Cashmere High School Monthly Newsletter - February ‘26
From the Principal’s Office
I recently attended a school leadership conference where the theme was “Humanism and AI”. Frederick M. Lawrence is the 10th Secretary and CEO of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, the nation’s first and most prestigious honor society, founded in 1776 and Lynn Pasquerella President of the American Association of Colleges and Universities spoke on the state of education in the era of AI. They made two points that spoke to the Cashmere High School experience - that schools are the center of communities and responsible for the health and growth - culturally and socio-economically - of their communities, and that, in their opinion, the biggest obstacle to learning in schools is what they call “belonging uncertainty”.
The students and staff of CHS understand that our school is a critical hub of the Cashmere community and we take that role and responsibility seriously. We know that belonging is fostered through relationship building, providing a balance of challenge and support, and encouraging student investment in clubs, programs and sports that help students feel connected to families within our school family. We work daily to make our students feel welcome, cared for, and supported. Wednesday night at Ron Doane Gymnasium we saw The Bulldog Way on display at our Unified Basketball Game. Players, partners, coaches, The Dawg Pound and the community showed up to support this special event!
From The Dean’s Office
At our school, we believe that how we speak to one another truly matters. We encourage students to use kind, respectful words and to think carefully before believing or sharing rumors, as rumors can hurt others and damage friendships. If students have concerns, they should speak with a trusted adult.
We also remind families that unexcused absences are adding up. Students have 48 hours to provide documentation to excuse an absence, or assigned consequences will apply. Thank you for your support in helping students attend school regularly and treat others with kindness and respect.
From the School Counselors
Internship Update
This semester we have Cashmere High School Interns in 6 different communities: Cashmere, Dryden, East Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Peshastian and Wenatchee. This is geographically the most diverse intern group yet, in our mere 3 years of existence. We are happy to have CHS Interns in sites repairing computers, ordering HVAC supplies, serving customers in shops and restaurants, teaching kids, supporting students in OT/PT activities and so much more.
You might be asking yourself, who can be an intern? Any 11th or 12th grade students who are interested in having “real world work experiences” can apply to be interns. Internships must be planned and scheduled ahead of time and are limited to 28 students each semester. Information sessions are coming soon-listen to the announcements or email mfall@cashmere.wednet.edu
Scholarship Update
The Cashmere Schools Foundation has over $130,000 to award in scholarships this year, including 6 new technical/trade scholarships for $5,000 each. The deadline for all scholarships through the CSF is March 1, 2026. (This is a weekend so plan ahead). The Foundation manages scholarships for many families and civic groups. We are incredibly grateful for their support of our CHS Seniors.
Seniors-check the CHS Guidance Website or stop by the office for more information. We have paper copies available of the Knights of Columbus, Mission Creek, Confluence Health and local FFA/4-H Scholarships.
Department/CTE Program Spotlight
February is CTE Month!
Did you know… The United States is facing a projected deficit of 6 million skilled workers by 2032? CTE courses will continue to prepare students to enter industries facing shortages, including, healthcare, manufacturing, construction and utilities (www.acteonline.org). Cashmere High School currently offers CTE courses in a wide array of subjects helping meet the needs of industries in our valley.
Through CTE education, students are gaining practical knowledge and skills to use throughout their lives along with benefiting businesses and industries. During the 2024-2025 school year, Cashmere CTE student concentrators (students who completed 2+ courses in the same department/subject area):
Received college credits- through Wenatchee Valley College (100%)
Participated in work based learning opportunities- like job shadows, guest speakers, field trips and internships (100%)
Scored higher than the state targets on reading (69.9%), math (38.7%) and science (47.3%)
Exceeded nontraditional program enrollment expectations (62.4%)
Graduated on time! (93.5%)
Every day, CTE staff work diligently to provide learning experiences and an environment that prepares students to be successful in their future workplaces and careers, as is evident in our data! CTE staff and students are looking forward to hosting the school board on February 27th. We’re planning a morning visit showcasing leadership development through CTSOs (Career and Technical Student Organizations) and classroom visits to round out the celebration of CTE Month.
If you have any questions or would like to become more involved in Career and Technical Education at Cashmere High School, please contact Rebecca Swanson, CTE Director.
CTE is good for students, good for businesses and good for communities!
Student Spotlight - Reylin Boyd - Yearbook Editor
Reylin is an outstanding editor who leads by example. She has a great eye for design and has a high standard for the quality of the writing, pictures and layout of the yearbook for 2025-26. You will see Reylin at all CHS events trying to capture the moments that make this year special and she supports her yearbook colleagues in bringing to life the collection of memories that define this year and our school.
AI at CHS
Prompt Engineering - Prompt Engineering is the art and science of communicating effectively with an AI. Think of it like giving a very talented, but very literal, intern a set of instructions.
If you say "Write a story," the result might be generic. But if you "engineer" the prompt—"Write a mystery story set in 1920s Washington, using a suspenseful tone and focusing on a detective who is a botanist"—the AI produces much higher-quality work.
At CHS, we are beginning to teach students prompt engineering not just to get "answers," but to help them iterate, critique, and refine their ideas. It’s a new form of digital literacy that requires logic, clear communication, and critical thinking. One long-term goal is to move students from “using” AI to “evaluating” AI. The human element - students’ own curiosity, creativity, critical eye on what the tool produces through their questions - will always be essential to student growth and readiness to use AI thoughtfully and responsibly.
From the School Nurse
Welcome Shelley Story to the Nurse’s Office! Ms. Story has joined the district nursing staff covering the high school and any other district needs in the afternoons in addition to her instructional role in our Health Occupations CTE Program.
Important Dates & Reminders
Monday, 02/16 – No School Presidents’ Day
Wednesday, 02/18 – FFA Parent Animal Meeting 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. in Community Center
Friday, 02/20 – Progress Reports Sent Home
Friday, 02/20 – Honor Society Daddy/Daughter Dance @ Vale 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Friday, 02/20 – Saturday 02/21 – Boys and Girls State Wrestling at the Tacoma Dome
Monday, 02/23 Spring Sports Sign Up Meetings during lunch
Thursday, 02/26 Poetry Slam at Riverside Center in Cashmere 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, 02/26 – Saturday, 02/28 DECA State Conference in Bellevue
Monday, 03/2 – First Day of Spring Sports
Wednesday, 03/04 – Friday, 03/06 – Mid-Winter Break
Wednesday, 03/04- Saturday, 03/07 – Basketball State in Yakima @ SunDome
Contact Us
Please share any questions/feedback at cmackenzie@cashmere.wednet.edu
