Recent Media Coverage/Press Releases

May 16, 2013 Granite Falls beats Lake Washington for ticket to state
After beating Burlington 3-2 in 10 innings in the first-round game, the Tigers won another thriller against Lake Washington to claim a state berth as the Tigers rallied to an 8-7 victory. The Herald reported the story->

May 13, 2013 Golfers to watch
Senior Austin Berg is one golfer to watch entering the district tournament. The Herald reported the story->

May 8, 2013 Students qualify for national competition
High School students Alaina Vanderhoff, Jeremy Miller, Aakash Sethi, Katelyn Campbell, and Pooja Sethi qualified for the National Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) competition that will be held the end of June in California. Read more here->

May 6, 2013 Granite Falls softball sweeps Lakewood in doubleheader
The Granite Falls softball team had an opportunity Friday not only to clinch a district playoff berth, but to make a statement about how they are evolving as a team and a play for second place in the Conference. The Tigers seized that opportunity with both hands. The Herald reported the story->

April 29, 2013 School give away book to parents
Staff members from Monte Cristo and Mountain Way Elementary schools in Granite Falls on April 23 gave away 330 books to local parents. The Herald reported the story->

April 17, 2013  
The High School ShopGirls and fifth grade students from Monte Cristo Elementary are featured in a five minute short documentary, The Road to Houston, produced by the Shell Corporation.

March 27, 2013 The drive for knowledge
Granite Falls senior Pooja Sethi gets help strapping into the "Iron Maiden" from her Shop Girls teammates at the high school Thursday afternoon.

March 16, 2013 Local students compete in Shell Eco-marathon
This year two teams from Granite Falls High School are competing in the Shell Eco-marathon in Texas. It's a competition that encourages teams from around the world to design and build ultra-energy efficient vehicles. Q13 FOX News reported the story->

March 12, 2013 Granite Falls school retiree a volunteer at start, end of career
If all goes according to plan, Barbara Belshee's career in finance will begin and end as a volunteer in an elementary school library. Granite Falls topped her list of places to offer her help. The Herald reported the story->

March 4, 2013 School Winners: FBLA
Twenty two students qualified for the state Future Business Leaders of American (FBLA) competition to be held April 25 in Spokane. The Herald reported the story->

February 12, 2013 Students qualify for state FBLA competition
Twenty-two high school students have advanced to the state FBLA competition that will be held the end of April in Spokane. Students qualified in 24 different categories. Read more here->

February 7, 2013 Granite Falls' Young signs to play at EWU
Courtney Young has literally bled for the Granite Falls soccer team. Now, she'll get the chance to do that for a college team as well. The Herald reported the story->

February 2, 2013 Prep Wrestling: 2A Sub-Regional
Granite Falls' Ryan Nash and Tyler Groff each won individual championships as the Tiger took home overall team honors at the 2A Sub-Regional wrestling tournament. The Herald reported the story->

January 30, 2013 Day, Schireman inducted to Hall of Fame
Gordon Day, Class of 1961, and Allison (Hanby) Schireman, Class of 1996, were named to the Granite Falls High School Alumni Hall of Fame at the varsity basketball game held January 29. The Hall of Fame was established in 1994 to honor past graduates that were active in school activities that have gone on to become positive role models and productive citizens. Read more here->

January 28, 2013 Granite Falls students learn cursive, write letters to Obama
Students are learing the fine art of good old fashion letter writing. KOMO TV reported the story->

January 22, 2013 Askash Sethi accepted into the Washington Aerospace Scholars program
High School junior Aakash Sethi has been accepted into the Washington Aerospace Scholars (WAS) program. Selected from over 280 students from 119 different public and private school, Sethi will spend the next five months competing for one of the 160 slots in a Summer Residency session. Read more here->

December 17, 2012 A Natural Leader
Tommy Eadie, 18, a senior at Granite Falls High School is considering a military career after graduation. The Herald reported the story->

December 10, 2012 Granite Falls student to go to state concert
Granite Falls Middle School student Makenna Carter has been selected to participate in the 2013 Washington Music Educators Association's concert Feb. 16 in Vancouver. The Herald reported the story->http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20121210/LIVING/712109929/0/SEARCH

December 7, 2012 Michalisin, Newton earn prestigious title of National Board Certified Teachers
Ryan Michalisin and Michael Newton, both High School English teachers, have earned the highest credential available to American educators by recently becoming National Board Certified Teachers through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). Read more here->

December 6, 2012 Players honored at SCFOA banquet
Scholarships awarded courtesy of officials who regulate game: Thomas (Tommy) Eadie III received the Schireman's Armed Service Award. The Herald reported the story->

December 3, 2012 Collegiate Scholar
Katie Christensen, a 2011 graduate of Granite Falls High School, has been named to the National Society of Collegiate Scholars for outstanding academic performance. The Herald reported the story->

November 28, 2012 High School awarded prestigious School of Distinction honor
Granite Falls High School has been named a School of Distinction from the Center for Education Effectiveness (CEE) and Phi Delta Kappa. Only the top five percent of improving schools in Washington State earn the award based on outstanding improvement in student achievement. The school is only one of 97 in the state, and one of only 19 high schools, named for the prestigious award. Read more here->

October 28, 2012 Meet the aerospace workforce of the future
The Everett Herald profiled nine participants that have high hopes including High School sophomore Dansil Green: Teen dreams of career in rocket science.

October 17, 2012 Fast start leads Granite Falls over Red Wolves
Kaila Green scored two goals inside the first 11 minutes of the match and Granite Falls took a significant step to securing a playoff berth with a victory over Cedarcrest. The Herald reported the story-> 

October 8, 2012 School winners: Class gives POW/MIA flags
Monte Cristo Elementary School teacher Debra Howell and students in her fourth though sixth grade multiage class presented POW/MIA flags to the four other schools on September 19. The Herald reported the story->

October 1, 2012 Pooja Sethi named Commended Student in National Merit Scholarship Program
High School senior Pooja Sethi has been named as a Commended Student in the 2013 National Merit Scholarship Program. Pooja placed in the top five percent of more than 1.5 million students in the entire country based on scores from the Preliminary SAT test. Read more here->

June 21, 2012 District names Bass, Sawyer Employees of the Year
Monte Cristo Elementary teacher Kristen Bass and food service co-coordinator and High School cook Tammi Sawyer were named as the District's Employees of the Year. Read more here->

June 8, 2012 Fundraiser for teacher, coach
A car wash is planned Saturday to help a retired teacher and basketball coach from the Granite Falls School District. The Herald report the story->

June 8, 2012 Congratulations to the Class of 2012!
The Class of 2012 earned $50,000 in local scholarships thanks to the support of Granite Falls’ local businesses and organizations. In all, the students earned over $650,000 in scholarships from colleges, universities, and other organizations. The full graduation program including all awards and scholarships is here-> and the Everett Herald posted a photo gallery from graduation night.

