No one knows our community better than the people who live and work here. Each month the Sheridan Care Team comes together to help identify some of the life barriers experienced by our local families and to develop resources that can help address those needs. 

The local team is joined by representatives from a variety of non-profit organizations who offer services in our area ranging from clothing to mental health, and from hot showers to food insecurity and special meals. 

This collaborative meeting time breaks down the “silos” that often lead to duplicate services and fragmented support, while also trying to make it easier for everyone to access the services they need. 

The team does not discuss individual needs, but instead focuses on larger barriers, such as vision services and access to transportation. The meeting time is used to understand what services are already available, how to access those services, to identify gaps in the current resources and brainstorm ways to resolve issues. By sharing information on available funding, programs, and eligibility, the team strives to be in a better position to help families know what supports are available and to feel successful when reaching out to ask for help.

Taking time to understand and reduce barriers to resources has a profound impact on our schools. In rural areas, public schools often serve as the first stop for families. Teachers and administrators often find themselves spending time connecting families to external services, or managing issues that must be addressed in order for a student to be ready to learn. 

When basic needs are met outside the classroom it translates to improved student attendance, decreased disciplinary incidents, and higher academic readiness. Ultimately, a coordinated community network allows school staff to return their focus to their core mission of creating a stable, effective learning environment for every student.

Faulconer-Chapman is excited to kick off another year for our Friday Enrichment Program!

FCS offers the Friday Enrichment to students in grades K-5 as a way to create more positive experiences in our schools and reinforce educational concepts.

The Friday Enrichment is one of the opportunities created by our modified four-day week schedule, which creates built-in time for teachers each Friday to ensure classrooms are prepped and ready for your students each week. The modified four-day week also adds time to the overall learning calendar when compared to our former schedule, since in-service days and holidays are incorporated into the schedule while still maintaining the four-day week.

Teachers, staff and students all gave great feedback on last year’s Enrichment Program and we are excited to offer a similar format again during the 2025-26 school year.

Friday Enrichment will feature diverse activities, including S.T.E.M., arts and crafts, board games, gym games/gym free play, outside games/outside free play, and literacy activities. All K-5 students are welcome and encouraged to sign up! 

The program will be on Fridays from 8am-11am starting September 26th, but families are welcome to sign up after that date.

Registration must be completed in advance – visit our website (www.sheridan.k12.or.us/) and look for the “FCS/Friday Enrichment Program” information on the right side of the home page. Students cannot attend Friday Enrichment until this registration form is filled out and submitted. Bus transportation is also available, you will receive a phone call from our enrichment coordinator with the information you need for the bus after your registration is complete.

For questions, please email our Enrichment Coordinator, Ana Bowlin: 

ana.bowlin@sheridan.k12.or.us  

Sheridan School District is committed to finding creative solutions, such as modified weeks and Enrichment Programs, that work alongside our community to help students grow and learn. 

The Class of 2026 Seniors are looking for Senior Project ideas that meet a school or community need!

This year’s senior class consists of 44 students who must organize a project that requires at least 30 hours of time and meets a need of Sheridan Schools, their local community or teaches the student a new skill that is relevant to their potential future career path. 

Senior Projects are a great way for our students to start building skills outside of the classroom and a great way for Sheridan Schools to build stronger, more positive relationships with our community. 

When students take on projects that address local needs—including those related to small businesses, agriculture, and programs for younger children—it helps them see the relevance of their education beyond the classroom. At the same time, career-focused projects help students gain practical skills, explore potential job paths, and build relationships with local employers. This exchange not only benefits students by preparing them for future success but also helps our community thrive.

Past projects have included: 

• Building garden beds
• Organizing a clothing closet
• Organizing a CPR class for a specific group
• Building an “Art Box” for the community (similar to a little library, but with art supplies)
• Hosting a volleyball camp for younger youth
• A Dig Pink volleyball game to raise money for Breast Cancer Awareness

Community members with project ideas can reach out to:

Kelly Weathers 

kelly.weathers@sheridan.k12.or.us

971-261-6970

(Please note, a limited number of painting projects will be approved, and only if they fall in the category of meeting a community need.)

We appreciate your shared commitment to our students!

Dear Sheridan Families, 

Communication between caregivers, teachers and our district is essential to your student’s success. Here are some of the important steps you can take to ensure you are receiving all of the information you need for the coming school year: 

Parent Square

Sheridan Schools use ParentSquare for mass communications to parents and families. The same platform is used for messages from the District, as well as your student’s teachers. It is also how your family will be notified in case of an emergency or weather closures. 

If your phone number or other information has changed in the past year, you may not be receiving important information and updates. 

