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News Release

Gause Elementary STEAM Night Sparks Innovation And Community Spirit (Photo) - 05/12/26

WASHOUGAL, WA – Students and families gathered at Gause Elementary last week for an evening of hands-on learning during the school’s annual Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) Night. Students completed robotic engineering challenges, used microscopes to compare plant tissue samples, and charted experiment data while practicing real-world problem-solving skills.

 

At the event, students navigated a variety of activities and challenges designed to encourage students to use an engineering mindset and chart data to solve problems. Students documented their journey across the disciplines, collecting passport stickers as they visited different stations and completed learning activities.

 

"To see the students light up as they engaged in these challenges with their families was a true highlight," said Gause Principal Dina Sawyer. "Events like this remind us that learning extends beyond the classroom and is more powerful when we come together as a community. It's about fostering a lifelong curiosity in our students."

 

Robyn Riat, teacher at Gause Elementary, took a lead in STEAM Night event planning by recruiting staff and community members to lead a variety of activities. “I was blown away by the enthusiasm and support from our staff. We had nearly every teacher volunteer their time, which speaks to the heart of our school community,” said Riat. “I’m also thrilled with the turnout and the meaningful learning happening throughout the event. I’m excited to use this as a jumping off point to make STEAM Night even better next year!”

 

The Gause Boosters provided support and ran concessions for the event. Washougal School District Board Director Greg Retchless attended to witness the school’s collective commitment to academic excellence.

 

Superintendent Aaron Hansen said, “It was amazing to see the variety of activities that community members, teachers, classified staff, and volunteers set up for our students. Each student had many opportunities to engage in this extension of learning, and it was amazing to see such a great turnout for this event.” 

 

By bringing together educators, district leadership, and families, Gause Elementary continues to set a high standard for collaborative learning and student engagement.

Attached Media Files: Student plants seed in Gause courtyard with Gause Teacher Heather Hopkins, Student views plant under a microscope with parent support, Washougal library staff person Zoe Nash helps students test circuit designs, Student creates constellation with materials at STEAM night with support from NASA volunteer,

Gause Elementary STEAM Night Sparks Innovation And Community Spirit (Photo) - 05/12/26

WASHOUGAL, WA – Students and families gathered at Gause Elementary last week for an evening of hands-on learning during the school’s annual Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) Night. Students completed robotic engineering challenges, used microscopes to compare plant tissue samples, and charted experiment data while practicing real-world problem-solving skills.

 

At the event, students navigated a variety of activities and challenges designed to encourage students to use an engineering mindset and chart data to solve problems. Students documented their journey across the disciplines, collecting passport stickers as they visited different stations and completed learning activities.

 

"To see the students light up as they engaged in these challenges with their families was a true highlight," said Gause Principal Dina Sawyer. "Events like this remind us that learning extends beyond the classroom and is more powerful when we come together as a community. It's about fostering a lifelong curiosity in our students."

 

Robyn Riat, teacher at Gause Elementary, took a lead in STEAM Night event planning by recruiting staff and community members to lead a variety of activities. “I was blown away by the enthusiasm and support from our staff. We had nearly every teacher volunteer their time, which speaks to the heart of our school community,” said Riat. “I’m also thrilled with the turnout and the meaningful learning happening throughout the event. I’m excited to use this as a jumping off point to make STEAM Night even better next year!”

 

The Gause Boosters provided support and ran concessions for the event. Washougal School District Board Director Greg Retchless attended to witness the school’s collective commitment to academic excellence.

 

Superintendent Aaron Hansen said, “It was amazing to see the variety of activities that community members, teachers, classified staff, and volunteers set up for our students. Each student had many opportunities to engage in this extension of learning, and it was amazing to see such a great turnout for this event.” 

 

By bringing together educators, district leadership, and families, Gause Elementary continues to set a high standard for collaborative learning and student engagement.

