voice community
vernonia’s
june
09
2008
Community School Educator
of the Year
Aaron Miller was the recipient of this year’s Community Educator of the Year
award. It is presented by the Oregon Community Education Association to an individual
involved with a community school who has made a significant contribution to the suc-
cess of students.
Aaron was nominated by the Commission on Children and Families for his work
in the development and management of a successful after school program for Vernonia
students. He is the principal of Mist Elementary and Washington Grade Schools.
The program was started in 1998 by the Commission on Children and Families
to assist in decreasing juvenile crime in Vernonia. Younger and younger children were
committing crimes during after school hours.
In 2005, it became necessary to find a new contractor for Vernonia’s after school
program. Aaron completed a proposal to the Commission on Children and Families re-
questing funds for after school and summer programs. His proposal was successful and
the Vernonia School District was awarded funds. It remains in place to date.
It serves an average of 90 elementary through high school students during the school
year and about 90 students in the summer. The program has homework clubs, twilight
school and summer school classes.
One of the program’s goals is to increase school success as shown by an improve-
ment in grades. Under Aaron’s management the academic program has reached or ex-
ceeded this goal. When interviewed, all of students in the High School component stated
without the program their grades would be lower and/or they would not be graduating.
When the December, 2007, flood resulted in students being displaced, Aaron imme-
diately changed the hours and location of operation of the program so it would be able to
continue to provide these services to the students.
Another part of the program is summer swimming lessons. About 35 students ages
5 - 13 attend classes at Cedar Ridge Summer Camp. The swimming program’s goal is to
increase child safety. It has consistently exceeded its goal, showing 50% of the youth in
the program successfully complete the course as shown by course instructors.
As research shows, after school programs decrease juvenile crime and can increase
school success. Both are results of the Vernonia After School program under Aaron’s
management. He has engaged parents and community members in supporting the pro-
gram and the District. Through his work, the safety and well being of the children and
youth in Vernonia and surrounding areas has improved.
Vacation Bible School This Summer
Come join us for this year’s Vacation Bible School with our Big Backyard
Adventure!
Each day the Backyard Bash begins with music, puppets, and a mission story. Chil-
dren will then go to a variety of interactive fun activities such as Backyard Food
and Fun where kids have time to move around, have fun, and fill up; Clothesline
Creations, where kids have fun creating crafts that are service-and lesson-oriented;
and Community Corner where kids hear stories about community servants and
will get motivated to be involved in community projects! All these fun activities
connect to The Bible story, Bible memory, and the life focus of serving!
Stanley, Alex, Cooper (the dog), and Nick (the squirrel) are waiting for some back-
yard crews to join them in serving and having a blast!
Dates for this year are June 23rd through the 27th at the Vernonia Christian Church,
410 North Street, 9:00AM to Noon.
Children from kindergarten age through grade six are welcome. For pre- registra-
tion and questions call: (Sue) 503-429-4901 or (Kari) 503-429-0911. Come join
the fun in God’s Big Backyard adventure.
I nsurance for all your precious possessions.
Nehalem Valley Pioneers
Association to Meet
The 85th annual meeting of the Nehalem Valley Pioneer Association is scheduled
for Sunday, June 8, at Natal Grange (located beside Highway 47 between Apiary
Junction and Mist).
The Nehalem Valley Pioneer Association consists of descendants of pioneers who
settled the Nehalem Valley although all past, present and future residents of the
area are welcome to attend, as is everyone interested in local history. We have long
honored pioneers who have passed during the preceding year at each meeting with a
simple memorial service. This year we begin a tradition of noting the birth of new
descendants during the preceding year. If you have information to share but cannot
attend the
meeting, please send email before June 7 to association president Lori Aschen-
brenner: loretta@nwlink.com or telephone (503) 728-2363.
Doors will open at 10:00 AM, business meeting will be conducted at 11:00 AM, pot-
luck picnic is at noon - served buffet style, and the afternoon program begins after
lunch around 1:00 PM.
For more information contact: Lori Aschenbrenner 503-728-2363 or Cynthia Weber
503-325-2100.
Grant Awarded to Make Repairs
at Airport Park
MTC Works receive the $11,111 grant from the Oregon Youth Conservation
Corps to make much needed repairs at the park this summer. A crew of 6 youth and
a supervisor will be hired to work at the park to build picnic tables, replace a foot
bridge and make needed repairs to the landscaping.
If you enjoy working with youth in the outdoors, contact MTC Works at
503-397-6495 to apply for the supervisor position.
Potential crewmembers must be 16 to 21 years old and meet eligibility require-
ments. To apply, contact MTC Works today.
MTC Works is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and ser-
vices are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. This program is fund-
ed in whole or in part through the US Department of Labor. (503)325-2894 TTY
Pulp and Paper Summer Institute
Offers Students Opportunity
Do you have high school-aged children? Lower Columbia College and Clatsop
Community College have a great summer opportunity for them. These colleges have
partnered together to offer high school students a three-day Pulp and Paper Tech-
nology Summer Institute. Students will be introduced to many forest products pro-
cessing techniques, including pulping, paper making, paper recycling and product
testing by Auburn University Chemical Engineering Professors. They will also learn
the science behind it all through hands-on paper making and paper testing, plus a site
visit to a pulp and paper facility. In addition, students will receive $150 for attending
and exploring a viable career option.
The dates for the seminar are July 28-30, 2008. It will be held at Clatsop Commu-
nity College, MERTS Campus in Astoria. For more information, visit the website
at:
http://lowercolumbia.edu/Common/programs---degrees/program-websites/pulp-
and-paper-homepage/HighSchoolInstituteOR.htm
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