The tragedy that took place in Newtown Connecticut last Friday is the unthinkable for schools and communities.  These acts of of violence are happening too often given the fact that they should not happen, ever.  When these violent acts occur it can foster feelings of helplessness in terms of preventing them from taking place.  While no school can insure immunity from violence it is comforting to know that close personal relationships can provide a network where people feel supported and secure and where those who need help in any way, can get it.  We will continue to provide our students and staff the very best that we can to make them feel safe, secure and supported here at school.  Our hearts go out to the families and the community of Newtown Connecticut.....

I wish you the very best during this upcoming Holiday break. 

Thank you to all parents who have completed the online or paper versions of the parent survey.  We will keep this survey open until Friday December 21st, for those of you who have not completed it.  We have also utilized a student online survey to get feedback from our students.  Both surveys are produced by AdvanceEd, the company that we are working with for our required accrediation this year.  Our staff completed a similar survey during the November 29th inservice day.  In January we will look at all of the results as we focus on defining school improvement goals for the remainder of this school year and next. 

Our boys and girls basketball teams will be traveling to Portland on Tuesday December 11th to play in the Rose Garden, the venue that the Portland Trailblazers use for their games.  It is a special arrangement that has allowed them to play their scheduled game against Estacada in the Rose Garden.  The girls game tips-off at 5:30 PM and the boys game tips at 7:00 PM.  Tickets to this game also entitle you to attend the January 19th Trailblazer game against the Milwaukee Bucks, a great deal see you at the game!

The parent advisory committee met on Thursday December 6th to review proposals for revising or creating policies in the following areas; High School Classes/Courses for 8th Graders, Honors Diploma, Valedictorian/Salutatorian and Grade Point Averages (GPA) and Weighted Grade Point Averages (WGPA).  We will meet again on Monday January 7th at 3:30 PM in the Library.  Please know that you are welcome to attend this meeting if you are interested.  Also know that these policies will need Board approval prior to any implementation and that the earliest implementation would be for the 2013-14 school year. 

It will be a busy three weeks before the Holiday break.  Sporting events a music concert (17th), Santa's breakfast (8th) and food drives are all ahead of us in the weeks to come.

In all of this, I would like to ask parents assistance in one particular area.  We are conducting a parent survey.  The survey will be emailed home to parents who have provided email addresses.  It is an online survey and when it comes to your email address, please consider completing it.  It should take 15-20 minutes to complete.  If you do not receive it by email or if you do not have any Internet access please contact the school.  We will be glad to add your email address and send it to you or mail you a copy of the survey.  The survey is an important part of our Accreditation process that we are undergoing this year.  Results of this survey will help us in selecting school improvement goals.

I hope that everyone had an opportunity to spend time with family during Thanksgiving Break.  I was fortunate to spend some time with my son in the Spokane area, and catch a couple of Zag basketball games during my visit.

We are looking very carefully at the schedule for next year, already.  We are very aware of the lack of elective courses currently offered.  It is an area that we hope to make some positive change in for next year.  We are also looking at making changes to courses with an eye on advanced course offerings, maybe expanding them to some degree.

I want to share that our students have just been outstanding in so many ways this year.  We have instituted some rule changes in the building and the response in terms of their actions, from the students, has been one of compliance with those rules which has lead to a more orderly building both in and out of the classroom.  We are working hard at holding students accountable for regular attendance at school.  We believe that if students attend regularly, they will be successful at moving towards graduation from high school.  Our fall sports had great seasons with virtually all teams experiencing league and state involvement at the end of their seasons.  Lastly, what great attitudes your kids have.  They are upbeat, positive, and involved in their school and education...thanks parents!

Congratulations to the volleyball team on their 3rd place finish at the state volleyball tournament that just concluded at Lane Community College in Eugene!  The team was able to defeat Madras on Saturday afternoon for the third place trophy.  Our football team lost a tough one on Friday night to Gladstone.  They concluded a great season where they finished second in league, and won a play-in game.  On both teams, the senior leadership was great to see and it was that leadership that helped in insuring outstanding seasons.

A reminder that there is no school the week of November 19th-23rd.  Monday the 19th-Wednesday the 21st, schools are closed due to furlough days.  Thursday the 22nd and Friday the 23rd schools are closed for the Thanksgiving Break.  School resumes on Monday November 26th.

We continue to extend an invitation to any parent who is interested, to serve on our Parent Advisory Committee.  This committee will meet as needed to review school improvement recommendations that come forward from the Curriculum Committee.  If interested, please contact the high school or Mr. Everett directly.

Progress reports will be sent home the week of December 3rd-7th.  At that point we will be closing in on the end of the first semester, with 6-weeks to go.  Semester grades are important for a number of reasons.  These grades are recorded on transcripts and transcripts are used to determine eligibility for many things including; athletics, National Honor Society, college entrance, entrance into the military etc.  Please encourage your son/daughter to do their absolute best in their classes to insure that their transcript reflects their level of achievement in school.

We are still looking for a few more parents to sit on a parent advisory committee at the high school.  This group will meet as needed throughout the year to review and provide input about school improvement issues.  If you are interested please contact the high school.

Both boys and girls soccer teams had tough, season ending losses last weekend.  It concluded their outstanding seasons!  Volleyball and football teams move on to the next rounds in state playoff competition.  Football will play this Friday at Gladstone High School.  Volleyball will play on Friday afternoon at Lane Community College.  Good luck to both teams!

A reminder to parents to please make sure that you are contacting the school to communicate about any absences for your student.  The focus is on having students in attendance, each and every day throughout the school year.

Lastly, it is definitely fall now.  Hope you are enjoying the change of seasons.

Congratulations to our fall sports teams as they wrap up their league seasons.  Volleyball finished first in league completing an undefeated league season.  They now enter the first round of the State Playoffs which begin on Saturday November 3rd with a home match.  Football finished second in league with their win over Tillamook last Friday.  They will have a play-in game, at home, this Friday night.  Boys and girls soccer finish their league seasons this Tuesday.  Depending on results of those games, each has a chance to participate in the play-in games this Saturday.  Cross country finished last Thursday at the district meet held at Camp Rilea.  We had three all league runners and a successful season overall.  It has been a great fall sports season and I applaud our coaches and athletes for their efforts. 

We are looking for a few more parents to join our Parent Advisory Committee.  This committee will meet periodically throughout the year to discuss school improvement issues.  If interested please contact Mark Everett at the high school.