• December 1 – HS Robotics Movie Night Fundraiser
  
• December 2 – Donuts with Santa & Craft Fair
• December 2-7 – Scholastic Book Fair
• December 11 – Winter Concert: CAPS 6th & MS Strings
  
• December 12 – General Music Concert: K-3
  
• December 13 – Band, Strings and Choir Concert: CGS 4,5,6 & CAPS 4,5
  
• December 20 – CMS Ribbon Cutting at Woodard Campus
  
• December 20 – Regular School Board Meeting
• December 21 – CMS Moving day-NO SCHOOL CMS
  
• December 22 – Winter Break Begins
  

December 1: World AIDS Day This day helps raise awareness for HIV/AIDs.

• December 3: International Day of Persons with Disabilities All people, regardless of ability, deserve to be treated with dignity and given rights. The United Nations created the International Day of Persons with Disabilities in 1992 to help people with disabilities participate without any barriers.
  
• December 10: International Human Rights Day (United Nations) The UN established International Human Rights Day in 1948 following World War II. It uses the United States’ Bill of Rights as a model.
  
• December 16 to December 24: Las Posadas The religious festival of Las Posadas is primarily celebrated in Latin American countries, Mexico, and Spain. The festival is a reenactment of Mary and Joseph traveling to various homes in the community that are designated as “inns.” After the reenactment, there is a celebration.
  
• December 7 to December 15 (edited 12/3/23 to reflect the correct dates): Hanukkah This is an 8-day, 8-night celebration in the Jewish faith honoring the triumph of their ancestors over the Syrian Greeks.
  
• December 21: Winter Solstice/Yule The Winter Solstice is known as Yule to those practicing the Pagan and Wiccan faiths. The day marks the longest night of the year and the return of the sun.
  
• December 25: Christmas This is one of the most important Christian holidays that celebrates the birth of their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is also of cultural importance to those who do not actively practice the Christian faith.
  
• December 26: Kwanzaa Kwanzaa is an 8-day celebration of life that is inspired by the African harvest celebrations. The holiday was created by an American professor of African studies, activist, and author, Maulana Karenga. It has been celebrated since the 1960s.

CAPS & Middle School Holiday Concert

The CAPS Primary classes, as well as the Middle School Rock Band Enrichment class, will be performing music they have learned this trimester on December 20th, from 6-7pm. The concert will take place at CAPS (the Springdale School) where Primary students will perform their music before the rock band students take the stage and perform a few of the songs they have been working on. Come enjoy a great night of music!

Corbett Middle School’s book club is back once again! We formed the B.A.D. Readers (Books and Donuts) club in 2018 as a way of challenging our more advanced readers with higher level texts and genres they might not ordinarily explore. Last year we ended by reading the Multnomah County Library’s ‘Everybody Reads’ selection and traveling into Portland for dinner, boba tea, and the author talk.

This year we started out by reading Chains, by Laurie Halse Anderson. It fit with our studies of colonial America, and its themes of oppression, family, betrayal and courage seemed to really speak to our group. The book had an average rating of 4.6 donuts on our 1-5 scale, which was one of our highest yet!

We are currently reading The Bean Trees, by Barbara Kingsolver, and we plan to finish before winter break so we can have our final donut feast in this building, before taking our literature and sugar to the Woodard campus.

Happy reading, everyone!

Look for it on the High School Instagram page and the Corbett School District Facebook Page!

• CSD Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/corbettschools

• Corbett High School Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/corbett.hs/

Middle School Winter Sport: Winter Registration is open. Middle School boys basketball is happening in November and December. Middle School girls basketball and Middle School wrestling will start after winter break.

To Register:

The registration link for HS & MS is on our website under the athletics tab.

Athletics/registration

https://corbett.k12.or.us/

If this is their first time registering please read the kick off letter:

https://corbett.k12.or.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/BigTeams-Kickoff-Letter.pdf

Helpguide for troubleshooting

https://corbett.k12.or.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Big-Teams-Getting-Started-Guide.pdf

Track and Field season won’t officially start until February 26th, but we’ve started preseason training. Workouts are on Mondays and Thursdays from 4:00-5:00 in the weight room.

These preseason practices will focus on building a strong core and will be valuable regardless of the specific races/events an athlete will specialize in during the season. On dry days we’ll spend at least part of our time running outside, but because of the rain and cold, most of our time will be spent in the weight room.

