School News Blast
Gladstone Schools • Growing Great People • 12.16.21
John and Merilee Wetten gift endowment to John Wetten Elementary
Thirty years after his retirement, former Gladstone principal John Wetten surprised staff at his namesake school with a special gift this year, establishing a $200,000 endowment to benefit his namesake school. The invested funds will yield $7,000 to $8,000 each year to support students in two ways.
John and his wife Merilee plan that half the funds will provide for the individual needs of students and their families, supporting both physical needs and emotional needs.
"Some families are really struggling, especially now," said John Wetten. "Sometimes a little help can make a big difference."
The remaining funds will provide classes with community service projects supporting organizations such as Meals on Wheels.
"Elementary students are energetic and eager," John Wetten said. "Helping others makes them feel important and needed."
Wetten charged the school's Site Council with directing use of the funds. The group includes teachers from each grade level as well as counselors, specialists, classified staff, and school leaders.
Over many decades, John Wetten has given a lot to the school. After teaching fifth grade there for 15 years, he then served as principal from 1972 to 1992 while simultaneously serving as the school's science teacher. He is now 91 years old.
After retirement he remained part of the school community, hosting student field trips at his farm, helping with Everybody Reads Day, and working one-on-one with children to build wood-working skills by creating bread boards.
"Merilee and I have wonderful memories of the school," he said. "We are excited about the many ways these funds can support Gladstone children for years to come."
Choirs bring holiday cheer
"Hat Not Hate" teaches anti-bullying
Gladstone parent Lindsey Anderson has taken a unique approach to fight bullying -- knitting blue hats for children, and encouraging others to do the same.
She joined Hat Not Hate, part of the craftivist movement, after learning from her son Thomas that his friend was bullied. In December 2019, she and her friends knit 30 hats, enough for each child in Thomas's third grade class. At that time, she vowed to return with a hat for every single student at John Wetten Elementary.
This week she made good on that promise, presenting more than 620 hats to John Wetten Elementary, enough for each student and staff member. The hats were knitted by Anderson, dozens of local knitters, and Hat Not Hate knitters across the nation.
With each hat came a lesson about the importance of helping others feel included, and how to stop bullying. This happened during the school's first live virtual assembly, with each classroom tuning into a school wide Zoom call.
"If you notice bullying, you can be an upstander and work to stop it, even if adults aren't around," said Vice Principal Lori Buchanan. "We can all help others by doing this."
Fifth graders shared tips on how to fight bullying. "If someone's bullying another person, just tell them to stop," one advised. Another said, "You should try to be a good friend to someone who's been bullied. Show them you care."
"Students love their new hats, and are proud to join the anti-bullying movement," said Buchanan. "We're so excited to be part of this."
Gladstone freshmen study solar energy
In the shop at Gladstone High, Sphero robots zip across the room, driven by freshmen who use block coding to make them spin, reverse, and turn. Across campus in the project lab, students work with electrical wiring, combining voltage from the segments of a small solar panel to power a motor.
This hands-on learning is all part of the GATES class, which stands for Gladstone Arts Technology Engineering School. Students rotate between three teachers, spending three to four weeks with each.
This year the course is focused on renewable solar energy. By the end of the term, each student will design and build their own solar-powered cell phone charger.
In Brenden Thwing’s design and 3D printing segment, students are writing a program to 3D print a housing for the charger’s solar panel.
In Dusty Long’s technology and construction segment, teens will build a solar racking and mounting system to attach the solar panels, using materials donated by the Renewable Energy Technology Program at Clackamas Community College.
In Kevin Zerzan’s science and engineering segment, students learn about the photo voltaic effect, practicing with mini solar panels, bright lights, and tiny electric engines that power a fan.
Trying electrical wiring for the first time, Madison Yingling said, “I think it’s cool, but this is a little difficult to figure out. I’ve always loved any form of science, and this class will help me prepare to study forensic science.”
Rowan Young said he’s been wanting to try programming for awhile. “I like coding because I’m good at finding problems, then making things work.”
For many, this is the first time they’ve tried the skills they’re using. Several said the class has inspired them to explore other technical courses later in high school
Apply now for jobs in Gladstone schools
Gladstone Schools is hiring!.Apply now!
https://gladstone.tedk12.com/hire/index.aspx
• Accountant
• Driver Education in-car Instructor
• Long-term Substitute Teacher [kindergarten]
• Long-term Substitute Teacher [kindergarten]
• Technology Assistant II
• Teacher Learning Specialist, Temporary [GHS]
• Instructional Assistant Substitute [GCCF]
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