About

Dear Students, Parents, and Friends of Wilkes Elementary School,

The staff at Wilkes Elementary School would like to extend a welcome to you. We all feel that our school is a very special place. Some accounts have it that the original Wilkes Elementary School was the first school built in Oregon. As one story goes...

"...In the early 1860s, in a spot chosen for its beauty, convenience and central location, the early pioneers of what is now known as the Wilkes School District, built a school house of logs about 16X20 feet in dimension, having two windows and a door on the South side, and named it the WILMOT SCHOOL, after one of the builders.

About 1880 the Directors decided to build a one story frame building...The school house built on property, which Wm. G. Wilkes and Sarah Ann Wilkes (brother and sister) had orally donated to the District for school purposes, and the deed to one acre, was delivered to School District No. 7 on September 12, 1885. The school being named in honor of the donor of the first acre..."

Wilkes Elementary School has students from around the world. In the past few years we have averaged 22 different languages spoken and many different cultures identified. It gives us a wonderful opportunity to experience a global perspective and embrace cultural diversity.

In 2015, the voters approved a bond to build a new school building. September 5, 2018, was the first day of school in our new building! We continue to have a very diverse enrollment.

At Wilkes we believe that...

"Each student has a right to attend school to learn and to play in a positive, safe, threat-free environment."

We teach and reinforce appropriate behavior through a school-wide behavior plan known as "Positive Behavior Support." It is a program developed by the University of Oregon.

At Wilkes we believe that...

"Parent Involvement is a key to student success."

We invite you to become involved with our school. We hope you will visit our school often to see for yourself the exciting educational programs we have for the children. If you have the opportunity, we would love to have you become involved with our Parent Group association, the school Site Council, and/or take advantage of the volunteer opportunities available at Wilkes.

Again, we welcome you to Wilkes. Please contact Mr. Swientek if you have any questions, comments or concerns. Our principal can be reached by email at aswientek@rsd7.net or by phone at 503-491-2724 x4643.