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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (March 17, 2022)
8 Community March 17 2022 The Little School House That Could continued from front page engage their interest in the craft. Superintendent Miller says the Mist School is designated by the Oregon Department of Education as a Remote School. “It’s located 16 miles from our main building, it’s off by itself and it serves a community that is very rural and spread out. But it’s a really tight knit community that works together, and that builds on the family atmosphere.” Families have been attending the Mist School for generations. According to local sources in the Mist community, the Mist and Birkenfeld area was first settled in the late 1870s and an original school house was built on the current school site dur- ing that time. Around 1920, the old build- ing was dismantled and part of the current building was constructed. Around 1940, the gym building next door was built, and in day.” Today, the school has changed in some ways – the building recently was hooked up to a satellite internet connec- tion and students can do their work on lap- top computers. One of the four classrooms is a library/resource room; the library was mostly stocked with books by community members, says Jones. And the school and gymnasium recently received a series of renovations and upgrades through bond funding, including new siding, a new roof and gutters, new cement walk ways, refur- bished gymnasium floor and walls, new playground equipment, and new interior paint, carpet, and windows in the school house. But some things are still the same. The K-2 class has just 12 students and the 3-5 grade class has 11, which is better suited for learning for some students. “Some stu- dents can really thrive in this different en- vironment,” says Jones. “If a child is cro- cheting, or cooking, or doing some type of art, there is learning in all of that. There is reading and writing and math, and that is all applicable. But it’s also a real, essential, life skill that they’re working on. It draws a stu- dent out and they’re engaged in their learn- ing and building confidence. And they can learn for themselves, and about themselves, and become individuals.” Shannon Romtvedt is a parent of two students attending the Mist School, and With just 23 total elementary students the Mist School offers individual attention that allows students to learn at their own pace, explore ideas, and thrive. at the school by parents and community members has been restricted the last few years, but the connection to the community remains a strong part of the Mist School’s identity. After the annual Christmas party Students in the 3-5 grade class work with teacher Sena Wilmot on a writing assignment. A new was cancelled at the last minute this year, internet connection allows students to work from laptops and explore more subjects. the Mist-Birkenfeld Rural Fire Protection District arranged for Santa to visit the stu- Superintendent Miller says the 1980 the school house was expanded. dents in late January. And the Mist Helping Mist School fills a gap between traditional Former teacher Joanie Jones spent Circle, a local community or- classroom learning in a larger building and 17 years teaching at the school, ganization, helped refurbish the home schooling, the other alternative more and also lived right across the kitchen space in the gymnasium families are looking to in recent years. The street from the school for many which is sometimes used as a VSD recently developed the Vernonia Fam- of those years. She has a host community center. ily Academy as a way to support home of stories about the old days at “The school wouldn’t ex- school families and offer an on-line option the school, and some of her own ist without the community,” says for students. The Mist School is another more recent memories about Jones. “Life is about helping what the school means other people, and people will do to the community. “My what they can out here for this husband Thomas’s great- school because they want to be grandmother, his grand- a part of it. It’s important that mother, and his great- people have the opportunity to aunts all went to school be involved in their schools, be- there,” says Joanie, who cause they want to make a dif- now serves on the Ver- ference just as much as educa- nonia School Board. tors want to make a difference. “And there are still a lot The community/school partner- of people in the commu- nity who have relatives The rural setting of the Mist School creates a family atmosphere where ship is vital for our students.” The Mist School doesn’t who went to school there. students learn life skills like resourcefulness, respect, and responsibility. just provide a great education Living across the street, I would see older people stop and likes the educational model and family feel for its students. Jones says her experience take photos of themselves in front of the school. “Because classes are grouped as a teacher at Mist School provided her of the building and I would go over K-2 and 3-5, kids can be taught to their level with some of her most enriching moments and were invaluable in so many ways. “The Two classes share a library, which the local community and talk to them. They would tell me in subjects, which can be above or below school itself is a mini community, and that about the pot bellied stove and how grade level. Sometimes all the grades get helped fill with books and other materials. the teacher would pay them a quarter to join together for projects, with older kids environment does not work unless you have choice for families. “We’re trying to pro- to chop the wood because she didn’t want teaching younger,” she says. “The kids get trust and respect between all the people vide as many options as we can for all of to do it. Mr. Eastman still lives in Mist and to know each other very well and have a re- there. I learned more about myself as a hu- our patrons and meet the needs of all of our once brought a bee hive to school because spect for one another. Mist is a great fit for man being, and what I represented and what students equitably – making education ac- he thought it was amazing, and by lunch my kids and they are thriving and they come I stood for, during those years in that build- ing with those kids.” cessible for what each student needs to help time they had bees swarming throughout the home happy.” them be successful,” he says.” school and the kids got an extra recess that Because of COVID, volunteerism New Day Massage and Bodyworks #10732 Mask mandates are ending this month. Some elders and medically challenged neighbors still need to wear them while out in public. Please be kind to one another during this transition. 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