5th Grade Fly Ups Joe “The Trick Star” Odhiambo visits Fir Grove ES

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March 2015
District Goal:
5th Grade Fly Ups
All students will
show continuous
progress toward
their personal
learning goals,
developed in
collaboration
with teachers
and parents,
and will be
prepared for
post-secondary
education and
career success.
Beaverton middle schools were full of wide-eyed fifth graders this month; taking tours, listening
to jazz and concert bands, watching drama performances and forecasting for classes, all part of
the 5th grade Fly Ups.
At Highland Park Middle School, fifth graders from Chehalem, Cooper Mountain and Fir Grove
elementary schools were greeted by 8th grade Raider Crew members and the Jazz Band as they
entered the school for their 5th Grade Fly Up.
Joe “The Trick Star” Odhiambo visits Fir Grove ES
Joe “The Trick Star” Odhiambo showcased
his basketball dribbling skills for students at
Fir Grove Elementary School.
WE want every
student to
graduate with
many options and
be prepared to:
THINK:
Creatively &
Critically
KNOW:
Master Content
ACT:
Self Direct &
Collaborate
His assembly promotes personal success
through five attributes: Faith in yourself,
Persistence, Patience, Working Hard and
Responsibility
Hazeldale celebrates Read Across America Day
Mrs. DeSimone celebrates Dr. Seuss’ birthday and
Read Across America with kindergarten students
at Hazeldale Elementary School.
GO:
Navigate Locally
& Globally.
Recognitions and Accomplishments of staff doing great things in the Beaverton School District
BSD Rebels testify for Smoke Free Parks
The Beaverton School District Rebels, a student
group dedicated to fighting the use of tobacco
among young people, developed a youth lung cancer
awareness program. The program is a joint effort of
the Beaverton Health Careers Program, Providence
School Outreach and Providence Cancer Center.
The Rebels, which formed in September of 2010,
testified at a Portland City Council hearing in
support of smoke and tobacco free parks. The
Rebels are pictured here with Commissioner Fritz.
Aloha HS hosts STEM Fair
Aloha High School hosted a STEM (Science Technology Engineering
and Math) Career Fair last month. More than 450 students had the
chance to spend an hour with 13 STEM professionals from a wide range
of fields including healthcare, engineering, advanced manufacturing,
and natural resources management.
With the help of the Portland Metro STEM Partnership (PMSP)
in recruiting speakers and event coordinator Caitlin Everett, District
PMSP teacher on special assignment (TOSA), the event was a big success.
Aloha High School Principal Ken Yarnell states, “The Fair was informative,
inspirational and so reinforced what we are trying to do here at Aloha.” The format of the event allowed students to see
the speaker that most interested them, allowing quality interactions and time for questions. The event purposefully
occurred right before forecasting so that students could make connections to their high school course choices and the
speakers’ advice.
Bethany Elementary School ranked as one of 50 best in the U.S.
Bethany Elementary School is one of TheBestSchools.org’s 50 Best American Public
Elementary Schools.
What makes an exemplary American Elementary School? According to TheBestSchools.org, “The best elementary schools know that their students are more than
just empty brains waiting to be filled. Academic achievement—though important—
is not the ultimate end goal for learning. A student’s social, physical, and emotional
well-being are just as important, if not more.”
At Bethany, parents and the community are encouraged to actively participate
in the children’s education. There are more than 350 volunteers throughout the
school and approximately 30-50 volunteers assisting the school on a daily basis.
Bethany Elementary School is committed to fostering an environment that creates
responsible citizens in the school and the community. The PAWS program encourages students to be Positive, Academic,
and Willing Students.
Bethany is a Level 5 school, which is the highest Oregon State Report Card rating. Parents are kept well-informed of
events and announcements through a weekly newsletter, social media and a school-wide texting service.
Congratulations, Bethany Elementary School staff and students!
Barnes 4th graders build STEM skills with STEM Connect
Fourth graders in Mr. O’Malley’s class at Barnes Elementary School tested their knowledge of kinetic and potential energy
by building a ramp out of paper to move a marble to a target on a mat.
Mr. Neil Pietrok of BESTHq visited the fourth grade classroom and led the students in a hands-on lesson on scientific
principles, teamwork and the scientific method.
