News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 41
Finding seasonal activities isn't a difficult task in the town of Sisters. The Holiday Showcase, hosted at Sisters High School (SHS), was just one of the events that took place recently, and was a major success and increased the holiday spirit of all participants to a new height. The SHS Jazz Choir directed by Steve Livingston, as well as the Concert and Jazz Bands directed by Kayla Golka, were major parts of the concert. The Concert Band kicked off the performance by playing... Full story
The new Sisters Elementary School - constructed close to Sisters middle and high schools - is helping to build connections between students. Earlier this month Sisters High School IEE (Interdisciplinary Environmental Expedition) students worked with SES kindergarten and firtst graders on plant identification. After the teachers of these classes realized that they were covering similar content, they decided to collaborate. Junior age students at SHS led hands-on activities... Full story
Sisters High School filled the school auditorium with joyful sounds in their annual Fall Concert held Tuesday, November 19. Showcasing band, choir, and Americana music, the concert blended the multiple SHS music departments into a singular cohesive and enjoyable performance. "My favorite part was the vibe and the energy between instrumental and vocal programs," SHS Band Director Kayla Golka said. "We have really awesome synthesis and community, this was the least stressful con... Full story
The Brigham Young University International Folk Dance Ensemble visited Sisters High School to host an interactive intensive and evening show for fellow dancers and community members earlier this month. The group toured through Oregon and Idaho during the first two weeks of November, showcasing their wide variety of cultural dances in numerous cities across the two states, including the Dalles, Corvallis, Eugene, and Sisters. The group of 28 dancers had been rehearsing for... Full story
The new Outlaw Media class at Sisters High School is introducing a wide array of skills to SHS students. Many of these skills are founded on hands-on interactions, which led to their recent field trip to the Allen Hall School of Journalism and the University of Oregon. A small group of eight students, including chaperones Susan Seaney and Matt Hilgers, were led around campus by Mikala Selman, a current SOJC student and junior ambassador. The group met with Professors Kelli... Full story
Sisters High School hosted Balla Kouyaté & Mike Block Band in an assembly on Friday, September 27. Marking the 24th year of this annual tradition, students of all grade levels attended and watched the performance - with wide eyes and big smiles. Brad Tisdel, creative director of SFF Presents, introduced the band, whom he first encountered at the Wintergrass Festival earlier this year. "My favorite thing about these assemblies, as well as the Americana Program here at the high... Full story
Sometimes the beginning of a new school year can be filled with dread and anticipation, but the new "Outlaw Media" class at Sisters High School has put a focus on the exciting potential of hands-on learning. Jack Turpen, SHS senior and AV program president, has been at the helm of all things technology at the high school since his freshman year. Last year he unveiled the Outlaw Media Center, a hub for editing, videography, and recording weekly Outlaw News videos. Over the... Full story
School libraries are esteemed for encouraging students to explore literature and expanding their digital literacy and research skills. This is why the Sisters High School library has made so much progress over the 2023-2024 school year. Beginning with a non-functioning and unorganized library system, Gail Greaney and a group of devoted students put in the work to create a functional and widely used library space for Sisters High School students. "It's up and running...it invol... Full story
Sisters High School choir singers stepped outside of their usual music repertoire and presented songs inspired by modern songs and movies at the annual Vocal Pops Show on Tuesday, May 21. Teachers Steve Livingston and Julie Cash led students of varying ages in the learning that led up to this event. The show displayed the hard work of the Sisters High School Concert and Jazz choirs, as well as the 7th and 8th grade choir, and 6th grade choir. "It's a time for us to reflect on... Full story
Since 2015, Sisters High School students have been provided opportunities through RISE (Research in Sisters Environments) to practice science in a real- world setting, and apply the knowledge they learn in the classroom to novel problems. The work is driven by student and mentor collaboration, through which many students have gained collaborative research experience. This year’s SHS RISE Chemistry balloon launch highlighted the importance of teamwork and research in all of the experiments. Last week, the class launched two b... Full story
Music and community came together last Thursday evening as the Sisters High School (SHS) band department put on a show involving young musicians from a variety of local music programs. "Music and art are inherently communal. We as people are best when we work together, and musicians are no different," said Kayla Golka, director of the band program at SHS. The production included a plethora of different music communities, including the SHS Concert and Jazz Bands, the Sisters... Full story
Sisters High School Chemistry class sent their work aloft in the annual weather balloon launch at the Sisters Eagle Airport, led by teacher Rima Givot on Wednesday, May 15. The launch focuses on giving students a hands-on experience to integrate their learning into real-world applications. The students are prompted to brainstorm an experiment that they'd like to send up on the weather balloons; they're then paired up with classmates who have similar ideas. Each of the two ball... Full story
Sisters has been marked as a historically generous community, and its citizens live up to that reputation. More than 53 Sisters businesses, foundations, and inhabitants are donors for Sisters GRO (Graduate Resource Organization) applicants, giving Sisters High School graduates a steady foundation for their bright future. Last Tuesday evening, May 14, Sisters GRO hosted their annual GRO Scholarship Award Ceremony for graduating seniors that received scholarships via Sisters GRO. “This year we had a record-breaking amount of s... Full story
