Schools | The Daily Chronicle

Onalaska students Hannah Gones, left, and Blake Reid transfer steelhead to be clipped in the steelhead hatchery at Onalaska High School on Monday, Sept. 8.

In focus: Onalaska aquaculture students learn to clip trout fins

Onalaska aquaculture students learned how to clip the fins of juvenile steelhead trout in the steelhead hatchery at Onalaska High School on Monday, Sept. 8. Hatchery fish are clipped to distinguish … more

9/8/25

The graduation ceremony for the Centralia College class of 2024 is pictured from above on Friday, June 21.

Centralia College to celebrate 100 years with Centennial Picnic on Sept. 13

Centralia College is celebrating its 100th birthday with a free family picnic, according to a news release from the college. The Centennial Picnic will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. … more

By The Chronicle staff | 9/5/25

Trophies and photos sit on display at a high school building in the Oakville School District on Tuesday, July 25, 2023.

Oakville School Board votes to censure one of its members

The Oakville School District Board of Directors voted 3-0 to censure one of its members for “conduct inconsistent with the expectations and responsibilities of their elected office” … more

By The Chronicle staff | 9/1/25

‘Off and away’: New policy to limit cellphone use at Rainier’s middle and high schools

Students at Rainier Middle School and Rainier High School can expect new cellphone restrictions to start the school year. According to John Beckman, Rainier’s middle and high school … more

By Jacob Farmer / jfarmer@chronline.com | 8/27/25

Chehalis receives $1.75M in grant funding to improve pedestrian, bicycle safety for schools

The City of Chehalis has received a Safe Routes to School grant award in the amount of $1,751,000 from the Washington state Department of Transportation (WSDOT) for pedestrian and bicycle safety … more

By Dylan Reubenking / dylanr@chronline.com | 8/27/25

Grays Harbor College President Dr. Carli Schiffner spoke to the crowd of graduates and their supporters on Aug. 14.

Grays Harbor College honors graduates at Stafford Creek Corrections Center

On Aug. 14, Grays Harbor College honored 74 graduates at a commencement ceremony at Stafford Creek Corrections Center. In the past six months, students at Stafford Creek earned 93 educational … more

By The Daily World | 8/26/25

In the front row from left, Centralia School District Superintendent Lisa Grant, Washington Elementary School Head Secretary Connie Dickey and Washington Elementary principal Danielle Vekich hold a ceremonial donation check alongside Lewis County Footsteps of Hope Board President Paula Burrows, Lewis County Footsteps of Hope board member Kami Baine and Wellpoint Washington community relations representative Chala Gray on Friday, Aug. 22, at Washington Elementary School. Standing behind them from the left are Market Street Ace Hardware employees Lucas Mullen and Eric Lampkin alongside Centralia School Board Director Deb Parnham and Centralia School Board President Tim Browning.

A cool gift for hungry students: Organization donates refrigerators for Lewis County Footsteps of Hope

Founded last December by Paula Burrows and several other community partners after Burrows helped start a food pantry program for students facing food insecurity in Toledo, Lewis County Footsteps of … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 8/25/25

Napavine High School senior Kaitlyn Aschenbrenner smiles as she receives her apprenticeship text book from Evergreen Rural Water of Washington apprenticeship supervisor Ernie Klimek after signing her apprenticeship contract alongside Napavine Public Works Department Director Bryan Morris inside the high school's library during an apprenticeship signing event on Thursday, Aug. 21.

Napavine, Onalaska high school seniors sign for trade apprenticeships

After Napavine High School senior Case Van Kooten signed a youth trade apprenticeship agreement with Walsh Trucking Co. back in May, two more Lewis County youths officially signed agreements and … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 8/22/25

Chehalis School District Superintendent Rick Goble, left, and School Board President J. Vander Stoep discuss agenda items at a special school board meeting on Aug. 19.

