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About Columbia Gorge news. (The Dalles, OR) 2020-current | View Entire Issue (June 9, 2021)
Columbia Gorge News www.columbiagorgenews.com Wednesday,June9,2021 15 HRVHS summer school offers connection, credit HOOD RIVER — Hood River Valley High School will double the size of its summer school program and offer students more options to regain credit, participate in experiential learning classes, and get back on track for graduation this year. The summer program will run from July 6-30, weekdays, with full- and half-day options for students. Meals,bus transportation, and attendance incentives are provided. This year, the high school has scheduled 12 experiential learning classes, in which students can earn credit while learning real-world skills. From cooking, to fish- ing, to sports and art options, and even an opportunity to start earning a pilot’s license, these classes give students the chance to “learn by do- ing” said Summer Program Director Jim Donnelly. “We want our summer school program to have a different feel for students, especially after doing a lot of technology-based learning,” Donnelly said. “The more we can get them working and learning hands-on, the better.” Students will earn elec- tive credit for the hands-on classes. They will also work in small groups with teachers and staff to complete classes and recover credits they need for on-time graduation. Students will have personal support from a dedicated staff member to get back on track, Donnelly said. “Our schools and students have experienced immense challenges across the board this year,” said HRVHS Principal Columba Jones. “In some cases, students were not able to earn the expected number of credits for their class year, and are behind in making progress toward graduation.” “We really want to see students be able to start next school year fresh,” Donnelly said. “Summer is the quickest way for students to get caught up.” Donnelly said schools un- derstand that work, vacation, childcare and family are all important aspects of sum- mer, and the staff is willing to work with students and families who have conflicts. “The goal is to serve as many students as we can,” Donnelly said. “We want to move forward to next year with everyone together and summer school will be im- portant for some students to be able to do that.” To sign up for summer Students learn construction skills building a new outbuilding at the high school. Outdoor and experiential learning will be featured during school at HRVHS, go to the the HRVHS Summer Program. Contributed photo high school website, hrvhs. com, or contact the school at 541-386-4500. expression and Sword Fishing and writing ■ Gorge Inspired Pottery ■ Great Stories and Time ■ Movie Adaptations ■ Intro to FAA Ground Summer Experiential School and Glider Piloting ■ Mapworks: Science and (to Read or Listen) ■ MOVIES (and history) Learning at HRVHS Art of Map Making ■ Woodworking Basics ■ Laser Print Symbols of ■ Summer Fitness and ■ Creative Writing: lyrics, the Gorge ■ Cooking and Baking 101 Recreation ■ Stage Combat — Bo Staff rhymes, and personal ■ Art and Science of ■ Sports: Learning, playing, Horizon student awarded Ford scholarship Graduating Class Trisha Walker ■ By Columbia Gorge News Valerie Bruggeman, 18, is the first student to be award- ed the Ford Scholar Program award at Horizon Christian School, Hood River, since 2014. Bruggeman is a two- sport athlete, playing soccer and track and field, compet- ing in the sprint, pole vault and relay events. She will attend George Fox University in the fall. Bruggeman plans to major in exercise science and kine- siology, with the goal of later entering chiropractic school. Her interest in the field stems from “growing up in sports and experiencing a lot of injuries,” she said. “My parents always took me to a chiropractic doctor and I just saw so much personal experience of how that ben- efited me and got me back to playing sports before I was even supposed to … and that was a testimony to me.” She interned at the begin- ning of her senior year for her track coach, Emma Petshow, a naturopathic doctor at Powell Valley Wellness, located in the Vancouver area. She also interned with a chiropractic doctor at the same clinic. “I was able to see the practice from that point of view rather than a patient, and I think that is something I would absolutely love to do, and help the community in that area,” she said. “I know it’s something that is not offered a lot of places.” She chose George Fox primarily because it’s a Christian university. She also likes that the university is close to home — she was born and raised in Hood River/Parkdale — and will be close to family. “I went on a campus tour Valerie Bruggeman, who graduated from Horizon Christian School on June 5, has been awarded the Ford Scholar Program award and will be attending George Fox University in the fall. Trisha Walker photo and honestly, I fell in love with the campus,” she said. “As soon as I stepped on, I felt so welcome. They’re motto is ‘Be Known,’ personally, spiri- tually and academically and I felt very drawn there.” Bruggeman applied for the Ford scholarship in early December and was invited to interview in April. A few weeks ago, she received word that she had received the scholarship. She feels that Horizon has prepared her well for the road ahead. “I’ve been at this school since eighth grade,” she said. “… Before that, I was at a very small private school in my hometown of Parkdale (New Vision School). So transi- tioning here definitely felt more natural, just being in another small school, a very tight-knit community, and overall prepared me so well for college, academically, socially and everything — I feel very ready.” In addition to soccer and track, Bruggeman is in National Honors Society and served on the school’s leadership team. She also participates in youth groups and works fulltime in the summer at her mother’s store, Farm Stand in the Gorge, located on the Heights in Hood River, as the kitchen shift manager. “I love Hood River and long-term would like to come back here,” she said. “I have a lot of family here as well. But I think traveling the world would be very cool … and doing some outreach with my career in that area, and serving the community that doesn’t have access to chiropractic care or just those types of alternative medicine. "But ultimately, coming back here and starting my own practice would be the dream.” Historic GRANADA T H E A T R E Dinner, Trivia, Entertainment at the Historic Granada Theatre. Call your locally owned independent mortgage broker today. Upcoming events include: June 11 The Blob, Steve McQueen June 12 Tropical Storm, 10 piece Buffett Tribute band. June 18 Pillow Talk, Doris Day, Rock Hudson June 19 Bodhi Mojo Jam Band/ Deadheads & Phish June 25 The Thing! and 26 Classic 50’s SciFi And for all info cross check @ GranadaTheatrethe dalles.com. The Dalles and Columbia high schools graduated seniors during outdoor ceremonies Saturday. Above, seniors of The Dalles High School hold graduate-only ceremonies at Sorosis park. At right, senior class student government officers speak to their class. Below, seniors at Columbia High School hold graduation ceremonies at their campus in White Salmon. TDHS photo by Mark Gibson CHS photo by Julie Johnson REGISTER FOR OUR GORGE YOUTH MENTORING FUNDRAISER. AN EVENT THAT GETS YOU MOVING! 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