As another school year comes to a close, I want to take a moment to reflect on all that we have accomplished together and express my sincere gratitude for your support, partnership, and commitment to our schools.
This year has been filled with learning, growth, achievement, and resilience. Our students have demonstrated remarkable dedication in their classrooms, on athletic fields, on stages, and through countless extracurricular activities. We celebrate not only their academic successes, but also the character, creativity, and perseverance they have shown throughout the year.
I want to thank our teachers and staff for their unwavering commitment to student success, our families for their partnership, and our community members, volunteers, and local businesses for their continued support. Together, we create opportunities that help our students learn, grow, and thrive.
To the Class of 2026, congratulations on this important milestone. We are proud of your accomplishments and excited to see where your future takes you. As you begin this next chapter, carry forward the lessons, relationships, and experiences that have helped shape you into the young adults you are today.
To SES's outgoing fifth-grade students, soon-to-be SJSHS sixth-grade students, and SJSHS's eighth-grade students, who will soon begin their freshman year, we know that transitions can bring a mix of excitement and nervousness. As you prepare for the next chapter of your educational journey, remember that growth happens when we embrace new opportunities and challenges. We are excited to see all that you will accomplish in the years ahead.
As summer begins, I encourage everyone to take time to rest, recharge, and enjoy time with family and friends. While the school year may be ending, our work continues as we prepare for another successful year ahead.
Thank you for making my first year as Superintendent of Santiam Canyon School District such a rewarding experience. I have enjoyed getting to know so many of you and learning what makes this community so special. I am grateful for the warm welcome and look forward to all we will accomplish together in the years ahead.
Have a safe, enjoyable, and restful summer.
Sincerely,
Ms. Nieraeth
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Congratulations to all of our seniors on their hard work this year. Many of our seniors receive scholarships from the Santiam Scholarship Fund, as well as from the Mill City Lions Club and other organizations from around the region. We are very proud of their hard work and wish all of our seniors success in their next steps! |
Our Summer Lunch Program begins Monday, June 22, at the Santiam Junior/Senior High School Cafeteria and runs through Thursday, August 14.
Free meals will be available Monday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for all children ages 1–18. No registration is required, and there is no cost to participate.
We are proud to offer this program to help ensure that children in our community have access to healthy, nutritious meals throughout the summer months. We look forward to seeing you there!
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The Plant Science class has had an exciting and successful first year! Throughout the course, students have explored a variety of topics, including seeds, germination, planting seasons, gardening practices, and plant growth.
One of the highlights of the class has been growing vegetables in the greenhouse. Students have gained valuable hands-on experience while learning what it takes to successfully cultivate healthy plants from seed to harvest.
We look forward to seeing the greenhouse and Plant Science program continue to grow in the years ahead!
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This spring, Santiam Elementary students participated in Garden Club, where they explored the many aspects of growing and caring for plants. Throughout the session, students learned about the different parts of a plant and what plants need to survive through lessons on composting, pollinators, garden pests, and garden planning.
Each club day concluded with hands-on work in the school garden, where students helped weed, prune, plant, and water.
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These activities allowed them to apply what they learned while helping maintain and improve the garden space.
To celebrate the end of the session, students created "Dirt Babies"—fun, grassy-haired creations they could take home and watch grow. Garden Club was a wonderful opportunity for students to learn about nature, develop gardening skills, and enjoy hands-on outdoor learning.
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In May, SJSHS chemistry students had the opportunity to visit Western Oregon University and conduct laboratory work in a college science facility. During the trip, students silver-plated Erlenmeyer flasks, collected samples from a mystery burn investigation, and analyzed those samples using a Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GCMS) instrument.
The experience provided students with valuable hands-on learning and exposure to advanced scientific equipment and procedures. Beyond the lab activities, students enjoyed experiencing a college campus environment and working in a professional laboratory setting. It was a fun and engaging day that helped bring classroom learning to life.
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On May 20, the Oregon Business Academy (OBA) visited Santiam High School to present to students in grades 9–12 about the many opportunities available through their programs. OBA helps students explore careers in business, leadership, entrepreneurship, marketing, finance, and more through hands-on experiences, networking, and real-world learning opportunities.