June 7, 2012 Granite Falls women, student Race of the Cure
Susan Slaughter felt energized after finishing the Puget Sound Race for the Cure Sunday in Seattle. She walked it with her daughter, Tatum, and 28 other students in the multi-age classrooms at Monte Cristo Elementary School. The Herald reported the story->

June 7, 2012 Karin Manns named new principal
The School Board is pleased to announce Karin Manns was selected to be the principal of Monte Cristo Elementary effective July 1. Read more here->

June 5, 2012 Spring sports awards
The varsity and JV tennis and varsity softball, track, and soccer teams earned the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) Distinguished award for a team GPA of 3.0 or above and several teams had a highly successful post season. Read more here (pdf)->

May 20, 2012 Tiger win title
Caitlyn Munce hit a walk-off two-run double in the bottom of the ninth to give Granite Falls a come-from-behind win over Mount Baker and secure the Tigers' first district championship in fastpitch softball. The Herald reported the story->

May 18, 2012 Kari Henderson-Burke and Don Lauer honored
The Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA) Region 109 honored Monte Cristo Elementary Principal Kari Henderson-Burke and Granite Falls Police Officer Don Lauer at an awards ceremony for their efforts in student achievement and community involvement. Read more here->

May 17, 2012 Granite Falls advances to state tourney
Granite Falls defeats Lakewood 7-4 in District 1 semifinal game to clinch 2A state tournament berth for fourth straight year. It was touch and go for a while, but in the end the Granite Falls softball team did what it has been doing all season. The Herald reported the story->

May 9, 2012 Tiger sweep Cedarcrest, clinch league championship
The Granite Falls softball team had two goals on Tuesday afternoon: Clinch the Cascade Conference title and do it on Senior Night. Both goals were accomplished. The Herald reported the story->

May 8, 2012 Timeout with Jakob Sprague, Granite Falls track and field
Herald reporter David Krueger pulls Jakob Sprague out of class to talk about his potential salutatorian speech, his first year of track and fields and a very successful food drive. The Herald reported the story->

May 2, 2012 Granite Falls doesn't let up: Tigers score seven runs on 10 hits, defeat Red Wolves 
It took more than half the season for the weather to cooperate and allow the Granite Falls and Cedarcrest softball teams - the two squads atop of the Cascade Conference - to play each other for the first time in 2012. The Heard reported the story->

April 30, 2012 School Winners
FBLA students make national competition. The Herald reported the story->

April 16, 2012 School Winners
Granite Falls eco car teams finish strong; Top Granite Falls juniors receive honors. The Herald reported the story->

April 5, 2012 Regional students' vehicle gets 231 MPG, 2nd place
It's along way from Granite Falls to Houston, but the trips not so bad if your vehicle gets 231 mpg. The Seattle Times reported the story->

April 3, 2012 Tigers hope to make a fourth trip to state a special one
For the Granite Falls softball team, the past three regular seasons have been filled with monumental success. The Tigers have a combined record of 54-6 in the regular season in those years and with the, three straight 2A state tournament appearances. The Herald reported the story->

March 30, 2012 Cars Built By Kids Show Future to Better Mileage
Semira Kern is a high school junior from Granite Falls in Washington state. She’s brought her team’s car “Iron Maiden” over two and half thousand miles to Houston to compete in the Shell Eco Marathon. NPR reported the story->

March 12, 2012 School winners
High School senior Sara Rood was selected as a National Discus Award winner and the eco-car program receives two grants. The Herald reported the story->

March 8, 2012  Students returning to eco-car challenge
Sara Rood inspected a tangle of electrical wires inside the Iron Maiden.The student-built car has changed a lot since school started. Sara, 17, needs to know it inside and out. The Granite Falls High School senior will be the ShopGirls team driver in a prestigious fuel mileage competition at the end of the month.The Herald reported the story-> Read more about the team including how to sponsor the teams here.

February 27, 2012 Student accepted by aerospace program
Granite Falls High School junior Pooja Sethi has been accepted into the Washington Aerospace Scholars 2011-2012 program. The Herald reported the story->

February 15, 2012 Kids help soldier help kids
Teacher and Angel Debra Howell is continuing to lead her students in support for troops, with their latest activity turning out to be one of the biggest yet. The Soldiers' Angels Organization reported the story->

February 14, 2012 Voters to decide school levies
Districts around Western Washington are asking voters Tuesday to approve or renew more than 85 school levies and bond measures. Some districts like Granite Falls got creative during this special election to get out the vote. KING 5 TV reported the story.

February 13, 2012 School winners
Success in Education and Alumni Hall of Fame winners were highlighted. The Herald reported the story->

February 13, 2012 Super Kid Paige Barger
Link crew is to make sure everyone feels comfortable when they come into this school. My link crew leaders did a great job of making me feel included and comfortable; I want to make sure other students have that feeling. The Herald reported the story->

February 10, 2012 Tigers find their roar
After winning only one game the past two seasons, the Granite Falls boys basketball team didn't generate a lot of excitement before the start of the 2011-12 campaign. But the Tigers are generating excitement now. The Herald reported the story->

February 3, 2012 Granite Falls teacher earns national VFW award
Monte Cristo Elementary teacher Debra Howell received a phone call last week from the national headquarters of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. The call from was to inform Howell that she is a recipient of the Veterans of Foreign Wars National Citizenship Education Teacher Award. The Herald reported the story->

January 14, 2012 Sheriff Lovick helps food drive
About 4,000 food items were collected during a food drive organized by the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office. Lovick told students he had hoped to raise $1,000 but didn't do that. He instead collected $5,020.12 for the program. The Herald reported the story->

January 13, 2012 Sheriff gives huge gift to Granite Falls
The top cop in Snohomish County wanted to do his part to help a community hit hard by the recession. KING 5 TV reported the story->

January 13, 2012 Firefighters help in the classroom
Firefighters since September have visited twice a day on Tuesdays and Thursdays to help kindergartners in two classes learn their letters and letter sounds. The Herald reported the story->

December 16, 2011 Granite Falls High students pass goals for annual effort to help those in need Students at Granite Falls High School set two goals for their annual food drive. They wanted to collect 15,000 food items and $3,000. By Monday, the last day of the drive, students had collected much more. The Herald reported the story->

December 14, 2011 Granite Falls school flying POW/MIA flag
Monte Cristo Elementary School students have added a new flag to their school. Six classes of students lined up outside the main entrance last week to watch as a POW/MIA flag was raised up the school's flagpole. The Herald reported the story->

December 12, 2011 YouTube video inspires community to help those in need
High School students decided to take matters into their own hands. They set a goal to collect 15,000 grocery items and $3,000 at their annual food drive. In the end, the students far exceeded their goal collecting more than 16,000 items, over $6,200 in cash and a room full of toys. They expect to feed 150 families for at least a month. KING 5 TV reported the story-> See the video students produced that started the whole project.

