Please help us celebrate and pay tribute to our retirees from the Pendleton School District.

Today, we congratulate Trina Merriman, a grade 3 teacher at Sherwood. Trina’s entire teaching career of 31 years was in the Pendleton School District.  What will Trina miss the most when she retires? *The stories and hugs from the children and the smiles when they learned something new. *The teachers and the friendships she made along the way. *Mr. Yoshioka’s “It’s a snow day” voicemail letting us know that school was canceled. *The parents who were so supportive and trusted her to teach their children.

A memorable moment for Trina was a September day during her third year of teaching.  A flyer about a reading contest sponsored by the Portland Trail Blazers was in her box, inviting any elementary classroom throughout Oregon, Washington, and Idaho to participate.  The classroom who read the most minutes during the month of October would win an all-expense chartered trip to see the Portland Trail Blazers play the Chicago Bulls with Michael Jordan.  Trina’s sweet twenty-three 4^th graders read and read and read.  She turned in the minutes and never expected to hear anything back.  One morning in December, she walked into her classroom to find black, white, and red streamers everywhere and the East Oregonian newspaper editor waiting to do a story.  They had won!  The Blazers sent their bus to get the class driving them to and from the game.  It was memorable to be honored during halftime with every one of her students screaming from their seats.

Trina is so grateful to Mrs. Alice Fossitti and Marilyn Thorne, two of the dearest teachers she had as a child.  She doesn’t remember anything they taught her, only how special and smart they made her feel each day.

Trina’s words of wisdom: “Always create a classroom atmosphere where your students feel safe, loved, and smart.  That is when they will learn the most.  Go to their ball games, dance recitals, or baptisms.  They will never forget the feeling of their teacher cheering them on.”

Thank you, Trina, for your commitment to the students of Pendleton School District.  We wish you well on your next adventure.