Tonight at Crescent Valley High School Auditorium, located at 4444 NW Highland Dr., beginning at 6:30 p.m., you can bring your 3rd, 4th, or 5th graders to learn more about the Elementary Strings Orchestra. Kids in the orchestra will be able to choose between a violin, viola, or cello; have two lessons each week; and perform at two concerts over the course of the school year.
If your child already plays, the Corvallis Youth Symphony is conducting auditions for viola, trombone, tuba, and trumpet. Learn more about the audition times and process here.
Let’s Join the Circus: Starting tonight, you can take you kids to the Flynn Creek Circus. Part Cirque du Soleil part heartwarming narrative, this circus will thrill those of all ages – except on Saturday night when the themes are 21+ only. Held September 29 through October 2 at the Avery Park Townsend Shelter Lawn at 1200 SW Avery Park Dr., Corvallis. Click here to see about tickets to this amazing adventure.
And if the shorter versions of you and your partner are more into moving than watching, there are a limited number of spots open in the circus’s kid’s workshop, held Saturday, October 1. Trained staff members will guide your child through aerial arts, illusion, and acrobatics as the kids jumpstart their dreams about running away to join the circus. Click here to see about registration.
Youth Volunteer Corps: If your 11-18-year-old is looking for a way to be active and make a difference in the community, the Corvallis Parks & Recreation’s Youth Volunteer Corps (YVC) might be just what you’re looking for.
YVC is about engaging the youth of today in projects that serve our community as a means of helping them remain challenged as they see the rewards of giving back. Projects are submitted through the Parks & Rec website, and if they’re chosen, then the kids get a chance to get their hands dirty in a good, clean way. Check it out to see what projects are in the works for the school year.
Songfest: The Corvallis Girl Scouts are inviting you to come on over and sing with them.
Saturday, October 1, from 6:30-8:00 p.m., the Girl Scouts, friends, and family are inviting you to join together around a campfire for s’mores and songs. The sing-along will be held at the Suburban Christian Church, located at 2760 SW 53rd St., Corvallis, and they ask that you RSVP to SUmanager@gmail.com. Cost for entrance is a can of food to give to the South Corvallis Food Bank.
If you plan to attend, make sure you have a warm jacket and a flashlight, and you’ll want to remember your camp chairs.
Build With the Beavs is Back: This Wednesday, October 5, your daughter or son has a chance to build with a Beaver – and we’re not talking about logs.
For Lego fans across the area, Oregon State University student athletes will be available at the Corvallis-Benton County Library on the first Wednesday of the month from October to June to build amazing things with Lego and local kids. Drop in between 4:00-5:00 p.m. for a chance to make cool stuff and find out more about our remarkable OSU athletes.
4-H Open House: Learn more about what 4-H offers your kiddo at an Open House.
Every year, millions of kids learn about science, health, agriculture, and citizenship through 4-H programs across the nation. We are lucky enough to have a branch based out of OSU that has made a difference in the lives of the children they serve as well as the community at large – perhaps you’ll remember how our 4-H helped care of livestock during the wildfires a couple years back.
On Thursday, October 6, you can meet up with the folks running the show at the Benton County Fairgrounds, located at 110 SW 53rd St, from 6:30-8:00 p.m. and see if they might fit into your child’s life.
Pandemic Took Toll on Students: In the most recent statewide student achievement results, Corvallis kids lost a bit during the pandemic, but recovery is expected.
Each year the statewide annual assessments are held to assure Oregon parents that their children are continuing to make substantive progress in school. When children were required to stay at home and learn virtually, several students were found to have challenges with the process. This dip in scores was expected, and the state has put procedures in place to help schoolkids catch up.
“The assessment results are a call to action for Oregon to keep advancing the programs we know meet our students’ needs,” said Oregon Department of Education Director Colt Gill concerning the results.
In Corvallis, over half of students are proficient in English. While proficiency rates for science and mathematics are lower than that, they are just over the one-third mark. Philomath students scored similarly in English and math, but are slightly higher than Corvallis in science. Those students learning English as a second language scored slightly lower overall.
ODE posted the following concerning these results: “Assessment results underscore the need for continued investment from the Student Success Act, the High School Success program and the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief fund, in continued support for mental health and wellbeing as well as accelerated academic learning, and other crucial programs meeting student needs.
“State summative assessments are designed to identify differences in student group outcomes and help improve the education system over time. These assessments do not measure the breadth of academic learning of any individual student.”
By Sally K Lehman
Do you have a story for The Advocate? Email editor@corvallisadvocate.com