Yakima Public Schools

🩺💙 Join us for the Yakima School District Health Fair!

All YSD families are invited to attend our district-wide Health Fair on Wednesday, July 1, from 4:30–7:30 p.m. at Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School.

Connect with community health resources, receive free health screenings, and learn about services that help students and families stay healthy and thrive.
Free services include:
✅ Blood pressure screenings
✅ Diabetes (A1C and blood glucose) testing
✅ Vision screenings
✅ BMI & telehealth services
✅ Mental health screenings
✅ Health & vaccine education
🍽 Food will be provided!

📍 Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School
2000 S. 18th St.
Yakima, WA 98903

🎓 This June, graduates from A.C. Davis High School, Eisenhower High School, Stanton Academy, Open Doors and Yakima Online crossed the stage surrounded by family, friends, educators and supporters who gathered to honor their hard work and achievements.

Leading up to graduation, schools across the district marked this important milestone with special traditions, including senior parades and visits to elementary and middle schools 🎉. These celebrations gave students a chance to reflect on their journeys while inspiring younger learners.

Throughout their time in Yakima School District, the members of the Class of 2026 demonstrated resilience, determination, and an unwavering commitment to their future. They navigated challenges, celebrated achievements, and grew as scholars, leaders, artists, athletes, and citizens. 🌟 As they leave our schools, they do so prepared not only for the next step in their journey, but for a lifetime of learning, service, and contribution.

"The Class of 2026 reminds us that success is not measured solely by diplomas earned, but by the character developed, obstacles overcome, and opportunities created along the way," Superintendent Greene shared. "Their future is bright, and we could not be more proud of the impact they are poised to make."

The Class of 2026 made a difference both inside and outside the classroom 🏫 Many served as leaders through Student Senate and other student groups, while others participated in music, arts, athletics and extracurricular activities 🎵🎨🏅 Many also gained valuable experience through Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs and industry certification pathways 🔧 Others earned scholarships and academic honors for their achievements 🏆 Together, these experiences helped students build the skills, confidence and character needed for success after graduation.

As we celebrate the Class of 2026, we congratulate every graduate. 🎊 We are proud of all this class has achieved and grateful for the contributions they have made to their schools and the Yakima community 💙.

Read more stories at ysd7.org/ysdstories 📖

On May 22, Davis and Eisenhower students, families, and staff came together for one of the most memorable events of the school year, the Special Education Prom, held at Eisenhower High School. It was a reminder that milestone moments like Prom belong to every student. 🩷

The celebration kicked off with the Eisenhower Cadet Band, joined by fellow students, who lined the entrance to deliver a lively welcome parade into a beautifully decorated gym. 🎶🥁 The cheers and excitement brought positive energy to every student walking through the doors. 🎊

Inside, students enjoyed music, dancing, and laughter with their peers. 🎵💃🕺

Prom is one of those high school milestones that students carry with them for the rest of their lives. 🏫💛 This event would not have been possible without the dedicated staff, students, and families from both Davis and Eisenhower who made the day so special.

We are proud of both schools for being such warm and welcoming hosts. The Special Education Prom reflects Yakima School District's Strategic Goal #2: All students will develop habits and behaviors that elevate student voice, resilience, and personal ownership in a safe, caring, and supportive environment. When every student is seen and celebrated, that goal comes to life.

Read more stories at ysd7.org/ysdstories 📖

🎨 The Yakima School District is proud to reflect on another wonderful Washington Middle School Art Exhibit, which showcased more than 400 pieces of student artwork last month. The show featured many different types of artwork, including paintings, drawings, printmaking, ceramics, sewing, and more. ✨

This year's exhibit was especially exciting because it brought together students from across the region. 🌟 Yakima School District middle schools Wilson Middle School, Lewis & Clark Middle School, and Washington Middle School were joined by students from Union Gap and St. Joseph's, making it a true community celebration of young talent. 🎉

On May 19, families, teachers, and supporters gathered for the Opening Reception to honor the hard work and dedication of our student artists. 👏 The energy in the room was a powerful reminder of just how much our community values arts education. ❤️

