At the ceremony, Principal Lisa Dion, Superintendent Sean Gallagher, and select board members will make the presentations for honors for academic excellence. This year's Valedictorians are Nathaniel Barnard, Jonathan Kleespies, Mayce McCollum, and Kaylee Strain. Salutatorian is Aynika Nelson. To see the full list of this year's graduates and honors, visit www.brookings.k12.or.us.
At the ceremony, former Azalea Middle School math teacher Dave Carroll will present the keynote address. The graduates will also honor classmate Edgar Omar Canales, who died after a battle with brain cancer in 2017.
Dozens of students will graduate on Saturday with more than a high school diploma, having already earned valuable certifications or credits toward college degrees. Brookings-Harbor School District has partnerships for dual credit and career training opportunities with higher education institutions such as Southwestern Oregon Community College (SOCC), Oregon Institute of Technology, Southern Oregon University, and others. In recent years, additional Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM) and Career Technical Education (CTE) classes have been added in addition to the traditional college writing, history and advanced math classes available at the college level.
BHHS students can take classes and receive valuable certifications, such as the Allied Health Certificate in partnership with SOCC, the CompTIA Professional Information Technology certificates, and numerous Graphics and Digital Media Art professional software certificates
PHOTO: Brookings-Harbor High School Class of 2019 | Credit: Judith Durkin
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Summer Food Program information
New this year, BHSD will host a Summer Foods Celebration from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, July 3. The event will include an “All-American Burger Bar,” southern dill potato salad, salad bar, and sliced watermelon. Special activities and games will be hosted by the school district. Community businesses, groups, and organizations are invited to participate in this fun celebration event by bringing informational or activity booths to share. To sign-up to participate please contact Food Service Director Cindy Badger at 541-661-0876 or cindyba@brookings.k12.or.us.
Finally, our district is working to launch a new service to the community this summer to deliver food directly to neighborhoods via a retrofitted school bus that our students have named the “B.O.B” or “Bite of Brookings” and designed with a paint job to resemble a watermelon. Students also helped with the demolition and renovation of the interior of the bus into a dining car.
The bus will make four to five stops daily to serve lunch beginning the week of July 8. Locations and times for these special bus stops will be announced soon. (Tentatively they include the Brookings Municipal Swimming Pool, 1130 Ransom Ave, Brookings; Chetco Community Public Library, 405 Alder St, Brookings; Kemp Auto Sales, 16365 Old US Hwy 101; and a site on West Hoffeldt Lane, Harbor).
To view the daily menu for our school locations and bus stops, visit www.brookings.k12.or.us/menus/. To contact the program, call Brookings-Harbor High School at 541-469-2108, and select extension 8.
To learn more about free summer food sites across the state, go online to www.summerfoodoregon.org. You can also text “FOOD” or “COMIDA” to 877-877 or dial 2-1-1. 2-1-1 can help find a food pantry near you as well. _____________________
School Board members lead vision sessions
The board qualified for the funds under an OSBA initiative known as the Promise Scholarship Program. Board members completed a multi‐step process including board governance professional development, a board project, and superintendent and board self‐evaluations.
The Brookings Harbor School Board has been collaborating with staff regarding district priorities through the Promise Scholarship Training with OSBA.
As a team, the board has established priorities of student success, high-quality staff, and increasing positive relationships. The board is committed to hold the system accountable and support the priorities within the budget.
Going forward, the board will continue to collaborate with staff and community to monitor progress towards the district’s priorities.
Steve Kelley, OSBA’s director of board development, said each of the boards had made a long‐term investment in students’ success.
“This program helps students both by providing scholarship funds and investing in board member training,” Kelley said. “Stronger boards are better prepared to face today’s education challenges.”
Selected boards are responsible for awarding student scholarships to one or more students by a method of their choosing.
The Promise campaign, which debuted in 2014, aims to create public support for K‐14 education, to help lift student achievement and graduation rates. OSBA is a non‐profit member services agency for more than 200 locally elected boards serving school districts, ESDs and community colleges.
