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On Monday, June 11th, AOS graduated a record breaking number of seniors. The previously held record for graduates was 57, which was broken with 61 graduates this year.

The graduation ceremony was held in the Russel Tripp Performing Arts Theater at Linn-Benton Community College. 54 students participated in the ceremony, which included the AOS tradition of the teachers taking time to speak about each individual graduate.

Yuritzi Rivas-Romero was the class speaker, who shared her experience of turning her life around when she came to AOS and the incredible love and support she received here. She challenged her classmates to keep growing and improving as they leave high school and go on to the next phase of their journey.

As always, the AOS graduation ceremony was personal, emotional, and very special.

We wish all of the best to the Class of 2018.

Congratulations, graduates!

Class of 2018

Mary Elizabeth Bursey

Kesha Raelynn Collett

Gerardo Cortez Ortiz

Josh Countryman

Anabel Cortez-Alvarado

Hailey Michelle Cotton

Madeline Elizabeth Lynn Crocker

Alyssa Theone Cumpiano

Trevor Davisson

Talton Wayne Dunshee

Laurel Tre Elliott

Izze Sabian Rain Eppard

Timothy Gage Flaugher

Karla Elizabeth Franco Mireles

Justus Dean Gile

Cameron James Helms

Adriana Hernandez Morales

Shyanne Jordan Hoggins

Gilbert Tyler Howell

Isac Aaron Huesca

Anessa Marie Johnson

Jacob Kurt LaFond

Noah Honor Lancaster

Leslie Lazcano Uriostegui

Ryan Michael Long

Maria Guadalupe Lopez Cordoba

Briar Curtis Lynch

Eric Martinez Contreras

Jaden Rayne Mathis

Elver Antonio May Uc

Kobe Wayne McLaren

Jose Eduardo Mendoza Ramirez

Andrew Thomas Middleton

Ashtin Zakkery Gage Miller

Tanner Brian Mills

Evelyn Mireles Robles

Israel Moreno

Emily Ray Nelson

Tyler Lee Nofziger

Jennifer Joceline Orozco Sanabria

Adela Anais Ortiz Vaca

Juan Guadalupe Ortiz Cortez

Brittany Marie Ritter

Yuritzi Aretzy Rivas Romero

Abigail Trinity Ross

Estefany Abigail Sanchez

Xavier Lee Schmidtke

Krysten Schmult

Deanna Marie Smith

Austin Cordell Stewart

Kevin Shane Stevens Jackson

Matthew Strom

Sebastian Xavier Taylor

Bryanna Raye Tetu

Destiny Marie Thompson

Makenzie Ann Vineyard

Breanna Jane Volkers

Lance Aaron Wallace

Bobby Jean Weatherford

Jared Albon Wolfe

GED Completers

Steven Birtwell

Ashley Cabrera

Megan Carter

Gage Conklin

Heather Gallentine

Marifer Garcia Medina

Sophia Gonzalez-Bolen

Shyann Harris

Izaak Herbst

Krystal Hiner

Nolan Langley

Chloe LeFever

Gaby Lopez

Rosa Mendoza

Tanner Mills

Lavon Monroe

Cash Moore

Alex Munoz

Ireland Nelson Hill

Lidia Novak

Ashleigh Quinlan

Ashton Richmond

Isaac Rimer

Whitney Rodgers

Cecilio Romero

Corbin Ruby

William Santa Maria

Keegen Schmult

Amber Scott

Guillermo Scott

Luis Sequiera

Logan Sherwood

Damien Sorric

Eduardo Tenorio

Lance Wallace

Dominic Walters

Andrew Warren

Kylre Willie

Eric Witney

The annual retiree celebration at the district office recognized the contributions of 33 GAPS teachers, classified staff and administrators who are leaving the District after serving Greater Albany students for a combined total of 478 years.

