Gladstone High School received a visit this month from representatives of the Kinder Morgan Foundation, which provided a $5,000 grant in support of Gladstone High School’s Saturday Opportunity School.

SOS allows teachers to assist students who are in danger of failing classes or dropping out of school.

With new common core state standards in effect, local leaders see it as more important than ever that students receive the help they need to pass the higher benchmarks.

Presenting a $5,000 check to the school on Wednesday, Oct. 10, were Allen Fore and Marco Ullmer from the Kinder Morgan regional office in Vancouver, Wash., and David Vensel, senior engineer from Kinder Morgan’s Birmingham, Ala., facility.

Fore is public affairs director for Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, which owns or operates petroleum product, natural gas and carbon dioxide pipelines, related storage facilities and terminals in the United States and Canada, including Oregon.

Last year, 20 percent of Gladstone High School students were falling below 65 percent in one or more of their classes. Through parental involvement, the staff’s commitment and attendance at SOS, this number was reduced to 10 percent.

The goal for the 2012-13 school year is to reduce it to 7 percent or less.

Vice Principal Patti Alexander heads the program, with help from teachers Lynnda Prom, Ted Yates, Tobin Nelson, Brenden Thwing, Kevin Zerzan, Jill Merolla and Jim Edson, along with breakfast courtesy of teacher (and master chef) Dave Prom.

The Gladstone High School cafeteria, testing center, computer lab and library welcome about 120 students two or three times each trimester for SOS.

The Kinder Morgan Foundation is in Lakewood, Colo., and has been supportive of the Gladstone School District since 2010 with previous grant funding for potter’s wheels and books.