Native American Education Program
Bethel School District June 2021
In this Issue...
- Acknowledgement of our 5th, 8th, and Seniors
- Snap-Shot of our events for 2020-2021
- Indian Parent Committee
- NAYLA for 2021-2022
NATIVE AMERICAN EDUCATION SENIOR CLASS OF 2021 (TITLE VI)
Spanaway Lake High School
Manuel Garcia-Marrietta
Shaelyn Greer
Griffyn Meshriy
Latanya Mustin
Michael Rogers
MacKenzie Sunde
Native American Education 8th Grade Students
We want to wish you the BEST as you move on to 9th Grade
Frontier Middle School
Serenity Bennett
Harmony Dillon
Travis Hohn
Nevitt Miller
Spanaway Middle School
Lois Brumett-Schwerzler
Launarose Dominguez
Antonia Manning
Tehaya Witherspoon
Cedarcrest Middle School
Kaycie Kallander
Ayden Rogers
Joel Ruffin
Raja Sanehi
Elk Plain School of Choice
Mason Barnett
Abigail Riley
Phoebe Wade
Bethel Middle School
Jackie Abbott
Owen Lago
Destiny O'Fallon
Jai Rivera
Chazmine O'Fallon
Natalie Young
Ava Richotte
Jaden Bell
Cougar Mt. Middle School
Kevin George
Lillian Bristow
Christopher Wyatt
Liberty Middle School
Brendan Harder
Mackenzie Krautler
Joshua Milne
Kimora Smith
Brendan Wilbur
Native American Education 5th Grade Students
We wish you the BEST as you move on to Middle School
Clover Creek Elementary
Naveah Eleazor
Camas Prairie Elementary
Skylnne Shields
Graham Elementary
Ava Slater
Naches Trail Elementary
Josiah Mclean
Nicholas Melendez
Arailya Napoleon
Esteban Navarijo-Fackrell
Thomas Pease
Nelson Elementary
Phoenix Hedland
Aubrey Holt
North Star Elementary
Nichole Taylor
Brian Young
Roy Elementary
Stachen Stephan
Rocky Ridge Elementary
Hunter Kenyon
Kapowsin Elementary
Cooper Miller
Fredrickson Elementary
Jaylene Laorosa
Rhoda Smith
Roman Milne
Elk Plain School of Choice
Maya Bennett
Micah Bong
Kendall Wall
Teaghan Sebastian
Tyler-James Hoskins
Nathan Byrd
Centennial Elementary
Rilynne Dawson
Chloee Allison
Snap-Shot of our events for the school year 2020-21
Here is a snap-shot of events we hosted this school year.
OCT: "Meet-n- Beep" Drive-Thru, Pick-up a pie, and activity
NOV: Mailed Home Canoe Activity and Book
MARCH: Spring Event-Birdhouse, Photo Booth, and Egg Hunt
APRIL: Senior Cedar Graduation Cap Weaving
MAY: End of Year Celebration
MAY: Boeing Virtual Field Trip
IF YOU ARE A PARENT INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING, PLEASE CONTACT
RACHAEL OR HEATHER Their information is listed below.
Fall Event
Mailed Home Activity
Thompson Elementary
1st Grade
Canoe activities that were mailed home this school year to our elementary students.
Spring Event
End of Year Celebration
Our Native American Program and Indian Parent Committee gifted our 5th and 8th grade students with a keychain that was made by Natasha Lowe our Indian Parent Committee Chair.
Our seniors were gifted with traditional blanket as well as a hat box to keep their Cedar Grad Caps that we wove together.
We are ever so proud of our students for working diligently this school year to overcome many new ways of learning. This school year required determination, focus, and resiliency. We applaud ALL of our students and families for pushing through.
Senior at Spanaway Lake High School
We are so excited for you to attend UW Tacoma next year Mackenzie. And hope you will be able to come back and share your experiences with our community.
Elementary Student Participant, Micah Bong
5th Grade at Elk Plain School of Choice
We are so excited for you to continue your journey at Elk Plain. You have many exciting years ahead of you and we are glad we get to support you along the way.
Middle School Mentor, Phoebe Wade
8th Grade at Elk Plain School of Choice
We are so excited for you to attend Bethel High School next year as a Freshman Phoebe!!! Phoebe also participates in our Native American Youth Leadership Academy (NAYLA)
High School Mentor, MacKenzie Sunde
Senior at Spanaway Lake High School
MacKenzie spoke to our students about what it meant for her to be a student in the Native Education Program. She shared some words of wisdom and advice with our other students.
Cedar Graduation Caps
Our students have been gifted the opportunity to weave Cedar graduation caps through our partnership with Twin Star Credit Union. Our Seniors were invited to join us along with Master Weaver Darlene Sam from the Upper Skagit and Muckleshoot Tribe. Ms. Sam personally harvested and cared for the cedar used from start to finish. While we were making the Cedar Hats, Ms. Sam was taking the time to tell cultural stories and share more teachings with us.
Because of the time, it takes to make a hat, we spent 3 days together weaving caps for our seniors. This is a great motivator for our Native Students to graduate because of the time, hand-eye coordination, skill, dedication, endurance, patience, and determination to make their caps. This is a new tradition we hope to continue for years to come.
