high school

Students at Oregon City High School turned in one of the most impressive gains in standardized test scores in the state and bested the state average scores by wide margins last year. “We are very proud of our high school students. Their teachers have worked hard to make sure every child is learning,” says Superintendent Roger Rada.

In math 75.3 percent of Oregon City High School 10th graders met or exceeded the state testing benchmark in the 2007-2008 school year. That is a whopping 9.2 percent points up from the year earlier and 23 points better than the state average.

Nearly 82 percent of OCHS sophomores met or surpassed the benchmark for reading in the 2007-2008 school year. That is 7.6 percentage points more than a year earlier and compares with 65 percent of 10th graders passing statewide. The Oregonian newspaper singled out OCHS’s impressive gains in a story on statewide test scores.

“We know that OCHS students need to compete in the nation for jobs, college entrance, scholarships, internships and apprenticeships. These high test scores help verify that Oregon City High School is doing the necessary things to help our graduates be competitive in their next step beyond high school,” states OCHS principal Nancy Bush-Lange says.

So, how did they do that? First, the high school tests the ninth graders, a year before their official 10th grade state tests. The results let the school know which students are struggling with math, reading, writing or other subjects. It also reveals each student’s sticking points. It divulges what math concepts need work or what reading and literature skills are weak. Any students not working up to par are targeted for extra help.

In math, lagging students take an extra math class called Workshop, in addition to their regular math class, according to Brad Shreve, OCHS vice principal. In Workshop, students get help targeted to their specific math problems. This Workshop is counted as an elective class and does not count as a math class for graduation requirements, Shreve says. About 200 kids per year are served by these booster classes, some taking Workshop more than one term.

There is similar help for kids struggling in reading and literature. Students close to passing their reading benchmarks join a class called Pioneer Readers, states Kathy Haynie, the high school’s literary coach. This classroom has “a great classroom library” and special home-grown curriculum to help improve the students’ reading skills, she says. If more intensive work is needed for students to reach the benchmarks, students work with a Scholastic reading program called Read 180. These extra reading and literature classes, like math Workshop, are counted as electives. The reading classes also serve about 200 kids.

Oregon City High School offers tutoring before and after school in all subjects, so struggling students can get help to pass their benchmark tests, or just improve their understanding of a subject or grade in a class.

The state benchmark test is important. Oregon City High School requires students to pass the 10th grade benchmark in order to graduate, unless they comply with an alternative, Haynie says. Of course, standardized test scores measure only part of student achievement. Oregon City Schools strive to educate the whole child. Oregon City Schools’ great sports programs, wonderful art, music and drama and many other programs give students a chance to burnish all their talents.

The high school staff, students and parents have worked hard, but the road to these improved scores starts in middle school and elementary school. Students are being given more rigorous work and faltering students get more help and attention at every grade level. Even in kindergarten, students can get a boost through a program called Kinderday. A program called Middle School Matters has made a big difference for the high school students. “It gives us better prepared students,” Shreve says. Middle School Matters targets lagging students for extra help.

The high school’s site council sparked the journey to better achievement, Shreve said. That charge from the site council prompted closer examination of student achievement and a search for ways to improve learning. In fact-finding missions, teachers and administrators from the high school went on two field trips to Forest Grove High School.

Forest Grove had had success in boosting student achievement. Teachers and administrators there were happy to share insights and techniques with Oregon City teachers. Now, other schools are visiting Oregon City to see how OCHS boosted test scores, states Shreve.

“We are not resting on our laurels,” superintendent Rada says. “Teachers and staff in all our schools continue to work hard to make sure all of our students are getting the best instruction and all the support they need. We are proud of the high school’s test performance. The scores are an important indicator that we are properly preparing our students to be productive citizens.”
 