11/24/11 Five to watch
Senior Peyton Spencer is highlighted in Prep Girls Hoop Preview

11/12/11 Soaking up their reward
Principal Kari Henderson-Burke pulled on a pair of goggles as she got ready to ride a pink children's bike outside Monte Cristo Elementary. Making herself the target of a human car wash was a prize offered to students who sold at least 15 items in the school's annual fundraiser. The fundraiser brought in over $10,000 for field trips and classroom needs, family nights and other events hosted by the parent group. The Herald reported the story->

11/7/11 Small districts, big cuts: Schools learn they might lose millions of dollars in state budget crisis
For years, the Granite Falls School District has received help from the state to keep pace with larger, urban districts. That might soon end under cuts proposed by Gov. Chris Gregoire. The Herald reported the story->

11/2/11 Crossroads High School receives $117,000 grant
Crossroads High School Principal Bridgette Perrigoue received an $117,000 Building Bridges grant for a drop out intervention and retrieval program. The primary purpose of the state funded grant is to increase the number of Washington state students who graduate from high school and re-engage students that have dropped out of school. Read more here->

10/3/2011 Leading the Way: High School senior Becky Gilbertson
Becky Gilbertson plans to study civil engineering in college. This year she is taking three advanced placement classes and Sustainable Green Technology and Design. She is also the ASB Public Relations Officer, plays tennis, and is a member of the ballroom dance Team. The Herald reported the story->

9/30/11 Luis Torres' passion for Tiger sports
"Be there." For junior Luis Torres, it all started with the stats. Listening to him talk about his beloved Tigers, it's obvious what sincere passion he has for the home team, and he shows that devotion on the field. The Herald reported the story->

9/28/11 Tia Cervarich named as a Commended Student  
Granite Falls High School senior Tia Cervarich has been named as a Commended Student in the 2012 National Merit Scholarship Program. Tia placed in the top five percent of more that 1.5 million students in the entire country based on scores from the Preliminary SAT test. Read more here->

9/26/11 Granite Falls kindergartners throw surprise party for 90-year-old volunteer
The kindergartners waited as quietly as they could. The group of 28 students at Monte Cristo Elementary School tried to hide by ducking their heads as they sat near a front of their classroom. "Happy birthday, Grandma Helen," the boys and girls shouted. The Herald reported the story->

9/20/11 Timeout with high school senior Ben Sheppard
If you're not improving, you're wasting time. That is Ben Sheppard's approach to running cross country. A four-year member of Granite Falls High School's varsity team, Sheppard constantly sets goals and makes the most of every workout. The Herald reported the story->

9/20/11 Teacher with big heart dies after crash
Suzy Armstrong had a skill for helping kids with special needs. For many years, she taught deaf and hearing impaired students. Later, she worked with Granite Falls youngsters who needed extra help and individual attention. The Herald reported the story->

9/8/11 Literally, it's the first day of school
Two Granite Falls schools are in new buildings this year. At Granite Falls Middle School, students waited in line at the school's offices to pick up their class schedules. This year, the middle school is new to all 510 students. The Herald reported the story->

8/19/11 New Center for Granite Falls school
Robynn Barth wants to bring a fitness media center Granite Falls Middle School. The health and finess teacher is planning to do that with the help of a $2,000 grant. The Herald reported the story->

7/11/11 Pooja Sethi takes fourth place at national competition
Pooja Sethi, a High School sophomore, received national recognition at the FBLA Awards of Excellence. Sethi competed in Accounting I and brought home fourth place out of over 100 participants; only the top ten in each category are recognized. Read more here (pdf).

6/10/11 Granite Falls celebrates 100 years of graduations: three seniors in 1911; 187 in 2011
Ulrich "Babe" Scherrer looked down at several felt letters on a table in the Granite Falls High School commons. The smallest "G" was the athletic letter he received for playing baseball his freshman year, said Scherrer, 93. He was the oldest alumnus of the Granite Falls School District at a school assembly at Granite Falls High School. The Herald reported the story->

6/8/11 Going back to kindergarten
High School senior Tessa Romack remembers kindergarten. What she remembers most about the 1998-1999 school is the special graduation celebration her kindergarten teacher, Olga Litz, organized for her class. The Herald reported the story->

5/20/2011 New superintendent hired
A new superintendent has been hired for the Granite Falls School District. Linda Hall was unanimously selected to the position this week by the school board. The Herald reported the story->

5/20/2011 Prom scheme gains traction
Kyle Glover, a senior at Granite Falls High School, found an unusual way to invite Katie Christensen, also a senior, to prom. "As my plan came together, it kept getting better and better," Kyle said. The Herald reported the story->

5/11/11 School districts make cuts while waiting for Legislature
As educators wait for state budget reductions that will dictate how much local districts must cut for next year, many area school districts are in the process of giving teachers layoff notices to help balance their budget.
KING 5 TV reported the story->

5/10/11 Granite Falls maintains hold on first
Pitcher Kimberly Martinez led the Granite Falls softball team to a 7-1 victory against Cedarcrest. The freshman pitched a complete game and gave up just one walk, a run and seven hits and added five strikeouts. The win keeps Granite Falls alone atop the Cascade Conference standing. The Herald reported the story->

4/25/11 Students take part in Future Business Leaders competition
Granite Falls High School sophomore Pooja Sethi and freshman Aakash Sethi have qualified for the national Future Business Leaders of America competition in Orlando this summer. The Herald reported the story->

4/20/11 Eco-car teams return from competition triumphant
ShopGirls and UrbanAutos members claim first place awards at the event in Texas. The Herald reported the story->

4/19/11 Granite Falls students spend lunch time talking about their lives
New Police Chief Dennis Taylor wants to hear what elementary and middle school students have to say. He visited elementary and middle schools during lunch time. The Herald reported the story->

4/17/11 Lessons from an effective teacher
Debra Howell will be only the third teacher from the state inducted into the national hall of fame. The Herald reported the story->

4/16/11 Eco Marathon Urban Auto team sets record; ShopGirls earn safety award
The Urban Auto Eco-marathon team took first place in the diesel category and set a new Americas record with 186.4 mpg beating archrival Penn State! The ShopGirls placed second in its diesel prototype category with 378 mpg and won the safety award. NPR interviewed the team and click on "Students Strive For Fuel Economy In Vehicle Contest". Also reporting the story was National Geographic: Racing to the Finish.

4/13/11 Hall-of-fame worthy: Granite Falls teacher earns national recognition for her skills
Debra Howell was called before the entire school and told she is being inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame. The Everett Herald reported the story->

4/12/11 Granite Falls teacher named to national Hall of Fame
For only the third time ever, a teacher from Washington state has been inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame. KING 5 TV reported the the story->

4/12/11 Students qualify for national FBLA competition
Sophomore Pooja Sethi and freshman Aakash Sethi took first and second place at the state Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) competition, which qualifies them for the national competition in June. Read more here (pdf)->

4/6/11 All-girls team seeks record in high-mileage marathon
Amid the din of power tools, three girls stand huddled in a shop room around the car they helped design and build. National Geographic reported the story->

4/5/11 ShopGirls are back in the driver's seat for auto contest
This year's team includes one new and five returning members who are planning to roll right over the record during the Shell Eco-marathon, April 14-17 in Houston, Texas. The Herald reported the story->

4/2/11 High School ballroom dance team
Teens step it up in new sport. A teacher at a small-town high school helps student discover a new passion - classic ballroom dance and the results from out-of-state competition show this newcomer team can glide with the best. The Seattle Times reported the story->

