Today was the first day of school for students in grades 1-6, grade 9 and all students at Timber Ridge. Students in grades 7-8 and 10-12 will return tomorrow.
To welcome elementary students back to school, South Albany High School varsity boys soccer, volleyball, and cheer team members went to Oak Elementary and welcomed back students.
Tuesday, Sept. 5, is the first day of school for students in Greater Albany schools, and about a third of them travel there by school bus.
Last year, GAPS yellow buses traveled more than 959,000 miles, carrying a daily average of 3,600 kids each way on 37 general education routes and 18 special education routes. That number doesn’t include field trips and transportation for school activities, which totaled an estimated 50,000 miles in 1,256 trips.
It’s a large transportation system that requires careful planning to make the buses run on time.
This year, extra attention and planning was needed to adjust schedules for efficiency for the new bell time system. Each bus covers three routes for morning and afternoon runs. Combined with a finite number of buses and drivers, the routes have to be exact to ensure best coverage of our geographically large district.
Watch for our buses this Tuesday and please be extra attentive in the mornings and afternoons when you see them on the roads. District bus drivers would like to remind drivers to slow down and watch for kids as they walk to or from the bus.
Transportation resources for parents include:
Thank you, GAPS bus drivers!
Schools are welcoming parents back with start-of-school events. Check the list for dates and times at your neighborhood school.
The Salem Keizer Volcanoes baseball team asked school districts and community leaders in the Mid-Willamette Valley to nominate Hometown Heroes. GAPS nominated former school resource officers John Trantham and Jorge Salang.
Officer Trantham was unable to attend due to his work schedule, but Officer Salang participated. The Volcanoes selected 24 people from the many nominations they received.
The Hometown Heroes assembled on the field and were introduced to the audience. As each person walked to the infield and shook hands with a representative of the team, the announcer read each person’s bio and their name was posted on the scoreboard.
Congratulations and thank you, Officers Salang and Trantham!
Pictured are (from left): Officer Salang, his wife and his daughter; Officer Salang shaking hands on the field with the team representative Jerry Howard; and Officer Salang on the field with his name featured on the scoreboard behind him.
Today was the first day back for teachers and staff. Approximately 500 staff members from every school attended the kick-off event at Timber Ridge School, which included a benefits fair, speeches, awards, a diversity exercise and ice cream.
Superintendent Golden recognized the District’s school resource officers and three staff members for their service to the District. South Albany High School Principal, Executive Assistant Jim Haggart and Greater Albany Education Association President Sue McGrory received Platinum Awards.
Sue McGrory, School Board Chair Micah Smith and Superintendent Jim Golden spoke to the group, recognizing the collaboration and support among staff and community members.
After speaking about the history of Labor Day, founded by unions, McGrory said, “Our union has a unique relationship with this district. We collaborate. We work together for students,” she said. Thank you to our School Board, District administrators and union leadership,” she said.
School Board chair Micah Smith called the District a reinvestment community because of the support for the construction bond passed last May. “We have passed a monumental bond,” he said. “We continue to reinvigorate our schools for our community, and we thank voters who overwhelmingly supported education in the Greater Albany community.”
And Superintendent Jim Golden wrapped up the rally by reminding staff that the ultimate goal of our schools is to help every student succeed, to ensure that outcomes for all students are similar regardless of ethnic or socioeconomic background. He spoke about equity and the need to continue working to ensure that all staff and students are treated with respect and provided support to help them succeed. “Every child, every day, cada niño cada día,” he said.
