Puyallup School District

📍#PSDAtoZ: Woodland Elementary When students at Woodland Elementary began Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA) testing this spring, they found plenty of positive messages waiting for them around campus. Colorful posters and encouraging signs reminded students to believe in themselves, stay confident, and simply do their best as they worked their way through testing. "Eat This Test: Leave No Crumbs" "It's Testing Week ... Imma Let You Cook!" "Dunk This Test Like LeBron James" Behind each message were staff members and others in the school community finding creative ways to make testing days feel a little less stressful and a lot more supportive. Whether a schoolwide celebration or encouraging words posted in a hallway, sometimes the smallest gestures can make all the difference in how a student starts and finishes their day. 📍 Tomorrow, our amazing #PSDAtoZ summer journey comes to an end with a look at Zeiger Elementary. Your Story. Your School. Our PSD. #PSDAtoZ

📍 #PSDAtoZ: Wildwood Elementary This past spring, Wildwood Elementary's Drama Club presented two performances of "The Candy Kingdom," a colorful adventure that took audiences through locations such as Peppermint Acres, Lollipop Forest, Bubblegum Pass, and other sweet stops along the way. The story follows the Candy Apple family, who find themselves in a sticky situation... they have too much taffy to belong in Fruitopia and too much fruit to make the approved candy list in Candy Kingdom. With the help of Jawbreaker and Lifesaver, the family sets out on a journey to petition King and Queen Candybar for a place to call home, while also uncovering a plot by the villainous Baron Von Licorice to take over the kingdom. With two performances, one during the school day and one in the evening, students in the Drama Club participated fully in the staging of this production, learning about lighting, blocking, performance, and all the behind-the-scenes teamwork required to put on a full-scale school production. (Synopsis courtesy of Pioneer Drama Service.) 📍Tomorrow, our #PSDAtoZ summer journey visits Woodland Elementary, as we find ourselves down to just two remaining stops on our A to Z journey. Your Story. Your School. Our PSD. #PSDAtoZ

📍 #PSDAtoZ: Waller Road Elementary Last fall, Waller Road Elementary co-sponsored an event, bringing cultures from around the world together for “Behind the Mask,” a special community event at Puyallup School District’s Karshner Museum and Center for Culture & Arts, celebrating global mask traditions and the stories they carry. Waller Road teacher Mr. Frederickson helped co-plan the event with the Karshner Museum team after an idea that began months earlier grew into an evening of art, culture, dance, and hands-on learning. The celebration featured masks from around the world, a demonstration from Tacoma’s Lucha Libre Volcánica showcasing the artistry and heritage of Mexican wrestling masks and showcasing lucha libre matches, dancers from the Asia Pacific Cultural Center, a Peruvian dance performed by a Puyallup School District staff member, and a hands-on mask-making activity. Waller Road students also had masks they created displayed behind the stage, giving families an opportunity to find and celebrate their students’ artwork as part of the evening. “Behind the Mask” highlighted the creativity of Waller Road students, as well as the unique learning experiences available through the Karshner Museum and Center for Culture & Arts and its partnerships with schools throughout our district. 📍Tomorrow, our #PSDAtoZ summer journey counts down to Wildwood Elementary Your Story. Your School. Our PSD. #PSDAtoZ

LinkedIn gremlins caught up to our #PSDAtoZ series and neglected to share our post celebrating Sunrise Elementary on Friday evening! Ahead of tonight's next entry in our ongoing social media series, we wanted to make sure Sunrise had their moment in the spotlight! In May, Sunrise Elementary devoted a week as Career Week, giving students in grades K-4 an opportunity to start exploring what they might want to do when they grow up. Throughout the week, students heard from a variety of guest speakers and participated in hands-on activities and presentations introducing them to different careers and professions. Career Week gave Sunrise Superstars an interactive learning experience where they could ask questions, try something new, and discover career paths they may never have considered before. Today’s video is courtesy of Sunrise Elementary’s social media. Tonight, we continue our series with a look at Waller Road Elementary! Your Story. Your School. Our PSD. #PSDAtoZ

