The White Salmon Valley School District was awarded another five year 21st Century Community Learning Center grant that provides after school and summer school programs to students at Whitson Elementary, Wallace & Priscilla Stevenson Intermediate and Henkle Middle School. The grant provides over $358,000 each school year to fund programs that include, math and reading interventions, robotics, science and project-based learning activities, homework help, other enrichment activities and field trips.

A White Salmon student stands next to his math activity project.

During the 2017 summer program, 5th–12th grade students built a planetarium. “We started in May and completed it the second day of summer school in July,” says Project Director Dorinda Belcher. “It was a real engineering project and a team effort!”

White Salmon Valley Superintendent Jerry Lewis is pleased that the program will continue. “The district is very grateful to be able to provide this opportunity to our students,” he says.

The grant also provides the program with a Family Coordinator who will work to meet the needs of the families in the program. They will host classes and trainings, organize family nights and help the district connect with families.

Students enjoy a marble maze challenge during a field trip to the Oregon Museum of Science & Industry.