3/29/11 Granite Falls students designing fuel efficient cars for 'Eco Marathon'
Twelve students and one very dedicated teacher from Granite Falls High School are off to Houston to compete in the Shell Eco Marathon from April 14-17, 2011.  The Shell Eco Marathon is a worldwide competition in which participants build special cars to achieve the highest possible fuel efficiency. KING 5 TV reported the story->

3/17/11 Rover wants to hear a story: When dogs are their audience, youngsters improve reading skills
Kindergartner Tove Schweizer patiently waited until his name was called to read the book he wrote and illustrated during Family Literacy Night at Mountain Way Elementary School. The Herald reported the story->

3/14/11 Requirement for high school math tests are fuzzy  
Autumn Grable, 15, a sophomore at Granite Falls High School, will be among the more than 100,000 students statewide this week taking the High School Proficiency Exams in reading and writing. Those exams don't worry Autumn much; what's causing anxiety is a math test that isn't scheduled and hasn't even been decided on. The Herald reported the story->

3/9/2011 Winter sports awards
Winter sports awards were presented at team banquets held the end of February and early in March. Read more here.3/8/2011

3/8/11 Sun powers cars, kids
Monte Cristo Elementary students are solar engineers for a day. The girls giggled and jumped up and down in excitement. Then they carefully put their car - composed of a solar cell, a wood panel, a DC motor, axles and wheels - on the ground outside their classroom. The Herald reported the story->

3/8/11 Winter sports awards
Winter sports awards were presented at team banquets held the end of February and early in March. Read more here.

2/18/11 Granite Falls schools leader to retire
Superintendent Karen Koschak left the Granite Falls Administration Center with her clipboard in hand Wednesday afternoon. During her visits to different schools and classrooms throughout the district, she observes principals, teachers, and students to give feedback about what she sees and hears. The Herald reported the story->

2/11/11 District chief to retire in June
The superintendent of the Granite Falls School District, Karen Koschak, has plans to retire in June. Koschak announced her retirement Thursday in an written statement addressed to school board members, staff, and the Granite Falls community. The Herald reported the story->

2/10/11 Granite Falls' students qualify for state competition
Twenty-five Granite Falls High School students attended the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) West Central Region Leadership and Competitive Event conference held in Bellevue on Wednesday, February 9th. Read more here->

2/5/11 National praise for ShopGirls
An all-girl team from granite Falls High School got national attention this week for the car they designed and built from scratch for last year's national fuel-efficiency competition in Texas. U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan in a speech Wednesday praised the ShopGirls team. The Herald reported the story->

2/4/11 Granite Falls High School to honor alumni
Welcome to the newest members of the Granite Falls High School Alumni Hall of Fame. They will be honored tonight at a basketball game at the school. The Herald reported the story->

2/2/11 School history is made: two girls are the first to receive Division 1 athletic scholarships
Kelsey Carlson and Katie Cashman are the first women from Granite Falls School District to receive Division 1 athletic scholarships. Carlson will play soccer for the University of Montana Missoula and Cashman will play soccer for Eastern Washington University. Both girls signed their letters of intent on February 2. Read more here->

2/2/11 Eco car noted in national speech
US Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan noted the High School eco car project in a speech promoting Career and Technical Education (CTE) at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. The "homegrown" car is mentioned at the end of the speech.

2/1/11 Timeout with Brandon Gilbertson
"You've got to be relentless, but you also have to be smart at the same time, " Gilbertson said. So far this winter, Gilbertson's method has worked well. The Herald reported the story->

2/1/11 Granite Falls boys capture breakthrough win
Coach Steve Hume is trying to change the culture of the Granite Falls boys basketball program. The Tigers are a long way from where Hume wants them to be , but last week they took a big step. The Herald reported the story->

1/26/11 Donors answer school's call: $55,000 in donations helps buy math books for Granite Falls kids
Students need only look inside their math books to see who cares about their education. A combination of grants and donations from community organizations and individuals funded new math books. The Herald reported the story->

1/20/11ShopGirls and Urban Auto teams take second and third place in construction challenge
The High School ShopGirls team and the boys UrbanAutos team placed second and third respectively in the Association of Equipment Manufacturers Construction Challenge January 15. Read more here->

1/20/11 Local prep clutch performers
When the pressures on, these are the area's best boys and girls hoops players. High School junior Peyton Spencer is one of those players. The Herald reported the story->

1/14/11 Going for ballroom glory
Step by step, Granite Falls dance team prepares to compete. Spanish teacher Josh Roehl switches gears at the end of the regular school day at Granite Falls High School, because it "takes a couple minutes to just get in the zone." That's what's needed to teach ballroom dance. The Herald reported the story->

12/18/10 Generosity speaks volumes
The smiles on the faces of the first-graders in Christina Klepper's class showed just how they felt about reading. The students quickly lined up to get into a classroom filled with tables of books at Monte Cristo Elementary. The Herald reported the story->

12/15/10 Granite Falls High School celebrating its most successful food drive ever
Organizers say they have received so many donations over the past two weeks, they've run out of room and are storing most of it in the hallways. KING 5 reported the story->

12/13/10 Super Kid: Granite Falls senior is active in drama
High School senior Kyle Kamins takes several advanced placement classes, is the public relations coordinator for the food drive, and has applied to UC Berkeley and UCLA. The Herald reported the story->

12/9/10 Colette Dahl named Western Washington School Nurse of the Year
District nurse Colette Dahl was named the Western Washington School Nurse of the Year by the March of Dimes at a ceremony December 9. KING 5 reported the story->

12/8/2010 Memories are shared as a tribute to friend is created
There were plenty of memories for Shaylynn Wietersen's friends to share while they waited for the second layer of pink paint to dry on their school's spirit rock. They remembered the Granite Falls sophomore's bubbly personality. The Herald reported the story->

12/3/10 Tracy Land earns National Board Certification
Tracy Land, math teacher at Crossroads Alternative High School, has achieved National Board Certification in 2010. Tracy joins nine other Granite Falls teachers that have achieved this accomplishment. Read more here->

12/1/10 Staff highlighted in Washington State Kappan
Several staff members and Mountain Way Elementary are highlighted in the fall issue of Washington State Kappan. Mountain Way is listed as a School of Distinction on page 2; Superintendent Karen Koschak and principals Kari Henderson-Burke and Cathie West are quoted in an article on page 6; and an article on Mountain Way Elementary is on page 18.

