Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary NAMED AS A RECIPIENT OF THE LAURA BUSH FOUNDATION FOR AMERICA’S LIBRARIES GRANT - 05/14/26

Yakima, WA: Today, Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary was one of 220 schools from 38 states across the country to receive a $5,000 grant through the Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries. This year, the Laura
Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries awarded over $1 million in library grants.
Many of the libraries will use the funds to update and diversify their collections.

"Libraries help open doors far beyond the classroom, giving children the resources they need to dream,
explore and be bold,” said Mrs. Bush. “When we support school libraries, we are encouraging students
to be strong readers and lifelong learners.”

At the annual Laura Bush Book Club event, which is part of the Engage at the Bush Center series,
presented by NexPoint, Mrs. Bush’s 2026 summer reading list was revealed. The list features 17 books,
which will all fall into one of three themes: “Freedom to Be Bold,” “Freedom to Dream,” and “Freedom
to Explore”. This annual collection includes recommendations for young readers through middle
schoolers.

“This year’s summer reading list celebrates America’s 250th birthday with themes for children of all
ages. I hope parents and grandparents will cherish the time spent reading these titles together as a
family. Summer is the perfect season to slow down, snuggle up with a good book, and rediscover the joy
of reading.” Mrs. Bush said.

The next round of library grant applications for the 2026-2027 school year will open in late 2026. Visit
bushcenter.org/laurabushfoundation to learn more.

The Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries supports school libraries with the greatest needs with
the goal of encouraging all students to develop a love of reading and learning. Since its inception in
2002, it has awarded $24 million to over 4,200 schools across the country.

The George W. Bush Institute houses the Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries. The Laura Bush
Foundation is managed as a restricted fund at the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, Texas.
More information can be found at bushcenter.org/laurabushfoundation and www.bushcenter.org.

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About the George W. Bush Institute
The George W. Bush Institute is a solution-oriented nonpartisan policy organization focused on ensuring
opportunity for all, strengthening democracy, and advancing free societies. Housed within the George
W. Bush Presidential Center, the Bush Institute is rooted in compassionate conservative values and
committed to creating positive, meaningful, and lasting change at home and abroad. We utilize our
unique platform and convening power to advance solutions to national and global issues of the day.
Learn more at www.bushcenter.org.

Yakima School District Expands Scratch Cooking In Schools Through Culinary Training Opportunity - 05/12/26

The Yakima School District will welcome a special culinary training opportunity to schools this week as part of the district’s continued work to expand fresh, scratch-made meal preparation for students.
 

Through support from the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA), Yakima School District nutrition staff will participate in hands-on training focused on preparing high-quality meals from scratch using fresh ingredients and culinary techniques designed for school nutrition programs.
 

As part of the experience, students at participating schools will enjoy specially prepared lunch menus created alongside district nutrition staff.

Adams Elementary School – Wednesday, May 13

Students at Adams Elementary will enjoy:

• Homemade Alfredo
• Fresh focaccia bread
• Mediterranean roasted vegetables
• Fruit salad

Washington Middle School – Thursday, May 14

Students at Washington Middle School will enjoy:

• Nachos with locally sourced shredded pork
• Homemade poblano cheese sauce
• Fresh homemade pico de gallo

The training will be led by Kent Getzin, a school nutrition culinary trainer who works with K-12 nutrition programs across the country to support scratch cooking and farm-to-school meal practices.

Yakima School District Offers Free, Full-Day Summer Program For Students In Grades 1–9 - 04/30/26

YAKIMA, WA — Yakima School District will offer a free, full-day summer learning program at elementary and middle schools this summer. DiscoverWorks combines daily reading and math lessons with hands-on activities, field trips, and meals. Families pay nothing to take part.

The program serves students who will finish kindergarten through eighth grade this school year. It will run on a full-day schedule from June 29 to July 27, 2026. Yakima School District is one of 19 school districts selected to take part across Washington.

About the Program

Each day, DiscoverWorks combines daily instruction in reading and math with hands-on enrichment, including arts and STEM, sports, and field trips. The program provides breakfast, lunch, and snacks in a safe and structured setting.

“Summer programs are powerful drivers of student success,” said Connie Ballmer, Co-Founder of Ballmer Group. “Schools want to provide more summer learning opportunities for students, but many can’t afford to. DiscoverWorks helps fill that gap. It provides a safe, engaging place for kids to learn and grow over the summer, with strong results for students and meaningful support for families." 

“Washington has been our home for a long time,” Connie added. “We’re excited for students to participate in this program, which has been very popular with both kids and families. Summer is an essential time for fostering growth and sparking curiosity in learners.”

Proven Results

DiscoverWorks builds on the success of a program launched in Southeast Michigan in 2024, which grew to serve 30,000 students in 2025. Students showed measurable gains in both reading and math, with the greatest improvements among those who started the program furthest behind academically. Families and educators reported high satisfaction, noting that students felt more prepared and confident heading into the next school year.

Summer 2026 is the first time this program has been offered in Washington. Students in two educational service district (ESD) regions will take part: Puget Sound ESD in King and Pierce counties, and ESD 105 in Grant, Klickitat, Kittitas, and Yakima counties. After this pilot year, DiscoverWorks will expand to more regions across the state.

How Families Can Sign Up

Families can find registration information at ysd7.org/discover works. Enrollment closes on Friday, May 8, 2026. 

Program Criteria

School districts applied to participate in the program. Eligible schools meet all of the following criteria:

• Be a traditional public school, charter school, or tribal school

• Be located within ESD 105 or Puget Sound ESD regions

• Serve a student population with at least 50% qualifying for free lunch

• Provide in-person programming for students entering grades 1 through 9 in fall 2026

Learn More

• DiscoverWorks Website 

• Media Kit

The Association of Educational Service Districts (AESD) and Ballmer Group launched DiscoverWorks to expand access to high-quality summer programming. Ballmer Group funds the program, which means families pay nothing. ESD 105 coordinates the program across 11 school districts in our region, including Yakima School District.

Save The Date: 11th Annual Davis Art Show Showcases Student Creativity May 18-28 (Photo) - 04/28/26

The Davis Art Department is proud to invite the community to the 11th Annual Davis Art Show, hosted at the Davis KIVA. This annual event celebrates the dedication, creativity, and visual achievements of our talented student artists.

The gallery will be open for public viewing daily from Monday, May 18, through Thursday, May 28, between 8:00 AM and 3:00 PM.

In addition to daily viewing hours, a Special Evening Showcase will be held on Wednesday, May 20, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. This evening event offers a relaxed setting for students, staff, families, and community members to appreciate the artwork together.

Event Highlights:

• Art for Sale: Select student pieces will be available for purchase, directly supporting our young artists.

• Interactive Learning: Some classroom tours will be available.

Public support is invaluable to our students; having their work appreciated by the community provides essential encouragement and motivation for their artistic journeys. We look forward to seeing you there to celebrate the visual results of our students' hard work.