The Oregon Department of Education released 2013-14 report cards for all public schools and districts in the state last Thursday, October 9. The report cards provide detailed information on a variety of indicators, including demographics, standardized testing, and college and career preparedness. Some highlights for Hillsboro are that our rates for graduation and freshmen on track to graduate within four years far outpace both the state and like-district averages. In addition, 88% of our schools are designated at a Level 3 or 4 (out of 5). Click here to read more. Click here to download the state report cards for the district and each school. 

There are three opportunities this week to hear from Superintendent Mike Scott about what's going on in Hillsboro Schools: two Coffee Chats and the Hillsboro Chamber's Business Forum Lunch. The Coffee Chats are taking place on Tuesday, October 14, from 8-9 a.m. at Baseline Insomnia, and on Thursday, October 16, from 8-9 a.m. at Longbottom Coffee and Tea.  

The Business Forum Lunch is taking place on Tuesday, October 14, from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Walters Cultural Arts Center. The cost is $20 for members and $30 for non-members; at-the-door registration is $5 additional for members. The topic of the lunch is "Building partnerships to promote a vibrant, diverse workforce." Joining Mr. Scott for the panel discussion will be Dr. Lesley Hallick, Pacific University President, and Dr. Jeremy Brown, PCC President. Join them as they explore key partnerships that will ensure the next generation workforce is prepared for life after high school.  

On Thursday, October 16, at 10:16 a.m., schools, businesses, neighborhood organizations, hospitals and more will be practicing how to be safer during big earthquakes. Did you know that there are over 1,000 earthquakes over magnitude 1.0 in Washington and Oregon every year, with at least two dozen being large enough to be felt? Oregon lies in the Cascadia Subduction Zone, which is a 600-mile long earthquake fault stretching from offshore northern California to southern British Columbia, and history has shown we are susceptible to both subduction zone and crustal earthquakes. Preparedness is key! To learn more, sign up, or see who has already signed up, visit The Great Oregon ShakeOut website.  

Don't miss this once a year opportunity to connect with talented and gifted educators, parents, and advocates from around the state at OATAG's 2014 Conference on Saturday, October 18, at Pacific University. As a complement to regular conference sessions, OATAG is offering two programs geared toward gifted children: Kitchen Chemistry and Amusement Park Physics through a new partnership with Saturday Academy. Additionally, OATAG is offering a Paths to Scholarship program designed for teens. Additional details about the day's program and registration may be found on OATAG's website.