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Announcing the character education poster contest winners!

Posted on: June 4, 2018

The annual character education poster contest winners were announced at the June 4 School Board meeting. The students were among 263 entries in the library-sponsored poster contest to promote positive character traits.

Submissions must be original art in any medium, featuring one of eight character traits: honesty and integrity, self-discipline, courage, social responsibility, kindness, respect, justice and personal responsibility.

Teacher and poster contest organizer Amanda Miller presented the awards. Winners for each grade level received framed prints of their artwork.

The winners are:

  • Grades K-2 winner: Nora Staley, grade 1, Clover Ridge Elementary School
  • Grades 3-5 winner: Ariah Hoskins, grade 5, Timber Ridge School
  • Grades 6-8 winner: Kylie Sullivan, grade 7, Timber Ridge School
  • Grade 9-12 winner: Alysa Himebaugh, grade 10, South Albany High School

"Every Act of Kindness Plants a Seed" art by Nora Staley

"Kindness" drawing by Ariah Hoskins

"Kindness" painting by Kylie Sullivan

"Courage" drawing by Alysa Himebaugh

West Albany High School Band performs for Waverly and Tangent students

Posted on: June 4, 2018

Last week, the West Albany High School Jazz Band stopped by Tangent and Waverly elementary schools to perform for the students during lunch. This annual event is a fun performance for the high school students, and it is a great preview of future band opportunities for the elementary students.

The band is directed by Stuart Welsh, who joined in the performance. Chris Goeke, a Waverly Elementary School classified staff member and former WAHS band member, also performed.

West Albany High School Jazz Band members. West Albany High School Jazz Band members. West Albany High School Jazz Band drummer. Student playing instrument. West Albany High School Jazz Band. West Albany High School Jazz Band. West Albany High School Jazz Band. West Albany High School Jazz Band member. West Albany High School Jazz Band members. Students watching West Albany High School Jazz Band perform.Students watching West Albany High School Jazz Band perform.

Benton County Sheriff’s sergeant brings patrol boat to Oak Grove

Posted on: June 3, 2018

Sergeant Bottorff of the Benton County Sheriff’s Office visited the students of Oak Grove Elementary School on June 1 and let them climb aboard a marine patrol boat. Students had the opportunity to learn about water safety.

All students toured the boat and spoke to Sergeant Bottorff. Pictured are students from the fourth- and fifth-grade classrooms.

Sergeant Bottorff standing in front of a marine patrol boat.Students in the marine patrol boat.Students in the marine patrol boat. Students in the marine patrol boat. Students in the marine patrol boat. Students with Benton County Junior Deputy badges.

Groundbreaking ceremony is official start of Oak Grove construction

Posted on: June 1, 2018

Construction on the new Oak Grove Elementary School will start as soon as school ends. To kick off the project, the school held an official groundbreaking ceremony at the school on June 1.

The event was the second groundbreaking for new construction funded by the 2017 bond measure. The groundbreaking at the new Meadow Ridge Elementary School was April 25.

As with Meadow Ridge, the event was an opportunity to thank voters for approving the bond and to acknowledge the many people who are on the project team or part of the design and approval process. It was also a chance for students to participate at the earliest stages of the new school construction process. The Oak Grove choir sang The Star Spangled Banner, and selected students helped with a ceremonial shovel of dirt.

Superintendent Tonja Everest acknowledged the following dignitaries:

Chair of Benton County Supervisors: Xanthippe Augerot
Board Members: Chair Smith, Vice Chair Ward, Director Butzner
HMKCo: David McKay, Program Director;  Steve Earle, Project Manager
gLAs Architects: Jesse Grant, Architect; Trace Ward, Architect; Robin He, Architectural Designer
Gerding Builders: Tom Gerding, President; Ryan McAlister, Pre-Construction Manager; Jorge Juarez-Hernandez, Project Manager;  Michelle Goodrick, Marketing Manager

Watch the Facebook video from this morning’s event.

Oak Grove Choir Students at the Oak Grove groundbreaking ceremony. Speaker at the Oak Grove groundbreaking ceremony. Oak Grove Choir Students shoveling dirt. Students waiting to shovel dirt. Students waiting to shovel dirt. Students waiting to shovel dirt. Men carrying shovels.

Congratulations, Retirees! Thank you for your service!

Posted on: June 1, 2018

The annual retiree celebration at the district office recognized the contributions of 33 GAPS teachers, classified staff and administrators who are leaving the District after serving Greater Albany students for a combined total of 478 years.

Family members and friends joined retirees at the reception. Human Resources Director Randy Lary introduced the following retirees:

Paula Guerrero, Kindergarten Teacher, South Shore: 3 years

Galen Sinkey, Bus Driver, Transportation: 5 years

Michelle Coon, Bus Attendant, Transportation, 9 years

Kathryn Grant, Grade 4 Teacher, Central: 11 years

Virginia Hammond, Special Education Assistant, Clover Ridge: 11 years

Chava Neuhaus, Industrial Arts Teacher, South Albany: 11 years

Isela Avery, Bilingual Assistant, Lafayette: 12 years

Robbe Hood, Trip Bus Driver, Transportation: 12 years

Sharon McKinney, Grade 1 Teacher, Liberty: 12 years

Rebecca Robinson, Social Studies Teacher, Calapooia: 12 years

Leonardo Gonzalez, Custodian, Periwinkle: 13 years

Joanne Miller, Food Service Assistant, Oak: 13 years

Carlene Vey, Secretary I, Special Programs: 13 years

Karen Perry, Grade 1 Teacher, Liberty: 14 years

Margaret Coburn, Science Teacher, Memorial, 15 years

James Haggart, Executive Assistant, District Office: 15 years

Vicky Hughes, Special Education Assistant, Waverly: 17 years

Julie Buchert, Music Teacher, Memorial: 19 years

Peter Claycomb, Behavior Intervention Teacher, Calapooia, 19 years

Cynthia Miller, Grade 3 Teacher, Lafayette: 19 years

Pamela Dodson, Clerical Specialist II, South Albany: 20 years

Janece Vanderburg, Grade 1 Teacher, South Shore: 22 years

MaryLou Boydston, Special Education Assistant, Albany Options: 23 years

Roberta Ingram, Special Education Assistant, Waverly: 23 years

Terri Bridenbeck, Registrar, West Albany: 24 years

Marlene Susnik, Grade 3 Teacher, Liberty: 26 years

Tim Mills, P.E. Teacher, North Albany Middle: 27 years

Jill Clark, Library Assistant, Waverly: 30 years

Cindy Mills, Clerical Special II, Memorial: 30 years

Chris VanCauteren, Social Studies Teacher, South Albany: 31 years

Brent Belveal, Principal, South Albany: 34 years

Jana Swearingen, Social Studies Teacher, Memorial: 36 years

Connie Whipple-Mills, Social Studies Teacher, Memorial: 36 years