North Clackamas
School District
February 2026
![A young person wearing a black hoodie and a green hat with a logo stands in a classroom setting, holding a figurine.]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1771887578/nclackk12orus/ebtr9ltblafz1qj4zkjk/IMG_0813.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1771887578/nclackk12orus/ebtr9ltblafz1qj4zkjk/IMG_0813.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1771887578/nclackk12orus/ebtr9ltblafz1qj4zkjk/IMG_0813.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1771887578/nclackk12orus/ebtr9ltblafz1qj4zkjk/IMG_0813.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1771887578/nclackk12orus/ebtr9ltblafz1qj4zkjk/IMG_0813.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1771887578/nclackk12orus/ebtr9ltblafz1qj4zkjk/IMG_0813.jpg","width":2200}])
Search through any vocabulary list, and there are dozens of word pairings to describe something showcasing a significant cultural impact: cultural tradition, cultural significance, cultural experience, or cultural understanding to name a few.
But through an amazing showcase of their own now on display in the school library, Ceramics students at Alder Creek Middle School have created a brand-new word pairing that’s catching the eyes of every student and staff member who walks by. After kneading together long hours of research with a small lump of clay, each student artist proudly constructed spectacularly stunning cultural creatures.
![The image shows a group of four people, three men and one woman, posing together and smiling. They appear to be in an indoor setting, possibly an office or conference room, with a plain beige wall in the background.]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1770672570/nclackk12orus/o48vfbt6jd7ksxraegmk/OMEA2.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1770672570/nclackk12orus/o48vfbt6jd7ksxraegmk/OMEA2.jpg","width":512}])
When athletic seasons culminate at NCSD high schools throughout the school year, it’s a rare honor for an NCSD student to receive all-state recognition, especially with thousands of students competing statewide for limited slots.
Yet nearly 50 North Clackamas students recently earned that coveted ultimate recognition…not for an outstanding performance playing a sport, but for an equally impressive performance playing an instrument or showing off their vocal range.