At the George Fox University graduation last weekend, 509-J celebrated as five of the graduates were from our district and co-taught in our schools last year. They participated in the Grow Your Own program of the George Fox University Elementary Education Program.

This program is offered here in Central Oregon and is designed for working adults that have earned some college coursework toward a degree. The program can be completed

while working full time, offering classes in a hybrid format that combines online and face-to-face formats. The program length is 20 months. Four students completed the requirements to earn their Bachelor of Science degrees in Elementary Education. One student completed his Master of Arts in Teaching program.

The 509-J students included in this cohort group were:

• Brayan Gonzalez Celestino, Madras Elementary• Shauna Barnett, Buff Elementary

• Lauren Short, Metolius Elementary• Kayla Kneeland, Warm Springs K-8 Academy• Bradly Padgett, Masters of Arts in Teaching, JCMS/MHS

Jefferson County School District 445 SE Buff Street, Madras, OR 97741 (541) 475-6192 www.jcsd.k12.or.us

509-J CalendarMay7 WSK8 Band Concert, 7 pm at PAC9 JCMS Spring Concert, 7 pm at PAC13 AVID Family Workshop, “Building Career Knowledge”, 6:15 pm at JCMS14 MHS Choir Spring Concert, 7 pm at PAC15 Madras Elementary Kindergarten Welcome, 5 pm21 MHS Band Spring Concert, 7 pm at PAC21 Buff Elementary Kindergarten Welcome, 5 pm30 MHS Scholarship Awards Ceremony, 10 am at PAC

June1 MHS/BHS Graduation, 9 am at MHS Football Field11 Last Day of School for students

Schools in Action!A glimpse into our schools as we learn, teach, accomplish, and achieve great things

May 2019

509-J student teachers earn degrees, credentials in Grow Your Own program

Bachelor of Science degree recipients at George Fox University Redmond Site Graduation Bradly Padgett, Masters of Arts in Teaching

It doesn’t matter whether the absences are excused or unex-cused - EACH missed day represents missed learning time. Missed days add up quickly: When a student misses as few as two days a month, that is 10% of the school year. This increas-es the risk of academic and social-emotional struggles.DID YOU KNOW?• Missing 10%, or about 18 days of the school year, can drasti-

cally affect a student’s academic success.• Chronic absence in kindergarten is associated with lower

academic performance in first grade.• Children chronically absent in kindergarten and 1st grade

are much less likely to read at grade level by the end of 3rd grade.

• Chronic absenteeism reduces math and reading achieve-ment outcomes, reduces educational engagement, and de-creases social engagement.

• By 6th grade, chronic absence is a proven early warning sign for students at risk of dropping out of school.

• Chronic absenteeism increases achievement gaps at the el-ementary, middle, and high school levels.

• By 9th grade, good attendance can predict graduation rates even better than 8th grade test scores.

• Students can be chronically absent even if they only miss a day or two every few weeks.

• Attendance is an important life skill that will help your child graduate from college and keep a job.

Please help your child take the first step toward academic and professional success by attending school.

Every Day Matters: Missing days of school can put your child at risk

Madras High School Assistant Principal Brian Crook has been chosen as the new MHS Prin-cipal, replacing retiring co-principals Mark Nef-fendorf and HD Weddel. He has been working in the district since 2016, as Assistant Principal at MHS and BHS.

“Brian has been a huge advocate for students and educators within the district and we are fortu-

nate to have him as principal for Madras High School next year,” said Jefferson County School District Superintendent Ken Parshall. “He is a great leader and will continue the important progress our team has made to help students suc-ceed.”

MHS/BHS Graduation is Saturday, June 1, 2019 at 9 am at the MHS Football Stadium. Gates open at 8 am.

MHS hires Brian Crook as Principal