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 – Olive Garden Restaurant

Pictured from left: Stephens Principal Neil Anderson, School Board Chairperson Steve Chambers, with Nate Sutton, culinary manager at Olive Garden Restaurant, and Mari Vasquez, Stephens outreach coordinator.

After hearing a brief description of the school community at Stephens Middle School, and learning of the monthly family nights/parent meetings, Jordan Rands, general manager, very generously agreed to cater their family night event, providing spaghetti, breadsticks, and salad. Unexpected, and much appreciated, the Olive Garden Restaurant provided the meal at no cost to the school. 

Jordan surprised them when he told them that the Olive Garden would also like to purchase $1000 worth of school supplies for Stephens Middle School. All he asked from the school, in return, was a list of the most-needed-supplies. As you can imagine, the staff at Stephens was amazed and extremely grateful to hear about Olive Garden's compassion, generosity, and enthusiastic willingness to help. Everyone was eager to list supplies they noticed students needed.

Staff at Stephens feels it is extremely encouraging to see that in an era of what seems like ever-increasing budget cuts, and economic strife, there are business partners in the area that will happily support our students, families, teachers, and schools, Exceeding their expectations, Stephens Middle School is extremely thankful!

Thank you for your support of the students in Salem-Keizer Public Schools.

Outstanding Community Partner – Salem-Keizer Education Foundation

Pictured from left: Chairperson Chambers with Krina Lemons,  executive director of the Salem-Keizer Education Foundation.

We would like to congratulate the Salem-Keizer Education Foundation for being inducted into the Afterschool Hall of Fame at the 2009 Bridge Conference held in Vancouver, Washington.

Recognized "for leadership in advancing the profession of afterschool in Oregon," the foundation was inducted along with The Gates Foundation in the regional hall of fame that is part of the national Lights On Afterschool partnership.

Afterschool Hall of Fame recognizes those individuals and organizations that have provided dedicated leadership to the advancement of the field of afterschool in Oregon.

We appreciate your support of our district on behalf of our students.

Congratulations!

 Oregon Association of Health Education Health Educator of the Year

Pictured from left: Chairperson Chambers, Trisha Ebbs, health teacher at North Salem, with her family Cole, a student at North Salem, Braden and Taylor, students at Gubser Elementary, husband Jason, a math teacher at McNary High, and North Salem Principal John Honey.

North Salem High teacher Trisha Ebbs received the Oregon Association of Health Education Health Educator of the Year award for 2009.

The Oregon Advancement of Health Education awarded her this honor at their annual fall conference. She was also elected OAHE President-elect. Trisha works tirelessly as an advocate for health education at North as well as throughout the state.

Way to go Trisha!

Oregon Dairy Farmers Award winner for top 6A Grade Point Average in Oregon

Pictured from left: Chairperson Chambers with members of the West Salem varsity cross country team, coach Tom Jimenez, and West Salem Principal Ed John.

West Salem's Varsity Girls Cross Country team is the Oregon Dairy Farmers Award winner for top 6A grade point average in Oregon. Their cumulative grade point average is 3.96.

Sponsored by the Dairy Farmers of Oregon, this program recognizes outstanding achievement in the classroom. The boys and girls team in each OSAA-sanctioned activity with the highest team grade point average earns the Academic All-State Award. Each member of a winning team receives a much-coveted "got milk?" sweatshirt, commemorative pin and a certificate. The school receives a plaque in honor of its team. The Dairy Farmers of Oregon and the OSAA also recognize members of top ten schools in each activity at each classification with a commemorative pin.

The varsity girls are:

• Amie Apodaca
• Anna Hauck
• Elaine Capella
• Karen Wynkoop
• Krista Burrows
• Kristine Burbano
• Krysti Beach
• Kyla Martichuski
• Steffani White
• Amy Lin
• Nikki Chapman
• Rachel Elmer
• Grace Lin
• Emily Meltzer
• Coach: Tom Jimenez

Congratulations!

Top 100 School District Fleets of 2009

Pictured from left: Chairperson Chambers with Michael Shields, director of Transportation Services, with Kevin Baker, transportation router, and Michael Burton, assistant manager of Fleet Services.

Join us in congratulating Salem-Keizer Public Schools' Transportation Services for being named one of the Top 100 School District Fleets of 2009. They were one of three fleets in the Northwest chosen. The other two were Seattle Public Schools and Evergreen Public Schools.

The Top 100 fleet designation is based on the number of routes, ridership and how they are managed. The honor is not just about the department. It’s about the standard and condition in which we keep our buses, the drivers, the mechanics, the support staff, and those who manage the different areas within the Transportation department.

One bus provider stated that Salem-Keizer's Transportation Services deserves the designation as the top in the state, if not the northwest. The professionalism, integrity and ethics shown in the district are far beyond others considered for the honor.

Congratulations!