Wascher students are rewarded for good behavior
Wascher Elementary School students are spending more time with the principal—for good behavior. Starting this week, Principal Kyra Donovan is inviting a student who has demonstrated good behavior from each grade level to join her for lunch on Fridays.
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Principal Kyra Donovan eats lunch with second grader Katelin Gooch (left) and third grader Claudia Cortez.
Bargaining News
On March 10, the District and the McMinnville Education Association began contract negotiations for licensed staff. Both sides brought a proposal to the table as a starting point to address salary, benefits and working conditions.
“Our goal is to settle fairly and quickly,” said Superintendent Maryalice Russell. “We want a contract that recognizes the important contribution teachers make to students and is responsible to our community.”
Five more meetings are scheduled through May. The staff update provides information about the proposals, the list of team members and meeting dates.
See the complete proposals:
- District Proposal 2 is the District proposal.
- District Proposal 1 is provided by the District as an option if the two teams were to agree to bargain salary and benefits only.
- MEA Proposal is contract language in the McMinnville Education Association’s proposal.
- MEA Compensation is salary and benefits in the McMinnville Education Association’s proposal.
Math is fun at Columbus Family Math Night
Columbus families spent an evening learning math and having fun at the school's Family Math Night on March 10. The school hosted the event, which drew students and their families from all grade levels, as a way to increase parent involvement at school and provide extra math training for students. Students played games that supported their classroom instruction and were encouraged to take the game pieces home to continue playing with their families.
A Columbus student and his father play first-grade math games at Family Math Night.
Band students earn honors at music festival
Congratulations to the MHS band students who performed at the Oregon Music Educators Association District Solo and Ensemble festival on Saturday, March 6 at Newberg High School. All of the students who performed earned either a "superior" or an "excellent" rating.
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Third graders learn swimming skills at McMinnville Aquatic Center
A week-long water safety and basic swimming course is offered to every third-grade student in the McMinnville School District. The program is a PE unit provided through the McMinnville Aquatic Center. With the help of school staff and parent volunteers, students learn lifesaving skills and build confidence in the pool.
Pictured below are third graders from Grandhaven Elementary School.
 
Parent Information Night scheduled for incoming high school students
Monday, March 8: Student Forecasting Parent Information Night for current McMinnville High School freshman, sophomores and juniors.
The session will be held in the McMinnville High School auditorium beginning at 7 p.m.
Thursday, March 11: Duniway and Patton Middle School
Student Forecasting Parent Information Night for current 8th graders.
Parents with students interested in Media Arts & Communications Academy (MACA) will meet in the McMinnville High School library.
Parents with students enrolling in McMinnville High School will meet in the McMinnville High School auditorium. Both sessions will begin at 7 p.m.
Tool Time teaches Columbus students toolbox basics
Many Columbus Elementary School students can't wait for recess. It isn't the playground that is calling them--it's the chance for hands-on learning during lunchtime Tool Time.
The program, run by school counselor Ron Hampton and speech language specialist Tim Lynn, repurposes donated broken tools and appliances by letting students take them apart. While the students don't actually fix them, they do learn a lot about how things work.
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Bailey Barkley, Logan Bergman, Justin Riegelmann, Ron Hampton, Taylor Rosenbalm
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Riley Fleetwood and Bryce Ablen
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Jessy Keppol and Tim Lynn
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Jessy Keppol and Rebecca Goodrum
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Mask maker gives Patton drama students theatrical experience
Thanks to a grant from the McMinnville Education Foundation, students in Patton drama teacher Emily Ward’s technical theatre classes are getting hands-on experience in mask-making and performing from professional mask maker, Kate Mura.
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MACA’s January Exhibition
In January, Media Arts and Communications Academy (MACA) students showcased their best work. Student work was displayed gallery-style for visitors and some of the best work was selected for presentation to a panel of judges.
Project overview
Exhibition questions
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Battle of the Books tests students reading skills
Students around the district are engaged in a fight for reading supremacy. Teams of students in grades 3-5 are competing in the first heat of round two of the Oregon Battle of the Books.
The event is popular among students. "Some students started reading the books last summer," said Columbus Elementary School Principal Kathi Fowler. "They have fun, but they take it seriously," she said.
The teams answer a series of questions about the content of the books or to identify a specific book based on the given information.
On Monday, Feb. 1, the Fire-Breathing Rubber Duckies battled the Ice Dragons in the first heat of round 2 at Columbus. The school has 20 teams and 75 students participating.
Members of the Fire-breathing Rubber Duckies team from Columbus Elementary School wait for their next book question in the first game of round two of the Battle of the Books.
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Sign up for E-News to get updates about McMinnville schools
Sign up for E-News to receive updates about your schools electronically. Get the latest news and information about upcoming events. Send an email to Marcia in Communications: mlatta@msd.k12.or.us
School Calendar for 2009-10
The McMinnville School District academic calendar is available. The school year will run from Sept. 8 to June 17 with possible snow make-up days built in from June 21-25.
View or download the 2009-10 School Calendar click here.
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