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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (June 21, 2017)
Polk County News Polk County Itemizer-Observer • June 21, 2017 3A Award: Tech use evolving Valsetz residents set reunion Continued from Page 1A Those who nominated him and selected the winner of the 2017 awards felt oth- erwise. “The use of technology is a natural, integral part of everyday life for all parties at LaCreole Middle School,” wrote Dallas Superintendent Michelle Johnstone in her nomination letter for Richardson. “Mr. Richard- son is keenly aware of the educational needs of our ‘digital natives’ and how technology has shifted the way they think, learn and process information, and one of his goals is helping learners engage and make real world connection in this digital age.” LaCreole has a “bring your own device” policy that allows students to use their phones and tablets for school work — and doesn’t shun technology use during school hours. The school is social-media friendly, with a Facebook page and Twitter and Instagram accounts showing what students are doing during class. “We’re cautious, but we are not afraid of what the outcomes could be,” Richardson said. “When I look around, and what prob- ably makes our school dif- ferent, is we’ve gotten over that hurdle a little quicker.” Along with encouraging technology use, the school has put in place technology learning standards that stress creativity, innovation, communication and collab- oration, critical thinking and digital citizenship. Richardson said he and the school’s teachers adopt- ed use of technology slowly, incorporating it into the re- turn of electives, which had been eliminated due to budget cuts during the re- cession. “It gave us an opportunity to look at things differently,” he said. “It been one of those things that has been really important to me, is how do get our kids a little more prepared to what they are going to face.” Richardson said the cul- ture the school has creat- ed — which is ever-evolv- ing — is in large part due to the teachers’ willingness to try new ideas. Using technology in the classroom isn’t something teachers are necessary trained to do, so they are learning alongside their stu- dents, he said. NASSP noted his leader- ship of that effort in its award announcement. Teachers and students de- scribe him as an exceptional advocate for technology and digital-age learning and a catalyst for implementing technology, makerspaces, and project-based learning programs,” the announce- ment read. “Richardson en- sures that all teachers get time to learn and discuss technology integration and that, through social media, parents stay connected to the school.” Learning with technology isn’t a separate class, but in- tegrated into all disci- plines — which is engaging students in ways Richardson said traditional teaching can’t always accomplish. “Any day, you walk around our hallways and it’s full of kids doing creative things,” Richardson said. “It can look they’re goofing off, but in the end, they are going to have a product that demonstrates their learning in different ways. The kids get excited about it, and when the kids are excited, we know they are learning more.” By Jolene Guzman The Itemizer-Observer VALSETZ — Former resi- dents of Valsetz are gather- ing this weekend for a camp out reunion at the site for- merly occupied by the town they once called home. Organizer Ken Jeske said between 300 and 400 peo- ple show up every reunion. A yearly reunion happens in Falls City, but the town site camp out is only every three years. It’s a special journey for former residents. “People are coming from all over,” Jeske said. Thirty-three years ago, Boise Cascade, which owned the Valsetz mill and the entire town, forced resi- dents to move after the mill closed. Remembering Valsetz What: Third Valsetz reunion. Where: Former Valsetz town site, lo- cated west of Falls City. When: Friday, Sat- urday, Sunday. For more infor- mation: or to register to camp: Ken Jeske, 503-910-5943. Once they left, Valsetz was torn down. In 2011, former residents were granted permission to hold a reunion where the town once stood, and they returned in 2014 for a sec- ond reunion. Former residents are welcome to camp starting Friday and the reunion concludes Sunday at noon. Camping is only for former residents, Jeske said. For those who can’t be there the whole weekend, Saturday features the main event, a reunion barbecue at the site. He said each reunion brings more former resi- dents back, even those who have been reluctant to re- connect. “Best thing that I see happen is those people who don’t want to come to the reunion because they want to remember the town the way it was are being drawn out,” he said. “It’s not so much about the town as it is the people. That’s cool to watch.” Graduation Day LUKAS EGGEN/Itemizer-Observer Western Oregon students file into McArthur Field during the university’s gradua- tion ceremony on Saturday morning. 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