June 5, 2026
Dear Big Lagoon Families,
As we wrap up the 2025-2026 school year, I find myself reflecting with tremendous gratitude and pride on all that our students, families, staff, and community partners have accomplished together. This has truly been a remarkable year at Big Lagoon School.
At Big Lagoon School, our purpose is to provide every student with an engaging, interesting, and academically rigorous education in a safe and supportive environment. We believe all students deserve opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive, and we remain deeply committed to both excellence and equity in education.
This year, our students demonstrated tremendous growth, curiosity, resilience, and kindness, and we are proud of the strong school community we continue to build together.
One of the highlights of the year was the continued expansion of meaningful, project-based learning experiences. Students showcased their learning through our Science Fair and History Day projects, participated in the Spelling Bee, and benefited from GATE (Gifted and Talented Education) opportunities that challenged and inspired them.
Throughout the year, our teachers worked to increase academic rigor while maintaining the nurturing, student-centered environment that makes Big Lagoon School so special. We also continued developing our schoolwide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) framework through staff collaboration, professional development, and classroom implementation.
Our students benefited from a variety of enriching partnerships that connected them to culture, music, language, and the natural world. Students enjoyed weekly Yurok language instruction with Thayallen from the Yurok Tribe and music classes with Lily Pearl, a Cal Poly Humboldt student from Westhaven. These experiences helped strengthen students’ connections to their cultural heritage and our local community.
Our after-school program continued to provide meaningful opportunities for nature exploration and connection. Mr. G (Ian) led outdoor adventures every Monday through Wednesday, helping students engage with the lagoon, ocean, and our spruce forest. On Wednesdays, youth ambassadors from Two Feathers joined students for fishing activities that created many lasting memories. On Thursdays and Fridays, Miss Mandy supported Yurok language and music lessons while also sharing her own talents through cooking projects, fort-building adventures, and other creative activities.
Field trips and hands-on learning opportunities were another major success this year. Students in both classes participated in educational excursions to Prairie Creek State Park, Stone Lagoon, the pumpkin patch, and Cal Poly Humboldt's production of The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System. And our entire school also attended O-Me-Nok Village Day in Klamath, an experience that inspired us to begin exploring the possibility of hosting our own cultural village day in the future. If you would be interested in helping with this, I would love to hear from you.
Our younger students also visited Sue-Meg State Park and will conclude the year with a trip to the Sequoia Park Zoo. Meanwhile, our upper-grade students attended a performance by Cal Poly Humboldt's Calypso Band and enjoyed an unforgettable educational trip to San Francisco, where they explored the Exploratorium, toured Alcatraz Island, and visited the California Academy of Sciences.
These experiences would not have been possible without the incredible generosity of our community partners. We began the year with a wonderful Back-to-School Night featuring a lasagna dinner and family activities provided by Two Feathers. Swimming lessons were funded through the generosity of the Trinidad Lions Club, McKinleyville Lions Club, and Yurok Economic Development Corporation. The upper-grade San Francisco trip was supported through a grant from Blue Lake Rancheria and PTO fundraising efforts. We are deeply grateful for these partnerships and investments in our students.
Students also benefited from swimming lessons and participated in a fun-filled Field Day with Orick School, creating opportunities for both learning and friendship. We had a fun Cross Country and Track and Field Team this year as well. Thank you, Ian Shermer, for volunteering to coach!
This year also marked the revitalization of our Parent Teacher Organization. The PTO is once again thriving and making a tremendous impact on our school community. Through their leadership and dedication, they supported an ice skating field trip for all students, spirit wear sales, and fundraising efforts for the San Francisco trip. Special thanks go to Gus, PTO President; Brooke, Vice President; Roger, Treasurer; and Nina, in a supporting role, for their outstanding commitment to our school and students.
Behind the scenes, important facility improvements strengthened our campus for years to come. We repaired our generator and boiler, removed aging portable classrooms affected by mold, installed new signage at the front of the school, and added a refreshed logo to our gym. Scott repainted the school name on the gym and continues to provide exceptional care and maintenance of our campus. These improvements help ensure that our students have a safe, welcoming, and attractive place to learn.
Our support staff continues to be the heart of our daily operations. Heidi has done an outstanding job keeping the office organized and running smoothly while providing families with monthly calendars and meal information. Mandy continues to nourish our students with delicious, thoughtfully prepared meals that are largely organic and always made with care. Her sushi and teriyaki chicken remain among my personal favorites!
Our teaching staff also accomplished incredible work this year. Olivia provided strong instruction in Language Arts, Social Studies, Art, and Physical Education for our 4th-8th grade students. Rebecca continues to lead an exceptional TK-3rd grade program with a strong emphasis on social-emotional learning and whole-child development. Sabriyya joined our team in December and quickly became a valued member of our school community. We were grateful that she was able to provide weekly dance instruction for all students. Miss Nancy joined us this year as our Resource Teacher. She will come back next year and we are all thrilled.
Ian has also worked tirelessly preparing for Coastal Camp this summer. Thanks to his efforts, most of the six-week program has already reached full enrollment. Congratulations and thank you, Ian, for creating such an exciting opportunity for our students and community.
While we celebrate many successes, this year also brought challenges. Like many small school districts across California, Big Lagoon School has faced financial pressures and the need to address deficit spending. Deficit spending can only continue for so long before financial reserves are depleted, making it necessary to take thoughtful action to ensure the long-term sustainability of our school.
As part of our efforts to reduce costs and strengthen our financial position, I agreed to teach part-time (30%) this year while continuing to serve as Principal/Superintendent. Difficult decisions are never easy, but they are sometimes necessary to preserve the programs, opportunities, and educational experiences that make Big Lagoon School unique. Thanks to the collaboration and flexibility of our staff, board members, and community, we have made important progress toward a more sustainable future.
As I reflect on this year, I am incredibly proud of our students, staff, families, and community partners. Together, we have fostered a school culture rooted in high expectations, meaningful learning, strong relationships, and a commitment to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to succeed.
Thank you for your partnership, support, and trust. Big Lagoon School is a special place because of the people who make up this community. I am excited about the future and look forward to building upon this strong foundation in the years ahead.
One goal for next year is to establish a Parent Advisory Council that will meet every other month to help guide the continued development of our school. If you are interested in participating, please let me know. Your voice and perspective is valuable, and I would welcome your involvement.
I wish all of you a wonderful summer filled with family, adventure, and well-deserved rest.
With gratitude,
Cathie Shermer
Principal/Superintendent
4th-8th Grade Math and Science Teacher
P.S. Please join us next Thursday at 5:00 PM for our 8th Grade Graduation Ceremony. Our younger students have prepared a special song to honor our graduates, so their attendance is important as well. We hope you will come celebrate this important milestone with us!
P.S.S. On Friday at 11:00 AM, we will hold our end-of-year schoolwide assembly to recognize student growth and achievements, as well as the contributions of our staff, school board members, and families. Following the assembly, school lunch will be served at 12:15 PM. Families are welcome to bring fruit or other celebratory treats to share after lunch at our community picnic tables. We hope to see you there!