Through the new Business Education Compact (BEC) STEM Connect™ Initiative, community businesses partner with a
neighborhood underserved school to increase awareness of STEM. The focus is on 4th and 5th grade classrooms where
research reports declining interest in Math and Science. The partnership is designed to make learning real—to generate
excitement for math and science education—the gateway to STEM careers. Students who show positive attitudes toward
Math and Science are more likely to take advanced courses and pursue STEM majors. The goal is to establish an enduring
relationship between the businesses and schools that impacts student attitude toward STEM.
School Spotlights
Nancy Ryles Elementary School
It is 5:30 p.m. on a Wednesday night. Parents and students are streaming into the gym at Nancy Ryles Elementary School. Their tennis shoes
are laced up and they’re toting their water bottles. It is the 2nd Family
Fitness Night at Nancy Ryles this school year. The event is designed so
that the entire family can experience the activities students participate
in during P.E. class. The event is very popular. “At our first Family
Fitness Night, we had over 150 students and their families came for an
evening of fun and fitness,” says PE teacher Ty Fogarty.
mom or dad.
Each station is set up in the gym, along with a sign outlining the National
Standards in Physical Education for that particular station. Kids scurry
up a rope hanging from the ceiling, many of them making it farther than
In the school’s foyer, two students wearing purple jerseys greet visitors. They are members of the student leadership team
called the “Croc Crew.” The team is an opportunity for 5th grade students to develop leadership skills. They help greet
students in the morning, and at afternoon dismissal.
Leadership, especially equality for women and minorities, was a cause important to the school’s namesake. Nancy Ann
Ryles was a member of the Beaverton School Board. She went on to serve in the Oregon House of Representatives and the
Oregon Senate. She was an advocate for education and passed a bill mandating public kindergarten in Oregon.
With the exception of kindergarten, most of the classrooms at Nancy Ryles are set up in pods, each having a branch and
sharing a common space in the center. Principal Kayla Bell says it builds community, “The kids are working together. The
teachers are working together. It encourages collaboration.” Collaboration is key at Nancy Ryles. “Together we look at
kids and we look at their potential and we make plans to support them,” says Bell.
School Spotlights continued
Springville K-8
From the office, to the halls, to the classrooms, the focus on Expeditionary
Learning (EL) is clear at Springville K-8. Opened six years ago, Springville
is the neighborhood elementary school.
From kindergarten through the 8th grade, all 910 Springville students are
taught using the Expeditionary Learning approach. “It’s the first time I’ve
been in a school where there is such commonality in the instructional
strategies we use in the classrooms and the instructional language that we
use across the school,” says Principal Cheryl Ames.
The EL approach creates broad and deep units of study centered on learning
standards of Social Studies and Science. Reading and Writing literacy
standards are integrated into the unit, with a focus on non-fiction. Students participate in field studies, built into the unit.
The field studies, which are different than a typical field trip, add to the learning experience and are used for continued
learning experiences.
Culture and character are also integrated into the program. “We are being really intentional about strategies for establishing
a strong school culture and embedding character trait development,” says Ames.
The approach includes having students create multiple drafts of artwork and writing. Ames points out a kindergarten
student’s leaf drawings. The first attempt in early October looks like a rectangle with a bit of a stem. It is black and white.
You can see the progression in the second and third drawings, and by the fourth picture, the leaf really looks like a leaf,
colored bright yellow. This is part of the kindergarten’s expedition surrounding the study of trees.
Students at Springville also benefit from the K-8 model. Older students act as mentors to younger students. They also take
leadership roles with the school, leading assemblies and directing kids to buses at the end of the school day.
Terra Linda Elementary School
A brightly painted tile mural welcomes visitors to Terra Linda Elementary
School. A tiger’s face, the school’s mascot, is prominently displayed in the
middle. The mural was created six years ago by an artist-in-residence.
The school is working on securing funding for another art project, this
one fused glass that will hang in the large windows across from the main
entrance. The project will be themed around diversity. Each child in the
school will make a glass tile that will border the windows.
Head to the 2nd grade classrooms and you’ll go “under the sea.” Bright
fish and playful dolphins hang on the walls outside the classrooms. Teachers
are integrating the theme of oceans across multiple subjects.
