schools
2016
Schools Update - Back to School
By Aaron Miller
With the end of Jamboree
Weekend, school is just around the cor-
ner. Teachers have begun showing up at
school to prepare for their students, kids
are starting to say they are bored, and
parents are just ready to have their kids
back in class.
School will begin on a staggered
start with the following groups of stu-
dents beginning classes on the following
days:
• New Middle School and High School
students, students entering 6 th or 9 th
grade, and all foreign exchange students
will begin with a half day (8:00 am –
Noon) orientation on Tuesday, Septem-
ber 6.
• All students in grades 1-12 will re-
port for their first full day of school on
Wednesday, September 7.
• All kindergarten students will begin
school on Thursday, September 8. All
incoming kindergarten students are re-
quired to take a State of Oregon Readi-
ness Exam, and these will be held by ap-
pointment on Tuesday and Wednesday,
September 6 and 7. If you have not yet
signed up for an appointment, please do
so by calling the school office at (503)
429-1333.
If you have an elementary stu-
dent that is new to the Vernonia School
District (VSD) please pick up regis-
tration paperwork from the Vernonia
Schools office located at 1000 Missouri
Avenue. For High School and Middle
School Board Report
At the August 11, 2016 School
Board Meeting:
Bond and OSCIM Grant
Moving Forward – Superin-
tendent Miller told the Board
that all required paperwork has
been turned in to the Oregon
Department of Education and
the District has received confir-
mation that everything is com-
plete for the District’s Bond
proposal and the opportunity to
receive matching state funds if
citizens approve the Bond Mea-
sure in November.
august18
School students (new or returning) reg-
istration days are:
Vernonia High School registration
will be on Wednesday, August 17:
• Seniors will register from 9-10 am
• Juniors from 10:30-11:30 am
• Sophomores from 12:30-1:30 pm
• Freshmen from 2-3 pm.
Vernonia Middle School registration
will be on Friday, August 19:
• 8 th graders will register from 9-10 am
• 7 th graders from 10:30-11:30 am
• 6 th graders from 12:30-1:30 pm
School supply lists and the
school year calendar are available on the
district website at www.vernonia.k12.
or.us. If finances are tight in your house-
hold and your child is in need of school
supplies, a backpack, or free/reduced
lunch pricing, the school can help pro-
vide these items. If this is a need, call the
school office at (503) 429-1333.
Once school starts, I can’t en-
courage you enough to remain in con-
tact with your child’s teachers. Success
in school is a team effort between you,
your child and the school. Please com-
municate with teachers early and often
to help ensure your students’ success.
For any transportation needs,
please call Shelley Hennessy at Curl
School Bus Services, (503) 429-0507.
If you have any questions or
comments regarding any District busi-
ness, please call Superintendent Miller
at the District Office, (503) 429-5891.
Board the District is imple-
menting a Standard Response
Protocol for dealing with emer-
gencies on campus. (See full
story of front page.)
Board Receives Student and
Staff Handbooks – The Board
received revised versions of
both the Student Handbook and
Staff Handbooks for 2016-17.
Finance Officer Retirement
– Superintendent Miller told
the Board that Finance Officer
Dawn Plewes will be retiring on
August 24.
School Ready for Kindercamp
– Elementary School Principal
Aaron Miller told the Board that
a grant through the ESD is pay-
ing for eight half days of school
for all incoming kindergarten
students from August 15-25.
Kindercamp is designed to al-
low new school students to be-
come acquainted with their new
teacher and school routines to
aid in their transition. Students
will receive a snack and lunch District Considers Waiving
through the Summer Meals Pro- Fee – Superintendent Miller
gram.
said he discussed with Athletic
Director Gordon Jarman the
Focus School Professional
idea of waiving sports pay-to-
Development – Elementary
play fees for the children of
School Principal Aaron Miller
volunteer coaches. Miller said
told the Board the District has
Jarman agreed the idea had
received a Formative Assess-
merit and Miller said he would
ment Grant for $56,000 which
bring back a formal proposal to
will allow VES and VMS teach-
Board Approves Athletic Co-
op with Banks H.S. – The
Board approved a request to
allow one VHS student to par-
ticipate in soccer at Banks High
School through a cooperative
agreement. The Board ap-
proved the same request last
year for the same student.
