Laighnney Barzee has earned 2nd Place in the SW Oregon High School Competition Exhibition, “Visions,” currently on display at the Coos Bay Art Museum. This prestigious award includes a cash prize and a two-year tuition scholarship to Southwestern Oregon Community College!
While Laighnney may have other college plans in mind, this is an enormous honor and a major win for the SHS Art Program. We’re incredibly proud!
🗿 About the Artwork
Laighnney’s sculptural piece, “The Punishment of Thesus,” reimagines the aftermath of Theseus’s famous victory over the Minotaur. Greek mythology is a major source of inspiration in Laighnney’s sculptural work, and this visual response is truly exceptional.
For those unfamiliar with the myth, here’s a quick summary:
Theseus, son of King Aegeus of Athens, volunteered to end the cruel tribute of seven youths and seven maidens sent to Crete to be sacrificed to the Minotaur—a half-man, half-bull monster living in the Labyrinth. With help from Ariadne, daughter of King Minos, Theseus used her thread to navigate the maze, killed the Minotaur, and escaped.
However, the tragedy follows. Theseus promised his father he would change his ship’s sails from black to white if he survived. After abandoning Ariadne on Naxos, he forgot. Seeing the black sails return, King Aegeus believed his son was dead and threw himself into the sea—now known as the Aegean Sea. Theseus was never punished for this ego-driven mistake.
Laighnney’s piece confronts that injustice. She depicts Theseus forever bound to a ship at sea, condemned to relive his father’s death again and again.
An incredibly thoughtful, powerful interpretation—and a well-deserved recognition. 👏
Today we proudly recognize National School Resource Officer (SRO) Appreciation Day, celebrated annually on February 15. Established by the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO) in 2022, this day honors the dedicated sworn law enforcement officers who serve in our schools.
SROs play a vital role beyond safety—serving as mentors, trusted role models, and informal counselors for students every day. Their presence helps build positive relationships, foster trust, and create a safe and supportive learning environment.
💙 Thank you, SRO FOX, for the work you do in our Sutherlin Schools! Your dedication and commitment make a meaningful difference for our students and staff.
#SROAppreciationDay #ThankYouSROs #SutherlinSchools #SchoolSafety #CommunityStrong
Just a reminder that there will be no school on Monday, February 16, in observance of Presidents Day. School will resume on Tuesday, February 17.
Enjoy the long weekend! 😊
What a day for Sutherlin Wrestling at today’s OSAA 3A Special District 3 Wrestling Tournament! Out of 10 teams, Sutherlin finished 4th overall, a testament to the hard work, grit, and dedication shown all season long.
We are incredibly proud of every wrestler who showed up, competed with heart, and represented Sutherlin with class. This season was about growth, effort, and perseverance. Every athlete should be proud of what they accomplished.
Individual Results:
✅ 106 – Gabriel Bernardino, 3rd Place (Advances to State)
✅ 106 – Erickson Singleton, 4th Place
✅ 120 – Gavin Wright, 4th Place
✅ 120 – Aiden Deaton, 6th Place
✅ 126 – Dane Strunk, 2nd Place (Advances to State)
✅ 138 – Curtis Martz, 5th Place
✅ 157 – Wade Cade, 5th Place
✅ 157 – Eden Cardoza, 4th Place
✅ 165 – Isaac Lillie, Did not place but wrestled hard and represented his team well
✅ 165 – Dane Flora, 3rd Place (Advances to State)
✅ 215 – Beau Olsen, 3rd Place (Advances to State)
✅ 285 – Treyson Cooper, 2nd Place (Advances to State)
Congratulations to our state qualifiers, and hats off to the entire team for an outstanding season. Your commitment, toughness, and teamwork make Sutherlin proud!
💙 Go Bulldogs! 💙
🎶 Sutherlin High School Band!!!🎶
Our Sutherlin HS band students were fortunate to have Dr. Ed Protzman from Portland State University on campus today! He spent time working with our musicians—enriching their skills, encouraging their growth, and bringing a fresh new flare to their sound.
A huge thank you to Dr. Protzman for sharing his expertise and passion, and to Ms. Jmaeff for giving our kids access to yet another amazing opportunity to learn, grow, and challenge themselves.
We’re proud of our students and grateful for the educators who inspire them every day! 💙🎵🦅
We are incredibly proud to share that Rachel Link has been selected as the winner of the 57th Annual Summer Arts Festival Poster Contest hosted by Umpqua Valley Arts! 🌟🎨
Rachel’s artwork stood out among submissions from talented artists throughout the region, beautifully capturing the creativity, energy, and community spirit at the heart of the Summer Arts Festival. Her design will now be featured on this year’s official festival poster and marketing materials—an outstanding accomplishment and a testament to her talent!