Terra Linda is one of only three schools in the District that includes a Structured Routines Center (SRC). The SRC focuses
on teaching students with autism and related disabilities academic skills, as well as strengthening skills in the areas of
independence, communication, socialization and self-regulation. It is divided into two sections K - 2nd grades and 3rd
– 5th grades. Students in the SRC at Terra Linda have Play Partners. Play Partners are trained peers and mentors. They
model desired communication and play behaviors, as well as promote a culture of acceptance around the school. “It’s a
win-win for all of the students involved,” says Mika Borbon, one of the District’s autism consultants.
Principal Spotlights
Veronica Galvan - Vose Elementary School
Vose Elementary School Principal Veronica Galvan understands her
school’s community. Just as she arrived in the Beaverton School District,
the demographics began to change. “I saw a need for preparing teachers,
talking to teachers and modeling for teachers to ensure the community
was feeling they were part of the District,” says Galvan.
That was ten years ago. Galvan had just moved to Beaverton from Houston,
where she taught middle school. But teaching wasn’t her first career, she
was actually an adult mental health counselor. “Slowly the mental health
issues were affecting younger and younger people. Eventually I started
working in schools,” she says. She started seeing the influence that teachers
had with students. “An amazing positive relationship with a teacher can make all the difference.” So Galvan went back to
school to become a teacher. She taught middle school at Aloha-Huber Park K-8 before becoming the school counselor,
and eventually student supervisor.
Galvan understands what it means to be a teacher. “It is a privilege and really an honor when parents trust you all day
with their child. We need to make sure we honor that trust,” she says. She also understands what it means to be a teacher
at Vose ES. “Our teachers come here knowing the population we serve. They embrace it and we make amazing things
happen here.”
This is Galvan’s second year leading students and staff at Vose. While the job can be demanding, Galvan says she relieves
stress by spending time with her two children. They like to wrestle, dance, play make-believe and read. Currently, their
favorite book is “Patterson Puppies and the Midnight Monster,” but that could change tomorrow. “We like to go to the
library a lot,” says Galvan.
Ken Yarnell - Aloha High School
Rosa Parks.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and President Lyndon Baines Johnson.
Abraham Lincoln.
Historic photos hang on the walls of Aloha High School Principal Ken
Yarnell’s office. The photo of King meeting with President Johnson in the
Oval Office was a gift from Yarnell’s History professor at Willamette
University. “That picture really inspires me about teamwork, and that
change does happen,” says Yarnell.
Although both of Yarnell’s parents were teachers, his original chosen
career path was law. His plan was to teach for a couple of years for fun, and then go to law school. But, after being a teacher
for a few years, he fell in love with it. “I didn’t expect to. I didn’t take it very seriously my first few years. But then I started
realizing the impact that teachers have on kids,” says Yarnell.
This is Yarnell’s 30th year at Aloha High School - from Social Studies teacher and basketball coach, to vice principal and
principal. “The idea of helping a larger organization try to make a bigger impact appealed to me, although I don’t know
if anyone makes a bigger impact than a teacher in a classroom,” he says. But moving into administration felt natural to
Yarnell. “I’ve been intrigued by leadership. I sort of felt called to that aspect of the work.”
Yarnell’s two daughters, both graduates of Aloha, live in the area. His youngest just got married this summer and wants
to be an English teacher.
When he’s not leading students and staff at Aloha, you can find Yarnell on the golf course, reading or spending time with
his wife. “We’re empty nesters now.” And occasionally, you might find him letting loose to Taylor Swift’s “Shake it Off ” at
a school assembly. The video evidence is on Aloha’s Facebook page
Principal Spotlights continued
Shirley Brock - Five Oaks Middle School
When Five Oaks Middle School Principal Shirley Brock started
kindergarten, she didn’t speak English. “I was an ESL kid when
there weren’t ESL services,” says Brock. But her very first teacher,
Mrs. Powers, grew to be very special in Brock’s life. “I learned
English from Mrs. Powers. She was instrumental in my life for a
number of years. She came to my wedding. She was one of those
people that made a difference.”
Born in Indonesia, Brock moved to the Netherlands when she
was two. At four years old, her family immigrated to the United
States, settling in Corvallis. Despite growing up in the heart of
Beaver country, Brock received her degrees in Elementary and
Special Education from the University of Oregon.
