District News

Bruin newspaper senior Haley Swinth’s photo is a national finalist for the National Scholastic Press Association’s [NSPA] Picture of the Year. Haley is the Managing Editor of McMinnville High School’s newspaper, The Bruin, this year. She plans on pursuing a media degree from the University of Oregon next year. The national winners will be announced…

One of the biggest fundraising events at local schools is the school jog-a-ton. Students bring in pledges for the laps they run or walk. Memorial and Wascher elementary schools have both wrapped up their fall fun run fundraisers. At Memorial, more than 500 students ran and walked 10,424 laps, which is equal to 1,303 miles….

This month, the Oregon Department of Education released its annual State School Report Card with ratings for all schools. All McMinnville schools exceeded the state average in all subject areas, and almost all schools are rated above average on the state report cards. Buel and Grandhaven have also been named as model schools for earning…

This month, Buel Elementary School Principal Stephanie Legard joined distinguished principals of the year from every other state at the National Principal of the Year Conference in Washington, D.C.  She was recognized for leading student achievement gains at Buel, met with U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and shared educational best practices with her peers…

Every year, Duniway and Patton middle schools host assemblies to honor veterans and active service members. Each school’s event includes a slide show about the veterans who are in attendance, musical tributes by middle school and McMinnville High School students, and inspirational speeches by students. In addition to students and school staff, students’ families are…

Last week, Patton Middle School held its annual Veterans’ Day Assembly to honor veterans and active military personnel. This was the last annual assembly organized by Patton Middle School teacher Scott Phoenix, pictured above with Board Director Tim Roberts. Phoenix has overseen the assembly for 10 years. He is retiring at the end of this…

MHS science teacher and cross country coach Vic Downs has been named Coach of the Year for the Greater Valley Conference. Congratulations, Coach Downs!

Memorial Elementary School won the McMinnville Public Library YAMMY award for the seventh consecutive year.  Each summer, the Library has a reading contest involving approximately 18 schools throughout Yamhill County. Students log their reading times and turn these into the McMinnville Public Library throughout the summer. Memorial had more than 60 students participate from Kindergarten through…

The International Thespian Society (ITS), a division of the Educational Theatre Association (EdTA), is pleased to announce the results of Patton Middle School’s participation in the International Thespian Society’s Trick or Treat So Kids Can Eat program. On Oct. 30, Patton Thespian Junior Troupe 89053 went trick-or-treating for canned goods in the school’s community. Last year’s donations…

The McMinnville School Board proclaimed November 17-21, 2014, as American Education Week with the following proclamation: WHEREAS, public schools are the backbone of our democracy, providing young people with the tools they need to maintain our nation’s precious values of freedom, civility and equality; and WHEREAS, by equipping young Americans with both practical skills and broader intellectual abilities, schools…