Superintendent highlights staff wellness day, therapy dogs and student community service

Superintendent Dr. Cra opened the Jan. 12 meeting by describing an all-staff wellness day organized by staff and volunteers that included sessions run by district employees, outside presenters, therapy dogs, and activities such as ornament-making, silent disco and a PB&J sandwich drive whose surplus was donated.

"It was amazing to see our own staff members step up and run a lot of these sessions," Dr. Cra said, praising Mrs. Brunchidle and school staff who organized the event. She described strong participation and cross-building interaction among employees and thanked the board and administrators for supporting the program.

The superintendent also highlighted student leadership and community outreach: middle- and high-school students led caroling performances at nursing homes and community venues, high-school volunteers assisted younger- grade concerts, and student clubs ran service projects including a toiletry drive for Oishei Children's Hospital. She said community partners—the Pendleton Lions Club, Craft Coffee House and local churches—helped organize and provide gifts.

Dr. Cra noted school-based entrepreneurship and life-skills programming, reporting expansion of a student-run "Spartan Spark" coffee cart into the high school that provides students practice with menus, money handling and customer service. The superintendent closed by thanking many staff members by name for their roles and noted the district's appreciation for community donations that support student events such as post-prom.

Board members responded with recognition for the wellness program, student activities and community partnerships; several members specifically thanked staff organizers and volunteers.