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^ïortlanh (Dhseruer
School Improvement Monies Won
The Oregon Department of Edu
cation Monday announced that
King Elementary and Madison
High School will receive a total of
$5.5 million in federal grants to
transform each school and raise
student achievement beginning
this fall.
Funded by the U.S. Department
of Education, the three-year School
Improvement Grants provide re
sources to improve persistently
low achieving schools across the
country.
“We welcome the additional sup
port,” said Superintendent Carole
Smith. “For the past several years
we’ve been using data to focus our
efforts to improve student support
and achievement. Both schools
have shown progress, yet there’s
much work to be done. This grant
allows King and Madison to build
on what’s working to ensure sup
ported students and effective teach
ers in every classroom.”
O f the four turn around models
available under the grant, both
schools selected the “Transforma
tion” model. The model requires
PPS to replace the school principal
unless they have served in the role
less than two years - which is the
case at both schools.
lune 29, 2011
Teens Provided Summer Jobs, Life Skills
First Step
program geared
to at-risk kids
As a 40-foot bus pulls over at
Southeast Powell Boulevard and
42nd Avenue, more than a dozen
youth in bright yellow T-shirts hop
off the bus and run to the nearby
bus shelters and sidewalks. With
gloves on hand and garbage bags in
tow, the crew fans out, picking up
trash, filling their bags, before head
ing back to the bus.
On Monday, 20 new young em-
TriMet’s First Step program kicked off Monday, giving at-risk
youth the opportunity to have a summer job.
ployees kicked off their 10 week job
training program through TriM et’s
First Step program, which gives at-
risk youth ages 13 to 18 the oppor-
tunity to put their hard work into
action with a summer job.
Founded in 1998, the First Step
program, in partnership with the
Youth Employment Institute, is de-
signed to encourage young people
to develop work and life skills by
preparing teenagers to enter the
world of work and develop under-
standings of workplace standards,
More than 300 youth, who must
be in school to participate, applied
for the program, which increased
opportunities to 20 full-time posi-
tions in 2004.
Supervisor A. K. Rucker, who has
operated a TriMet bus for 30-years,
leads the program and serves as a
mentor to the kids throughout the
year.
“‘We teach accountability and
responsibility,” said Rucker. “What
you do - or don’t do - affects those
around you.”
Congratulations Haseena!
DI POSSI
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Congratulations Haseena Polk
on your academic success.
Haseeija graduated with hon
ors from the 8th grade of Ron
Russell Middle School, earning a
3.75 accumulative GPA and4.0 for
the third quarter.
Highlighting her steady school
involvement and achievement, she
was selected to read in front of her
peers at the school’s graduation
ceremony.
She was an accomplished ath
lete at Ron Russell; involved with
volleyball and basketball for two
years and track and field for one
year. She competed in the long
Haseena Polk
jump, high jump, and 400 meter
relay.
at high skills level with reading,
Haseena also enjoys studying writing, and began foreign lan
Spanish and music arts. She be guage studies, and studied Japa
gan playing the violin at Mt. Olivet nese for 13 months before she
B aptist C hurch under Pastor transferred to West Powellhurst
Luther Stohs and spent four years in the David Douglas School dis
in the orchestra program in the trict for 2nd grade.
DDSD soaring to Cindy Raxter’s
Due to school zoning chang
A dvanced O rchestra with the ing, Haseena was homeschooled
grade A+.
for 3rd grade and then attended
"I just paid attention in class, Trillium Charter for 4th grade and
did extra credit homework assign Mill Park Elementary school for
ments and studied," said Haseena 5th grade.
of her achieved goals. She hopes
In the future, she plans on con
to inspire others students.
tinuing orchestra with a goal of
Despite moving schools sev auditioning for the Portland's
eral times throughout her early Youth Symphony. She would like
school history, she has had much to attend David Douglas High
academic success.
School and is interested in Veteri
She was a graduate o f Ron narian Medicine.
Herndon's Albina Head Start pro
—From the Hill, Polk, and
gram in 2002 where she was tested Warren families.