About Our School

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Every morning, our students are greeted with our principal's daily morning announcements:  "Good morning, Sharpstein, home of the Stompers, where our core values are COMMUNITY, INTEGRITY, and PERSEVERANCE."

These core values underpin everything we do, from helping us to make decisions as a school, to teaching our students to be good citizens and scholars.  Sharpstein Stompers know these core values by heart, and are taught daily what they mean in action.

Sharpstein teachers collaborate deeply, learning from one another, in support of high levels of learning for all students.  Our focus is on ensuring every single child masters our "Promise Standards"; the most important skills and knowledge they need to progress to the next grade, and to set them up for success in the future.  As a community of learners, we are continually learning and growing together in support of this mission.

Sharpstein is in the process of applying to be a Blue Zones certified school.  With our emphasis on healthy foods, moving our bodies, and strong social connections, partnering with Blue Zones just made sense.  Last Spring's first Walking School Bus, supported by Blue Zones, was a highlight of our certification journey thus far.  

Our school garden, the first in the Walla Walla Valley, supports our curriculum and provides a space for children to learn more about where their food comes from.  For some of our students, our garden is where they learn for the first time, for example, what carrots looks like and that they come out of the ground!

Sharpstein partners with Communities in Schools to engage stakeholders throughout our region in supporting the education and well-being of our students.  Our on-site CIS advocate works tirelessly to connect community resources with our school, and with individual kids and families.  Weekend food bags, structured recess options supported by community agencies, and our student recycling club, Eco Club, are examples of CIS-supported projects.

Sharpstein is proud to be Washington State's oldest continuously-operating school, opening in 1898.  We are proud of our beautiful building and grateful our community supported renovation rather than tearing it down and starting over.  Walking in to our foyer, which is built around the original stone-arched entrance, is awe-inspiring.

Sharpstein is a true neighborhood school, with a compact attendance area allowing many students to walk or ride their bike to school.  We are within walking distance of Whitman College and Pioneer Park, and our students are able to use these community resources to support their learning. Visiting Whitman's observatory, or Pioneer Park's aviary are experirences our students look forward to.