The 2019-20 school year launched today with the annual Welcome Back event that celebrates past successes and charts a course for the year to come.
This year’s program themes was “Come Fly with Us” and mixed motivation, inspiration and humor to showcase the idea that we can all work together to help students soar to their highest aspirations.
The event included an announcement that the district is working to partner with the International Air Show, which is coming to McMinnville for the first time, and conducted a staff raffle for donated tickets to attend the event in September.
Staff speakers included:
MHS teacher Matt Brisbin who read a poem, “Inside Out,” to extend his tradition of sending out a “Tuesday Poem” to the high school staff during the school year.
Grandhaven teacher Susan Stubberfield spoke briefly about the value of promoting calmness in the classroom.
Oregon 2019 Elementary Principal of the Year, Kourtney Ferrua, also delivered a short presentation on the concept of “Rigor & Joy.”
MHS teacher Ramon Alvarez talked about his equity workshops for staff.
Superintendent Maryalice Russell recognized several schools and individual teachers for SBAC growth.
Dr. Russell and a host of “super” friends honored 20-year-plus employees with service pins, including.
20 years Catherine Barnes, Marc Dana, Sonja Hanson, Susan Krieck, Patty Melgoza, Tom Newton, Paula Roth, Angie Yochum
25 years Roxanne Blankenship, Joe Crafton, Bill DeYoung, Jen Gubrud, Dana Libonati, Cindy Schultz, Sherry Toliver
30 years Wendy Buhler, Vic Downs, Beth Downs, Robin McClendon, Marty Palacios
35 years Kathi Geelan, Nancy Stephens
Winners of the drawing for tickets to the International Air Show are Yady Acevedo from Duniway and Heather Freeman from Newby.
The event also featured several video tributes to teachers from members of the Class of 2019, as well as a look at staff over the past year and other videos.