rest of us."

In the middle of National Principals Month and an ongoing pandemic, Almira Principal Kelsey Hoppe's just got a lot tougher. Earlier this week, we heard the somber news from the town of Almira, where their school recently burned to the ground. Home to about 300 residents, this farming community’s school served 118 K–8 students. We don’t need to tell you the importance of school within a community, especially a small community like Almira where many of the students are the 3rd, 4th, 5th, or 6th generation family members to have attended the school. It’s just hard to fathom that kind of loss.

Bumblebee Haven Garden is situated on Okanogan School District property in rural, North Central Washington. Started a few years ago by a now retired teacher, local native peoples, and local Conservation District, students K-12 have the access to learn about vermiculture (growing soil from compost from worms), tending to land, and most importantly, growing food next to native plants on native land. The land was once a meeting place for the peoples of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, which encompasses several different tribes. Since starting the garden, teachers, students, and community members create soil to create windrows of tomatoes, potatoes, different types of squash, and others, along with native plants for pollinators. Each Tuesday during summer and harvest season, people of all ages meet to harvest and work in the windrows. Some get to take a bit of food home, but mostly, all harvested food is donated to the local Okanogan Food Bank.

I know many schools have closed up the 2020-2021 school year, but we are still going strong in Kelso, Washington (my district). This month is a magical milestone month for our students, staff, and families it is important to celebrate, celebrate, and celebrate. I have no doubt you will find some simple and fun ideas to utilize this final month. Finish strong friends; you got this. I BELIEVE in you.