August 16, 2023
Dear St. Paul School Community,
It is my pleasure to welcome each of you back for the 2023-2024 school year in our St. Paul Schools. Our top priorities again this year will be to maintain a safe learning environment in our schools and do all that we can to help students access learning in a meaningful way each day that they are with us. I hope that this letter finds your families enjoying the last few weeks of summer break and that you are safe and well.
We have accomplished a great deal of preparation for the start of the school year over the summer. Our buildings and grounds are ready to welcome everyone back to school on September 5th. We have some new staff members in our district for you to meet: Annette Rost will be our new K-12 school counselor, Ryan Hannah will take over as social science teacher at the high school and Jensen Craig will be our new college and career counselor at the High School.
Our summer activity programs have been tremendously successful in providing opportunities for students to stay connected. This year we again held a summer school program that served a large number of students. Our athletic programs and FFA program engaged many students in activities over the summer and my appreciation goes out to the many coaches, staff, and parents who assisted in the support of these activities which are an important part of our overall program.
With the new school year beginning, we would like to ask all families to complete the Confidential Household Application for Free and Reduced Price Meals even if you don’t think you will qualify. The State of Oregon has increased its funding for school meals at public schools. This means that even if your child did not qualify for free or reduced-price meals in the past, they may now. Participation in the free and reduced lunch program also determines our level of state and federal funding for a variety of programs so it’s important to have an accurate count. The application is included in your student’s registration packet, but it can be completed online at https://www.ode.state.or.us/apps/FRLApp/Default/Apply.
I am once again excited to welcome you back.
Sincerely,
Joseph M. Wehrli
Superintendent/Elementary Principal, St. Paul Schools