Recognitions and Accomplishments of staff doing great things in the Beaverton School District

StaffDistrict Goal:

All students will show continuous progress toward their personal learning goals, developed in collaboration with teachers and parents, and will be prepared for post-secondary education and career success.

WE want every student to graduate with many options and be prepared to:

THINK:Creatively & CriticallyKNOW:Master ContentACT:Self Direct & CollaborateGO:Navigate Locally & Globally.

October 2014

Conestoga MS teacher named finalist in the 2014 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching ProgramDean Fassnidge, Science teacher at Conestoga Middle School has been selected as an Oregon state-level finalist in the 2014 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) Program. Dean is one of five teachers selected to represent Oregon’s best.

As a state-level finalist, Dean is now a candidate for the state Presidential Award and could receive $10,000 and an all-expense-paid trip for two to Washington, D.C.

The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) are the nation’s highest honors for teachers of mathematics and science (including computer science). Awardees serve as models for their colleagues, inspiration to their communities, and leaders in the improvement of mathematics and science education.

Congratulation, Dean!

Westview HS freshman one of 30 national finalists in Broadcom MASTERS competition

Aditya Jain, a freshman at Westview High School, is a national finalist in the Broadcom MASTERS (Math, Applied Science, Technology and Engineering for Rising Stars) competition for middle school students.

Jain’s project is titled “It’s a Matter of Live & Breath: An Improved Automated Diagnostic Tool for Lung

Cancer Solitary Pulmonary Nodules (SPN) Detection toward Population Based Screening.”

There are only four students from Oregon to be named among the 30 finalists from across the nation. Finalists were selected by a panel of distinguished scientists and engineers from among 300 semifinalists and 2,054 applicants representing 46 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico.

The Broadcom MASTERS winners will be named on October 28, 2014 in Washington, D.C., after the completion of a rigorous competition that tests their abilities in STEM subjects, teamwork and collaboration.

School Spotlight: Elmonica Elementary School

When you walk in the blue double-doors of Elmonica Elementary School, you are welcomed… in 28 different languages. The word borders the top of the main hallway. From English to Spanish, Chinese to Arabic, a few summers back, a parent hand-painted the greetings. It’s exactly what Principal Cynthia Lam Moffett wants visitors, parents and the school’s 595 students to feel when they walk through the doors.

Moffett says the school is working toward becoming an International Baccalaureate Primary Years School. The curriculum focuses on the development of the whole child as an inquirer, both in the classroom and in the world outside. The candidacy application process takes about two years to complete. This year, the students are working on being “internationally minded.”

The story behind the name:When the Oregon Electric Railroad was being built in 1908, a landowner gave the company right-of-way only if they would name the station that would be built on his land after his two daughters, Eleanor and Monica.

Elmonica School opened in the fall of 1980. The school’s first principal was Donald Dunbar.

ESL Family Night at Greenway ESThe ESL team at Greenway Elementary School, Erin Miles, Pam Barber, Gretchen Linder Rowell and Laurie Mala organized an event for Latino families at Greenway this month.

Many families enjoyed pastries, prizes and an evening filled with resources, as well as a guest from Lifeworks NW. District Outreach Specialist Lidia Krivoy helped to facilitate small group conversations that provided valuable feedback for staff.

AVID Middle School Summit teaches leadership skills

Middle school students participating in the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) program attended the first annual Middle School AVID Summit recently.

More than 350 middle school students descended upon Highland Park Middle School on a sunny Friday to learn about the impact of AVID on their futures. Students heard from speakers from all eight Beaverton middle schools, Maria Cobb, AVID Western Division representative, keynote speaker David Kong, and a Five Oaks Middle School Counselor who is a first generation college student. Students also participated in small and large group activities.

Learn more about AVID.

Mountain View AVID students are ready for a great year.

Conestoga MS Action Council goes tacky! The Conestoga Middle School Action Council is sponsoring food drives throughout the school year to support the Conestoga Middle School Food Pantry. Students decided to focus their efforts this year on the needs of students and families locally.

The Action Council students coordinated a food drive to coin-

cide with Tacky Tourist dress up day. Students and staff dressed up as tacky tourists and donated canned and non-perishable food items that will be distributed to Conestoga families in need by school counselors.

Walk + Bike to school day

Wednesday, October 8, 2014 was National Walk + Bike to School day, nineteen Beaverton schools participated:

• Barnes, Bonny Slope, Cooper Mountain, Errol Hassell, Findley, Fir Grove, Hiteon, Jacob Wismer, Montclair, Oak Hills, Raleigh Park, Rock Creek, Terra Linda, Sexton Mountain, and West Tualatin View elementary schools

• Five Oaks and Highland Park middle schools• Sunset High School• Health & Science School (HS2)

State, county and city officials and residents recognize the benefits of active transportation and are taking steps to encourage walking, biking and using transit more often. Active transportation promotes community

health, reduces traffic congestion, and improves community livabil-ity. Walking and biking to school is a great option! Not only do you get exercise but by walking and biking, you are decreasing traffic congestion and pollution.

The Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program plays an important role in this process. It brings transportation and education leaders together to encourage children to walk and bike safely to school as part of a healthy daily routine.

The Beaverton School District recognizes the diversity and worth of all individuals and groups. It is the policy of the Beaverton School District that there will be no discrimination or harassment of individuals or groups based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, marital status, age, veterans’ status, genetic information or disability in any educational programs, activities or employment.

Principal Spotlights Renee Caballero - Greenway Elementary School Greenway Elementary School Principal Renee Caballero always knew she wanted to work with children. The first generation college graduate recognized that education opens doors to the future, so she became a teacher.

She has taught at Greenway and Hiteon Elementary Schools and was also a counselor at Vose and Bonny Slope Elementary Schools.

Caballero says her most memorable moments are when former students come back to visit or contact her. “It’s wonderful to see how they have grown and are positively contributing to the community.”

Renee is thrilled to be back at Greenway Elementary School.

Claudia Ruf - Mountain View Middle SchoolWhen she was younger, Mt. View Middle School Principal Claudia Ruf had no desire to be a teacher. “My mother was a teacher and I never thought I wanted to do the same,” Ruf says.

So what changed her mind? A high school Algebra teacher named Mrs. Patterson. “I did not speak English. It was my senior year of high school and she was amazing and made such a difference in my life. I wanted to do the same for someone else.”

Ruf spent six years as an assistant principal at Beaverton High School before taking over as principal at Mt. View four years ago.

Most school days, you’ll find her doing lunch duty in the cafeteria. She chats with students and keeps an eye on things. If she spots a student showing PRIDE (Personal Responsibility, Respect, Integrity, Determination or Embracing Community), she hands out a little orange card. The cards can be redeemed in the school store.

Claudia’s enthusiasm and passion for education comes through in nearly everything she does. She is especially proud of the Mt. View Advanced Placement Society (MAPS). The program, run by parents, creates enrichment opportunities around math, science, reading, writing and Spanish.

Claudia’s favorite school subject is history. “I love to learn about different cultures, which has fueled my love for travel and adventures.”