The Athey Creek Middle School gym came to life with the sound of beautiful music, resounding speeches, entertaining dance performances, and the formation of many budding friendships on Thursday morning.

Athey Creek Middle School welcomed guest students from South Korea’s Eonyang Middle School during a school-wide assembly on Thursday, Jan. 16, marking the beginning of an exciting week for both Eonyang and Athey Creek students alike. Eonyang Middle School has been Athey Creek’s sister school for the past seven years, providing opportunities for students to visit their peers on the other side of the globe.

Athey Creek Principal Joel Sebastian welcomed guest students and administrators during the morning assembly, thanking them for traveling from so far while asking Athey Creek students to open their school to their new friends. The South Korean sister school relationship is one of just a few in the United States, and one of just two in Oregon, providing unique opportunities for ACMS students to learn about Korean culture first-hand from guest students. Guest students will spend the next several days living with ACMS host families, meanwhile, touring Oregon while learning about life in an American middle school.

Eonyang Middle School Vice Principal Choi also greeted ACMS students, before Eonyang students treated the ACMS community with Gangnam-style dancing and traditional Korean songs. ACMS orchestra and band students also provided musical performances before ACMS host students capped the fun-filled morning with a collaborative dance, joining their South Korean peers on stage.

Students from both sister schools take turns visiting one another in Oregon and South Korea, strengthening the bond the two communities share. Thank you to our Eonyang Middle School friends and to South Korea Honorary Consul Greg Caldwell for joining us for such an inspiring morning!

Restorative Practices aren’t new to the West Linn-Wilsonville School District, yet the pivotal work is an area where schools, staff, and students across the district continue to learn and make improvements. Representatives from all 16 West Linn-Wilsonville schools did just that on Monday, January 6, taking part in important restorative practices learning.

Led by consultant and former Bolton Primary Principal Dr. Holly Omlin-Ruback, staff engaged in a full day of workshop, reviewing the latest research while discussing ways in which restorative practices can be implemented in the classroom.

Aimed at building and sustaining positive and safe school communities that promote the social, emotional, physical, and academic health of all community members, the district focuses on proactive measures in restorative practices. By building a strong school and classroom culture, restorative practices build an environment where all students feel valued, safe, and care for in addition to a feeling of belonging. Learn more about restorative practices, and how they’re used in West Linn-Wilsonville, by visiting the district website.