Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 10, 2015)
WEDNESDAY WWW.THESIUSLAWNEWS.COM SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF FLORENCE • DUNES CITY • WESTLAKE • MAPLETON • SWISSHOME • DEADWOOD • YACHATS AND ALL POINTS BETWEEN 124 T H Y E A R • I S S U E N O . 82 OCTOBER Siuslaw High School scores above state averages 15 • 2014 $1.00 SS Bean sails into Old Town Students show improved proficiencies in math, science and reading. B Y J ACK D AVIS Siuslaw News Students at Siuslaw High School exceeded statewide averages in every category of the Oregon Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (OAKS) evaluations for the 2013-14 school year. “We are extremely proud of our OAKS results,” Siuslaw High School Principal Kerri Tatum said. “We are above the state average in every category and improved in three of our four content areas from last year. Our teachers and stu- dents are working hard and these results show that.” OAKS is a standards-based test designed to show how well students are performing against Oregon’s Academic Content Standards (ACS). ACS identifies proficiency levels in English language arts, mathematics, health, physical edu- cation, science, second language, social sciences and the arts. OAKS evaluates student performances in math, science, reading and writing. Siuslaw stu- dents scored higher in every category but writing, over the previous year’s scores and scored higher than the state averages in all four categories. Oregon has been conducting OAKS evaluations of ACS for more than 10 years. The percentages indicate the number of stu- dents that either met or exceeded the OAKS pro- ficiency standards. Siuslaw students scored 74 percent in math, compared to the state average of 69.8 percent. In science, the students scored 81.1 percent compared to the state average 62.4 per- cent. Reading proficiency was 92 percent while the state average was 84.5 percent. Writing dropped from 70 percent the previous year to 62.6 percent last year; it was still higher than the state average of 59.2 percent. Tatum said the improving numbers might be attributed to the growing number of college-level courses now being offered at the high school. “We have added several college courses to our master schedule over the last few years,” Tatum said. “The math department offers college alge- bra, trigonometry and two calculus classes. The English department offers college writing and English composition. Our social studies depart- ment offers college level U.S. history and western civilization. In our elective department we offer health occupations I and II and pottery. “We also offer three advanced placement (AP) courses: AP literature and composition, AP chem- istry and AP studio art. Students that take these classes and score well on the AP exams can earn additional college credits.” Advanced placement classes are curriculum courses set by the college board. The board instructs the high school on what is to be taught and how. They provide a syllabus to the high school and the school teaches that syllabus. The college board also grades student tests. Out-of-state colleges and universities more readily recognize AP classes. Students may transfer college credits earned at Siuslaw High School directly to any Oregon col- lege or university. Many out-of-state universities also accept these credits. According to Tatum, there are several reasons for which college-bound students should consider taking elective college credit courses. “The students are better prepared for college,” she said. “Also, these courses impress scholarship committees, and that can potentially save their families hundreds of dollars in tuition expenses.” Siuslaw High School currently offers 54 See Scoreboard Sports Tides Weather T Local restaurants dominate chowder competition B3 B B1 A2 Port of Siuslaw Campground & Marina Campsites on the River in Historic Old Town Commercial & Recreational Moorage Full Service Campground ~ WiFi ~ CATV ~ Restrooms ~ Showers Laundry ~ Boat Launch ~ Fuel Dock ~ RV & Marine Dump Stations Kyle Lewis, Siuslaw High School culinary arts teacher; Mario Casarez, Three Rivers Casino and Hotel chef; Terri Mason, SHS Life Skills program director; and Corky Franklin, SHS assistant principal, display their prize. (courtesy photo) The Florence Area Chamber of Commerce may want to change its name to the “Chamber of Chowder” after three local restau- rants took the top prizes in a regional chowder competition last month. SHS 11A Your INSIDE W E D N E S D AY Classifieds B7 Library Tidings A5 Ned Hickson A11 Opinion A4 Police A2 PHOTO BY THERESA BAER/SIUSLAW NEWS he SS Bean “came into port,” courtesy of the Port of Siuslaw, Saturday to help Old Town and the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce celebrate Columbus Day. The oddly shaped boat was renovated by Florence volunteers Margaret McDermott, Dan Grimes and Karen Mechek, and it will be used as an occasional landmark during festivals and parades. The SS Bean is named after former Oregon senator, representative and speaker of the house Louis E. Bean, who is credited with the founding of the port here, and all ports in Oregon except the Port of Portland. Weather T ODAY T HURSDAY F RIDAY S ATURDAY Periods of rain 60 53 Cloudy Rain 63 55 61 55 Some rain 62 53 10 • F AVORITE F RONT P AGES 2014 Three Rivers Casino’s Trio’s Restaurant snagged first place, followed by Surfside Restaurant and Mon Ami Gourmet Deli in second and third, respectively. The Florence eateries bested their competitors’ chowders in the Oregon Coast Chowder Competition, one of the featured events of the annual Fire It Up BBQ weekend held Sept. 19-21 at Three Rivers Casino and Hotel. The results were particularly gratifying since the event was presented by the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce. Two notable finalists were Hole in the Wall from Eugene and Shark Bites, located in Coos Bay. See CHOWDER 11A Sports—B 100 Harbor Street - PO Box 1220, Florence, OR 97439 541-997-3040 campground@portofsiuslaw.com www.portofsiuslaw.com
