10/6/25 From the Superintendent's Desk

Championing Success: A Look at Test Scores and What's Next

The state's academic test scores were released this week, providing us with important data that reflects both our strengths and the areas where we can improve.

While our overall district performance generally aligns with the state average for older students, we need to address a specific challenge: student participation. Our goal is to have all eligible students participate, and we continue to miss that mark in several areas.

We've observed a trend where a decline in participation often means some of our most capable students are not testing. This isn't just a missed opportunity for them to "show what they know" and potentially open doors for advanced studies; it also impacts our district's ability to accurately assess student needs and expand course offerings.

As a school community, we can—and we will—do better. We are championing a "show what we know" attitude across all our classrooms and encourage every student to embrace these opportunities.

Construction Update: Addition Design Reaching Final Stages

We have exciting news on the facilities front! The design for our new addition is reaching its final specifications. We plan to put the project out to bid right around the holiday season.

Here is the anticipated timeline for construction:

• Summer Start: The project will begin as soon as the current school year ends.

• Interior First: All modifications to the existing interior of the building will be completed over the summer break.

• Addition Continues: The construction of the new addition will continue throughout the following school year.

We are thrilled to be moving forward on this project, which will ultimately enhance our learning environment for every Bulldog!

Celebrating Community: Homecoming and Bulldog Bash

The start of fall is always welcome, and so are our fantastic community events!

Homecoming was a great success for our High School students. If you didn’t see it hopefully you heard the infamous Willamina Noise Parade—an annual Willamina activity that is truly like no other! We encourage all families and community members to come out and cheer on our students in all our activities.

Finally, a huge thank you to everyone who participated in the Bulldog Bash! It was a great community event, and we appreciate all our vendors and community participants for making it a success.  Every year it gets better and is a great showcase of our programs and what students are doing to start the year.

Respectfully,

Mike Gass

WSD Superintendent