By Bill Reynolds
La Conner Community News
With the start of the school year just around the corner, the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community has gotten ahead of this year’s learning curve.
Swinomish, in collaboration with La Conner Schools, held its annual Back-to-School Bash under the Cedar Hat Pavilions at swәdәbš Park on Aug. 12. The three-hour event was an opportunity for Swinomish families to pick up district calendars, informational handouts, and various forms, as well as for students to receive a slew of classroom supplies.
“We saw a good turnout of our kids,” said Swinomish Education Department Director Loran James. “And we can still reach out to the ones who weren’t able to be here today.”
James said the Back-to-School Bash was sponsored by various funding sources at Swinomish along with the Johnson-O’Malley Program, a federal initiative dating to 1934 which provides supplemental financial aid and services to Native American and Alaska Native students attending public schools.
La Conner Schools leadership joined Swinomish department reps in meeting with students and their family members.
“We saw lots of families,” said Beth Clothier, the school district’s director of teaching and learning. “It was great to connect and reconnect with everyone.”
Clothier and her colleagues distributed a flyer on the district’s transition to ParentSquare, a new two-way communications platform. She said district families will soon be provided details on how to set up ParentSquare so they can continue receiving school messages.
“This is kind of like a sneak preview of coming attractions,” Clothier said.
Students received a wide range of items needed to start the school year. There were binders, composition books, pencils, pens, markers, hi-lighters, backpacks, gift cards, hoodies, notebooks, chapstick and more.
One Back-to-School Bash table was devoted to scholarship information. Another, manned by the Between Two Worlds indigenous science program, provided strategies for protecting the water table. The Swinomish Police Department was on hand with public safety tips. Still another table focused on children’ s dental health.
“We’re here with information about our annual sealant week,” said Mindy Flores, quality manager at the Swinomish Dental Clinic. “Our focus is on preventative care, so we love it that our sealant week has become such a tradition here.”
“It’s great to get out of the office because there’s people you need to see,” added Lisa James, who worked the scholarship table.
Clothier noted that several students sought out La Conner Middle and High School counselor Erik Crinklaw for schedules.
Afterward, Loran James was pleased with how well the afternoon went. Lines moved steadily. Students were happy, and parents pleased.
“The numbers were good, and it wasn’t chaotic.”
Bill Reynolds is a general assignment reporter for La Conner Community News.
