Chief Leschi Schools

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Contact Information:

Bill Wyant

Elementary Principal

Lucy Dafoe

Secondary Principal

Phone Number:

(253) 445-6000

Mailing Address:

Chief Leschi Schools
5625 52nd Street East
Puyallup, WA 98371

Vision

It is the continuing vision of Chief Leschi Schools to build upon existing partnerships and programs to system­atically support each youth’s confidence and skills in developing meaningful careers and cultural identity leading to eventual success in a rewarding, high-demand job in her/or his chosen career pathway. Chief Leschi Schools is committed to galvanizing partnerships and to creating opportunities for parents and the community to participate in the education of their children.

Mission

Chief Leschi Schools’ mission in cooperation with the Puyallup Tribe, the Native American community and the community as a greater whole is to create challenging opportunities to educate students in an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect. It is our common mission to inspire each student to achieve personal growth and cultural pride, to value life-long learning and to become a responsible contributing citizen of their community, the Puyallup Nation, Washington State and the United States of America in a complex and ever-changing world.

Goal

It is Chief Leschi Schools’ goal to give hope and encouragement to each student to reach his or her full potential academically, emotionally, socially, phy­sically and spiritually. Chief Leschi Schools encourage each student to become a life-long learner.

“Let us put our minds together and see what kind of life we can make for our children.” – Sitting Bull

Message from the Administration

At Chief Leschi Schools, we aspire to provide our students with quality academic instruction in a safe, healthy and culturally-enriching environment. We work hard every day to give each student the opportunity to work to his or her fullest potential. Our students have many needs, academic as well as physical, mental and emotional. It is our goal to support them in all of these areas, utilizing our own resources and those of the larger community.

Academically, our focus is developing proficient reading, writing and math skills among our students, using the best curricular materials available and incorporating these materials, whenever possible, with culturally appropriate teaching techniques and information. This integration of Native American culture throughout our pro-gramming not only benefits our students academically but also supports their mental and emotional health through its support of traditional values and Native pride.

We hope the following information is useful in helping you to learn more about Chief Leschi Schools. We value any feedback which you would like to provide and welcome questions you have.

Expectations

  • Read with comprehension, write with skill and communicate effectively and responsibly in a variety of ways and settings.
  • Know and apply the core concepts and principles of mathematics, social, physical and life sciences; civics and history; geography; fine arts; and health and fitness.
  • Think analytically, logically, and creatively; and integrate experience and knowledge to form reasoned judgments and solve problems.
  • Understand the importance of work and how performance, effort, and decisions directly impact future career and educa­tional opportunities.
  • Be responsible for one’s actions, develop positive self-worth by enhancing learner competence and good work habits, show respect for others and cultural pride, participate as a citizen and become a life-long learner.

2005-06 Puyallup Tribe of Indians and Community Report Card

School Characteristics:

  • Enrollment for 2005-06 school year: approximately 715* (*varies by monthly student counts)
  • Average Daily Attendance 2005-06: K-12: 85.3%
  • High School Dropout Rate 2005-06: 7.4% (25/27, 92.6% graduated)
  • Percent of students eligible for free/reduced meals in 2005-06: 67%

Test Results:

B.I.A. Mandated Test. Beginning with 2005-06, the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) is administered in grades three through eight and in grade 10. Test Results for grades three through eight will be available in the Fall of 2006. 10th grade scores are available now and listed below.

Washington State Mandated Test

Readings Test Scores (% met standard) WASL 2003-2004-2005

  • 4th Grade 36.7-53.5-NA
  • 7th Grade 35.6-41.2-NA
  • 10th Grade 38.5-14.0-66.0

Math Test Scores (% met standard) WASL 2003-2004-2005

  • 4th Grade 10.2-18.6-NA
  • 7th Grade 10.2-23.5-NA
  • 10th Grade 10.3-10.0-12.8

AYP Status for Chief Leschi Schools:

Based upon student test scores for the 2004-05 school year, the Bureau of Indian Affairs determined that Chief Leschi Schools MADE Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP).

Therefore, CLS is a system in good standing academically with the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Parent Involvement

Chief Leschi Schools actively seeks to involve parents in all aspects of school programming. For example, the school hosts monthly Family Literacy Nights, where parents, stu­dents and other family members are provided with dinner, school-related handouts and quality time with staff.

Chief Leschi staff members specifically designated to facilitate parent involvement with the school include:

Kenn Bill, K-6
Parent Involvement Specialist
(253) 445-6001

Shirley LaPointe, 7-12
Parent Involvement Specialist
(253) 445-6002, ext. 3160

Student Activities

Chief Leschi has strong co-curricular and extra-curricular activities and athletic programs. A significant number of our students are involved in one or more extra-curricular activity or athletic program. Still more students attend dances, assemblies, concerts, plays and sporting events.

Student activities include:

  • Athletic programs
  • Band
  • Cheerleading
  • Choir
  • Daffodil Festival events
  • DECA
  • Dreamcatchers Club
  • Warriors Club
  • Yearbook
  • 21st Century Community Schools.

Student Characteristics

  • Ethnicity (2002-03):
  • American Indian 97%
  • African American 0.3%
  • Asian 0.9%
  • Caucasian 1.7%
  • Hispanic 0.0%

Financial Resources

For the 2005-06 school year, Chief Leschi Schools had a com­bined operating budget of approximately $11 million. Approximately $8.6 million of this total comes through the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). Approximately $1.7 million of this total is Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction Basic Education funds provided through an inter-local agreement with the Puyallup School District. The balance of the funds are provided through 10-12 grants and contracts from federal, state, local government and private sources.

Our Staff

Chief Leschi has two principals and one K-12 assistant principal. The school has 81 certificated staff and 126 classified staff.

Facility Information

Opened in 1996, Chief Leschi Schools was constructed on a 62-acre campus of Tribal trust property. The school is comprised of 3 buildings which together total 202,473 sq. feet. The Four Seasons building houses a large cafeteria and kitchen, a gym, a group music room with practice facilities and a video classroom/sound stage. The elementary building contains a multipurpose room, a library, a number of administrative offices, approximately 23 classrooms and several smaller specialty instructional spaces. The middle school/high school building contains a library, large wood shop and auto shop facilities, a number of administrative offices, a daycare facility, approximately 25 classrooms and several smaller specialty instructional spaces.

Community Partners Include:

Bates Technical College, Clover Park Technical College, Pierce College, Tacoma Community College, Evergreen State College, Good Samaritan Behavioral Healthcare, Educational Service District 121, UNITY/OSPI-Indian Desk, Puyallup Tribal Council, Reading First Program, Puyallup School District, Puyallup Tribal Police, Parent Partners, Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, Horizon Treatment Services, Kwawachee Counseling Center, Pierce County Alliance, Puyallup Tribal Birth to Six Program, Puyallup Tribal Family Services, Takopid Tribal Medical Center, Boy Scouts, Pacific Peaks/Girls Scouts, Mad Science, Washington State University/4-H, Colorado State University/Tri-Ethnic Center for Prevention Research, University of Washington/Math, Engineering, and Science Achievement (MESA), Fred Hutchins Cancer Research Institute, Grandview Early Learning Center, Partners for Literacy-Houghton Mifflin Company, United Way Gifts In Kind program, Riverside Fire Department .