Please make sure you have downloaded the ParentSquare app and log in to your app to make sure your information is up-to-date. 

District Website: www.sheridan.k12.or.us

The Sheridan School District website contains important information about our schools, including monthly breakfast/lunch menus, school calendars, athletics information and bus routes. 

Official Facebook Pages 

Sheridan Schools (or affiliated groups) maintain a variety of Facebook pages. We encourage you to follow pages you are interested in for updates and information throughout the year! 

• Sheridan School District
• Faulconer-Chapman
• Sheridan High School – Home of the Spartans
• Sheridan Oregon FFA Chapter
• Sheridan Spartan Athletics & Activities
• Sheridan High School Boosters
• SHS Grad Night Party (Senior parents)

We are looking forward to a great 2025-26 school year!

We are looking forward to welcoming your students back to our Schools in less than a month.With so many events coming up I am using our space this week to ensure parents and students
have the information you need to start the year off smoothly:

Registration
It is not too late to register your student for the 2025-26 school year. If you have a student
who will be attending Sheridan Schools this fall, please contact the appropriate office to
start the registration process:
Faulconer-Chapman (Grades K-8): 971-261-6960 | Mon-Fri, 7:30-3:30
Sheridan High School (Grades 9-12): 971-261-6970 | Mon-Thurs, 7:30-4pm; Fri, 8am-2pm

Fall Athletics
SHS Fall sports include Football, Soccer, Volleyball, Cross Country and Cheerleading.
FCS Fall sports include Football (Grades 7 & 8), Volleyball (Grades 7 & 8) and
Cross-Country (Grades 6, 7 & 8).
Students interested in participating in sports can reach out to Athletic Directors for more
information:
SHS | Sarah Neel (971-261-6970)
FCS | Jeremy Brown (971-261-6960)

Sheridan-based Sports Physicals
Sports physicals are available on Mondays (9am-3pm; lunch from noon to 1pm) through
Virginia Garcia. Call for appointments: 503-876-8564. They are located at 222 SE Jefferson
Street in Sheridan.

Kinder Camp
Registered Kindergarteners are invited for four days of fun at Faulconer-Chapman School,
from Monday, August 18 through Thursday, August 21. Students will learn about school
routines and expectations, in order to help them transition into the new school year. Call
FCS office for more information: 971-261-6960

First day of school

Tuesday, September 2 (Grades K-6 and 9-12)

Wednesday, September 3 (All students, including Grades 7 & 8)

August 1, 2025

Dear Sheridan Families, 

We are grateful to those families who were able to participate in our Summer Camp literacy program over the past several weeks. The program worked with over 90 students entering grades 1-8 and focused on maintaining reading skills over the summer months. 

The four-week camp, which was staffed by Sheridan teachers and aides who opted into the summer program, blended basic reading skills like phonics and vocabulary, with hands-on projects. Activities were designed to facilitate positive, fun experiences that build reading skills, and maintain a level of comfort in the classroom to reduce the anxiety that can sometimes block a student’s ability to learn. Ongoing access to friends, as well as the routine of going to school each week, can also help students who struggle with transitions and socialization. 

We are always looking for creative ways to address areas we think may improve overall student learning and hope to build on programs we see having a positive impact on our students!

Funding for salaries and activities was provided by a $149,000 grant from the Oregon Department of Education and demonstrates the important role that grants, bonds and other contributions play in supporting K-12 public education programs in Sheridan. 

With state and local budgets often stretched thin, these additional sources of funding allow districts to offer enrichment programs, update learning spaces, and address gaps in academic achievement. Grants from state and federal agencies, as well as private foundations, can fund programs focused on reading or math, as well as large-scale projects, like the Barbara Roberts Career Technical Education Center—programs that we would not be able to offer otherwise. 

Bonds, like the one passed by voters this past spring, can fund essential facility upgrades and repairs, ensuring students learn in safe, up-to-date environments that support both academic and overall development.

In rural communities across Oregon, outside funding is particularly vital. Grants and bonds help level the playing field by enabling schools to hire staff, offer additional learning options, and invest in educational opportunities that are relevant to our community, without impacting our ability to provide a strong basic education in core subjects such as reading, math and science.

Thank you to you – our community – for continuing to support these activities and recognizing the important impact they have on our kids.

