^ 2009
3
News
Staff members say goodbye to WLHS, hello to
new, different and "adventurous" opportunities
L exi W elp
Staff Reporter
As the clock winds down
to the last day of school,
students aren't the
Jonathan Davies,
has been retired for eight
years and is waiting for
me— so it is time to
join h im ," Dearborn
said. Students are
being very sweet
and taking the news
well, according to
Dearborn, saying
they don't want her
to leave.
"I am so happy for
Mrs. Dearborn
b
West Linn and have been
very critical about the
schools and school districts
that I would apply to a
principal position," Scholl
said.
Scholl originally
took this job because
of the school district
and the "great support
for education" in West
spending tim e w ith fam ily
her class and it w ill be sad
m d friends, especially some
who 1 haven't seen much in
the past few years," Rogers
said. Rogers began her
teaching career in 1990 and
came to West Linn two years
later to teach German. This
year she is teaching French I
and French I Advanced along
with French III.
"I will miss the students'
great youthful energy,
optimism and their devotion
to their studies," Rogers
said. "I hope I have inspired
people to travel and to
see themselves as world
citizens."
Also retiring from the
World Language Department
is Tamura. A native of
Japan, she has been teaching
Japanese at WLHS for the
last 25 years. Breaking the
news of her retirement to her
students was hard, but she
looks forward to spending
time with her family and
doing things she loves like
reading, gardening and
cooking.
"I feel at peace with my
decision and value and
enjoy each teaching day left,"
Tamura said.
Retiring after more than
three decades, Dearborn who
currently teaches Chemistry
and Organic Biochemistry, is
looking forward to spending
extra time with her husband,
Tom, and feels she is ready
for her next adventure.
"I have always known I
would retire at the end of
my 30th year. My husband
not to see her next year,"
Sarah Dawson, junior, said.
Dawson is currently taking
Organic Biochemistry with
Dearborn and has enjoyed
her class all year.
Another teacher who
will not be returning to the
Science Department next
year is Jonathan Davies.
He is currently teaching
Biology and Chemistry in
the Community. However,
Davies will not be retiring
but instead is taking a one
year leave of absence. He
has accepted a position he
earned as an Albert Einstein
Distinguished Educator
Fellowship.
Davies will be moving
to Washington D.C. for
the coming year, but plans
to return to West Linn to
continue teaching in the
2010-11 school year. Davies,
who has been teaching for 14
years, most looks forward to
spending time with A1 Gore,
Chairman of Generation
Investment Management,
and Arne Duncan, Secretary
of Education. Chosen from
among more then 400
math and science teachers
nationwide to become an
Einstein Fellow, Davies
completed interviews with
25 other finalists. He said
his students were excited
when they heard the news of
his accomplishment, which
made breaking the news
easier since he is only taking
a one year leave.
Curtis Scholl, vice
a,,ese teacher
All photos by Patrick D'Arcy
principal I
position at Sprague
High School in Salem.
This year is Scholl's,
j
who works as an
administrator, 13th year
in education and third
year at West Linn.
Scholl has been looking
at principal positions for
the past year but finds he
is pleased with West Linn.
"I have been very happy at
*
Model
m A lison
has made a positive impact in
supporting students
iamura,/ap£
princi pal
vice
Curtis Sc boll
teacher
only
ones looking forward to their
extended vacation. A handful
of staff members have
decided to take a different
direction after this year and
will not be returning next
fall.
Tana Dearborn, science,
Shar on
R° Sers' Frenchkache7
Hitomi Tamura, Japanese,
and Sharon Rogers, French,
and
will be retiring at the end of
sad at the same time. She
this year to spend more time
is a wonderful teacher and
with family and friends who
I know I will miss her. I
are close to them.
have learned so much from
"I am looking forward to
-
principal, has accepted a
Tana Dearborn, science teacher
Linn.
According to Scholl, as he
finishes his final year with
the district, he hopes that he
and
staff at West Linn.
"I look forward to taking
what I have learned in this
school community and
seeing how it could possibly
help the culture of another
school. Sprague High School
is similar to West Linn in that
students are very involved
and it has a strong tradition
in academics, athletics, and
activities," Scholl said.
U.N. receives honors at state conference
reldhouse ___________
Staff Reporter
Three seniors on the Model
U.N. team won awards in
their individual committees at
the state conference held April
at the University of Oregon.
Axelrod, N ow lin, Rohini
cam pus had plenty to offer.
Deb, Rajput, seniors; Neelou
Etesami, Avilash Cramer,
Anik Shresta, juniors; Lisa
Wang, Alison Fieldhouse
and Sarani Chatterjee,
sophomores, represented
There was also an ice cream
social and a dance at the
recreational center. After the
conference ended, thev made
a quick stop at Enchanted
Forest.
"It was the most fun I had
on a field trip even though
I couldn't afford anything.
I didn't know childish stuff
could be so entertaining,"
Shresta said.
Prior to the conference,
Model U.N. had been meeting
since the start of October,
participating in various
activities in preparation for
State. There was much to be
done in the short amount
of time they had including
fundraising (in the form of
India Night), credentialing
and research.
"India Night was a huge
success. We managed to raise
money for everyone and
the turnout was better than
expected," Greenberg said.
"Not only did it raise money,
but it helped to get the club
members excited too."
The team celebrated with
a party on April 16 during
lunch to commemorate the
experience. They shared
funny stories from the
conference, received special
awards from Jones and talked
about ways to improve the
experience next year.
For those who may want to
participate next year, a team
member offered advice.
"Don't do anything you'll
regret at the dance!" Etesami
said.
The M odel U.N. team s gather after their last comm ittee m eeting at
the U niversity of Oregon cam pus. The trip lasted three days and they
brought home three awards of recognition from the comm ittees.
Photo courtesy of Todd Jones
Neil Rajput and Sachie
Hayakawa won Best Speaker
awards in the Health and
Human Services Committees
and Taylor Nowlin won Best
Consensus Builder in the
Environment Committee.
"It was really exciting to be
recognized. In my first speech
I messed up a metaphor, so
I'm glad that it didn't hurt my
chances at success," Rajput
said.
There were 24 students
who went to state, 12
representing India and 12
representing Chad. Alissa
Greenberg, Hayakawa, Erin
India. Bryan Robinson, Rachel
Boehm, seniors; Ariane
Hopkinson, Sarah Dawson,
Jonathan Aheme, Rachel
Heisterkamp, Daniel Lee,
Kendall Jorgensen, Morgan
Joscelyn, juniors; Hannah
Cotter and Jennifer Sitton,
sophomores; and Haley Rivet,
freshman, represented Chad.
Todd Jones, adviser, and
Jonathan Peachey, teacher
chaperone, traveled to Eugene
with the group.
The teams met daily in
committee meetings, but they
still had free time during
lunch and dinner. The U of O