CAPS at Springdale School

There will be an informational meeting regarding the new Corbett Arts Program with Spanish (CAPS) at Springdale School on May 1st at 7:00pm in the MPB on the main Corbett campus. All families who are interested in learning more are encouraged to attend. Registration for the new program will also begin on May 1st through our website. CAPS will be a K-8 program in the initial phase beginning next year. Come join us on May 1st to find out more!

Our five Corbett intermediate classes participated in a reenactment of the Oregon Trail as the culminating activity for our Westward Expansion unit. Wagon groups were formed of five or six students each. Each group mixed up bread dough, which was baked by our wonderful kitchen staff. Groups converted Radio Flyers to Prairie Schooners, stitched covers for their wagons, and loaded up with some food.

Pioneers set off from Independence on Thursday afternoon, April 12th. Almost immediately, each group had to rope their wagon in order to negotiate Windlass Hill. Some groups were more successful than others! At the bottom of the hill, groups enjoyed a respite at Ash Hollow, and were allowed to wash up and refresh themselves. Back on the trail again, groups met some Mormons, who warned them of cholera ahead. Sure enough, our pioneers had to stop and assist in grave digging for some unfortunate emigrants. More travelers on the trail urged our groups to turn back, due to the difficulties ahead. Our intrepid travelers persevered, and were rewarded for their efforts, as many of them discovered gold!

The hardships were not over. Due to storms and a bridge washing out, the wagons had to ford the North Platte River. Everyone waded the river; luckily with no loss of life. Another hill faced our hardy pioneers. Once reaching the top, they each recorded their initials on Independence Rock, to prove that they made it that far and to encourage those traveling behind. Next came the opportunity to add to their supply of food. The woods were teeming with wild animals. Quite a few folks successfully hunted. Some reported that the stew made from their fresh game was delicious.

Many of our pioneers offered spare food to the poor souls that they next encountered on the trail. These folks, by the name of Donner, were starving and planned to take a shortcut to California. Other folks at Fort Hall also tried to convince our parties of the merits of California, but our valiant groups continued on the trail to Oregon. In the Blue Mountains, our travelers learned of the abundant forest resources and then were offered water and encouragement at the Whitman Mission. All groups traveled the Barlow Road around Mt. Hood, rather than facing the dangerous rapids of the Columbia River. Most of the pioneers paid a toll to Sam Barlow, but a few were either very persuasive or very pathetic, and passed the tollgate without charge.

This was a special day for the primary classrooms of Corbett Grade School.  All year, we have been counting how many days of school we have had.  Today we reached the THRILLING number of 100.  Our parade was filled with the jubilant sounds of drums, recorders, guitars, triangles, trumpets, horns and many other instruments all playing at the same time.  Needless to say, the audiences lining the hallway were in awe!

Mrs. Bonnie Lilly

By Megan Shaw -

Bonnie Lilly has just started her thirty-third year of teaching at Corbett Grade School. Through these years, teaching fads and programs have come and gone. Every decade seemed to bring a new “focus” for educators. One might think when you’re at the point in your career that Bonnie is, it would be simple to do the easiest thing by putting in the minimum time required and not continue to grow professionally. If one believed this about a veteran teacher, then they have not met Mrs. Lilly.

For years, the teachers at Corbett Grade School have taught in multi-age classrooms of two grade levels. During the last three school years, Bonnie and the other primary teachers at Corbett have taught in multi-age classrooms that span three grades: kindergarten through second grade. People who are unfamiliar with this classroom configuration shake their heads in disbelief: “How can this work”?  “Not Possible”! “Huh”? These are all murmurings teachers of multi-age classrooms hear frequently.

Seeing Bonnie’s approach to multi-age in action will silence even the most fervent skeptic. It is like watching a master juggler at work. She uses a rotation of centers to accommodate the various skills and needs of her students.  The morning is comprised of language arts centers, which span from learning letters to reading and responding to chapter books. The numbers of each group fluctuate depending on when a student is ready to move to another group. For a given amount of time she meets with a group while the other kids work from folders or participate in class projects or activities.  She has designed her math hour in the same fashion.

Bonnie believes that the use of centers allows her to meet children’s individual needs while providing the structure that helps young children feel secure. She says, “The centers are consistent, predictable and routine, the children know what is expected of them”. When they are not meeting with her, everyone just gets to work.

Bonnie’s experience is an asset to our staff. Her generosity in sharing ideas and strategies has helped her colleagues many times in their own personal growth.

Gresham Lions Supper Club members Mary Warren (left) and Judy Giorgi (right) present backpacks to Grade School Principal DeeDee Hanes (middle)

The Gresham Lions Supper Club generously donated ten brand new backpacks filled with school supplies. They are intended for families that are in need of assistance in acquiring supplies for the start of school. The grade school office still has one pink backpack available for anyone in need.

Please contact DeeDee Hanes, Corbett Grade School Principal, at 503-261-4245 or dhanes@corbett.k12.or.us if your student would benefit from the Lions Supper Club’s generosity.

by Reed Sloan, Student Artist

Welcome to the principal’s corner!

As this site develops, so will the content published in this special category.  In addition to direct contact with me and our teachers, CSD is pleased to provide more granular access to specific notes from the school and individual classrooms.  With this increased access to news and teacher updates published on the website comes a wide array of subscription options.  Using the links provided on the Connect page, families can easily define what information (news and/or teacher notes) they wish to receive, as well as how they receive this information; delivery options for each category of news and/or teacher notes includes email, text message (SMS), Twitter and RSS.

We are looking forward to a wonderful 2011-2012 school year!