Hanford High School's cheerleaders brought home gold from national and state cheerleading tournaments.

The varsity cheerleaders earned the top spot in the super varsity non-tumbling division at the Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) National High School Cheerleading Championship in Orlando, Fla. on Feb. 9. This is the fourth national championship the school has earned under coach Kim Mayer.

The week before the national championship, the varsity cheerleaders were named the 3A/4A Super Large state champions after competing at the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) state tournament in Battle Ground, Wash. That is the 10^th state title the school has earned under Mayer.

The cheerleaders also earned second place in the world Super Large Non-Tumbling division and ninth in the national Game Day Super Large division at the UCA event.

“Although the trophies and honors are amazing, appreciated, and hard-earned, our primary goal is always to build strong student athletes who have the self-confidence and self-discipline to strive for anything they desire,” Mayer says.

Enterprise Middle School's efforts to build a powerful and positive school culture are once again getting recognition. A short film about the school is one of the selected entries for the PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports) Film Festival in mid-February in Washington D.C. The school uses the CharacterStrong curriculum to help students develop strong social-emotional skills. Enterprise earned the ASCD Whole Child Award for Washington State and the Global Class Act Award for Kindness in 2018 for its work toward making the school a welcoming place for all students.

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The best athletes work with coaches they know will push them, help them better understand their strengths and discover what they need to work on. Learn how the district's Classroom Support Teachers, or CSTs, are helping teachers refine their craft so their time with students can be even more powerful.

Check out just a few of the high school students the Careers In Education program at Richland High School is helping prepare to become the next generation of teachers. From working with students in small groups to helping teachers craft lessons, they're getting the experience and the inspiration to lead their own classrooms some day.

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Richland School District is thrilled to announce Kim Mayer, a language arts teacher and cheerleading coach at Hanford High School, will receive the Crystal Apple Award for 2019.

She has been part of Richland schools for more than 20 years and built a legacy of empowering students, whether in a classroom or competition. Colleagues and community members say she has helped hundreds of students realize their potential. 

“Not only does she care about these girls as their teacher and coach but almost as if they were her own daughters,” says Kathey Hatfield, an assistant cheerleading coach. “They trust her, love her, and value her opinion and guidance.”

Join the district in congratulating Alexa Best and Michael Pham for being nominated by state education officials for the U.S. Presidential Scholar award.

Alexa and Michael are among 20 students selected by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to be considered for the national award, which is determined by the U.S. Department of Education.

They are the first Hanford High students to be nominated for the award since 1989 and this is the first time the school has had two students nominated in the same year.

 “Our community and Falcon Family are very proud of them and know they will represent us well,” says Principal Tory Christensen. “These kids can do whatever they strive to do.”