This is Brock’s 10th year at Five Oaks. She spent three years as an assistant principal, working with Mike Chamberlain,
who currently serves as the Executive Administrator for the District’s high schools and options programs. “I couldn’t have
had a better mentor working with Mike for three years,” says Brock.
Her favorite thing about Five Oaks is simply the people. “It’s the teachers. It’s the students. These people don’t give up,
they don’t give up on kids.” Brock recalls a student she describes as her anchor kid, “I really wanted to reach her and boy
was she feisty.” Apparently, Brock and her staff members succeeded. A number of them received an invitation to the girl’s
high school graduation. “We went and we couldn’t have been prouder.”
Bring up the topic of grandchildren, and Brock’s face lights up. She has four. “My gift are my grandchildren,” she says.
Brock also enjoys cooking, baking and reading, especially books that make her laugh out loud.
Michael Crandall - Kinnaman Elementary School
Several years ago, Kinnaman Elementary School Principal Michael Crandall found himself on a beautiful Hawaiian beach.
And he was miserable. A surgical salesman, Crandall asked
himself, “What would I do if money wasn’t an issue? The answer was, be a Language Arts teacher.” So he attended graduate
school at Lewis & Clark College.
Crandall’s very first teaching job was at Sunset High School. It
was September 2001. “We had an emergency staff meeting that
morning, and as the principal was talking, we watched the first
tower collapse on the screen behind him,” Crandall says. He
takes a deep breath, still obviously deeply affected.
Crandall says he chose to move into administration for a simple reason. “It was an opportunity to affect more change and
more students than just in my classroom,” he says. He enjoys being able to work with and support teachers. One of the
students Crandall taught that very first year at Sunset is currently his custodian.
When he isn’t leading the staff and students at Kinnaman, Crandall enjoys road biking and calls himself “kind of a foodie.” His favorite local restaurant is “Ox” in Northeast Portland, which serves Argentinean-inspired Northwest cuisine.
Crandall is also a movie buff, just don’t ask him to name his favorite film. “That’s like asking a gardener to tell you their
favorite blade of grass,” he laughs. For the record, his favorite most-recent movie is “The Grand Budapest Hotel.” His
favorite classic film? “The Graduate,” with “Casablanca” coming in a very close second.
Staff Spotlights
Nancy Cogar - Secretary/Family Liaison, McKinley Elementary School
When Nancy Cogar was a young woman, her cousin persuaded her to join
the Army. She likens her experience to the movie “Private Benjamin” starring Goldie Hawn. “We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into,”
she says. Nancy survived her three years and moved to California with her
former husband.
Nancy started out at McKinley Elementary School as a secretary six years
ago. With the school’s changing demographics, Nancy’s role has shifted as
well. Three years ago, she started working half-time as secretary and halftime as a family liaison. Her contribution to the office team is critical, given
her Spanish skills and the school’s high number of Spanish-speaking families.
Born in New York City, Nancy moved to Puerto Rico when she was ten. She didn’t speak any Spanish. “I was a 5th grader
and I was put in a 1st grade class to learn Spanish, so I know how these kids feel. All of a sudden you’re surrounded by
a language you don’t know, and you have to produce and be able to read and write,” says Nancy. Her family remained in
Puerto Rico for just a year, before moving back to New York.
Nancy’s role at McKinley is to support families and parents to make their child’s experience more successful. “Teachers
will talk to me or email me about concerns that something might have changed at home, because they see a behavior
change in the classroom. A lot of what I do is talk to people, not just Spanish speakers, but whomever,” she says. A lot of
that talking happens after her regular workday ends. “That connection with parents, it’s difficult to make until they get
home from work, so I will take care of those kind of phone calls and connections after 5 p.m.”
Despite the long hours, Nancy says she adores her job at McKinley. “It’s a really satisfying place to work. I love it here. I
can’t imagine being anywhere else!” She credits her co-workers for making it such a positive environment, “Between the
five of us, I really feel like we’re making a difference.”
