schools march7 2019 9 School-to-Career Program Helps Students Gain Experience Students from Vernonia High School are getting some real life work experience at local busi- nesses while also earning some school credit. Six students are currently participating in the School-To- Career program, coordinated by Dana Hyde, who also serves as the Graduation Coach and Scholarship Facilitator for Vernonia’s High School students. “Our School-To-Career program is basically a partnership between the School District and our community merchants,” ex- plains Hyde. “It takes place in the Left: Gunnar Harral at WOEC; center: Jackson Fletcher at Meyer’s Auto Body; community and allows students, right: Whitley Tolonen at Vernonia True Value juniors and seniors, to leave the school campus.” Students do not get paid for the time then spend worked. Hyde Hyde says the program takes the place of an on their career work, but do earn school credits. makes surprise elective for students, who spend one or two periods “West Oregon has just been an amazing partner visits to the worksites to evaluate students’ progress. each day at the business. “As you know, we currently in this program over the years,” says Hyde. “They now Students do many different tasks while at work, lack elective options for our students, so this provides have two employees who participated in this program including filing, customer service, use of equipment, an opportunity.” and spent time working for them, Billi Kohler and Eric retail sales, inventory, stocking, and clean up duties. Businesses participating in the program this Budge.” “I just want to really thank the businesses in semester include West Oregon Electric Cooperative, Students go through an application process to the community for their many years of partnering with Meyer’s Auto Body, Vernonia Rural Fire Protection participate in the program, sign an agreement, and are us in these programs. They’ve been really fantastic,” District, Vernonia True Value, Martin Arms, and Ver- required to keep weekly time sheets to log their hours said Hyde. nonia Subway. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Bighorn Logging 9 Beers on Tap Home of the Bear Creek Pub Growlers To Go Prime Rib Dinner every Friday & Saturday Check us Out on Facebook since 1981 Contract Logging 503-324-2422 Free Estimates Timber Purchases Timber Management Oregon Professional Logger certified since 1996 503.429.0214 831 Bridge St.