12
schools
october9
2012
Cheerleading is Back at VHS continued from front page
cheerleaders in their fancy uniforms
dancing, so it was something I really
wanted to try.”
“I really like being in the group
and dancing,” continues Hofer. “I think
the best part is being at the game, watch-
ing the game and yelling and the spirit
you get. I really like it.”
Way likes to let Logger fans
know that Cheerleading is a sport. She
says the squad has been working out
through the summer, training for their
stunts, running, and learning all the ma-
terial they are performing. “This is a
brand new program here, there was lit-
erally no material for us to draw upon,”
says Way. “So these girls are creating
all their material. And they are out there
physically working hard.”
Way and her family moved to
Vernonia this past May and brings an
extensive background in cheerleading
and dance to her program. Way says
her cheerleading background goes back
pretty far; she started in junior high
and high school in Hillsboro. She has
the distinction of being one of
the original Blazer Dancers with
the Portland Trail Blazers. She
has also danced with the Port-
land Jazz and Ballet Company.
Most recently Way served as the
head cheerleading coach at For-
est Grove High School. She also
currently works as Marketing
Director and Cheerleading Direc-
tor for the Portland Monarchs, a
semi-pro football team in Pacific
Football League.
Way says she has been
particularly impressed, not just
VHS Cheerleaders Meagan Scheirmister and
Alex Steffler practice with the Little Loggers
with the girls on the cheerleading
during a cheer clinic.
squad, but by all the youth she
Meet the Exchange Students
The Vernonia School District and the Vernonia
Community has been the willing and beneficial recipi-
ent of an unusually large number of foreign exchange
students over the last few years. This school year is no
different, with twenty students from around the globe
living, playing and studying along side our own stu-
dents.
In the next four issues of Vernonia’s Voice we
will introduce our readers to each of the exchange stu-
dents who are living in our community this school
year.
Let’s make sure we all make our new friends
feel welcome!
Hanna Farsch is from Germany and is living with the
Robertson family. Hanna is running Cross Country and
is also a member of the cheerleading squad this fall.
She says she might try wrestling or basketball this win-
ter and will run track in the spring. Since arriving in the
Vernonia
Community
PTA
Carnival!
has encountered in Vernonia. “The kids
in this town have thoroughly amazed me
by their drive and their willingness to
participate because they want to be part
of something, not because they have to
be there,” says Way. “The kids of this
town have re-established my faith in the
future of this country. I’ve really been
impressed by them.”
Being involved in the commu-
nity is important to Way. She volunteers
her time as head cheerleading coach. She
also says she really loves living in small
town Vernonia. “I am so impressed by
the way the community has reacted and
supported and embraced what these girls
have done,” says Way.
With a new school campus and
new dose of school spirit Logger fans
have a lot to cheer about this year.
Pacific Northwest Hanna has had
a chance to visit with her brother
who lives in Washington state.
Previously Hanna has traveled
around Europe to France, Spain,
Austria, Switzerland, Hungary
and Romania. Hanna says Ver-
nonia was actually bigger than she
expected. “When I first looked at
a map I said ‘Look where it is, it
looks like it will be very small,’
and my father said ‘Oh, there will
just be a gas station and nothing
else!’ Then I got here and explored
it and we have a supermarket
VHS foreign exchange students (from left to right) Hanna Farsch, Melanie
Bonnefoux, Iryna Budkevych, Lauri Andersson and Stefan Scheer.
and restaurants—for me it is big
enough. The yards and property
much closer with smaller yards. ”
of the people are so big, where I live is a small city,
but it is much bigger than Vernonia, but the houses are Lauri Andersson is from a small town in Finland,
about the same size of Vernonia and
is living with Kathy and Reggie Ward.
Lauri is playing football this spring
and says he will play basketball this
winter and run sprints for the track
team in the spring. This is Lauri’s sec-
(and other edged tools)
ond trip to the U.S. The last time was
in the summer of 2009 with his fam-
ily when they made a road trip from
New York to Florida, across Texas to
DROP-OFF & PICK-UP
California and then up the west coast
at Made In Vernonia,
to Seattle; other highlights included
805 Bridge St.
stops in New Orleans, Los Angles and
503-429-7342
the Grand Canyon. Lauri says he has
traveled all around Europe and also
lived in Australia with his family for
nine months. Lauri says Vernonia
seems bigger than his hometown-- at
home he has to ride a train for forty
minutes to another city to attend high
KNIFE
SHARPENING
SERVICE
Saturday, October, 20
5pm-9pm
continued on page 13
Food • Games • Prizes • Raffle/Auction
All proceeds to help purchase a
playground for the elementary kids
and commons area furniture for the
VMS & VHS students.
g WiFi
n
i
vid et &
o
r
P tern
In
SL
D
aga s
COMPUTER &
INTERNET SERVICES
Bring 2 cans of food for Vernonia Cares,
get 1 FREE game ticket.
(maximum of 10 game tickets per family)
503.429.TECH
jeff@agalis.net