La Conner School District colors have long been blue and white.

But on Friday, Sept. 29 students will add orange to the color scheme.

La Conner Schools is among the first districts in Washington State to embrace Orange Shirt Day, which in Canada is a statutory holiday recognizing the impact residential schools had on indigenous students and communities for over a century.

“We want to thank the La Conner School District for embracing this,” Swinomish Education Director Michael Vendiola said during an interactive Zoom program that aired last week.

“La Conner,” said Vendiola, “is on...