This past weekend, eleven LBHS track and field athletes (who qualified at the district meet) traveled to Yakima, WA where they competed for a place on the podium in their respective events at the WIAA 2B Track and Field State Championships.

We’re pleased to report that not only did many of our athletes set personal records, but many found themselves on the podium. Better yet, we’re thrilled to announce that Kady Hammer won the 2B Ambulatory Shot Put State Championship and 2B 100 Meter Dash State Championship.

Please join us as we congratulate the LBHS Track and Field team and coaches on a successful season!

Dear Methow Valley Students, Parents, and Community Members,

I am thrilled to inform you that Elyse Darwood has been selected to serve as the LBHS Interim Principal for the 2023-24 school year.

Commonly referred to by her colleagues as a “leader of leaders,” Elyse Darwood is ready to take the reins, acting as LBHS’s Interim Principal. For those who are not familiar with Elyse, she is a learner-centered, national board certified, veteran teacher of twelve years (eight years with the Pateros School District and four years with the Methow Valley School District), recent instructional coach, current LBHS humanities teacher, CLIMBS advisor, and member of the LBHS leadership team.

When asked about the decision to name Elyse as LBHS’s new principal, a Liberty Bell student captured it well by stating, “As a classroom teacher, Mrs. Darwood appreciates me for who I am. She sees me for who I’m becoming. She helps me to believe in what’s possible. I’ll miss having her as a teacher. But, I can’t think of a better person to lead our school.” When we asked the same question of staff, one member stated, “I can’t think of a person who cares more deeply about this community, our schools, the students we serve, and their families. She is a community builder, cultivating an inclusive environment of belonging, where every student feels valued, respected, dignified, and inspired to realize their full potential.”

As a leader who embodies the vision, beliefs, and values reflected in our schools and community, Elyse will not only serve as LBHS’s Interim Principal, she will be completing a Master’s in Educational Leadership/Certification program. When asked about her new position, Elyse said, “I am honored to serve as Interim Principal at Liberty Bell and to support the goals of students, staff and families in our beloved community.”

Elyse and her husband, the owner and operator of Darwood Outfitting, live in Carlton, just down from where his family homesteaded in 1889. They have two children, both of whom attend Methow Valley Elementary. When Elyse isn’t working, she enjoys time spent with family and friends, from one end of the Valley to the other, riding horses and supporting youth sports and activities.

Looking ahead to next year, we will reassess our situation and options available to us, ranging from an open search and selection process to a full appointment. Until then, you will not hear me refer to Elyse as the “interim” principal, rather the LBHS Principal. It’s a title that is well deserved on many levels.

Please join us as we congratulate LBHS Principal, Elyse Darwood!

Sincerely,

Tom Venable
Superintendent, Methow Valley School District

Having completed a highly successful season, the Methow Cycling Team, a member of of the Washington Student Cycling League is preparing to host the 2023 WSCL State Championships, Sunday June 4, here on our very own “student-initiated” Meadowlark Trail (located on the MVSD campus).

Racing begins at 9:45 am with 6th and 7th graders, followed by 8th graders at 11:00 am, and concludes with the varsity, JV and advanced middle school riders starting at 12:30.

MCT Coach, Jeremy Newman encourages the entire community to, “…come out and support this amazing group of kids as they race their home course for the honor of being 2023 Washington State Champion.”

When asked how he anticipates our team will perform, competing against some of the state’s top riders, he Jermey stated, “We have no less than 10 racers who are major contenders for the State Championship title this year.” He also added, “Keep your eye on reigning Girls Varsity State Champ and MVSD Senior, Stella Scholz. Stella is fresh off the national level Englewood Open, a UCI sanctioned XCO race in Fall River, Wisconsin where she raced to 10th place against the best junior women’s cross country racers in the nation. The Methow girls have been dominating the WSCL this season so watch for them to go for the sweep on the home turf.”

Who is the Methow Cycling Team?

The Methow Cycling Team is a nonprofit dedicated to supporting youth development, leadership, teamwork, health, and stewardship of public lands through the love of cycling. We support our riders at practices three days a week and through each race of the season. Coaches and parents promote a community atmosphere by camping together, sharing pre race day potlucks, race day BBQ’s, shared responsibilities and parent involved coaching. Your rider does not need to be interested in racing to be a part of the team. We encourage all kids interested in learning to be a better mountain biker to come and join us for practices. We are set up to accommodate anyone who wants to ride more in a supportive atmosphere.

Please join us as we congratulate the MCT coaches and riders on a successful season and look forward to cheering them on during the upcoming WSCL State Championships!

Currently, the 2023-24 MVSD Calendar includes a weekly Early Release every Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. Previously scheduled to occur at 12:30 p.m., the change, made using broad stakeholder feedback, maintains the academic integrity of the school day while providing much-needed weekly collaboration time for staff.

Additionally, recognizing after-school childcare is a challenge for many families, the MVSD has attempted to address this need by offering childcare at no cost to families and by significantly expanding extracurricular opportunities for students in the form of Cub Clubs (K-5) and Mountain Lion Clubs (6-12), as well as other enrichment opportunities.

Your feedback will be used to further refine our two-year calendar cycle moving forward. Please respond no later than Monday, May 29th at 11:59 p.m.

Complete the Calendar Survey!

Thank you for your continued support of our students and schools.

Excited about the new auto tech shop being built at TwispWorks for Methow Valley School District students? Here’s your chance to get a backstage tour, learn more about our project partner TwispWorks, and support the new auto tech shop…

Second Annual Backstage Pass Brunch
Saturday, June 17, 2023

10:30 AM Reception
11:00 AM Brunch and Program
Gather on the Pavilion at TwispWorks
Purchase Tickets →
 
In the style of a progressive dinner party, you’ll tour exceptional parts of campus while savoring locally made brunch, hearing behind-the-scenes stories, and experiencing the joy of building a strong and vibrant Methow Valley. Guests will be given the opportunity to make a contribution to support the auto tech shop and TwispWorks at the event.

Go Behind the Scenes at…
Old Schoolhouse Brewery
Methow Valley School District’s auto technology facilities (currently under construction!)
Velocity Made Good, the art studio of Perri Lynch Howard
Hannah Viano Studios
…and more!

FOOD BY TWISPEATS

The MVSD is pleased to announce that Jake Ross, LBHS Special Education paraeducator will be joining Jill Driver, Lotty Ekblad, and Korrie Perryman in the fall as the newest member of the Special Education team. Serving as MVE’s Special Education-Life Skills teacher, Jake will begin his new position in the fall of the 2023-24 school year.

Jake was born in Ketchikan Alaska. The son of a father who served as a member of the United States Coast Guard, Jake grew up living in a variety of places. Following in his fathers footsteps, Jake joined the Coast Guard after graduating from High School in 2002. In 2010 he left the Coast Guard with an honorable discharge to take advantage of his Montgomery GI Bill and earned a BBA from the American Military University graduating in 2014. In 2021, Jake began teaching at Lake Roosevelt High school. When asked about his teaching experience at LR, Jake stated, “I fell in love with the challenge of making complex ideas accessible to kids.”

More recently, Jake moved to Twisp to live with his fiancee, Heather and her daughter Pearl. During this same period of time, Jake “got his foot in the door” by serving as a LBHS Special Education-Life Skills paraeducator. Looking forward, Jake is excited to take on a new role, serving as the MVE Special Education-Life Skills teacher.

When Jake is not working with students, he enjoys spending his free time working on hobby farm projects, camping, and time spent at the ski hill.

Please join us as we congratulate Jake Ross, MVSD Special Education teacher!