NOTE: To the Coastal Tribes of the Northwest, Grandmother Cedar Tree, is associated with prayer, healing, dream, and protection against disease. The Salish tribes consider the tree a symbol of generosity and providence and have ceremonial rituals using cedar.
Cedar
Ms. Sam prepping the headband
The Cedar is soaked in water to make it more pliable to work with.
Cedar Headband Making
Making the headband
Congratulations, to Daffodil Princess MacKenzie Sunde for making Indian Country proud!
Top of a Cedar Graduation Cap
Zachary John
Virtual Field Trip
Our students truly impressed the Boeing team with their engagement, questions, and discussion. We were proud of the way our students represented Bethel and our Native American Program.
Bobbie Dominguez (Snoqualimie)
Chris Greenstone (Navajo)
Ruth Sims (Navajo/Sioux)
Are you interested in getting involved in our program? Check out the Indian Parent Committee for more information.
Indian Parent Committee 2021-2022
What: Indian Parent Committee- A group of parents who meet with the Native American TOSA's (Rachael & Heather) to discuss the Native Ed. program, plan events, discuss program goals, and create culturally related opportunities for our students.
When: 4 times a year for 1-2 hour meetings
Why: It is crucial to our program development to have parent voices in all areas. All of our best ideas and planning come from the brilliant minds of our parents! Our Native Youth need you to be the voice for them!
How: Zoom or In-Person based on current Health and Safety Guidance.
PLEASE REACH OUT TO EITHER RACHAEL OR HEATHER IF YOU ARE INTERESTED OR NEED MORE INFORMATION BEFORE MAKING A DECISION
More Information:
The purpose of the BSD Title VI Parent Advisory Committee is:
To comply with the rules and regulations governing Indian Education Act—Title VI.
To enhance and encourage the academic experience of Title VI eligible students in the district.
To provide direction and build on Indian culture in meeting the academic and cultural needs of Title VI eligible students.
To participate in the design, operation, and evaluation of the program.
To advise the school district on the development of policies and procedures relating to the program.
To serve as a liaison between Title VI eligible students, parents, guardians, and the school district.
N.A.Y.L.A.
Students who are participants in the Title VI program
WHAT:
NAYLA-Native American Youth Leadership Academy
When:
Meets once a month with other secondary Native American students in Washington State to discuss current issues, topics, and/or trends.
WHY:
- Learn valuable leadership skills.
- Meet with Native American Students across Washington with similar interests, issues, goals!
- Connect with traditional Native values and other elements of Native culture\
- Be the voice you want to hear! Be the change in Indian Country!
Where:
TBD (Per Covid-Guidelines)
If you are interested in participating in our NAYLA group please reach to one of the Native Ed. TOSA's, (Mrs. Barger or Mrs. Wippert) to get more information.
We encourage all our Native American students entering grades 8th-12th grades to apply.
Thank you
Muckleshoot Indian Tribe
Nisqually Indian Tribe
Puyallup Tribe
TwinStar Credit Union
We Need Your Help...
The form can be accessed by clicking the PINK box below titled
"Title VI ED506 Indian Student Eligibility Form"
South End Native Ed. Teacher
Mrs. Barger (Eastern Band Cherokee)
She has been with the Bethel School District for 18 years and is a BSD Graduate. She has been a part of the Native American Education program for 3 years and prior to that she was a classroom teacher. Mrs. Barger is passionate about helping our Native American students succeed and goes above and beyond her realm of duties to ensure they do. In her free time, she likes to watch her children play football and spending time with her family.
Schools Served: Bethel HS, Challenger HS, Bethel Accelerated Academy, Cougar Mt. MS, Bethel MS, EPSOC, Liberty MS, Roy Elem, Centennial Elem, Rocky Ridge Elm, Shining Mt. Elem, North Star Elem, Kapowsin Elem, and Frederickson Elem
Email: rbarger@bethelsd.org
Website: https://www.bethelsd.org/Page/827
Location: 516 176th Street East, Spanaway, WA, USA
Phone: 253-307-5865
North End- Native Education Teacher
Mrs. Wippert (Blackfeet Nation)
Mrs. Wippert is new to the Bethel School District this year. She is coming to the district with over 12 years of experience working with Native American students. Prior to coming to Bethel has been a classroom teacher and an instructional coach. It has always been Mrs. Wippert dream to work with kids and she enjoys watching students blossom. In her free time, she enjoys beading, reading books, and spending time with her family.
Schools Served: Spanaway Lake HS, Graham-Kapowsin HS, Bethel Virtual Academy, Spanaway MS, Cedarcrest MS, Frontier MS, Spanaway Elem, Thompson Elem, Evergreen Elem, Naches Trail Elem, Camas Prairie Elem, Clover Creek Elem, Nelson Elem, Pioneer Valley Elem, and Graham Elem.
Email: hwippert@bethelsd.org
Website: https://www.bethelsd.org/Page/827
Location: 516 176th Street East, Spanaway, WA, USA
Phone: 253-307-6453
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BethelSD.NativeEd.Program