NCSD News

The sounds echoing throughout Rowe Middle School's hallways during this past July might've caught visitors a little off guard.  What would normally be a silent summertime kitchen was actually brimming with students noisily clanging bowls and measuring cups.  The stage area, usually vacant and reserved for a deep scrubbing once the school year ends, suddenly became a lively spot for student drum and electric guitar solos, and even fancy DJ equipment.

When Jake Lee asked his kindergarten students at Scouters Mountain Elementary about ways they could spread kindness throughout local neighborhoods, all 24 of his enthusiastic five- and six-year-olds immediately signed up. And by “signing up,” that meant putting motivational signs up at landmarks all over the Scouters Mountain and Happy Valley area, including walking trails, parks, and even the local library. See how the kindness is spreading beyond the classroom and throughout the community.

Where else can you come face-to-face with a 3-day-old sheep, pet the soft fur of a llama, and meet a duck with a comb over? President's Day was also Red Bard Baby Day at the Sabin-Schellenberg Center's Land Lab! We tag along with the hundreds of community members who came to visit the amazing animals at this annual favorite event, while learning from NCSD Agriculture students helping raise the furry and feathered friends as part of their Land Lab coursework!

With each NCSD school serving hundreds of hot lunches every day, sometimes an entrée can make a student’s mouth water before the first bite, while the same featured food can make another student’s nose crinkle. But as some Scouters Mountain third graders recently found out, our kindhearted Nutrition Department staff members will do anything to make sure students love their lunch choices…especially when their office receives fan mail!

We love our North Clackamas families! Thanks to your partnership, NCSD shined in the latest high school graduation rates announced today! Our schools outpaced the state average for the 12th consecutive year!

A giant pink stuffed unicorn is taking the Milwaukie High School hallways by storm! "Atta Baby" is awarded to a student recognized for going above-and-beyond to do amazing things for Milwaukie High. The student also gets to add a little personal style to Atta-Baby's wardrobe.

Lights, Camera, Action! Students in the Broadcasting and Journalism program recently hosted the National Teach Ag Day webcast from their studio at the Sabin-Schellenberg Technical Center. Hear from the student Executive Producer about her experience putting on a live show, and the importance of this event for both the Broadcast/Journalism program and the Agriculture program.

Sometimes, elementary students can drive a principal up a wall—literally.  That was the case earlier this week when Happy Valley Elementary students arrived at school to find their principal Heather Hull duct taped to a wall just outside the office.  Hull found herself in this sticky situation after HVE students met their October Jog-A-Thon fundraising goal, which also resulted in her taking a pie to the face at the last schoolwide assembly.

Would the good-sport principal recommend similar consequences for her colleagues?  “Of course!” she exclaimed.  “There’s nothing better than getting taped to a wall at 6:45 in the morning!”

Happy Valley students wholeheartedly agree.  “I thought it was pretty funny,” said third grader Tyson Mitchell.  “I think she should do it again!”

See more of Principal Hull “caught on tape”.

Why were students cheering when a Clackamas County Sheriff’s Deputy suddenly interrupted their classroom to issue one of their classmates a citation?  That’s because the “citation” was actually a Kindness 911 Award, presented to a surprised Nefi DeMoura in the middle of his Alder Creek Middle School class.  The 11-year-old was honored for heroically pulling his younger brother away from an oncoming car during a hit-and-run incident near their bus stop earlier this month. 

“His ability to think ahead and see what was coming literally saved his brother’s life and the people around him,” said Deputy David McCarthy.

“It was really great,” DeMoura said of the surprise visit.  “My friends were already very happy that I saved my brother and they were just excited when they saw the news and they said, ‘Nefi you were on the news!’”

See the full video of the surprise presentation.

All of us in NCSD are so proud of Nefi and his heroic quick thinking!