News

The annual retiree reception recognized the contributions of 30 GAPS teachers, classified staff and administrators who are leaving the District after serving Greater Albany students for a combined total of 539 years.

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

• Lenora Roberts, Grade 1 – Fir Grove : 37 years
• Kerri Lemerande, Science – WAHS: 29 years
• Lori McGuire, Assistant to HR Director – District Office: 29 years
• Barb Villaruel, School Office Manager – Waverly: 28 years
• Cindy Holcomb, Grade 2 – Oak: 26 years
• Kathy Kalina, Special Education Assistant – Periwinkle : 26 years
• Karen Kennedy, School Office Manager – SAHS: 24 years
• Connie Shrout, Grade 4 – Timber Ridge: 23 years
• Judy Davies, Special Education Assistant – North Albany Elementary: 22 years
• Cindy Miller, Functional Skills – Calapooia Middle: 22 years
• Krista Hartman, College Credit – WAHS: 21 years
• Maria Martinez, Counseling Secretary & Registrar – Memorial Middle: 21 years
• Pat Weidmann, Principal – Sunrise : 21 years
• Sharon DuBeau,  Language Arts – Calapooia Middle: 18 years
• Jessica Jamison-Wells, Language Arts – North Albany Middle: 18 years
• Terry Amerling, Special Education Assistant – Liberty : 17 years
• Jennifer Hagen, Personal Care Assistant – SAHS: 16 years
• Leo Huot, Assistant Principal – North Albany Middle: 16 years
• Sandi McGinnis, Special Education Assistant – Calapooia Middle: 16 years
• Robert Frampton, Special Needs Bus Driver – Transportation: 15 years
• LaDeen Marlowe, Bus Driver – Transportation: 14 years
• Gary Johnson, Custodian – Memoria Middle: 13 years
• Mary Lou Seibel, Custodian – Oak: 12 years
• Tim Haag, Grade 4 – Central: 11 years
• Ruth Holmes, Special Education Assistant – South Shore: 11 years
• Greg Lehr, Custodian – Calapooia Middle: 11 years
• Durwood Ranton, Bus Driver – Transportation: 11 years
• Joyce Stringer, Business – SAHS: 11 years
• Corina Victorio, Secretary – South Shore; 5 years
• Kim Schueller, Special Education Assistant-Communication – Takena: 5 years

Bond project timelines were discussed during the last School Board meeting on May 18. The plan is to open three of the four new construction projects by start of school in fall 2019: new elementary school, rebuild of Oak Grove Elementary School, vocational space/gym at South Albany High school.

Phase 1 of West Albany High School is scheduled to be completed in summer 2020.

See the draft project timeline for more information.

We will provide updates during the planning process on the bond information section of the website.

Last Friday, GAPS hosted a regional Rotary conference. Rotary is an international service club. Local chapters focus on community service projects and donations.

One of the central missions of Rotary is to improve literacy for kids. Each year, Rotarians provide free dictionaries to all third graders.

During last week’s conference, Rotary members visited our schools to read to children. These photos are from Oak Elementary School.

On Monday, the School Board honored Student All-Stars from Waverly Elementary School for their motivation, perseverance, growth, and school and community service.

Waverly students are:

Sofia Leal

Sofia is the definition of motivation and perseverance. She works hard every day and gives her very best effort on each assignment. She is a kind and compassionate person who is a great role model to her classmates and other students in our school. She has not missed one day of school since she began attending Waverly as a kindergartner.

Maritza Casillas

Maritza is an amazing, hard-working, intelligent, and responsible student who continues to show growth mindset my always working hard and pushing her thinking by asking genuine questions. By making connections to our learning in the classroom and by finding multiple pathways to solve a problem, she is always pushing her thinking to the next level.

On Thursday, the School Board honored Student All-Stars from Periwinkle Elementary School for their motivation, perseverance, growth, and school and community service.

Periwinkle students are:

Mia Hernandez

Mia is a dedicated worker who takes pride in her work. She  goes above and beyond with her assignments. She is always looking for ways to push her thinking and learning. She is also a caring individual who helps others. She has been a part of establishing a school newspaper staffed by fifth-grade students utilizing Chromebooks and Google Docs.

Alexis Moreno

Alexis embodies perseverance and determination. He approaches everything he does with a positive attitude. Alexis has shown amazing academic and social growth in his time at Periwinkle. He has blossomed from being a shy, reserved learner to a regular contributor in class. He has exited the English Language Learner program through hard work and effort.