schools
october20
2016
Schools Update: Substitute Teachers
By Aaron Miller
available to fill the need for substitute employees in a
variety of positions within the Vernonia School Dis-
Substitute teachers and other substitute em-
trict. These same issues are being felt in neighboring
ployees are a daily part of life for students and school
school districts as well.
staff. Each day there is some position that needs to be
The number of people willing to substitute in
filled due to illness, scheduled appointments or other
schools is dwindling, whether it be as a teacher, an as-
life happenings. The issue, however, is usually not
sistant, a custodian or an employee in the cafeteria. This
whether or not a substitute employee will be needed in
problem is even larger for a community like Vernonia,
the building, but whether or not there will be a person
given the distance from here to other communities of
available to fill this need.
size where more substitutes may live. Substitutes in
Currently there is a real shortage of people
the education field are
becoming harder and
harder to come by these
days.
The Vernonia
School District (VSD)
Vernonia High School Princi- Students throughout the nation are rec-
is in need of dedicated,
pal Nate Underwood has announced ognized each year for their exceptional
quality people willing to
that Kaitlyn Eyrrick has been named academic promise. Although they will
substitute in our schools.
a Commended Student in the 2017 not continue in the 2017 competition for
As the largest employer
National Merit Scholarship Program. the National Merit Scholarship awards,
A Letter of Commendation from the Commended Students placed among
school and National Merit Scholarship the top five percent of more than 1.6
Corporation (NMSC), which conducts million students who entered the 2017
the program, has been presented by Un- competition by taking the 2015 Prelim-
derwood to this scholastically talented inary SAT/National Merit Scholarship
senior.
Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT)
About 34,000 Commended
Eyrrick Named National Merit
Scholar Commended Student
13
in town there are 82 regular employees who at one time
or another are in need of a substitute. We are looking
for dedicated people willing to sub in all departments,
at all levels: teachers, assistants, custodians and food
service workers, kindergarten through 12 th grade.
If you are interested in learning more about
subbing, or obtaining a restricted substitute teaching
license, please contact Superintendent Miller at (503)
429-5891.
Substitutes in the VSD are hired by the NW
Regional Educational Service District (NWRESD), and
are called through an automated system run through
their offices. Anyone interested in subbing for the Dis-
trict needs to register through the NWRESD Human
Services department, who can be reached at (503) 614-
1428. You can also call the District Office at (503) 429-
5891, if you have questions you would like answered
about potential sub jobs here in Vernonia prior to ap-
plying through the ESD.
Vernonia Students of the Month
September 2016
School Board Report
Desteny Wolfe
At the October 13, 2016 School Board for a community service project this
Meeting, held at Mist Grade School: year.
Board Approves Staff Travel – The
Board approved a request by Principal
Nate Underwood for staff members
Randy Shockey and Doran Lower to
travel to Las Vegas to attend the Nation-
al Area Career and Technical Education
Consortium on November 20-Decem-
ber 2, as well as a request for Under-
wood to attend the AVID regional train-
ing session in Seattle on October 19-21.
Building Reports – High school/mid-
dle school Principal Nate Underwood
sent a written report and informed the
Board that Parent/Teacher Conferences
are scheduled for November 17-18. He
said all seniors will be enrolled in Writ-
ing 121 through the NW Promise pro-
gram and have the opportunity to earn
college credit. He said homecoming
went well, seniors won the Golden Ax,
and congratulated King Jake Butcher
and Queen Cassidy Whitton.
Grade school Principal Aaron
Miller told the Board the Open Houses
went well; students had vision screen-
ing; 4th grade students again participat-
ed in Salmon Watch activities in part-
nership with the Upper Nehalem Water-
shed Council; and the fire department
brought the fire escape demo house to
teach students about fire safety.
Mist Grade School teacher
Joanie Jones, who hosted the meet-
ing, told the Board she has 23 stu-
dents, including two from Madagas-
car; students are currently studying
Native American culture; she has a
5th grade leadership group that helps
younger students; the Mist/Birken-
feld Helping Circle purchased a new
stove for the school; her students re-
cently visited the Mist/Birkenfeld fire
department for a tour and lunch.
Public Comment – Sharon Bernal
updated the School Board and the au-
dience on the School Bond Campaign.
Jim Krahn presented the
Board and audience with a survey
from his Project Based Learning class
at the high school that will help the
students award a grant they received
Desteny is a sweet, kind, giving young lady who
tries her hardest each day. She pays attention
and asks questions when she doesn’t under-
stand. She has a love of reading that is infec-
tious. “She has been a joy to have in class,” says
her teacher.
Enrollment Report – Superintendent
Aaron Miller reported that enrollment
is at 538, which is down but not as low
as the District had projected.
Healthy and Safe Schools Plan – Su-
perintendent Miller presented the Board
with the District’s required Healthy and
Safe School plan which details how
the District will deal with radon, lead
in drinking water, lead paint, and pest
management. Miller later provided de-
tails of the District’s water test results
which indicated all school facilities are
meeting all required levels for lead and
copper.
Superintendent Report – Superinten-
dent Aaron Miller reported that he has
not received a response to his continued
communications with the Director of
the ASSE International Exchange Stu-
dent Program about sanctions leveled
against the Vernonia School District;
that the cost to repair a broken window
in the school gymnasium was almost
$2,400; and that Marie Knight has been
hired by the NWRESD to be the Dis-
trict’s half-time Business Manager and
that the District will be hiring a half-
time Fiscal Assistant to replace Knight.
Grade 5
Cody Hathcoat
Grade 7
Cody’s teachers say he is an ideal student who
works hard, completes his assignments on
time, is trustworthy and kind, and is always
concerned about his grades. Cody says his
favorite subject is math and he plays the
trumpet in the band. He also volunteers at the
St. Mary’s Quilt Fair.
Kaitlyn Eyrrick
Grade 12
Kaitlyn is an excellent student who was recently
named a National Merit Scholar Commended
Student and is a member of the National Honor
Society. She is in the school choir and plays
clarinet in the pep band, oboe in the concert
band, and is the drum major in the marching
band. She wrote the $10,000 grant from Daimler
that the Robotics team received this year. In her
spare time Kaitlyn raises rabbits and does
photography for 4-H, volunteers at the Vernonia
Library, and does some digital design work for
other community groups.
Sponsored by Vernonia’s Voice
Vernonia
Veterinary Clinic
Small and Large Animals
• Kitchen & Bathroom Remodels • Finish Carpentry
• Ceramic Tile Work • Custom Home Construction
• Additions • Commercial Tenant Improvements
Jim Morrison, Jr.
General Contractor
CCB# 112057
Ph: (503) 429-0154
MorrisonRemodeling@hughes.net
Vernonia, OR 97064
• Licensed • Bonded • Insured
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
