A6 • Friday, September 13, 2019 | Seaside Signal | SeasideSignal.com
A strategy for moving forward
By KATHERINE LACAZE
For Seaside Signal
During the 2019-20 school year, the
Seaside School District will be fully
implementing its five-year strategic
plan, which was approved by the board
in December. Superintendent Sheila
Roley said they spent the second half
of last year gathering baseline data to
measure future progress, and will now
work toward the two goals outlined in
the plan:
• By June 2024, all students will be
on track to graduate and be prepared
with a plan beyond high school.
• By June 2024, all students will
develop the social and emotional skills
to be positive community members.
While they’ve consistently set dis-
trictwide goals, formalizing the pro-
cess makes it “easier to track and iden-
tify the challenges and smooth them
out,” Roley said.
Each goal has been assigned specific
indicators and measurable targets, with
staff teams comprised of educators
from each school overseeing the vari-
ous components. Assistant Superinten-
dent Susan Penrod, who started July 1,
has assumed much of the responsibil-
ity for implementing the plan along-
side the principals, while Roley over-
sees the construction project.
“It’s a really exciting time,” Penrod
said. “While change can be hard, it is
also an opportunity.”
She sees the district staff, includ-
ing herself, as a support system to help
the principals and teachers do the most
important work: Impacting and edu-
cating young people. She enjoys being
at the schools and in the classrooms,
where she can better get to know stu-
dents and teachers.
“It’s all about building relationships
and being accessible and being a repre-
sentative of the district,” she said.
Next year, the district office will be
moved to the new campus, which Pen-
rod sees as a positive transition that
will allow her to be “more present and
accessible.”
“I’m a huge fan of that, because for
us to be right in the heart of things is
really important,” she added.
Class of 1979 to hold reunion
Seaside Signal
The Class of ’79 Reunion will be held Sept. 13,
14 and 15, marked by a series of events throughout
the weekend.
Friday, Sept. 13: Bonfire at Avenue U, with
games, followed by karaoke at the American Legion.
On Saturday, a potluck picnic at South Beach
Cullaby Lake will offer burgers, hot dogs, games,
paddling and hula hoop fun.
Saturday night offers a movie night at the Times
Theatre.
On Sunday, the reunion will feature breakfast at
the Sandtrap at McMenamins in Gearhart, followed
by golf.
For more information, visit their Facebook page,
https://www.facebook.com/groups/164227697596504/.
Cheerleaders: ‘An important part’ of school, community dynamics
Continued from Page A1
they really want to do it, to
work hard,” Mount said.
Tryouts were held in
August and 14 students
achieved the baseline score
to earn a spot on the squad.
The group is split into two
levels: the red level, for inter-
mediate and advanced cheer-
leaders, and the white level,
for beginners who aren’t
quite ready to perform or
compete. Both levels practice
together, however, and stu-
dents can advance to the red
level during the school year.
There is no set team
captain, but Mount selects
“game day captains” before
each game or performance.
Those cheerleaders assume
responsibility for calling
cheers during the routines.
“I wanted to find a way
to give some responsibility
without it being overwhelm-
ing,” Mount said, adding
it also permits all the team
members to fill the role of
captain at some point during
the year.
Putting skills to the test
The biggest evolution
of Seaside’s cheer program
took place in 2016, when it
transformed from a club to
Katherine Lacaze
Senior Caitlin Hillman (from left), freshman Megan Hornbeck,
and sophomore Gracie Weaver rehearse a routine during a
practice for the Seaside High School Cheer Team on Sept. 4.
The squad’s first performance was Saturday, Sept. 7, during
the football team’s season opener.
an OSAA activity, allowing
the group to compete. The
activity also became more
rigorous at that time, with
Seaside’s squad striving to
“accomplish the same things
bigger schools accomplish,”
Mount said. Their routines
now include dancing, tum-
bling, stunting and jumping.
The team competed in
both the 2016-17 and 2017-
18 school years, but had to
forgo competing last year
because of numerous inju-
ries, Mount said.
“We’re ready to go this
year,” she added.
In Oregon, cheer teams
must compete in two sanc-
tioned regional tournaments
to be eligible for the state
championship. The regional
competitions will be held
over two weekends in Jan-
uary and the state tourna-
ment in February. Mount
anticipates going to com-
petition with a team of nine
cheerleaders.
Being able to compete
adds a whole new level of
Gary Henley
Cheerleaders at the Gulls home opener.
purpose and motivation for
the team.
“The kids want to prove
to their school and their
community that they’re seri-
ous athletes,” Mount said.
“It’s important to have the
opportunity to provide that
for them.”
Senior Caitlin Hillman,
who has cheered since her
freshman year, agreed, add-
ing, “Our real sport is com-
petitive cheer.”
‘Under the lights’
Although
performing
well during competition is
an important goal for Sea-
side’s cheer squad, they also
maintain their original pur-
pose of being crowd-leaders
during football games. They
also cheer during a majority
of the school’s home bas-
ketball games, some school
assemblies,
and
other
events.
The cheer team, Mount
said, “is an important part
of every school’s and every
community’s dynamics.”
Because Seaside’s stu-
dent body is relatively
small, Hillman, who also
serves as the Associated
Student Body communi-
cations director, said she
is friends with many of the
students who play on teams
or participate in clubs. That
friendship makes it espe-
cially enjoyable to support
them as they do something
they love.
She expects this year will
be bittersweet, as she wraps
up both high school and
cheerleading.
“Nothing compares to
being out on the field under
the lights,” she said. “That’s
been the highlight of my
high school
THANK YOU, seaside!
Hood To Coast / Portland To Coast Relays would like to thank the City of Seaside, Seaside Fire and
Rescue, Seaside Police Department, and Seaside Chamber of Commerce for hosting the 38th
HTC/PTC Relays Finish Party. Your beautiful city and county were on display this year for
participants from all 50 U.S States and over 40 countries. We would also like to thank Clatsop
County public safety, residents, and businesses for your patience and support. $19,000 will again
be donated to Seaside Parks and Recreation.
With more than 60,000 individuals visiting Seaside for The Hood and Portland To Coast Relays,
this visit represents a first impression to a captive audience that very often leads to future visits
for these individuals and their families. This is an economic impact that goes beyond measure
and one that can very often be a lifelong development of future memories in your town. Thank
you Mayor Jay Barber and Chamber Executive Director Brian Owen for helping make an amazing
impression!
Additionally, participants raised a record amount of over $900,000, which benefits Providence
Cancer Institute and their continuous efforts to find a cure for cancer.
Thank you Seaside, for supporting the race for 30 years in your community! We look forward to
many more fantastic race finishes in Seaside. Special thanks to all the amazing charities on course;
runners and walkers loved everything you provided. We look forward to seeing you all in 2020!