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Student Achievement Night
Here's a look back at the 2019 Student Achievement Night. The night included a wonderful classroom open house, demonstrations, exhibits, performance, and time to celebrate school-wide and departmental academic awards. Congratulations to all the award winners!
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Seniors accept scholarships
On May 20, 33 graduating seniors from the Class of 2019 earned a combined $83,000 in scholarships from the Brookings Harbor Scholarship Foundation at the annual Scholarship Awards Reception (Monday, May 20), in the Brookings-Harbor High School cafeteria.
In addition, past BHHS graduates received continuing gifts totaling $101,500 from the foundation, which considers applications from students planning to attend two- or four-year universities, trade schools and other professional training.
But the giving didn't end there. Graduates were showered with tens of thousands more in funding from the community to aid them in their future endeavors.
Additional scholarships were presented by Brookings Elks Lodge #1934, Brookings Harbor Education Association, Brookings-Harbor Lions Club, Coos-Curry Electric Cooperative, Inc., Garvin Masonic Scholarship, Garvin, Stanhurst Scholarship, HFR - Jim and Colleen Hartsock Scholarship, Indian Creek Fish Hatchery, Pelican Bay Athletic Organization, Soroptimist Brookings - Oregon, Rogue Credit Union, Rotary Club of Brookings - Harbor and SWOCC Foundation & Alumni.
Two new scholarships were presented by community members:
The first was from Dr. Jessie Holley (a local veterinarian) and Boyd Allen (a local reporter) memorializing the life of their friend and avid outdoorsman Walter Newell Colbath III. The second was a scholarship presented by Curry County Board of Realtors.
A representative of Southwestern Oregon Community College was on hand to recognize twelve graduates who had achieved a 3.75 cumulative GPA or higher and to remind them of their earned opportunity to attend the community college free of charge with a two-year tuition waiver.
The Class of 2019 is the final class to benefit from the Oregon GEAR UP Scholarship Grant — with an additional $160,000 available to graduates this year simply for notifying the school of their planned school or training program of attendance.
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Bruins shine in Azalea Fest
During the 80th Annual Azalea Festival this Memorial Day weekend, there was plenty of Bruin Pride on display. In the parade on Saturday morning, the Brookings-Harbor High School marching band and color guard performed, as did the Azalea Middle School band.
The various walking and driving entries included the BHHS Robotics Team 4110 Deep Space Niners and even a BHSD school bus! The 2019 Azalea Court and former Queens and Princesses featured BHHS students present and past.
The BHHS junior history classes presented "50 Years of the Final Frontier: The History of U.S. Space Exploration" at SeaView Senior Living Community, throughout the weekend.
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Mr. BHHS raises funds for children's hospital
Congratulations to the new Mr. BHHS, Toner Neros!
With a theme of "superheroes" at the annual pageant Toner as Nacho Libre bested Superman (Brig Schofield), The Flash (Ethan Hooper), and Hawkeye (Nathaniel Barnard).
The real winner, however, was OHSU Doernbecher Children's Hospital. The event raised about $2,000 for the children's research hospital in Portland that serves our region.
About 75 people were in attendance at the Redwood Theater on Monday, June 3, to see the contestants perform an opening dance number, display a talent, play games with the crowd, model casual character wear, give a question and answer segment, and sprint in a final "Dash for Cash."
The judges were Isaac Hoard, Patrick Fulton, Alice Farmer, Teal Mace, and Theresa Vanginderen. Scoring was based on T-Shirt sales, talent, costume, Q&A and the Dash for Cash.
The event was organized by BHHS Leadership students Kaylee Strain, Destiney Lopez, Mickey Fulton, Zack Walker, Rylan Bruce, Clayton Sackett, Jon Kleespies, Jason Vanginderen, Jacub McCollum, Manny Zamora, and Cort Morris.
Special thanks to Redwood Movie Theater, the 2019 Azalea Court, Ethan Warner for Sound Production, BHHS Leadership Advisor Kristy Kleespies, and to all the community members, businesses and organizations that donated and supported this year's Mr. BHHS!
