Last week, Washougal High School (WHS) student leaders were recognized with the 2024 Jostens Gold Tier School of Distinction Award for their work to improve school climate and culture. Riley Vaughan, Jude Maddox, Gavin Johnson, Mackenzie Olkowski, and WHS teachers Kyla Ritchey and Tami Grant accepted the award at the Jostens Renaissance Global Conference in Orlando, Florida on July 18, 2024.
The Jostens Renaissance School of Distinction Award celebrates schools excelling in fostering a supportive and engaging school environment. Schools can apply for one of three levels of distinction: silver, gold, or platinum. Schools must meet specific criteria to qualify for the Gold Tier level, including implementing the Renaissance Program framework for building a positive school culture.
“Positive school culture brings better attendance, higher test scores, and overall makes school a place where you want to be rather than where you have to be,” said Maddox, 12th grade student leader at Washougal High School. “We’re a school that recognizes you for doing the things you should do and rewards you for going above and beyond. I think that encourages people to do what they’re supposed to do.”
For the first time this year, student leaders at the high school organized a Renaissance Rally to recognize students for academic and extracurricular achievements. Student leaders measured the success of their efforts to improve school culture by using data from the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) report card and interviewing students and staff.
“We worked on planning the Renaissance Rally for a good two months,” said Vaughan, 12th grade WHS student. “We plan on doing that a lot more this next school year and I think kids are ready for it.”
The leadership class also organizes the annual Stuff the Bus community fundraiser and a handful of other initiatives to promote a sense of belonging at school. “Stuff the Bus is when everyone comes together as a family to help out our community and brings us all closer,” said Olkowski, 11th grade student at Washougal High School.
Student leaders also have a voice in making decisions that impact school culture by participating in monthly Student Voice Council meetings with Washougal High School Principal Mark Castle. Student leaders also serve as representatives to the Washougal School Board to weigh in on districtwide decisions.
"Since 2020, our student leadership group has been implementing Renaissance program ideas to improve climate and culture at our school. This was our first year to apply for the award, and we're all very excited that we're being recognized as a Gold Tier school," said Ritchey, Associated Student Body teacher at WHS.
In winter 2023, Washougal High School was also one of three schools to win the nationwide Jostens Culture Challenge for leading an initiative to express appreciation for Washougal school bus drivers. The group of students gave cups of hot chocolate, with motivational messages written on them, to bus drivers at the school.
Washougal School District knows, nurtures, and challenges all students to rise. Learn more about Washougal School District at www.washougal.k12.wa.us.
Two Washougal High School students, Rilen Snethen and Boaz Brooks, represented the Seattle Sounders FC at the 2024 Special Olympics Unified Sports All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 23 at the Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. On July 24, the students will also be recognized on-field before the MLS All-Star Game presented by Target on July 24 at 8 pm Eastern Time.
The Sounders selected Rilen and Boaz from players around the state for this prestigious opportunity.
Overall, 52 Unified team members compete and represent 26 Major League Soccer (MLS) clubs at the event. The teams, composed of Special Olympics athletes and Unified partners, were outfitted in authentic uniforms provided by Adidas. MLS Greats served as celebrity coaches for the game.
At Washougal High School, Rilen and Boaz were invited to a school event to announce their selection. The two students, along with Unified Soccer Coach David Williams, were presented with jerseys from the Sounders at the event. Williams accompanied the pair to the event in Ohio this summer.
The Unified Sports program in Washougal School District was founded in 2015. Unified Sports brings together students with and without disabilities to shape a more inclusive athletic environment for all student athletes. The program operates on core values of acceptance, community, and friendship. Washougal School District offers Unified soccer and basketball programs at Washougal High School. Learn more about Washougal School District at www.washougal.k12.wa.us.
In June 2024, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) announced that three Washougal schools are being recognized for academic growth and closing opportunity gaps in the 2022-23 and 2021-22 school years. Canyon Creek Middle School, Columbia River Gorge Elementary School, and Washougal Learning Academy are recognized for the 2022-23 school year. Canyon Creek Middle School is also being honored for fostering student academic growth in the 2021-22 school year.
All three schools were recognized for academic growth. The Washington School Recognition Program measures growth based on outstanding year-to-year improvement in Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) standardized test proficiency, graduation rates, attendance rates, and other student success measurements. Across all Washougal schools in 2022-23, Washougal School District saw year-to-year improvement in 70% of the subjects and grades tested in the SBAC.
Canyon Creek Middle School (CCMS) is one of just 104 schools recognized for both the 2022-23 and 2021-22 academic years. CCMS was honored for demonstrating substantial improvements for student groups most in need of support. In the 2022-23 school year, Washougal students outperformed the state average in 82% of the subjects and grades tested in the SBAC. CCMS outperformed the Washington State average in 2022-23 in all three subjects tested: 31.5% points in science, 16% points in English Language Arts, and 7.2% points in math.
“This recognition shows how dedicated our teachers, students, and community are to making academic progress and closing opportunity gaps. We’re determined to continue this positive trajectory into the new school year,” said Aaron Hansen, Interim Superintendent at Washougal School District for the 2024-25 school year.
Canyon Creek Middle School, Columbia River Gorge Elementary School, and Washougal Learning Academy will each receive a recognition banner to display in their buildings.
OSPI has partnered with the State Board of Education (SBE) and Educational Opportunity Gap Oversight and Accountability Committee (EOGOAC) for years to identify and recognize schools for the Washington School Recognition Program. For the 2021-22 and 2022-23 school years, 571 public schools in 178 school districts across Washington state have earned this honor. Learn more about the Washington School Recognition Program and view a full list of schools receiving recognition on the SBE website.