School News Blast
Gladstone Schools • Growing Great People • 2.9.22
Kraxberger hosts regional robotics competition
On January 29 the Kraxberger Gearheads robotics club hosted a regional robotics competition. Twenty-one teams competed from places like Maupin, Coquille, Prineville and Corvallis.
The FIRST Tech Challenge teaches students to think like engineers. Teams of up to 15 members in grades 7-12 design, build, and code robots to compete in an alliance format against other teams. Robots are built from a reusable platform, powered by Android technology, and can be coded using a variety of levels of Java-based programming.
This year's competition challenge was to explore the future of transportation. From the shipment of packages in rural and urban areas, to disaster relief delivery and high-tech air transit, teams were urged to re-imagine faster, more reliable, inclusive, and sustainable transportation innovations that better connect and grow communities and economies around the world.
Kraxberger Middle School had two teams competing in the event. Team 8132 placed 18th overall. They also won second place for the Connect Award, for helping the community understand FIRST, the FIRST Tech Challenge, and the team itself.
Team 8188 placed 7th and was selected for the semifiinals. They made it to the final round but then lost both matches. However, because their school hosted the competition, they earned a spot at the state competition on March 12 and 13 at Liberty High School.
New programs boost wellbeing, learning, engagement
When the state Legislature approved the Student Investment Account [SIA] in 2019, it was a turning point for Oregon Schools. Funded by the Corporate Activities Tax, this year it provided Gladstone Schools over $1.4 million to boost health and well-being, student engagement, and academic supports.
The Gladstone District identified these priorities for SIA funds after an unprecedented public involvement effort that included more than 3,400 individual contacts through community forums, focus groups, and multiple surveys of students, parents, and educators. The community felt that for Gladstone kids, support for wellbeing, more academic assistance, and more student involvement opportunities were the biggest needs.
A year and a half in, the school district is implementing many of the planned programs. So far, the program has been only partially funded due to the economic impacts of the pandemic, so only a portion of our plan has been funded. The $1.4 Million for 2021-22 was nearly double what the district received in 2020-21 and it is about 70% of the funding originally anticipated. As the economy rebounds and funding grows, more and more of the priorities from the plan can be implemented.
This is what we have funded to date, and what is coming next:
Social-emotional Health and Wellness
• Suicide prevention training for all employees [still in progress]
• Two school health assistants
• Two more school counselors serving grades K-8
• Instructional Assistant student support specialist
• Dean of Students at Gladstone High
Targeted Supports
• Bilingual student and family advocate
• Math intervention specialist at John Wetten
• Social-emotional skills teacher for GCCF
• Reduction in first grade class sizes
Engaging Opportunities
• Doubling Physical Education instruction time at GCCF and John Wetten
Upcoming Investments
• Access improvements for students with disabilities at Kraxberger and Gladstone High
• 2022 summer school programs to close learning gaps at every level
The district plans to update the SIA plan for the next two years. Starting next fall, educators will gather input on current needs and priorities from parents, students, and staff through surveys and focus groups.
“We know the pandemic has impacted our students in many ways,” said Assistant Superintendent Jeremiah Patterson. “Our fall conversations will be an opportunity to find out which SIA supports have made the biggest difference so far, and to adjust our plan moving forward to meet current needs.”
Weigh in on Oregon graduation requirements
What do you. think students should know and be able to do to earn a high school diploma? The Oregon Department of Education is seeking input from families across our state as they prepare to update Oregon graduation requirements.
It is important for policymakers to hear about your and your family’s experiences in schools. You are invited to join an online conversation about this at 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, February 17. Register here to join the conversation.
Apply now for jobs in Gladstone schools
Gladstone Schools is hiring!.Apply now!
https://gladstone.tedk12.com/hire/index.aspx
If you have any questions, please contact the District Office at 503-655-2777.
• Substitute Teacher
• Support Staff Substitute
• Secretary
• Assistant Track Coaches [4]
• Assistant Baseball Coach
• Accountant
• Accounting Specialist
• Driver Education in-car Instructor
• Technology Assistant II
• Teacher Learning Specialist - Temporary 2021-22
• Instructional Assistant Substitute
There are many advantages of working for Gladstone Schools:
• Weekends off
• Summers off [most roles]
• Consistent , family-friendly work schedules
• 10 paid holidays
• Paid sick leave
• Health insurance
• Short commute