Going back to school in style is part of annual Swinomish event

The annual Swinomish Back-to-School Bash, held as summer draws to a close, was again a cut above similar events held elsewhere.

That was true both literally and figuratively.

The three-hour Aug. 14 gathering at John K. Bob Ball Park had something for all student groups – school supplies, T-shirts and hoodies, general and specific campus and classroom information, school district calendars, snack foods, sno-cones and more.

And there were free haircuts, provided by students from the Mount Vernon-based Northwest Barber Academy.

Swinomish Education Director Michael Vendiola said the barber's station is a back-to-school bash tradition with a local connection.

"We had a Swinomish tribal member who went to barber school," Vendiola recalled, "and he asked if he could give free haircuts here. So, we established a relationship with the barber academy to participate."

There were nearly 20 other stations beneath and outside the ball park's big tents. They included tables representing the La Conner Schools administration, Swinomish Dental Clinic, student advocates and paraprofessionals for all grade levels, Swinomish Archives, the Susan Wilbur Early Education Center, Swinomish Boys & Girls Club, the Lushootseed Language program, 13 Moons, Swinomish Climate Adaptation Action Plan and Swinomish scholarship opportunities.

"We're here to provide information and answer questions that come up," middle and high school principal and athletic director Christine Tripp told the Weekly News. "One of the things we're doing is giving out fliers about the new cell phone policy."

That policy is designed to create a cell phone free learning environment on campus this fall.

Tripp, elementary principal Heather Fakkema, Director of Teaching and Learning Beth Clothier and secondary counselor Eric Crinklaw handed out several items, most notably the multi-colored school calendar. Tripp noted that preseason football practice, with the school transitioning to eight-man team, begins Aug. 21. Other high school fall sports practices start Aug. 26 and middle school teams get started on Sept. 7, she said.

Not all stations were directly related to education. That was by design, Vendiola said.

"We do an outreach and invite the other tribal departments to participate," he said. "We think it's a great opportunity to learn about all the other programs."

The mood was upbeat throughout the afternoon. Vendiola drew cheers, during the hottest part of the day, when he announced that the sno-cone machine would be set up soon.

Former La Conner Superintendent Will Nelson, now a faculty member at Western Washington University, assisted Swinomish staff at the scholarships table. Nelson said he will be teaching a graduate course, an undergraduate honors class and a section for principal interns fall quarter.

Everyone was greeted by Krista Hamburg and Scottie Miller of Swinomish Archives, who shared a pictorial display highlighting the "history of our gathering places." The exhibit featured photos and news clippings of the old American Hall, Swinomish gym, social services building and other key tribal landmarks.

For this event, it was the large white tents at the ball park that served as a gathering place –marking the unofficial start of La Conner's 2024-25 school year.