July 11, 2025

Dear Sheridan Families,
With kids at home and Hometown Days behind us, there are still events throughout Sheridan
being hosted by our community partners that you can attend with your student. Add a note to
your calendar for some of these upcoming opportunities:
On July 31 the Yamhill County Early Learning Hub will host a free Family Picnic from 4-7pm at
the Sheridan City Park. Pizza will be provided as well as games and prizes for both children and
adults, alongside information on supportive resources available for residents of Sheridan. The
picnic happens every year and is always a great way to spend an evening at the park.
The Sheridan City Library is open Tuesday-Saturday each week and is a great reason for an
outing with children who need to get out of the house! On Fridays they host two events: “1, 2, 3
Learn With Me” for younger kids (ages 0-5), followed by Story Time for all ages. Learn With Me
often includes a sing-a-long with a “Tonies box”, which you can also check out and take home,
and both events include an age-appropriate craft.
Other library events include
● Role-playing games every-other Thursday for ages 13-19.
● Art Jam on July 16 when people of all ages can bring their own craft to the library, meet
other members of the community and enjoy crafting time together.
● Teen movie night on July 30, when they will be showing Labyrinth.
You can find their monthly calendar with event times and locations posted to the ‘City of
Sheridan, Oregon’ Facebook page.
And don’t forget about their summer reading program! Prizes are available for weekly check-ins,
and there are Blazers and State Fair tickets for those who complete all sessions – it’s not too
late to join! Home pick up and delivery of books is available within Sheridan city limits on
Saturdays. Give them a call 503-843-3420 for information and arrangements.
You can also plan a daily walk around the School District’s Summer Meals program, which
operates Monday – Friday each week through August 8. Breakfast is available at the Sheridan
High School Cafeteria from 8-8:30, and “Grab-and-Go” lunch is available at the following
locations:
Sheridan City Park: 11-11:20
Faulconer-Chapman School: 11:30-11:50
Sheridan High School: Noon-12:30
Enjoy your summer!

June 27, 2025
Dear Sheridan Families,
AI has spread into our everyday lives, including our schools.
Research on K-12 schools show that while teachers are exploring ways to use and manage AI
applications, students are using these platforms at an increasingly rapid rate.
According to McGraw Hill’s Global Education Insights, many educators in the United States are
hopeful that AI can help personalize learning to better address a range of ways that various
students learn. It can also automate administrative tasks, which frees teachers to focus on
teaching. However, it does little to develop other skills educators prioritize, including social skills
and critical thinking.

In response to growing use, on May 21, the Sheridan School Board adopted Policy IKJ, which
addresses AI use in Sheridan Schools.

The first paragraph of the policy reads:
“The Board recognizes the need to prepare staff and students for an increasingly technological
future. Thus, the Board is committed to providing staff and students with the knowledge and
skills necessary to navigate emerging technological innovations effectively and appropriately,
including generative artificial intelligence (AI).”
The policy ensures that AI use is consistent with other policies and expectations for both staff
and students, and makes it a violation of policy to input any confidential or protected
information.

While AI holds some promise for enhancing education, we are working to move forward with
thoughtful implementation that protects our students, while also providing clarity and
expectations around AI use. We will continue to work with our teachers, students and
community to ensure AI use in our schools supports—but does not replace—human connection
and quality teaching.

Full text of the AI policy can be found on the board website
(https://www.sheridan.k12.or.us/school-board/), follow the Policies link and search on “IKJ”.

_________________
The Sheridan Bond website is being updated to reflect progress on bond-related tasks!
Visit SheridanBond.org for the latest information.

June 13, 2025

Dear Sheridan Families, 

Last week we said farewell to the graduating class of 2025. With many tears, smiles and anecdotes shared by Mrs. Butt we joined their celebration and took a moment to recognize the hard work each of them put into crossing the stage to receive their diploma. 

Congratulations to each of our graduates!

Our students are not the only ones to move on from Sheridan Schools at the end of each year. 

This year we will also say goodbye to two retiring teachers. Both have worked alongside our students, helping to build life skills and knowledge that will help them in the world outside of Sheridan Schools.

Mrs. Butt has taught in Sheridan for 31 of her 41 years of full-time teaching. Although she leaves a lasting legacy of classroom ELA instruction, many students know her best for the plays and dramatic performances she has directed through the years. 

Mr. Cimino has taught for six years in Sheridan Schools, focusing on Spanish classes in addition to electives in Guitar and Karate. This year, all seven students who completed testing were able to qualify for college credit through Western Oregon University for their Spanish achievements!

In addition to retiring teachers, three members of our five-member Sheridan Schools Board will attend their final board meeting on Wednesday, June 18, 2025. 

Larry Deibel joined the Sheridan School Board in June 2002. Over 23 years he has seen many changes, including the opening of Faulconer-Chapman School, and worked with five Sheridan superintendents. 

Michael Griffith has served 12 years on the board. As a proud father of Sheridan High School graduates, he has built his service around the question, “How will this affect the kids in the district?”