11/29/10  Fall Sports Awards
The Granite Falls High School fall sports season was full of notable accomplishments by our student-athletes. Read more here->

11/17/10 100 Year Celebration
Help us celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 1911 Granite Falls High School graduating class. Mark your calendar for June 9, 1:30 pm, at GFHS to gather with classmates, teachers, and friends to walk down memory lane. Help us spread the word and contact past classmates and teachers; check the attic and basement for school memorabilia and bring it to display. Read more here->

11/3/10 Mountain Way awarded prestigious School of Distinction honor
Mountain Way Elementary has been named a School of Distinction from the Center for Education Effectiveness (CEE) and Phi Delta Kappa. Only the top five percent of all schools in Washington State earn the award. Read more here->

10/25/10 Super Kid: Granite Falls senior wants to be a corporate lawyer
High School senior Katie Christensen and three of her friends greet students as they come to school every morning. She also dreams of attending Duke University. The Herald reported the story->

10/22/10 That's the spirit!
No one's shy about school pride at Granite Falls High this week. Sometimes showing your school spirit means strapping wheels to a canoe. Welcome to spirit week at Granite Falls High School. The Herald reported the story->

10/22/10 Granite Falls notches playoff berth
First year coach Cory Elwell has the Granite Falls girls soccer team into the 2A District 1 playoffs, clinching the playoff spot with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Cedarcrest. The Herald reported the story->

9/28/10 "If You Really Knew Me"
Watch the full episode of MTV's series "If You Really Knew Me" that features students from Granite Falls High School and Crossroads Alternative School.

9/28/10 A glimpse into Granite Falls High School on MTV
The world gets a glimpse into the heart of Granite Falls High School tonight, courtesy of MTV. KIRO Radio reported the story->

9/27/10 MTV camera crews follow teenagers in Granite Falls
The documentary series "If You Really Knew Me" follows students as they participate in Challenge Day, a national course meant to break down the stereotypes they hold of their peers. The Herald reported the story->

9/19/10 ShopGirls to present at Expo
The High School ShopGirls are highlighted as part of the Green Industrial Business and Career Expo October 7 and 8. The girls will have the car on display and present a hands-on session. Read more here->9/15/10

9/16/10 Belshee, Herald named Volunteer and Partnership award winners
The Success in Education Volunteer and Partnership of the Year awards were presented at the School Board meeting September 15 to Barbara Belshee and the Everett Herald. Read more here->

9/9/10 Students honored at Evergreen State Fair
High School student Sara Rood was honored at the Fair. The Everett Herald reported the story (scroll down to students honored at Evergreen State Fair)

9/8/10 Runners to watch
High School cross country runner Rhiannon Alexander is highlighted as one of the area's runners to watch this season. The Everett Herald reported the story.

9/7/10 Soccer players to watch
Of the five student-athletes highlighted as soccer players to watch, two are from Granite Falls High School - Kelsey Carlson and Katie Cashman. The Everett Herald reported the story.

9/1/10 School Districts get creative to save money
Most school districts have had to make big budget cuts during tough economic times. That is forcing some school leaders to get creative in order to save money. "Every little bit can count", says Brandon Klepper, lead grounds man and wrestling coach in the Granite Falls School District. KING TV reported the story->

6/28/10 Summer school of life
A Granite Falls program teaches kids some practical skills while they earn credits toward graduation. The Herald reported the story->

6/14/10 2009/2010 Achievements
We are proud of our staff members and students for outstanding accomplishments in and out the classroom. For a review of the achievements read more here->

6/11/10 District names employees of the year
The Granite Falls School District named Nancy Matlack and Alice Noyd as the 2009/2010 Employees of the Year at the annual end of the year staff awards program held June 11. Read more here->

6/8/10 Spring Sports Awards
Spring sports awards were announced at team banquets held the end of May and early June. Read more read->

6/7/10 Graduation 2010
The senior class of 2010 received over $250,000 in scholarships. The class graduated June 4th at Hi Jewell Stadium. The class list and scholarships and awards are here.

6/5/10 Proposal to merge alternative schools
Lake Stevens and Granite Falls have been mulling a merger. It would mean students from Lake Stevens Prove High School would attend Crossroads Alternative High School in Granite Falls next fall. The Herald reported the story.

6/4/10 Budget cuts create safety concern for students on buses
Granite Falls School District made the decision to reduce bus routes within a mile of the schools. Several other schools in the region are also looking to cut bus routes to save money. Everett, Edmonds and Stanwood schools are all deciding which routes to cut as budgets shrink. KING TV reported the story.

6/4/10 Schools' cuts to bus routes
Granite Falls students will make the mile-long trek from their homes on Scherrer Road to reach their new bust stop. It's part of a school district plan to save $42,000 in transportation costs. The Herald reported the story.

5/24/10 Track and softball off to state competition
Student-athletes are off to state competition this week: At the district track meet, Ericka Smith took second in the javelin and Rhiannon Alexander placed third in the 3200. Both girls begin the state competition this Thursday in Tacoma.The girls softball team also qualified for the state tournament and plays its first game at 10:00 am this Friday in Selah. The Herald reported the story->

5/21/10 Granite Falls lone Cascade survivor
And then there was one. Cascade Conference No. 1 seed Granite Falls defeated third-seeded Archbishop Murphy leaving Granite Falls as the lone remaining Cascade Conference team with a chance at reaching the state tournament. The Herald reported the story->

5/19/10 Success in Education awards winners
The District announced its fourth quarter Success in Education award winners. Staff members Megan Deebach and Kathleen Gipson and student winners Emma Myhre, Kory Glover, Austin Warren, Annie Hart, Evan West, Ben Mow, and Brittany McGinnis were recognized at the May 19, 2010 School Board meeting. Read more here->

5/11/10 Timeout with Alyssa Arndt
Asked to describe her pitching repertoire, Alyssa Arndt rattles off her array of weapons like an energized auctioneer. "Fastball, changeup, dropball, riseball, screwball, curveball," Arndt, the Granite Falls High School softball team's dominant pitcher, blurted in 3 seconds. All of those options appear to be good ones for Granite Falls, which was 16-0 going into the week. The Herald reported the story->

4/26/10 Student qualifies for FBLA competition
Senior Kati Reverman qualified for the national FBLA competition in Nashville. The Herald reported the story->

4/20/10 An emerging power
When Candi Reeves took the job as Granite Falls head softball coach in 2007, she knew the girls had some work ahead of them if they hoped to be a contender, not only at state, but also in the league. With a 10-0 league record to start the season, Granite Falls is on the right track. The Herald reported the story->

4/20/10 Granite Falls dismantles Arch. Murphy in softball
Undefeated Granite Falls took advantage of a Murphy team that looked sloppy and intimidated dropping a 12-0 decision to Granite Falls in five innings. The Herald reported the story->

4/16/10 Granite Falls tops Murphy to remain undefeated
Archbishop Murphy's softball team was certainly ready to play its game against Granite Falls on Thursday, scoring three runs in the first inning. Then the Tigers showed whey they are undefeated. The Herald reported the story>

4/15/10 Tom Eadie named new board member
At a Board meeting April 14^th, the Granite Falls School Board of Directors appointed Tom Eadie as the newest member to replace Bob Quarterman who is retiring after 16 years on the Board. Eadie will begin his term on the Board at the June 2^nd, 2010, meeting. Read more here->

4/6/10 School spirit rocks Granite Falls: Local quarries join to donate and transport boulder to high school
Several seniors at Granite Falls High School wanted to leave a little reminder behind to share their school pride. They imagined what they call "a spirit rock" that could be painted in orange and black. The Everett Herald reported the story->

4/5/10 Super Kid: Granite Falls High's Chelaina Crews
Nice surprise: Chelaina Crews was named a commended student in the 2010 National Merit Scholarship competition. That means she placed in the top 5 percent of more that 1.5 million students in the country based on scores from the Preliminary SAT test. The Herald reported the story->

3/30/10 470 mpg for ShopGirls' car
The team, along with a boys team also from Granite Falls High School, competed at the Shell Eco-marathon. The Herald reported the story->

3/30/10 A 470 mpg car: Granite Falls High School girls build it
An all-girls team from Granite Falls High School have built a car that gets 470 miles per gallon of diesel. KING 5 TV reported the story->

3/26/10 ShopGirls compete in Houston
3/26/10: See a live interview from Houston of the ShopGirls on KING 5 TV here.

