News

Dear Parents,

To better meet the needs of your child as an identified English learner (EL), we have hired an outside group to complete a District EL Program Review. We are conducting observations in classrooms, surveying teachers and assistants, and would like to get your input as a parent regarding what you think about your child’s education here in GAPS.

The Quality Teaching for English Learners (QTEL) research and professional development group will be here on Tuesday, February 20th and would like to meet with as many parents as they can. We have asked QTEL to collect parent feedback so we can improve our systems and instruction for your students. Your voice is important!

Parent Meeting Tuesday, February 20^th

Facilitated in Spanish

6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at AOS School

701 SE 19th Avenue

Right Next to the Welcome Center

Across the Street from Sunrise Elementary

Childcare Provided

The meeting will be casual with a few questions asked but mainly the opportunity to hear from you. Our district staff will be there to welcome you and assist the QTEL staff if needed as well as providing childcare for families who need it.

Please share this opportunity with your family, friends, and neighbors who also have children in GAPS that are part of the English Language Development program.

Sincerely,

Heather Huzefkam Director of Student Services

David Jazmin,  District Family Liaison

Importante junta para los padres de estudiantes aprendiendo inglés

El martes 20 de febrero

Estimados padres de familia:

Para atender mejor las necesidades de su hijo/a identificado como aprendiz del idioma inglés (EL por sus siglas en inglés), hemos contratado un grupo externo para realizar una revisión del Programa de EL del Distrito. Estamos llevando a cabo observaciones en los salones de clase, encuestas a los maestros y asistentes; y nos gustaría conocer sus opiniones como padres, con respecto a lo que piensan de la educación de su hijo/a aquí en el Distrito de las Escuelas Públicas de Albany (GAPS por sus siglas en inglés).

El grupo que investiga y realiza desarrollo profesional “The Quality Teaching for English Learners –QTEL” (La calidad de la enseñanza para los aprendices del idioma inglés), estará aquí el martes 20 de febrero y les gustaría reunirse con la mayoría de padres que puedan. Le hemos pedido a QTEL recolectar la opinión de los padres, así podremos mejorar nuestros sistemas e instrucción para nuestros estudiantes. ¡Su voz es importante!

Junta para padres el 20 de febrero

Realizado en español

De 6:00 p.m. a 7:30 p.m. en la escuela AOS School

701 SE 19th Avenue

Al lado derecho del Centro de Bienvenida

Cruzando la calle de la escuela primaria Sunrise Elementary

Se proporcionará cuidado de niños

La junta será informal con algunas preguntas, pero principalmente será una oportunidad para escucharle. Nuestro personal del distrito estará allí para darle la bienvenida y ayudar al personal de QTEL, de ser necesario junto con la provisión de cuidado de niños que lo necesitan.

Por favor comparta esta oportunidad con su familia, amigos y vecinos que también tengan niños en GAPS que sean parte del programa del Desarrollo del idioma inglés.

Atentamente,

Sra. Heather Huzefka                                                         Sr. David Jazmin

Directora de Servicios Estudiantiles                                Enlace de Familias del Distrito

The third annual CTE (Career Technical Education) Signing Day at LBCC was Feb. 15. The annual event celebrates technical training programs and allows high school students to get early acceptance to CTE programs and assistance with scholarships and college resources.

LBCC President Greg Hamann welcomed students and their families. He congratulated them for making an important career choice. “I think you have figured out something that not everyone has figured out,” he said. “One: You are choosing to be part of a great opportunity. Two: High school isn’t enough. Today’s careers require education and training beyond high school, and we want to partner with you as an investment in your success.”

The event, sponsored by LBCC and the Pipeline to Jobs project, was one of 50 events at colleges around the country. More than 3,000 students signed letters of acceptance to a variety of training and certificate programs. Thirty-two GAPS students signed letters of intent in a variety of programs at LBCC.

The program included speakers from local industry, who emphasized the need for skilled workers in technical jobs and the opportunities for students who pursue these careers. Speakers included representatives from NC3, ATI, TRANE, Greenlee, SNAP-On, Fiat Chrysler Automotive. Albany City Councilor Mike Sykes, owner of Mike’s Heating and Air, and Oregon Department of Education Deputy Superintendent Theresa Richards also spoke.

The event concluded with comments from Dave Turin from the Discovery Channel’s reality TV show, Gold Rush. Turin encouraged the students to continuing learning throughout their careers, to challenge themselves and to give back to their communities when they achieve success.

The following students will enroll in career technical programs at LBCC in the fall.