We are excited to share that seven Santiam High School students applied for OBA Business Week, an immersive seven-day summer program held at Oregon State University in Corvallis. During the program, students gain valuable leadership, teamwork, and business skills while experiencing college life firsthand.
Even more exciting, four of our students earned full-tuition sponsorships to attend!
Congratulations to these motivated Wolverines for stepping outside their comfort zones and pursuing this incredible opportunity. We are proud of their initiative and look forward to seeing all they accomplish through the Oregon Business Academy.
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The Missoula Children's Theatre is back in the Canyon, bringing another exciting opportunity for our students to learn, grow, and perform! This year's production is Aladdin, and auditions will begin on Monday, June 22, at the Santiam Junior/Senior High School Auditorium.
After a week of rehearsals, students will showcase their hard work with performances on Friday and Saturday. The Missoula Children's Theatre program provides a wonderful opportunity for students to build confidence, develop performance skills, and experience the magic of live theater.
A special thank you to Caroline Gillespy for helping bring this incredible opportunity to Canyon students.
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One of the many fascinating topics fifth-grade students study is the interconnected web of life and the importance of water on our planet. This week, students had the opportunity to bring that learning to life during a field trip to Silver Falls State Park.
During their visit, students participated in a guided tour and learned from two park rangers. They hiked approximately one mile around South Falls, exploring unique rock formations and observing the plants and wildlife that call the area home.
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Students also practiced birdwatching using the five "S"s—shape, sound, size, space, and shade—to identify several local bird species. To round out the day, they explored the fascinating world of lichens, learning how they form, where they can be found, and the important role they play in our ecosystem.
This hands-on learning experience provided students with a deeper understanding of the natural world and helped connect classroom lessons to real-life observations in one of Oregon’s most beautiful outdoor classrooms.
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This spring, Santiam Middle School Softball team traveled to the University of Oregon to watch the Ducks take on the Ohio State Buckeyes. During their visit, the team had the opportunity to connect with Santiam alum and 2026 Quinn Scholarship recipient, Boston Flores, who provided a tour of the UO campus.
The trip offered students a chance to enjoy high-level collegiate softball while also exploring what college life has to offer. It was a fantastic evening filled with great softball, team bonding, and valuable exposure to future educational opportunities.
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The SES third-grade students had the opportunity to present their animal research projects to the kindergarten classes. Students shared reports that included information about their chosen animal's characteristics, habitat, and life cycle, along with the habitat dioramas they created to showcase their learning.
This project allowed students to strengthen their research, writing, and presentation skills while sharing their knowledge with younger students. Kindergarteners asked thoughtful questions, giving the third graders the opportunity to explain and defend their research findings.
The presentations were a wonderful celebration of learning, and our third graders did an outstanding job demonstrating the knowledge and confidence they gained throughout the project.
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It has been a busy and exciting spring for our music program!
In early May, the Intermediate Band traveled to the University of Oregon, where Music Education students worked alongside our musicians and helped them prepare for the Spring Concert. Students also had the opportunity to learn from Dr. Silveira, Professor of Music Education and Director of the Oregon Wind Symphony.
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Students later participated in the final Rock and Band Camp of the year, working with instrument specialists who provided master classes and performance coaching.
The season wrapped up with our Spring Music Concert, where all music groups performed and seniors were recognized for their contributions to the program. It was a wonderful celebration of the hard work and talent of our student musicians.
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It's never too early to start planning for a great school year! The first day of school for the 2026–27 school year will be Monday, August 31.
There will also be an in-person registration on August 11 and 12, as well as a Back to School Fair on August 12.
Additional details regarding registration, schedules, and back-to-school information will be shared in August. Please be sure to follow our Facebook pages, as well as check our website.
You can find the 26-27 School Year Calendar at https://files.smartsites.parentsquare.com/9706/26-27_district_calendar.pdf
We hope everyone enjoys a wonderful summer, and we look forward to welcoming our students back this fall!
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