HOOD CANAL

🏀 Game Day Alert! 🏀 Our Hood Canal girls basketball team is ready to hit the court for their first home game against St. Mike’s today, Tues Feb. 11 at 3:30 PM! Check out these shots from yesterday’s practice—our Orcas are putting in the work! 💪🐋 No charge for entry—let’s pack the stands and cheer them on! Go Orcas! 🔵⚪ #HoodCanalOrcas #GameDay #GoOrcas #CommunitySupport

🌅 Morning Views Like No Other! ❄️ One of our staff members captured these stunning shots of snow-capped mountains glowing in the sunrise over Hood Canal on their way to work this morning. A breathtaking reminder of how lucky we are to live and work in one of the most beautiful places on earth!

🎉 Excellent News! 🎉 Hood Canal School is making waves at the Mason County Forest Festival—4 of the top 10 finalists out of 561 entries in the Button Design Contest are from our school! That’s an incredible achievement! 🌟 Congratulations to our talented students: 🎨 Harper Myirsky (3rd Grade) 🎨 Lin Spichiger (7th Grade) – Twice in the Top 10! 🎨 Lindy June Kufman (8th Grade) With submissions from 11 schools (including high schools), the competition was tough, and we’re so proud of all the students who submitted their designs. A huge thank you to our art teacher Max Cowdery and our students’ families for supporting these young artists! Finalists will be invited to the March 15 Forest Festival Coronation & Button Finalist Presentation, where they’ll each receive a $50 prize, and the grand prize winner will earn $100 and have their design featured on this year’s Forest Festival Button!

🎨❄️ Our kindergarteners had a fantastic time learning about wax resistance in art with Mr. Max today! They created some adorable snow scenes, and their creativity was on full display. Thanks to our local levy, we’re able to provide art education that sparks imagination and creativity for our students. We appreciate our community’s support in making programs like this possible! 🖍️✨ #HoodCanalOrcas #CreativeKids #WinterArt #LevyFunded

Cozy and Kind! ❄️🧶 A huge thank you to the Hood Canal Kiwanis Club “Thread Slingers” for their generous donation of handmade hats! These cozy creations were a big hit today as our counselor, Monica Carlson, passed them out. So many smiles and so much excitement—just in time for a chilly winter day! We’re grateful for our community partners who help keep our students warm, inside and out. ❤️ #CommunityKindness #KiwanisCares #WarmHeartsWarmHats

🚍❄️ Shoutout to Our Amazing Bus Drivers! ❄️🚍 A huge THANK YOU to our dedicated Hood Canal bus drivers for safely transporting our students to and from school despite the snowy conditions! Your hard work, skill, and commitment ensure that our students arrive safely every day, no matter the weather. We appreciate you! 👏👏 #ThankYouBusDrivers #SafeAndSteady #HoodCanalStrong

🚨 School Closure – Tuesday, February 4 🚨 Due to worsening road conditions this morning, Hood Canal School is now closed for the day. We sincerely apologize for the late change, but safety comes first for our students, staff, and families. Stay safe and warm! ❄️☃️

Due to current weather conditions, Hood Canal School District will be on a 2-hour delay tomorrow, Monday, Feb. 3. There will be no developmental preschool and no out of district transportation, but Transitional Kindergarten (TK) will still be offered. We will assess conditions again in the morning to determine if further schedule changes, including a possible closure, are necessary. Please check your email, our district website, app, and here on Facebook for updates. Stay safe and warm!

Hood Canal School District will operate on a 2-hour delay tomorrow, Monday, Feb. 3, due to weather conditions. We will re-evaluate in the morning to determine if further schedule changes are needed. Please stay tuned for updates.

❄️ Snow is in the forecast! At Hood Canal School, safety is our top priority. Here’s what you need to know in case of school closures or delays due to weather: 📢 How We Notify You: ✅ Website – Alerts will be posted on our district homepage: https://www.hoodcanal.wednet.edu/ ✅ School App – Get push notifications straight to your phone. Download it today! Apple: https://tinyurl.com/2n79spnb; Android: https://tinyurl.com/2s3k9mvu ✅ Facebook – Follow us @HoodCanalSchool for the latest updates. ✅ Phone Call, Text & Email – Make sure your contact info is up to date in Skyward so you don’t miss important messages! 🚍 Types of Schedule Changes: 🔴 School Closed – No school, no activities, no transportation. 🟠 Two-Hour Delay – Buses run two hours late, no preschool, no before-school activities. ⚠️ Limited Bus Service – Snow routes may be in effect (posted on our website). ❌ Evening Activities Canceled – If conditions worsen later in the day, events may be postponed. 🌨️ Plan Ahead! Some areas in our district experience more severe weather than others. If roads near your home are unsafe, please do not attempt to drive to school—just notify us. 🔗 For more details, visit our delay and closure webpage: https://tinyurl.com/ypf9xbn2 Stay warm and stay safe!

