Former CEO Donates Computer Lab to King School

New at King School is the Sam K. Duncan International Media Lab. Today saw its dedication with a visit from the former OfficeMax CEO.

In line with the school’s transformation to an International Baccalaureate program, the state of the art equipment will allow King students to research and collaborate with students of other IB schools around the world. After the official ribbon cutting, there was an all-school assembly, treats, and then classes took turns trying out the new space and equipment on this last day of school. As part of a grant from the Oregon State Department of Education, first year King Principal Patterson plans to hire a technology instructor to get maximum utility from the new asset.

Mr. Duncan wanted to help a school in need and King School seemed a fitting recipient since Dr. King was a great inspirational figure to him growing up in Arkansas. He is now retired after working his way up through the world of retail at ShopKO and Fred Meyer, starting as a clerk in an Albertson’s store.

King School Students Work on History/Gardening Project

Second and third grade students from the King School SUN afterschool program are participating in a partnership with the Emerson Street Garden to learn gardening while working with neighborhood elders to help transform a vacant neighborhood lot into a community asset.

Sixth through eighth graders are partnering with artist Joe Sneed and students from da Vinci Middle school in a five day-a-week class on N/NE History, Art and Culture. They are collecting stories of local neighborhood history from local residents and incorporating these stories into a design for an archway entrance to the garden.

Eight grade students in the King School Technology and Design course will be working with engineers from the Portland Water Bureau to develop a learning center to be built at the garden to be used for educational opportunities and workshops into the future. The Technology and Design course is part of the International Baccalaureate program at King School.

If you would like to get involved contact Joe Sneed at joe.b.sneed@gmail.com or call 503.995.2632