Portland Public Schools News highlights Step Up’s work with ninth graders at Marshall High School’s campus in its most recent issue. Citing Step Up’s integral role in giving students a “strong start in high school,” the article credits the program with helping PPS meet Milestone 4: on track to graduate. A short video features Step Up students and staff discussing the program’s impact. Visit the PPS website to read the article and watch the video to learn why students thrive from their involvement in Step Up!

The short season for the high school’s basketball team is almost over. They will play two more games at the Pearl Court February 19 and 26 against Helensview and Youth Employment Institute. Though the team has experienced a number of losses, playing competitively has been a great experience for the students. Coaches Hoover and Dion note that the team improves with each game and practice. In a game against Mt. Scott, players showed heart, spirit, and court skills heavy on teamwork. Teamwork, after all, is what it’s all about! We wish the Open Meadow Goats great play as they finish out their season!

Many thanks to The Safeway Foundation for supporting Open Meadow’s “Student Voices” program, offering students the opportunity to share their creative voices through painting, drawing, photography, poetry, and more! Open Meadow High School student Bronson read his poetry for our friends at Safeway’s MLK store at the check presentation. Executive Director Andrew Mason and Bronson happily accepted the giant check!

Don Barney’s interest in education began in his early days in upstate New York where many of his relatives had joined the field.  But after earning a degree in Journalism from Syracuse University, and five years in the U.S. Navy, Don took a job in a leading news magazine reporting on political issues in Washington, D.C. and London, England.  After ten years, Don moved with his family to Oregon where he got involved in local city politics as a lobbyist, and then as a government consultant.

As retirement approached, Don decided it was the right time to pursue his interest in education.  He took on a volunteer position at PSU, giving lectures on “Key issues in the Portland Metro area.”  Being an active retiree, he also joined the Portland Pearl Rotary where dedication to civic volunteerism quickly won him the position of Club President.  Under Don’s leadership Pearl Rotarians sought to find an education-related project, which led them to Open Meadow.

For those of you who may not be up on the headlines, February 4th is Private Schools Appreciation Day in the State of Oregon.  In Governor Kulongoski’s recent official proclamation he extends appreciation for the diversity of services provided for by private schools. 

At Open Meadow, we are proud to be a private school partner of a public education system that knows how to partner.  Our role is to serve the students that the traditional system struggles to serve.  Our role is to fill in the gaps, to individualize and personalize the educational experience for students who find themselves feeling like square pegs in round holes.  We want our students have the opportunity to fit, belong, and ultimately thrive.  We want our students to arrive at the same place as everybody else: connected to a career, college, and community by age 25.  We are proud of our public education system and proud to be a supporter and partner in its critical work.  Many thanks to Governor Kulongoski for recognizing private schools in this way!

- Andrew Mason, Executive Director

Thanks to the generosity of True North films, countless volunteers, and Open Meadow staff and students, we now have a short video about the essence of Open Meadow.  We are overjoyed to be able to share this short documentary, which captures the spirit and stories of Open Meadow so well.  Click on the video link or go to our video page to view a larger version.  Many thanks to all the people who made this film possible!