🚒🔥 Fire Drill Success! 🔥🚒. Today, our students and staff participated in a fire drill to practice our emergency procedures. Everyone did a fantastic job evacuating quickly, staying calm, and following safety protocols. These drills are an important part of keeping our school community safe and prepared. A big thank you to our staff for guiding students and to our local emergency responders for their support! Check out these photos from today’s drill. Great job, Orcas! 🐋👏

📈🍌🎉 Celebrating Growth in 6th Grade Math! 🎉🍌📈 Yesterday, Ms. Padgett held a Term 2 STAR Math Diagnostic Rewards Party, and her 6th graders had a “sweet” time celebrating their hard work! 🍨✨ Every student who increased their STAR Math score earned an invite to enjoy banana splits—a well-deserved treat for their dedication and progress! We love seeing our students challenge themselves and grow as learners. Keep up the great work, Orcas! 🐋💙

🚀🤖 Exciting News! Hood Canal Robotics Club is Launching! 🤖🚀 We’re kicking off our Lego Spike Prime Robotics Junior Team on Tuesday, February 11, in the Library! 🎉 This club is open to twelve 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students who are ready to build, create, and compete using Lego Spike Prime robots! 🏗️⚙️ Students will work in teams to design, program, and test their robots, engage in friendly skirmishes, and explore the world of STEM and engineering in a fun and hands-on way. 📄 Permission slips are available now! Find them in: 📌 4th-5th-6th grade backpacks on Thursday 📌 Our front office 📌 Our Library 📌 Our school foyer (entry) Spots are limited—so grab a permission slip and sign up soon! We can't wait to see our future engineers in action! 🚀 ✨ Did you know? All of our clubs, including Robotics, are supported by our local levy! Your support makes these amazing opportunities possible for our students. 💙

🏀 Tournament Schedule Update! 🏀 Orcas fans, the wait is over! Here’s the official game schedule for this weekend’s state qualifier tournament. Let’s pack the stands and cheer on our Hood Canal boys basketball team as they battle for a spot in the WA Middle School Championships! 🐋💙 🏆 Orcas' Tournament Schedule 📅 Saturday, February 1, 2025: 9:00 AM – 🏀 Orcas vs. TSD Yelm (NW Sports Hub - Court 06); 11:00 AM – 🏀 Orcas vs. Olympia White (NW Sports Hub - Court 11); 📅 Sunday, February 2, 2025: 4:00 PM – 🏀 Orcas vs. Seahawks (NW Sports Hub - Court 09); 6:00 PM – 🏆 Finals (TBD); 📍 Location: NW Sports Hub, Centralia, WA 💵 Gate Entry Fee: $5 per person (Kids 5 and under are free) 🚗 Perks: Free parking, on-site restaurant, and concessions! Top 2 teams in each division move on to the WA Middle School Championships in Spokane this March—let’s get loud and help our Orcas take the next step!

Check out our transitional kindergarten students bringing the energy for Spirit Week with their awesome Pom Poms! 🎉 Their school spirit is shining bright, and we couldn’t be prouder of our youngest Orcas showing off their love for learning and community. Let’s keep the Spirit Week excitement going! #OrcaPride #SpiritWeek #HoodCanalStrong

🌲❄️ Our BOOTS outdoor education program recently took a trip to the Cispus Learning Center, nestled in the beautiful Gifford Pinchot National Forest- U.S. Forest Service. ❄️🌲 Despite the chilly weather, our students had an unforgettable experience! From environmental learning to leadership challenges, they explored, discovered, and grew together in this unique outdoor classroom. By the end of the trip, they were tired but full of new knowledge, memories, and accomplishments. Thank you, Cispus, for providing such an amazing space for hands-on learning and growth!

🏀 Mark Your Calendars, Orcas Fans! 🏀 Our Hood Canal boys basketball team is making a run for the state tournament and competing in a state qualifier tournament this weekend! 📍 Location: NW Sports Hub, Centralia, WA 📅 Dates: Saturday & Sunday, February 1-2, 2025 💵 Gate Entry Fee: $5 per person (Kids 5 and under are free) 🚗 Perks: Free parking, on-site restaurant, and concessions! Let’s fill the stands with Orca pride as we cheer on our team! 🐋💙 The tournament schedule will be posted soon, so stay tuned for game times. Top 2 teams in each division will advance to the WA Middle School Championships in Spokane this March—let’s help our Orcas take the next step! #GoOrcas #OrcaPride #HoodCanalStrong

🎉 We’re thrilled to announce the launch of our Co-Ed Pep Squad to bring even more school spirit to Hood Canal School! This is a great opportunity for students to show their Orca pride, cheer on their classmates, and make lasting memories. 🗓 Sign-ups are open now! 📍 See Ms. Cathy this week to join the squad! Let’s come together and make this the best year yet. Go Orcas! 🐟 #OrcaPride #HoodCanalSpirit #PepSquad

It's Spirit Week! Show your school spirit with these FUN dress up days! Monday – Pajama Day! Wear your coziest pajamas to school. Tuesday – Favorite Team Day! Wear gear from your favorite sports team; Grades 6-8: Holiday Dress-Up Wednesday – Camouflage Day! Blend in with some camo gear. Thursday – Wacky Hair Day! Get creative with your hairstyle; Grades 6-8: 90’s Day Friday – Favorite T-Shirt Day! Wear a t-shirt that represents something you love.

🌟 Science in action! 🌿 Mrs. Gouley’s 5th graders dove into the fascinating world of food webs, exploring how energy flows between organisms in nature. From producers to consumers to decomposers, these budding scientists are connecting the dots of our ecosystem. 🌎 Great job, 5th grade! #HoodCanalOrcas #ScienceRocks #FoodWebFun