T&F preseason workouts are open to all athletes regardless of what sports they play. They’re especially valuable for athletes who are considering joining the T&F team but want to get a feel for the community.

Let Coach Paul (prondema@corbett.k12.or.us) know what questions you have.

Angela Davis

Corbett School District Athletic Director

OADA 3A Classification Rep

On October 22, 2023 OADA Representatives gathered from around the state at each classification level to discuss issues that currently impact interscholastic athletics in the State of Oregon. It became clear that while all classifications share some of the same issues, each has their own perspectives based upon the difference in school population and communities. Some of the issues that came up included how All-State Recognition is conducted, problems with coaches recruitment and retention, and proposals for how to address an increase in fall ejections.

Many questions make their way to athletic directors as well as to the OSAA regarding how all-state teams are selected each season. All-State Recognition has been handled differently by sport up until this point, creating some issues with consistency, timeliness, and the integrity of the process. 3A representatives expressed that they agree that there must be consistency across sports and that both team and individual sports should be included in the discussion. The group unanimously supported the proposal that the OSAA form a committee to explore the Association administering all-state teams in each classification. By having one group handle the selection process, we can better ensure that the positive recognition of all of our student-athletes is handled with consistency and care.

Another issue that many schools are having is the ability to recruit and retain quality coaches. Many schools express an inability to find and retain quality coaches due to issues with parents, excessive travel, and low pay. Once schools are able to hire a good coach, many are saying they need additional resources to support their training and retention. The OACA, OADA, and OSAA all assist in the recruitment and retention of coaches and are looking for additional ways to help. Some ideas that the 3A representatives expressed involved a database for coaches who are looking for jobs in addition to the sites where schools post their openings. We also discussed increasing relationships with colleges and universities for the purpose of connecting with qualified graduates to fill openings. Coaches have such an important role in our student-athletes lives; getting the right coaches is the first step and keeping them can require an investment that is well worth the time and effort.

Also making its way to the table for discussion was the noticeable increase in fall ejections for the 2023 -24 school year. This is, in part, due to consequences many times being the same for a rule violation as for unsportsmanlike conduct. The 3A ADs are asking for clarification as to the type and severity and that consideration be made regarding the punishment fitting the crime. The group agreed that repeated offenders must be held accountable; for example, issuing multi-game suspensions for repeated sportsmanship violations. There are great programs out there, such as Positive Coaching Alliance, that provide great tools for completing focused work on sportsmanship with athletes, coaches, parents, and fans. Focusing on good sportsmanship is a worthy endeavor and can result in better overall experiences for our student-athletes.

Looking at these issues, in addition to others, through the 3A lens means considering our communities and the obstacles that we face while pursuing excellence and serving our student-athletes in the best way possible. We will continue to problem-solve each issue as it arises; together we can build better processes and create better opportunities for kids.

We are getting ready to start moving. The students and teachers are excited about starting school in a brand new facility. We are in need of moving boxes. If you would like to donate some, please send them to my office in the middle school. I also wanted to let families know about our tentative moving plans. As of now, the construction at the Woodard site is on schedule and we are set to move the week before Winter Break. Middle school students will not have school on December 21st, as that is the day we will be moving chairs, desks, and tables along with other things necessary to run a classroom. The grade school and high school will still have school that day.

If you have a vehicle that is able to carry large items and are able bodied enough to help move boxes of books, book shelves, tables, desks, and school supplies, we would love volunteers to help us relocate. Email me if you would like to help! We will also be renting some moving vans and employing the help of high school leadership to get things moved to the Woodard campus.

If there is inclement weather between now and then, the Woodard site may not be ready for us that week. In this case, we would be moving after Winter Break and middle school students will have school on Dec. 21st. We will keep you posted on what is happening as the situation unfolds.

Thank you for understanding the uncertainty of the moving situation. Moving is never easy. Moving an entire school in the middle of December in Oregon is definitely not ideal, but I have no doubt we will come together as a community and get these students to a wonderful, new, and safe school very soon!

Brian Lutes

Corbett Middle School Principal

blutes@corbett.k12.or.us

503-261-4207

The holidays are right around the corner, which for many, equates to greater financial strain. Costs are rising for food, presents and clothing. This leads families to try to stretch their budgets to cover all of the necessities while trying to give their children an amazing holiday. If you are in need of assistance during this holiday season in the form of presents for your children, food boxes, or new and/or gently used clothing, please contact Melissa Davis (Mdavis@corbett.k12.or.us or 503-261-4279) or Helen Leedom (Hleedom@corbett.k12.or.us). They will contact you to get more information. All information received will be kept confidential.

