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IN THIS ISSUE:
loowit visits bonneville dam / new summer camp / klickitat canoe trip / gardner yearbooks / 2024-2025 calendar / campus snapshots / upcoming events
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Dear Gardner community,
I can hardly believe we're at the last full week of the school year! Looking ahead, this week is full of opportunities to connect with one another and to celebrate the learning from our spring thematic. At the Gardner School, traditions happen every year that are rites of passage, and are truly meaningful for our students and staff. Year after year, Gardner students experience the end of year field trips, signing yearbooks, final projects, Wheels in School, Celebration of Learning, Field Day, graduation, and so many more memory making events- big and small. As educators, we know how important this time of year is for students to process, feel proud, and enjoy their friendships and time growing up at the Gardner School. We are intentional about how we enter into these days, and we invite you to join us in slowing down, making space for joy, and focusing on the unique and wonderful attributes that your child brings to your family, our school, and this world. It's time for us to celebrate them, and the amazing growth they've had this school year.
I look forward to seeing you at the upcoming events this week and next, and celebrating with you an incredibly successful school year. Our school community is thriving, strong, and happy - and I couldn't be more thankful for our teachers and the amazing work they did this year.
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With gratitude, 
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Gardner kicks off every fall with a Wheels in School day, and then the students wait the rest of the year in anticipation of the Spring Wheels in School! This past Thursday, May 30th, that day finally arrived. Students in all grades, from Tumtum through Klickitat, brought their favorite two, three, and four-wheeled rides to school for a day of outdoor fun during recess times! Equipped with the mandatory helmets, students were first briefed in safety procedures, and then turned loose to ride clockwise around the center garden. Staff kept the easement blocked and free of traffic so students could freely ride as many times around the garden as they were able in their recess time!
While there are always a few falls and scrapes, students exhibited courage in getting right back on their bikes, and some of the older students connected with the younger students, who watched and cheered the K-6 students! After watching, the EC classes had their own opportunities to ride around at their own speed and skill level throughout the day.
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New Summer Camp - Calligraphy, Cursive, and Bubble Writing!
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We have opened a new camp the week of July 22nd - July 26th - "Calligraphy, Cursive, and Bubble Writing"! Taught by our Kindergarten teacher, Joyce, this camp will explore fun ways of writing. Students will learn about special pens and pencils, art paper, and what can be done with varying fonts. Students will have plenty of time to practice their work, and also to play outside. This camp is open to Kindergarten through 6th Grade, so no matter what your child's handwriting skill level, they are sure to learn something fun.
If you are interested in signing up your child for summer camps this year, visit our Summer Camp webpage soon!
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The Columbian's Best of Clark County awards are a wonderful way for our school to get noticed in the Clark County area. Last year, we were the runner-up for Best Childcare and a finalist for Best School and Best Preschool.
Thanks to your nominations, once again we have made it to the voting round, this year in four categories! Let's make this the year we take the top spot!
Gardner School is a unique and needed school in Clark County, and we hope you will support us by voting for us as a Best of Clark County in the following categories:
Best Preschool
Best School
Best Childcare
Best Summer Camp
(The first three are listed under "Services", and the last one is under "Entertainment".)
We hope you will take a moment to vote for us in all categories, and share with your friends and family to vote, too. We'll share posts on social media, also, for easy sharing. Voting closes June 30th!
Thank you for your continued support of our mission to cultivate authentic learning through integrated experiences in a supportive community.
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Yearbooks Now On Sale!
2024 Gardner Yearbooks
Once again, the Gardner staff has put together a lovely yearbook with photos and memories from the school year! Each classroom has a page with class and individual photos, and a number of our important annual events are highlighted on their own pages. There's a "guess that baby picture" section towards the back, and each page contains memories of the school year that parents and students will treasure for years to come.
Books are $35 each, and can be ordered through our online form. We will be distributing books by homerooms directly to teachers in June, so students will be able to get their books signed by peers at the end of the school year.
We only have limited quantities available, so get yours soon before they are gone!
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2024-2025 School Year
Calendar Available
The 2024-2025 academic calendar has been finalized! Our first day of school this fall will be Wednesday, August 28th, with a normal Wednesday schedule of 8:30am to 1:45pm for K-6, and 8:30am to 1:00pm for Early Childhood. This calendar includes all holidays, breaks, and In-Service (non-attendance) days for the 2024-2025 school year.
We will continue to post the daily events such as field trips, school events, Celebrations of Learning, First Friday Farmhouse chats, and other pertinent information both at the bottom of our weekly newsletters and through the Facts Family Portal calendar and announcements. You may also subscribe to the Gardner Community Google Calendar to keep up on the latest changes to school events and schedules.
The 2024-2025 School Calendar is available online now.
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No After Care Wednesday, June 12th
Important reminder- there is no after care on the last day of school. Tumtum or Mazama students with siblings enrolled in K-6 can stay until pick-up time! Remember, the last day of school is a Wednesday, so school is out at 1pm for EC and 1:45pm for K-6!
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Campus snapshots
What's happening on campus
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Upcoming Events
Tuesday, June 4th
Loowit at the Zoo
Loowit found time to take one final field trip this year! They will be visiting the Oregon Zoo on Tuesday, June 4th, from 11am until the end of the day.
Tuesday, June 4th
Tumtum Celebration of Learning
Tumtum's Celebration of Learning will be in the Imagination Playground and Tumtum, from 2:00pm - 3:00pm. Families welcome!
Wednesday, June 5th
Mazama Celebration of Learning
Mazama's Celebration of Learning will take place in Mazama, from 12:00pm to 1:00pm. Families welcome!
Thursday, June 6th
K-6 Celebration of Learning
Our K-6 Celebration of Learning will begin with a brief program in the Great Room at 2:00pm, then transition to individual classes, ending at 3:00pm. Families welcome!
Friday, June 7th
EC Field Day
Tumtum and Mazama have their spring field day! They will have outdoor games and sprinkler time (weather permitting), plus popsicles!
Monday, June 10th
Klickitat Commencement
Our 6th graders who are graduating and our 5th graders who are not returning in the fall will have their Commencement program at 2:00pm. Families are welcome to attend.
Wednesday, June 12th
K-6 Field Day and Last Day of School
Our K-6 students will have their Spring Field Day, with water activities, a tug of war, the popular shaving cream station, and popsicles. This is also our last day of school for everyone. Have a lovely summer, and we hope to see you at one or more of our Summer Camps!
Wednesday, June 12th
No After Care
Important reminder- there is no after care on the last day of school. Tumtum or Mazama students with siblings enrolled in K-6 can stay until pick-up time. Remember, the last day of school is a Wednesday, so school is out at 1pm for EC and 1:45pm for K-6!
To see and subscribe to our calendar of events, click below!
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