This is the last year Oak Grove students will attend school in the old building. The school community will hold a school celebration to honor the old building and welcome the new one.
The event is scheduled for March 16 at 6 p.m. and will include a brief history of the school and an opportunity to tour the old building.
Tangent Elementary School third grade teacher Katie Kizer was recently named Educator of the Week by K103 radio in Portland and Concordia University.
Katie was nominated by fellow teacher Sharayah Johnson. In her nomination, she said:
Katie deserves this honor because she genuinely cares about her student’s lives. Not only is she very passionate about teaching children to love learning, but she is eager to inspire her 3rd grade students to be their best selves. She makes it a priority to check in with her students, and is often seen asking her students, “What are you grateful for today?” This practice is now routine for our staff as well. For many of her students, their home life is a struggle in a number of ways, and for some, school is the one place in their life that is constant and safe. Katie takes this role seriously and creates a community within her classroom culture that is so evident that even outsiders walking into her room can sense the feeling of calm and love that emanates from her learning environment. I have no doubt that Katie’s leadership within her class and within our school building itself has helped improve our school culture over the past five years. She is an incredible individual whom I feel privileged to call a colleague and friend.
Katie was interviewed by K103 last week. Read the transcript of the interview.
Each week during the school year, K103 and Concordia University honor a local educator, who receives:
The first annual GAPS outdoor school is scheduled for this May for Memorial Middle School students. The program will include a week-long overnight camp experience developed in partnership with Calapooia Watershed Council.
High schools are needed for camp counselor positions. Eligible applicants must:
For more information:
See the camp counselor presentation
See the Peachjar flyer
High school students can apply online. Applications are due by March 9 and must include a reference form from two teachers and a school counselor, due by March 16.
The prep work is nearly done for the major bond-funded construction projects. Planning has included seeking permits, planning for logistics for each site, creating a work timeline and, of course, designing the projects.
Construction work will start as soon as school is out at South Albany High School, West Albany High School, the new elementary school near Timber Ridge, the replacement of Oak Grove Elementary and the middle school vocational/CTE classrooms.
It is an exciting time. We will share more details as the work progresses. Here are design concept videos for each project:
South Albany High School
West Albany High School
New elementary school near Timber Ridge
Oak Grove Elementary School replacement
Questions about the bond? Check out our new Frequently Asked Questions page.
Annual Read Across America events are celebrated in schools around the country in March. Officially on March 2, it is in honor of Dr. Seuss’s birthday and a way to encourage and celebrate reading, especially among younger students.
The event is in its 21st year. Typically, it includes Dr. Seuss-themed hats, clothing, guest readers and special lunch menus.
GAPS students will enjoy a special menu on March 2, including Green Eggs and Ham for breakfast and Poodle’s Noodles Macaroni and Cheese for lunch.
Guest readers will host storytime at GAPS elementary schools. This week, Albany firefighters read to GAPS elementary students and OSU student athletes read books to Liberty Elementary students.