Accounting Technology

• Gerardo Cortez Ortiz, Albany Options
• Victor Campbell, West Albany

Automotive Technology

• Eric Martinez-Contreras, Albany Options
• Israel Moreno, Albany Options
• Dillon Garcia, South Albany
• Antonio Cintron, West Albany
• Jacob Van Order, West Albany

Computer Aided Design and Drafting

• Madeline Crocker, Albany Options
• Cole Beaty, West Albany

Culinary Arts

• Austin Allen, South Albany
• Courtney Rich, West Albany

Machine Tool Technology

• Austin Stewart, Albany Options
• Oscar Fryman, West Albany

Mechatronics/Industrial Automation Technology

• Jose Mendoza-Ramirez Albany Options
• Airell Clark III, South Albany
• Zack Engel-Christensenm South Albany
• Quetzal Palma, South Albany
• Zachary Reeves, South Albany
• Bobby Joe Chavez-Paloma, West Albany

Medical Assistant

• Rosa Mendoza-Vidrio, Albany Options
• Jennifer Orozco Sanabria, Albany Options
• Adela Ortiz, Albany Options
• Yuritzi Rivas Romero, Albany Options
• Stefany Sanchez, Albany Options
• Hatsli Talavera Arreola, South Albany

Non-Destructive Testing

• Connor Schaffner, West Albany

Practical Business Management

• Morgan Carr, South Albany
• Kylynn Rodriguez, West Albany

Welding and Fabrication Technology

• Talton Dunshee, Albany Options
• Gilbert Howell, Albany Options
• Elver Antonio May Uc, Albany Options
• Matthew McMenamin, Albany Options

A joint meeting of the Albany City Council and the GAPS School Board is scheduled for tonight. District representatives will update the Council on the District’s strategic planning, bond project developments, school programs and emergency management.

See the agenda

The meeting will be held at Albany City Hall, 333 Broadalbin Street SW. It will begin at 7 p.m.

AOS has been one of the most future-changing places I’ve come across. I went from maybe three complete credits to having almost a 4.0 GPA. Here at AOS you actually have a chance at high school. You have the option to go far and do great things.

Here, the teachers give you a voice. You can ask a million questions in a row and have each and every one answered without the attitude or frustration of a teacher at a bigger school. On that note, the teachers are easy to get along with and they make sure you can take care of yourself and succeed. They don’t make you feel like you’re just another ordinary student, they make you feel like an individual. You aren’t labeled as the junior class, or sophomore class, or freshmen class, you’re you.

I’ve noticed that people, such as myself, who have an anxiety disorder can strive and make friends here. There isn’t the usual high school drama, or kids who say “oh, I don’t like this person or that person.” Everyone can get along. It feels like you’re part of a family. I was extremely anxious to start at a new school but after a week of being in the high school program I made a ton of friends. I’m comfortable dressing the way I want, or acting the way I want.

I appreciate the staff most of all. The office ladies are always so happy and welcome everyone who comes in. They almost always have a smile painted on their face, and the great thing is, they’re real. They don’t say hi to everyone who comes in because it’s part of their job, they do it because they love the students and people here. They’re always more than happy to talk with the lonelier or quieter students,

All of the teachers care about their students. If they notice a kid slipping behind they tell that student and they try to motivate them and help them with any of the extra help they need to get their grades back up. The teachers actually notice every student, they notice if you’re feeling down. They recognize where you’re improving and where you need help, and they don’t put you down or make you feel bad for needing the help.

AOS truly is a big family. We all help each other and can get along. We’re heard, we’re not labeled as a ‘bad kid’ or the ‘dumb kid.’ We were all given the second chance we needed. We’re given the help we all need. We’re all given a place to succeed and make really good friends.

I speak for every student at AOS when I say thank you to everyone here. Thank you for giving me, and the rest of us, the chance we needed to graduate. Thank you for pushing us the respectful way we needed. I can happily say I’m going to be able to graduate on time only because of AOS. I’m glad I got on the list for AOS and I’m glad I was given the choice to come.

AOS has changed my life and has made me actually want to go to school. AOS has given me the option to have a successful high school career, and it gave me a place to start thinking of my future in a positive way. Thank you so much AOS for making me see that kids like me really can go far and succeed when I felt like I never would be able to.

Annaliese Papesh-Schmidt is a Junior at Albany Options School. She has earn multiple academic awards and landed herself on the Honor Roll. She is exploring careers in journalism and art. 

GAPS parents are invited to join parents of talented and gifted students in Corvallis for an informational night about the social-emotional needs of TAG students.

The featured speaker is Paula Prober, author, counselor and educator with more than 30 years experience.

The event will take place in the Linus Pauling Middle School Auditorium in Corvallis on Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. Childcare is available.

“Many staff members and families are eager for more support around TAG students and issues,” said Stacey Torres, District Talented and Gifted Facilitator. “I hope they can attend this event to​​ improve our ability to support our TAG learners.”

Read the flyer
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