CORBETT HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATION OF MAMAS & PAPAS OF SENIORS

• Please save and donate your bottles and cans to help the senior class of 2024, Drop off location is across the street from Corbett Water District in the shipping container.
• Parents of Seniors CHAMPS need your help with the events. Please email me at cardinalmom24@gmail.com

Happy Holidays from PTA!

Our next meeting will be December 14th at 6:30pm. Location TBD so keep an eye on the Facebook page to learn details.

If you are interested in being a member or a room parent please reach out to corbettcardinalspta@gmail.com.

Smell that new book excitement: It’s Scholastic Book Fair time!

Starting Saturday Dec 2 and running the entire following week (Dec 4-7 th from 7:30-4:30) in the Grade School Music Room.

Important dates to remember

Saturday Dec 2nd from 8am-Noon Come see us before or after your visit with Santa Wednesday

Dec 6th from 5:30pm-7pm Join us for a fun Family Night. It’s a great opportunity for your kiddos to share their love of books with you.

Online Shopping can be done by following the link below https://www.scholastic.com/bf/corbettschools

Volunteering Opportunity If you are interested in volunteering at the Book Fair please use the sign up link below to register and select your time (class times are listed within those time slots as well). https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C48ADA62FA0FB6-2022

A current background check must be on file with the school to volunteer. Forms are available on the school website at: https://corbett.k12.or.us/about/volunteers-contractors-forms/

Student in warm winter coats are bracing in the gusty east wind. Their resilience and ability to stay positive is inspiring.

Now is a great time to think about winter activities and staying active.

The American Heart Association (AHA) has given us some great ideas to consider: Brisk walking or hiking, jogging or running, raking leaves, shoveling snow, ice skating, sledding, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing.

The AHA reminds us to dress in layers and stay well hydrated. https://www.heart.org/

Please feel free to call the Health Room to check to see if your student is up to date on their immunizations. 503-261-4258. The health team is happy to assist you.

Stay Strong and Healthy,

Julie Nakamura, RN

Interview by: Michelle Carter Smith

Chris Shaw has started his first year as the Corbett High School Culinary Arts Instructor. With a background in farming and also in the restaurant industry, Chris brings a wealth of experience and passion to the table. Teaching three 90-minute classes per day to 9-12 graders, Chris is engaged on many levels with the students and the program.

Chris instructs and monitors students in both the school kitchen and cafeteria, overseeing:

*Set up of both cafeterias for breakfast and lunch each day

*Some of the food prep

*Serving of both breakfast and lunch

*Setup and then stocking of both salad bars

*Washing of all dishes

*General kitchen clean-up

There are no chairs in the kitchen and everything is very hands-on. If students are not in the kitchen, they are in the "Shaw Shack" located in the cafeteria, being taught from an updated curriculum for the Culinary Arts Program at the school. There are 3 different aspects of the program. First, he trains students in basic work skills, not necessarily specific to the food industry. He has them sweeping, cleaning, and scrubbing together, as a team to sharpen work habits and communication skills with one another. Secondly, he inspires students to have an interest in both food and cooking. He wants students to feel something about food that they have never felt before. Lastly, he teaches basic food skills for lifelong living. He wants them to be able to look into their pantry and understand how to "pull something together" for dinner. Chris says that participation is KEY. The expectation is for students to listen, and then become engaged with the process while working well with others. Students are required to get a food handler's card and can take the test at the school. They must also have their hair pulled back while in the kitchen and working around the food. Chris is currently working towards a professional CTE license. MESD is helping him to navigate the challenging process. The current program will become a certified program in three years.

