News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 36
Sisters High School hosted Balla Kouyaté & Mike Block Band in an assembly on Friday, September 27. Marking the 24th year of this annual tradition, students of all grade levels attended and watched the performance - with wide eyes and big smiles. Brad Tisdel, creative director of SFF Presents, introduced the band, whom he first encountered at the Wintergrass Festival earlier this year. "My favorite thing about these assemblies, as well as the Americana Program here at the high... Full story
Sometimes the beginning of a new school year can be filled with dread and anticipation, but the new "Outlaw Media" class at Sisters High School has put a focus on the exciting potential of hands-on learning. Jack Turpen, SHS senior and AV program president, has been at the helm of all things technology at the high school since his freshman year. Last year he unveiled the Outlaw Media Center, a hub for editing, videography, and recording weekly Outlaw News videos. Over the... Full story
School libraries are esteemed for encouraging students to explore literature and expanding their digital literacy and research skills. This is why the Sisters High School library has made so much progress over the 2023-2024 school year. Beginning with a non-functioning and unorganized library system, Gail Greaney and a group of devoted students put in the work to create a functional and widely used library space for Sisters High School students. "It's up and running...it invol... Full story
Sisters High School choir singers stepped outside of their usual music repertoire and presented songs inspired by modern songs and movies at the annual Vocal Pops Show on Tuesday, May 21. Teachers Steve Livingston and Julie Cash led students of varying ages in the learning that led up to this event. The show displayed the hard work of the Sisters High School Concert and Jazz choirs, as well as the 7th and 8th grade choir, and 6th grade choir. "It's a time for us to reflect on... Full story
Since 2015, Sisters High School students have been provided opportunities through RISE (Research in Sisters Environments) to practice science in a real- world setting, and apply the knowledge they learn in the classroom to novel problems. The work is driven by student and mentor collaboration, through which many students have gained collaborative research experience. This year’s SHS RISE Chemistry balloon launch highlighted the importance of teamwork and research in all of the experiments. Last week, the class launched two b... Full story
Music and community came together last Thursday evening as the Sisters High School (SHS) band department put on a show involving young musicians from a variety of local music programs. "Music and art are inherently communal. We as people are best when we work together, and musicians are no different," said Kayla Golka, director of the band program at SHS. The production included a plethora of different music communities, including the SHS Concert and Jazz Bands, the Sisters... Full story
Sisters High School Chemistry class sent their work aloft in the annual weather balloon launch at the Sisters Eagle Airport, led by teacher Rima Givot on Wednesday, May 15. The launch focuses on giving students a hands-on experience to integrate their learning into real-world applications. The students are prompted to brainstorm an experiment that they'd like to send up on the weather balloons; they're then paired up with classmates who have similar ideas. Each of the two ball... Full story
Sisters has been marked as a historically generous community, and its citizens live up to that reputation. More than 53 Sisters businesses, foundations, and inhabitants are donors for Sisters GRO (Graduate Resource Organization) applicants, giving Sisters High School graduates a steady foundation for their bright future. Last Tuesday evening, May 14, Sisters GRO hosted their annual GRO Scholarship Award Ceremony for graduating seniors that received scholarships via Sisters GRO. “This year we had a record-breaking amount of s... Full story
The town of Sisters has often been described as “artsy and vibrant.” From the Sisters Quilt Show, to SFF Presents, to Sisters Arts Association events, the activities held in this small town embody these descriptions. The Sisters School District music program aims to expose students to the arts. The band program at Sisters High School showcases this priority. The SHS Jazz Band has an admirable track record, winning the State Jazz Band Championships in 2022, attaining second place in 2023, and attending later this month in 202... Full story
The SHS Pageant has been a tradition at Sisters High School (SHS) for over a dozen years. On Sunday, April 28, members of SHS continued this tradition as they performed "Outlaws On Broadway" for the Sisters community. The selected seven teams of two performed a multitude of different talents, dances, and videos. The success of the event wouldn't have been possible without the hardworking hands behind the scenes. Pageant coordinators Jordan Velikonia, Holly Davis, and Ella Eby... Full story
If there's something outside of singing that the Sisters High School Jazz Choir is adamant about, it's bonding and creating lasting memories. Over the years the jazz choir has been known to take exciting trips, whether it be to Disneyland, Ashland, or even just the Old Mill for caroling. The group chose to continue the tradition last month, taking a trip to Newport to perform at three locations around the coast. Their venues included the Oregon Coast Aquarium, Oceanview... Full story
Making the decision to explore a new interest can be simultaneously exciting and vulnerable. Financial requirements can hold some back from doing what they love. Sisters GRO, in partnership with the Roundhouse Foundation, provides applications for the Roundhouse Enrichment Experiences scholarship for Sisters students who want financial support with their interests. “Overall the Roundhouse Foundation is about education and community, providing unique experiences for Sisters and support for them whether it be career-based or s... Full story