📍 #PSDAtoZ: Walker High School What a spring it was for Walker High School’s Wolf Tech Robotics! After beginning the season with a first-place finish at the FIRST Robotics PNW District Event in Bonney Lake, Wolf Tech followed it up later in March with another championship at the district event in Auburn. The back-to-back victories earned Wolf Tech Robotics its first-ever invitation to the Pacific Northwest FIRST District Championship at Eastern Washington University, where the team competed alongside 50 other robotics programs from across Washington and Oregon in April. In addition, it marked another milestone for a Walker robotics program that has come a long way in a short amount of time. Just a few years ago, Wolf Tech arrived at its first competition with a robot that didn’t move. This spring, they entered the district championship as two-time event winners. Congratulations to the students and coaches of Wolf Tech Robotics on an unforgettable season! 📍 Tomorrow, our #PSDAtoZ summer journey continues with a visit to Waller Road Elementary. Your Story. Your School. Our PSD. #PSDAtoZ

“A Conversation with Dr. Alfano” 🎬 Episode 2: "Coming to Puyallup" Get to know Puyallup School District Superintendent Dr. Kevin Alfano through our new five-part video series. In Episode 2, Dr. Alfano shares what drew him to Puyallup School District and reflects on his first few weeks getting to know our schools, staff, students, and community. New episodes of “A Conversation with Dr. Alfano” drop every Sunday evening at 6:00 p.m. throughout August on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. We hope you’ll join us as Dr. Alfano shares his background, leadership philosophy, and vision for supporting every student, every day in Puyallup School District.

📍 #PSDAtoZ: Stewart Elementary We join Stewart Elementary in expressing our gratitude for our ongoing partnership with the Puyallup Police Department, and this is a wonderful example of why. In May, Stewart Elementary students welcomed members of the Department to their lunch tables for an afternoon of conversation, laughter, and time spent getting to know one another. For Stewart's Stars, the visit was another example of how school communities can extend beyond the walls of a classroom. Students had the chance to visit with familiar faces from their community and create meaningful and lasting moments. Images enclosed are captured from video courtesy of the Puyallup Police Department, currently available on their Department social media platforms. 📍 Tomorrow, our #PSDAtoZ summer journey continues as we visit Sunrise Elementary. Your Story. Your School. Our PSD. #PSDAtoZ

📍 #PSDAtoZ: Stahl Junior High “Music is the divine way to tell beautiful, poetic things to the heart." - Pablo Casals Earlier this spring, Stahl Junior High orchestra students shared the gift of music during a special concert at Brookdale Senior Living, a local retirement and assisted living community. Their performance brightened the day for Brookdale residents and staff. Along with these photos, Brookdale shared, "Thank you to Stahl Junior High for your wonderful Spring Concert that blessed our residents!" Learning often leads to connection. During this special performance, Stahl's orchestra students had the opportunity to make a meaningful impression in their community. No matter the audience, venue, or performance, music has an amazing way of creating memories long after the final note is played. Photos courtesy of Brookdale Puyallup South. 📍 Tomorrow, our #PSDAtoZ summer journey continues as we visit Stewart Elementary... Your Story. Your School. Our PSD. #PSDAtoZ

📍 #PSDAtoZ: Spinning Elementary For students in grades 3-6 at Spinning Elementary, the learning can sometimes continue beyond the final bell ringing at the end of the day. This year, students had the opportunity to participate in a new Health Science Club, where they explored healthcare careers through hands-on activities and demonstrations led by students from Puyallup High School. From learning about personal protective equipment and creating dental molds to practicing basic first aid and CPR, students were introduced to the skills healthcare professionals use every day while building confidence, curiosity, and teamwork. The club also created a unique opportunity for high school students to be teachers themselves, sharing knowledge and serving as mentors for younger learners. 📍 Tomorrow, our #PSDAtoZ summer journey continues with Stahl Junior High. Your Story. Your School. Our PSD. #PSDAtoZ

Today, August 4, 2026, is Election Day! To ensure your vote is counted, be sure to return your ballot to a nearby ballot drop box by 8 p.m. tonight. Need to find your nearest Pierce County ballot drop box? Use this map: https://ow.ly/CrKL50WyVzH Every vote matters. Make your voice heard!