Walla Walla Public Schools Foundation

05/10/2026

Can you identify a tree by its leaves alone? By its needles or pinecones?
With the help of rangers from the U.S. Forest Service - Umatilla National Forest, our 6th graders did just on their field trip to Mill Creek. They learned about tree anatomy, discussed the 10 essentials, and practiced using field guides to identify trees by their leaves and cones. Thank you, rangers, to helping to build future naturalists! 🌲🌳☀️

05/09/2026

What do fish find to eat in Mill Creek? This question and more were tackled by 6th graders in their macroinvertebrate station, led by the . The students scooped up macroinvertebrates and used a magnifier to get an up-close look so they could identify the creatures they'd found. Many thanks to the Watershed Council for this engaging and absorbing program!

05/08/2026

Thank you, Blue Mountain Audubon-Walla Walla, WA, for teaching Walla Walla 6th graders all about birds on their field trip to Mill Creek! From learning to use binoculars to spot baby herons in the nest to exploring bird facts and apps that support bird identification and study, the knowledge you shared will spur curiosity and broaden awareness. 🦆🪺🐦‍⬛ Here's to the bird watchers of the future!

05/07/2026

6th GRADE FIELD TRIP RECAP
Salmon, steelhead, and water safety - that was just some of what students explored with Ranger Langianese and Ranger Benitez of the WallaWallaUSACE (Army Corps of Engineers). Students got to see the Mill Creek fish camera, learn about how USACE cares for Bennington Lake, and how fish ladders help fish navigate Mill Creek.
Thank you, Ranger Langianese and Ranger Benitez, for these great programs!
🐟 🛶 🎣

05/06/2026

6th GRADE FIELD TRIP RECAP
How does water shape the landscape? If you catch a 6th grader, they'll be able to tell you! 💦 ⛰️
Many thanks to Drew Trogstad-Isaacson of the WWCC Water & Environmental Center for teaching the students about the geological concepts of erosion, transportation, and deposition. The students got to see water's effects for themselves when they built their own landscape on the WEC's stream table and watched what water did to it!

05/06/2026

6th GRADE FIELD TRIP RECAP
Wenix Red Elk and Merle Kirk from the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and presented to the students, sharing the importance of first foods to our local native peoples. Students practiced words in the Umatilla language, heard traditional stories, learned about the rhythm of harvesting first foods, and discovered why it's so important to support salmon habitat and our wild spaces.
Thank you, Wenix and Merle, for this wonderful, impactful program! 🙏

05/05/2026

Last week, all Walla Walla Public Schools 6th graders spent the day on Mill Creek, learning about our watershed. Seven wonderful program partners volunteered their time and expertise to teach our students. Watch this space for more details about what the 6th graders got to do! 🐟 🌳 💦
👏 Special thanks to the WWCC Water & Environmental Center for hosting all 360 students!

05/04/2026

Please join us at a FIELD TRIP FOR GROWN-UPS!

Why should kids have all the fun? This is your chance to take part in an adult field trip, complete with a bus ride, boxed lunch, and a tour of the WaHi FFA barn led by WaHi students. This is a great chance to support programs for Walla Walla students!
Wednesday, May 20, 11:40 am - 2:15 pm
Learn more: https://www.wwpsfoundation.org/fundersfieldtrip

04/22/2026

Thank you, Libby Thompson, for all the students you've helped get to Into the Blue over the past three years! For all the phone calls, for all the thoughtful planning, for all the reassurance, for the CARE, thank you. 🙏 ❤️

A Legacy of Belonging: Libby Thompson Honored for Lifelong Impact!

Last night, Walla Walla Public Schools Board members recognized Walla Walla High School Special Education and 504 Supervisor Libby Thompson with the district’s Building Belonging Award, an honor that reflects both her professional impact and the deep care she has shown students throughout her career.

The Building Belonging Award is part of the district’s “We All Belong Here” unity message, celebrating students and staff who actively foster a civil, safe, and compassionate learning environment. Coordinated by Equity and Dual Programs Department Director Dr. Julie Perron, the program recognizes those who go above and beyond to create spaces where every student feels valued, supported, and included.

She played a key role in launching the Unified Sports program at Walla Walla High School, opening doors for students of all abilities to compete, connect, and build meaningful relationships. Through her involvement in the Into the Blue outdoor adventure program at Camp Wooten, she also helped students step outside their comfort zones and discover confidence, belonging, and joy in shared experiences.

Throughout her career, Libby has been a steady advocate for systemic change, working to bridge the gap between general education and specialized support, and ensuring that all students have equitable opportunities to succeed. Her leadership has not only strengthened programs, but also reshaped how inclusion is experienced across the school community.

As Libby prepares for retirement, her impact is unmistakable. The programs she helped build, the students she championed, and the culture she helped cultivate will continue to shape Walla Walla High School for years to come.

Her legacy is one of belonging and it will endure.

01/23/2026

Huge thanks to for their grant in support of the 3rd grade field trip to @! Thanks to this wonderful funding, 341 Walla Walla students got to pick tomatoes and winter squash, sample fresh plums, make bouquets, and learn – first-hand – about how produce is grown in our valley. As one teacher said, "this program is all about the life cycle!"