Azalea Middle School sixth-grade students participated in Outdoor School for the first time in many years, May 29 to 31, our thanks to new funding from the State and a hardworking local planning committee led by Azalea Middle School Principal Nicole Medrano.
AMS partnered with Coyle Outdoor School to bring a rich outdoor experience to all AMS students daily at Crissey Field State Recreation Area with a variety of hands-on learning activities. Day One was all about Knife safety and proper use, fishing tackle and habitat, cordage and knots, Bandaging, and Foraging (learning to identify edible/medicinal plants). Day Two was focused on fire safety, casting, survival shelters, splinting, and tracking. Day Three was spent working on navigation, fish anatomy/cleaning, primitive shelters, treating shock, and utility plants.
Outdoor School has a more than 60 year legacy in Oregon. In July 2017, the Oregon Legislature formally approved $24 million for the statewide Outdoor School program over the next two years. This followed Oregon voters’ approval of Ballot Measure 99 in November 2016 to provide a statewide Outdoor School program.
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Reading Cafe serves up books to K-school students
Kalmiopsis Elementary School 5th graders experienced a "Book Tasting" event May 29 in the Reading Cafe (also known as the Kalmiopsis Library). It was a fun way to introduce students to new reading material, served up by the library staff!
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Students perform original Spring musical
Students performed “Chasing Chad Avery,” a play by Ms. Lei'La' Bryant, on May 31 and June 1 in the Brookings-Harbor High School auditorium. It included a nerdy, awkward girl with a lifelong crush on a football player and lots of nerdy humor and wonderful music that parodied Broadway hits. The play addressed the issue of bullying, with the message that everyone is weird and to be yourself.
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Knowledge Bowl competes at Nationals in Chicago
The BHHS Knowledge Bowl team traveled to Chicago, May 6-8, for the NAQT Small Schools National Championship, where they finished in the top 25 teams in the U.S.!
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Bruins represent well at county-wide Spelling Bee
Brookings-Harbor School District students represented very well at the county-wide Spelling Bee today at Riley Creek in Gold Beach, facing off against other school winners from Port Orford-Langlois and Central Curry School Districts.
Congratulations to all our participants!
Division I:
2nd Noah Marks
3rd Zane Owings
Division II
1st Alison Dodds
3rd Aris Sasser
Azalea building level winner/county participant-Payton Eagebretson
Division III
1st Alia Graves
2nd Brig Schofield
BHHS building level winner/county participant-Destiny Roberts
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New $1.76 Million grant won for seismic safety projects
The Brookings- Harbor School District will receive $1.76 Million in a new seismic rehabilitation grant from the state to retrofit the Azalea Middle School gymnasium, as announced by Business Oregon's Infrastructure Finance Authority on April 8, 2019.
The program provides funding for construction work on schools and other critical public buildings to better prepare the structures to withstand a major earthquake.
With the newly announced $1,762,199 in seismic rehabilitation support, the district has won a total of about $6.26 Million ($6,259,799) in grants since 2016 from the program for four separate projects to upgrade the older section of Kalmiopsis Elementary School, most of Azalea Middle School (with the exception of the gym), the Brookings-Harbor High School gym and front section of classrooms, and now the AMS gym for seismic safety.
“Economic development starts with strong infrastructure and thriving community assets,” said Business Oregon director Chris Harder. “This program helps with both while ensuring Oregon communities have safe buildings as we prepare for a seismic disaster.”
The Seismic Rehabilitation Grant Program is a state of Oregon competitive grant program. This is the fifth round of funding Business Oregon has awarded under the program. With this round, now 224 schools and 101 emergency services buildings have been awarded more than $382 Million in funding for improvements since the program's first awards in 2009. The program was created by the Oregon Legislature in 2005 and transferred to Business Oregon in 2014. BHSD was the only South Coast project to receive a grant from this round of funding.
“These grants provide a tremendous boost to the school district and community, with the first priority being safety,” said Superintendent Sean Gallagher, who has overseen multiple seismic retrofits in his career.
