schools
july6
2017
11
Schools Update: Summer Activities
By Aaron Miller
With school out for a few weeks
now, parents may begin hearing the
phrase, “I’m bored.” There are several
activities happening in the community
that can help remedy this issue. Here are
a few ideas:
• The Summer Meals Program will again
be offering free lunches to kids ages
1-18. There is no income requirement,
no paperwork and anyone can participate
whether they live in Vernonia or not.
Adults are encouraged to eat lunch as
well, with a price of $3.00 for anyone
over the age of 18. Lunch is served from
11:30 am-1:00 pm, Monday through
Friday at Grace Family Fellowship,
located at 957 State Avenue. Volunteers
are needed and welcome. Please call
(503) 748-9193 with any questions.
• Attend summer reading programs and
activities at the Vernonia City Library.
• Go swimming at the Hawkins Park
Pool.
• Put them to work. If they say they are
bored, have them clean the house, mow
the lawn, pick up their room, or make
lunch. Kids usually complain about
work, but really do like to be helpful.
• Read a book.
Seven ways to prevent summer
reading loss
Your child has worked on
strengthening their reading skills all year
long. You don’t want them to lose it over
the summer! Yet research shows that
summer reading loss is a real problem.
Drivers Ed
Opportunities Near You
By Kailia Jackson
The website oregondri-
vertraininginstitute.com has all
the information you could ever
need on helping your teen learn
how to drive. Everything from
classroom lessons to on the road
training is available near you.
Another
option
is
through PCC! Portland Com-
munity College offers drivers
ed classes at various locations
throughout the Portland Metro
area. Requirements are:
• Be 15-17 years old to qualify
for the teen program and com-
plete the course before you turn
18
• Must have a valid Oregon In-
structional Permit
• Attendance at ALL sessions is
mandatory
• Missed sessions must be made
up at an additional cost.
Complete and sub-
mit the form by either email
(drive@pcc.edu) or mail (PCC
Driver Ed, SE Campus- ADM
304, PO Box 19000, Portland
OR 97280-0990).
Thankfully, there are countless ways you
can encourage your child to maintain—
and even improve—their reading skills
during vacation. You can:
1. Read together daily. In addition to
reading books, ask for your child’s
help with following recipes, looking up
information online and making lists.
2. Keep reading materials handy. Leave
comics, magazines, books, newspapers
and other materials around the house
where your child is likely to pick them
up.
3. Choose irresistible materials. Look
for books and articles about your child’s
interests, such as sports, art, fashion or
even a favorite movie.
4. Talk with experts. Ask your child’s
teacher or a librarian for summer reading
By Kailia Jackson
Vernonia High School is known for
their athletic accomplishments. It would only
make sense that we start to prepare our athletes
as soon as we possibly can, meaning Little Guy
Football, Vernonia Mat Pac, and various other
programs specifically for those not in middle
and high school.
I have participated in many different
kinds of sports throughout my years of athletics.
I’m a wrestling team captain, and have been
a volleyball player for over five years. I have
been active in, and managed tons of different
fundraisers for different sports, from car washes
to can drives.
This spring I was an assistant coach for
D
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call Kim
Lovable service at
a reasonable price
• Bathing
• Haircuts
• Nail Clipping
• Nail Polishing
• Specialty
Shampoos
Reprinted with permission from the
May 2015 issue of Parents make the
difference!®
(Elementary School
Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2015
The Parent Institute®, a division of NIS,
Inc.
What I Learned
Coaching Youth Sports
Vernonia 
Dental
291
A
Street
suggestions.
5. Visit the library regularly. Give your
child frequent opportunities to find
materials that appeal to them.
6. Take books with you. Bring them on
trips, into waiting rooms and anywhere
else your child might complain, “I’m
bored!”
7. Be creative. Listen to audiobooks.
Play word games. Visit a museum and
read about displays. Start a book club.
.  C
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622 Bridge Street    Vernonia, OR 97064
phone (503) 429-0880  --  fax (503) 429-0881
Vernonia’s own 10U softball team. Jenn Rau
was the head coach, and she helped me under-
stand how committed coaches are to the game,
and the enjoyment of the players. I learned more
than I thought I would from my team. I learned
that little girls don’t like wearing their hair up
to practice, and that they never, ever stretch
enough. I learned that after a softball game to
NEVER let your player take her socks off post
game. My sister, Momi Leininger, is who I
learned that from. She also showed me that she
is terrible at staying on her feet, but that she’ll
give her all to go after the ball and help out her
team.
I have learned that every girl deserves
the chance to play the game no matter the cir-
cumstances. All kid athletes deserve the oppor-
tunity to experiment with all athletics
that they may come across. We need
more coaches and volunteers in every
child sport we offer. The small coaching
community that we do have in Vernonia
is very dedicated to the betterment of
their little teams. We all care a lot, and
just want our kids to have fun, and pos-
sibly be future state champions or wall
of famers.
I hope you will consider creat-
ing a team or dedicating your time to a
sport of your choice.
Vernonia School Board
Meetings are held on the
second Thursday of each
month. The next School Board
Meeting is scheduled for
July 13 at 6:00 pm
in the Schools Library.
Summer
is here!
Green Mountain Grills & Pellets in stock!
Water Toys • Lawn Chairs
Camping Supplies • Coolers
Batteries • Sporting Goods
Family owned & operated for over 45 years
834 Bridge St., Vernonia (503) 429-6364
• 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