3/25/10 Title-hungry Granite Falls improves to 4-0
This season, the Tigers feel they have some unfinished business. On Wednesday afternoon, Granite Falls improved to 4-0 in the new season. Senior pitcher Alyssa Arndt led the way for the Tigers. The Herald reported the story->

3/21/10 All-female team pours heart and soul into car-building contest
The ShopGirls, as they call themselves, wanted a name that had some heft. For the nine Granite Falls High School students, the forest green and hot pink car they engineered and built from scratch needed a bold name. Their car would be called the Iron Maiden. The Herald reported the story->

3/18/10 Success in Education third quarter awards
The District has announced its third quarter Success in Education award winners at the March 17, 2010 School Board meeting. Read more here->

3/16/10 Battle of the classes a classy act
The Battle of the Classes at Granite Falls High School isn't just about rivalries among students in different grades; it's about parents and neighbors and small town allegiances filling a gym for an evening of spirit frivolity. The Herald reported the story->

3/15/10 High School students building a eco-car
A group of nine Granite Falls High School students are gearing up for a national competition in energy efficient car building. KING 5 TV reported the story->

3/15/10 A gift for the gifted
In 21 years of teaching elementary school music, Jenny Price never has had a student quite like Drew Bielaczyc. Her colleagues at Mountain Way Elementary School in Granite Falls describe a quirky kid who is both charming and vexing and certainly brilliant beyond his 10 years. The Herald reported the story->

3/14/10 Softball preview: players to watch
The saying big things come in small packages couldn’t be truer for Sarah Hensley. The Herald reported the story->

3/6/10 1,400 Granite Falls students using obsolete textbooks
Hundreds of students between kindergarten and eighth grade don't have the tools they need to learn in this Snohomish County school district. KOMO-TV reported the story.

3/1/10 Granite Falls asks for help to buy textbooks
It's a textbook case of need. And it makes for a vexing story problem. A small school district needs 1,450 new math books for its students in kindergarten through eighth grade. The answer in the cash-strapped Granite Falls School District is an adopt-a-math-book program. The Herald reported the story->. Help sponsor one book for one student. All donations are tax deductible. Read more here->

2/17/10 Worker's idea save cash for District
Brandon Klepper figured there could be savings in waste.
So the head of the Granite Falls School District’s grounds crew suggested to his bosses that they let him take care of the trash. The result, district officials estimate, will save more than $2,500 a month during the school year. The Herald reported the story->

2/16/10 Students qualify for state competition  
Five of the 13 High School students that attended the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Regional Leadership event February 10th qualified for the state competition. Read more here->

2/8/10 Hall of Fame
Ed Horn, Class of 1958, and Raylene Alexander, Class of 1980, were named to the Granite Falls High School Alumni Hall of Fame at the varsity basketball game held February 5. Read more here->.

1/27/10 District shares budget information
The District will face budget cuts next year due to an additional state revenue shortfall. Community forums provided an overview of the budget process and the potential impacts of the additional reductions. Our Budget Updates page includes a link to the January 2010 presentation as well as historical information on budget reductions last year.

1/20/10 Success in Education second quarter awards
Staff members Kathy Lease and Keith Johnson and students Emmy Romack, Lily Janda, Abigail Burk, Ciera Briggs, Riley Larsen, Brinn Jones and Dylan Wold received the second quarter Success in Education awards at the January 20th School Board meeting. Read more here->

1/19/10 Shell Eco-Marathon 2010 Americas First All Women Team is from GFHS!
The ShopGirls have been designing, building, and testing a Prototype car to compete in the national Shell Eco competition in Houston, March 26-28. The goal is to build a car that goes the farthest using the least amount of fuel. Become a partner and invest in us! An investment includes your company name and logo on the car.

1/1/10 Sharing Life Lessons
Granite Falls teen is a Muscular Dystrophy Association ambassador. As John Haskett regaled guests with stories of his video game prowess, his mother had a gentle reminder for him. "Open your hands, John." The junior from Granite Falls High School rolled his eyes, but knew his mother, Marie, was right. The Herald reported the story->

12/30/09 Board member exits slowly
After 16 years on the Granite Falls School Board, Bob Quarterman figured it was time to step down. His colleagues said, "Not so fast." Quarterman, 63, will leave the board May 19. He intended for his resignation to take effect earlier, but he was persuaded to stay through some difficult budget cuts on the horizon. The Herald reported the story->

12/10/09 Girl's death in car crash stuns Granite Falls
The news spread in a flood of text messages on Tuesday night. Shaylynn Wietersen, a bright-eyed girl known for her quick smile, was dead. The Herald reported the story->

12/1/09 Dropping back in to school
Granite Falls students' goal at Crossroads Alternative: Get a diploma. When Greg Chartier quit high school last year, he figured it was for good. He was failing his classes, behind on credits and had trouble getting along with his teachers. It was time to get a job and get on with his life. It didn't work out that way. That's when Chartier realized her really did need that high school diplomas after all. The Herald reported the story->

11/26/2009 Students talk turkey
Students at Monte Cristo Elementary were highlighted in the Everett Herald Thanksgiving Day. Read the Herald newspaper story "Kids talk turkey" and you can also watch video of the kids explaining Thanksgiving. The Herald video is here->

11/23/09 Students receive music honors
Several students have been selected to perform in the Washington All-State choir and band this February in Yakima. The Herald reported the story->

11/19/09 Success in Education first quarter awards
Students Simon Angel, Mikayla Engstrom, Melissa Brown, Brandon Gilbertson, and Sarah Nikalson-Engstrom received the first quarter Success in Education awards at the November 18th School Board meeting. Read more here->

11/13/09 School conferences encourage partnerships with families
School conferences provide a great opportunity to further connect your family with our school community. Parents are a child's first teacher and that involvement is vital to every child's success. Read more here->

11/7/09 Freshman Rhiannon Alexander takes fifth place at state cross country meet
Competing in the state meet for the first time, freshman Rhiannon Alexander didn't run quite as fast as she had hoped. She got over it quickly though. A top-five finish will do that. The Herald reported the story->.

11/2/09 Super Kids: Granite Falls senior wants career in astrophysics or biochemistry
Marissa Ogren, Granite Falls High School senior will graduate with a high school diploma and an associates degree from Everett Community College. The Herald reported the story->

11/1/09 Alexander wins District cross country meet  
Freshman Rhiannon Alexander is the 2A District cross country champ, taking first place in the meet Oct. 31. Scroll down through the lead story to "Alexander paces 2A girls"

10/29/09 Granite Falls wins play-in to Class 2A District 1 tournament
The girls soccer team won its game last night, which qualified the team for a play-in game Saturday for the district tournament. The Everett Herald reported the story.

