Finley School District

Last week, Finley Elementary students got to explore a variety of careers at our annual Careers on Wheels event! 🚒🐝🚜 From truck drivers to firefighters and paramedics and even beekeepers and farmers, there was something for everyone. A HUGE thank you to all the local businesses who helped make this event possible and inspired our students to dream big about their future! 💼

Finley schools are also seeing encouraging improvements in student behavior during the first year of the four-day school week.

At River View High School:
• Disruptive referrals decreased from 54 to 36
• Total referrals decreased from 181 to 164

At Finley Middle School:
• Minor referrals dropped from 246 to 185
• Female referrals decreased from 167 to 142
• Parent conferences declined from 138 to 63

These improvements reflect a more positive and productive learning environment for students and staff.

Registration for the 2026-27 school year is open now! Join our Finley school community and experience our:
🏫 Small school feel
❤️ Great teachers
🛠️ Outstanding CTE program
📅 4-day student week

Whether your child is starting kindergarten or switching schools, learn more about registering for Finley schools at www.finleysd.org/parents_students/registration.

One of the goals of the four-day school week was to create more effective learning time for students and we’re already seeing positive results.

This year:
• Student athletes missed 35 fewer hours of instruction
• Schools experienced fewer interruptions during the instructional day
• Reduced activity absences helped students spend more time in class

More consistent classroom time means students are able to stay engaged, connected and focused on learning.

Finley School District is hiring! 🍎

We are currently accepting applications for a temporary Extended Resource Room Paraeducator position at Finley Elementary School.

📍 Finley Elementary School
🗓 Temporary Position: May, June, September & October 2026
⏰ 7 hours per day - four days a week

We’re looking for someone who is student-centered, flexible, compassionate, and committed to supporting students with diverse learning needs. This position works closely with teachers and staff to help students succeed academically, socially, and behaviorally.

Qualified applicants must meet Washington State paraeducator requirements. Go to https://www.finleysd.org/departments-programs/human_resources/employment_opportunities for more information.

Just a reminder that there is NO SCHOOL on Monday, May 25 in observance of Memorial Day.

The final Around Finley Schools newsletter for the 2025-26 school year is out now! Check it out on ParentSquare: www.parentsquare.com/feeds/78017616

Last night, we celebrated 6 of our graduating RVHS seniors as they signed to play sports next year at the collegiate level during Senior Athlete Signing Night! Congratulations to:

🎓️ Lilly Holt – Volleyball at Centralia College
🎓️ Danika Koch – Volleyball at Columbia Basin College
🎓️ Victoria Sartain – Volleyball at Green River College
🎓️ Dre Dimond – Baseball at Columbia Basin College
🎓️ Kaydence Mathews – Softball at New England College
🎓️ Miguel Cruz – Track at University of Idaho

This year’s four-day school week has also helped reduce staff absences and interruptions to student learning.

Compared to last year:
• Teacher absences were reduced by 298
• Substitute costs decreased by $55,877.98
• Activity-related absences dropped from 489 to 166

Fewer absences means more consistency in classrooms, stronger routines for students and more uninterrupted instructional time throughout the school year.

Mark Your Calendars! 📅 The first day of school for Finley School District for the 2026-2027 school year is Monday, August 31. For the 2026-2027 school year, Finley School District will be continuing with a 4 day school week. You can view important dates for the upcoming school year on our website and ParentSquare Calendars: https://www.finleysd.org/calendar