Programs like these give students the chance to express themselves, build confidence, and develop skills they will carry with them long after the school year ends. 💪 We are grateful for every teacher, family member, and community supporter who makes these opportunities possible. 🙏

Thank you to everyone who attended and showed their support. We cannot wait to see what our students create next year! 🎨

Read more and see more images at ysd7.org/ysdstories 📖

Safety Study Hall provides critical resources for schools and families on substance use prevention, secure medication storage, and so much more. Check out the toolkit to help keep students safe: https://bit.ly/safety-study-hall

We are proud of Hoover Elementary School for the recent launch of the Brighter Days Kids Club this spring! 🌟

Brighter Days is a research-backed program developed in partnership with ESD 105 and OIC of Yakima, helping kids build life skills, grow confidence, and believe in their future 🌈.

Huge kudos to our friends at Hoover Elementary School, Mrs. Greenwalt, Mrs. McWain, and Joel Ortega from ESD 105 for bringing this program to life! 👏

Read more stories at ysd7.org/ysdstories 📖

This spring, Hoover Elementary School launched a new, special support group called Brighter Days Kids Club, and it made a real difference. ☀️

🌟 Brighter Days is a research-backed program run in partnership with ESD 105 and OIC of Yakima, created to help kids build strong life skills and feel more confident as they face everyday challenges.

Students who joined Brighter Days practiced skills such as making good decisions, solving problems, and understanding their own feelings 💡. They also worked on building positive friendships and improving their behaviour in the classroom 🤝. On top of that, the program taught students the importance of avoiding drugs and other harmful substances, and it helped connect them with caring adults who wanted to see them succeed 💪.

At the heart of Brighter Days were five powerful messages that students repeated and believed in. They were:

⭐ "I AM likeable, capable, unique, and valued."
🤲 "I CAN treat others like I want to be treated."
❤️ "I HAVE meaningful relationships and people who care about me."
✅ "I WILL make healthy, responsible decisions."
🌈 "I BELIEVE in my purpose and my future."

These messages are meant to help kids see themselves in a positive light and feel hopeful about what lies ahead 🌅.

🏫 Hoover was proud to help pioneer the program. A big thank you to Mrs. Greenwalt, Mrs. McWain, and Joel Ortega from ESD 105 whose hard work and leadership brought Brighter Days to life for Hoover students 👏.

Read more stories at ysd7.org/ysdstories 📖

One Gilbert Elementary School second grader arrived at school in style last month thanks to a very special ride from the Yakima Fire Department (YFD)! 🚒 This lucky student got a VIP drop-off that turned a regular school morning into an unforgettable memory. All second-grade students who returned their Fire Safety homework 📝 had their names put into a drawing, with one lucky winner.

🤝 This memorable moment is just one example of the many great partnerships between the Yakima School District and the City of Yakima Fire Department (YFD). The YFD has worked with schools at all levels, from elementary through high school, to create fun engagement and meaningful learning opportunities for students throughout the district. 🎓

🚒 From classroom visits, fire truck tours, and hands-on learning experiences for our older students, these partnerships help students connect with the heroes in their community ❤️ and inspire a sense of pride and excitement about learning. 🌟

📖 Read more stories at ysd7.org/ysdstories 📚

⚽ Nob Hill Elementary School is bringing World Cup energy to the classroom! Their new attendance challenge is inspiring students to show up, work together, and finish the school year strong. We love seeing our schools find creative ways to keep students engaged every single day. 💪

Read more stories at ysd7.org/ysdstories 📖

With the FIFA World Cup coming to the United States this summer ☀️, Nob Hill Elementary staff saw the perfect opportunity to channel that international excitement into something meaningful: motivating students to show up, stay engaged, and finish the year strong 💪. The challenge runs throughout the month of May and asks students to bring their best effort, starting with simply being in the building every single day 📅.

