Every child

Every day

 

Vision

Through caring, inclusive relationships, we inspire every student to know themselves as learners, find their passions, succeed academically, and become globally-minded stewards who are ready to take action.

 

Mission

At Happy Valley, students will develop an awareness of themselves and how they can productively contribute to the world. Through the development of knowledge and skills, students will strive for a deep conceptual understanding of the world. We are committed to ensuring every student is supported and knows they belong to a community that loves them.

 

Beliefs

• Diversity is a gift.
• Every student adds value to our community.
• Our school is inclusive and ensures equitable outcomes for all students.
• Every student deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.
• Student growth is a shared responsibility across school, home and community members.
• Every student is a valuable source of knowledge, innovation, and creativity.
• Knowledge and awareness of diverse individual and collective cultures is critical so that we can better understand and honor different perspectives.

 

History

Happy Valley in 1956

Happy Valley Elementary School, located adjacent to Western Washington University, is in Bellingham, Washington, which is a growing community situated in the North Puget Sound. It serves an ethnically and socio-economically diverse population of approximately 400 students, in grades PK-5. It was created in 1956 when there was a need for a new school to house the kids of the growing population in the south side of Bellingham. When Happy Valley Elementary School opened in November 1956, to 203 students, it was surrounded by a rural atmosphere with cows and horses. Today, the school’s population stands at 420 children with a teaching staff of approximately 30. The cows and horses are gone, as well as the fields, but the school remains as vital to this neighborhood as when it first opened.