Letter from the Superintendent

GLENDALE SCHOOL

DISTRICT #77

Bridget McMillen, Superintendent

Bridget.mcmillen@glendale.k12.or.us

(541) 832-1701 - (541) 832-2158 FAX

Glendale Pirates,

The first quarter of the school year has been both exciting and challenging, and we are thrilled to share some great news and important updates with you!

Attendance Success

We are proud to report the highest attendance levels we have seen in the last three years! Our overall attendance rate stands at an impressive 91%, with 90% at the Secondary School and 93% at the Elementary School. As research consistently shows, attendance is the top indicator of student success, and your commitment to ensuring your children are present and engaged every day is making a significant impact. While we have noticed a slight increase in absences this October, we encourage you to continue this positive momentum. Together, we can help our students reach their full potential!

Academic Growth

In addition to strong attendance, we are seeing promising growth in fall test scores for both reading and math. Over the past three years, our fall reading scores (assessed through i-Ready) have improved by over 12%, and the number of at-risk students has decreased by 25%. In math, we have seen a 5% increase in students on track with their fall scores. These gains reflect the hard work and dedication of our students, staff, and families.

Addressing Cyberbullying

However, we do have some concerns. Unfortunately, we have observed a significant rise in cyberbullying in grades 6-12th, with students engaging in disrespectful behavior and using threatening language on social media platforms like TikTok and Snapchat. Although most of these incidents occur off-campus, they have a serious impact on our school environment. We encourage families to have conversations with their children about responsible online behavior and to monitor their use of social media.

Glendale Youth Association

A HUGE thank you to the Glendale Youth Association and Andy Owens for spearheading the construction at the baseball field. We will have the nicest field in our county! The work for fund raising, construction and organization was completely done by the Youth Association! We appreciate the partnership with this amazing organization.

Track –

A committee has been formed to fundraise for a rubberized track. I thank the team that is taking on this project – look for opportunities to support paving our track!

Upcoming Events

PSAT for 10th Graders: Our 10th-grade students will be taking the PSAT soon. This fully sponsored program is designed to help prepare students for their futures.
Student Health Survey: The State of Oregon has requested the Student Health Survey for students in grades 6, 8, and 11. This will take place on November 5, 2024. Parents may opt their child out of the survey by sending a written note to the office by November 4, 2024. Students will also have the option to opt out when prompted during the survey.

Save the Date

Parent-Teacher Conferences: Conferences will be held on November 7th and 8th Report cards will be handed during these meetings. Please reach out to schedule a time with your child’s teacher.
Thanksgiving at School – November 19th at Lunch – Students will be able to invite a guest. PLEASE look for a signup sheet so that we know how many to do.
Elementary School Christmas Performance December 18th – This annual evening program is AMAZING – Miss Morningstar has been working hard to develop a program this year.

Superintendent Update

Finally, I want to inform you that due to a family health matter, I will be taking intermittent family leave and may be out of the district more frequently. The School Board and staff have arranged for an interim superintendent to support both our Secondary and Elementary programs during my absence.

Thank you for your continued support and understanding as we work together to ensure the success of all our students.

Warm regards,

Bridget McMillen

Superintendent