Attached Media Files: Student plants seed in Gause courtyard with Gause Teacher Heather Hopkins, Student views plant under a microscope with parent support, Washougal library staff person Zoe Nash helps students test circuit designs, Student creates constellation with materials at STEAM night with support from NASA volunteer,

Dina Sawyer Selected At Gause Principal - 04/29/26

Dina Sawyer has been selected as the new principal at Gause Elementary School, starting on July 1, 2026. Sawyer served as the interim principal for the 2025-2026 school year for Tami Culp, who retired in October. The Washougal School Board approved the selection of Sawyer as the new Gause Elementary School principal for the 2026-2027 school year at their April 28, 2026 board meeting.

 

Sawyer has worked for the past seven years as a special education teacher at Gause, bringing classroom experience and behavior support to her new role.  Sawyer previously taught in Alaska, and has a Masters Degree in Education from the University of Alaska Southeast. 

 

Sawyer said, “I am truly honored and incredibly excited to take on the Principal role at Gause. Over my time here, I’ve developed strong relationships with our dedicated teachers and staff. Strong family engagement and the team's commitment to our students is what makes Gause an amazing school. Our students showcase their learning with high support, expectations, and accountability. I look forward to continuing this vital work.”

 

“Over the last year in her role as the Interim Principal, Dina has proven herself to be a thoughtful leader committed to student success, developing her staff, and supporting families,” said Superintendent Aaron Hansen, “I am confident that Dina will use her years of experience working with the Gause staff to support students with a focus on behavior management so that students can engage in the learning process. Her background in Special Education and proven ability to build strong systems of support make her the right choice to help every student reach their potential at Gause.”

 

Washougal Teacher Marvina Bugajski said, “Dina is a visible and dedicated leader who upholds high expectations for students and staff. She is organized, adapts with flexibility and has a strong work ethic. She leads with care, makes sure staff, students and parents feel seen, supported and valued.”

 

Sawyer was selected by a committee of teachers, classified staff, students, parents, administrators from other Washougal schools, and district leadership. 

 

Dina Sawyer Selected At Gause Principal - 04/29/26

Dina Sawyer has been selected as the new principal at Gause Elementary School, starting on July 1, 2026. Sawyer served as the interim principal for the 2025-2026 school year for Tami Culp, who retired in October. The Washougal School Board approved the selection of Sawyer as the new Gause Elementary School principal for the 2026-2027 school year at their April 28, 2026 board meeting.

 

Sawyer has worked for the past seven years as a special education teacher at Gause, bringing classroom experience and behavior support to her new role.  Sawyer previously taught in Alaska, and has a Masters Degree in Education from the University of Alaska Southeast. 

 

Sawyer said, “I am truly honored and incredibly excited to take on the Principal role at Gause. Over my time here, I’ve developed strong relationships with our dedicated teachers and staff. Strong family engagement and the team's commitment to our students is what makes Gause an amazing school. Our students showcase their learning with high support, expectations, and accountability. I look forward to continuing this vital work.”

 

“Over the last year in her role as the Interim Principal, Dina has proven herself to be a thoughtful leader committed to student success, developing her staff, and supporting families,” said Superintendent Aaron Hansen, “I am confident that Dina will use her years of experience working with the Gause staff to support students with a focus on behavior management so that students can engage in the learning process. Her background in Special Education and proven ability to build strong systems of support make her the right choice to help every student reach their potential at Gause.”

 

Washougal Teacher Marvina Bugajski said, “Dina is a visible and dedicated leader who upholds high expectations for students and staff. She is organized, adapts with flexibility and has a strong work ethic. She leads with care, makes sure staff, students and parents feel seen, supported and valued.”

 

Sawyer was selected by a committee of teachers, classified staff, students, parents, administrators from other Washougal schools, and district leadership. 

 

Washougal Schools Announce Campus Safety Measures And Tightened Enforcement Of Closed-Campus Policy - 04/23/26

To strengthen student safety and secure school campuses, Washougal School District is implementing additional security measures at Washougal High School, Gause Elementary, and Excelsior campuses, effective immediately. Campus gates will be closed on weekdays from 7:30 A.M. to 4 P.M, with increased perimeter supervision during the school day.

 

These updates secure student areas during the school day and support the district’s long-standing closed campus policy. 

