News

The Clover Ridge 2016 Summer Reading Program, “On Your Mark, Get Set….Read!”, was another great success. The library was open every Wednesday morning for three hours from June 29th through August 24th. Our activity/entertainment each week was centered around the theme “Sports/Fitness”. On different Wednesdays we had programs involving athletes from OSU, athletes from SAHS, Oregon Dairy Princesses, Zumba, Yoga, and Jump Roping, The children also designed their own ribbons to use in a program called Movement and Art. They also were entertained on two different Wednesdays with Steve Peterson and his magic show and Leapin’ Louie. Children turned in their reading logs and game cards throughout the summer for prizes and books.

30 families and 56 children participated in the CR Summer Reading Program. 43 children came to more than one program, with 13 children attending all, or all but one, of the programs (a huge increase over last years’ program). These 13 children all earned a fire truck ride to school, donated by the Jefferson Fire Department. 31 children also earned their State of Oregon Summer Reading Certificate by reading 30 or more days and/or participating in at least 3 Summer Reading Programs. These awards will be presented at our September all school assembly.

Participating in the CR Summer Reading Program helped:

Clover Ridge students and siblings to maintain or expand their reading skills

Encourage independent readers

To provide a healthy summer time family and community activity

To promote the love of reading

Clover Ridge families and staff would like to thank The Albany Public Schools Foundation, The City of Millersburg, The Ridges PTC, The Jefferson Fire Department and the Albany Public Library for the donations towards the operation of the 2016 Summer Reading Program! Having the library open, and getting books in our children’s hands does make a significant difference for Clover Ridge students.

Welcome back Clover Ridge students and family!  School starts this week for 1st and 2nd graders.  Incoming kindergarten students will have their interviews this week, and will start school Monday the 12th.  Early release Wednesdays will not start until the 14th.

Boys and Girls Club will not start after school care until the 19th, please plan accordingly for your childcare needs.  For the first week of school, Clover Ridge will house both Clover and Timber Ridge CAP groups.

We love our Clover Ridge volunteers!  If you would like to volunteer at Clover Ridge this year, please complete the district criminal background check via the district website, and attend one of our volunteer orientations, scheduled every Wednesday at 2:15pm and Friday at 8:45am.

GAPS submitted water samples for lead testing at all schools and facilities this summer. The labs are returning results as fast as possible but have high demand from school districts around the state.

We are repairing and then retesting all fixtures with elevated lead levels. Any fixture with tests showing elevated lead levels will be kept out of service until tests show that they no longer exceed allowable lead levels set by the EPA.

Read the latest update about water tests for each school.

South Albany High School staff are back at work organizing their classrooms, including the culinary arts and music teachers who are moving into rooms in the new cafeteria.

The building is ready for the new school year, and the SAHS community is ready to show it off. This new building will be a source of pride for the school and the entire district.

The public is invited to two open house events:

Sept. 7 from 6-7:30 p.m. 

Sept. 24, 9-11 a.m.
Donors to the Albany Public Schools Foundation South Albany High School Fire Fund will be honored and thanked for their donations. Area leaders, including local legislators, have been invited.

The School Board continues to review facility needs in the District for a possible bond proposal for next spring. A proposal could include projects to upgrade existing schools to address instructional program, safety and deferred maintenance needs and construction of one more new elementary schools to relieve overcrowding and manage growth.

Projections show that District enrollment will continue to grow, and current schools are at capacity. See Gaps anticipates high enrollment in Albany Democrat-Herald.

The last new elementary school constructed in the District was Periwinkle in 1977. See school building age timeline.

In October, the District will host a series of community meetings to gather input about community priorities for new schools, which will help the Board develop a final bond proposal. Superintendent Golden will seek public input on possible projects.

Please join us at one of the following meetings:

10/5: Timber Ridge School
10/12: Oak Grove Elementary School
10/20: West Albany High School
10/26: South Albany High School