A special shout‑out and heartfelt thank you to Ms. McPherson, Sutherlin High School’s Art Teacher, for introducing this opportunity to her students and continually supporting and inspiring young artists. Your dedication opens doors that help students like Rachel shine. In addition, thank you UVA Board and Staff for having opportunities available to young artists. 💙🎨
As the winning artist, Rachel will receive:
✨ A $500 prize
✨ A free Summer Arts Festival T‑shirt
✨ Free entry to the festival
✨ Credit on the official poster and in the Festival Guide
We couldn’t be more excited for Rachel and can’t wait for the community to see her incredible artwork representing one of Douglas County’s favorite annual celebrations of the arts.
Please join me in celebrating Rachel’s amazing achievement—way to go! 👏💙🎨
Today our Sutherlin LEOS Club students put together special gift bags for every Sutherlin 1st grade student! The bags will be sent home with students this month. Each bag includes:
- An American flag
- An informational brochure about the history and importance of the American Flag
A huge thank‑you to the Sutherlin Lions Club for donating all of the items and supporting our students as they learn more about our nation’s symbol of freedom and unity. This project is a wonderful reminder: Be proud of your Flag; Be proud to be an American!
#weserve#sutherlinlions#sutherlinleos#Gobulldogs
We want to share an important update with our school community. Our SRO, Officer Jake McGarvey, will be leaving his role as School Resource Officer after being promoted to Sergeant with the Sutherlin Police Department. This is an exciting and well-deserved next step for him, and we could not be prouder.
Officer McGarvey has been deeply loved by our students and staff. He could always be found building relationships, offering support, and being a steady, friendly presence in our schools. We are grateful for his calm guidance during difficult moments, his wisdom in supporting students and families, and his playful sense of humor that made our buildings feel more welcoming. He will truly be missed—though we suspect our break room snacks might start lasting a little longer. 😉
At the same time, we are excited to welcome Officer Seth Fox as our new School Resource Officer, starting Monday. Officer Fox has served with the Sutherlin Police Department for seven years, holds an advanced police certification, and is a trained forensic interviewer. He lives and works in Sutherlin, has children in our district, and is committed to our community. When he’s not working, he enjoys video games, Dungeons & Dragons, fantasy books, and is even training for the Tri-Cities 70.3 Ironman Triathlon!
Please join us in congratulating Sergeant McGarvey and welcoming Officer Fox.
Go Bulldogs 🐾
📣 LEOS Club Can Food Drive — 1/15! 🥫
Bring 2 cans of food and get FREE admission to the varsity basketball games! All donations support the Sutherlin LIONS Club Friday Weekend Backpack Program.
❤️ Open to home and away fans—everyone welcome!
🐾 Go Bulldogs!
🦁 Go Sutherlin LEOS!
These five board members are dedicated every day to making our schools, our district and our community better. They take time out of their busy lives constantly and consistently to do whatever it takes to keep our kids and our staff safe, secure and happy, and our district healthy and moving forward.
Most importantly, their decisions , guidance and hard work makes it possible for all our district staff to do what we do best: nurture and develop lifelong learners who are knowledgeable, responsible and caring citizens.
Thank you, School Board! We couldn't do it without you!
Go, Bulldogs!
January is School Board Appreciation month and we'd like to take a moment to recognize that absolutely integral part of our district.
These five board members are dedicated every day to making our schools, our district and our community better. They take time out of their busy lives constantly and consistently to do whatever it takes to keep our kids and our staff safe, secure and happy, and our district healthy and moving forward.
Most importantly, their decisions , guidance and hard work makes it possible for all our district staff to do what we do best: nurture and develop lifelong learners who are knowledgeable, responsible and caring citizens.
Thank you, School Board! We couldn't do it without you!
Go, Bulldogs!
January is School Board Appreciation month and we'd like to take a moment to recognize that absolutely integral part of our district.
These five board members are dedicated every day to making our schools, our district and our community better. They take time out of their busy lives constantly and consistently to do whatever it takes to keep our kids and our staff safe, secure and happy, and our district healthy and moving forward.
Most importantly, their decisions , guidance and hard work makes it possible for all our district staff to do what we do best: nurture and develop lifelong learners who are knowledgeable, responsible and caring citizens.
Thank you, School Board! We couldn't do it without you!
Go, Bulldogs!
Go, Bulldogs!
Happy New Year from the Sutherlin School District!
As we step into 2026, we’re grateful for our students, families, staff, and community. A new year is a fresh start—full of hope, growth, and opportunities to learn, lead, and care for one another.
Reminder: School resumes on Monday, January 5th at 8:00 AM.
Wishing you a safe, joyful New Year and a strong start back to school! ✨
Merry Christmas from Sutherlin High School!
As we celebrate today, we are thankful for the determination, leadership, and school pride our students show every day. We hope this holiday season brings rest and meaningful moments with loved ones. Thank you for being an essential part of our Bulldog community—we look forward to a strong start in the new year.
