Greetings, I'm Holly. 

This year is my third year as the Merlin teacher. I started my journey as a teacher just out of college and have had the opportunity to work in schools and classrooms k-12 in California, Oregon, Illinois and Indiana off and on since then. 

When I'm not in the classroom or at home planning lessons, I love getting to work in my garden, travel and explore new places with my family (especially big cities), watercolor, sew, have dance parties in the kitchen with my kids, and if I can get myself to settle down and stop moving, I enjoy reading. 

I think learning is a lifelong journey and as a teacher, my desire is to spark interest and foster curiosity in my students. I want to support and encourage them in discovering the world around them and help them get excited to keep learning and growing in their understanding of it. 

Hello, I'm Melina!

This year marks another wonderful step in my teaching journey, and my fifth year as part of the Forest Grove community. I’m grateful to continue guiding the Kestrels as their teacher and leading 5th grade math in our blended Level 3 classroom.

I’m excited to begin a new school year with both familiar and new faces, ready to dive into adventures, discoveries, and plenty of fun activities as we explore different ways of learning together.

My teaching philosophy is rooted in the belief that every child has unique strengths and deserves the chance to shine. I am committed to fostering a classroom community where curiosity, respect, and collaboration guide our learning journey, and where students grow into thoughtful, kind, and resilient individuals.