Posted: 2009-04-16

The superintendent and her executive cabinet are pleased to recognize the following individuals for their outstanding work and contributions to our school district and community.

Business Partner of the Month – Keizer Station Starbucks

Pictured from left: Sarah Frost of Keizer Starbucks accepts award from Steve Chambers, Salem-Keizer School Board Chairperson.

Keizer Station Starbucks has been a business partner to Hallman Elementary and Whiteaker Middle schools.  There were times that one of the schools would call on Sarah unexpectedly, on the day of an event, and she would always be more than happy to help them out with a smile.

They have been very gracious in helping out. Hallman Elementary has been truly appreciative and thankful to have them as a business partner. Whiteaker Middle School states that Keizer Station Starbucks has been great to them.

They have helped both schools by providing coffee, pastries and even gifts at parent meetings, Dr. Seuss's Birthday celebration, staff and professional development meetings, the soccer field dedication at Hallman, and much more.

Thank you for your continued support of our students and staff.
 

Lego League Robotics – First Place; Intel Oregon State Championship Tournament – First Place

Pictured from left: Philip Smith, Stephen Kirkpatrick, Ben Kizer, Chairperson Chambers, Jarret Creamer, Andrew Kirkpatrick, Jacob Kizer, Connor Suderman, and Coach Greg Smith.

Team members are: Jarrett Creamer, Stephen Kirkpatrick, Jacob Kizer and Philip Smith from Chapman Hill; Connor Suderman, Brush College Elementary; Andrew Kirkpatrick and Ben Kizer, Walker Middle School.

The robotics team, Got Gripper, has been together three years, and this was their second trip to state. West Salem High School teacher, Greg Smith, has been their coach all three years.

The competition consisted of four parts.

First: the team programs their robot to complete as many preset tasks as possible within a 2 ½ minute timeframe.

Second: the technical presentation, where the team explains how they built and programmed their robot.

Third: a teamwork challenge, where the team works together to solve a new problem.

Fourth: Based upon this year's theme, Climate Connections, the team had to explain how their project addressed a climate problem in the area.

Got Gripper won first place at the regional FIRST Lego League Lego Robotics tournament in Salem in December, which qualified them for the state tournament. At the Intel Oregon state championship tournament, held in January, the team won first place - Young Team.

Congratulations!

The 14th Annual Darrell & Jody Crossler Spelling Bee – First Place

Pictured from left: Jim Adams, Crossler Middle School Principal with student Freya Ruehr, Chairperson Chambers, and Lee Elementary student Shanti Basu with Principal Scott Butterfield.

On March 11, the 14th Annual Darrell & Jody Crossler Spelling Bee was held at Crossler Middle School. Winners from the elementary and middle schools from throughout the district competed after having won their schools' preliminary contests.

The bee was in written form.

The first place winner from the elementary group is Shanti Basu from Lee Elementary School. The middle school winner is Freya Ruehr from Crossler Middle School.

Congratulations!

ProStart Student Championships

Pictured from left: Amanda Nill, Yuki Oishi, David Champion, Chairperson Chambers, Joshua Meyer, Mandi Fraley, coach Todd Wieweck, and South Principal David Phelps.

Students from across Oregon demonstrated their culinary talent at the ProStart Student Championships held on February 28. Over 1,000 guests gathered at the Portland Expo Center to watch 235 students from 34 Oregon high schools chop, sauté, and answer challenging industry questions, each team battling to secure seats at the National ProStart Championships in San Diego.

Under the watchful eye of professional judges, student teams of four had an hour to prepare a gourmet meal including a starter, entrée and dessert using just two butane burners.

South Salem High School took home the first place Culinary Cup for the second year in a row. Topping their excitement, teammate David Champion received the 2009 Unilever Foodsolutions Future Promise Award and $1000 toward post-secondary education of his choice.

The team will be traveling to San Diego for Nationals on April 24.

Update:
Last Saturday, April 11, the team participated in two separate competitions, one was the state Skills USA competition, and the other was the annual Oregon Coast Culinary Institute's Invitational, The team took first place in both events. Josh Meyers won first at Skills USA  and the team won first at the Invitational.  The team won $500 for the program and Josh is headed to Nationals in June.

Well done team!

 

Toshiba Exploravision Regional Division Championship

Pictured  from left: Carl Kreitzberg, Madison Jones, Chairperson Chambers, Claire Moreland-Ochoa, Emily Curtis, team coach Michael Lampert, and West Principal Ed John.

West Salem High School students, Carl Kreitzberg, Madison Jones, Emily Curtis and Claire Moreland-Ochoa were announced the 2009 regional winner in their division (all of the West Coast) in the Toshiba ExploraVision contest. The team is coached by Michael Lampert, a teacher at West Salem High School.

The contest is designed to encourage students of all interest, skill and ability levels to create and explore a vision of future technology by combining their imaginations with the tools of science. Creative thinking and problem solving is what ExploraVision is all about.

This team of ninth graders worked several weekends and afterschool to complete their project.  Their project, "SMART Paint," is a futuristic idea of paint that can communicate information wirelessly using Radio Frequency Identification.

Congratulations, Team!

OHSU Sports Medicine and KOIN News Student Athlete of the Week in January; the Oregonian All Mid-Valley Wrestler of the Year

Pictured from left: Sprague High Principal Cheryl Bower, R.J. Pena, and Chairperson Chambers.

Sprague High School senior, R J Pena, was named the Oregonian's Athlete of the Week in February, KOIN NEWS / OHSU Sports Medicine Student Athlete of the Week, was the Oregon Wrestling Forum's Class 6A wrestler of the year, named by the Statesman Journal All-Mid-Valley wrestler of the year, and has the earned his Fourth State Title in wrestling.

