schools
december19
Schools Update ~ The Vernonia Education Foundation
By Dr. Ken Cox

This week I felt it would be
appropriate to share with you some
information about the Vernonia
Education Foundation (VEF). The
VEF was formed as a 501c3 public
charity in 2009 primarily as a vehicle
for other foundations, corporations, and
businesses to donate to our new schools
project when their guidelines would
not allow them to donate directly to a
school district. The foundation has been
growing and changing as we have gained
new board members and the school has
been completed, but our primary focus
has been to provide additional funding
for our new schools.

The VEF board is made up
of volunteers who want to make a
difference in our new schools. Since its
inception the VEF has greatly benefited
from the efforts and hard work of a
number of individuals and groups.
You will probably recall some of these
events: Vernonia’s Biggest Reunion
that was held in 2010 and sponsored by
a large group of VHS alumni; the Last
Chance Dance, which included a dinner
and auction, that was held in 2012
commemorating the closing of WGS
and was spearheaded by Bill Langmaid;
and more recently the Give Back Bash
which featured an Elvis tribute artist and
manned by members of the VHS class of
’73 this past August.

For over a year we have
supported the Vernonia Sports Initiative,
which is focusing on raising funds for
the sports fields at the new school. This
effort has been spearheaded by Jim and
Kathy Eckland, who currently live in
Keizer. Jim is a 1962 graduate of VHS
and Kathy graduated in 1965. They have
been reaching out to fellow classmates
and other alumni to make a difference
for our sports fields. They have been
very successful, and with the help of
funds raised by the Give Back Bash and
memorials for the Davis Family, there
should be enough funds to complete the
softball field just east of the gyms this
summer (more to come on this topic in
the spring).

To all of the alumni, groups, and
countless individuals who have made
such a huge success of each of these
events, I give a heartfelt THANK YOU.
You have really made a difference in our
schools!

In addition to sharing my
gratitude, I would like to make a plea
to our community. Simply put, the VEF
Board is seeking your help. We could
use a few more enthusiastic individuals
who want to make a difference in
2013
17
our schools. If you are curious about
becoming a board member, or have an
idea for a fundraising project, please
contact the school district office (503-
429-5891). The VEF board generally
meets once a month, either before or after
the regularly scheduled school board
meeting on the second Thursday of the
month. We are actively seeking ways to
address our remaining construction debt
and establish a hallmark fundraising
event that will bring people into our
community to see what a great place this
is.

I know everyone is busy,
especially this time of year. But if you
have an idea, or know someone who
could help in our quest to make our
schools the best they can be, please let
me know. We have come a long way
together, and we just need your help to
cross the finish line.
How to Get Information About School Weather Closures

The Vernonia School District uses FlashAlert
to notify the TV stations about school closures. You
can get the same information as soon as it is posted.
Here’s how:

You may self-register and manage up to three
home or office email and/or cell phone text message
addresses and receive emergency information just
minutes after we post it, at no cost to you.

To get started, go to www.FlashAlert.net
and click on the Portland button on the map. Choose
Columbia County Schools and then choose Vernonia
School District. You may enter one or two more email
or cell text addresses. After entering them, the system
will launch a validation message to each address.
Obtain the two-letter code in the message and post it
back into your account to validate that address (or click
on the provided link). This is done to make sure that
your messages will reach you.
Please be aware that with the proliferation of
spam and the resulting spam filters, it is impossible
to guarantee message delivery. And remember that
message delivery is dependent on cell companies
accepting in a timely fashion the messages we send
to them to send to you. Messages not accepted by cell
phone companies after one hour will be deleted from
the system to avoid the confusion that may be created
by a late-arriving message.

An even better option than text messaging is
a new, free iOS/Android app, FlashAlert Messenger,
that lets you receive emergency messages through Push
Notification. Text messages need to be accepted into
your carrier’s text message channel and screened for
spam. During crunches, cell companies have taken an
hour or longer to deliver some messages (and it seems
to be getting worse). Push Notification, on the other
hand, travels a non-stop path from FlashAlert to the app
on your phone. Plus, there are no per-message charges
and PN also works on Wi-Fi only devices. And the app
will allow you to see all of the recent news posted in
your region.

The app process is simple. iOS and Android
users download and open the free FlashAlert
Messenger app. Enter the email address and password
for your current FlashAlert account and the app will
link to it. The app may ask permission to send you
Push Notifications. That’s it. You will continue to make
changes to your account (i.e. adding schools or orgs you
want to hear from or changing an email address) the
way you always have, at www.FlashAlertMessenger.
net/login.html

All addresses registered on FlashAlert will
remain confidential. Once a year, you will receive an
email at your registered email address asking if you
wish to continue your subscription.
Vernonia Students of the Month
BE PREPARED FOR WINTER
• chains • antifreeze • winter tires mounted & balanced
• wipers • generators • kerosene • flashlights • boots
• batteries • lamp oil • gas cans • candles • propane
Family owned & operated
for over 40 years
834 Bridge St., Vernonia
(503) 429-6364
November 2013
Kade Morrison
Whitley Tolonen
Jim Morrison, Jr.
General Contractor
CCB# 112057
Ph: (503) 429-0154
MorrisonRemodeling@hughes.net
Vernonia, OR 97064
• Licensed • Bonded • Insured
Grade 6
Whitley is a pood, hard workinp student. She plays
basketball and volunteers as a basketball coach
with younper pirls. In her spare time Whitley says
she likes to read, hunt, fish, ride quads and help out
at the hardware store. She also takes care of the
family pets at home. Her favorite class is
Technoopy and she also likes her Elective Class.
Stephanie Castro
• Kitchen & Bathroom Remodels • Finish Carpentry
• Ceramic Tile Work • Custom Home Construction 
• Additions • Commercial Tenant Improvements
Grade 3
Kade is know for beinp responsible, respectful,
safe, and kind. He is a student that his teacher can
count on. “Kade is a preat kid!” says Mrs. Ginperich.
Kade says his favorite subject in school is art. He
plays basketball and likes to draw in his free time.
At home he helps take care of the family cat and
three dops.
Grade 12
Stephanie is an excellent athlete and a pood
student. She was named First Team All Leapue and
was a captain for the Lady Loppers volleyball team
this season. She was named First Team All Leapue
in basketball and softball last year. Stephanie was
voted Homecominp Queen this year. She says her
favorite subject is art. She is part of the School-to-
Work propram and works with younp students at
Head Start. She also helps in the Hiph School
office. Stephanie says she hopes to po into nursinp
and eventually Physical Therapy after praduation.
In her free time she says she likes to watch movies.
Sponsored by Vernonia’s Voice