10/25/09 Freshman is Cross Country champion
Freshman Rhiannon Alexander is the Cascade Conference champion taking first place in the girls cross country conference meet October 24. Rhiannon also set a meet record of 19:16. Scroll down through the lead story to  “Granite Falls freshman wins Cascade Conference race”. In the boys cross country race, senior Maika Matalomani placed 7^th and junior Ben Mow 9^th, personal bests for both. GO TIGERS!

10/23/09 Perfect touches at Granite Falls homecoming
A Knight for a Princess, that's the theme of the homecoming dance Saturday at Granite Falls High School. For one teenage couple, it's sure to be a night unlike any other. Justine Hagan and Jacob Byron were elected by the sophomore class as homecoming royalty. Jacob and Justine are special education students. The Herald reported the story-> and added a "Spirit of a school" follow-up story with photos.

10/19/09 Ogren, Crews National Merit Scholars  
Granite Falls High School seniors Marissa Ogren and Chelaina Crews have been named Commended Students in the 2010 National Merit Scholarship Program. The girls placed in the top five percent of more that 1.5 million students in the entire country based on scores from the Preliminary SAT test. The Herald reported the story->

10/13/09 Timeout with...Mark Neuman
A longtime fixture at Granite Falls High School, Mark Neuman is a man of many seasons. The Herald reported the story->

9/17/09 Board names volunteer and partnership winners
The Granite Falls School District Success in Education Volunteer and Partnership of the Year awards were presented at the regular School Board meeting September 16. Read more here>

9/15/09 Wildlife Safety
This is a good time of year to review safety tips with your children if they should encounter wildlife in the area. It is also important to discourage students from walking or cutting through wooded areas to get to school or home.  Click here for safety tips from the Department of Fish and Wildlife.

9/14/09 Granite Falls School District continues to reduce costs
In an effort to continue cost saving measures, the Granite Falls School District will not print its annual community school calendar for the 2009/2010 school year. Read more here>

9/2/09 1st day: plenty of jitters to go around
After more than three decades as a principal, Cathie West still feels nervous before the first day of school. Such was the case Monday when she wondered what she should wear Tuesday when classes opened at Mountain Way Elementary School. The Herald reported the story->

9/1/09 Granite Falls football players will be giving their all for 'Coach Joe'
Every time Dylan Wold walks into the weight room at Granite Falls High School he half expects to see Coach Joe. The Herald reported the story->

6/19/09 Granite Falls retools school
Work is expected to begin soon on a project to upgrade the old Granite Falls High School for middle school students. The Herald reported the story->

6/19/09 Granite Falls grad sets her own destiny
Kirsten Kramer is doing what she's done for years - working hard and making her own solid choices. While many teens scramble for employment, this 2009 graduate of Granite Falls High School juggles two jobs. "You're not defined by the things that happen to you, but by the things you make happen," Kirsten said. The Herald reported the story->

6/16/09 District names employees of the year
Tracy Land and Viki Perrault were named the 2008-09 Employees of the Year at an all-staff awards presentation June 16. For more information on Tracy and Viki, read more here->

6/15/09 Achievements and awards
We are proud of our staff members and students for outstanding accomplishments in and out of the classroom. For a review of the 08-09 achievements, read more here->  

6/7/09, Evergreen Speedway notes: the Amazing Luis Torres!
Luis Torres, 14, of Granite Falls and his parents and siblings were guests of the speedway on Saturday, enjoying all the action from the VIP booth. Luis, who is just wrapping up his 8th gr. year at GFMS, has Asperger's Syndrome, a high-functioning form of autism. The Herald blogged about it->

6/3/09, Granite Falls girls get car-camp invitation
It will be a different kind of summer camp for Granite Falls Middle School girls. For a $75 registration fee, the school district is sponsoring a two-day "Mini Eco Car" summer academy for middle and high school girls. Scholarships are available. The Herald reported the story ->

5/21/09, GO TIGERS! Girls qualify for state
The High School girls fastpitch team qualified for the state tournament May 20 with a win over Burlington. State competition begins May 29 in Selah. Ericka Smith also qualified for state competition in the javelin in Tacoma May 28. The Herald reported the story ->

5/19/09, MWE student Kaitlyn Bostrom qualified for Junior Olympics!
Got rhythm? Kaitlyn will compete in rhythmic gymnastics for the 2009 Junior Olympic Compulsory Championships the end of May. The Herald reported the story ->. 

5/5/09, GF girls learn skills in a typically male class
Elizabeth Matalomani was shocked when she received her second semester schedule at GFHS and saw that she was enrolled in a manufacturing class. Manufacturing? .... It'll come in handy. Matalomani is one of about 70 girls from GFHS who plan to construct a wind tunnel and research, design and build a fuel-efficient car from scratch to compete in a national competition next spring. The Herald reported the story ->

4/8/09, GF kids get a report on their generosity
Debra Howell realized she'd piqued her students' interest in world affairs when 18 of 21 of them showed up on a day off from school to collect goods for care packages being mailed to soldiers and students in Iraq and Afghanistan. .... Ben Nelson, [a] sixth-grade student, figured his class would gather enough supplies to fill two boxes. He underestimated his classmates. They filled 80 boxes. .... The containers were sent to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan with the help of the local Veterans of Foreign War chapter, which paid for the postage. The Herald reported the story ->

3/26/09, GF tennis program back after hiatus
If you build them, they will come. That was the thought GF athletic director Mike Hahn had when he pushed for the construction of eight tennis courts at GFHS' new campus ... so there would be enough courts available for physical education and, if all went well, a tennis program. As it turned out, things went about as well as they could have. The Herald reported the story ->

1/26/09, GF student's fundraiser brings in $2k for medical research
Tessa Romack was overwhelmed by the turnout. Seventy people, including four girls and a woman, had their heads shaved Jan. 16 as part of a fundraiser for research into alopecia, an uncommon autoimmune disease that causes Tessa and about 450,000 other Americans to lose patches or, in some cases, all of their hair. The Herald reported the story ->

1/16/09, Teen turns her challenge into an opportunity
Tessa Romack laughed the day she had her head shaved. Jim Romack didn't want his daughter to go it alone, so he had his hair shaved as well. They held hands as their hair fell from follicles to floor. "Dad looked so funny," Tessa recalled. "I couldn't stop laughing." Tessa has alopecia areata, an uncommon autoimmune disease that causes about 450,000 Americans to lose patches, and in some cases, all of their hair. The Herald reported the story ->

1/15/09, Super kid, Luis Torres, blossoms at GFMS
The eighth-grader, who has Asperger's Syndrome, a high-functioning form of autism, has endeared himself to the staff at Granite Falls Middle School for his strong work ethic, willingness to help others and politeness. In November, the Granite Falls School Board gave him the district's quarterly Success In Education award. The Herald reported the story ->

1/6/09, Herald takes a timeout with Kirsten Kramer, GFHS
After a rough beginning, Kirsten Kramer has come a long way in basketball. When Kramer tried the sport in fifth grade, the outlook seemed bleak. "I was so horrible," she said. "I could not make a layin...." But now Kramer is an experienced starter for the 3-3 Granite Falls Tigers, who are enjoying plenty of success this season. The Herald reported the story ->

11/22/08, King 5 Honors GFHS senior, Nicole Deprey
GFHS senior Nicole Deprey is a defensive specialist for the Tigers volleyball team. She is also the school’s Student Body Vice President with a perfect GPA. Put those two together, and you’ve got this week’s A-Team member. King 5 reported the story ->

11/5/08, Granite's girls stay alive in 2A tourney with 3-2 victory
With the win, Granite Falls advances to take on Cedarcrest in a winner-to-state game at 1 p.m. on Saturday in Mount Vernon. Read more here->

10/22/08, GFHS girls soccer featured
The Granite Falls High School girls soccer team is headed for the playoffs and was featured on the front page of the Herald's sports section. Go to www.heraldnet.com.

