News

The Start Making a Reader Today (SMART) program needs volunteer readers for the early childhood reading program at Central, Sunrise, Takena and Waverly elementary schools this year.

The SMART program brings volunteers into schools to read to students in kindergarten through third grade for an hour each week from October to May.

The program is organized in GAPS schools by Christi Clark of Get SMART Oregon. She said they are seeking about 20 volunteers to read at Waverly and more than 100 volunteers total for the four GAPS schools.

SMART supports reading as a vital foundation for educational and life success. “Reading to kids gets them school-ready,” said Clark. She said building reading skills is especially important in the early grades. “First they learn to read. After grade three, they read to learn,” she said.

To volunteer, contact Christi Clark for information: www.cclark@getsmartoregon.org or 541-753-0822.

This week, workers placed a five-section, four-classroom modular building at Periwinkle Elementary School. The new classrooms will make room for student enrollment growth that has exceeded classroom capacity at the school.

The classrooms, which will house fifth-grade students, will be ready after school starts. Two classes are scheduled to occupy the space. They will meet in the school library until the new classrooms are ready. The projected completion date is the second week of school.

The remaining work includes connecting internet, electricity, water and sewer and finishing the roof, heating and ventilation systems.

Back-to-school nights and open houses are an important part of the new school year. Each school hosts a kick-off event to welcome students and parents and provide important information to start the year smoothly.

School Open House Schedule:

Aug. 31

• Layfayette Elementary

Sept. 1

• Central/Takena Elementary
• Clover Ridge Elementary
• Fir Grove/Oak Grove Elementary
• Liberty Elementary
• North Albany Elementary
• Oak Elementary
• Periwinkle Elementary
• South Shore Elementary
• Sunrise Elementary
• Tangent Elementary
• Timber Ridge 3-8
• Waverly Elementary

Sept. 7

• South Albany High School Cafeteria Tours and Open House

Sept. 12

• West Albany High School

Sept. 22

• Calapooia Middle
• Memorial Middle
• North Albany Middle

Sept. 24

• South Albany High School Cafeteria Tours and Open House

Sept. 27

• Albany Options High School

Oct. 3

• South Albany High School Student and Parent Open House

For more information, check with your school.

GAPS submitted water samples for lead testing at all schools and facilities this summer. The labs are returning results as fast as possible but have high demand from school districts around the state.

We are repairing and then retesting all fixtures with elevated lead levels. Any fixture with tests showing elevated lead levels will be kept out of service until tests show that they no longer exceed allowable lead levels set by the EPA.

Read the latest update about water tests for each school.

A school learning environment can make a big difference in how well students do at school. Last weekend, a group of volunteers that included Superintendent Jim Golden rolled up their sleeves to clean up the courtyard and paint new picnic tables at Lafayette Elementary School. Superintendent Golden said the goal was to make the space more welcoming to students. See the before and after pictures.

Most schools in the Greater Albany School District were built before 1970 and are showing their age. Lafayette was built in 1960. See building ages for GAPS schools.

The School Board has been discussing a possible bond measure for next spring that would make maintenance improvements at existing schools and modernize learning space for today’s educational requirements.

Community members will have a chance to hear about the plans and provide input at a series of community forums scheduled for October. See the District calendar for more information.