Scott Burke has served two terms totaling eight years. He hopes his time will encourage other members of the community to get involved in our schools and understand the importance of public service.

Thank you to each of these individuals for finding ways to use their skill sets to serve the children of our community!

May 30, 2025

Dear Sheridan Families, 

On behalf of our students, staff, and yes, our buildings – THANK YOU for standing behind our community’s children and passing our Sheridan Schools bond. 

The message from our community following our previous two bond attempts was clear: narrow the list down to the most critical needs that will allow our schools to continue to function. We listened, did that work, and you were true to your word. We are so grateful you have stayed beside us as we sought a level of funding that worked for our community as well as our schools. While projects not included in this bond will still need to be addressed in the future, this will allow us to make the most essential updates and repairs to the buildings where our children spend hours each day. 

We celebrate this moment – and we also know the work has just begun! 

The next step in the bond process is the formation of a Community Bond Oversight Committee, which will ensure bond funds are spent appropriately, and as promised. The application for this 5-7 person committee will be posted to the Sheridan School District website and Facebook page later this month. 

Committee members must live in the boundaries of Sheridan School District and will be joined by representatives from the District, the District Board and the construction contractors to receive updates on budget, projects, communications and other bond related topics. In addition to bond projects, the committee will also have oversight on projects funded by the OSCIM grant and any additional capital improvement grants received by the district during this period. 

Applications are due by August 11 (edited from original date), and meetings are estimated to begin in Fall 2025. 

We are very anxious to begin the work outlined in the bond, and will be working through the process of selling bonds, forming the Oversight Committee and selecting contractors in the coming months. Some smaller projects may be completed during the 2025-26 school year, however large-scale projects will be scheduled to begin in the Summer of 2026, which will allow time for planning and permitting processes to be complete. 

We are grateful for your support and look forward to seeing these improvements be implemented over the coming years!

Thank you!

Dear Sheridan Families, 

Each year our graduating seniors are required to complete a Senior Project, focused on either a career or community service. Projects must take at least 30 hours to complete and are presented to a panel of judges. 

In addition to Senior Projects, Sheridan seniors complete a semester-long Senior Focus class that helps them research careers and make an overall plan for their next steps following high school graduation. This can involve applying for scholarships, touring college campuses, researching apprenticeship programs and completing financial aid requirements.

I wanted to take the opportunity to highlight some of the great work our students have done over the past few months and thank the members of our community who worked alongside them or participated in their events. 

Here are just a few of the Senior Projects for the Sheridan High School Class of 2025: 

• Jacob Moser designed and painted a mural in the high school library.

• Abigail Giddings partnered with the Sheridan Fire Department to bring CPR training to all 8th graders at FCS.

• Susana Lemus worked with Mrs. Butt and the drama department, she made all of the promotional materials to advertise the play as well as many of the props.

• Erika and Cristina Cazarez Mendoza hosted a prom gown drive at SHS and also organized a trip to Portland to attend the Abby’s Closet annual prom gown giveaway on a Saturday, 30 girls attended the event. Mid Co donated the bus for the event.
• Taylor Yoder and Alex Martison organized and planned the Keegan Smith Memorial Basketball game, this event raised awareness and funds to go towards the annual Keegan Smith scholarship. 

• Kaylee Johnson, Isabella Parker, Kaylei Creekmore and Makilha Duarte worked with the Red Cross to organize 4 blood drives this year. They collected a total of 88 units.

Senior Projects are one way we encourage our graduating seniors to start thinking outside of the walls of Sheridan High School and into their community. We love seeing where students decide to focus their time and we look forward to seeing how they use their skills to impact our community for years to come.

May 2, 2025

Dear Sheridan Families,
This week we will celebrate Teacher Appreciation week. I could fill the entire newsletter with details of the incredible work our teachers are doing in and out of our classrooms, however with
the space I have I would like to highlight three of them, as examples of our exemplary staff:

Kim Butt has worked at Sheridan High School for 31 of the 41 years she has taught full time, including countless hours organizing SHS drama performances. Although she sees staff take
different approaches to teaching, she describes SHS like a family where everyone comes together and contributes towards a shared goal of positively impacting the future of Sheridan
students. Mrs. Butt will retire from teaching this year, but leaves with the hope that her former students will become active community members with skills to become who they want to be and
to achieve their dreams.

Jeremy Brown has worked for Sheridan School District for 14 years in various roles including math teacher, coach and athletic director. He thrives in Sheridan where his academic, athletic,
and life experiences are both needed and valued by parents/guardians and the students he works with everyday. Mr. Brown brings a passion to his work that students respond to, and he
sees the same passion in his co-workers. He loves working in a small district where he can build lasting relationships with students from kindergarten through high school and hopes the
students he works with will develop the confidence and perseverance to achieve their academic and athletic life goals.

