News

SELCO Community Credit Union has announced application dates for their 2018 SPARK! Creative Learning Grants. Grants are available up to $1,000 for K-12 teachers.

“We love projects that spark something new and want to see proposals for helping kids create and teachers innovate.”

If interested, find details about grant requirements and scoring criteria on the Selco Community Credit Union website.

Please note the following dates:

August 15: Applications open
SELCO SPARK! Creative Learning Grants

September 30: Application deadline
SELCO SPARK! Creative Learning Grants

Visit selco.org/SPARK for details and to apply.

“We can’t wait to see what innovative projects our teachers come up with this year.”

On Monday, the School Board honored Student All-Stars, including an All-Star student from Waverly Elementary School who was absent during the school’s December recognition.

Pictured is Takoda Cunningham, who achieved the highest score in the school on the 2016-17 fourth-grade math assessments.

Congratulations Takoda!

Last night, Superintendent Golden thanked the School Board members for their service to GAPS students. He read the official Governor’s Proclamation and showed a video of students thanking the School Board for their service.

The Proclamation reads as follows:

WHEREAS: Oregonians rely on public education to ensure a prosperous quality of life and strong economic health for Oregon; and

WHEREAS: Locally elected boards fulfill leadership roles and serve as the conduit through which teachers, parents, businesses and conununities demonstrate the care, creativity and support that lead to student achievement; and
WHEREAS: Public schools nurture and train diverse student populations to the best of their ability, whatever the resources, to give students the knowledge, skills and opportunities they need to succeed; and

WHEREAS: Board members build the framework that makes it possible for education organizations to teach Oregon’s children; and

WHEREAS: The committed men and women who serve on the boards of Oregon’s 197 school districts, 19 education service districts and 17 community colleges deserve recognition and thanks for their dedication to the education needs of the people of Oregon.

NOW, THEREFORE: I, Kate Brown, Governor of the State of Oregon, hereby proclaim January 2018 to be

SCHOOL BOARD RECOGNITION MONTH

See the official signed proclamation. 

A new Anti-Bullying, Anti-Harassment Task Force will meet in two community forums at the end of January and beginning of February to develop a plan to reduce behaviors that negatively impact our community and our schools.

The goal is to generate a community-based “call to action” in response to our common concerns related to these issues. The task force leaders include South Shore Principal Kraig Sproles, Calapooia Middle School Principal Gina Ayers, Albany Options Principal John Hunter, and District Human Resources Administrator Rich Sipe.

The purpose of the forums will be twofold.  First, we will work together to formulate an understanding of the scope and nature of bullying and harassment in our community, and second, we will develop a community “Call to Action” in response. This plan will be presented to the school Board for their review and consideration in March.

The community is invited to attend the two community forums.

• The first forum will be on Wednesday, Jan. 24 at 6 p.m. at Albany Options School, 701 SE 19th Avenue (across the street from Sunrise Elementary School).
• The second forum will be on Wednesday, Feb. 7, at 6 p.m. at Albany Options School.

Each meeting is expected to last about 90 minutes.

Several community partners will be represented at the forums, including the Albany Police Department, Linn County Sheriff’s Office, Linn County Mental Health, the City of Albany, FACT, Albany Boys and Girls Club, CAP, local faith community, and the YMCA.