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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 19, 2015)
schools november19 2015 Schools Update: Teacher Mentor Program By Aaron Miller The first two years of teaching can be quite an experience: addressing State learning standards, developing lesson plans, effectively managing a classroom of 25+ students, developing assessments, correcting papers, evaluating student work, communicating with parents…. the list goes on and on. Teaching is a hard job, and once you step into “your” classroom, it can be quite overwhelming to be on your own. Fortunately for new Vernonia School District (VSD) teachers there is the St. Beaver Mentor Program. This program developed by the Beaverton School District (BSD) provides support, training and mentoring services to new teachers in the St. Helens (SHSD) and Vernonia School Districts, hence the name “St. Beaver.” Mentor teachers from the BSD must apply and be selected to work as mentors with beginning teachers in the VSD and SHSD. Once teachers are matched with an appropriate mentor (they are matched by the grade level or subject area that is taught), they go through training together that includes classroom-based mentoring, New Teacher Summits, and Learning Labs to ensure that each teacher receives at least 90 hours of high quality mentoring and a minimum of 9 formal observations by their mentor teacher. This work fosters self-reflection to accelerate growth toward professional teaching standards, and supports knowledge of curriculum and grade level standards to strengthen the ability of new teachers to plan and differentiate highly effective instructional programs. Currently there are five teachers from the VSD taking advantage of this program. Second year Vernonia High School band teacher Matt Urban has found the experience “invaluable.” “I have now begun to design School Board Report At the November 12, 2015 Vernonia School Board Meeting: Board Appoints Wagner to Fill Vacan- cy – After entertaining applications from Bob Perry and Susan Wagner, the Board appointed Wagner to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Jim Krahn last month. Several Board members noted that both Perry and Wagner were excel- lent candidates, which was reflected in the silent vote the Board held to make their appointment; Wagner received three votes and Perry received two. The Board voted unanimously when the mo- tion was made to appoint Wagner later in the meeting. District Report Cards – The District has received Oregon Report Cards for their schools. The Report Cards provide a profile for each school; rates Prog- ress of students over time in English Language Arts, Math and Science; the Outcomes students are achieving in re- gards to college and career readiness, graduation, and continuing education; and the Outcomes for students in key groups that include economically disad- vantaged, students with disabilities, and talented and gifted students. This year’s Report Card did not provide an Overall School Rating; the U.S. Department of Education allowed Oregon to temporar- ily suspend rating this year as the state new lessons that have an activity at the beginning and end designed to help students get more invested in the lesson,” says Urban, “and we are working on ways to impart information that I had only previously been imparting by lecture.” This methodology is helping keep students more engaged in their lessons. Laura Blacker, a second year Vernonia Elementary School teacher, has had similar positive outcomes from her work with her mentor teacher. “This is a fantastic resource for a small district like ours,” says Blacker, “because it allows collaboration and sharing of great ideas for support of our students’ growth and learning. Most of these teachers are also using the 13 EngageNY math curriculum so we can support one another with this shift in instruction.” In addition to the information, Blacker is also very pleased with the support she receives directly from her mentor teacher. “My mentor, Jenny, is wonderful. She has observed a math lesson in my classroom and gave me really nice feedback that has helped me improve my instruction across all subjects. She is a really great problem solver and has connected me with wonderful resources.” Beginning VSD teachers and their students are truly benefiting from this partnership. If you have questions regarding the St. Beaver Mentor program, please contact Superintendent Miller. Vernonia Students of the Month October 2015 transitions to new assessment standards. Superintendent Report – Superinten- dent Miller provided the Board with a report on what happened concerning communication during a Police Incident on Riverside Drive on October 13. Mill- er told the Board he did not receive any communication from law enforcement to alert him of the incident. He said he called police at 7:10 am and was told children who were walking to school were being routed away from the inci- dent. Miller says he made the decision that the area directly around the school was not in danger, decided not to can- cel school and sent out a full coverage call to parents at 7:19 and again at 7:28. The School was put on “Lock In” which means no student may leave once they are in the building and no one else is al- lowed in. He says he was informed by both county and local law enforcement once the incident was concluded. Miller told the Board the school held a previ- ously scheduled Lock-Down/Evacua- tion Drill on October 14, which included local police and fire personnel. Student, staff and administration practiced lock- down and evacuation procedures. Miller told the Board that, based on the Board’s request, their meeting in April will be held at the Mist School. Miller told the Board he is continued on page 14 The Vernonia Volunteer Ambulance Association will be holding an informal Q&A meeting at the VRFPD conference room on Tuesday, December 1 at 6pm. Come learn about full scholarships and other great incentives to being a volunteer! Snacks and cocoa provided! Delaney Draeger Grade 4 Delacey is ac excellect acd mature studect who cocsistectly does her best. She says her favorite subgect is math. She gust ficished her soccer seasoc where she played goal keeper. At home she keeps a fish tack acd is tryicg to cocvicce her father to let her get a salt water tack because salt water fish are a lot cooler thac fresh water fish. She also likes to climb trees. Cody Hathcoat Grade 6 Cody is a very polite acd respocsible studect who takes pride ic his work. His teachers say he is a goy to have ic class. Cody says his favorite subgect is math. Ic his spare time he likes to play video games. He also has a two year old pet hedgehog camed “Socic.” William Scheuerman Grade 10 William's favorite subgect is ecgiceericg with Mr. Shockey. He plays trumpet ic the school bacd. As a Boy Scout he is very close to earcicg his Eagle Scout, havicg completed a progect to refurbish parts of the play structure at Acdersoc Park. Ic his free time he builds with legos, is icterested ic model railroadicg, acd ecgoys researchicg WWII history. Sponsored by Vernonia’s Voice Scouting For Food The Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts of Troop 860 will be partici- pating in the Cascade Pacific Council’s “Scouting for Food” campaign again this year on December 5th beginning at 9am to benefit Vernonia Cares Scouts will be leaving plastic bags at people homes on the morning of Wednesday, November 25th. Please leave bags with canned goods on your porches. There will also be a drop off site at the Vernonia Dental Office for anyone who would like to donate after the 5th. Office hours are Monday – Thursday 8am-5pm.
