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In this inspiring debut episode of Season #4, we catch up with Superintendent Dr. Shay James as she wraps up her districtwide tour of every NCSD school within the first six weeks of the year. Joined by Assistant Superintendent Dr. Ivonne Dibblee and Executive Director of Teaching & Learning Tammy O’Neill, Dr. James details what impressed her the most during her visits, especially when it comes to how NCSD teachers are consistently structuring their lesson plans. Meanwhile, Dr. Dibblee takes a “STOIC” approach to the impressive way teachers are engaging with students, and Director O’Neill shares inspirational stories about how NCSD staff are reshaping student behavior through daily doses of positivity.

You’re provided one solid block of metal, two axles, and four small plastic tires. Your mission? Use only these materials to cover the most distance using one model rocket engine as your fuel source. Why yes, this IS rocket science, and it’s part of the Machine Tool Technology course in Sabin Schellenberg’s Manufacturing Engineering Program. Just how far did these rocket-powered projectiles buzz from blueprint to blacktop? Buckle up!

The Building Construction program at our Sabin-Schellenberg Center is becoming so popular, it’s running out of classroom space. So how do Building Construction students solve the problem? They build their own classroom right on campus! These advanced students are building their own outdoor classroom space one board at a time, and plan to start officially using their new outdoor spot in the next few weeks!

As many of our young athletes spend their early evenings taking a hands-on approach to improving their skills, Milwaukie Academy of the Arts student Anya Brown-Eaton is instead focused on their feet.  The 14-year-old has made it her mission to make sure student athletes in all grades have access to comfortable cleats or court shoes in their size.

“I’ve actually seen over the years of playing with my little brother at parks that some kids have worn down shoes,” said the ambitious freshman.  “So I told my mom who said there’s a need at the Wichita Center, and that’s where I got my idea.”

That idea for Eaton-Brown, who admits she isn’t much of an athlete herself, was to conduct her own athletic shoe drive at a local park in late August. 

Students in our summer CARE program always have a great time participating in summer activities, but we visited on a day they were having a WHEELIE great time! Special thanks to the Rose City Rollers for rolling through Ardenwald with their truck full of skates and safety equipment, allowing many of our CARE participants the chance to try out roller skating for the very first time!

Did you know that every elementary classroom science kit can contain hundreds of loose items, from plastic cups, to straws, to rubber bands, to even specific size marbles? So what happens if a kit is missing any of those supplies? That’s where this amazing team comes in each summer! Get ready to be “Blinded By Science,” as these amazing NCSD staff members spend long hours every summer counting (and recounting) every piece of equipment elementary teachers need for science success!

Doesn’t matter if it’s during the first few minutes of the day in high, middle, or elementary school, those opening moments of class are a perfect time to set a positive tone for the entire upcoming day. That’s why many NCSD elementary classrooms don’t start the day with a morning math problem or reading assignment…but instead focus on morning circle time. As our series on Social Emotional Learning lessons continues, see how Rachel Wong, currently a K-3 Literacy Coach at Bilquist Elementary, keeps students from feeling down by simply circling them up.

As the end of another school year draws near, many North Clackamas high school seniors are thrilled to accept college tuition offers for skills ranging from academics, to special trades, to athletics. But Rex Putnam senior Hayden Gonzales is the first NCSD student to receive a unique athletic scholarship for a skill he perfected playing in his own backyard. Meet Putnam’s very own king…of cornhole.

Dedicated Food Network fans know that celebrity chef Jet Tila has sliced and diced hundreds of delectable dishes in front of some very competitive critics. He’s appeared on the network’s hit shows like Beat Bobby Flay, Chopped, Iron Chef America, and even won a $20,000 prize for his work on Guy’s Grocery Games. Still, the internationally known culinary ambassador for Thailand said he felt a different kind of energy as a recent surprise visitor to NCSD’s Sabin-Schellenberg Professional Technical Center.

In 1924-25, the world surrounding the North Clackamas School District looked very different. In fact, NCSD itself wouldn’t exist for nearly another 50 years. Homes didn’t have microwaves, refrigerators, or even bathrooms. But that same year, a brand-new school opened in Milwaukie, becoming a cornerstone of local education that still welcomes smiling students and staff members (in a beautiful new building) every day! This year marks the 100th birthday of our own Ardenwald Elementary, and this episode takes a unique approach to celebrating this historic milestone as current students take over hosting duties and interview former Ardenwald alumni from the 2000s…all the way back to the 1960s!