NCSD News

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.

Whether it’s in elementary, middle, or high school, every NCSD staff member is dedicated to making sure all students feel a sense of belonging in every classroom. In many schools, teachers take time during their daily schedules to allow students to share their thoughts—which are less about reading, writing, and math…and more about how to lift each other’s spirits while being a good person. Take a look at how daily “class meetings” have transformed the dynamics of one Oregon Trail Elementary classroom.

There’s quite a buzz happening each week in our Sabin-Schellenberg’s Cosmetology program, and it’s not just the electric clippers snipping the final touches on a perfect haircut. That’s because several days throughout the school year are Client Days, when NCSD community members make appointments with Cosmetology students for salon services ranging from haircuts to highlights and perms to pedicures. Settle in to see how students handle all the hands-on happenings.

Each day, Happy Valley Elementary students Miles and Blake like to play with their friends at recess. But earlier this year, the two brothers made hundreds of new, older friends playing "Cupid" for the City of Happy Valley. The boys spent an afternoon paying surprise visits to seniors at several local care facilities, delivering more than 700 “Care Cards,” handmade by students at their school, Scouters Mountain, and Mt. Scott elementary schools. Don’t miss this heartwarming story full of charmful chats and a few cheerful tears showing you’re never too old to feel loved.

It had all the dribbling, shooting, and cheering of a rival high school basketball game, but a recent afternoon contest between Milwaukie and Putnam high schools had fans excitedly rooting for both teams. By bringing student athletes together with and without intellectual disabilities, Unified Basketball proves it’s less about points on the scoreboard…and much more about encouragement, opportunity, and most of all…inclusion. Grab a courtside seat for all the high energy and high fives that come from attending this NCSD heartwarming hoops program.

When an elementary school’s Leadership Team needed help counting coins from a recent fundraiser, it only made "cents" to call older role models from right up the street! That’s why Rex Putnam Leadership students gladly accepted the special invitation from Riverside to help with the Tigers’ coin counting, which turned into an unforgettable field trip teaching students of all ages about leadership, collaboration, and inspiring others.

This past fall marked the third time in the past four years that an NCSD teacher was named the Oregon Regional Teacher of the Year. What is it about Robert Parker’s hands-on teaching style that makes him so revered among students from all NCSD high schools? Hear directly from his students in class, as the architecture teacher reflects upon life experiences that led him to Sabin-Schellenberg, and why he believes NCSD’s commitment to Career Technical Education is paving the way for student success.

As part of our Social Emotional Learning curriculum in elementary, middle, and high school, all NCSD staff members are dedicated to making sure all students feel safe, welcome, and celebrated as members of a learning community where everybody belongs. This week, we visit Verne Duncan Elementary for a heartwarming look at how teacher Brian Pfaff fosters that deep sense of belonging with each of his 25+ fifth graders…by letting them brightly shine in his classroom’s weekly Student Spotlight.