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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 18, 2014)
schools 2014 Vernonia School Board Report At the September 11, 2014 Vernonia School Board Meeting: Enrollment is Up at Vernonia Schools- Superintendent Aaron Miller told the Board that as of September 8, enrollment is at 593, including nineteen foreign exchange students and eighteen students at Mist School. Miller told the Board that all students who have left the District have not yet been removed, so the count is artificially high. Last year there were 540 students enrolled at the end of the school year. School Receives Green Globe Certification- Superintendent Miller told the Board that the School has received three of four globes from Green Globes certification. (See full story on arrivals. Because of overcrowding on buses, high school and middle school Board Approves Hire of New students in the walk zone will no longer Band Teacher- The Board approved be eligible for courtesy rides. a recommendation from the Administration to hire Matthew Urban Board Approves Transportation as the new middle school/high school Contract- The Board approved an amendment to the current transportation band teacher. contract with Curl’s School Bus Service. Board Hears Transportation Report- The amendment extends the contract Shelley Cota, representing Curl’s School until June 30, 2020 and increases the Bus Service, updated the Board on the monthly fixed cost by $1,000 per month. current transportation situation. Cota Superintendent Miller told the Board told the Board there are five large bus that the District will issue a request for routes and seven small bus routes with Proposals in 2019 and that the contract ten assigned drivers, three substitute will not be extended again. drivers and one driver in training. Cota reported that last year there were zero Teachers Evaluation Handbooks accidents, and zero breakdowns while Almost Complete- Juliet Safier reported transporting students, and zero late front page) Schools Update: Partnerships By Aaron Miller Partnerships are incredibly important in any business, but they are essential in the business of education. The Vernonia School District has a variety of partners who have helped with building and funding our new campus, developing curriculum, providing our students with work experience opportunities, and many other valuable tasks. Even with all this support, the most important partnerships we have are with our parents and community. Our parents in the Vernonia Community Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and the NW Bicycle Safety Council (NWBSC) will be helping kids by putting on a Bike-a-thon and Free Bike Helmet fitting on Saturday, September 20 at Vernonia Lake from 10:00 AM-1:00 PM. Children can get a fitted helmet free from the NWBSC and then participate in a fundraising bike-a- thon, sponsored by the PTA. We hope you can join us! Parents are pivotal in developing a student’s readiness to attend school, and once students walk through those doors in Kindergarten parents are still an integral part of their child’s academic development. Besides volunteering at school there are many opportunities for parents to be a part of their child’s school experience. Just as with their students, the more involved parents are at school, the more they will get out of the experience, and in turn the more their children will gain from their schooling. Some ways parents can be involved with their student’s education: • Ensure your student is getting enough sleep and is eating well so their brains are ready to work hard throughout the day. • Talk with their teacher and be involved in the educational process. Check in to make sure they are completing their assignments, are using their time wisely in class and turning in their homework. • Volunteer at school. Join the PTA. Sign up to help with the school carnival on Saturday, September 27. Contact Melissa Zavales or Susan Ely to sign up (503-429-1333). • Attend Open House: Thursday, October 9. Have a hot dog and meet your child’s teachers. • Attend Parent/Teacher Conferences on November 6 or 7. • Join our school Site Council and provide input for setting goals and areas of focus for future school initiatives. Please call Debbie Stahlnecker (503- 429-1333). • Show up at an athletic contest, band concert or other school activity or fund raiser. School is like many other opportunities in life, in that you get out of it exactly what you put into it. We hope that you and your students will continue to put in the time and energy to partner with our schools, help our students be successful, and keep our community strong. Titus & Son’s, Inc. Serving Your Communty Since 1987 55670 Timber Road Vernonia, OR 97064 CCB# 55056 General Contractor Dan Titus Owner Ph. (503) 429-5005 september18 The 13 that the new Teacher Evaluation Handbooks for Professional Growth are 90% complete. Senate bill 290 requires all school districts in Oregon to follow certain criteria and the VSD has spent over four years creating this new evaluation system that fits their philosophy of education and culture. Teachers used the system last year on a trial basis with positive results and continue to work together to complete the final version of the handbook. Superintendent’s Report- Superintendent Miller reported that sixteen VHS students registered for Writing 121 through Portland Community College. Work continues continued on page 14 BIKE PTA -A- THON September 20 Vernonia Lake 10 am - 1 pm Benefits the School Play Structure Obstacle Course Free Bike Helmets 1st Prize is a Brand New Bike! Pick up Registration/Pledge forms at: Sentry True Value Black Bear Contact Melissa Zavales 503-438-8561 Birk the old house of music “it’s not that far” www.thebirk.com 291 A Street call Kim Lovable service at a reasonable price • Bathing • Haircuts • Nail Clipping • Nail Polishing • Specialty Shampoos