He is the first wrestler from Salem and the fourth large-school wrestler in the state, to take the state title four years in a row.

The complete list is too long to get through tonight, but we do want to acknowledge and honor R J for his multiple championships at the district, regional, state, and national level.

R J has already moved on from his high school wrestling career to compete in national all-star events.  He has signed a letter of intent to Oregon State.

Congratulations R J. We wish you continued success.

Complete list of awards:

• 2009 National Wrestler Coaches Association "Wrestler of the Year" for the State of Oregon.
• 2009 Outstanding wrestler for State wrestling tournament
• 4 x District Champion
• 4 x State Champion
• Voted numerous times outstanding wrestler of tournaments
• 3 x 6a wrestler of the year
• Statesman Journal Regional Wrestler of the year - 4 times!
• State Freestyle Champion
• 2009 Quest wrestler of the year
• Recognize 2009 High School finalist for Prep Athlete of the year for the State of Oregon
• 2 X Reno Tournament of Champions - Champion
• 2 x High School All American
• 2009 USA Dream Team member
• #1 ranked 140 pound wrestler in the nation
• #1 ranking at 145 and 152 in different wrestling publications

Top 2 Teams in the Annual Mock Trail Regional Competition; Second Place in State Competition

Pictured from left: Coach Drew Moneke, Sally Ann Moyer, Devon Shryock, Chairperson Chambers, Emily Martin, Christina Sailler, Phillip Beardsley-Schoonmaker, and Principal Ed John.

The Mock Trial Teams from West Salem High School swept the annual regional competition held in February at the Linn County Courthouse.

West Salem High School finished first and second during the weekend regional competition in which a total of six teams debated a wrongful death lawsuit.

Seventy-six teams competed throughout the state of Oregon in regional competitions and 16 were chosen to go on to compete in the 23rd annual Oregon High School State Mock Trial Competition on March 13 at the Mark O. Hatfield Federal Courthouse in Portland.

The Titans won the state contest last year. This year, in an excruciatingly close final, winner-take-all round, the West Salem (Green Team) placed second.

Congratulations to the students, coaches and supporters.

Well done!

Team members:

Kody Barnett, Phillip Beardsley-Schoonmaker, Sarah Bruton, Bryna Cooper, Brianna Crofoot, Sunny Crofoot, Gillian Currie, Alexander Dennis, Alex Edison, Krystal Enfield, James Fraser, Stephanie Hardy, Matthew Hill, Brittany Holbrook, Taylor Jensen, Tyler King, Kyle Lenz, Emily Martin, Sally Ann Moyer, Adam Naegeli, Kimmi Nguyen, Brian Pearson, Christina Sailler, Devon Shryock, Zoe Smith, Nicole Straight, Anna Stipe, Austen Thomas, Jesse Wertz, Brielle Winegar, Jacob Wyant.

The Bob Wickman Life Saving Award

Pictured from left: Jim Jenney, manager of custodial services, Kennedy Principal Terry Gallagher, Dave DeMastus, and Chairperson Chambers.

Nine-year-old third grader, Ernesto, from Kennedy Elementary School calls Dave DeMastus a hero. On March 26, Keizer Fire District officials awarded David the Bob Wickman Life Saving Award for the act of heroism.

During lunch on February 3, Ernesto began choking on his lunch. Dave immediately reacted and used the Heimlich maneuver to dislodge what was caught in Ernesto throat. His quick, decisive actions saved a life.

Dave is lead custodian at Kennedy Elementary. Custodians are not required to know CPR or to have first aid training. Dave's stint as a bus driver for seven years did require yearly training sessions in first aid and CPR. That training came back real fast when faced with Ernesto's choking.

Thank you, Dave. You are a hero!

National Federation of State High School Associations Coach Educator of the Year 2009

Pictured from left: Michael Maghan and Chairperson Chambers.

Michael Maghan has been named NFHS Coach Educator of the Year for 2009, by the National Federation of State High School Associations.

His involvement in the association, including being a valuable member of the Coach Education Committee, as well as efforts put forth in the state of Oregon has made him a most worthy recipient of the award.

Michael's dedication to and enthusiasm for the process of educating coaches to be better prepared to lead the youth of this country is appreciated greatly by the association. Michael has made a positive impact to teacher/coaches and students everywhere.

Congratulations!

Professional Forensic Educator Accreditation

Pictured from left: Sprague Principal Cheryl Bower, Michael Curry, and Chairperson Chambers.

Michael Curry has received the Professional Forensic Educator Accreditation through the National Forensic League, which recognizes excellence in forensic education through competitive success, longevity in the field, and commitment to continuing education. Only a select few achieve this important distinction.

The National Forensic League feels the accreditation also indicates our schools have outstanding educators in place to teach essential life skills - communication, research, listening, writing, and organization. The work of a forensic professional requires a high level of passion and commitment, which generates tremendous benefits for students and communities.

Congratulations Michael!

Northwest District Elementary School Physical Education Teacher of the Year

Pictured from left: Chairperson Chambers with Marigay Schopp.

The National Association for Sport and Physical Education honored Schirle Elementary teacher, Marigay Schopp, as the "Northwest District Elementary School Physical Education Teacher of the Year" at its national convention. The Northwest District represents a five-state area from Idaho to Alaska. The award is given in recognition of outstanding teaching performance at the elementary school level and the ability to motivate today's youth to participate in a lifetime of physical activity.

According to Heidi Litchfield, principal of Schirle Elementary School, Marigay is a gifted instructor, a compassionate co-worker, and a dedicated leader. She also exemplifies the heart of a teacher by giving selflessly and continuously to others.

Congratulations!