Superintendent’s Update

Shared with the Corvallis School Board during the February 18, 2021 meeting

National School Counseling Week

The first week of February was National School Counseling Week, sponsored by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), to focus public attention on the unique contribution of professional school counselors.  School counselors help our students succeed in school and plan their career.

• The COVID pandemic has brought the mental health and wellness of our students to the forefront of our work.
• Our school counselors have been working hard to stay connected with our students.
• We appreciate all of our school counselors for providing this important support to our students. 

February is Black History Month

Black History Month celebrates the achievements of African Americans and recognizes the prominent role of African Americans in U.S. history. This month provides us with an opportunity to honor, celebrate and focus on the Black contributors to our history. Black history is American history and it is the shared and everyday experiences of African-Americans that have influenced our history and have shaped our present. Our Teaching and Learning team provided a number of resources to our educators including resources on the Oregon Humanities website:  A Hidden History—A Conversation Project program, telling stories from Oregon’s African American communities. We know that Black History is American History and is not limited to one month of the year.

Corvallis Public Schools Foundation

Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to share a few remarks at the Corvallis Public Schools Foundation Hands Across Corvallis virtual breakfast. We are grateful for the work of the Foundation staff and volunteer Board of Trustees who align their community fundraising efforts with targeted needs in our school community. Thank you to the business sponsors and donors who attended and gave generously this year.

Community Partners to Recognize

We are grateful that we have been able to maintain real-world learning opportunities this year through community partnerships at all of our elementary schools.

• Grades K-1 Corvallis Environmental Center
• Grade 2 Chintimmini Wildlife Center
• Grade 3 OSU Extension Service
• Grade 4 Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde
• Grade 5 Salmon Watch