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Shawash-iliʔi Skul

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School Vision

The mission of the Shawash-iliʔi Skul is to create a decolonized classroom setting that honors the traditions and values of our Chinuk Wawa-speaking ancestors. We are dedicated to providing an immersive language learning experience for students, cultivating bilingual, biliterate, and bicultural individuals who are empowered to thrive in society. Our cultural and place-based academic curriculum, innovative teaching methods, and supportive community are designed to foster a love for learning and promote a sense of belonging among all students.

We believe that the voices and stories of our families and community members are essential to our language revitalization efforts. Therefore, we prioritize intentional inclusion of families in our school, recognizing that their knowledge, experiences, and perspectives are invaluable in shaping our educational approach. By centering family and community voices, we create a sense of ownership and agency among our students, allowing them to see themselves reflected in the curriculum and language.

At Shawash-iliʔi Skul, we strive to create a nurturing environment that acknowledges and addresses the historical trauma and intergenerational impacts of colonization on our community. We recognize that language is not just a tool for communication, but also a powerful symbol of cultural identity, resilience, and hope. Our goal is to empower students to reclaim their linguistic heritage and become confident, compassionate, and culturally knowledgeable citizens who are equipped to contribute to the revitalization of their community.

 

 

About Us

The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde's Shawash-iliʔi Skul sits on the ancestral homelands of the Grand Ronde people and is dedicated to revitalizing the chinuk wawa language. The goal of our school is to breathe new life into chinuk wawa, ensuring it thrives as a living language within our community. In our culture, children are the future, and by immersing them in chinuk wawa through play, outdoor exploration, art, and loving interactions, we are empowering the next generation to carry forward a bright future for the Grand Ronde people.

When families enroll a child in the Skul, they become part of our language community. Parents are asked to commit to our Family Engagement Plan, which includes a commitment to 2 hours a month of direct volunteer time within the school, 2 hours a month of focused language learning, and 15 minutes of conversation per day with your child about chinuk wawa. Our aim is for children to use the language not only within the walls of the Skul but also at home with their siblings, parent, and grandparents.

The Shawash-iliʔi Skul utilizes a 90:10 Immersion Model. The goal of this model is to build language proficiency through the 6th grade and then shift to language maintenance beyond that point. Students will be assessed often for proficiency and growth will be monitored using in-house development language assessments. Immersive language teaching practices such as parrot language, repetition, physical indicators, and visuals are build and maintain language.

CW Immersion Model

Guiding Pedagogies

  • Chinuk Wawa Immersion
  • Land, Water, and Place Based Curriculum
  • Cultural Immersion
  • Kinship Structures
  • Decolonized Education Setting
  • Cultural Norms and Protocols
  • Oregon Common Core Standards
  • Next Generation Science Standards
  • Oregon Social Studies Standards
Chinuk School Seasonal Round

Culture, Language and Lifeways

Traditional ways of teaching are built into each subject of our curriculum to provide an immersive experience for all students. Each week, students will have the opportunity to practice elements of our Tribal lifeways. Examples include:

  • Canoe drumming and singing once a week
  • Pow wow drumming and dancing once a week
  • Drumming and singing before every meal
  • Gift making and giving
  • Weaving
  • Stick game
  • Story telling
  • Place-based manipulatives

 

 

Curriculum

At the Shawash-iliʔi Skul, we design our curriculum to help students learn in a way that honors their culture and environment. We use Chinuk Wawa Immersion to teach students in the traditional language of our ancestors. Our lessons are connected to the land, water, and places that are important to our community, making learning meaningful and relevant. Students are immersed in their culture, learning about kinship structures and the importance of family and community. We follow a decolonized education approach, focusing on indigenous ways of knowing and learning. Cultural norms and protocols are respected and practiced in every class. At the same time, our students meet Oregon Common Core Standards, Next Generation Science Standards, and Oregon Social Studies Standards, ensuring they receive a well-rounded education.

