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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 22, 2013)
january22 2013 V E R N O N I A’ S reflecting the spirit of our community VHS Students Present Senior Projects On January 9, 2013 the Vernonia High School Senior class presented their Career Related Learning Experience (CRLE) Senior Projects to the school and the community. The Senior Project is an op- portunity for students to demonstrate skills they have learned throughout high school. Each student is required to spend tions students had an opportunity to in- formally explain their projects to visitors and talk about their learning experience. Vernonia’s Voice visited with many of the students and interviewed several of them about their CRLE’s. Tanika Cradit did a teaching in- ternship with Miss Eagleson, spending three full days and six partial days with her kindergarten class at the Vernonia School. Cradit cre- ated a theme for her project, “Let Imaginations Be Free,” and used that theme to create activities and projects that she completed with her students. She used her projects to help the students with their small motor skills, to learn to fol- low directions and to use their imaginations. Ashlee Archer spent time observing the work of Ashlee Archer spent time working with an Intensive an intensive care nurse at the Care Nurse for her Senior Project. Portland Veterans Hospital. and document twenty hours of time on Archer had the opportunity to observe the project, and work with a mentor to an emergency code that involved chest gain knowledge and experience in a real compressions while in the unit. She was life work environment. also able to observe an open heart surgery Students initially write a letter procedure. She says she learned that the of intent about what they hope to ac- human aspect of nursing is very impor- complish and learn through their project. tant. Archer said she is very interested in Students then spend time working with a pursuing nursing as a career and would mentor they have chosen to complete a like to work in the intensive care environ- job shadow and gain firsthand experience ment. about the career they are learning about. Jonathon Anderson explored ca- Students are then required to reer fields that involved physical fitness create a visual display and present them and well-being. He learned about be- in an arena style open house. The proj- ing a personal trainer, a nutritionist and ects are completed during an evening of physical therapist from his mentor Teresa formal oral presentations in small groups Williams and created a booklet for un- which are judged by panels of commu- derclass athletes to help them with their nity members. training. During the arena style presenta- continued on page 10 inside 5 7 city news meet tera roberts 10 vhs sports report 11 school board report 12 obituaries free volume7 issue2 Wyden Holds Town Hall at Vernonia Schools U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D) spoke at a Town Hall Meeting at the Vernonia School on Monday January 14, 2013. Wyden opened the meeting by recognizing sever- al Korean War Veterans in the audience. Wyden announced that he was a sponsor of U.S. Senate Resolution 602 which commemorates 2013 as the “Year of the Korean War Vet- eran.” Wyden presented the veterans with a plaque of the resolution and honored their service. The veterans received a standing ovation from the crowd. Wyden spent the remainder of the meeting answering questions from the audience. Vernonia High School students were invited to attend the Town Hall and were in attendance. Wyden focused much of his attention during the meeting on the students, specifically trying to engage them dur- ing the ninety minute meeting. VHS Student Body President Samantha Wallace asked Wyden about what can be done to change the high cost of a college education. Wyden re- sponded that access to college is very important and that he supports funding for Pell Grants. He also said college needs to be about value and said he has introduced legislation called “The Student Right to Know Before You Go Act” which tells prospective students about graduation rates, debt levels and most importantly, what a student would be likely to earn in salary if they re- ceived a degree from particular school. Gun control and school safety was the subject of several questions from the audience. When asked about whether he would support a ban on assault weapons, Wyden explained that he and his wife are the parents of three children under the age of six and that the horror for the parents of the children murdered in Connecticut is unimaginable. Wyden also con- fided that he had a brother who was a schizophrenic who caused his fam- ily much anxiety over whether he was capable of hurting himself or others. Wyden stated that he wrote the “Career Criminal Law” which mandates stiff penalties for those with a prior crimi- nal record who commit a subsequent crime with a gun. He has also worked to fill in the gaps in the mental health system. Wyden says he believes that, in light of recent events involving gun violence, that our country needs to do more to protect its citizens. Wyden says he would like to be part of a bi- partisan effort to get more “gun sense” into the debate to provide practical and effective measures but also takes into account rights and responsibili- ties. Wyden said he felt strongly about personal responsibility and would start Spencer Health and Wellness Opens at Vernonia Schools The new school based health center is now open at the Vernonia School. The clinic, which opened on January 11, 2013, has a name, Spencer Health and Wellness. It will provide primary care visits for illness and injury, prescriptions, sports physicals, and immunizations and promote preventive care and wellness. There will be a reception area, private exam/counseling room, a lab area, bathroom, and confidential and secure record keeping area. Mental Health services will also be provided at the clinic through a contract the School District has arranged independently with a professional mental health councilor available. In addition to primary care treatment, the clinic will offer screening services that include blood pressure, vision, hearing and scoliosis as well as minor dental screenings and preventive treatment. The clinic will have the capacity to write prescriptions and administer over the counter and prescription medications. The clinic will also provide reproductive health services including pap exams, pelvic exams, testicular exams, pregnancy testing and counseling and Sexually Transmitted Disease/ Sexually Transmitted Infections (STD/STI) treatment and prevention including condom availability for STD/pregnancy prevention use. The clinic operation is being overseen by the Public Health Foundation of Columbia County. Medical oversight is provided by Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). The clinic will initially be open to patients on Tuesday’s and Friday’s from 7:30 AM to 1:30 PM. More days could be added in the continued on page 15 future if needed. Tera Roberts, a Family Nurse Practitioner who holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree will be the care provider. Roberts is part of the OHSU staff and faculty. Although the clinic is not fully functioning, the doors are open and patients may be seen. “All of our equipment is pretty much here,” said Roberts on the opening day. A grand opening will be held sometime in February. Roberts says the clinic is still waiting for a refrigerator to be delivered and is unable to store and give vaccinations until that arrives. The 7:30 AM start time allows students to be seen and not miss any class time. It will also help accommodate parents who want to be with their child when they are seen by the provider. continued on page 7