SriLYAY Tymoo
Warm Springs, Oregon
September II. 1987 PAGK 7
Vocational program will increase opportunities
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Richard Junge Madras High School
Diaz-Bar r accepts challenge
A vocational resource person
will help to meet the goal of improv
ing and enhancing vocational edu
cation at Madras High School.
Hopefully, says new high school
principal and former Madras Jr.
High principal Richard Junge, this
will result in reducing the drop-out
rate and w ill increase effectiveness.
An increased vocational program,
says Junge. "will create more oppor
tunity in and out of school" Iher
chy "increasing job opportunities."
More classes have been added to
the vocational program.
With an "above average" drop
out rate the focus will first focus on
vocational educational opportuni
ties and then on increasing oppor
tunities for college bound students.
"I think we can do better." says
Junge.
Transferring from the position
of principal at Madras Jr. High,
Junge is not interested in making a
major overhaul at the high school
but he does stress that he wishes to
increase effectiveness. He encour
ages a methodology which includes
a well-defined objective in the class-i
room, getting the student ready for
the activity and involving him in
the lesson with the use of models
and active participation. A student
knows what he is supposed to gain
from the lesson. Junge feels.
Teachers will be observed in the
classroom more frequently both
informally and formally. "1 think
it's healthy to know what's going
on in the classroom." He adds.
"I'm usually satisfied." but "some
limes things need fixing."
A policy that has recently been
questioned is that of "open cam
pus." Survey will be distributed
and parents, students and others
will be involved in determining
whether or not this policy will
remain. The rate of non-attendance
will be examined and other schools
with a similar policy will be con
tacted. Logistically, says Junge.
the cafeteria at this time could not
feed all the students.
"I he key thing for me,"emphas
ics Junge." is doing a lot of learn
ing and listening. I want to talk to a
lot of people to see w hat they have
to say about the school and its
programs."
The new principal will also be
looking at the school's curriculum
and looking into the classrooms.
He'll be getting to know the staff
and looking for ways to improve
the teaching effectiveness of the
school.
Student responsibility stressed
It's just like coming back home."
says new Metolius Elementary prin
cipal Amy Diaz-Barr during her
first week at work. Leaving Mad
ras Jr. High where she served as
Assistant Principal. Diaz-Barr is
looking forward to a challenging
year with elementary age students.
Prior to gaining administrative
experience Diaz-Barr taught grades
I through 6. The material, there
fore, is familiar and the position of
principal is one she has long hoped
to attain.
Diaz-Barr will be administrator
to six teachers and ISO students.
Not only is she building principal
but she is also involved as curricu
lum coordinator. Until another assis
tant principal is selected the new
principal will also be acting assist
ant principal at Madras Jr. High.
At Madras Jr. High Diaz-Barr
was the disciplinarian. At Metolius
she will be the disciplinarian coupled
with the warm and loving person
required of a principal. "It's a deli
cate balance." she adds.
During the summer Diaz-Barr
was looking forward to returning
to Madras Jr. High this fall. She
had all her work well organized for
an easy return. She was offered the
position of principal only two weeks
ago. After a slecpness night, con
sidering the responsiblities involved
in the new position, Diaz-Barr wel
comed the chance to serve as ele
mentary principal for the desig
nated one year period of thecontract.
She expressed, "I'm fulfilling a
goal that 1 have. I'm helping the
community. If I didn't feci I could
do a job I wouldn't take it."
With support from other district
administrators and advice from her
predecessors Diaz-Barr is petting
things organized. She's now look
ing forward to the day when the
halls of Metolius Elementary are
filled with students.
Unique cultures emphasized
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Spilyiv Trmoo photo by Sheway
Suzanne Harrison Buff Elementary
S pity ay lymoo photo by Shewctyk
Amy Diaz-Barr Metolius Elementary
A cultural program last year at
Buff Elementary has helped stu
dents become aware of cultural dif
ferences and the uniqueness of each
person. Project Reach, says Buff
Elementary principal Suzanne Har
rison, introduces students to var
ious cultures through discussion
and projects. It culminates in a cul
tural fair open to the community.
Project Reach has several goals,
says Harrison, including: increas
ing human relation skills, develop
ing multi-cultural awareness, in
creasing cultural self-awareness and
providinga cross-cultural experience.
The cultural program followed a
transition at the school where all
the district's sixth grade students
were enrolled at Buff Elementary.
The total population of 280 stu-
Attention given to positive relationships
"Teaching children to develop
positive relationships with other
children" is one of the goals at
Warm Springs Elementary for this
school year, says principal Jane
Westergaard-Nimocks. In her fourth
year as principal at the elementary
school she feels this is an area
where improvement is needed.
A second goal established by the
teaching staff is improving academic
ability in a yet to be determined
area. Last year academic improve
ment was focused on special areas
at each grade level.
A process of "Effective Practices
in Indian Education"developed by
Northwest Laboratory in Portland
has been successfully used the past
year and a half at Warm Springs
Elementary. Teams of teachers con
tinuously reevaluate their teaching
in terms of an established goal.
Students are observed and when
either students or teachers deviate
from the set goals they get back on
track. This process has been very
effective says Westergaard-Nimocks,
allowing all staff members "to focus
in the same direction" along with
increasing communication among
staff members.
During the summer Westergaard
Nimocks studied in New York under
Ken and Rita Dunn who are resear
chers on individual learning styles.
