Music students and staff around the district are achieving greatness at both the regional and NATIONAL level!

Last weekend, Tahoma's art teachers hosted the annual District Art Invitational at Tahoma High School. Exceptional artwork by students in kindergarten through 12th grade was selected to be displayed at the event, and students, staff, families and the community came out to admire the works and congratulate these gifted artists on their achievements!

Earlier this month, Summit Trail Middle School (STMS) students in Katrina Walker's STRETCH class joined two other schools from around the country to video chat with scientists in Antarctica! As part of the Polar ICE program, Rutgers University researchers Andrew Corso & Maya Thomas shared their Antarctic research studies with the students, including how increasing sea temperatures are affecting the species that call Antarctica home.

"There is tremendous value in students seeing and speaking with real-life scientists, and knowing that they can be that too," teacher Katrina Walker said. "While this was a one-time experience for our students, we are hoping to expand this to a year-long program to continue giving our students these opportunities."

STMS Principal Sean Cassidy said, "We want students who go through Tahoma to be leaders in their field. Experiences like this help our students connect what they are doing now to what that could be doing the their future."

Congresswoman Dr. Kim Schrier recently met with school board, district and City of Maple Valley leaders, local emergency first responders and others to discuss the fentanyl epidemic and how our community partners can collaborate to educate our youth and community on the dangers of fentanyl (click here to watch a quick video recap of the event).

Do you have a child turning 5 on or before August 31, 2023? If so, register your child for kindergarten as soon as possible! There will be a kindergarten event before the end of this school year, where your child will have the chance to visit their future school and take a few quick assessments. This will help determine eligibility for Kindergarten Camp in August, which is by invitation only, as well as assist with class placement in the fall. Register for kindergarten today!

Click here for more info on these events and others coming up in (and around) Bear Country.