By Cassie Kanable, WPTCO For The Mountain Times
Hello Welches Families! May was buzzing with activity as we wrapped up spring and looked ahead to summer! We celebrated our amazing staff during Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week, featuring treats like a soda bar, charcuterie boxes, trail mix, and cheerful plants. Huge thanks to local chef Cassie Kanable for providing a beautiful brunch and to Skyway Bar & Grill for generously donating a catered BBQ lunch! We also closed out our community events series with the Last Chance Spring Dance, where families danced their hearts out – all while raising funds to support the local Monday Food Market hosted by Neighborhood Missions.
May also brought the return of our Right Brain Initiative Artist Residency, which gives every student a chance to engage in meaningful arts education. This year, students worked with teaching artist Tessa Flynn Henderson to explore storytelling through theater and voice – building skills in character development, honesty, and creative expression. Programs like this are only possible thanks to the generosity of our supporters. Thank you for helping us make the arts come alive at Welches!
We’re also thrilled to share the results of our Bid & Bloom Spring Auction – thanks to the incredible support of our mountain community, we raised $15,000 for Welches Schools! While we came in just shy of our $20,000 goal, we’re so grateful for what we accomplished together. If you missed the auction but would still like to support, head to welchesptco.org/auction to purchase fund-a-need items from our teachers’ wish lists. Your continued support helps us make sure Welches educators have what they need for a strong 2025–26 school year!
A huge thank you to our Bid & Bloom sponsors for helping us reach new heights: Kate Wille of Porch Light Realty Group, Dave & Shawn West, Whistle Stop Bar & Grill, Mt. Hood Lions Club, Salmon River Electric, and many more – see the full list at welchesptco.org/auction!
Looking ahead to June, we’re sending students into summer with a flurry of fun and celebration:
June 3 – Spring Concert (Elementary & Middle School Band): Join us for a night of music and joy! The WPTCO will host a raffle fundraiser at the event featuring family-friendly prize packs with tickets to OMSI, the World Forestry Center, North Clackamas Aquatic Park, Rainbow Trout Farm, and more!
June 12 – 8th Grade Promotion: Come help us celebrate the accomplishments of our graduating students as they prepare to head to high school!
June 13 – Elementary Field Day & Middle School Field Trips: Field Day is a beloved highlight of the year! If you’d like to volunteer (and have been cleared by the district), contact us at volunteer@welchesptco.org. While the elementary students play, 6th & 7th graders will head to Clackamas Aquatic Park, and our 8th graders will enjoy a special day at Kah-Nee-Tah.
The WPTCO is a nonprofit dedicated to supporting Welches Schools and the greater community. To stay in the loop on upcoming events, fundraisers, and volunteer opportunities, visit welchesptco.org or reach out at info@welchesptco.org.