 

Increased activity on campus during school hours has created safety and supervision considerations, prompting the district to revisit its closed campus policy to better secure student environments. Maintaining clear boundaries between public use and student areas is important to support safe, well-supervised environments during recess and throughout the school day.

 

To address safety concerns, the district is rolling out several key updates:

  • Increased Signage: New, high-visibility signs are being installed at campus entry points, parking lots, and trail entrances. These clearly state that campuses are off-limits to the public during school hours.

  • Perimeter Enhancements: The WSD facilities team is installing additional fencing and gates to secure the WHS/Gause/Excelsior campus. Gates will remain locked during the school day, with custodial staff unlocking trail access points for after hours community use.

  • Staffing & Monitoring: Temporary personnel will support security and custodial teams in monitoring campus access. These staff members will provide in-person reminders to visitors and ensure all guests check in at the school office.

The district remains committed to serving as a community hub and welcomes neighbors and their pets outside of school hours. "Our campus is open for the community to enjoy before and after school hours, making sure the community benefits from the investment in excellent outdoor learning spaces and athletic facilities." said Aaron Hansen, Superintendent. Hansen added, “Our students are active users of these fields during the school day both at Washougal High School and Gause Elementary School. Our first priority is and always will be ensuring student and staff safety. We believe the changes we have made will help our campus remain safe for students during the school day and will help mitigate some of the maintenance issues and reduce the amount of clean up required as a result of community members accessing our campus." 

 

Community members are reminded of the following after-hours rules:

  1. Leash Law: Pets must be on a leash at all times per WMC 8.08.040.

  2. Waste Removal: Owners are required to clean up after their pets to ensure student play areas remain sanitary for recess and athletics.

For more information regarding campus hours and security policies, please contact the Washougal School District Office at 360-954-3000.

Washougal Schools Announce Campus Safety Measures And Tightened Enforcement Of Closed-Campus Policy - 04/23/26

To strengthen student safety and secure school campuses, Washougal School District is implementing additional security measures at Washougal High School, Gause Elementary, and Excelsior campuses, effective immediately. Campus gates will be closed on weekdays from 7:30 A.M. to 4 P.M, with increased perimeter supervision during the school day.

 

These updates secure student areas during the school day and support the district’s long-standing closed campus policy. 

 

Increased activity on campus during school hours has created safety and supervision considerations, prompting the district to revisit its closed campus policy to better secure student environments. Maintaining clear boundaries between public use and student areas is important to support safe, well-supervised environments during recess and throughout the school day.

 

To address safety concerns, the district is rolling out several key updates:

  • Increased Signage: New, high-visibility signs are being installed at campus entry points, parking lots, and trail entrances. These clearly state that campuses are off-limits to the public during school hours.

  • Perimeter Enhancements: The WSD facilities team is installing additional fencing and gates to secure the WHS/Gause/Excelsior campus. Gates will remain locked during the school day, with custodial staff unlocking trail access points for after hours community use.

  • Staffing & Monitoring: Temporary personnel will support security and custodial teams in monitoring campus access. These staff members will provide in-person reminders to visitors and ensure all guests check in at the school office.

The district remains committed to serving as a community hub and welcomes neighbors and their pets outside of school hours. "Our campus is open for the community to enjoy before and after school hours, making sure the community benefits from the investment in excellent outdoor learning spaces and athletic facilities." said Aaron Hansen, Superintendent. Hansen added, “Our students are active users of these fields during the school day both at Washougal High School and Gause Elementary School. Our first priority is and always will be ensuring student and staff safety. We believe the changes we have made will help our campus remain safe for students during the school day and will help mitigate some of the maintenance issues and reduce the amount of clean up required as a result of community members accessing our campus." 

 

Community members are reminded of the following after-hours rules:

  1. Leash Law: Pets must be on a leash at all times per WMC 8.08.040.

  2. Waste Removal: Owners are required to clean up after their pets to ensure student play areas remain sanitary for recess and athletics.

For more information regarding campus hours and security policies, please contact the Washougal School District Office at 360-954-3000.