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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 7, 2013)
schools Schools Update ~ Thank You By Dr. Ken Cox As we look toward to the upcoming holiday season I want to take a moment to thank all those who work with the district to make the education and improvement of our students one of their top priorities. There are so many that I am sure I will miss someone, so I will thank those of you who are not mentioned below first - thank you for all you do. As I think upon the last few months I can’t help but once again say thank you to Kathi Knowles and Deborah Dustman and the rest of the Class of ’73 for all their work at the Give Back Bash this summer. Their efforts resulted in a $10,245 check that was presented to the Vernonia Education Foundation (VEF) at our Homecoming Football game recently. I would also like to thank the members of the VEF Board who meet regularly to find ways to obtain the rest of the funding we need for our new schools. These board members include Bill Langmaid (Board Chair), Cari Levenseller (VSD Board Liaison), Pam Weller, Ronda Lennen (Class of 1974), Jim Eckland (Class of 1962), who receives a great deal of support from his wife Kathy (Class of 1965), Marjorie Carson (Class of 1957), Camrin Eyrrick, and myself. We are always looking for others who can help move the VEF forward in november7 2013 doing good things for our schools, so please contact the district office if you are interested in helping the VEF with our fundraising, or if you know someone who you think could help. There are two other groups that are constantly working to make our schools better: the Vernonia Parent Teacher Association and the Vernonia Boosters. Both of these groups are constantly providing not only activities for our students to participate in, but funds for items that are not in the current budget. We are all aware of the great burgers and hot dogs that the boosters provide at all of our home football games and the recent PTA carnival was also a great success. Many thanks to the leaders and volunteers of both of these wonderful organizations! You are all helping us make a difference. We recently had a group of volunteers help install the first playground equipment at the school, a six-seat swing near the covered play area. I would like to thank them and all those who made contributions to the purchase of the swingset, which included many individuals, the VEF and the PTA. I would also like to thank those volunteers who take time from their schedules each week to come and volunteer in our schools on a regular basis. Some have been coming for years and their presence is much appreciated. They 13 come to help out teachers and to read to and with students who enjoy their company as they get some extra practice reading out loud. Finally, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to those who are employed by the Vernonia School District. No matter what their position, their work helps our students do their best at school. You might wonder at my appreciation for them – after all they are getting paid for what they do. I agree, they do get paid, but not nearly what they are worth. Nor are they paid for the extra time they spend or the many, many extra little things they do, to make our schools the best they can be. THANK YOU to our teachers, our counselors, custodians, instructional assistants, and secretaries. THANK YOU to our kitchen and maintenance supervisors, their staff, and to our principals and the district office staff. Every day nearly one hundred people come together to make the education of our children the best it can be. To them I say THANK YOU! It is my hope, as the upcoming days bring us closer and closer to the Thanksgiving break, that you also take the opportunity to thank these hard-working members of our community for their efforts on behalf of our children’s future. Jacob Levenseller Memorial Swingset Installed By Aaron Miller The Jacob Levenseller Memorial Swingset was installed at Vernonia Elementary School on Saturday, October 12. Casey Hunter from JE Dunn Construction and Susan Ely from the VCPTA headed up the volunteer list, and kids are now swinging again at recess. Funds were raised to pay for the swings through donations to the Vernonia Education Foundation (VEF) in memory of Jacob Levenseller, Vernonia High School Class of 2012, and through the Vernonia Community Parent/Teacher Association (VCPTA). Jacob was an avid swinger at lunch and recess, and this addition to campus will be a lasting tribute to his memory and enthusiasm. The list of volunteers and donors was long including: Casey Hunter; Susan Ely; JE Dunn Construction; Corey Achziger; Pacific Tractor and Implement, Hillsboro; Jim and Marie Krahn; Cici Bell and Jim Buxton; Carol Cline-Davis; Maggie Peyton; Aaron Miller; DeWayne Cowles; Casey Mitchell; Jason Grant; Mike Rylands; Christopher Winter at Liberty Steel/Skydive; Toledo/Stabilyze Nutrition Bars; Neil Vandehey; Jeff Reynolds; Gene Baska; Bill Langmaid; Michael Roberts; Cari Levenseller; Vernonia Hardware; Camrin & Brandon p.m.. The cement set, more chips were added, the swings attached and students began swinging at recess on Monday, October 28. The lines were long, and the smiles were big. A ceremony will be held to dedicate the swings in memory of Jacob Levenseller, but the date and time of this event were not yet set at press time. The Vernonia School District would like to thank everyone involved in making this new addition to our campus possible. Plans remain for adding more play equipment to the school playground area, as fund-raising efforts are on- going. For more information on how to help with these efforts, you can contact the VEF or VCPTA through the school district at 503-429-5891. Vernonia Students of the Month October 2013 Jayda Pihl Grade 4 Jayda is known as a good listener and a very hard worker. Her teacher also describes her as a thoughtful and considerate student. Jayda says her favorite subject in school is math. In her free time Jayda says she likes to go outside and play. Eyrrick; Summer Williams; Kinnell Steward; Jennifer Butcher; Stacy Adams: Tobi Finzel and Anonymous Donors. Volunteers began laying out the plan and digging holes for the swingset at 7:00 AM and finished putting in the last of the available bark chips around 3:30 Old, worn out and rusty? Need body work? Call... Meyer’s Auto Body •493 Bridge St• VERNONIA 503-429-0248 Bethany Stockwell Grade 8 Bethany is a student who is known for working hard. She is also helpful and was described as “happy and spirited.” Bethany says her favorite subjects are history, art and science. She plays basketball and in her free time she says says likes to workout and play soccer. Devon Shay Grade 10 Devon's teachers describe him as generous, compassionate and good with other students. Devon plays football for the Loggers and runs track in the spring. He has organized other student athletes to get together to workout and practice during the off season. Devon says his favorite subjects are English and science. In his free time Devon says he likes to play chess and other board games. He also likes to run and be outside. Sponsored by State Senator Betsy Johnson
