The independent., January 16, 2002, Page 16, Image 16

Page 16 The INDEPENDENT, January 16, 2002
Exchange student program is big in small Vernonia High School
Svobodova, Montanus, Pan­
toja, W irghova - these are not
com m on names in Vernonia
but, with longstanding partici­
pation in student exchange pro­
grams, local residents have be­
come accustom ed to names
that are very different from
Smith or Jones.
The Vernonia School District
policy sets a limit of six ex­
change students, but this year
there are seven. The school
board approved an exception
to the policy because one stu­
dent, who was scheduled to go
to another community, would
have had to stay home when
her host fam ily’s plans were
changed.
During a recent school board
meeting, board member Leslie
O ’Leary and the exchange stu­
dents reported on the program.
O ’Leary and her husband, Pe­
ter, also host a student this
year.
After noting that the seven
foreign students are more than
10 percent of the senior class
and come from six countries,
O’Leary praised the work of
Vernonia High School teachers
to help students adjust to their
new environment. Each of the
students talked about a part of
their experience on coming to
Vernonia.
Sarah Pantoja talked about
the strenuous requirem ents
and the application process the
students must complete before
coming to this country. Sarah is
from the Dominican Republic;
Jim and Kim Tierney are her
host parents.
Antonio Cebola, from Portu­
gal, is staying with hosts Regi­
nald and Cathy Ward. Each
student’s parents have initially
paid $5,000 to $8,000 for them
to come to this country, Antonio
told the board. After their ar­
rival, parents must still provide
a monthly stipend of at least
$150, and pay for unexpected
expenses including graduation
costs, senior trip, sports and
student body fees. Expenses
are also higher due to the ex-
change rate of the American
dollar.
W hile students may test to
remain in their class when they
return home, most choose to
drop back a year, according to
Adelaide Schmitt of France.
process, the selection process
for the scholarships is far more
rigorous, with extensive inter­
viewing and testing. The Bun­
destag representative who
made the final decision to se­
lect Peller, interviewed her in
both English and German. She
is required to maintain contact
with him and also with our con­
gressional representative while
she is here. The program pays
for all of her expenses except
pocket money.
The flip side of the exchange
program occurs when local stu­
dents go abroad. Last year,
WEATHER REPORT
DECEMBER 2001
Exchange students at Vernonia High School include l-r, front
row, Ivica Wirghova and Bekky Peller, second row, Antonia
Montanus and Sarah Pantoja, back row, Veronika Svobodova
and Antonio Cebola. Not shown is Adelaide Schmitt, who was
on a trip with the VHS Honor Band.
They are not excused from the
year of school they miss in or­
der to come to the United
States and must continue in
high school when they return
home. Adelaide’s host parents
are Skip and Shirley Goodman.
The size of the school is
most shocking to the students
when they arrive in Vernonia,
said Ivica Wirghova. They were
also surprised by the range of
student activities and the casu­
al atm osphere of classes.
School spirit was unknown to
47J Board seeks qualified applicants
The Board of Directors of the
Vernonia School District an­
nounced at their January 10
meeting that they are seeking
applicants to fill the board posi­
tion vacated by Jeff Blum. Fac­
ing a change in administration
with the retirement of Superin­
tendent Larry McClellan, plus
an expected reduction in state
school funds of up to 10 per-
the foreign students, whose
schools focus entirely on acad­
emics. Ivica is from the Slovak
Republic and is hosted by Don
and Nona Skinner.
Veronika Svobodova of the
Czech Republic, who is staying
cent and myriad other issues,
the board is actively recruiting
qualified applicants. Board
m em ber Jim Krahn has an­
nounced the opening at several
public meetings.
There are also positions
open on the Budget committee.
Interested persons may write a
letter or get an application from
the school district office.
with the O ’Learys, continued
the discussion of the difference
in atmosphere. Many of the ex­
change students had a hard
time adjusting to the casual,
friendly environment, Veronika
said, but now greatly appreci­
ate having personal contact
with teachers who are very
helpful and encouraging.
Antonia Montanus talked
about the challenge of making
friends. The students found it
harder than expected to break
into long-standing groups of lo­
cal teenagers. Relations be­
tween boys and girls are also
very different here. Antonia,
from Germany, stays with the
host family of Michael and Elin
Hayes.
Rebekka Peller of Germany,
who is also staying with Don
and Nona Skinner, is a Con­
gress-Bundestag Scholarship
student. All of the other ex­
change
students
qualified
through ASSE and, while they
had to undergo an application
DATE
TEMPERATURE
Hl
LQ.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
45
42
44
44
44
48
44
42
42
42
43
48
50
40
48
50
42
41
42
40
39
43
47
46
42
39
41
46
40
46
45
36
32
32
31
31
30
30
32
31
34
37
41
35
34
37
31
31
35
35
35
29
26
22
22
23
27
35
33
26
28
30
PRECIP.
AMT,
.64
.40
.49
.69
.45
.33
.01
.11
.13
.27
.20
.29
1.62
.29
.63
1.58
.20
.75
.12
.26
.01
T
—
—
—
T
.27
T
-
.09
.05
Temperature
and
precipitation
amounts are from the official U.S.
weather station at the Vernonia wa­
ter plant. Measurable precipitation in
December totalled 9.88 inches.
Vernonia teenager Woody Bux­
ton went to Germany as a Con­
gress-Bundestag Scholarship
student. Several other Vernon­
ia students, including Rian
Ragsdale, Emily Plews and Da­
mon Knight, have also taken
advantage of foreign exchange
programs to spend time in oth­
er countries.
COD OF THANKS
Dear Friends,
We would like to thank each one of
you for your cards, prayers and words
of encouragement during our recent
loss. A special thanks to Deanna Gon­
zales and all the girls from Jazzercise.
Lisa Brewer and family, the Traylor-
Goodman family and the Jim and Judy
King family. Your kindness will never
be forgotten.
Thank You All,
Robin Murphy
Patricia Ray Wilhelm & Family
FOUND
P01/16
Found: Barbie Doll, near U. S. Bank.
Call 503-429-6271 with description to
retrieve.
B01/16
Dog found on Heather Lane. If yours,
call and describe. 503-429-5012.
P01/16
PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
A public hearing for public comment on the
Vernonia Marketing & Business Analysis, is
scheduled before the Vernonia Planning
Commission on February 7, 2002 at 6:30
p.m. and before the City Council on Febru­
ary 19. 2002 at 7'30 p.m. in the Council
Chambers of City Hall, 1001 Bridge Street,
Vernonia, Oregon. Public testimony is wel­
come, and written statements will be re­
ceived before the hearing, if you cannot at­
tend. The meeting location is accessible to
persons with disabilities. A request for an
interpreter for the hearing impaired or for
other accommodations for persons with
disabilities should be made at least 48
hours prior to public hearing to Janelle Ser-
afin at 503-429-5291, TTY 1-800-735-2900
or at City Hall, 1001 Bridge Street, Vernon­
ia, OR. The City of Vernonia is an Equal
Opportunity Provider and Employer.
Publish January 16, 2002
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