Oregon City School District

Superintendent Larry Didway announced that Crystal Laier will serve as interim principal at Jennings Lodge and Candy Lane Elementary Schools next year while the district recruits and hires a permanent principal. Javier Castaneda, the current principal, is relocating with his family to Idaho.

"I have confidence in Crystal's ability to provide positive leadership and facilitate the important community building that will be needed following the impact of reconfiguration." Didway said. Starting next fall, Jennings Lodge will serve Kindergarten through second grades and Candy Lane will serve third through fifth grades. Both schools will welcome several new families from King Elementary that closed this spring. The district's Spanish bilingual program is also located at Jennings Lodge and Candy Lane.

Download the UpFront Newsletter (PDF) which includes:

• Message from the Superintendent: A New, Improved School District
• Poetry Out Loud: Helen Tkach Learns and Wins
• Oregon City Community Education Classes and Activities
• Gaffney Run Walk Club Tallies Miles for Health
• Read Across America and Into Cool Careers
• Middle School Change for Better Learning
• Stop Summer Learning Loss; It is Easier Than You Think
• The Gym is Alive With the Sound of Music
• Speech-Language Pathologists Boost Student Learning
• School Directory and Calendar

UpFront Newsletter (PDF)

View Community Education classes online, with online registration!

On June 4, 2012 Oregon City School District Superintendent Larry Didway announced Clackamas Academy of Industrial Sciences (CAIS) Principal Ginger Redlinger will become the Principal at John McLoughlin Elementary. King Elementary Principal Kyle Laier has been named Principal at CAIS, following the closure of King Elementary at the end of the school year.

"Ginger Redlinger and Kyle Laier both have outstanding records as talented educational leaders," Didway said. "We are fortunate to have both of them on our administrative team."

On May 14, 2012, the Oregon City School Board unanimously adopted new school attendance boundaries to be implemented next school year. The new boundaries are necessary as a result of the recent board decision to close King and Mt. Pleasant elementary schools and move all 6th grade students to middle school. All families with elementary and middle school students will receive letters from the district and school with more information by early next week.

Attendance Boundary Maps
Attendance boundary maps for each elementary and middle school are available below in PDF form, with former attendance boundaries also available. 

New Gardiner Middle School Attendance Area

• New Gaffney Lane Attendance Boundary Map 
• New Jennings Lodge/Candy Lane Attendance Boundary Map 
• New McLoughlin Attendance Boundary Map 

New Ogden Middle School Attendance Area

• New Beavercreek Attendance Boundary Map 
• New Holcomb Attendance Boundary Map 
• New Redland Attendance Boundary Map 

Additional Information
Please see the following links for additional information about the development and implementation plans for the proposed new attendance boundaries.

• Superintendent Letter to All K-8 Families (PDF)
• Tips for parents and students coping with change (PDF)
• Boundary Report to the Board May 14, 2012 (PDF)
• Boundary Hearing May 7, 2012 (PDF)
• Boundary Informational Night, May 2, 2012 (PDF)
• Principles for boundary development and frequently asked questions (FAQs)

On April 16th the Oregon City School Board voted unanimously to close King and Mt. Pleasant Elementary Schools and move sixth grade to the middle schools beginning with the 2012-13 school year.

Dear family and friends of Oregon City School District:

On April 16th Oregon City School Board voted unanimously to adopt “Option E”, a scenario presented by the Reconfiguration Task Force that will close King and Mt. Pleasant Elementary Schools and move sixth grade to the middle schools beginning with the 2012-13 school year. This was a gut-wrenching decision made to avoid additional cut school days and staff layoffs in the face of another budget shortfall and in the context of excess building capacity. Implementation planning will begin immediately.

Future Transitions
This is a bold and sweeping reorganization—every elementary and middle school will be impacted eventually. However, today began a particularly difficult and heartbreaking period for the King and Mt. Pleasant communities. I know our entire community shares their sense of loss and that the staff and leadership at both of these vibrant learning communities is dedicated to facilitating a positive transition for everyone. We all need to keep them in our thoughts and offer our support. Remember also, that all students, especially those currently in the 5th grade, and parents will naturally experience anxiety and have questions in response to this news today.

Implementation Planning
The timeline for making this happen is nearly impossible, but I have faith in the power of teamwork when our students, staff and community come together. With the work of the Reconfiguration Task Force now complete, an Implementation Team began work this morning. There are many, many unanswered questions and an overwhelming volume of work to be completed for a successful opening of school next Fall. There is a long road ahead with guaranteed bumps! We will need everyone to exercise patience and be prepared to roll up their sleeves as active participants. You will be kept up-to-date as plans are developed.

Next Steps
We know that the first question to answer is “Where will my child attend school next year?” New school attendance boundaries for all elementary and middle schools have been drafted using software in consultation with industry experts in this field. These drafts will now be vetted by administrative staff and a parent focus group prior to being submitted to the public for comment. The Board will adopt new school attendance boundaries at a Boundary Hearing at 6:00pm on Monday, May 7, 2012 at the Jackson Campus. Every student will be provided an opportunity to visit their new school before the end of the year. Building principals are already busy planning these transition activities and you will be kept informed.

Communication
The presentation from the April 16th board meeting as well as other information is available below.  After Wednesday, you can watch a recording of the Board meeting online.  Additional information will be sent to you directly from the district, your building principal, or posted direclty on the district website.

I firmly believe, given our circumstances and despite the enormous challenges ahead, this plan is our best option to serve the children of our community. Thank you to the Reconfiguration Task Force for a difficult job well done, and to all of you for your support and all that you do for ALL children of Oregon City School District. Our ability to navigate this transition will be a testament to the strength of our community.

Larry Didway, Superintendent 

 Additional Information

• April 16th Board Meeting Presentation (PDF)
• April 12th Open House (PDF)
• Middle School Configuration Research (PDF)
• Reconfiguration Task Force Board Report 03.12.12
• Reconfiguration Task Force Board Report 02.27.12 (PDF)
• Reconfiguration Report Summary (PDF)

Download the UpFront Newsletter (PDF) which includes:

• Message from the Superintendent: Finding Opportunity in the Face of Challenge
• “Citizens of the Year” Recipients Honored by Mayor
• Grant Funds OC Outdoor School
• Gilman Park Residents Team with Mt. Pleasant
• New Nationally Certified Teachers Take OC to the Head of the Class
• Moving Toward a Brighter Future: Physical Education
• Art for Learning Sake in Oregon City
• Community Conversation Series
• Keeping the Libraries Stocked: Thanks to the Kindess of Others
• School Directory and Calendar

UpFront Newsletter (PDF)

View Community Education classes online, with online registration!

On February 16th Jennings Lodge students experienced a magical visit from Robin Glasser, illustrator of the "Fancy Nancy" books.  

Students had a marvelous time as they learned ways they could be "fancy" from the crowns they wore, to how they walked and talked.

   Ms. Glasser shared her newest book, "Fancy Nancy and the Mermaid Ballet". Towards the end of the fun assembly, students got to practice walking "fancy" by placing bananas on their heads while they moved. The goal was to walk and twirl without dropping the banana! "Fancy Nancy" does a great job of increasing the use of imagination in children, while at the same time stretching their vocabulary. An incredible, (fancy for amazing), time was had by everyone!