District News

At this week’s meeting, the School Board proclaimed November 13 – 17 to be American Education Week.  The annual recognition is intended to honor the work that education employees perform to serve children. Click here to read the formal proclamation. At various days over the week, board members visited each school to express appreciation to…

The McMinnville Education Foundation (MEF) has announced its annual mini-grant awards with over $25,000 in 34 projects funded. Teachers at all levels were allowed to request grant funds up to $1,000 to augment educational opportunities such as field trips; classroom equipment; Science, arts The winners will be feted at a dessert reception on Thursday, November…

Today, nearly 50 educators from as far away as Ashland and Morrow County traveled to McMinnville to learn what’s driving success in district schools. Sparked by recent news coverage touting McMinnville’s graduation rates and other achievement measures, district representatives from around the state asked to come observe what McMinnville Schools are doing to reach those…

Students in the MHS Culinary Arts pathway are mounting a fundraiser for upcoming competitions by selling traditional holiday pies for Thanksgiving. Pumpkin or apple pies, with or without whipped cream, are available for $10 each. Orders must be placed by Friday, Nov. 17 at 3 p.m. “This is a great way for students to practice…

This week, Duniway and Patton middle schools held assemblies to honor the service of U.S. veterans. The annual Veterans Day events included musical performances by the school choirs and orchestras, and special appearances by the McMinnville High School Choir; speeches by Leadership students, slideshows that featured the service of family members and staff; and guest…

Students from Patton Middle School drama and McMinnville High School drama are working together in a production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. William Shakespeare’s most popular comedy follows the adventures of four young lovers and a group of amateur actors, their interactions with fairies and a duke and duchess. This production, the first Shakespeare production at…

Students in Kathy Valach’s fifth grade class got creative with positivity messages today in honor of national Unity Day. Created to create a culture to prevent bullying, Unity Day is a way to build awareness about safe and supportive schools and communities by wearing the color orange. At Newby, students decided to use some craft…

Students from every school in the district will be profiled in the new school year’s campaign for the “Promise of Oregon.” The project’s production crew interviewed students about their future plans and aspirations and photographed them in various locations around their schools. The images will be used in a statewide campaign that focuses on the…

This morning, McMinnville Schools participated in the Great Oregon ShakeOut, a statewide earthquake drill for emergency preparedness. Every school in the district practiced the recommended action of “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” beginning at 10:19 a.m. and then emptied the building. Staff followed procedures on updating attendance, collecting parent emergency information, preparing for evacuation and…

At the October School Board meeting, the board declared October 15 through 21 to be “Hands & Words Are Not for Hurting” week by reading a formal proclamation. The campaign’s purple bear was on hand to welcome visitors to the meeting and, along with two Wascher students, to lead the audience in the pledge. Other…