Dear Hilander families and friends,
Here we go Hilanders, on to Winter sports! Last year gave us an epic season of basketball as well as Sate Champion/placers in wrestling, bowling, and swimming; to say we are excited for this season would be an understatement! We look forward to a season filled with athletes making connections, building character and becoming the best version of themselves. KHS students have embraced the motto "WE ARE" and have gone one step further by adding "WE ARE TOGETHER" therefore promoting an inclusive community of students who are in it for each other. We strive everyday to build friendships, support one another, encourage creativity and accept our peers as family. My hope, as a life-long Hilander and fan, is that you will enjoy this winter season and feel comforted by our in the knowledge that our students will be giving their best to embody what "We Are Kelso" means to our community.
This season we have students participating in basketball, wrestling, swimming and bowling. Along with winter sports we have Fine Arts production including plays and a musical extravaganza. Be sure to check out our school website if you are interested in attending. Whatever sport or activity you prefer, please join us throughout the winter months as we root for our students who have put in hundreds of hours to bring their best to the court, the mat, the pool, the lanes and the stage. Next time you see a coach or advisor, take a moment to thank them for the time they have put into creating and supporting the conditions for our students to be "In This Together". Without those dedicated adults, we could not maintain a culture that supports students in "Being The We".
Being a student-athlete means competing both academically and physically. We hold all athletes to standards beyond WIAA. If a student athlete has below a 2.5 GPA, they are part of what we call "The 2.5 Club" which means they must attend after school tutoring every Wednesday until they get their GPA above 2.5. Our belief is our athletes are students first and foremost. As with years past, we maintain all athletes are role models for our youth. We will continue to promote school involvement bu using them in this capacity throughout the season.
Thank you for your continued support of our students through your donations,altruism and attendance at games/events. Strong community support has thrived in Kelso and has become a long standing tradition we hold dear at Kelso high School. This tradition will continue to live on as we pass the torch to the next generations of Hilanders. Enjoy the upcoming season and we hope to see you in the spring.
We Are Together
Christine McDaniel
Principal