The town of Sisters has often been described as “artsy and vibrant.” From the Sisters Quilt Show, to SFF Presents, to Sisters Arts Association events, the activities held in this small town embody these descriptions. The Sisters School District music program aims to expose students to the arts. The band program at Sisters High School showcases this priority. The SHS Jazz Band has an admirable track record, winning the State Jazz Band Championships in 2022, attaining second place in 2023, and attending later this month in 202... Full story
The SHS Pageant has been a tradition at Sisters High School (SHS) for over a dozen years. On Sunday, April 28, members of SHS continued this tradition as they performed "Outlaws On Broadway" for the Sisters community. The selected seven teams of two performed a multitude of different talents, dances, and videos. The success of the event wouldn't have been possible without the hardworking hands behind the scenes. Pageant coordinators Jordan Velikonia, Holly Davis, and Ella Eby... Full story
If there's something outside of singing that the Sisters High School Jazz Choir is adamant about, it's bonding and creating lasting memories. Over the years the jazz choir has been known to take exciting trips, whether it be to Disneyland, Ashland, or even just the Old Mill for caroling. The group chose to continue the tradition last month, taking a trip to Newport to perform at three locations around the coast. Their venues included the Oregon Coast Aquarium, Oceanview... Full story
Making the decision to explore a new interest can be simultaneously exciting and vulnerable. Financial requirements can hold some back from doing what they love. Sisters GRO, in partnership with the Roundhouse Foundation, provides applications for the Roundhouse Enrichment Experiences scholarship for Sisters students who want financial support with their interests. “Overall the Roundhouse Foundation is about education and community, providing unique experiences for Sisters and support for them whether it be career-based or s... Full story
Citizen scientists are exploring a body of asteroids called the Trojan to research remnants of the early solar system through NASA's Project Lucy. Launched in 2021, the Lucy Spacecraft has been in orbit for over two years. Since its launch, Sisters High School staff and students have been involved in surveying the asteroids in occultations around the country. An occultation occurs when one object is hidden from the observer by another object that passes between them. In... Full story
The term "art" is a word used to encompass a wide range of activities, but can often fail to convey the power it has on people's lives. On January 30 the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA) partnered with the White House Domestic Policy Council to host a Healing, Bridging, and Thriving Summit on Arts and Culture in Communities. This event spanned throughout the entire day, with over 30 speakers from all over the country. The Sisters-based Roundhouse Foundation was one of the... Full story
Many people around the world share a love for jazz, but seldom do they have the chance to learn and play with professionals in public settings. Robert Sposato, an avid jazz enthusiast, organizes events to expose young musicians around Central Oregon to what it feels like. Traditionally, these jams have taken place in The Belfry, but new connections with band director Kayla Golka and an emerging generation of young players made the Sisters High School auditorium the new location for a recent jam event. “When Kayla Golka o... Full story
Travel is a luxury that not all can afford. Education Tours is an organization that aids in the funding and organization of student travel programs worldwide. At Sisters High School, these tours used to be a tradition, but when COVID-19 shut down travel, the school had to put their plans on hold. This coming spring of 2024, introduces the first official EF Educational Tours trip Sisters High School students have been involved in since 2020. This tight-knit group of eight are... Full story
Sisters High School (SHS) has always been known for its creative and hands-on classes. As the world quickly advances in technology, the high school is following in stride. Just a few weeks ago a well-equipped media center was set up at the heart of the school. Junior Jack Turpen was at the helm of this project, which spanned the week-long Thanksgiving break. Turpen initially developed an interest in technology during his time as a sixth grader at Sisters Middle School. This... Full story
Writing is a device that can help convey ideas that couldn’t otherwise be spoken out loud. At Sisters High School (SHS), the Poetry Club is a community that strives toward this goal of growing an inner artist and learning from those around them. The release of the book “Musings” earlier this year showcased the students’ hard work through a collection of poetry. “I’m so proud of everybody in the club. This book just gives them all their well-deserved recognition,” said co-founder Devan Hepburn. Devan Hepburn is a recently gr... Full story
Sisters High School (SHS) students brought months of preparation to the stage for four performances of a musical earlier this month. The SHS auditorium was filled with audience members, the overhead lights were dimmed, and voices were hushed as The SpongeBob Musical began. The cast members delivered a spectacular performance that both exceeded expectations and delighted audience members. “I didn’t expect it to be so funny; it was amazing,” stated one attendee as they were leaving the performance. The SHS choral program had b... Full story
The Sisters High School (SHS) has been without a functioning library for over 10 years, making it the only facility in the Sisters School District without this resource. While elementary and middle school students enjoy having a library at their disposal, many high schoolers wondered why there wasn't such a resource available for them. Seniors Presley Adelt and Molly Greaney recognized this absent space and brought forth the idea in their AP Government class led by Gail Greane... Full story