The project will do more than shore up the schools as emergency shelters for the community in case of a disaster such as an earthquake, tsunami, fire or severe storm. Additional benefits of the seismic retrofit projects are new structural improvements such as new siding, new roofs, new paint, and added energy efficiencies.
“A seismic retrofit project will add to the lifespan of a building by around 50-60 years saving taxpayers millions of dollars in building maintenance and/or replacement costs,” Supt. Gallagher said. “The district appreciates everyone’s patience as we move forward with these exciting projects. There is one more application for the high school in the works that will likely be re-submitted for consideration at the next available funding round.”
The district will open a request for proposals for the new seismic safety project soon. The district has previously worked with Anderson Engineering and Surveying in partnership with ZCS Engineering on the design of the previous three projects and with Ausland Group of Grants Pass to serve as a construction contractor in partnership with local subcontractors.
Design and strategic planning for the new middle school project will begin this summer with construction tentatively planned for summer 2020. The construction phase of the BHHS gym seismic safety retrofit funded through a previous grant is already underway and expected to be completed by the start of the 2019-20 school year.
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Seniors share future plans
The end is in sight for our seniors, but it's also just the beginning ... here's just a sampling of the Class of 2019's future plans ...
Automotive Tech School
Barnard College at Columbia University in the City of New York
BHHS Transitions Program
BYU Brigham Young University
College of the Redwoods
Community College
Concordia University Portland
Cosmetology School (2 students)
Cuesta College
George Fox University (2 students)
Humboldt State University
Ithaca College
Lane Community College (6 students)
Linn-Benton Community College (2 students)
Montana State University
Oregon Army National Guard Recruiting
Oregon State University (3 students)
Oregon Tech Oregon Institute of Technology (3 students)
Pacific University
Portland State University
Religious 2-Year Mission
Rogue Community College (3 students)
San Diego State University Weber Honors College
Southern Oregon University
Southwestern Oregon Community College (16 students)
Stanford University
Trade School
University of Montana - Western
University of Oregon (3 students)
U.S. Army (2 students)
U.S. Coast Guard (2 students)
U.S. Marine Corps
U.S. Navy
Volta Training Academy (Lineman School)
Indiana Wesleyan University
Western Oregon University
Workforce (15 students)
Workforce - International
You'll always be Bruins! Best wishes!
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College-bound? Order your transcripts early!
The registrar's office will be closed June 25 - August 5, 2019. All requests will be processed in August. All record and transcript requests should be directed to Deborah Moncrief, Registrar.
Please use fax #541-469-0176 or email deborahm@brookings.k12.or.us regarding student records request.
Past graduates ordering transcripts please include name, phone number, date of birth, and full name and address where the transcript will be mailed.
Students that graduated prior to 2003 will need to allow 10 working days to process transcripts. For current students there is no cost for transcripts. Past students have a $5 fee payable to BHHS at the main office.
If you need a new/replacement diploma there is a $15 fee and you must allow 10 working days. Forms for ordering transcripts or diploma requests are in the Counseling office or call 469-2108 ext 4012.
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PTO invites all to AMS 8th Grade Moving On Ceremony
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News From The Superintendent - Summertime
Hello, this is Sean Gallagher — Superintendent of Brookings-Harbor School District here to talk about what’s happening this summer at the school grounds.
The last day of school for students will be Thursday, June 13th.
The Extended School Year program, a chance for credit recovery for students will take place from June 17th to July 8th.
You may notice construction activity at our high school as the front section of Brookings-Harbor High School undergoes a seismic safety retrofit thanks to a $1.5M grant from Business Oregon.
The district is hosting a free Summer Food Program for students Mondays through Thursdays at the Brookings-Harbor High School cafeteria from June 24th to August 8th.
The program provides healthy meals to children, age 18 and younger, at no cost. Breakfast will be served from 8:30 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. and lunch will be served from 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and family members are welcome to join in! Adult meals cost $2.75 for breakfast and $3.75 for lunch daily at the cafeteria.