Chris was born in San Diego. His father was enlisted in the Navy and after serving, his father moved the family to Mississippi. He attended college, getting a degree in landscape architecture. His mom was an administrator at a bank. When Chris was five years old, his family moved to Richmond, Va. Chris was an only child and was shy, playing soccer in his youth. His favorite memories as a child were spending time on his grandparent's farm in Mississippi each summer, horseback riding, fishing, working in the garden, and eating fresh food. Chris loved to spend hours cooking with his grandmother and working with his grandfather in his wood shop. In high school, Chris took a photography class and enjoyed it so much that he built a dark room in the family home! After graduation, Chris went to college in Mississippi to study landscape architecture. He had wanted to attend an art college, but it was not a possibility. After one year, Chris left school because his heart was not in it. He stayed in Mississippi to work as a photographer for the local newspaper. After meeting international students and parents of friends who had traveled abroad, Chris decided to move back home to Richmond and start working in restaurants. His first job was in a bakery in Carytown, making scones, sandwiches, and a variety of baked goods. He later went on to work at other bakeries, an Indian restaurant, and a handful of fine-dining restaurants. All of these experiences taught him a variety of food preparation and cooking skills. In 1995, Chris made a move to Portland and lived downtown. Greg Higgins, owner of Higgins restaurant, told him he needed more experience with specific Northwest food. Chris worked in a variety of restaurants to gain knowledge of local food and cooking styles. He then moved in 1996 to Corbett to work on an organic farm. He had a strong desire to grow a variety of organic foods. Chris met his wife Megan while she was working at the Blue House in Springdale, a local bakery. They began dating in 2000 and married in 2003 at her parent's home in Latourell. They rented a home on the Scenic Highway, across from Menucha for the first three years. Megan had gone to college to become a teacher while Chris began working at Multnomah Falls as a cook, first part-time and then full-time in 2002. He started as a line cook when going full-time and then became a sous chef in 2003, later becoming an executive chef. He worked at the restaurant for 20 years before covid hit and he was laid off. He connected with Seth Tucker at the Corbett School District and was hired in 2021 as a head cook. Megan and Chris bought a home in Troutdale in 2008 and eventually decided to make Corbett their home, purchasing Corbett Grade School principal, Michelle Dawkin's home! Chris and Megan have two children, Ethan (born in 2007) and Eleanor (born in 2010). They both attend school in Corbett where their mom has been a teacher for 18 years, teaching K-1. Chris and his family love to cook together and be active in the great outdoors. Chris says they are a cat family, with four cats, which all get lots of love and attention! The new position for Chris at the high school has given him the opportunity to inspire, challenge, and instruct the students in ways he is passionate about. He looks to encourage them to one day be good cooks and employees, wherever life may take them!

The School-Based Mental Health center provides mental health services to children, teens, and families in Corbett School District.

If you’re experiencing a change in mood or your regular routine, we can help. Reach out to your school counselor/social worker or call 503-261-4246. They’ll connect you with a professional program who you can talk to privately.

Need immediate help? Contact Multnomah Mental Health Center.

When you call the Call Center at 503-988-4888, you get:

• Free, 24/7 mental health support

• Interpretation services for non-English speakers

• Referral to low-cost or sliding-scale agencies

• Help finding mental health providers

• Information about non-crisis community resources

Urgent Walk-In Clinic

Need to meet face to face? Stop by our Urgent Walk-In Clinic.

The clinic can help anyone experiencing a mental health crisis at no cost.

• Receive immediate care during a mental health crisis

• Speak to a psychiatrist or a mental health nurse practitioner

• Get help with medication and treatment

Location: Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare Urgent Walk-in Clinic

4212 SE Division St, Portland

Hours: Monday - Saturday 7 am-10:30 pm, Sunday 9 am-9 pm

If someone is in danger, dial 911.

For questions about access to mental health resources at Corbett School District, please call Helen Leedom at (503) 261-4246.

SBMH Contact List

Erica Boykins- High School Social Worker (eboykins@corbett.k12.or.us)

Anna McNeely-Miles: Grade School Social Worker (amcneely@corbett.k12.or.us)

Tiffany Dennis: Special Education/504 Social Worker (tdennis@corbett.k12.or.us)

Holly Roach: Middle School Counselor (hroach@corbett.k12.or.us)

Vanessa Knight: CAPS Counselor (vknight@corbett.k12.or.us)

Click here to see the most up to date listing and to Apply:https://corbett.tedk12.com/hire/Index.aspx

Here are a few ways to stay connected with what is happening within Corbett School District.

• Corbett School District Website: https://corbett.k12.or.us/

• CSD Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/corbettschools

• Corbett Grade School Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/corbett_grade_school/
• CAPS Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/corbettartsprogramwithspanish/

• Corbett High School Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/corbett.hs/

• Corbett Athletics Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/corbett_athletics/

• Monthly District Newsletter: https://corbett.k12.or.us/parents/parent-news/

Email: bwindust@corbett.k12.or.us
Website: https://corbett.k12.or.us/
Location: 35800 East Historic Columbia River Highway, Troutdale, OR, USA
Phone: 5032614268
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/corbettschools
Twitter: @CorbettSchools