Students return to classrooms in Cascade School District

LEAVENWORTH – School is back in session for Cascade School District (CSD). Students arrived for their first day of the 2024-2025 school year on Aug. 27.

At Peshastin-Dryden Elementary (PD), which hosts Transitional Kindergarten (TK) through second grade, students took photos with the bear cub sculpture, greeted friends, and were welcomed by Principal Emily Ross at the door.

“We're really, really, really excited to start the year off, and we can't wait to meet all of our littlest learners and start their foundation strong,” said Ross.

Each year, Ross has the students focus on practicing positive character traits. At the beginning of this school year, the focus is kindness.

“We are nervous and we're excited. We love the school, and we can't wait to meet new people, and we're excited that Mrs. Ross is having us focus on kindness,” said parent Lacy Tipton-Haggerty, on behalf of her first grade student.

At Cascade High School (CHS), Aug. 27 was the last first day for its seniors, but an exciting first for its incoming freshmen, exchange students, and principal. Former Icicle River Middle School Principal James Swanson began his first day as the new CHS principal.

"I have loved my middle school experience and appreciate all of my years here and in my former district. I have spent my entire teaching career at the high school level and am excited to get back to this level. I feel like I belong here," said Swanson.

CHS students and their parents prepared for the upcoming year by attending the CHS open house the night before. Exchange students Janice Chiang from Taiwan and Jesper Koornstra from the Netherlands were able to meet their English teacher Jill Weil.

“I think it will be a whole different experience, especially with taking classes that I’m not able to take in my home country,” said Jesper Koornstra, an exchange student from the Netherlands.

After facing budget challenges last year, CSD Superintendent Tracey Edou is hopeful for a positive change. This school year will see an increase in outdoor classroom space, with the improved trail on Rattlesnake Hill made by Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance. Additionally, the arts, which faced an uncertain future earlier this year, have been bolstered with the help of Icicle Creek Center for the Arts, Village Art in the Park, and the Cascade Choir Crescendo Campaign.

Edou said she expects recent system changes also having a positive impact on the district, such as insurance companies providing information prior to the adoption of the school budget.

“I feel like we're finally turning the corner on the pandemic. Every year I've said that, but this year, I think we finally are,” said Edou. “I think last year showed us that the post-COVID reality is not just going back to before COVID, that we actually need to implement tools and put structures in place to kind of handle all of the increased costs.”

Taylor Caldwell: 509-433-7276 or taylor@ward.media