Kelly Paris - Reading Intervention Teacher, Conestoga Middle School
In a dimly lit room in the “A” Hall of Conestoga Middle School you will
find Reading Intervention teacher Kelly Paris. The book-lined walls
with bean bag chairs and inspirational posters all around give you the
feeling that reading is fun; and in her class, it is.
Kelly has a very calming and encouraging manner as she quietly walks
from desk to desk checking in on each student – ensuring they understood the task and letting them know that they “got this.” “It’s an awesome job, a lot of kids are afraid of reading, because they don’t feel they
are good enough, or they are slower than normal. Getting them to believe that they can do anything, that’s one of the greatest joys of my job.”
Kelly, who went through Beaverton schools grades 1-12, says she became a teacher because of her sixth grade teachers at
Terra Linda Elementary School. Tom Porter and Mike Mitchell both made a personal connection with her; they made
school fun and interesting. “They had such enthusiasm, they were genuine and that is something I have always wanted
to be.”
Kelly began teaching in 1991. She taught sixth grade at Rock Creek Elementary School for two years before the District
moved to a middle school model. During a nine year leave of absence to raise her three children, Kelly attended George
Fox University to obtain her Reading endorsement.
When she returned from leave in 2009, Whitford Middle School was forming the first Reading Intervention Program and
as luck would have it, Kelly “got in on the ground floor.” “It’s so fun working with the “underdogs,” because they feel that
they are no good at reading, or they just hate reading.” Kelly says the most enjoyable part of her job is finding that one
Staff Spotlights continued
Kelly Paris continued...
book that will “hook” the student that is adamant they can’t read, and she hasn’t failed yet.
The smaller class sizes and additional support Kelly provides, helps struggling readers gain the confidence and skills they
need to be successful in high school. Students constantly monitor their progress and want to know what they can do to
improve. “The smaller classes allow me to build support and trust so that the kids know it’s ok to mess up, that’s how you
learn and grow.”
As the students prepare to read an article, Kelly calmly asks, “What do we do when we are done reading?” “Re-read – read
it again,” the students reply in unison, and as they all begin to read, Mrs. Paris quietly encourages.
Ada Damiano - 5th Grade Teacher, Vose Elementary School
Ada Damiano weaves through the low tables and chairs in her 5th grade classroom at Vose Elementary School. She is checking students’ progress as they
work in groups to figure out a story problem during math class. There is a
buzz in the room as the students chatter back and forth, working through the
problem and discussing their answers.
Math is Ada’s favorite subject, but that wasn’t always the case. “My favorite
subject growing up was Reading. I loved to read and I hated Math,” she says.
“Now that I teach it, I understand it a lot better and I have a lot of empathy
for people who struggle with Math.” Ada still has her love of Reading. She
particularly likes to keep up on the books her students enjoy. For those of you
who aren’t familiar with 5th grade reading trends, think “The Hunger Games” and “Percy Jackson.”
Ada has been with the District for 14 years, and she’s taught at Vose all 14 of those years. “I like working with this community.
I feel like I’m making a difference. The families are warm and they want the best for their kids,” says Ada. She also enjoys
the feel of the Beaverton School District. “I think that people get to know each other well. There are good opportunities for
collaboration across schools. The administration is really accessible. For such a big district, it has kind of a small district
feel.”
So what drew Ada to education? She says she’s always liked working with kids. “What I appreciate about teaching is that
it’s like a puzzle. I love working to find out what’s going to help someone learn.”
When she’s not in the classroom, Ada enjoys spending time in the outdoors with her husband, who’s also a teacher in the
Beaverton School District, and her two daughters. The family likes to ski, hike and camp, although one of their favorite
activities lately is geocaching.
Student art on display at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art
Three Cedar Park Middle School students in Katie Gillard’s art class featured artwork at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of
Art’s (JSMA) eighth annual K-12 student art show, Last Night I had the Strangest Dream. The exhibition will be on view
until May 19, 2015 and the students will be recognized at a public reception on May 16, 2015.
They Read You by Anna Akots
Garden Daydream by Sofia Manghelli
Puddle of Imagination by Grace Miyoshi
The Beaverton School District recognizes the diversity and worth of all individuals and groups. It is the policy of the Beaverton School District that there will
be no discrimination or harassment of individuals or groups based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national
origin, marital status, age, veterans’ status, genetic information or disability in any educational programs, activities or employment.