About Our School

Our Mission

Growing passionate minds and compassionate hearts.

Our Vision

We are passionate learners.

  • We grow our minds

  • We believe in ourselves.

  • We are independent.

  • We are tenacious.

  • We are creative.

  • We are curious.

We are compassionate learners.

  • We grow our hearts.

  • We believe in others.

  • We collaborate.

  • We embrace diversity & value individuality.

  • We support students, families & staff.

  • We are socially responsible.

Our Philosophy

At Orchard Elementary we are motivated by this belief: students and their families hold the power to reinvent themselves and their world. They must be given the opportunity to develop a strong sense of self, a commitment to social responsibility and the academic agility needed to improve themselves and their community. Education should not be the repository of the status quo. Rather, it should be an instrument for freedom, teaching students how to deal effectively with the world and to help transform it.  

We believe in the power of the individual and the power of community. We provide rigorous academics that stress flexibility of thought as well as a social-emotional approach that emphasizes empathy amongst all members of our school community. We know that emotional intelligence is strongly correlated to success in life, both personally and professionally. We believe that the best students are complete humans. 

The principles underpinning our approach are based on the following:

  • The Learning Program outlined by the International Baccalaureate; 

  • The latest research in pedagogy and learning put forth in the Common Core Curriculum and the Next Generation Science Standards, and;

  • The Schools as Communities research compiled by the Developmental Studies Center.

Our Students

It is our commitment that Orchard students will be:

  • Inquirers: Students develop their natural curiosity in literature, the arts and sciences.

  • Critical Thinkers: Students engage themselves in resolving complex problems.

  • Knowledgeable: Students explore concepts, ideas and issues with local and global significance.

  • Communicators: Students express themselves and information through a variety of modes of communication and with a variety of audiences.

  • Technologically Literate: Students understand the importance of technology as a means to an end. They infuse technology into learning and inquiry.

  • Open-Minded: Students appreciate their own cultures and are open to the perspectives, values and traditions of other individuals and communities.

  • Principled and Caring: Students act honestly and compassionately, with a strong sense of fairness, and respect for the dignity of the individual, groups, and communities.

  • Risk-Takers: Students face new situations with courage, as well as defend their beliefs.

  • Balanced: Students understand the importance of intellectual, physical and emotional balance to achieve personal well-being.

  • Reflective: Students give thoughtful consideration to their own learning and experience.

District and School Report Card Information

Are you interested in knowing how your child's school did on state assessments? Visit the Washington State OSPI Report Card at: https://reportcard.ospi.k12.wa.us. 

The Report Card contains valuable information about test results as well as other statistics about our schools. To find results for our district and your child's school, use the webpage drop-down menu to find Richland School District and press GO.