Clackamas Community College has partnered with the Oregon City Service Learning Academy to provide students the opportunity to earn college credit for their internship participation hours. Students must register through CCC, complete an online application identifying the Oregon Skill Sets to be achieved, complete sixteen hours of career preparation coursework, and maintain weekly log sheets that specify skills learned and hours spent at their internship site. Students have the opportunity to earn up to twelve credits per year, at no charge to the student. For the first semester, a total of thirty-nine OCSLA students applied for CCC credit. Together they participated in 2635 internship hours and a total of seventy-eight credits were earned. David Blessman, CCC Career and Resource Center Department Chair, presented each student with a certificate of credit earned.

What:  OCSLA Community 101 Class Garage Sale. 
When: Saturday, April 4, 2009 from 9:00am-3:00pm
Where: 12th and Jackson, Annex C — Enter on Jackson Street under
             the Oregon City Service Learning Academy sign
Who:  Everyone — Parents, Students, Community Members, Staff

Recently the Oregon City Robotics team competed in Seattle at the Microsoft Regional Tournament. This was the largest Regional in the US this year, with 64 teams from Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, New Hampshire, Florida, Canada, and one all the way from Istanbul, Turkey.
 
Oregon City managed to secure their spot as one of the top 6 teams to advance to the World Finals by winning the coveted Engineering Inspiration award. This award Celebrates outstanding success in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering within a team’s school and community. Which once again shows, it's not about the robot, but how wonderful a team we have, that gets us to the World Finals.

We will be leaving on April 14th and returning on April 20th from Atlanta,GA. We have lots to get done between now and then, like raising $30,000 so everyone can make it for flights, hotel, transportation, meals, parts, marketing materials and shipping costs. Everything needs to get booked this week, so hopefully so we can get rooms and flights first.

What: Simon Says, an evening of scenes from the plays of Neil Simon. Directed and Acted by the students of the Advanced Drama Class.

When: February 25, 26, 27, and 28, 2009 at 7:30pm

Where: Oregon City High School, Mainstage Theatre, 19761 S. Beavercreek Road, Oregon City, OR 97045

Tickets: $8, sorry no discounts for children, students, or senior citizens

Everyone in the community is invited, however due to mature subject matter "Simon Says..." is recommended for ages 13 and older.  Also, please note that our black box theatre has limited seating.

For more information visit the Simon Says.. page

Questions?  503-785-8980

What: It's a Wonderful Life, adapted for the stage by James W. Rogers, based on the film by Frank Capra, play directed by Karlyn Love

When: December 10, 11, 12, and 13, 2008 at 7:30pm

Where: Oregon City High School, Mainstage Theatre, 19761 S. Beavercreek Road, Oregon City, OR 97045

Tickets: $8, sorry no discounts for children, students, or senior citizens

Everyone in the community is invited, recommended for ages 8 and older. 

Questions?  503-785-8980

The students of the Oregon City Learning Service Academy participated in a Make A Difference Day event on October 25, 2008. In partnership with the Oregon City Parks and Recreation Department and Clackamas Volunteer Connection, over 30 students and volunteers met at the Clackamas River, cleared invasive brush (English Ivy) and planted 30 evergreen seedlings at the town's Clackamas River Bike Path. The project was designed and carried out by Adam Paltrineri's 9th grade Advisory class at OCSLA.

Using service learning as the instructional model OCSLA students studied invasive species and their effects on the Oregon environment prior to actually performing the community service. Follow up lessons were taught after the project was completed.

The project accomplished a number of goals. First was the replacing of invasive plants with native species. The project also provided erosion control on the banks of the Clackamas River through the new trees planted. Finally, the volunteers helped block the view of the Tri-Cities Waste Treatment plant from across the river.

Sixteen OCSLA freshmen and their families, as well as a dozen volunteers from Northwest Service Corps and Milwaukie First Presbyterian Church turned out on a beautiful Saturday morning for a day of service. This project took place on Make a Difference Day, a nation-wide day of service for volunteer groups.

For questions or comments please contact Melanie Marrone, Principal, Oregon City Service Learning Academy, 503-785-8443