More than 40 parents, community members and staff attended the first meeting on Jan. 24. Participants had the opportunity to share, in small groups, why they were attending and what outcomes they anticipating.
At the meeting, district staff presented and overview of bullying and had participants break into small groups to analyze various aspects and data relating to bullying that they could share out to the larger group.
At the end of the evening, the small groups focused on beginning to look at the various roles community stakeholders play in addressing the issue of bullying in our community. A summary of those findings will be presented at the Feb. 7 meeting.
After extensive research on the environmental impact of single-use plastic bags, Memorial Middle School Environmental Club members Danielle Hernandez, William Summit and Joshua LaBelle shared their research in a presentation to the School Board on Jan. 22.
With the help of teachers Jennie Allen and Anna Harris, the students researched how these plastic bags impact the human population, environment and animals worldwide.
“They worked very hard on it, especially considering we only see them for a half an hour each week day and for only 10 minutes on Wednesdays,” said Harris.
From the presentation:
Why should we ban single-use plastic bags?
Because they are so lightweight plastic bags can travel long distances by wind and water. They litter our landscapes, get caught in fences and trees, float around in waterways, and can eventually make their way into the world’s oceans.
The presentation concluded with rationale for using reusable bags instead of single-use bags in our community and a request for permission to speak to the Albany City Council. They are scheduled to present at the Council meeting on Feb. 28 at 7:15 p.m.
On Tuesday, Feb. 13, the award-winning West Albany High School Jazz Band will host a dinner with live jazz music starting at 6:30 p.m. in the West Albany High School café.
The Jazz Bands from Memorial Middle School and North Albany Middle School will make guest appearances. The cost of the plated and served, three-course dinner is $15 per person with all proceeds to benefit the WAHS band program.
The dinner menu features food prepared by Mid Valley Greek Fest chef, Mona Soot, and will include Moroccan Chicken with Carmelized Onions, Green Salad with homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette. Jasmine Rice Pilaf, and Green Beans tossed with Browned Butter and Orange Zest, with Baklava for dessert. The menu items, excluding the dessert, are gluten free.
Tickets are available online, at the West Albany High School office, and at the door. Reservations are requested but not required.
The Oregon Department of Education recently released graduation rates for the 2016-17 school year. The report showed the already strong graduation rates in Greater Albany High schools stayed strong for students.
For 2016-17, Albany Options rate is 38.39%; South Albany High School is 88.68%; and West Albany High School is 95.83%. The state graduation rate was 76.65%.
The news was even better for Latino students or students who took at least one career technical class.
At South Albany High School, 92% of Latino students graduated within four years; at West Albany High School, 100% of Latino students earned a diploma.
The reports show a boost in statewide completion rates for students who took at least one career technical (CTE) class. CTE classes help train students for careers or vocational training programs. The 2017 bond is adding CTE space at all middle and high schools to increase CTE opportunities for students.
The Oak Grove LEGO Robotics team, the Fin-tastic Fish, won a state championship award for core values at the State Robotics Championship in Hillsboro earlier this month.
The Fin-tastic Fish team were selected by the tournament judges as this year’s Oregon first place state champions for Core Values for team work, problem solving, inspiration and gracious professionalism.
This year, approximately 450 First LEGO League (FLL) teams competed throughout Oregon and southwest Washington. One hundred twenty teams advanced from qualifying tournaments throughout the state to the state championship tournament.
“All in all, it was an exciting, fun-filled day for the team,” said team coach and Oak Grove teacher Mark Gullickson. “They were able to share their robot design and programming ideas, sing and play their ukuleles for the entire audience of more than 1,500 people. They led a Conga line of more than 300 kids around the gym during the awards ceremony.”
The competition included a robotics competition table with tasks for their robot. The team completed eight of the 18 tasks. They also had prepared a research project proposing a solution to generating power with a hydroelectric generator. Read more about the project.
To date, the team has shared their research project and innovative solution with more than 50,000 people worldwide.
Pictured (above): The team receives their State Championship trophy. Team members, from left are: Ellie Grace, Lena Larson, Brianna Williams, Greta Babbitt, and Nicole Williams. The individual standing to the right of the team is an executive from Tektronix, Inc., the award sponsor.
