Waldo Middle School

ggested the name “Waldo” when the school was built. Parish and Leslie, the other area junior high schools, had been named for pioneers. In 1968 the staff at Waldo decided to replace the lawn in the courtyard with a garden filled with native Oregon plants and trees. Science teacher Wes Niemela directed a group of students and staff who worked for two years to complete the project. They collected plants from the forests around Salem and from Mr. Niemela’s garden. The courtyard garden is still a centerpiece of our school, providing a suitable habitat for a family of ducks who return each year in the spring. During the 1996-97 school year the second courtyard at Waldo began a transformation that mirrored the efforts of Wes Niemela and his students. Science teacher Mike Weddle and the Roots and Shoots/Leo Club he organized were responsible for creating another native Oregon species courtyard. This courtyard is complete with a pond, waterfall, native Oregon trees, plants, and animals. In 1997-98 Waldo was the first secondary school in Oregon to institute a unified dress code. It was very positively received by students, teachers and parents. In 1998-99 Waldo started the first year of a three-year grant titled, “The Lighted Schools Grant.” The project gives Waldo students supervised after-school classes, clubs and field trips. It also provides family evening activities for the entire community, and night classes for adults and students living in the Waldo area. Waldo Middle School has a staff of 65, and includes grades six through eight. Mrs. Tricia Nelson is the principal and the assistant principal is Mr. Jon Penhollow. Waldo's nickname is the "Mustangs."

-According to the "Waldo Mustang" website