The new blue/gold calendar for semester 2 is available below, and also from the calendars menu at the top of the website. In addition to school being in session on February 19, please note the changes to the last week of school in June.
2023-2024 Academic Calendar — revised 2/2024
As a gift to graduating seniors at West Albany High School, parents of the graduating class help to organize a Senior All-Night Party. This event happens every year immediately following graduation. For the graduating class of 2024, the Senior All-Night Party will happen immediately following graduation on June 6th, 2024 at the YMCA here in Albany.
For more information, visit the website: https://west-albany-senior-all-night-party.square.site/
Recently, the Greater Albany School Board approved a motion to make Oak Grove Elementary and West Albany High School eligible for free meals. This change is effective immediately and does not require any action from families. With this change, all students in GAPS may receive free breakfast and free lunch everyday. Students will still have the option to purchase à la carte items such as an additional entree, milk, or juice for a small fee.
“We are pleased to add Oak Grove and West Albany to the Community Eligibility Provision. Providing healthy meals to our students ensures they have the nutrients they need to learn and grow,” said Superintendent Andy Gardner.
No cost school meals are possible through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). CEP is a meal service, authorized under the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, for districts in income eligible communities. Schools who qualify and adopt this program are reimbursed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Oregon Department of Education (ODE). Once eligible, the district may participate for up to three years before needing to reapply. In September, the USDA announced an expansion of the program, meaning more schools have the ability to qualify for CEP. Through this recent update, GAPS was able to expand the program to include all schools in the district.
Recent changes related to CEP do not clear existing balances prior to January 1, 2024. Families with outstanding balances will be contacted to make their payments, but no new debt will be accrued. Families with a positive balance may donate funds to support other families in the district. Please contact Nutrition Services or your school for more information on how to donate funds.
GAPS aims to provide students with nutritious and balanced meals. All meals include fresh fruits and vegetables and nonfat or 1% milk. In order for the meals to qualify for CEP, students must take at least a half cup of fruit or vegetables at each meal. For breakfast, students must take three of the four items offered and at lunch students must choose three of the five items offered. This is to encourage students to have a balanced meal of fruits, vegetables, meat (or meat alternative), grain, and dairy while allowing flexibility for taste preferences.
CEP eliminates the need for schools to collect household income applications by using eligibility data from federal assistance programs, reducing extra work for schools and families. Through these updates, more students are receiving nutritious meals each day. For any additional questions about CEP or school meals, please visit the district website.
Recientemente, la Mesa Directiva Escolar de Greater Albany aprobó una moción para que la primaria Oak Grove Elementary y la preparatoria West Albany High School sean elegibles para brindar comidas gratuitas. Este cambio es efectivo de inmediato y no requiere ninguna acción por parte de las familias. Con este cambio, todos los estudiantes en GAPS pueden recibir desayuno y almuerzo gratis todos los días. Los estudiantes todavía tendrán la opción de comprar alimentos del menú, como un plato principal adicional, leche o jugo por un pequeño costo.
“Nos complace agregar las escuelas Oak Grove y West Albany a la Disposición de Elegibilidad Comunitaria. Proporcionar comidas saludables a nuestros estudiantes asegura que tengan los nutrientes que necesitan para aprender y crecer”, dijo el Superintendente Andy Gardner.
Las comidas sin costo en las escuelas son posibles a través del Programa Disposición de Elegibilidad Comunitaria (CEP, por sus siglas en inglés). CEP es un servicio de comidas, autorizado bajo el Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (Ley de Niños Saludables y Sin Hambre del 2010), para distritos en comunidades elegibles por ingresos. Las escuelas que califican y adoptan este programa reciben un reembolso del Departamento de Agricultura de los EE. UU. (USDA) y del Departamento de Educación de Oregón (ODE). Una vez elegible, el distrito puede participar durante hasta tres años antes de volver a solicitar. En septiembre, el Departamento de Agricultura de los Estados Unidos (USDA, por sus siglas en inglés) anunció una expansión del programa, lo que significa que más escuelas tienen la capacidad de calificar para CEP. A través de esta actualización reciente, GAPS pudo expandir el programa para incluir todas las escuelas en el distrito.
Los cambios recientes relacionados con CEP no eliminan los saldos pendientes anteriores al 1 de enero de 2024. Se contactará a las familias con saldos pendientes para que realicen sus pagos, pero no se acumularán nuevas deudas.
