Category Archives: Uncategorized

Salem teacher runner-up for teacher of the year 8:42 a.m. PDT October 30, 2015 When Deputy Superintendent Salam Noor announced the Oregon Teacher of the Year for 2015 on Monday, he didn’t call Maureen Foelkl’s name. But that didn’t bother Foelkl. She was just honored to be in the running. “So many great teachers were nominated andContinueContinue reading “Salem teacher runner-up for teacher of the year”

Youth farm grows future leaders, helps the hungry 6:33 p.m. PDT October 28, 2015 Ever since Lillian Poole was a child, she has loved playing in the dirt. But she didn’t just love the feel of earth between her fingers. She loved what that earth could do. She loved that she could make food withContinueContinue reading “Youth farm grows future leaders, helps the hungry”

Students demand gun violence reform 3:43 p.m. PDT October 27, 2015 When students at Willamette University heard about the Umpqua Community College shooting, something inside them boiled over. “I think… there was a moment when it hit too close to home,” said senior Madison Hall. “Roseburg was a realization that these shootings are relevant to every personContinueContinue reading “Students demand gun violence reform”

Students empowered at conference 7:40 p.m. PDT October 23, 2015 The Contributing Voices conference held at Western Oregon University on Friday had one message for the students in attendance: Your voice counts. More than 600 ninth graders from the Salem-Keizer School District attended the second annual Contributing Voices conference in Monmouth,where they listened to guest speakers, participated inContinueContinue reading “Students empowered at conference”

New app to make schools safer for students 11:53 a.m. PDT October 22, 2015 School shootings, natural disasters and other crises have left educators wondering what they can do to make students safer at school. Gervais School District has taken a step toward safety — with a new crisis-response app for smart phones called Crisis Go. TheContinueContinue reading “New app to make schools safer for students”

Oregon graduation rate improves, still lags 5:42 p.m. PDT October 19, 2015 Oregon high schools improved their graduation rates last school year, but the state still has the fourth-lowest rate in country, according to data released by the U.S. Department of Education on Monday. Only Nevada, Alaska and the District of Columbia had lower rates than Oregon’sContinueContinue reading “Oregon graduation rate improves, still lags”

Graduate exposed to Syrian refugee crisis 7:54 p.m. PDT October 18, 2015 It was always a dream of Eriqa Hermen’s to backpack across eastern Europe. When her friend wanted to go, too, they planned for the month-long adventure. Hermen was ready and raring to go. But instead of simply crossing an item off her bucket list, the recentContinueContinue reading “Graduate exposed to Syrian refugee crisis”

What is being done about class sizes? 2:09 p.m. PDT October 17, 2015 Tim McFarland witnesses the negative effects of large class sizes every day. As a special education teacher at Englewood Elementary School in Salem, he works with students with disabilities, from kindergarten through fifth grade. And when it comes to large class sizes, he said, “I’m soContinueContinue reading “What is being done about class sizes?”

Salem students meet with Jane Goodall 6:35 p.m. PDT October 15, 2015 Maya Kaup wants to live among the sloths. A student of biology and Spanish at Willamette University, Kaup has always felt a strong connections with animals, even more than with humans. “I am always really busy, always on the go,” she said. “Sloths areContinueContinue reading “Salem students meet with Jane Goodall”

State ratings of schools paused for one year 6:54 p.m. PDT October 15, 2015 Parents and community members wanting to learn how their local schools performed academically this past year won’t find it in the latest school report cards issued by the state Department of Education. This year’s report cards don’t include ratings, as the ratings portion ofContinueContinue reading “State ratings of schools paused for one year”