Wa He Lut School History

SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS

ALISON GOTTFRIEDSON

Chairwoman

MAISELLE BRIDGES

SUZETTE BRIDGES

MICHAEL REICHERT

BILLY FRANK JR.

LOIS ALLEN

Wa He Lut School began in 1974, on a tract of land belonging to Willie Frank. Members of the Frank’s Landing Community wanted educational excellence for their children in a safe, and cultural atmosphere. In 1975, the school was first certified by Washington State for educational instruction. In 1980, U.S. Senator Warren Magnusen secured lands for the schools current site from the U.S. Army.

The school sets upon the southeast banks of the Nisqually River near I-5 and the Nisqually Wildlife Refuge. The school is located near the apex of the Nisqually delta and estuary, which adjoins the Puget Sound. The school name, Wa He Lut, comes from a Nisqually warrior and medicine man whose power flowed from thunder and lightning.

Graduation 2006

Guest Speaker Billy Mills (Olympic Gold winner),

School Board Members & Elders

Academic Program

In 1992, attempts to provide an environment conductive to learning while using creative structures and small group instruction to teach basic skills. Reading, mathematics, language arts, science, social studies, and cultural values all receive strong emphasis in order to maintain high academic standards. The school has an excellent student to teacher ratio of ten to fifteen students to every classroom. In addition to the regular program, the school has programs for Special Education and Gifted & Talented. Communication between the school and parents or guardians is excellent. In response to a school survey, 82% of the parents/guardians responded that they felt they could talk openly with school staff. Parent and community participation in the school program is highly encouraged.

A picture of Wa He Lut Indian School, before it was destroyed by a flood in 1996.

Pictures of the new Wa He Lut Indian School. Winning an award for quality construction,

the new school opened in 1998.