Category Archives: News

A new Anti-Bullying, Anti-Harassment Task Force will meet in two community forums at the end of January and beginning of February to develop a plan to reduce behaviors that negatively impact our community and our schools.

The goal is to generate a community-based “call to action” in response to our common concerns related to these issues. The task force leaders include South Shore Principal Kraig Sproles, Calapooia Middle School Principal Gina Ayers, Albany Options Principal John Hunter, and District Human Resources Administrator Rich Sipe.

The purpose of the forums will be twofold.  First, we will work together to formulate an understanding of the scope and nature of bullying and harassment in our community, and second, we will develop a community “Call to Action” in response. This plan will be presented to the school Board for their review and consideration in March.

The community is invited to attend the two community forums.

• The first forum will be on Wednesday, Jan. 24 at 6 p.m. at Albany Options School, 701 SE 19th Avenue (across the street from Sunrise Elementary School).
• The second forum will be on Wednesday, Feb. 7, at 6 p.m. at Albany Options School.

Each meeting is expected to last about 90 minutes.

Several community partners will be represented at the forums, including the Albany Police Department, Linn County Sheriff’s Office, Linn County Mental Health, the City of Albany, FACT, Albany Boys and Girls Club, CAP, local faith community, and the YMCA.

Linn Benton Community College is offering free parenting classes at three sites, starting in January. Classes are free and include dinner and child care.

The Albany class is The Incredible Years. It will run from Jan. 10 to March 21 at DHS, 118 2nd Avenue.

For families with children ages 2–10. Raise responsible children! Use play and praise to build a more cooperative relationship with your children. Learn how to make clear family rules. Prevent and reduce behavior problems. Improve your children’s social skills.

Read the flyer for more information about the classes scheduled for Albany, Corvallis and Sweet Home.

Schools are closed for winter break. See you on Jan. 2, 2018!

South Albany High School leadership students created their own children’s stories and recently shared them with Oak Elementary School students.

The class is taught by Andy Winn, who said, “The purpose is to teach a moral or principle through the story. ” Each high school student read their book to small groups of kindergarten, first and second graders.

“It was a great experience, and the young students loved it,” said Winn.

The Albany Public Schools Foundation announced the winners of its top iSwim participants. ISwim is one of the main fundraisers for the foundation’s classroom grant program. They issued the following announcement:

The Albany Public Schools Foundation is pleased to announce the school and classroom participation winners for iSwim for Kids 2017. This contest was open to all schools/teachers in the district and was judged based on pledges received and participation. The top school and classroom will each receive a cash prize of $250.

The winners are:

Top school: Oak Elementary at $4939.75 in pledges and 50 participants ($250 prize)
Top classroom: Alicia Straub at Oak Elementary with $889.50 in pledges ($250 prize)

Congratulations to Oak Elementary! We appreciate the participation of all of the schools that bring students to the iSwim for Kids event. This event is an Albany Public Schools Foundation fundraiser which supports the classroom grant program. Due in part to iSwim for Kids, we were able to grant $37,683 this fall to teachers. We couldn’t do it without the support of our teachers and schools.

Thank you for all that you do in support of Albany Public Schools Foundation!