Sisters School Board snapshot

The monthly Sisters School District meeting with the board of directors and superintendent was held in person and via Zoom on Wednesday, October 5, at the Sisters School District Office building.

• Board Director David Thorsett led the meeting, starting with a business and finance report from Sherry Joseph.

  She concluded that they are ahead of expenses-for-revenues for the year and budgets are well projected and in good shape.

• Principal Steve Stancliff presented to the board an update on the first couple weeks at Sisters High School.

  He spoke about the successful open house held last week, giving parents the opportunity to engage with teachers.

  He also spoke about creating activities for career and college prep for students in grades 9-11.

  The high school is also trying to figure out how to keep the aviation program integrated with the high school schedule with lack of in-person instruction opportunity.

  “We have no desire to cut the program; we just have to investigate how to keep it running,” said Stancliff.

• Molly Pearring, dean of students at Sisters Middle School, presented on behalf of Principal Tim Roth and spoke on the “Belong, Prepare, and Inspire” goals for the middle school.

  They are creating periods for structured activities for students in their “house” classroom to set goals for the school year.

  One of the largest goals for the “prepare” portion for the middle school is to increase scores in comprehending informational text by integrating some of those skills into various subjects in the 5th-7th grades.

  The “inspire” portion of the goal setting seeks to create career readiness at the middle school level.

• Joan Warburg, principal at Sisters Elementary School (SES), is striving to create an environment to teach younger kids how to be leaders and drivers in community through goal-setting, and help students “own” their own learning.

  The staff at SES is also working toward multi-teared systems of support for students, including sensory break spaces, goal-setting initiatives, and an emphasis on student/staff connections.

• SES is collaborating with the Sisters Ranger District and the Whychus Creek restoration through the Deschutes Land Trust to get kids out planting trees along the creek, as well as working with different specialties within the Ranger District to create environmental science experiences for students.
• The elementary school will also be starting lunch clubs that include STEM classes, music, arts, and PE, for more opportunities for kids to have things to participate in.
• Amy Johnson presented for the YTP (Youth Transition Program) with her student, Maddox, who participated in the summer job program through YTP that offers kids with disabilities an opportunity to get into a summer job.

  The YTP’s goal is to create job placements for students and an environment where the students can learn confidence, responsibility, and job skills.

  The YTP works with partners in the community to create a space for the kids to have a minimum wage paying job placement within the community.

• Curt Scholl’s superintendent report covered enrollment numbers after the 10-day drop period in Sisters schools.

  (See related story on enrollment page 1)