2008
3
News
School changes as staffers leave; new classes confirmed
m N icholas A rntz ___________
co-Editor-in-Chief
^ With the 2008 year coming
W a close, there are rumors
about next year's new classes,
which teachers are leaving,
and who will replace them.
There will be many changes to
class offerings next year, and
a possible change in how the
school day looks regarding
the number of classes
available and when students
can take them.
As a college-prep high
school, some of the classes
students would like to have
available are not offered, such
as Wood Shop and Home
Economics. Being a college-
prep high school means that
the school only offers classes
that are "geared around the
'college world," according
to Kim Carlson, Assistant
Principal.
"There is a real partnership
of students and teachers
when it comes to creating new
classes. We shape our classes
with the student's interests,
along with new trends in
colleges, business and careers.
It's all about how we prepare
our kids for the 21st century
and the changing world
around us," Carlson said.
Some of the new classes
provided next year are
sequels of current classes,
such as Sculpture and Clay
II, Graphic Arts II and Fiber
'Arts II. A d v a n c e d Placement
European History, Children's
Theatre and U.S. History
are classes coming back
on rotation. There are also
classes that have been revised
based on student input. For
example, Advanced Novel
Study, a one semester class,
is now Advanced Literature
Study, a senior elective which
gives students a chance to
find contemporary novels
chosen by both students and
teachers.
The new classes next year
will be Digital Photography
and Mandarin Chinese I, both
of which "were created from
where the economy is going
and the future of business and
world views," Carlson said.
Although there is interest
among teachers and students
to add the extra periods,
there will be no conversion
to a seven or eight period
day. "This is really a district
directed decision. West Linn
cannot change by itself; all
schools in the district need
to be in agreement," Carlson
said. "Although more periods
would provide more choice
for students, it would require
more periods for teachers,
which is hard on them. Plus,
there needs to be a budget to
hire more teachers to meet
the demands of the new
classes, not to mention extra
classroom space, something
which is scarce."
However, the
administration is really trying
to change how the day looks
by offering new opportunities
for students to take any extra
classes they desire, without
physically changing the
regular class day.
"One new idea we
are pursuing is having a
'Saturday Academy,' which
would allow students to
have a little 'wiggle room'
in their schedule," Carlson
said. "We never stop looking
for new ways to teach,
learn and progress. We are
always changing, trying to
make student voice more
applicable to their learning
environment," Carlson said.
Ten staff members will
be leaving WLHS. From
heading for Zimbabwe to
following political campaigns,
to retirement, staff members
are planning their post WLHS
futures.
Among those retiring
are Linda Jacobs, custodian,
Kim Noah, principal, and
Dick Ponting, Guidance
Counselor. After 30 years
as a part of the WLHS staff,
Jacobs is looking forward to
retirement, where she plans to
do a little bit of substituting
and spend time with her
granddaughters. Noah and
her husband are moving to
San Diego, where he has taken
a job as a superintendent.
Ponting is planning to help
his grandchildren move, and
then relax for a while before
considering other professional
options.
Three teachers are
searching for teaching
positions next year. Jill
Houck, English teacher, is
hoping to work with at-
risk students in alternative
environments, such McLaren
Juvenile Detention Center. "I
would like more cultural and
socioeconomic diversity. I feel
that I would have more of
an impact in that situation,"
Houck said.
Jonathan Neumann, science
teacher, will be looking for
another teaching position near
his house (or within biking
distance). Besides natural/
earth sciences, Neumann
would like to teach social
studies, his other area of
expertise. Lael Shea, math
teacher, is looking for another
teaching position in at either a
middle or high school level in
the Portland metro area.
David Frick, social studies
teacher, and his family have
a very detailed plan for their
future. "We are staying in
Portland until Sept. 1, while
my wife finishes work as
a midwife. Then we are
probably going to work on the
Obama campaign for a couple
of months in Colorado, a
swing state, until the election.
Then our hope is to move to
Mexico for a year or so. My
Tanning, tacos, tasty treats: new shops
in Willamette area set to open in July
C alley L athrop
Staff Reporter
The W illam ette
M arketplace becam e a
no-m ans-land several
years ago w hen the anchor
tenant, Thriftway, w ent
out of business. The
Venture C orporation from
California is attem pting
to revitalize the area w ith
construction of a new
facility to attract business^
including a bakery/deli,
several restaurants, a banl
a tanning salon, a gym ai
several other artisan shoj
M cM enam ins, the pub
and restaurant on the com er
of the lot, has rem ained
open during construction
and is the only business that
w as not sold in 2007. N ext
to the M cM enam ins, Rose's
Restaurant and Bakery
will open its doors to the
custom ers w ho have craved
their sw eet pastries and
scrum ptious m eals, but have
had to drive to Portland to
experience them. Parallel to
the restaurants w ill be Silk
C le a n ^ s ^ jp y (ie a l
esl
3
I
; j redevelopm ent
)\$erwom, dilapidated
tpjferty, an 4 it has
the area's value
idciusly. We are
itinually trying to
ju^enate and renew
Willamette area^andw e w ill
iow ijiaye-atf^attractive area
in a place that previously
stood vacant. On the w hole,
it w ill positively im pact the
community," Bryan Brown,
West Linn Planning Director,
said.
