POIC

Great teachers make the world better 🌎🫶🏽 Rosemary Anderson Prep's Kay Shoemaker (pictured far left) is one of those teachers.

Kay is a science educator at our North campus, specializing in Marine Biology. Students come to expect a sense of belonging when they enter Kay's classroom. Where exactly her class meets is less predictable, often leading students out of the building and into Oregon's natural landscape.

This year, Kay facilitated a series of coastal field trips, with hands-on lessons exploring everything from Oceanography to Watershed and Salmon Ecology. Their final trip (a favorite among the class) concluded with a tide-pooling session led by practicing Marine Biologists with Northwest Aquatic and Marine Educators. Under the guidance of field professionals, students participated in ongoing research investigating sea star wasting, intertidal zones, and sea urchin recovery.

Kay believes the most impactful way to learn is by doing. Whether at a tide pool, on a riverbank, or back on campus, students leave Kay's classroom with a deeper understanding of the world around them.

Thank you, Kay, for sparking curiosity and expanding real-world opportunities for our kids. We are so lucky to have you ❤️

Ikimashou (let's go!!) on a journey through Portland's spectacular Japanese Garden 🎏🎍🍁

Rosemary Anderson Prep students traveled to the Portland Japanese Garden for a guided tour, where they discovered the garden's cultural significance, intentional landscaping, and learned more about Oregon's Japanese American history.

The annual field trip is a favorite feature of POIC's Natural Resource Pathways (NRP), which connects students with career opportunities and real-world experiences in environmental sciences.

Our aim is to opens doors for BIPOC youth who have long been underrepresented in outdoor fields. Together we're taking up space, growing curiosity, and soaking up all that Oregon's natural environment has to offer! 💚