SLSD 2011-12 Staff Super Stars

Submitted by Tim Rochholz

2011 - 2012 Classified Employee of the Year:Kathy Sabin

Kathy has spent the past 31 years working as the office manager at Latham Elementary School. She worked as as substitute secretary throughout South Lane for 12 years prior to taking on the responsibilities at Latham. She is a Cottage Grove High School graduate and was a baton-twirling instructor. Kathy attends every Latham school function and is often there long after her "work day" has ended. She bends over backwards to take care of the staff in the building when morale needs a boost. One of her mother's famous rhubarb pies is a cure for almost anything. Kathy's patience with students is as if each one was her own child. She treats them all equally and with a measure of respect and kindness that can't be matched.

2011 - 2012 Teacher of the Year: Teresa Myers

Teresa has been teaching math and electives at Lincoln Middle (LMS) School for the past 9 years. Over her time at LMS Teresa has taught, tutored and coached Math to students and colleagues. She regularly attends math conferences and workshops, has presented at state - level conferences, and is the co - creator of the Math Academy. She has pioneered the use of technology in her subject area and within her building. She and her colleagues spend countless hours in professional development; planning together regularly and team teaching. She even holds meetings with parents in the summer months to establish Math Plans for her students. Teresa is a tireless advocate for Mathematics. In Teresa's words, "I'm not crazy about math, I eat, sleep and dream it... to me math is exciting and powerful!"

"What's Right in South Lane School District . . ." is a district communication from the Superintendent's office that highlights great things that are happening throughout the district. If you have ideas to share with the district about the great things that are going on, please send your information in an e-mail to Julie at julie.depauw@slane.k12.or.us 

Reading, Writing, and Comic Life

Submitted by Autumn Maker

SIxth graders at Lincoln Middle School recently coupled practice in understanding literary concepts with new fun technology! Students created comic strips of a story, "Priscilla and the Wimps" using a program called Comic Life. They first summarized the story, then predicted new endings and practiced writing climaxes, resolutions, and morals. The students were then able to take these predictions and their newly created endings and spent time creating visual models in comic form. The kids had a blast creating images, quotes and finding pictures to put into their comics. 

“What's Right in South Lane School District . . ." is a district communication from the Superintendent's office that highlights great things that are happening throughout the district. If you have ideas to share with the district about the great things that are going on, please send your information in an e-mail to Julie at julie.depauw@slane.k12.or.us

Our Own Cover Girl!

Marlene Culp is on the November/December cover of the AFT Reporter member magazine.  Marlene is featured in a article highlighting the American Jobs Act.  Check out what she had to say about paraprofessionals on page 4 of this PDF:

AFT Reporter/ November-December 2011

Be sure to also check out page 5.  You'll find Dave Culp hard at work and working hard to help keep kids and classrooms first.

How lucky we are to have such wonderful staff represent South Lane in a national magazine!  Our secret is out!

"What's Right in South Lane School District . . ." is a district communication from the Superintendent's office that highlights great things that are happening throughout the district. If you have ideas to share with the district about the great things that are going on, please send your information in an e-mail to Julie at julie.depauw@slane.k12.or.us

Hats and More Hats!

By Laurie Briggs

Latham School collected around 200 hats for the organization "Hats for Kids With Cancer."  We celebrated our efforts with a Mad Hatter Parade in the gym on November 18th. Students wore silly hats and the whole school counted the hats collected.  The hats will be dropped off at Dornbecher's over the holidays.

"What's Right in South Lane School District . . ." is a district communication from the Superintendent's office that highlights great things that are happening throughout the district. If you have ideas to share with the district about the great things that are going on, please send your information in an e-mail to Julie at julie.depauw@slane.k12.or.us

Buzzing about Bees at Bohemia!

 Submitted by Jill Davidson and Jackie Lester

Bohemia first graders were mightily impressed this month with a visit from    master bee keepers, Chad Hamilton (DSC) & Tom Horn, KHS Principal.  Tom brought a Kennedy student and a variety of bee keeping equipment to share with our 76 first graders.  Chad & Tom also brought a working beehive with see-through glass walls.  Our first grade teachers were collectively teaching a science unit utilizing GLAD (Guided Language Acquisition Design) strategies.  Students learned an amazing amount of information and new vocabulary during their study of the unit and were delighted to see the bees in action.  Participating with hands-on learning increases the motivation and engagement in meeting the Oregon state standards.  A big thanks to Tom & Chad for helping our first graders make relevant connections between new science concepts and real life!

"What's Right in South Lane School District . . ." is a district communication from the Superintendent's office that highlights great things that are happening throughout the district. If you have ideas to share with the district about the great things that are going on, please send your information in an e-mail to Julie at julie.depauw@slane.k12.or.us

South Lane Celebrates American Education Week

By Deborah Buckman

90 years ago, 25 % of the country's World War I draftees were illiterate.  Distressed by this grim statistic, the American Legion and the National Education Association (NEA) met in support of creating a national effort to raise public awareness of the importance of education.  The outcome of their efforts led to the creation of American Education Week, "to be observed in all communities annually for the purpose of informing the public of the accomplishments and needs of the public schools and to secure the cooperation and support of the public in meeting those needs."

This year's theme is, "Great Public Schools: A Basic Right and Our Responsibility."  This is a time for celebrating the crucial differences that educators make in young lives. The classroom is where students learn to think, solve problems, and cooperate with each other. These skills are critical in shaping the future of America.

South Lane Education Association has found a variety of avenues for showing students, parents, the community, and our colleagues we are professionals committed to public education. 

• Once a month, teachers are invited to hold a "Grade-In" at a local business.  During this time teachers socialize with colleagues while doing the extra work that is frequently required of them outside of their classrooms.  
• Teachers sponsored the city's downtown Main Street Trick-or-Treat costume contest as well as passed out 1,000 glow bracelets to help kids be safe on Halloween night.  Winners from the costume contest received book certificates to Kalapuya bookstore, both encouraging at-home literacy as well as supporting a local business.
• Red T-shirts are being offered to all interested SLEA members, allowing and encouraging them to show others they are proud to be a teacher.  These shirts are being provided in honor of American Education Week as a thank you to all of the hard working and dedicated teachers we have in our district. 

THANK YOU for all that you do!

"What's Right in South Lane School District . . ." is a district communication from the Superintendent's office that highlights great things that are happening throughout the district. If you have ideas to share with the district about the great things that are going on, please send your information in an e-mail to Julie at julie.depauw@slane.k12.or.us

Working In and Out of the Classroom

Submitted by Sandra Wilkinson

Do you know about the great things our students are doing with their weekends? On September 17, eighteen students from the CGHS Key Club traveled to Winchester Bay and participated in the SOLV beach clean up.  Last Friday over 23 Key Club students washed windows in the community.  Great group of energetic future leaders.

“What's Right in South Lane School District . . ." is a district communication from the Superintendent's office that highlights great things that are happening throughout the district. If you have ideas to share with the district about the great things that are going on, please send your information in an e-mail to Julie at julie.depauw@slane.k12.or.us