Chehalis Middle School has been named a recipient of a 2025 Association of Washington School Leaders (AWSL) “Culture Kick-Off Award.”
The Chehalis School District school is one of just 30 schools in the state to receive the award this year.
Given by the AWSL as well as the Association of Washington School Principals (AWSP), the Culture Kick-Off Award recognizes school communities with intentional, inclusive and student-centered approaches to launching the school year, according to a news release from the Chehalis School District.
Schools chosen to receive this award demonstrate sustained culture-building efforts and a commitment to creating a positive school culture by cultivating belonging, positive classroom climate, and connection for students.
Chehalis Middle School Principal Heidi Fagerness explained that this year’s ASB leadership team of Adam Elder, Hadley Neimi, Jaapbir Singh, Drew Hill and Kennadee Jewe and staff adviser Katie Marquez took an active role in preparing for the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year.
“CMS has had an incredible start to the year because we centered student voice and built our culture with students, not just for them,” Fagerness said in her nomination form.
Aligned with the Chehalis School District’s student achievement goal of preparing students for the journey ahead, CMS kicked off the year by aligning student leadership, staff practice and family partnership around a clear vision. Some of their activities included:
• Sending 25 student leaders to a Student Leadership Summit
• Greeting students outside the school on the first day of school
• Setting a theme of “Smile and Say Hello — It’s the little things” for the 2025-2026 school year
• Introducing new CMS staff with a celebratory “signing-day” moment
• Strengthening the bridge between Chehalis Middle School and W.F. West High School by partnering with the Bearcat cheerleaders and football players on an assembly
“These efforts are intentional steps in a larger plan to make CMS a community of caring adults, families, and students where spirit, connection, and learning are always the target,” Fagerness said. “The result is a shared language and a shared practice: small, consistent acts that add up to big outcomes.”