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

Paula Guerrero, Kindergarten Teacher, South Shore: 3 years

Galen Sinkey, Bus Driver, Transportation: 5 years

Michelle Coon, Bus Attendant, Transportation, 9 years

Kathryn Grant, Grade 4 Teacher, Central: 11 years

Virginia Hammond, Special Education Assistant, Clover Ridge: 11 years

Chava Neuhaus, Industrial Arts Teacher, South Albany: 11 years

Isela Avery, Bilingual Assistant, Lafayette: 12 years

Robbe Hood, Trip Bus Driver, Transportation: 12 years

Sharon McKinney, Grade 1 Teacher, Liberty: 12 years

Rebecca Robinson, Social Studies Teacher, Calapooia: 12 years

Leonardo Gonzalez, Custodian, Periwinkle: 13 years

Joanne Miller, Food Service Assistant, Oak: 13 years

Carlene Vey, Secretary I, Special Programs: 13 years

Karen Perry, Grade 1 Teacher, Liberty: 14 years

Margaret Coburn, Science Teacher, Memorial, 15 years

James Haggart, Executive Assistant, District Office: 15 years

Vicky Hughes, Special Education Assistant, Waverly: 17 years

Julie Buchert, Music Teacher, Memorial: 19 years

Peter Claycomb, Behavior Intervention Teacher, Calapooia, 19 years

Cynthia Miller, Grade 3 Teacher, Lafayette: 19 years

Pamela Dodson, Clerical Specialist II, South Albany: 20 years

Janece Vanderburg, Grade 1 Teacher, South Shore: 22 years

MaryLou Boydston, Special Education Assistant, Albany Options: 23 years

Roberta Ingram, Special Education Assistant, Waverly: 23 years

Terri Bridenbeck, Registrar, West Albany: 24 years

Marlene Susnik, Grade 3 Teacher, Liberty: 26 years

Tim Mills, P.E. Teacher, North Albany Middle: 27 years

Jill Clark, Library Assistant, Waverly: 30 years

Cindy Mills, Clerical Special II, Memorial: 30 years

Chris VanCauteren, Social Studies Teacher, South Albany: 31 years

Brent Belveal, Principal, South Albany: 34 years

Jana Swearingen, Social Studies Teacher, Memorial: 36 years

Connie Whipple-Mills, Social Studies Teacher, Memorial: 36 years

On Wednesday, May 30th, Albany Options School held its second annual AOS Day of Service event. The whole high school was divided into four groups that volunteered out in the community to give back and show our appreciation to the community that is always so supportive of our school.

The students volunteered at the Youth Special Olympics, South Shore Elementary School, Safe Haven Humane Society, and Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge.

Since 2012 students from AOS have volunteered at the Youth Special Olympics, which are held on the South Albany High School track. AOS students help set up the events, run the events, help the youth participants, keep score, and clean up the event.

Student, Bre Volkers (17), has volunteered at the Youth Special Olympics two years in a row. When asked why she wanted to participate for a second year in a row she responded, “volunteering in the event last year was one of the highlights of the year for me. It was so much fun to be part of something like that and to be able to make the day so special for the kids.

For the second year, a group of students went to South Shore Elementary School, where they partnered with second graders to complete tasks around the school including weeding, cleaning, and organizing. The high school students were able to enjoy lunch with the second grade students before the end of the day.

AOS has an on-going relationship with South Shore, which has included creating a school garden, performing service projects every year, and providing plant starts for their garden.

The third group went to Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge, where students spent their time doing trail maintenance, which included trimming back overgrowth, blackberries, and bushes, cleaning trail signs, and picking up trash and litter.

At Safe Haven Humane Society, students volunteered by helping clean and weed the facilities, and spend time socializing with the animals. This was the second year in a row where students volunteered at Safe Haven as part of the  AOS Day of Service.

Principal John Hunter shared that this day is significant because “part of learning to become a good citizen is giving back to the community.” Counselor Anna Harryman added that “our community is always so generous and supportive of our little school. It is important that we show our gratitude and return the support and kindness.” Hunter concluded  that “this is a special day where we come together as a school and give back. It is meaningful, it is fun, and it is always a positive experience for everyone involved. We are already looking forward to our AOS Day of Service next year.”

You can see more photos from the event on our Instagram page @AlbanyOptionsSchool or on our facebook page at www.facebook.com/albanyoptions.

Check out: #AlbanyOptionsSchool #AOScares #AOSdayofservice #AOSrocks #AOSknights

It’s not too late to sign up for hands-on career exploration at Linn Benton Community College. Summer Career Academies are a chance for high school students and graduating seniors to experience hands-on learning in high-demand career fields.

Academies are scheduled for June 18 and 19 on the LBCC campus in Computer Systems, Computer-Aided Design and Drafting, Child and Family Studies, Mechatronics, and welding.

Sign up at linnbenton.edu/summer-academies. Spots are filling fast.

Read the Summer Academies flyer
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Greater Albany Public Schools recently selected Albany resident Lisa Harlan for the assistant superintendent position. The post is currently held by Tonja Everest, who will assume superintendent duties at the Linn Benton Lincoln ESD on July 1.

Harlan was offered the position after an extensive application process. Her official appointment is pending School Board approval at its June 4 meeting.

“A very rigorous hiring process revealed that Lisa is all about kids,” said Everest. “The committee was impressed with her passion, practical decision-making and authentic communication style. They also appreciated her deep knowledge in the areas of curriculum, instruction, and behavior,” she said.

Harlan is currently the Director of Elementary Education for Salem-Keizer Public Schools. She brings bilingual skills and extensive experience in educational leadership. She has taught high school and middle school Spanish at Corvallis High School and Western View Middle School. She has served as a middle school assistant principal at Linus Pauling Middle School, a middle school principal at Cheldelin Middle School and an elementary principal at Lincoln Elementary Dual Language School in Corvallis. She has also been a Director of School Improvement for the Oregon Department of Education.

Harlan earned her B.A. in Education from Western Oregon University, her M.Ed. From University of Oregon, and her administrative licensure from Portland State University.

Harlan is an Albany resident with children in GAPS schools. Upon accepting the offer for the position, she said, “I am so glad to serve a district that has served my family so well.”