Determining a child's learning style
enables educators to help a child
learn. A child may prefer, for exam
ple, a dimly lit study area rather
than bright lights, or a quiet atmo
sphere as compared to noi?y He
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Jane Westergaard-Nimocks Warm Springs
may learn better by listening rather
than by writing. Or he may prefer
charts and participation. Even if a
teacher cannot use all methods in a
teaching situation it will be more
helpful to the child, says Westergaard
Nimocks. if the teacher understands
thechild's learning stlc. W ith this
inf ormation, she explains, teachers
"can plan for indiv idual differences."
Community members will con
tinue to be involved in school act iv
ities. the principal adds. These acti
vities have "created nice
relationships'between the students
and elders
dents comprise a number of differ
ent cultures.
During the transition year, two
years ago, students were encour
aged to become a part of the school.
The following year, Project Reach
was aimed at helping these stu
dents "to accept the uniqueness"of
their own cultures and that of oth
ers, says Harrison.
"Many students started sharing"
when they began formulating ideas
for their final exhibit at the Cultu
ral Fair, explains Harrison. She
says, "teachers noticed positive atti
tudes." The program will continue
this year with a fair scheduled for
the winter months, Harrison adds.
The principal would like to see
more parents coming into the school,
"It's encouraging to see that there
are parents that feel comfortable
coming in." Music programs bring
most of the parents to the school
but parental assistance could be
used on an ongoing basis in the
classroom, during program prepa
ration and even in the office where
clerical work is required.
Harrison particularly would like
to make the Warm Springs com
munity feel welcome, "They can be
a part of this school," she emphas
izes. "I am interested in having
them here."
As principal at Buff Elementary
for three years and administrator
at Metolius for five years, Harrison
relates that she has enjoyed her
work in this school district. "This is
the best district I have worked in. It
is most supportive from adminis
trators, teaching team and com
munity. There hasn't been any com
parison." Think about children
As you make decisions on how
to act with your children, think
about how it will help their grow th.
Are you thinking about impor
tant things or are you making a big
thingabout simple mistakes? Spill
ing milk or food, wetting pants, or
refusing a certain food is not a big
behavior problem
Many things that parents are
anxious about are not worth the
fuss. But it is wise to take a stand
on important things that will make
them better people and keep them
safe from harm. Helping children
grow from infancy to adulthood is
an exciting experience if you use
common sense and remember hat
is best for them
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Stan Pine Madras Jr. High
Problem solving teams and stu- He feels in the last four years the
dent responsibility are two areas
on which the new Madras Jr. High
principal. Stan Pine, will focus in
the upcoming 1987-88 school year.
Pine has taken the principal posi
tion vacated by Richard Junge
who moved to Madras High School.
He will be assisted by Amy Diaz
Barr who will work at the school
until an assistant principal is selected
for this school year.
Graduating from California State
College at Fullcrton, Pine taught
first and second grade and high
school special education at Madras
and was employed as ESD evalua
tion specialist, testing students who
were referred for behaviorial or
learning problems.
The last three years Pine has
been working at Metolius elemen
tary as half-time principal and half
time special education teacher. He
was also special education coordina
tor. ... Having Jaught .at Madras Jr,
High Pine is familiar with the school.
school has hnili jn a cood reputa
tion. A stable staff has contributed
to this along with the school's
administrators.
Work began last year on an
effective Indian education program
based on problem solving proce
dures. Lulizing a team effort
teachers hope to meet students
needs by identifying individual and
general problems and arriving at
solutions. This program will oper
ate on a school-wide basis.
Developing student responsibil
ity will begin with each student
becoming organized. With the aid
of a 2 inch, 3-ring binder students
will keep all work together and
assignments will be completed and
get turned in, says Pine. Parents
will be able to look at the student's
assignment page to see what work
the student must complete. Parents
will also be able to view graded
papers. "Students will get used to
having their binder' with them."
says Pine.
New reading program initiated
Glenn (Tony) Miller Madras Elementary
Last year absenteeism at Madras
Elementary was kept below 5 per
cent. Once again a reduction in
absenteeism will be a goal, says
Madras Elementary principal Glenn
(Tony) Miller.
Miller in his 26th year with the
509-J district and in his 10th year
as Madras Elementary principal
will be building administrator to 29
certified teachers and 487 students
in grades K-4.
New this year will be a district
wide reading program which focuses
on a child's reading level. Material
will be available for accelerated,
average and slow readers, enabling
each level student to advance at the
his or her own pace.
Also new to Madras Elementary
and othcrdistrict elementary schools
is a counselor. Using informal group
sessions in visits to the classroom
the counselor w ill involve students
in discussions w here they may express
their feelings and work out prob
lems together.
Part of the curriculum at the
elementary school includes a migrant
program which enables students
who move frequently because of
parent's employment to continue
gaining. English as a sc.ond lan
guage i. offered through the program.
Drug and alcohol education will
be a majoi part of the emphasis at
the school this year, says Miller.
Teachers have already attended a
two-day in-service training focus
ing on the"Here's Looking at You"
series.
Parent involvement in the school
remains important. Miller explains.
Madras Elementary parents
and Buff elementary parents
have worked together to raise money
for playground equipment at both
schools. The equipment built locally
cost $800. To purchase it ready
made would have totaled $3,000.
says Miller.
Last year parents and students
collected 69,800 Campbell's soup
labels to purchase a film strip pro
jector, a VHS video recorder, two
overhead projectors and a poliv
roid camera. "With the help of par
ents we are able to come by some
needed equipment." says Miller.
Miller hopes to interest parents
in working towards a marquis for
the school. Activities at the school
can be advertised, hopefullv . attract
ing community members and keep
ing them informed Parents .-i-o
encouraged to become active in the
school and are invited to join the
parent club which is not just a fund
raising group. Parental support is
needed m mam was.