Chehalis School Board discusses cellphone policy ahead of school year

With two weeks to go before the start of the 2025-26 school year, the Chehalis School District Board of Directors met for a special meeting Aug. 19 to discuss a number of items, perhaps none more … more

By Jacob Farmer / jfarmer@chronline.com | 8/22/25

Cohen Creek, a barber at Toros Barbershop, cuts a students hair during the Back to School Supply Give-Away and Resource Fair in Centralia on Aug. 21, 2025.

In focus: Kids get haircuts, school supplies and more in Centralia

The Back to School Supply Give-Away and Resource Fair was held at the Northwest Sports Hub in Centralia on Thursday, Aug. 21. The event was organized by the Lewis County Youth Mentorship … more

8/22/25

Rochester graduate Gunnar Morgan receives a diploma during a commencement ceremony at Saint Martin’s University in Lacey on Sunday, June 8.

Rochester grad receives U.S. State Department scholarship for exchange program in Germany

The Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE), a nonprofit study abroad and intercultural exchange organization, recently announced that Gunnar Morgan, a graduate of Rochester High School, … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/21/25

Onalaska’s Kaiyah Sandridge poses for a photo during the “Athletes of the Year” banquet at Jester Auto Museum in Chehalis on Tuesday, June 3. The idea for the back-to-school swap started when Kaiyah Sandridge, now an Onalaska senior,  wanted a more ecologically responsible and economically impactful way for kids to get gently-used clothing, shoes and backpacks before going back to school, the news release stated.

Onalaska High School class of 2026 back-to-school clothing swap to begin Sunday

The Onalaska High School class of 2026 has announced through a news release that its third annual back-to-school clothing swap will begin at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 24, and will continue until 6 p.m. … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/20/25

Runners and spectators mingle during the I-5 Toyota Back-to-School Dash 5K in Chehalis on Saturday, Aug. 24.

Annual Back-to-School Dash to be held by I-5 Toyota in Chehalis Saturday

The annual I-5 Toyota Back-to-School Dash will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, at the Chehalis dealership located at 1950 NW Louisiana Ave. The 5K path will follow the usual route out of … more

By Tyrus VanTuyl / ty@chronline.com | 8/20/25

Centralia College gets $133,084 as state board awards funds to high-demand job programs

Nine Washington community and technical college programs that train students for high-demand careers, including Centralia College’s health care programs, were recently awarded a total of $1 … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/15/25

Rep. Peter Abbarno visits UW STEM Camp at W.F. West High School

State Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Centralia, recently joined students and instructors at the University of Washington STEM Camp at W.F. West High School to see how local students are learning science, … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/15/25

FILE PHOTO — The Centralia School Board listens to public comment on Thursday, Nov. 14.

Centralia School District to crack down on cellphones in high school

As the 2025-26 school year approaches, Centralia High School is preparing to crack down on students using cellphones in the classroom. During the Centralia School District Board of Directors … more

By Jacob Moore / jacob@chronline.com | 8/15/25

High school student Emily Dai, middle, cheers for the Kool Kangaroos team during a University of Washington led STEM camp at W.F. West High School in Chehalis on Thursday, Aug. 7.

Summer STEM camp brings cutting-edge science to W.F. West High School

J. Vander Stoep believes in the future success of students across Southwest Washington, especially when it comes to STEM — science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The Chehalis … more

By Jacob Farmer / jfarmer@chronline.com | 8/13/25

City, Centralia College partner for drone light show to celebrate birthdays

Centralia will light up the night sky in a whole new way on Saturday, Sept. 13. In celebration of the city’s 150th birthday and Centralia College’s 100th anniversary, the City of … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/13/25

Rochester High School student Samuel Gornushenko explains his team’s boat The Great White Whale Shark during a University of Washington led STEM camp at W.F. West High School in Chehalis on Thursday, Aug. 7.

In focus: Students make a splash at University of Washington STEM camp at W.F. West in Chehalis

8/11/25

Winlock community group collecting school supplies

The Winlock Student Community Advocates (WSCA) is now collecting school supply donations at dropboxes located at Cedar Village IGA and Winlock Liquidation Warehouse. The group will also collect … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/11/25