Our literacy, social studies, health, and physical education curriculums are developed in-house by Education Department staff. Our Curriculum Advisory Group has adopted Wild Learning’s “Wild Math” and Science Through Nature’s “A Year of Discovery” for our Kindergarten Math & Science Curriculums. Please use the links below to view our Language Nest Guidelines and Kindergarten curriculum maps.

Chinuk Wawa Language Nest Guidelines and Standards

limulo tǝnas-wawa (Wild Words) Literacy Curriculum Map

miɫayt ɫush tǝmtǝm (Living Well) Health Curriculum Map

tilixam, iliʔi, pi ikta (People, Places, & Things) Social Studies Curriculum Map

Wild Math Curriculum Map

A Year of Discover Science Curriculum Map

Physical Education Curriculum Map

 

 

Chinuk Wawa Language Nest

Our Language Nest provides hands-on, culture- and place-based learning through immersion in the chinuk wawa language for children aged 3-5. We operate year-round, Monday through Friday, from 7:30 AM to 2:00 PM, with an After Care Program available Tuesday through Friday, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Our two Nest Classrooms can accommodate 24 students, and the After Care Program has 12 available slots.

The enrollment process begins in March when updated applications for the upcoming school year are made available. The enrollment period will be announced through the Smoke Signals paper, our program's Facebook page, word of mouth, flyers, and tribal organization emails. Selection is based on the completion of enrollment steps and a tied selection criteria. Preference is given to Grand Ronde tribal members and their descendants, but everyone is encouraged to apply. We use a rolling enrollment process, allowing applications to be submitted at any time. Waitlist applications will be considered if spots become available.

 

 

Chinuk Immersion Kindergarten - Sixth Grade

The Shawash-iliʔi Skul offers full-day Kindergarten programming and half-day programming for 1st-6th grades. Our Kindergarten language immersion program combines in-house and adopted outside place- and culture-based curriculums to teach all required standards and subjects. For 1st-6th grades, our half-day language immersion program uses our own place- and culture-based curriculum to teach literacy skills and standards. Kindergarten classes run from 7:45 am to 2:45 pm, while 1st-6th grade classes operate from 7:45 am to 11:00 am. For the rest of the school day, half-day students are enrolled in Sheridan School District, Willamina School District, or a homeschool program, with transportation provided for the transition. Our Kindergarten classroom can accommodate 15 students, and we currently have 30 slots for grades 1-6.

The enrollment process begins in March when updated applications for the upcoming school year are made available. The enrollment period will be announced through Smoke Signals paper, our program's Facebook page, word of mouth, flyers, and tribal organization emails. Selection is based on the completion of enrollment steps and tied selection criteria. Preference is given to Grand Ronde tribal members and their descendants, but everyone is encouraged to apply. A trial period will be used for students entering the school beyond Kindergarten.

 

 

High School Classes at Willamina

For students enrolled at Willamina High School, we offer a Chinuk Wawa elective class. The class is held onsite at Willamina High School on regular school days. High school students have the opportunity to earn credit for successfully completing this two-year course through Lane Community College. This opportunity is currently only available at Willamina High School and is open to any student enrolled in grades 10-12.

 

 

Parent Information

School Safety Tip Line – SafeOregon

SafeOregon and the Oregon State Police remind students, parents, school staff, and community members that everyone plays a role in school safety. SafeOregon is a school safety tip line to report potential threats against students and schools confidentially or anonymously. All tips are immediately received by a tip line technician and are forwarded to designated school personnel or law enforcement to respond to reported incidents. SafeOregon receives tips focused on school safety, including: Safety threats, Violence or threats of violence, Fights, Drugs, alcohol, or weapons on campus, Bullying, harassment, or intimidation, Cyberbullying, Friends or peers discussing self-harm or suicide

SafeOregon asks that if you see or hear something concerning to let someone know. Tips may be submitted 24 hours per day, 7 days per week:

 

Daily Schedules

 

 

More Language Opportunities, Resources and Information

 

 

Contact Us:

The Shawash-iliʔi Skul is under the umbrella of the Tribe’s Education Department which is overseen by Angela Fasana, Education Department Manager.

For more information on any of these opportunities or to request enrollment applications, please email us at: ChinukWawaEdu@grandronde.org