GAPS tiene como objetivo proporcionar a los estudiantes comidas nutritivas y equilibradas. Todas las comidas incluyen frutas y verduras frescas y leche descremada o al 1%. Para que las comidas califiquen bajo CEP, los estudiantes deben tomar al menos media taza de frutas o verduras en cada comida. Para el desayuno, los estudiantes deben tomar tres de los cuatro alimentos ofrecidos y en el almuerzo, los estudiantes deben elegir tres de los cinco alimentos ofrecidos. Esto es para fomentar que los estudiantes tengan una comida equilibrada de frutas, verduras, carne (o alternativa de carne), cereales y productos lácteos, al mismo tiempo permitiendo elecciones según las preferencias del gusto, cereales y productos lácteos.
CEP elimina la necesidad de que las escuelas recopilen solicitudes con ingresos familiares utilizando datos de elegibilidad de programas federales de asistencia, reduciendo el trabajo adicional para las escuelas y las familias. A través de estas actualizaciones, más estudiantes están recibiendo comidas nutritivas cada día. Para cualquier pregunta adicional sobre CEP o las comidas escolares, visite el sitio web del distrito.
Greater Albany Public Schools is pleased to announce the confirmation of several administrators for the 2024-25 school year. Additionally, one administrator will be moving to a new position in the district.
Calapooia Middle School Principal Tristan Heisley has accepted a position with West Albany High School to serve as an Assistant Principal beginning the 2024-25 school year. In addition to Heisley’s move, three administrators were confirmed for the next school year after serving this year as an interim. Administrators who will retain their positions on a permanent basis include: West Albany Principal Rich Engel; South Albany Assistant Principal Anna Harryman; and Waverly Elementary Principal Tabatha Cornelson.
Tabatha Cornelson has worked for GAPS since 2017 and in education for the last 12 years. She began her journey in California as a secretary for the special education department in the Moreno Valley Unified School District. She then taught fourth grade for four years before moving to Oregon in 2017 to work for GAPS. In Oregon, she taught first grade for three years at Clover Ridge and transitioned to third grade at Meadow Ridge. Prior to being named Interim Principal, Cornelson worked as an instructional coach at Waverly Elementary. Cornelson has her Bachelor of Arts, master’s degree with a focus on professional learning communities, and holds an administrative license.
Rich Engel had served as an Assistant Principal at West Albany since 2012 prior to being named the Interim Principal in September 2023. He has also served as the school’s Athletic Director (2010-2016), Dean of Students (2009-2012), and as a Special Education Teacher at the school from 2005-2010. While most of his career has been spent at GAPS, Engel has also worked as the Head Football Coach at nearby Jefferson High School and as an Attendance Officer for Linn-Benton-Lincoln ESD. In 2018, Engel earned the Coalition of Oregon School Administrators Assistant Principal of the Year award. He has served in several roles with the Oregon School Activities Association including as a member of the OSAA Delegate Assembly (2018-2022); OSAA State Championship Committee (2018-2022); and is currently a member of the OSAA Eligibility Appeals Board.
Anna Harryman joined the district from the Corvallis School District in 2011 as a support staff member at Albany Options School. She student-taught for a year at South Albany High School, after which she was hired as a teacher at Albany Options School, teaching English Language Arts, Social Studies, and Family and Consumer Sciences. Harryman went on to earn her counseling license and become a counselor at AOS as well as the district Lead Counselor and Suicide Prevention Coordinator. Last year Harryman joined West Albany High School as the Dean of Students. In October, she was appointed interim Assistant Principal at South Albany High School and continues in her role as district Suicide Prevention Coordinator.
Tristan Heisley has been an educator for 19 years, both in Arizona and Oregon. He spent the first seven years of his career as a high school social studies teacher at Williams High School in Williams, Ariz., before becoming the principal of the school for the following two years. After moving to Albany in 2014, he served as the assistant principal of Timber Ridge School for four years. For the past six years, Heisley has been the principal of Calapooia Middle School.
Las Escuelas Públicas de Greater Albany (GAPS) se complacen en anunciar la confirmación de varios administradores para el año escolar 2024-25. Además, un administrador se trasladará a un nuevo cargo en el distrito.
El Director de la secundaria Calapooia Middle School, Sr. Tristan Heisley, ha aceptado un puesto en la preparatoria West Albany High School para desempeñarse como Subdirector a partir del año escolar 2024-25. Además del movimiento del Sr. Heisley, tres administradores fueron confirmados para el próximo año escolar después de haber servido este año como interinos. Los administradores que mantendrán sus puestos de manera permanente incluyen al Director de la Escuela Preparatoria West Albany, Sr. Rich Engel; la Subdirectora de la Escuela Preparatoria South Albany, Sra. Anna Harryman; y la Directora de la Escuela Primaria Waverly, Sra. Tabatha Cornelson.
