In a heartfelt ceremony, Jefferson County School District 509J and Warm Springs K-8 Academy celebrated the opening of a six-classroom addition, marking a significant milestone for the district and community. The event was held just before our community’s annual back-to-school BBQ, brought together district and school leaders, school staff, students, families, and community members.
The ceremony began with a warm welcome from School Board Member, Laurie Danzuka, who then introduced Radine “Deanie” Johnson to perform a traditional blessing on the new addition. Danzuka followed with a few words thanking the community.
“This would not be possible without the voters in Jefferson County and Warm Springs,” she said. “We appreciate all of you for doing that and now we are finally able to open up these classrooms today.”
This helped set the tone for Superintendent Jay Mathisen’s remarks.
“The most important thing I can say is, thank you,” he said. “I can echo Laurie and say thank you to the voters and Warm Springs community throughout the district. Without those votes way back in Fall of 2021, this project and others would not have been possible.”
Following Superintendent Mathisen, three Warm Springs Tribal Council members took their turns addressing the crowd.
“Thank you teachers for filling these classrooms,” Tribal Council Member Alvis W. Smith III said. “Showing that positive investment in our youth. They are our future and we’re invested in them.”
“I want to thank those that had the vision to make this happen,” Tribal Council Member Jonathan W. Smith Sr. said. “Many more things are going to happen for our Tribes in the future so thank you to our school delegates around the table, our Tribal Council, and the 509J school board.”
Tribal Council member, Ray “Captain” Moody, also said a few words to the crowd encouraging the community to rally together and support our students and staff with the school year starting next week.
Lastly, Principal Lonnie Henderson said a few words to the crowd, echoing the gratitude expressed by Danzuka and Mathisen, and thanked the community for their support of the November 2021 Bond, which made this expansion possible. The ceremony continued with a powerful drumming and singing performance by two current students, Arthur Miller and Elijah Denney, and one former student, Dasan Begay, who graduated this past June. The performance embodied the rich cultural heritage of the Warm Springs community.
The event culminated in the official ribbon-cutting, where district and school administrators, tribal council members, and students gathered together to mark the opening of the new space. These six classrooms will not only provide additional space for elementary teachers but will also bring Native Language instruction to the heart of the school, fostering a deeper connection to the cultural roots of the Warm Springs community.
Warm Springs K-8 Academy originally opened its doors at the start of the 2014-2015 school year.