It's been a long flu & cold season for many of us.  Please remember to:

1. Keep your child home from school if they are sick, until symptoms are improving and they have not had a fever or vomiting or diarrhea for 24 hours.  

2. Check to be sure you and your student are protected against measles.  Be aware that measles cases are happening in our state.  If you are traveling for spring break you are at higher risk of exposure.  Measles begins with a high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. After three to five days, a rash starts at the face and spreads to other parts of the body. In some cases, measles can cause hospitalization, brain swelling, pneumonia, and death.  Vaccines are our best protection against measles- if your student is not immunized, call Family Health Centers in Twisp (509) 997-2011 or Confluence Winthrop Clinic (509) 996-8180) to schedule a vaccination appointment.

**If your child has been exposed or has measles symptoms, stay home and contact their medical provider and the Nurse Annelisa before coming to school.  **Unvaccinated students who are exposed will need to isolate for 21 days.

Questions?  School Nurse Annelisa Tornberg is happy to help.  Email ATornberg@methow.org or ​call school (509) 996-2186 and press option 3

The Methow Valley School District is thrilled to announce the recipients of the MVSD 2025 Excellence Awards, a celebration of outstanding dedication and commitment to public education. Each year, school district employees from across the North Central region of Washington State are invited to nominate colleagues who exemplify the highest standards of excellence in their work. The Methow Valley School District received an overwhelming number of nominations, all showcasing the exceptional dedication to students, families, and the community.

This year, two individuals stood out for their extraordinary contributions to the district.

Certificated Excellence Award – Eva Aneshansley, Music Teacher, Liberty Bell Jr/Sr High School

The recipient of the Certificated Excellence Award is Eva Aneshansley, Liberty Bell Jr/Sr High School Music Teacher. Eva has taken the school's music program to new heights, inspiring students and instilling a lifelong passion for music. Her ability to connect with students and bring the joy of the arts to the forefront has earned her the admiration of both her students and colleagues.

When asked why they nominated Eva for this award, one of her colleagues stated, "Eva is amazing...wonderful...joyful, and fun. She has brought our music program to the next level and genuinely cares about all students," said one of her colleagues. "Ms. A has a natural gift to bring out the best in her students and is just pure joy to be around."

Another stated, "Eva’s positive impact extends beyond just her teaching; she is known for her ability to lead her middle school band with positivity and enthusiasm, guiding students to success both musically and personally."

Another summed it up by stating, "I want to take Eva's class!"

Classified Excellence Award – Melissa Quigley, Secretary, Student and Family Support Services

The recipient of the Classified Excellence Award is Melissa Quigley, MVSD Student and Family Support Services Secretary. Melissa has earned a reputation for her exceptional organizational skills and unwavering support for students, staff, and families. She is known for her compassionate nature, strong work ethic, and ability to ensure that the district's support services run smoothly.

When asked to describe Mellissa, one of her co-workers stated, "Melissa is organized, competent, a strong collaborator, and a fierce student advocate. She is a vital piece to our puzzle," said one staff member. "We're all better because of her."

Another staff member stated, "Melissa is not only highly professional but also deeply committed to fostering trust and building relationships with the students and families she serves. Her dedication makes her an irreplaceable asset to the district."

Finally, another member of the staff concluded, "She works with students, treating them like they are the most important people in the world."

The Methow Valley School District is proud to honor Eva Aneshansley and Melissa Quigley as the recipients of the MVSD 2025 Excellence Awards. Their passion, hard work, and dedication inspire their colleagues, students, and the community every day. Their contributions make our schools and our community stronger, and we are incredibly fortunate to have them as part of our team.

You can preorder a hardcopy Yearbook from the highschool front desk with cash or check for $50. You can also order your yearbook online for a slight discount. Softcovers start at $36.51.

Use this link yearbook from Treering:

 https://www.​treering.com/purchase?​PassCode=1014248920924101

Order by May 5th to receive free shipping!

Please join us in congratulating the many LBHS seventh graders who took part in the 2025 Be A Scientist program and showcased their projects at the Mid-Columbia Science Fair. Held in Richland, WA, the Mid-Columbia Science Fair gave LBHS middle school students the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding and application of the scientific method. In doing so, they earned an impressive array of awards! Below is a list of students who received recognition and special honors across various categories:

7th Grade Physical Science Division:

• Junie Horner – Enzymes in Saliva vs. Enzymes in the Stomach – Third Place
• Christopher Hernandez – Distillation Reactions – Honorable Mention
• Lucas Reece – Thermite Reaction Experiment – Honorable Mention

7th Grade Life Science Division:

• Preston Irvine – Most Efficient Cleaning Spray – Second Place
• Elliot Venable – DNA Onion Extraction – Third Place
• Gillian Kipp – Effect of Temperature on Milk Proteins – Honorable Mention
• Chloe Osborne – Natural Light vs. LED Grow Lights – Honorable Mention

Special Awards:

AISES (American Indian Science and Engineering Society) Recognition:

• Khol Perryman – Sea Walls and Waves
• Lucas Reece – Thermite Reaction Experiment
• Tevin Tomatich – Egg Drop

Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Award:

• Csilla Gresh – The Difference Between Cookies Baked with Almond Flour and Flour – Honorable Mention

Columbia Chapter of the Health Physics Society:

* Blu Asia – How Can We Build A Satellite – Best Middle School Physics Project

Award of Distinction for Clarity of Presentation:

• Reed Brennan
• Liam Gutzler
• Junie Horner
• Coralyn Mendonca

Award of Distinction for Engineering:

• Hudson Brandenburg

Award of Distinction for Creativity:

• Mabel Grayum
• Csilla Gresh
• Chevelle Melhorn
• Leona Naumann
• Khol Perryman
• Elliot Venable

Award of Distinction for Data Collection and Analysis:

• Coco Balick
• Hugh Carmichael

Award of Distinction for Experimental Design:

• Jack Bower
• Finnbarr Humling

Award of Distinction for Honesty in Presentation:

• Blu Asia
• Alex Hernandez
• Cane McCarthy
• Chloe Osborne
• Gunnar Wild

Award of Distinction for Perseverance:

• Bryce Gilbert
• Christopher Hernandez
• Preston Irvine
• Lucas Reece
• Soren Vintin

Award of Distinction for Novelty:

• Gillian Kipp
• Tevin Tomatich

Award of Distinction for Thoroughness:

• Norah Lewis

Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge:

Lastly, we are thrilled to announce that Preston Irvine was nominated by the MCSF for the prestigious Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge (JIC), a top national STEM competition. This is a rare honor, previously achieved at Liberty Bell in 2022 by Josie Bollinger, who went on to be named a top 300 national finalist. Congratulations, Preston!

Please join us as we congratulate all of our MCSF participants, LBHS Middle School Science Teacher, Matt Hinckley, and thank PSFA, the long list of community-based mentors, and our many parents who supported their students!

On Thursday, February 13, the Wenatchee Valley Cultural Museum received artwork from nine talented artists from the Methow Valley School District (MVSD), representing both Liberty Bell High School (LBHS) and the Methow Valley Independent Learning Center (ILC). The pieces were displayed in the Regional Art Show, which officially opened on Friday afternoon. The exhibition features an impressive collection of works by MVSD students, including pieces by Chicane Ashford, Kaden Borowski, Lucy Riggs, and Tristan Hover, whose participation has been met with enthusiastic praise. MVSD is proud to recognize the outstanding achievements of these young artists.

State High School Art Show Advancements

The show marked a major milestone for three MVSD students, whose artwork was selected for the prestigious Best of Show category. These pieces are among the 15 works from the region that will advance to the State High School Art Show in Olympia this April. The MVSD honorees are:

• Lily Arntsen (Methow Valley ILC) for A Blood-Stained Dress (Acrylic Painting)
• Izabel Bajema (Methow Valley ILC) for Plums (Colored Pencil Drawing)
• Elliot Pixie-Plott (Liberty Bell HS) for A Morning’s Cup of Reali-tea (Gouache Painting)

Category Awards and Honorable Mentions

In addition to the Best of Show recognitions, MVSD students earned awards in several categories:

• Mixed Media – 3rd Place: Audrey Roman (Liberty Bell HS) for Anatomy of Thought
• 3-Dimensional – Honorable Mention: Izabel Bajema (Methow Valley ILC) for Mystic
• Digital Media – 3rd Place: Ghost Miranda (Liberty Bell HS) for Assorted Stickers

These awards reflect the depth of talent and creativity nurtured in the MVSD art programs. Additional categories included Drawing, Painting, and Photography, with several other student works being showcased.

CWU Scholarship Recognition

Last but not least, the MVSD is also proud to announce that Izabel Bajema (Methow Valley ILC), who won a category award for Plums, was selected as one of only eight students to receive the Central Washington University (CWU) Art Scholarship. This scholarship, awarded by Gregg Schlanger, Dean of Art+Design at CWU, includes tuition waivers for the recipient, offering a significant opportunity for Izabel as she pursues further education in the arts.

Please join us as we congratulate our participating artists and their teacher, Erik Brooks for creative expression and dedication in support of the Arts.

Our new merch will be sold in the Student Store for the second half of junior high lunch and the first half of high school lunch. Forms will be available to fill out at the Store. We will only accept cash payments

LBHS Senior, Mac Surface Receives Sportsmanship Award