Course Information
Participating Teachers
Susan Schumacher - Griffin Middle School
Exploring Our Places: Sue's Narrative
My PLACE, My COMMUNITY
In my heart, my community will always be “The Harbor,” because I’m from Grays Harbor—and I will always be from The Harbor. Now, though, I am part of the Griffin School community (the Steamboat Island area) which is west, west Olympia, about halfway to Shelton on Highway 101. This is just an exit with houses, a school, and a small grocery store—not its own town, but definitely its own community.
Griffin is a one-school, K-8 district, and the people are adamantly opposed to building their own high school. They are committed to having their children attend the early and middle grades as part of a personal, secure school, but they also want them to have the benefits that come from attending a larger high school (Capital, in west Olympia).
The vicinity has developed the reputation of being a strong socio-economic area because there are many large waterfront homes, but it is also very true that not everyone has money. The tax structure has changed over time, and it used to be a farming area; many families have been here for generations and share land with relatives.
One reason I love being at Griffin is its outdoor connection: trees, water, quiet, solitude. The people here value these aspects of the area, and the beauty is not taken for granted, nor are the opportunities it offers.
As a representative artifact of my community, I shared a novel written by a Griffin parent, The Highest Tide by Jim Lynch. The book is set on Puget Sound in this specific vicinity (the main character is an 8th grader at Griffin), and the author’s love, respect, and wonder about the physical setting here is a central theme. The novel describes people taking care of each other (as communities tend to do) as this boy wanders the tide flats and learns about both nature and himself.
Griffin represents a special place to all who are connected with it. Although there is tremendous physical separation within our district due to waterways and winding roads, a very close-knit emotional community blossoms here. I am lucky to be part of it.
