EPSD9 Community Newsletter
2023 - 24 School Year, January
Thank You EPSD9 School Board for All You Do!
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Eagle Point High School Band Performs at Pearl Harbor
EAGLE POINT, OR. — December 2023 marks the 82nd anniversary of Pearl Harbor.
A local high school band got to fly to Hawaii and be part of the Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade.
60 students from the Eagle Point High School band spent almost a week in Oahu.
No other group or organization from Oregon was there, so the band represented the entire state.
Students got to learn from the marine band through workshops and perform on the U.S.S. Missouri.
The principal said this was Eagle Point’s first year being part of the parade.
The enormous help from donors, the school district and other community members made this trip possible.
“They did an enormous amount of fundraising,” said principal Heather Marinucci. “The community came behind them and said absolutely, we believe in you, this is an excellent opportunity, we want you to have this.”
And for the students, it was an experience all of them will never forget.
“Our school is not as well known for extra curriculars like this,” said senior Jeremiah Cordle. “It was great to go and represent our state in an event that means a lot to natives and people across the U.S.”
“I got to go up on stage with the marines and play a solo on two tombs that were up there,” said junior Alice Rebelo. “It was really awesome.”
“It was just an amazing opportunity for me because I haven’t been in band for very long,” said junior Lily Lydic. “I just started this year, and I didn’t think it was possible for me to go but it was.”
Cordle said the Eagle Point band has done nothing like this before and he’s proud to see how much the band has grown in his four years in school.
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* Photos of this event were taken by EPHS Parent Julian Cordle and are available here.
EPSD9 School Board, December Recognition of Staff and Students
Addison Anthony
Zander Meyers
Tehya Smith
Marissa Luzny
The following students and staff were recognized at a recent assembly for their outstanding work by our School Board
Words from Table Rock Elementary:
Addison Anthony
Addison is a joy to have in class. Each day she walks into the classroom with a cheerful attitude and a smile on her face. Addison is always ready to learn and always does her best each day, which makes her the very definition of a Self-Manager. She is an active learner, always engaged in the lesson, and willing to help other students who may need some additional support. It’s a joy to watch Addison engage in school activities, such as Student Leadership and Dress Up Days. She is always willing to help in any way here at TRE.
Zander Meyers
Zander is a great student. All year I have witnessed Zander consistently following our three guiding principles at TRE: being safe, respectful, and responsible. He participates in class, focuses, and uses class time wisely, he consistently has homework turned in on time and gets very good grades for his effort. He is helpful towards other students and always has a lot of knowledge to share with the class. I feel lucky to have a student like Zander in my class and I look forward to seeing where his path will lead him. I know it will lead to great places!
Tehya Smith
No matter what or who she goes above and beyond for them. She is one of the first to arrive and last to leave. She puts up with so much from the administration, parents, and students. She is a valuable asset. Teyah is an amazing person with an amazing heart. She has taken on so many roles here at the school and is always willing to help in any way that she can. She has served on every committee and been a part of so much at the school. She is always busy but never too busy to listen and help out where she can.
Marissa Luzny
Marissa is always going above and beyond to help her students and coworkers. She is proactive, always jumping in to start or help with new projects and activities, committees, etc. around campus, and is a leader in everything she does. Her heart is big, loud, and proud and she always has a smile on her face to welcome all. She constantly chooses to do extra things for both students and staff to make it a great learning environment and a great workplace!
EPMS Laiden Johnson Selected for All-State Football Game
Focus on the Process!
Laiden Johnson, a 7th grader at Eagle Point Middle School, is no stranger to football. His Father, Erik Johnson, is the Head Football Coach for Eagle Point High School. Laiden was first introduced to the sport in the first grade with flag football. By 3rd grade, Laiden started playing tackle and realized that he experienced something unique on the field.
"I get a feeling that I don't get anywhere else, it's a big positive feeling, and it's a lot of fun." - Said Laiden
As excited as Laiden was to start the 2023 season, he was quickly met with an injury, putting him out of commission. Instead of sitting on the bench and recovering, Laiden started reviewing the playbook. With the support of Coach John Oliva, Laiden soon became the offensive coordinator for EPMS, and did a phenomenal job!
Laiden’s positive attitude and self-discovery, have gathered some attention on and off the field. Not only were players taking play calls from Laiden, but it was obvious to Coach Oliva, that the other players saw him as a leader.
Laiden’s leadership comes from a variety of experiences, perspectives, and hard work, however, he attributes most of it to a mindset.
"I Focus on the process, seventy percent of the time. Through self-discovery, I realized that if you focus on the result, you lose sight of the hard work it takes to get there and are easily disappointed when it doesn't go the way you want."
Liaden is able to take this mindset and apply it off the field as well. He hopes other students notice his mindset and try to adopt it or try it out.
"It's kind of like a Math problem. If you have all the correct work but get the calculations wrong, is the entire answer wrong? No! You should give yourself credit for the work and try to see what went wrong in the calculations. I have seen other students take action to better their mindset and I try to support them. The kids who try it just seem happier."
Liaden's leadership and mindset have also earned him an EPMS Gatorade award and an invitation to the Oregon 7th Grade All-State Game in June.
The Gatorade award is given out by EPMS to a student who leads by example with positive actions, hard work, and accountability.
Laiden displays all of these traits and is a recipient of this award.
Laiden Johnson has been selected for the OSAA All-Star Game in June 2024. His performance video was submitted by Coach Oliva and can be viewed here. However, Coach Oliva said it's Laiden's mindset on and off the field that earned him the nomination.
"Laiden is one of the only Middle School students from Southern Oregon to be selected and we are proud to have him represent EPMS." - Coach John Oliva
EPHS Peyton Pierce Receives OSAA Athlete of the Week
Please join the Eagle Point Athletics and Activities office in congratulating EPHS Senior, Peyton Pierce, for his recent Athlete of the Week recognition. Thank you for your hard work both on and off the court Peyton! Keep working hard and setting a positive example for your teammates, underclassmen, and future Eagles! We are proud to have you as an Eagle!
Please visit the OSAA website if you would like to nominate an athlete for the Toyota OSAA Athlete of the Week.
You're Invited!
D9 Dessert Night Fundraiser!
Eagle Point Library
PAWS to Read, Thursdays at 3:30 PM
All ages WELCOME! Children are invited to share a story with a trained and registered therapy dog. Paws to Read at the Library provides a non-intimidating environment for budding readers to explore reading out loud. The dogs welcome a scratch on the head and the turn of the page from young readers.
Shady Cove Library
Southern Oregon University
EN PERSONA/IN PERSON: Kevin Chavez at EPHS
Eagle Point School District 9 Key Communicators
What’s next for our school district? You can get the latest information (and voice your opinions) by adding your name to Superintendent Andy Kovach’s Key Communicator emailing list. It’s easy, just CLICK HERE.