Updated 10/09/23
2023-24 School Programming: Salish School of Spokane serves children and youth aged 3 to 13 years old beginning on September 5, 2023 and running until August 1, 2024.
Ages/Grades Served: We offer a Preschool-Prekindergarten-Kindergarten (PPKK) class for children 3–5 years old and a matrix elementary classroom with grades 1-2, 3-4 and 5-7 pods.
School Hours: Salish immersion school hours run from 8:30 am until 3:30 pm. We offer before and after school care for preschool and elementary students from 7:30-8:30 am and 3:30-5:30 pm. We are in session Monday thru Friday excluding professional development days, holidays and winter, spring, June, and August breaks. We offer 190 school days per year.
Community Language Classes: Salish School of Spokane offers free Salish language classes for parents community members. All classes are in-person (no Zoom) and meet at SSOS, 4125 N Maple Street, Spokane, WA. Parents are required to complete at least 60 hours of Salish class per year in order for their children to attend Salish School of Spokane. Complimentary childcare is provided for parents attending evening language classes, and we serve dinner at 5:30 pm before evening classes. We offer the following classes beginning Monday, September 25, 2023:
Thursday evenings: 1) Exploratory Beginning n̓səl̓xcin̓ (Colville Salish). Dinner served at 5:30 pm, class from 6:00 to 8:00. This class is open to all parents and community members, but you must submit an application and be officially enrolled.
Monday & Wednesday evenings: 1) Beginning Salish 101
n̓səl̓xcin̓ (Colville Salish); 2) Advanced Beginning n̓səl̓xčin̓̓. Salish 101 is an accredited course through Spokane Falls Community College, and can be audited by SSOS parents and community members. For both classes, you must submit an application and be officially enrolled. Dinner served at 5:30 pm, class from 6:00 to 8:00;
Tuesday & Thursday evenings: Intermediate n̓səl̓xcin̓ (Colville Salish). Dinner at 5:30 pm, class from 6:00 to 8:00;
Community members must apply to attend all evening language sections.
Teacher Training: Salish School of Spokane has 25 staff enrolled in our intensive Salish language training program at the advanced, intermediate, and beginning levels. Staff enrolled in the program spend 60-90 minutes per day in Salish language training, and have additional paid study time to prepare for quizzes and tests and complete practice assignments. Staff who do not yet hold a degree in education also are enrolled in college courses, either at Spokane Falls Community College or Eastern Washington University.
Curriculum Development: Salish School of Spokane develops Salish language books and curriculum materials for adults and children, and also assists other organizations to develop Native language books and curriculum materials in their languages.
Training for Other Indigenous Communities: Salish School of Spokane assists other Indigenous language communities who are interested in adopting our fluency transfer system and creating new fluent speakers of their language. We offer our curriculum templates at no cost, and we provide training and support on a contract basis.
