On Tuesday, September 13th, Janet Hayakawa from OSPI and staff members from Arts for All-Inspire Washington were hosted by the Yakima School District at Davis High School. Information on Inspire Washington and ESSB 5878 were shared with art and drama teachers from our region and a feedback session gave teachers the opportunity to highlight the great things, needs and challenges for our teachers and students in the Yakima Valley.

Twelve staff and administrators from YSD attended the meeting with Mrs. Hayakawa who is the Director for The Arts in Olympia. There were also several pieces of Davis High School student art on display for the members of the meeting to enjoy. 

Over the weekend, our Davis Pirates attended the Seahawks Training Camp practice. GO PIRATES!

Without a local student to send out for an exchange placement, Quincy Rotary instead sponsored a student from Yakima, Natahlea Rivadeneyra.

As a rising 11th grader at A.C. Davis High School, Rivadeneyra was chosen for an exchange in Japan, where she will live with a Japanese family and attend school. 

“Travel has always been a part of my life and I really enjoy it. I am so thankful my mom encourages traveling,” Rivadeneyra said at the Rotary meeting.

In her younger years, she enjoyed Japanese culture, including anime and manga. Then, during the pandemic shutdown, she was bored, so she taught herself the Japanese language, even learning written characters.

Being chosen for an exchange in Japan was perfect for her because she will be immersed in a foreign culture and see the world from a different perspective.

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