vernonia’s
voice schools
april
2008
Students Prepare Dramatic Production
Thirty home-schooled girls and boys from the Vernonia area
are working hard on two plays they will present on April 4
and 5. The grade school level actors will dramatize the be-
loved story of “Heidi,” and the high school actors will tread
the boards in a comedy entitled “The Ugly Duckling.” The
plays are directed by Rachel, Margaret, Alberta, and Caleb
Hardy of the Greenleaf Acting Company in Scappoose. Both
plays include lively action, colorful costumes and sets, and
even some music and dancing.
17
VHS Blood Drive
A Success
The recent blood drive for the American Red
Cross held at the Vernonia High School was
a success. According to VHS teacher James
Brookins who coordinated the drive for the
school, the goal was to collect thirty-eight
pints. Forty-two were collected, twenty-six
of which were from first time donors.
“Heidi was one of my favorite stories as a child, and I’m
thrilled to be bringing it to the stage in Vernonia,” says Al-
berta Hardy. “The children are working hard, having a great
time, and we are putting together a wonderful show. Heidi is
a show the whole family will enjoy.”
Another Blood Drive will be held on June
14, 2008, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM at
Spencer Park.
“I really love A. A. Milne’s one-act play ‘The Ugly Duck-
ling,’ and I think our high school group is doing a wonderful
version of it,” states Margaret Hardy. “It’s a privilege for me
to work with this group, and I think it’s also great for them
to learn all the skills that come with being in a play. I believe
that all ages will really enjoy this amusing and sweet medi-
eval tale!”
The performances will be
at the Vernonia Grange on
the corner of North and
Washington, one block
north of Vernonia High
School, on Friday evening,
April 4 at 7:30, with a Sat-
urday matinee on April 5
at 2:30. All are welcome to
attend. The performances
are free, but donations are
gladly accepted.
School Based Health
Center Planning Takes Place
Columbia County has taken another step toward planning for health care for
youth! The Columbia Health District (CHD) has received three grants from
the Department of Human Services for planning School Based Health Cen-
ters (SBHC) in the communities of Vernonia, Rainier, and at St. Helens High
School. The grant money is being used to convene local planning groups in
each of these communities, in addition to supporting county-wide planning
initiatives.
On March 6th, CHD-Public Health had the pleasure of convening a day long
planning retreat which brought together over 30 community partners to dis-
cuss School-based Health Care as a way of addressing the unmet health care
needs of the youth in Columbia County. In attendance were State public health
employees, health department staff, school superintendent, school board mem-
bers, teachers, counselors, school administrators, physicians, nurses, parents,
one student, a county commissioner, representatives from Sacagawea Health
Center and many other key community stakeholders. The objectives of the
retreat were:
• To develop a framework by which to address county-wide health needs
starting with initial planning grants in three communities.
• To discuss School-Based Health Center long-term sustainability
• To identify shared resources and discuss how to engage our community
around health care for kids.
All objectives were met at this initial gathering and next steps were identified.
The participants requested that another half-day work session be scheduled as
a follow up to this day-long retreat. This event will take place on April 14th.
The location and times are to be determined. Initial goals for this half-day
include continuing the discussion of financial sustainability as well as com-
munity education and engagement.
CHD-Public Health is committed to listening to the needs of community
members, partners, and stakeholders as we continue together with the SBHC
planning process. If you would like to be involved in the planning process,
or have any questions, please contact the Program Coordinator Aisha Krebs.
She can be reached by phone at (503)397-4651x206 or by email at
apoole@chdpublichealth.com.
School Board Report
The Vernonia School District meeting held on March 13, 2008, brought good news.
Everyone was welcomed back into the district office for the first time since the flood.
Guests from the Beaverton, Southridge and Aloha Booster Clubs presented a card
signed by many of their members along with a check in the amount of $2,700 for
Vernonia schools. J.D. McMahon of Insight Corporation presented the board with a
donation of ten new laptops and printers to the district.
Vernonia High School will be inviting the Scappoose High School to their Spring
Fling Dance. Some students will also be traveling to Scappoose to prepare and serve
dinner to the staff and teachers as a thank you for welcoming our students and staff
into their school during our time of need.
Washington Grade School Principal Aaron Miller was nominated and has been
named the Community School Educator of the Year by the Oregon Community Edu-
cation Association. The award ceremonies will be held on Thursday, April 24, 2008,
at the Ocean View Resort in Seaside OR.
In regular business, Curl’s Transportation was awarded the contract for bus services
to the district.
The board approved keeping the current school schedule and not adding three make
up days at the end of this year. The last day of school will be June 10, 2008. The
district will request a seat time waiver for the days missed due to the flooding from
the Oregon Department of Education. Dr. Cox advised the board he has been told
to expect the waiver to be approved. They also reviewed calendar options for the
2008-09 school year. The board approved a schedule that is similar to the 2007-08
calendar with 173 student contact days and 190 contract days. Total enrollment for
the district is still down ten percent.
DOWA, an architectural firm, recently provided the board with concept drawings
for a new school campus which gave the board a way to understand and determine
how much acreage will be necessary to relocate the campus. DOWA determined that
thirty to forty acres are needed and five sites were rated as possibilities for reloca-
tion. The district approved Dr. Cox to begin discussions with those landowners.
The board also approved an expenditure of up to $50,000 to add another modular
classroom (donated by Blazer Industries) that will be placed next to WGS in the
parking lot and for paving repairs.
The next regular board meeting is scheduled for April 10, 2008, at 6:00 PM at the
District Office.