Awards of Excellence

OREGON SMALL SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION
AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE
2006 – 2007

Staff, Student, & Parents – Pacific Crest Community School

Exemplary Alternative Education Program: Pacific Crest Community School has been working for 14 years to create an academically rigorous school that is open to students with a wide variety of backgrounds, interests, and talents. The school has pursued excellence via a non-traditional path. This approach serves many students who were succeeding in their prior schools and many who were not (30% of high school transfers are at risk of dropping out of high school at the time of admission.) Most simply need a different type of learning environment than traditional schools offer. The school is successful for the following reasons: 1.) Individualized educational programs-students are placed in classes suitable for their academic level, regardless of age. Students design their schedule to reflect their needs and inspirations with the help of a teacher/advisor that follows them throughout their attendance. 2.) There are no “extra” curricular subjects- the school recognizes the visual and performing arts, service learning, and student involvement in school governance as integral to each student’s experience. 3.) Preparation for post-high school studies-85% of graduates attends colleges or universities and 99% of applicants are accepted by their first choice of schools.

For more information contact Rebecca Lukens at 503-234-2826 or at becky.luken@pcrest.org

Faculty and Students – Corbett High School

Advanced Placement Program: Corbett’s 136 10th, 11th, and 12th grades will take 18- Advanced Placement exams in eight different subjects this spring. This is up from 115 exams last year, 79 the year before and 49 the year before that. Students currently have access to 11 Advanced Placement classes during their school career. This is the product of a skilled and caring staff and fearless students.

For more information contact Randy Trani at 503-695-3600 ext. 233 or at rtrani@corbett.k12.or.us

Faculty – Grant Union High School & Mt. Vernon Middle School

PASS Project – Online Grades: This program involving complete staff commitment/participation was started in the Fall of 2005. At this time all staff updates grades on a weekly basis to the school web page. This has been received very positively by parents & patrons in the Grants School District community.

For more information contact Mark Witty at 541-575-1799 or at markwitty@grantesd.k12.or.us

Elementary School Staff – Fossil School District

Dibels Reading Program: Three years ago the Fossil Elementary staff (certified and classified) wanted to further the enhanced student success in the area of reading. As a group they specifically were looking for a method that when they tested their students in reading it would break the results out into the various reading strands so that they could see the strength and weaknesses of each child. By contacting the curriculum director of the North Central ESD they became one of the first staffs to be trained on a reading method called ”Dibels”. They have continued their training and by isolation each child’s strengths and weaknesses they have had remarkable success to the point that our reading scores have climbed significantly leading to our elementary school receiving our exceptional rating on out state report card.

For more information contact Mike Hughes at 541-763-4303 or at mhughes@fossil.k12.or.us