Principal Amanda Niro announces Dec. 1–9 food drive, Dec. 11 winter event and expansion of dual-language program at Freewater School

Amanda Niro, principal of Freewater School, announced a campus food drive running Dec. 1–9, a winter festivities program on Dec. 11 at 6 p.m. (doors open at 5:45 p.m.), and program updates including on-campus support for the Pioneer Online pathway and expansion of the district dual-language program through seventh grade.

Niro, who also said she serves as director of the dual-language program for Milton-Freewater Unified SD 7, thanked firefighters and police who visited the school for a community-helpers unit that “makes our kids comfortable and excited to see you.” She asked families to bring nonperishable items for the food drive so the school can provide Christmas baskets to local distribution partners.

On the school’s online offerings, Niro described the Pioneer Online pathway and said “Miss Lisonbee ... is here on campus, who provides support for those students,” adding that some students work independently while others use the on-site support. Regarding language instruction, she said the district’s dual-language program now extends through seventh grade and offers instruction in both English and Spanish so students may become “bilingual, biliterate, and bicultural.”

The announcements were brief and intended to share opportunities for families and to highlight program growth. Niro closed her remarks by thanking listeners and encouraging school spirit: “Thank you and go Pioneers.”