La Sra. Tabatha Cornelson ha trabajado para GAPS desde 2017 y en educación durante los últimos 12 años. Comenzó su trayectoria en California como secretaria del departamento de educación especial en el distrito escolar Moreno Valley Unified School District. Luego enseñó cuarto grado durante cuatro años antes de mudarse a Oregón en 2017 para trabajar en GAPS. En Oregon, enseñó primer grado durante tres años en la Escuela Primaria Clover Ridge y pasó a tercer grado en la Escuela Primaria Meadow Ridge. Antes de ser nombrada Directora Interina, la Sra. Cornelson trabajó como entrenadora instructiva en la Escuela Primaria Waverly. La Sra. Cornelson tiene su Licenciatura en Artes, una maestría con enfoque en comunidades de aprendizaje profesional y posee una licencia administrativa.
El Sr. Rich Engel se ha desempeñado como Subdirector en la Escuela Preparatoria West Albany desde 2012, antes de ser nombrado director interino en septiembre del 2023. También ha sido el Director Atlético de la escuela (2010-2016), Decano de Estudiantes (2009-2012) y Maestro de Educación Especial en la escuela del 2005 al 2010. Aunque la mayor parte de su carrera la ha pasado en GAPS, el Sr. Engel también ha trabajado como Entrenador Principal de fútbol americano en la cercana Escuela Preparatoria Jefferson High School y como Oficial de Asistencia para Linn-Benton-Lincoln ESD. En 2018, el Sr. Engel recibió el premio Coalition of Oregon School Administrators Assistant Principal of the Year (Subdirector del Año de la Coalición de Administradores Escolares de Oregon). Ha ocupado varios roles en el Oregon School Activities Association (Asociación de Actividades Escolares de Oregon, OSAA por sus siglas en inglés), incluyendo como miembro del OSAA Delegate Assembly (2018-2022) [Asamblea Delegada de la OSAA]; OSAA State Championship Committee (2018-2022) [Comité de Campeonatos Estatales de la OSAA ]; y actualmente es miembro del OSAA Eligibility Appeals Board (Mesa Directiva de Apelaciones de Elegibilidad de la OSAA).
La Sra. Anna Harryman se unió a nuestro distrito desde el Distrito Escolar de Corvallis en 2011 como miembro del personal de apoyo en la Escuela Albany Options (AOS). Hizo su práctica docente durante un año en la preparatoria South Albany High School, después de lo cual fue contratada como maestra en Albany Options School, enseñando Artes del Lenguaje inglés, Estudios Sociales y Ciencias de la Familia y del Consumidor. La Sra. Harryman obtuvo su licencia de consejería y fue consejera en AOS, incluso fue la Consejera Principal del distrito y Coordinadora de Prevención del Suicidio. El año pasado, la Sra. Harryman se unió a la preparatoria West Albany High School como Decana de Estudiantes. En octubre, fue nombrada Subdirectora Interina en la preparatoria South Albany High School y continúa en su papel como Coordinadora de Prevención del Suicidio del distrito.
El Sr. Tristan Heisley ha sido educador durante 19 años, tanto en Arizona como en Oregon. Pasó los primeros siete años de su carrera como maestro de estudios sociales en la preparatoria Williams High School en Williams, Arizona, antes de convertirse en el director de la escuela durante los dos años siguientes. Después de mudarse a Albany en 2014, se desempeñó como Subdirector de la escuela Timber Ridge School durante cuatro años. Durante los últimos seis años, el Sr. Heisley ha sido el Director de la secundaria Calapooia Middle School.
Great news for students!
All enrolled students at West Albany High School are once again eligible to receive breakfast and lunch at school at no charge for the remainder of the 2024 school year. We anticipate this opportunity will continue for the next three school years. No further action is required of you; no application is necessary. The only requirement is that students take the necessary food items for a reimbursable meal, which includes 1/2 cup of fruit or vegetable at each meal.
We have backdated eligibility to January 1, 2024. This means that if you paid for lunches after that date, your MealTime accounts will be credited accordingly. Your accounts may still be used to purchase additional food items, or you may contact Nutrition Services or your school office to make arrangements for a refund.
You can see the West Albany 2023 Winter Talent Assembly at the link below, beginning at 8:45 a.m. on Friday, December 15, 2023. Congratulations to all of our amazing participants!
Winter At West
Monday, December 11 — 7:00 p.m.
Albany Perfoming Arts Center
Winter at West Concierto de Invierno
Lunes, diciembre 11 — 7:00 pm
Albany Performing Arts Center