Citizen scientists are exploring a body of asteroids called the Trojan to research remnants of the early solar system through NASA's Project Lucy. Launched in 2021, the Lucy Spacecraft has been in orbit for over two years. Since its launch, Sisters High School staff and students have been involved in surveying the asteroids in occultations around the country. An occultation occurs when one object is hidden from the observer by another object that passes between them. In... Full story
The term "art" is a word used to encompass a wide range of activities, but can often fail to convey the power it has on people's lives. On January 30 the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA) partnered with the White House Domestic Policy Council to host a Healing, Bridging, and Thriving Summit on Arts and Culture in Communities. This event spanned throughout the entire day, with over 30 speakers from all over the country. The Sisters-based Roundhouse Foundation was one of the... Full story
Many people around the world share a love for jazz, but seldom do they have the chance to learn and play with professionals in public settings. Robert Sposato, an avid jazz enthusiast, organizes events to expose young musicians around Central Oregon to what it feels like. Traditionally, these jams have taken place in The Belfry, but new connections with band director Kayla Golka and an emerging generation of young players made the Sisters High School auditorium the new location for a recent jam event. “When Kayla Golka o... Full story
Travel is a luxury that not all can afford. Education Tours is an organization that aids in the funding and organization of student travel programs worldwide. At Sisters High School, these tours used to be a tradition, but when COVID-19 shut down travel, the school had to put their plans on hold. This coming spring of 2024, introduces the first official EF Educational Tours trip Sisters High School students have been involved in since 2020. This tight-knit group of eight are... Full story
Sisters High School (SHS) has always been known for its creative and hands-on classes. As the world quickly advances in technology, the high school is following in stride. Just a few weeks ago a well-equipped media center was set up at the heart of the school. Junior Jack Turpen was at the helm of this project, which spanned the week-long Thanksgiving break. Turpen initially developed an interest in technology during his time as a sixth grader at Sisters Middle School. This... Full story
Writing is a device that can help convey ideas that couldn’t otherwise be spoken out loud. At Sisters High School (SHS), the Poetry Club is a community that strives toward this goal of growing an inner artist and learning from those around them. The release of the book “Musings” earlier this year showcased the students’ hard work through a collection of poetry. “I’m so proud of everybody in the club. This book just gives them all their well-deserved recognition,” said co-founder Devan Hepburn. Devan Hepburn is a recently gr... Full story
Sisters High School (SHS) students brought months of preparation to the stage for four performances of a musical earlier this month. The SHS auditorium was filled with audience members, the overhead lights were dimmed, and voices were hushed as The SpongeBob Musical began. The cast members delivered a spectacular performance that both exceeded expectations and delighted audience members. “I didn’t expect it to be so funny; it was amazing,” stated one attendee as they were leaving the performance. The SHS choral program had b... Full story
The Sisters High School (SHS) has been without a functioning library for over 10 years, making it the only facility in the Sisters School District without this resource. While elementary and middle school students enjoy having a library at their disposal, many high schoolers wondered why there wasn't such a resource available for them. Seniors Presley Adelt and Molly Greaney recognized this absent space and brought forth the idea in their AP Government class led by Gail Greane... Full story
Sisters Folk Festival (SFF) was a weekend full of extraordinary music, entertainment, and community joy. The Festival didn't only span the weekend; the artists also performed elsewhere during their stay in Sisters. One of these venues was Sisters High School (SHS). For 23 years SHS has hosted a select number of these visiting musicians to perform in a school-wide assembly. Brad Tisdel, creative director of SFF, invited three separate bands to share their music. Handmade... Full story
For 16 years, Sisters High School has held the tradition of performing musicals to share with the community. Every other year, Director Rick Johnson chooses a specific script to perform. A lot of thought goes into this decision. Johnson has to take into consideration his current choir makeup, the rating of the play, and the enjoyment of the experience from an audience’s perspective. This year, after much deliberation, their pick was the unorthodox “Spongebob.” “A lot of people might cringe when they hear that, but when yo... Full story
In the creatively inclined town of Sisters, music can usually be found just around the corner. From hosting musical venues throughout the area, to being the origin of the Sisters Folk Festival, music is a passion many Sisters citizens share. Robert Sposato, previous college professor and current father and arts activist, is a man who encourages this passion. "I love jazz," said Sposato. "Ever since I heard Coltrane play 'Round Midnight,' I was hooked. But now it's a lot about... Full story
For 48 years the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show has been a source of creative and communal fun in the Sisters area. In addition to showcasing stunning works of art, the quilt show also aids in fundraising for several different causes. One of these fundraisers is the bed and breakfast hostel for quilt show attendees, hosted at Sisters Middle School (SMS). Its goal is to fundraise money towards the music program at Sisters High School (SHS), including instrument repair, festival... Full story
As the school year comes to an end, so does time for the graduating seniors of 2023 to attend Sisters High School. After going through COVID-19, distance learning, and hybrid classes, these students are well equipped for facing future adversities. This year, there are about 89 graduating seniors, each with their own ambitions for the future. Around 51 of these students college tuition were supported by the scholarships distributed through the nonprofit organization,... Full story
