District News

The Newby First Lego League(FLL) robotics team, The Newby Tige-Robots, competed Dec. 7 at Evergreen Aviation Museum. FLL is for students ages 9-14. Like most robotics competitions, teams design a LEGO robot that can maneuver autonomously around a course completing missions. Part of what makes FLL unique is that students are also asked to solve a…

All schools are closed for winter break. Schools will reopen on Jan. 5. 

Local musicians are coming together in a benefit concert for Dana Libonati, a McMinnville High School music teacher currently being treated for cancer. The concert is scheduled for Jan. 10 at 7 p.m. at the McMinnville Community Center. Tickets are $12, available at the door or online. Proceeds will help with medical expenses. Aimee Palacios, a…

Come learn about programs in McMinnville School District.  A town hall meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 8,. at Duniway Middle School from 6:30 – 8 p.m. Topics include: Common Core update: What will students need to know to master Common Core state standards and new state assessments? College and Career Programs: The MHS Career…

Patton Middle School Drama is proud to announce our winter production of L. Frank Baum’s classic, The Wizard of Oz.  This version has been adapted for middle school performers and will delight audiences with it’s humor and music. Dorothy and her dog, Toto, are caught in a tornado’s path and magically end up in Oz. In Oz,…

The annual jazz night fundraiser Swingin’ on a Star is scheduled for Jan. 31 from 6 – 9 p.m. at the McMinnville Community Center. Proceeds from the dinner and auction will benefit McMinnville school music programs. Musical entertainment will include McMinnville student vocal and instrumental jazz.  Reservations are required. To buy tickets, email the reservation…

January is School Board Appreciation Month. Thank you, School Board Members Janis Braich, Barbara Carter, Scott Gibson, Stan Primozich, Tim Roberts, Scott Schieber and Larry Vollmer! The following proclamation was signed by Superintendent Maryalice Russell: WHEREAS, school boards create a vision for what students should know and be able to do; WHEREAS, school boards establish…

Student assemblies are excellent ways to recognize student achievements and motivate students to do their best at school. At the January assembly at Grandhaven Elementary School, students were entertained by the Patton Middle School Dance Team and then participated in an all-school dance they had learned in P.E. this month. The dance was led by…

This month, dozens of community members attended a town hall meeting at Duniway Middle School to learn the latest about school district activities and planning. District staff presented updates on the Common Core, McMinnville High School College Credit Now and Career Pathway programs and planning for district facility improvements. If you missed it, you can…

Tickets are on sale now for the annual Swingin’ on a Star music boosters fundraiser on Saturday night.  More details about this event are here. Student art is featured on the posters. The entries were from the art class of MHS art teacher Joe Parsons. Four winners were selected. Each won a gift certificate to…