A n issue that citizens are
w orried about is the increase
of traffic flow through the
already congested 10th
Street area and, specifically,
the intersections. According
to Brown, the city is w orking
hard on that problem , and
has m ade an agreem ent w ith
the O regon D epartm ent
)f Transportation to put
new signal lights that
hild m ake transitions
>th.
zording to Venture
lost construction
zompleted w ithin the
ind businesses will
m oving in and setting
up shop. Locals can expect
to see stores opening in mid-
July.
"I'm excited for these
openings. There w ill finally
be more places to eat closer
to w here I live, and the
w hole idea of the new stores
and shops sounds pretty
cool," Kendall Brooke,
freshm an, said.
wife wants to deliver babies,
and I want to immerse myself
in Spanish and to surf. Then
the plan is to move back to the
states in 2009 at some point,
and settle in Boulder, Colo.
I want to start another law
practice with immigration
being part of my client
services," Frick said.
As for Stephanie
D'Agostino, Health teacher,
and David Ely, Math teacher,
both will be going back to
graduate school. D'Agostino
plans to attend grad school
while searching for a full
time job, while Ely will
be attending Ohio State
University to obtain his Ph.D
in Computer Science.
Along with Lou Bailey, the
incoming principal, 10 other
staff members will be joining
West Linn in the fall. The
administration is currently
interviewing for the unfilled
positions. They hope to have
the hiring completed by June
30.
W illamette Arts Festival
seeks stu d en t artw o rk
u S ydney M ac N aughton _______
Staff Reporter
$500 will be donated this year.
"The money will be used
to purchase frames for the
students artwork,” Lynn Pass,
art teacher, said.
The West Linn Arts Festival
is celebrating its ninth year of
great music, food, painting,
sculpture and
other forms of
art. Formerly
the Village of
Willamette
Arts Festival,
the celebration
will be on Sept.
13-14 and over
7,000 visitors are
expected.
Now at a
Artwork by Arissa Peyton, senior, appears on the West
new location,
Willamette Park, Linn Arts Festival website. Students are encouraged to
submit artwork to be displayed at the festival which
many award
Photo by Lynn Pass
winning artists will be held Sept. 13-14.
will be featuring
Musicians will be featured
art to both appreciate and to
throughout the weekend,
purchase.
including Retta Christie
"Willamette Park is a
and the Smart Fellas, Pat
hidden jewel in Clackamas
O'Neal's Jazz Band, Lincoln's
County. It is one of the most
Beard, Roots Revival, Reggie
beautiful parks in our state.
Houston, and Mel Brown's
Where the Willamette and
B3 Organ Quintet. Brown has
Tualatin rivers meet is a
been labeled the 'Gentleman
great place to spend the day,"
of Jazz', and has a career
Sharon Meeker, student art
spanning over 40 years,
show coordinator, said.
including many local awards.
A large tent is planned
WLHS musical and dance
to house the over 60 entries
groups will also perform
from high school students
throughout the weekend.
that will be submitted in a
Comprised of volunteers,
variety of mediums. Over 100
the West Linn Arts Festival
juried artists, along with many
is a non-profit organization.
community groups, will also
Volunteers are always needed,
be participating.
and there are many jobs
"These professional artists
available that could help make
take their craft seriously
the festival a success.
and to the heart. We all need
More information regarding
to support and show our
the festival can be accessed
appreciation for taking time to
at www.westlinnartsfestival.
share with us," Meeker said.
com. There is a page solely
Artists from throughout
dedicated to student artwork.
the northwest are required to
meet strict criteria in order to
be considered and eventually
chosen, to be featured at the
festival. Art submitted is juried
by a panel of professionals for
both quality and originality.
"We had a tremendous
amount of applications for this
year's festival and we could
not be more pleased," Meeker
Unplanned Pregnancy?
said.
You
Deserve to KNOW:
All of the participating
..A re you really pregnant?
artists have been asked to
...Have you explored all your options?
..A re all your questions answered?
donate a piece of their artwork
to be auctioned. The silent
auction will take place both
days of the festival, with the
A ll Services Free
T1CARD
Convenient Hours
proceeds going to WLHS Arts
11507 SW Pacific Hwy #D
No Appointment
Tigard 97224
Necessary
Department. Last year, $500
9 7 1 2 3 0 .0 4 3 5
was donated. An additional
________
Nurse Consultations. Pregnancy Tests.
Ultrasound to Verify if Pregnancy is Viable.
Respectful. Confidential.
.
P r e g n a n c y R e s o u rc e C en te rs
B e a v e rto n
w m v .p r c o fp o r tio n d . cost
• G re s h a m • T ig a rd • L lo y d C e n te r • M ilw a u k ie • S £ P o r tla n d