Hood River County Education Foundation

"Students at Westside were able to use new books in reading instruction that helped them to not only increase their reading scores, but also helped them become more fluent readers. They use the books to work on phonics skills like reading short vowels and long, reading blends, along with consonant sounds. The students improved their oral reading skills and made great growth in their reading abilities. Every student in our kindergarten made growth this year in reading and we are proud of all the words they can read now."

"Being part of our community means interacting with our community in all capacities, the state of Oregon has emphasized teaching and learning about Native American Culture. We implemented this in our Art classes. We invited 3 local native beading artists to share their lives with us, their stories, and their history. our students connected with this native craft and were encouraged to make it their own, to realize that this art form can be as much theirs as it would be another's, but to hone their own artist voice in the process to listen to who you are inside, and the world around. and to tell their story through the art."

"Students with the greatest needs within the SLC [Structured Learning Center] at HRVHS are thriving and gaining much needed independence due to functional life and job skills training due in part to the HRCEF Teaching Grant. The grant allowed the SLC to purchase real life simulated task boxes and job supplies to learn and train with. This grant has allowed these students to practice on the job skills- such as order fulfillment tasks, wrapping silverware, preparing sugar caddies and hospitality bags, wiping down desks and chairs- in a structured setting. Students have learned the necessary steps to complete tasks and are starting to generalize these skills in various other settings across campus, preparing them for settings in the community."