More than 150 North Albany Elementary students decorated place mats to honor and thank veterans for their service. The artwork will be donated to Applebee’s restaurant, which is giving veterans a free breakfast on Friday.
Local employers have heard of South Albany High School’s EScore program, which rates and reports students’ soft skills to help with hiring.
Now other school district’s are taking note and adopting the program. Read about the Scio School District’s EScore program adoption in the Democrat-Herald: Scio joins E-score program.
The program, now in its third year, grew out of a partnership with the Albany Chamber of Commerce. It isn’t about grades; rather, it scores the habits that would translate to the work environment for entry level jobs. Students get EScores that are reported to them and their parents and can be shared with potential employers.
Scores include:
Students from many GAPS schools will participate in the Veterans Day parade on Friday. Watch for them as they help honor veterans in our community.
Students are honored to be part of this annual event. Schools can include scripts for emcees to read as they walk by. The following is from North Albany Middle School:
Band and Marching Unit Script Information
North Albany Middle School
Script: North Albany Middle School (NAMS) Marching Band
Andy Nelson, Director
It is an honor to be marching in this year’s Junior Rose Parade. We would like to thank our principal Jon Dilbone, Assistant Principal Leo Huot, Choir teacher LeAnn Wind, the many supportive teachers, staff and parents at North Albany, and the great community of Albany for valuing our music program and supporting it fully.
The band marching today is our advanced “Varsity Band” as well as a few intermediate “Cadet Band” members. Our music program also includes jazz band, fifth grade elementary band, beginning band, and three choirs. In addition, North Albany Middle School hosts a middleschool jazz festival each January. The NAMS music department also puts on a full scale musical production in addition to many community performances and concerts. The NAMS Bands consistently score top honors at area parades and numerous band festivals year after year.
Our musical selections today include George Cohan’s You’re A Grand Old Flag and John Philip Sousa’s Stars and Stripes Forever. We sincerely hope you enjoy this patriotic medley, our salute to our country.
Enjoy the North Albany Middle School Marching Band directed by Andy Nelson!
Band and choir students in GAPS were nominated and selected for state honor ensembles, where they will have the chance to perform under the direction of nationally known conductors and directors.
The students were selected at the high school level through an audition process. At the middle school level, the students were nominated by their teachers. The performances will be held from Jan. 12-14 in Eugene. Find more information.
The following are some of the students who will be performing in Eugene in January:
Lafayette Elementary School Honor Choir (pictured): Eliana Sanchez, Kiersten Bell, Mia Rowe, and Lo’Khi Smith, fifth grade. Nominated by music teacher Carrie French.
“These students will have the opportunity to sing with nearly 100 other fifth graders from around the state of Oregon. They will also work under the direction of Anne Tomlinson, the prestigious director of the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus. Their concert will be held at 10 AM on January 14, 2017 at the First Baptist Church in Eugene and it is free to the public. Congratulations!”
Calapooia Middle School: Payton Adams, Abigail DeYoung, and Megan Montes, eighth grade. Nominated by choir director Margo DeYoung.
“These three talented eighth graders both perform and exceptionally and are leaders in their choirs with and were nominated by their choir director Margo DeYoung.”
Ava Cordle, eight grade. Nominated by band director Isaac Andrew.
“All these students will rehearse with nationally known conductors and the top students from all around Oregon. A culminating performance on the Hult Center Silva Concert Hall stage is Friday January 13th at 6:00PM. Congratulations to these fantastic music students!”
Memorial Middle School: Bella Hoffert-Hay, Faith Priddy and Mimi Mills, eighth grade. Nominated by choir director Julie Buchert.
“Faith Priddy and Bella Hoffert-Hay will represent
our choir in the young women’s choir. Faith is very active in our music program as well as the MMS drama program. Bella is also active in the choir at MMS. Mimi Mills will represent our bands in the OMEA honor band as well. Mimi plays oboe and has been studying oboe for 4 years. Mimi started playing oboe as a 5th grader. We are very proud of these young women and know they will represent our school very well.”
North Albany Middle School Honor Band: Elena Stein and Isabel Vetter, eighth grade. Nominated by band director Andy Nelson.
Avrey Hiddleson and Lilly Hanamoto, eighth grade. Nominated by choir director LeAnn Wind, NAMS.
“All these students will rehearse with nationally known conductors and the top students from all around Oregon. A culminating performance on the Hult Center Silva Concert Hall stage is Friday January 13th at 6:00PM. Congratulations to these fantastic music students!”
Many Albany schools are full, and projections show enrollment growth in the coming years.
West Albany High School has less square footage per student at 100 square feet per student compared to the recommended high school size of 150 square feet per student. This makes a crowded school in general and many overcrowded classrooms.
Addressing crowding is a priority for a possible bond measure in May 2017. Solutions for overcrowding can include adding modular classrooms, but that won’t work at WAHS because the common space in the school, such as the cafeteria and gyms, cannot be expanded for more students. And the building is aging and has many other deficiencies.
The School Board is currently reviewing facility needs and is expected to make a decision for a bond proposal early in 2017.