New this year, BHSD will host a Summer Foods Celebration from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, July 3, with a BBQ menu, games, community information booths, and tours of the district’s newly retrofitted mobile dining bus! The bus will help the district bring the free summer food program to where the kids already are, out in the community, making four to five stops daily to serve lunch beginning the week of July 8, including a stop at the Brookings Municipal Swimming Pool and Chetco Community Public Library.
In August, online registration will open and the school district will also host an on-site registration day. Fall athletics and activities practices will begin, The first day of school will be Tuesday, Sept. 3.
To learn more about any of these programs, visit our school district website at www.brookings.k12.or.us and follow us on Facebook or Twitter. “Every Student Can Succeed” in our schools and community. Have a great summer and see you at the school grounds!
Sincerely,
Sean Gallagher, Superintendent
Follow Superintendent Sean Gallagher on Twitter: @suptgallagher ________________________
Upcoming Events
BHHS and AMS Band and Orchestra Concert, 6 p.m., June 5, Azalea Park, 640 Old County Rd, Brookings.
Graduation Day, 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 8, 2019, Elmer Bankus Field.
AMS Choir Concert, 6 p.m. Monday, June 10, Azalea Middle School cafeteria.
Regular School Board Meeting, 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 12, 2019, Kalmiopsis Library. More information.
Last day for students/Early release day, Tuesday, June 13, 2019.
8th Grade Moving on Ceremony, 6 p.m. Thursday, June 13, Azalea Middle School gym.
Summer Food Program, Mondays-Thursdays, June 24 - Aug. 8, Brookings-Harbor High School Cafeteria. Breakfast 8:30 to 9:15 a.m.; and lunch 11:45 to 12:30 p.m. Free meals for youth ages 1-18. More information.
REGISTER FOR 2019-20 SCHOOL YEAR: In-person registration, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 15, at the schools. Online registration will open in early August.
New teacher in-service, Monday, Aug. 26, 2019.
All Staff District Directed In-Service, Tuesday - Wednesday, Aug. 27-28, 2019
Teacher Classroom Workdays, Thursday - Friday, Aug. 29-30, 2019
Holiday/Labor Day (no school), Monday, Sept. 2, 2019
First Day of School for Students, Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019
Early Release Day, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019
Early Release Day, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2019
Early Release Day, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019
Early Release Day, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019
Early Release Day. Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2019
Early Release Day, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2019
Early Release Day, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2019
Early Release Day, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019
Early Release Day, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2019
Teacher Grading Day/End of 1st Quarter (no school), Friday, Nov. 1, 2019
Early Release Day, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2019
Holiday/Veterans Day (no school), Monday, Nov. 11, 2019
Early Release Day, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019
Early Release Day, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019
No School (staff and students), Monday - Tuesday, Nov. 25-26, 2019
Parent Conference Payback (no school), Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2019
Holiday/Thanksgiving (no school), Thursday - Friday, Nov. 28-29, 2019
Here's a brief list of available coverage of Brookings-Harbor schools people and programs. The inclusion of any item constitutes neither endorsement nor critique but is intended only to make the BHSD community aware of significant items in the media. Shared when links are available.
There are open positions with the school district. Now hiring:
Elementary Classroom Teacher (19/20 School Year)
High School English Language Arts/Social Studies and Ed Lab Teacher
High School Math Teacher
Azalea Middle School PE Teacher
Azalea Middle School Special Education Teacher
Special Education Teachers (multiple positions different levels/locations)
Full-Time High School Counselor
Substitute Bus Driver
BHHS Head Boys Basketball Coach
High School Head Cheerleading Coach
High School Assistant Football Coach
To see the full listing and for information on employment opportunities with the Brookings-Harbor School District, see the website and online application.
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New Substitute Hiring Program
Brookings-Harbor School District has partnered with ESS to manage our substitute program. A leader in PreK-12 staffing, ESS will now be responsible for the hiring, training, and placement of all daily and long-term substitute teachers, school aides, custodians, food service workers, and clerical personnel.
If you’re interested in working as a substitute for our district, please visit ess.com to apply or call 503.208.7454 for more information.
