See the story online 4:09 p.m. PDT June 5, 2016 Oregon's Chief Education Office released a report on chronic absenteeism last week examining barriers to regular school attendance, for the first time, from the perspective of students and families. Based on the responses they collected from strategic focus groups, the report gave six suggestions to address absenteeism in the state:Continue reading "Report: Missing school for a reason"

See the story online 8:24 p.m. PDT June 4, 2016 A wood shop class at Waldo Middle School in Salem is working on various projects to help people in the area. One group finished a wardrobe this week that the HOME Youth and Resource Center in Salem will use for their job preparation program. The wardrobe will hold clothesContinue reading "Students build wardrobe, give to people in need"

See the story online 6:18 p.m. PDT May 27, 2016 Application. Waitlist. Overqualified. Underqualified. Wait in line. These words and phrases were repeated over and over again as students at Western Oregon University took on the personas of the homeless Thursday evening. The university's Education Club organized the homeless simulation, modeled after a Habitat for Humanity program.Continue reading "Western students step into shoes of the homeless"

See the story online 7:15 p.m. PDT May 26, 2016 There weren't many dry eyes in the room Thursday afternoon when South Salem High School graduating senior Calista Kountz thanked her parents for all they have done for her. Calista, 18, worked with the Salem-Keizer School District to surprise and thank her father, Erick Kountz, at his workplace, the OregonContinue reading "Students surprise parents, thank them for graduation"

See the story online 7:34 a.m. PDT May 25, 2016   (Photo: Michael Davis)   For the past school year, I have spent an hour every Friday at a Salem elementary school reading to two students as a SMART volunteer. When I was asked to volunteer for Start Marking A Reader Today, I was worriedContinue reading "What I’ve learned as a SMART volunteer"

See the story online at StatesmanJournal.com 9:22 a.m. PDT May 20, 2016 The P.E. bus will continue to roll for students in the Falls City School District. A bond measure that would have paid for a new gymnasium for elementary and middle school students failed on Tuesday by the narrowest of margins. It fell 11Continue reading "Falls City bond measure fails by 11 votes"

Stephens Middle addresses bullying head on 9:06 p.m. PDT May 19, 2016 Students at Stephens Middle School in Salem are taking up the topic of bullying behaviors  in an instructional advisory class on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Tuesday morning, the students discussed what bullying looks like at Stephens, what some of the root causes might be, and howContinue reading "Stephens Middle addresses bullying head on"

WOU students learn to serve the community via birthday party, dance 9:32 p.m. PDT May 17, 2016 Goodie bags, $5. Mother's gift bags, $6. A party to celebrate your birthday? Priceless. On Sunday, a communications and event-planning class at Western Oregon University threw a birthday party for two people staying at Simonka Place in Keizer. The students partnered with theContinue reading "WOU students learn to serve the community via birthday party, dance"

Student earns scholarship to pursue health care dream 11:36 a.m. PDT May 12, 2016 Estefanía Ramos Torres knew she wanted to work in health care before she started first grade. She heard her uncle's artificial valve beat differently than a traditional heart beat and a spark of curiosity ignited. Torres asked her mother why his heartContinue reading "Student earns scholarship to pursue health care dream"