The 2016-17 school year officially began for district staff this morning with the annual Welcome Back inservice that featured highlights of last year’s successes and a look toward challenges ahead.
This year’s program motif was “Come Together” and covered the themes of unity, innovation, safety and achievement. Mixing motivation, inspiration and humor, the program focused on technology and used the current Pokémon Go craze to illustrate the changes that technology is bringing to education.
The morning began with a short music set by the Pick Up the Phone Again band, led by Duniway’s Dr. Marty Palacios and featuring his daughter and Buel teacher Aimee Palacios; Wascher teacher Rob Whitaker; MHS choral teacher Dana Libonati; MHS band teacher David Barton; and recent MHS grad Jason Kiff. The band also accompanied a choral presentation by music camp attendees who were led by MHS choir director Robin Pederson, assisted by district music teachers Joe Demianew, Marilyn Dresser and Karen Wenzel.
The event included staff service recognitions with 20-year pins to DG Coy, Gina Jamison, Kim Price, Allison Eitzen, Esther Lipke, Cindy Robertson, Michelle Graham, Claudia Neuschwanger, Ali Taylor, Willie Graham, Cindy Newberg and Karen Willis; 25-year pins to Susan Ackerman, Mary Dressel, Karen Manfrin, Kathy Beyer, Patty Durfee, Don Rutchman, Andrea Brown, Autumn Hayes, Kathleen Stocks, Charlie Carl, Scott Instenes, Tony Vicknair, Teresa Denney and Fay Loflin; and 30-year pins to Pattie Waltz, Marilyn Dresser, Joe Miglioretto, Kathy Nobiletti, Lynda Shields and Susan Taylor.
The school board also attended and new board member Carson Benner was introduced.
The event concluded with recognition for and remarks by Kyra Donovan who received the Achievement of Excellence award from the Oregon Association of Central Office Administrators (OACOA). Click here to see a video highlighting the honor.
31 August, 2016