News

Safety is our number one priority, and it is the main consideration when deciding school closures due to weather.

The district carefully evaluates road conditions and weather forecasts both the night before and early in the morning of a school day. The Superintendent and Director of Transportation start driving the roads around the district starting at 4 a.m. They consider the conditions of the roads, sidewalks and parking lots in Albany and the outlying areas.

They don’t make decisions lightly, but they choose to err on the side of caution in order to keep the more than 9,000 students and staff members safe.

It is not an easy process, and we understand that it can be frustrating for many parents. Making the decision is not an easy call, but we make that decision with the best possible information available and in the best interest of student, parent and staff safety.

Read the District statement about deciding school closures due to weather:

School Closure Process

School Closure Process-Español

On behalf of all of us here at Albany Options School, I would like to wish all of our students, families, and community partners a happy holiday season. May your winter break be safe, warm, full of joy, and surrounded by your loved ones. I hope this season brings a wonderful end to 2016 and a bright start to 2017.

Sincerely,

John Hunter, Principal

On Tuesday, December 13th, Albany Options School sent 44 seniors to Linn-Benton Community College to participate in the annual Youth Job Fair. This event is a graduation requirement for all seniors in the school district and consists of information panels, mock interviews, career and education booths, and a keynote speaker. Students came prepared with completed resumes and job applications, and dressed professionally for the event.

AOS Hosts Successful Annual Open House

Albany Options School successfully hosted another annual Fall Open House for our students and their families on Tuesday, October 27th.

Mrs. Harryman’s Family and Consumer Sciences Class prepared a dinner for the families that consisted of  meat chili, tortilla soup, corn bread, vegetables, and an assortment of cookies.

Students in the class also decorated the cafeteria and volunteered for the evening to serve the food and clean up afterwards.

The staff was overjoyed at how many students and families joined us that evening. There were so many present that the cafeteria ran out of room , resulting in families enjoying their dinner on the picnic benches out front.

Partnerships from the community were also present in the library to share local resources and opportunities for our students and families.

After the dinner, families had the opportunities to meet with the teachers to discuss their student’s classes and successes.

AOS Biology Students Participate in Stream Studies

Both of Mrs. Gillispie’s Biology classes have been testing the water quality of Periwinkle Creek near Mega Foods.

This fall both classes will be monitoring this small section of Periwinkle Creek to see what kind of water exists in the heart of Albany. Some of the tests that are being performed are pH, dissolved oxygen, turbidity and temperature.

All of these qualities work together to allow different species to successfully exist in the water system.

Recently Mrs. Gillispie partnered with a non- profit organization called Blue Ocean Project. This group focuses on the cleanliness of water around Oregon. One of their employees is focusing on this very section of Periwinkle Creek, due to its poor conditions.

Over the course of the year the class hopes to take multiple readings of the water, clean up the stream, and help this section of Periwinkle to not only be healthier, but to grow and sustain aquatic life.

Stay tuned for tree planting and river clean up opportunities.