10/10/08, Congratulations, GFHS Cheerleaders!
The Granite Falls High School Cheerleaders were named KIRO TV’s Cheer Squad of the Week for October 13. Go to www.kirotv.com for a video of the squad.

9/22/08, Granite Falls School superintendent fills many roles
With a subtle lift of her index finger, Karen Koschak can make teenage girls end their hallway piggyback ride in midstride. After 37 years in education, the new Granite Falls School District superintendent also can make herself quite at home mingling with students in a crowded lunchroom. .... "It's just so personal in a small district," she said. "It's very hands-on. I really like to get into the inner workings of what goes on in a school."  The Herald reported the story.

9/11/08, Super kid: Granite Falls senior wants career in nursing:
Rose Livermore, 17, Granite Falls High School senior ... is ASB president. "I want to be in a position to change our school and make a mark ..."  The Herald reported the story ->

6/8/08, Illness put Granite grad's goal in focus:
Even as she lay in her hospital bed last spring, her organs failing and a prickly head-to-toe rash beginning to infiltrate her mouth and throat, Krisha Abbott-Sleister worried nearly as much about school as her rapidly declining health. Second semester of her junior year had just begun at GFHS and she was on track to earn her diploma with her peers. The Herald reported the story ->

5/5/08, College math test for high school? Educators have a plan for GFHS:
Eric and Andrea Cahan, husband and wife, can't help talking about education over the dinner table. Eric is the principal at Granite Falls High School; Andrea, a math instructor, works with students at Everett Community College. "Unfortunately, I don't leave work at school very well and she doesn't either," Eric Cahan said. Both want to see more students ready for college-level math when they leave high school. So they sat down and hashed out a plan. The Herald reported the story ->

4/18/08, School Board names Karen Koschak superintendent
The Granite Falls School Board of Directors is very pleased to announce Karen Koschak was unanimously selected to be the Superintendent effective July 1. The Board made the announcement at its regular board meeting April 16. The Herald reported the story ->

3/11/08, Timeout with Hannah Anderson, senior, GFHS softball
The third baseman has overcome [a] vision flaw ... earning All-Cascade Conference first team honors and becoming an indispensable team leader. Read more here ->

2/28/08, Legislature honors Granite Falls teacher
Peterson, a music teacher at Monte Cristo Elementary School, received resolutions of commendation from both the Senate and House of Representatives. .... Peterson sat in the gallery of the Senate then the House as lawmakers passed their respective resolutions. After each vote, legislators stood and applauded her. Read more here ->

2/5/08, School issues on Granite Falls, Monroe ballots
Granite Falls and Monroe are among the local school districts with measures on the Feb. 19 ballot. Both are venturing into new territory. It's the first time for each to be part of an all-mail ballot.  The Herald reported the story ->

2/5/08, Middle School “Super Kid” Becky Gilbertson
Becky ... is student body president ... loves days when students dress up in school colors black and orange ... and was featured in The Herald. Read more here ->

1/28/08, Granite Falls school chief finalists have ties to area
The list of candidates for Granite Falls School District superintendent has been pared to three, and each has a Snohomish County connection. In fact, all three at one time or another have worked for the neighboring Lake Stevens School District. The Herald reported the story ->  

1/19/08, New GFHS dedication a grand success!
Hundreds attended the dedication event, including two alumni (Class of 1929 and 1939!) highlighted in The Herald (read more here ->)

12/23/07, Kids right at home in new school
Granite Falls' $43 million high school is designed for growth. The high school students wasted no time in filling their new building with school pride .... The Herald reported the story ->

12/19/07, Student collects shoes for families ... GFHS senior Jade Rondorf recently ran the first of what she hopes will be an annual shoe drive called "Let's Walk in Their Shoes," [which] brought in more than 100 pairs of new shoes.... The Herald reported the story ->

11/14/07, Little girl half a world away from parents serving Iraq ... Granite Falls preschooler Mishala Alcaide, 4, can make a sandwich and say ABCs. But her parents can't be here to see it. The Herald reported the story -> 

11/2/07, Superintendent announces retirement; Community invited to help in the search ... Community Forum, Nov. 14, 2007 at 7 pm
According to Thaut, "I worked with bright talented people who inspire me every day and, of course, you get to work with kids every day. How can it get better than that?" The Herald reported the story ->  

10/29/07, Life is busy for the nation's top teacher ... On being a new mom and traveling: "One day you are in Washington, D.C., getting picked up by a limousine and being treated like royalty practically and then you are sitting in your house with your daughter who just spit up on your shoulder. I treasure every second that I have with her ..." The Herald reported the story ->

10/24/07, On the road for excellence ... "Highlights of the past year? Well, the Rose Garden introduction by President Bush and first lady Laura Bush in April has to rank near the top ..." The Seattle Times shared stories from Mrs. Peterson's travels so far.  ->

September 2007, Granite Falls assistant principal best in state Mr. B, as Dave Bianchini is known to his students at Granite Falls Middle School, has been named Washington State Middle School Assistant Principal of the Year. Bianchini will receive his award at the Association of Washington School Principals conference in October and will be considered for the National Assistant Principal of the Year award. Finalists for the national award will be released in January. Read more here -> 

9/27/07, GFSD wins national award for its substance abuse prevention program "Over the past six years, the number of teenagers who say they've used alcohol, marijuana and methamphetamine in this town has dropped sharply. Now, people with the Granite Falls School District are getting recognized for their efforts in making that happen. The district has won an award from the federal government for its substance-abuse prevention program, making it one of only four organizations nationwide to earn the honor this year." The Herald reported the story.

9/10/07, Herald Super Kid: Ryan Hillery "I have a lot of friends in leadership. It should be fun. It should be a good experience and I think it will help me in life." The Herald reported the story -> 

8/29/07, The Patient Leader Shouting orders doesn’t come naturally to Jullian Gamache .... A rare four-year varsity starter, Gamache is expected to help propel a youthful Granite Falls team that wants to build on its 2006 success. The Herald reported the story -> 

2007-2008, Andrea Peterson
was the 2007 NATIONAL Teacher of the Year!  Read more here ->