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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (March 22, 2011)
schools march22 VHS Gets Ready to Start Forestry Program By Scott Laird Vernonia High School is getting ready to introduce a new Forestry Program for students. The program is scheduled to begin next fall, and will teach students skills in logging and forest sustainability, according to Washington Grade school Principal Aaron Miller. Miller has been working to introduce a new Natural Resources curriculum into the District. He has also been instrumental in the planning for the new Vernonia Rural Sustainability Center (VRSC) which will be part of the new school campus currently under construction. Miller says students in the Forestry class will learn about forestry science, will do work related to watershed restoration through a partnership with the Upper Nehalem Watershed Council, and work on developing hands-on forestry skills. In addition, a club will be created that will compete in Logging Skills Competitions and Logging Shows. Miller says there are at least twenty-five students who have expressed initial interest in the program. According to Miller, the class will be taught by current VHS teacher Byron Brown, who worked in the logging industry before becoming a teacher several years ago. There is also a hope that local resources, including local logging companies, will provide guest speakers, professionals and experts in the field to participate in the teaching of the classes. Mark Standley from Logsafe,Inc. is working to collect donated equipment for the program. “Mark heard about some of the things we are planning to do with the VRSC and he was very interested in helping us get a Forestry Program together,” said Miller. “Mark was instrumental in helping Knappa High School get their program back into their school. And after talking with Mark and [VHS principal] Mr. Underwood and [Vernonia School Superintendent] Dr. Cox and Mr. Brown, we decided this was something we wanted to pursue.” According to Miller, Brown has Running For The Arts At Washington Grade School Washington Grade School is participating in Young Audiences’ Run For The Arts, a project that will help the grade school raise funding for artists’ performances, classroom workshops and residencies and even field trips for the next school year. Young Audiences has brought the arts to schools since 1958. Washington Grade School couldn’t do it without the support of the community and parents! During the past school year, Young Audiences has brought artists to over 100,000 students at participating schools. At a time when the arts are vanishing from our classrooms, your support for the Run For The Arts is especially needed. Last year Washington Grade School raised $3,392.50 from this event. Washington Grade School is hoping to raise another $3000 to $4000 this year. With this money raised Washington Grade School students have benefited. Incorporating the arts into all subjects will really allow students a chance to shine in areas where they may otherwise struggle. As Washington Grade School gears up for its Run, they hope to raise enough money for more cultural and art assemblies for the students, and more artist in residencies. This year’s Run will be on Thursday, April 14th, 2011. During the pledge period in late March and early April, members of the community are encouraged to support Washington Grade School’s Run For The Arts. The students will see how many laps they can run around the high school track in a 30 minute time limit. Prizes, t-shirts, and other awards are awarded for their participation. In a time of limited funds for educational arts programming, Washington C edar M ist S tudios Deborah Steffen is a reg- istered yoga instructor and certifi ed hypnotist serving Vernonia for over 5 years. been actively talking with Jeff Skirvin, the Forestry teacher at Knappa High School to create a curriculum. Miller believes a Forestry Program will work well in a community like Vernonia. “It’s a perfect fit with the natural resources work we are doing and the sustainability of our economy and the environment that surrounds us,” says Miller. “With new logging practices, so much more of logging is really about stewardship of the land and trying to take care of the watersheds and the wildlife. I really think the industry is moving in that direction to survive and sustain themselves.” The Natural Resources curriculum that Miller is developing is still a work in progress, although numerous classes at all school levels have worked on several projects, including 4 th graders raising and releasing trout at Vernonia Lake, and several tree planting projects. Miller has specifically been working to develop more opportunities for local students to get involved in Grade School is one of many schools in the Columbia County area taking advantage of Young Audiences’ Run For The Arts, the Northwest’s largest source of funds for arts in the schools. Funds raised at each school pay for community arts programming at that school. Run For The Arts is expected to raise more than $600,000 this year for approximately 120 schools in Oregon and Southwest Washington. Young Audiences brings the arts to an average of 225,000 students per year in the region. C o m m u n i t y memberrs and parents are invited to help a successful Run by volunteering some time to help the school coordinator, George Spaulding, with the project. Please call the WGS office, or come in and sign-up to help. 2011 13 watershed projects. “We want to get our students more involved in every aspect of that Watershed Council work,” he says. “More and more, stream restoration is a growing part of our economy.” Miller says he sees links between the Forestry program and watershed work. “It may tie in directly with the Forestry class when they are working a certain site, or it may be another class or elective we develop.” Miller says the Forestry class will be an elective and eventually will have enough elements included that it could count as a science credit. Miller and Standley have been in contact with several local timber companies who are helping identify and locate properties where the students will be able to work and learn about Forestry practices. For more information about the VHS Forestry Program, contact Aaron Miller at Washington Grade School at (503)429-7941. VHS Winter Sports Wrap-up: Rock Twins Named to All-State Team At the annual VHS Winter Sports Dessert, Ariel Rock was named 1st Team All State in Girl’s Basketball. Sister Megan Rock was named Honorable Mention All State. VHS Wrestlers Joe Benes and Alex Barber were named to the All State Team. The following are all the awards handed out at the Winter Sports Desert: Girls Basketball Rock, Ariel Rock, Megan 1st Team All State Honorable Mention All State Boys Basketball Vaclav Michalec Most Valuable, 2nd Team All League Craig Weller 2nd Team All League Tanner Faber Honorable Mention All League Paul Whiteman Most Inspirational Austin Cutright Most Improved Wrestling Joe Benes All District, 4th All State, Outstanding Wrestler Alex Barber All District, 4th All State, Outstanding Wrestler Jacob Alf All District, Outstanding Wrestler Michael Kinnan All District, Most Inspirational Jake Barnes All District, Most Improved Shylo Dooley All District Daniele Della Rossa Most Improved Vernonia Veterinary Clinic Small and Large Animals Located 5 miles from Vernonia at 20960 Scappoose Vernonia Hwy. Hypnotherapy • • • • Stress/Pain Management Weight Loss Stop Smoking Self Confi dence... 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