News

The Oregon Legislature passed and the Governor signed the $2 billion Student Success Act (HB 3427), a historic and much needed investment in K-12 schools. Greater Albany Public Schools could be able to access an estimated $5.5 million per year through a state application process.

Districts are allowed four broad uses for the grant proposals:

1. Increasing instructional time
2. Addressing student health and safety needs
3. Increasing adults/decreasing class size
4. Expanding well-rounded learning opportunities.

Programs must also meet students’ behavioral and mental health needs and increase academic achievement as well as reduce disparities among student groups.

We want to be sure to invest these resources in alignment with our community vision. In conjunction with a new Strategic Plan, input from parents, teachers, staff, students, and the community at large will shape the future of Greater Albany Public Schools!

Spanish Translation 

La Legislatura de Oregón aprobó y la Gobernadora firmó la Ley de Éxito Estudiantil de $ 2 mil millones (HB 3427), una inversión histórica y muy necesaria para las escuelas desde Kínder hasta el 12 grado. Las Escuelas Públicas de Greater Albany, podrían acceder a un estimado de $ 5.5 millones por año a través de un proceso de solicitud estatal.

Los distritos tienen cuatro usos generales para las propuestas de subvención:

1. Incremento del tiempo de instrucción.
2. Abordar las necesidades de salud y seguridad de los estudiantes. 
3. Aumento de adultos/disminución del tamaño de la clase.
4. Expandir oportunidades de aprendizaje integrales.

Los programas también deben satisfacer las necesidades de salud mental y conductual de los estudiantes y aumentar el rendimiento académico, así como reducir la desproporción entre los grupos de estudiantes.

Queremos asegurarnos de invertir estos recursos de acuerdo con nuestra visión comunitaria. ¡Junto con un nuevo Plan Estratégico, los aportes de padres, maestros, personal, estudiantes y la comunidad en general darán forma al futuro de las Escuelas Públicas de Greater Albany!

Welcome to the new school year! This year I have been more excited than ever to return to all of you. After five years at AOS, I  continue to be inspired by those around me, both the staff and students, and want to be the best principal and leader I can for all of you.

Last year we finished off the school year with 75 students graduating, and 45 receiving their GED. AOS has never experienced such high numbers, and it is truly a testament to the hard work and motivation of the students, and the wonderful things happening at this school.

Over the summer the teaching staff flew down to San Francisco for the week to attend the Quality Teaching for English Learners (QTEL) academy. Our teachers completely embraced the opportunity to learn new strategies to better serve all of our students, and continue to work hard on implementing QTEL into their classes.

We have also been very fortunate to welcome Ms. Bellando as our new English Language Arts teacher. A few weeks into the year and it is like she has always been part of the AOS family. We are very grateful to have her on our team.

This year we are celebrating our legacy. In 2009 AOS had just 10 graduates. Ten years later, the class of 2019 was 75. That growth is a testament to the many great principals, teachers, staff, students, families, and community partners we’ve had over the last decade who have continued to make AOS a better and better place to be. We want to strive to continue to build off of that legacy so that we can keep better serving the youth of our Albany community. You can watch our short video about the AOS legacy here.

September 17th we hosted our annual Fall Open House. It was wonderful to be able to meet and visit with so many of our families. I hope that you, and those of you who were unable to make it, are all able to return for Parent Conferences later this month. We love having the opportunity to share with you how great your student is doing and the progress they are making towards reaching their educational goal.

I am confident that the 2019-2020 school year is going to be a great one. Students, I hope this is the year you push yourself to have better attendance, better grades, and positive experiences. Parents and guardians, support your student by encouraging them to come to school and do their best, and by always communicating with the school so that we can work together.

Wishing you all a wonderful school year,

John Hunter

Please join us in welcoming Maria Bellando to our AOS family as the new English Language Arts teacher. In addition to English, Ms. Bellando is also teaching our Film and Music electives this year.

Maria came to us from North Albany Middle School, where she was teaching 8th grade English Language Arts.

Prior to that she has experience at both Corvallis High School and College Hill High School, the alternative high school in Corvallis.

She graduated from West Albany High School and earned her Bachelor of the Arts from Oregon State University, where she double-majored in English and Education.

Maria has already been a great addition to our team and has transitioned into our team seamlessly. We are thrilled to have her here.

Welcome, Ms. Bellando!

Before coming to AOS, high school was really rough. I was constantly anxious about whether or not I was going to pass my classes and graduate. It was really hard for me to try and pay attention and focus on what the teacher was teaching. I was scared to ask my teachers for help. I didn’t really feel like they cared if I passed or failed. Eventually, I just gave up. I couldn’t keep up with the rest of the class so I couldn’t do my homework. I got so depressed that I couldn’t even learn, so I thought, “why even go to class if I was just going to sit there and be anxious and depressed?”

I skipped every day. My mom got fed up with my actions and asked me if I wanted to drop out and get my GED. I almost considered it because I just didn’t care anymore.

I was told that I wouldn’t graduate because I didn’t have enough credits. They told me I had two option, to take online classes, which I tried and hated, or I could get a referral to go to AOS. I was nervous about going to AOS because there were so many rumors about the “bad kids.” I’ll admit that I was intimidated by the thought and I wasn’t excited to be known as dumb if I went to AOS. I really needed those credits though, so I decided to go to AOS.

When I got there I was really nervous. Little did I know it was going to be the best school I have ever been to. All of the staff are really nice, helpful, and funny. They have no problem  helping you with anything. The students are friendly and welcoming, and honestly, we all have similar reasons as to why we are here, we just need a little extra help. The school is honestly one of the best things that has happened to me. I am finally comfortable going to school. I don’t dread waking up everyday and I am not worried about falling behind or asking for help. It is very comfortable and I agree with what many other students would say. It is like a small little family here at this tiny, but mighty, school.         

Elyese is new to AOS this year as a Junior. She wrote this article as an assignment in her Modes of Writing class. 

In August our counselor, Anna Harryman, was awarded the prestigious Paul Harris Fellowship from the Greater Albany Rotary Club and the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International “in appreciation of tangible and significant assistance given for the furtherance of better understanding and friendly relations among peoples of the world.”

Sarah Steen, the Youth Service Director for the Greater Albany Rotary Club, stated that, “Anna is not a Rotarian, but her daily contributions, guidance and support she provides for the high school youth in our community, which aligns with our club’s mission statement, is why she was selected. Our club was honored to be able to honor someone like Anna for doing exactly what our motto is, Service Above Self.”

Principal John Hunter and School Board Member Eric Aguinaga were also in attendance as she was recognized.

The Paul Harris Fellow recognition acknowledges individuals who contribute, or who have contributions made in their name, of $1,000 to The Rotary Foundation. You can read more about the Paul Harris Fellow here.