School News Blast
Gladstone Schools • Growing Great People • 10.6.21
7th grade scientists explore marine life
The seventh grade class was a blur of activity as enthusiastic young scientists presented their research to small clusters of students.Two boys performed a puppet show about great white sharks, while another student read a poem about the critically-endangered axolotl.
Each student chose a different sea animal to research, and they created posters and models to add interest to their presentations. An enormous stuffed sea otter, a paper maché octopus, and a delicate ceramic clarion angel fish were some of the items on display.
“I just love these kids, and I’m so excited about their work,” said science teacher Mary Parnell. “This the best project they’ve ever done. It’s the first time in 18 months they’ve had the chance to present, and they are doing it so well.”
In the course of the project, students practiced research, reading, writing, and presenting, preparing themselves for future projects in middle school and high school.
Parnell asked the students to explain why they care about these animals, the role they play keeping ecosystems in balance, and how each species is impacted by water pollution such as microplastics. The classes will be writing letters to Oregon Governor Kate Brown to share their concerns.
Discovery class builds kindergarten social skills
To counteract the impact of pandemic isolation, the Gladstone kindergarten program has introduced a Discovery program to build social-emotional skills. The new class is funded through Oregon’s Student Investment Account.
Students visit Discovery twice a week in groups of 10-12. At each 45-minute session, they get to choose from an array of small-group activities.
• Maker Space -- building items for dramatic play
• Light Table -- exploring patterns and colors
• Art Center – creating with clay
• Reading Corner -- sharing books
• Big World – constructing with large blocks
• Small World –exploring dramatic play with animals and figurines
• Loose Part Collage –designing patterns and images
• Looking Closely -- observing and asking questions
As they play, teacher Rachel Gannon asks guiding questions, giving children the chance to build communication, observation, and thinking skills, as well as vocabulary and math skills.
“What students learn here are the core skills that help us live fulfilling, connected lives – autonomy, problem-solving, and exploration,” she said. “My hope is that children develop a joy in learning and identify themselves as investigators and communicators.”
The new program provides teachers with different ways to understand which supports individual students need in the classroom. Once children learn social-emotional skills like collaboration and compromise, they are more likely to succeed academically.
Elementary school amps up exercise
Gladstone students in grades K-5 are getting added exercise each week thanks to new funding from Oregon’s Student Investment Account. The goal is increasing both physical activity and mental well-being in response to the stresses and limitations of the pandemic.
Students now attend physical education classes up to three times each week. There they practice pushups, jumping jacks, burpees, and planking, or run laps and practice ball skills like throwing and blocking. Students also get a healthy dose of daily outdoor exercise, with staff organizing activities like kickball, Red Light/Green Light, wall ball, and freeze tag.
“With more P.E. time, students are more physically active and can better establish a weekly exercise routine,” said P.E. teacher Jon Jedrykowski. “They also have more opportunities to experience game play and improve the locomotor and non-locomotor skills that will serve them in middle school, high school, and beyond.”
Sixth graders learn scientific method
Sixth grade students in Karen Zerzan and Kerry Nugent's classes at Kraxberger Middle School have been learning about the scientific method.
The classes designed and conducted experiments to determine how much water was absorbed by different brands of paper towels.
Each science team wrote their hypothesis before doing the experiment. and collecting data. Then they wrote their conclusions about whether their hypothesis was correct and analyzed what factors impacted the data.
Apply now for jobs in Gladstone schools
Here are some advantages of working for Gladstone Schools:
• Weekends off
• Consistent , family-friendly work days and hours
• 10 paid holidays
• Paid sick leave
• Health insurance
Gladstone Schools is hiring!.Apply now!
https://gladstone.tedk12.com/hire/index.aspx
• Long-term Substitute Teachers [GHS, Kraxberger, John Wetten]
• Preschool Instructional Assistant [GCCF]
• Payroll and Benefits Specialist [District Office]
• Instructional Assistant II [Special Services]
• Cooks Helper [Multiple]
• Extended Day Childcare Helper [2]
• Instructional Assistant [Kraxberger Middle School]
• Head Cook. [GCCF]
• Health Assistant
• Custodian [multiple]
• Driver Education in-car instructor