Mitch Chadwick first taught at Faulconer School as a student teacher in the late 90s. His years with Sheridan Schools include memories of retrieving items from the building when it burned in
1998, until the Fire Department blocked entry. He is now seeing the children of his former students learning at FCS. Mr. Chadwick welcomes the challenge of getting the best out of his
students and encouraging them to believe in themselves. He hopes that his teaching will help build independence and problem solving skills, but acknowledges their first memory is typically
his projects around the Iditarod Sled Dog Race each year!

Anyone who has been enrolled in Sheridan Schools over the past decade is likely to remember at least one of these three teachers and can relate to their constant commitment to developing
positive academic experiences both inside and outside of the classroom. Each has built a reputation for experienced-based learning opportunities, ranging from athletics and fishing
derbies to dramatic performances. These experiences create an environment where students who learn best in a hands-on, active environment can feel good about their skills and abilities.
They are just three examples of why we celebrate our teachers this week and why we thank them all for their constant commitment to our kids.

April 18, 2025

Dear Sheridan Families,

Sheridan School District’s annual budget is a financial plan that maps our goals and programs for the coming school year. As is the case with any plan, real-time events can result in changes along the way, however the budget reflects what we hope to accomplish in the next year. The Sheridan School District Budget Committee gives citizen oversight to our district budget. It is composed of school board members and five local, registered voters who provide public insights and input.

The Budget committee works closely with our Business Manager, Karen Daniels, who has already dedicated hours of work to the development of the 2025-26 budget. She explains the budget as she has developed it, and will provide any information the committee requests that can help them determine if revisions to the budget should be made. Part of the Budget Committee process also involves time for public comment, if others in the community have feedback they wish to share.

Once the process is complete, the committee sends their recommended version of the budget to the Sheridan School Board for final review and approval.

The Sheridan Budget Committee currently has one open position for an individual who is interested in learning more about our schools and how they are funded. Budget Committee members serve a four year term, with 2-3 evening meetings typically held in the April-June timeframe. Committee members must be registered voters in the Sheridan School District and have lived in the district for at least one year. Applications can be found on our website or by reaching out to our Business Manager:

www.sheridan.k12.or.us/school-board/budget-committee/ OR EMAIL jenn.vesper@sheridan.k12.or.us

The Budget Committee is a great way to understand the source of funds in our district, and the restrictions and requirements attached to some funding sources. It provides insight into the cost of specific programs and allows members of our community a chance to shape the future of our schools.

Budget Committee service also provides great experience and insight, with a relatively low time commitment, for those who may want to explore a role on the Sheridan School Board at some point in the future.

Our first budget committee meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 28 – those interested in serving in this important role should complete their application this week!

April 4, 2025

Dear Sheridan Families,
Sheridan School District currently has multiple openings for classified and licensed positions at Sheridan High School and Faulconer-Chapman. Our schools feature a modified four-day
instructional week (licensed staff work six hours on Fridays) and competitive salary and benefits. More importantly, working for your local school district is a chance to make a real difference in
the lives of students and our community while enjoying benefits that help balance work and life.

Sheridan schools are a close-knit community of educators that care deeply for the well-being of
our local students. Teachers and staff build strong relationships with students, parents, and each other in an effort to support students in their learning and growth. Our small size allows teachers
to work closely with their students and create an environment where they can learn and develop skills that will serve them post high school. Working in a smaller district also gives teachers and
staff a stronger voice in decision-making and allows them to be more involved in planning and shaping the direction of our schools.

Sheridan operates on a modified four-day week, which means students attend classes four days a week (typically Monday-Thursday). Licensed staff use Fridays for training and prep, while
classified staff work only the occasional Friday to maintain a full-time benefits package. Many teachers and staff report this schedule reduces their stress and prevents the burnout that is
common with a traditional five-day school week. Teachers in the Sheridan School District must be licensed in Oregon. (Licensing information is available in the Jobs section of our website.) Classified positions, which include instructional assistants, secretaries, custodians, bus drivers and cooks, are also essential to our schools and offer great ways to work with students and families. We value our staff at all levels and in the past year we were thrilled to see two of our classified staff move into licensed positions. In the last few years, our schools have worked to better align compensation packages with other local districts, making our salary and benefits very competitive.

Working for Sheridan Schools is a chance to build strong relationships, enjoy better work-life balance, and make a local impact.
To explore our current job opportunities, visit: www.sheridan.k12.or.us/jobs/