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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 2009)
10 schools october 2009 Walk And Bike To School Day School Employees Union Supports School Bond Members of the Oregon School Employees Association Vernonia Chapter 67 have donated $4,500 to the Vernonia School Bond Committee in a show of sup- port for new Vernonia schools. Union President Merlene Martin was on hand when Vernonia Chapter Presi- dent Kathi Fetch and members of the local union presented the check to School Bond Committee members Sharon Bernal and group.” Union President Martin expressed her support for the chapter. “I’m over- whelmed at the chapter’s support for this campaign. It is so special to see this kind of involvement.” Union members, wearing matching OSEA shirts and buttons that read “Support our Schools,” along with teacher and district staff had a chance to wander the site which was staked out to show the pro- posed outline of the building. The union is taking an active roll in the School Bond cam- paign, working on numerous ongoing activities as elec- tion day approach- es on November 3. “We are going to work hard ev- ery day to make sure every citizen Oregon School Employees Association Union President Merlene Martin of Vernonia knows (seated) was on hand as Vernonia Chapter 67 President Kathi Fetch how vital a new (with mic) and other local union members present School Bond Cam- school is for the paign Coordinator Sharon Bernal with a check for $4,500. town,” said night custodian Julie Janean Zavales at the site of the proposed Ramsey. new schools. “If there is no school, there is no “This is our way of helping sup- town,” added Fetch. “Everyone needs to port the Bond and help get it passed,” said vote yes on this levy, for our school and for Fetch. “With support from our state orga- our community.” nization, this money comes from our local On Wednesday, October 7, 2009, over 4 million kids from around the world will celebrate International Walk and Bike to School Day. Washington Grade School invites you and your family to join approximately 25,000 adults and children around Oregon by walking or biking to school. Last year, 140 students (over 60% of the Washington Grade School popula- tion) participated in this fun event. Walk and Bike to School Day encourages children, parents, teachers, and community members to celebrate the benefits of walking and biking throughout the commu- nity, and raises awareness for the need to create neighborhoods that are safe for pedestrians and bicy- clists. There are many benefits to walking and biking to school-- it makes children more physically ac- tive, reduces automobile trips and the associated congestion and pol- lution, and creates a sense of com- munity. Encouraging kids to walk or bike to school gives them more than a healthy dose of exercise. It’s a great way to teach them about safety, trust and independence, and it can improve their performance in school. “Walking and biking to school can actually make kids bet- ter students. When kids walk and bike to school, they get refreshed, get social time with friends, and get healthy, which leads to better communication, better moods, and a more active brain,” said Washing- ton Grade School PE Teacher Mr. Spaulding, “And best of all, they get to work out some of their ner- vous excitement before reaching their classroom.” Research indicates that since the early 1970’s there has been a steady decline in the num- ber of children walking and bik- ing to school, even among those children living a mile or less from school. Reasons for this trend in- clude increasing concerns for child safety, traffic along pedestrian and bicycle corridors, and in many cas- es, students attending schools far from their homes. Walk and Bike to School Day can help students, parents, educators, and community leaders reverse this trend by identi- fying and working to solve many of these barriers. Small prizes will be given away as incentives, including one Nutcase helmet provided by the Oregon Safe Routes to School Pro- gram. Let’s put more feet on the street. 2009-10 Trailblazer Rewards VHS Homecoming Activities October 19-23 Logger Olympics all week Monday 10/19 Powder Puff football. Monday 10/19 JV Football away vs. Neah-Kah-Nie Tuesday 10/20 Volleyball HOME vs. Neah-Kah-Nie Wednesday 10/21 Coronation and Bonfire. Thursday 10/22 Cross Country HOME Vernonia Relays Thursday 10/22 Volleyball away vs. OES Friday 10/23 Parade, Football HOME vs. Neah-Kah-Nie, dance Last year, over 15,000 students and families participated in the Portland Trail Blazers student achievement programs and over 150 schools performed, played on the court or organized a special group event. School and Family Nights: The Portland Trail Blazers are pleased to once again offer local area students, staff and their friends and family several nights des- ignated just for you with incredible ticket savings! For the Super Saver $5 nights, tickets must be ordered 2 weeks prior to each game. For the Saver $10 nights, the order deadline is 3 weeks prior to each game. Reserved seating for this program is limited and is filled on a first come, first served basis. I hope you are able to take advantage of this discounted offer. Enjoy! If you have any questions, please feel free to call Athena Demas at the Portland Trail Blazers at (503) 963-3959. Behavioral Reward Program (Free tickets to reward achievement): If any student, K-5, at WGS maintains positive school behavior, demonstrated by having no disciplinary referrals or stingers through the end of the 1 st quarter, Novem- ber 4th, they will receive a free complimen- tary Portland Trail Blazer ticket! Parents/ Guardians of the specific student can get their ticket at a discounted price. The same procedure will be fol- lowed for the second quarter, ending Janu- ary 28 th , and the 3 rd quarter, ending April 9th. The opportunity for a free, com- plimentary Portland Trail Blazer ticket will end at the close of the second quarter. The NBA season ends around the same time as the 3 rd quarter and the home games around that time are usually sold out; therefore, students who are eligible for a reward for positive school behavior in the third quarter will receive a different reward. If you have any questions or con- cerns, please feel free to call our principal, Mr. Miller, or me at 503-429-7941. Hope to see you at the games! By Brandi Fosdick be taking over as counselor for both schools as well. In the Vernonia High School, the always active James Brookins has put away his calculators, and almost all his beakers to work in an administrative position in- stead. But students mustn’t shed too many tears. They will still be able to see him at least a little as he is still teaching advanced biology and the leadership homeroom. And he even got himself an extra little quirk this year-- he’s the only high school teacher who gets to have a classroom-- Mrs. McSwain’s old room-- in the middle school modulars. It’s funny watching the high school class line up against the oppo- site wall from the sixth graders, especially when a few of the sixth graders are taller! And being one of those short high school kids myself, I’ve got to go to class. Talk to you next month about the sixth graders’ trip to outdoor school! Good Ol’ School Days Vernonia Community PTA Urges you to vote YES for the Vernonia School Bond Measure 5-197 Support our schools! On September 8th, both the high school and the middle school kids were seen straggling over to the Logger Dome at the ungodly hour of 8:00 AM. Since last year, all of the schools have undergone many changes. Mr. Underwood decided to go ahead and start off the year with an as- sembly, to, among many other things, ex- plain these changes to the students of the middle and high schools. In the Vernonia Middle School, Mrs. McSwain, who teaches literature, had to be let go. The other literature teachers will be picking up a little extra work to re- place the effort Mrs. McSwain would have put in this year. Unfortunately, the middle school principal and counselor also had to be let go. Nate Underwood will now be taking over as both the high school and middle school principal. Peter Weisel will