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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 13, 2012)
12 schools november13 2012 Student Sustainability Days Fire Department Visits School Students at the Vernonia Schools took part in two “Sustainability Days” on November 5 and 6. Elementary school students learned about sustainability on the first day; middle and high school students got their boots and hands dirty the second day with some outdoor projects around the new school campus. Students worked to remove invaisive species, cleaned up and planted in the native plant garden in the front of the school and planted filter plants to help with erosion control and run off at the back of the campus. Engineering students also worked on plotting a nature trail around the outside of the campus. Meet the Exchange Students Paula Oliveros is a junior at Vernonia High School this year and is from Madrid, Spain. This is Paula’s first visit to the United States. In the past she has traveled in Europe including vis- its to Germany, Belgium, and Hungary. Paula is spending this year living with the Mark Brown family. She is currently on the cheerleading squad and says she would like to play basketball and maybe try out for softball in the spring. Paula says she has enjoyed eating Chinese- American food and especially enjoys Panda Express. She also says she likes cookies. Paula says Vernonia is very different from her home in Madrid but she likes that she feels like she knows everybody. She says there is always something to do in Vernonia. “If you don’t have plans.” says Paula, “you just go downtown and you always find some- one, so you always have something to do.” Ruben Fabers is from Ger- many and is living with Shelley Cota. Ruben is a junior who played football As part of their fire safety program, the Vernonia Rural Fire Protection District visited the Vernonia Grade school on Monday, October 29th. Firefighters spent the day instructing students about fire safety. Topics included: how to call for help in an emergency; stop drop and roll if your clothes catch on fire; never play with matches or lighters; the value of working smoke alarms; and conducting exit drills in the home. As part of their presentation, firefighters brought the E.D.I.T.H. for the Loggers and will play basketball this winter and may try baseball. Ruben says he has traveled extensively to the countries neighboring Germany and has been to New York City on a previous trip to the US. Ruben says his favorite American foods are corn dogs. “I like that everyone supports the sports teams and always go to the games,” says Ruben about Vernonia. “Also, everyone is nice here, even when you meet them for the first time. They try to help you if you have problems and they are really open to new people.” has traveled to Egypt. Ezio says he loves Taco Bell. “We don’t have Taco Bell in Italy—it is awesome!,” says Ezio. Ezio says he likes Vernonia because it is so small and everybody knows everyone. trailer. E.D.I.T.H. is an abbreviation for “Exit Drills In the Home.” The EDITH trailer is a small ‘home’ on wheels, which allows participants to watch a video about fire safety and exiting the home in the event of a fire, and then practice what they learned with a mock evacuation. For more information about fire safety, or to schedule a tour of the Vernonia fire station, please contact Deputy Chief Dean Smith at 503- 429-8252. considers himself very lucky because his parents love to travel, so he had the opportunity to visit many different coun- tries, including Australia three times and all around Europe. His father is Dutch, so he visits Holland a couple times each year. He has also been to the states three times prior to this trip and has visited New York City, New Orleans, California, Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon. Alex says his favorite food in America is Kentucky Fried Chicken, al- though he knows it is not re- ally good for him. “I know it is the worst one ever and I re- ally don’t want to know how they make this chicken—I’m really afraid about that,’ says Alex. He also says his Ameri- can mother, Tracy Easlon “... is a really good cooker. With that I am really lucky!” Ezio Rusticali is a senior from Italy and is also living with Shelley Cota. Ezio also played football this fall and will play bas- ketball this winter. This is Ezio’s first time in the Unit- VHS foreign exchange students (from left to right) Paula Oliveros, ed States but has visited sev- Alex Budde, Ruben Fabers, Ezio Rusticali and Karina Tolmacheva. Karina Tolmacheva is eral countries in Europe and from Kurdistan and this is He says he likes how the school is the the first time she has ever traveled out- center of the community. “Everybody side her home country. She is living rotates around the school,” says Ezio. with the Cheney family this year. Karina “I think the school is the most important is a junior who has competed in Cross part of the city.” Country this year for VHS and will try out for basketball and hasn’t decided Alex Budde is also from Italy whether she will try softball or run track and is spending this year living with the in the spring. Karina says her favorite Easlon family. A senior, Alex played American foods are bacon and brown- football and will also play basketball and ies. She says she likes the school spirit will do field events on the track team in and how friendly people are in Vernonia. the spring. Alex says he likes Verno- “People are very helpful,” says Karina. nia because it is so different from his “If you need something they are ready to home city. “I like that here you have a help you at any time.” Karina also says lot of privacy and nice neighbors,” says she likes being surrounded by nature and Alex. “It’s really good.” Alex says he all the timber around Vernonia. g WiFi n i vid et & o r P tern In SL D aga s COMPUTER & INTERNET SERVICES 503.429.TECH jeff@agalis.net
