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schools
february8
2011
VHS Band Prepares For California Tour

Thirty-three Vernonia middle
and high school students are preparing
for a six-day, three-performance concert
tour of northern California, next month.
The students will be leaving during
spring break and will travel by charter
bus, staying at the schools where they
perform. The Vernonia Band, led by
Director Rob Izzett, will be joined by
twelve students and the band director
from Molalla High School for the tour.
The band will perform at Yreka
High School on the first night, and
then travel to Healdsburg High School,
which is where Izzett grew up. At
the Healdsburg concert, the band will
be conducted by Izzett’s retired high
school band instructor for one song.
From there, the group will head to the
Bay area for a few days of fun, before
concluding with a concert at Dunsmuir
High School.
During their visit to the San
Francisco area, the group plans to tour
Alcatraz Prison, Fisherman’s Wharf, and
a Rubber Duck tour-- a tour of the city in
refurbished WWII military amphibious
assault vehicles that travel by both land
and in the bay.
Izzett says he is also working
on a visit to a major college in the area,
where students would spend some time
working with the band director there and
supporting
Family
Washington Grade
Reading Night
School
February
Thursday, 24-March
February 24, 1 6:30-
8:00 PM
will be and
this Noble
year’s or Family
At Barnes
Reading Night online
at Washington
Grade
at
School. www.barn
We will have
booths
set
es an dno bl e. co m up
with different reading activities. A few
of the activities
1 0 3 offered
9 1 1 0 0 are learning
how to knit, making gak, and making
bookcovers for your FREE books.
Barnes & Noble will also be
offering activities and book sales in the
gym. If you would like to support WGS
by buying a book but cannot make it
to Family Reading Night, then you can
purchase books at the Barnes & Noble
store (be sure to tell them you’re from
WGS!) or online with code #10391100.
Proceeds will go towards purchasing
books for WGS.
supporting
Washington Grade
School
February 24-March 1
At Barnes and Noble or
online at
www.ba rne sa ndno ble .c o m
10391100
get to see the campus. Izzett still didn’t
have a firm commitment-- details are
still being worked out.
Izzett says he is working with
the band to tighten up their playing in
preparation. “It’s time to really get down
to business between now and Spring
Break,” he says.
Izzett is preparing his band for
a full evening concert, meaning they are
preparing to play nine selections during
each performance. “The kids have never
prepared for anything like that before,”
says Izzett “Usually, they work on their
three or four songs for the Christmas
program, and after that they work on
three or four songs for contests, and
that’s almost all most schools do. Not
only have they been
learning the songs
they performed at
Christmas, but we’ve
been working on the
songs for this tour.
So, we’ve never
really done anything
like this before.
According to
Izzett, the band’s set
includes a medley of
marches by John Williams that contains
music from Star Wars and Indiana
Jones, as well as the “Colonel Bogey
March” from the movie The Bridge Over
the River Kwia.
Students in the band are excited
about the trip. “I’m just really looking
forward to playing with the other bands.
VHS Winter Sports Report
Wrestling--Coach
Chris
Wolfe’s
Loggers are steadily working their way
towards the District Meet on February
18, 19. In preparation, the Loggers had
some tough matches scheduled as they
headed to the Scappoose Invitational on
February 4, where they were scheduled
to take on 4A Scappoose and Astoria
and a very tough Nestucca squad, who
has already defeated Vernonia in a dual
match.
The Loggers also have a
scheduled dual meet at home against
district rivals Central Linn and Neah-
Kah-Nie on February 8th, which will
also be Senior Night for the Loggers.
“Everyone is wrestling tough
and getting into the weight classes where
they want to wrestle for Districts,” said
Coach Wolfe. Last year, the Loggers
were district Champions while wrestling
in division 3A.
“I’m ready for Districts and
excited to see what we can do in 2A.
Only the top two finishers at District go
to the State meet, so we’re going to have
to be at our best.”
Boys Basketball-- The Loggers are
entering the stretch run towards the
Northwest League playoffs with a league
record of 8-5, after an exciting 41-40
win over Portland Christian on February
3, with upcoming crucial games against
Gaston on February 5 and Faith Bible at
home on Senior Night on February 12.
According to Head Coach Ted
Aubin, Knappa has been at the top of
the league, with Faith Bible, Gaston and
Vernonia fighting it out for positioning
going into the playoffs. League playoffs
are scheduled for February 17 and 19.
Coach Aubin says Tanner Faber
has been the team’s most consistent
scorer, Bob Michalac has been strong in
the middle, and Craig Weller has been
the team’s most important player. “He
can guard, handle pressure, defend, and
make plays on his own,” says Coach
Aubin about Weller. “When he is in the
game, we are winning.”
“This is a fun team to watch,”
says Aubin. “We play pretty hard and
hopefully we keep it up through the last
couple weeks of the season.”
Girls Basketball-- The Lady Loggers
have battled a number of injuries this
season, but still find themselves right
in the thick of the playoff hunt with a
7-6 league record. Head Coach Steve
Whiteman’s team have won five of
their last eight games and have had to
depend on what he thought would be a
very deep squad heading into the season.
Whiteman has even used some JV
players to fill in some gaps as expected
starters. Shyla Tungwenuk, Kim Allen
and Chelsea Johnson have all had to
miss significant time this season.
Clothing Drive
It’s cool because we’re going on a tour,
not just going to one place to play,”
says Junior Jackson Miller, who plays
trombone. Junior Samantha Morgan,
who plays clarinet, has visited San
Francisco before. “I’m looking forward
to traveling and hanging out with my
friends. I’m also excited to go shopping
at Fisherman’s Wharf.”
Eighth grader Macayla Adams,
who also plays clarinet, will be joined
by her family for part of the trip. “I’ll
be with my family during the fun parts,”
says Adams. Adams also says she is
looking forward to seeing the Golden
Gate Bridge.
The students have been raising
money for the trip for over a year; the
Vernonia Community PTA is also a
sponsor. Izzett says some students are
still trying to raise money and if anyone
is interested, the
group will accept any
financial support to
help with their trip.
“We have enough good
players that when someone gets hurt,
others step up and play,” said Whiteman.
Recent wins against Nestucca,
59-20; against Delphian, 44-9; and a
big win against Faith Bible, with tough
losses to Neah-Kah-Nie and Knappa,
leave the Lady Loggers right in the mix
for the playoffs which begin on February
17.
“Our defense has been one of
our strengths,” says Whiteman.
The Loggers were scheduled
to play important away games against
Gaston on February 5 and Riverdale
on February 8, before concluding the
season at home on Senior Night against
Faith Bible.
Whiteman has gotten solid
play all season from guards Ariel and
Megan Rock, with Sami Lindauer and
freshman Stephanie Castro alternating
at the third guard spot. Inside, Kristina
Halvorson, Mickell Maller and Chelsea
Johnson have played the post positions.
Natalie Wallace has also been a key
player all season. Samantha Wallace,
Cierra Henson and Rowan Cheney
have all moved up from the JV squad to
contribute.
“This is one of the best and most
enjoyable teams I’ve worked with,” said
Whiteman. “They work hard every day
and don’t complain.”
Vernonia
Florist
Community
to supply Kait Mart, a new
dents
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