Attendance matters more than many students and families realize 💡. Students who attend regularly are more likely to keep up with coursework 📚, maintain strong relationships with their teachers and classmates 🤝, and head into summer with confidence rather than gaps in their learning.

In the World Cup Attendance Challenge, classes compete together 🌍, which builds teamwork and a sense of shared responsibility 🤜🤛. Winners are recognized as a class, reinforcing that success is a group effort, not just an individual one 🙌.
Congratulations to the following Nob Hill classes for their recent wins 🎉:

🥇 Ms. Erickson's class — March Madness Champions
🥈 Mr. Trammel's class — 2nd Place
🏅 Ms. Davis's class — Comeback Challenge Winner

We applaud 👏 Nob Hill's teachers, staff, and school leadership for finding creative ways to make every school day count ⭐. Initiatives like this are exactly the kind of positive energy that helps students cross the finish line of the school year feeling proud and ready for what comes next.

Read more stories at ysd7.org/ysdstories 🔗

🗣️ May is Better Hearing and Speech Month, and across the Yakima School District, Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) and speech pro-techs are bringing innovative, research-backed approaches to students of all ages.

At Yakima School District's Early Learning and Preschool programs, SLP Nancy Pietras has developed a "Literacy-Based Speech Therapy Circle," a multisensory experience grounded in evidence-based practice 📚. Her sessions weave together movement, music, mindfulness, and affirmations to keep young learners engaged and excited about speech 🎶🧘‍♀️✨.

"Every moment counts when providing literacy-based speech therapy with preschoolers," Pietras says. "We know language happens when kids are in motion." 🏃‍♂️💬

Her approach of incorporating large-body movements with sounds, a routine mindfulness opener, and a closing movement activity reflects a growing understanding that, for young children, learning and movement go hand in hand 🤝.

One of the most significant developments in YSD's speech-language services is the expansion of the push-in model, an approach where SLPs and speech pro-techs come directly into the classroom rather than pulling students out for isolated therapy sessions 🏫.

This means students receive speech-language support within their natural learning environment, alongside their peers 🧑‍🤝‍🧑. Teachers, paraprofessionals, and support staff learn strategies in real time, creating opportunities for communication throughout the school day, not just during scheduled sessions ⏰.

At McClure Elementary School, SLP Kathlyn Whitehurst leads "Core Word of the Week" sessions three times a week, pushing in during breakfast and academic rotations 🍎. She has seen stronger use of targeted vocabulary and increased staff confidence in modeling AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) devices.

At Roosevelt Elementary School, SLP Sarah James notes that push-in services have enabled teachers to learn and apply communication strategies throughout the day, leading to measurable progress for students with significant communication disorders 📈.

At Whitney Elementary School, SLP Theresa Schippers-Boler has seen an unexpected bonus: all students, not just students enrolled in speech therapy, are excited about her visits 🌟. "They ask the teacher when Ms. Schippers is coming in again," she shares; a sign that the model is reducing stigma and making speech learning a whole-class experience 🎉.

At Eisenhower High School and A.C. Davis High School, SLPs Gretchen Buegge and Marcela Ventura report a significant increase in language use, participation, and student confidence since implementing the push-in model in self-contained classrooms 💪.

Push-in services are also underway at Adams Elementary, Nob Hill Elementary, Barge-Lincoln Elementary, Garfield Elementary, Gilbert Elementary, and McKinley Elementary, carried out by a dedicated team of SLPs and speech pro-techs working in close collaboration with classroom teachers 🤝. Expansion of the push-in model to additional schools is planned for the next school year 🗓️.

Across every school and grade level, a common theme emerges: when speech-language support is embedded into the school day, students communicate more, generalize their skills more effectively, and grow in confidence 🌱.

As the district continues expanding the push-in model district-wide, the work of its dedicated SLPs reflects a clear commitment: when speech-language support meets students where they are, everyone benefits 💙.

Interested in joining YSD's Speech-Language team? 🔎 Visit ysd7.org/SLP to learn about open positions.

Read more stories at ysd7.org/ysdstories 📖