Sumner School District’s alternative high school program is up and running with a full roster, defined name, mascot and school colors.

The Elhi Hill Alternative High School program—named as such to note the program’s connections to both Sumner and Bonney Lake high schools—began its inaugural year with a healthy interest from students. At least two of the program’s students are dropouts who decided they would like to complete their education, program head Gina Longland said.

“They work jobs, live around town, and they came right in off the street to ask about the program,” Longland said. “Word just got around.”

As reported by Longland to the school board at their Sept. 19 meeting, instructors were forced to turn a few prospects away; though these prospects were typically incoming freshman who had not yet begun their first day of high school.

“‘At least give traditional high school a chance before coming to us,’ is what we tell them,” Longland said.

Elhi Hill has enrolled 33 students, with room for 40. Sixteen come from White River’s Collins High School program—now closed to students outside White River School District—and two come from the Pierce County Skills Center.

Several of the students have three-and-a-half days of traditional school during the week supplemented by alternative program support.

The school colors are purple and teal—again to denote the Bonney Lake-Sumner connection—and the mascot is a Phoenix.

A program open house is Sept. 26 at 2:30 p.m. in the building adjacent to Sumner Library.