Board Approves New Hire –
Based on a recommendation
from Superintendent Aaron
Miller the Board approved the
hire of Andrea Anderson as a
Board Approves Budget
new 1st/2nd grade teacher. The
Amendment Resolution –
District is still looking for a
The Board approved Budget
high school science teacher.
Amendment Resolution 1516-
District to Implement Stan- 07, that included the Advanced
dard Response Protocol – Refund on the current General
Superintendent Miller told the Obligation Bond.
ers to participate in teacher
planning training to implement
more effective Formative As-
sessment procedures. Teacher
leaders from each school will
attend two days of training in
Salem and will then lead all
teachers to implement the sys-
tems into their daily routines.
The program provides addi-
tional planning time for teach-
ers and keys on strong feedback
strategies that inform students
where they are in relation to
meeting a particular learning
standard and what they need to
do in order to meet it.
Where Are They Now? Dillon Dethlefs
go to Canada or Mexico or even Europe. It’s definitely
a growing industry and a growing occupation.”
Today, Dethlefs is working for a different com-
pany, Airway Services, that offers travel opportunities
for their technicians as well as local work. Dethlefs
is currently based in Goldendale, Washington, working
on Siemens 2.3-93 variable speed wind turbines in and
around the Columbia Gorge area, which allows him to
travel back to Vernonia on weekends. “I’m getting to
experience the beautiful scenery in the Gorge and I’ve
taken a ton of photos,” says Dethlefs. “It’s also nice to
Vernonia
Veterinary Clinic
Small and Large Animals
13
the Board.
Student Interns Help Prepare
Building – Superintendent
Miller praised the custodial
crew for the great work they
have done getting the campus
ready for fall, thanking Mark
Brown, Debbie Johnston and
Randy Phipps. Miller also
noted the contribution of stu-
dent interns under the supervi-
sion of Brown and Beth Kintz
who worked this summer:
Corbin Nelson, Jazmine Knigh-
ton, Amanda Rose Sicard, Ben
Fleck, Grace Coleman, and
Casandra McFalls.
Public Comment – Lon-
nie Perry addressed the Board
about his concern that there is
a national movement by the
Temple of Satan to infiltrate
schools by forming clubs and
are entitled to the same consid-
erations as the Christian based
Good News club.
continued from page 12
be able to come home and see friends and family and
help out.”
In addition to work, Dethlefs has been racing
motocross motorcycles, a hobby he picked up while in
high school. Last year he won the Oregon Motorcycle
Riders Association (OMRA) Off-Road Amateur Point
Series Championship after appearing in races around
the northwest, including Goldendale, Roseburg, Eu-
gene and Washougal. He has also been competing in
regional logging shows and was just at the Vernonia
Jamboree Logging Show in early August.
“If someone wants to go to a good school that
isn’t too expensive and won’t leave you in debt for half
your life, and have a chance to travel, this is a good op-
tion,” says Dethlefs. “I hope my experience can help
open someone’s eyes and let them see that they could
go do something like this, and maybe not be stuck in
Vernonia for the rest of their life. Vernonia is a good
place, a nice, small, rural town and it’s nice to be able
to come back and visit. But, there are good opportuni-
ties out there.”
291
A
Street
call Kim
Open
Mon, Wed & Saturday
9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Call for Appointments
(503) 429-1612
Or 24 hr. Emergency Number (503) 397-6470
700 Weed Ave. Vernonia, OR
Lovable service at
a reasonable price
• Bathing
• Haircuts
• Nail Clipping
• Nail Polishing
• Specialty
Shampoos
