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Vocational technical training, also known as Career Technical programs and applied learning, helps students learn about possible career paths and prepare for the workforce. These programs also increase the chance that a student will graduate.

The Oregon Department of Education has data that shows students are more likely to graduate if they participate in a vocational technical, or CTE, program:

According to the Oregon Department of Education, “The 2013-2014 four-year cohort graduation rate for CTE concentrators in Oregon was 85.7%; for all students (including CTE concentrators) it was 76.4%. An Oregon CTE concentrator is a student who has earned one or more credits in a technical skill course(s) within an Oregon state-approved CTE Program of Study.” 

Projects in Ballot Measure 22-165 would include remodeling existing classrooms and building new instructional space to allow hands-on activities in high-demand career fields.

A recent work group identified current and planned vocational technical education programs that would be added to all middle and high schools if the bond passes in May.

Read the program development report for more information.

Find more information about Ballot Measure 22-165.

2017-18 School Year Transfer Application Window Open Until February 28^th at 5:00 p.m.

The on-line application is located on our District website in the Transfer Requests link under the Parents tab.  Please call the district office if you have any questions.

Registration is now open for the annual fundraising run to benefit Albany Public Schools Foundation on March 11. The annual event is one of the main fundraisers to support foundation-sponsored programs for GAPS students.

Participants can register for a 5K or 10 mile run. There will also be a kids dash for the youngest kids.

Register online. 

See the event poster for more information.

Watch the video of last year’s event.

This month is School Board Appreciation Month. We honor the volunteers in our community who have dedicated countless hours of services to Greater Albany Schools. Our elected School Board members are dedicated to improving education for all students.

Thank you, Jerry Boehme, Frank Bricker, Sandi Gordon, Micah Smith and Lyle Utt.

At the School Board meeting on Jan. 23, students from schools around the district publicly thanked the Board for their service. Recognition activities included:

Fir Grove and Oak Grove Elementary Schools: Oak Grove Mustang backpacks and Oak Grove water bottles filled with Hershey kisses.

Lafayette Elementary School: Directors received a color photo of the students. Children wore color coded t-shirts to indicate their grade level.

North Albany Elementary: Students made a glitter poster, thank you note and gift card for each Director.

Oak Elementary School: Students created a poster depicting a very large wrist watch thanking Board Members for their time. It was signed by the kids and staff.

Periwinkle Elementary: Principal Bob Daugherty, a fifth-grade teacher and fifth-grade students delivered an electronic presentation thanking the Board for building the modular classrooms at Periwinkle School.

Timber Ridge School: Third graders made a poster for each Director. Art teacher Elizabeth Mann sewed carry bags from art canvas and the eighth graders added the design. There are also Thank You messages inside each bag.

West Albany High School: Dinner before the Board meeting was provided by the culinary arts class of West Albany High School.

Sodexo Food Service: Cookies were provided by Sodexo Food Service.

On Monday, the School Board honored Student All-Stars from Oak Elementary School for earning the highest scores on the 2015-16 state assessments in reading, math and science.

Oak students (pictured from left) are Hannah Dempsey, fifth-grade math and science; Sara Nafziger, fifth-grade language arts; Izzy Amberg, third-grade math; Abby Fief, third-grade language arts; and Ryan Diller, fourth-grade language arts and math.