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The INDEPENDENT, December 18, 2003
Chalk Talk
Chalk Talk presents a variety of information about
Vernonia schools. It is written by various staff mem-
bers and will appear monthly.
By Anne Kingsley-Beeson, K-3 Principal
Lincoln, Washington and Mist Grade Schools
Staff Changes at Lincoln School
A good time was had, and a turkey for the table won,
by these children at the Turkey Trot organized by the
Vernonia Parent Teacher Community Association.
Home School starts January 13
A Vernonia Co-op for home-
schoolers will begin its Winter
Term on January 13. The Ne-
halem Valley Christian Home
Schoolers offer a Tuesday Co-
op School with classes that in-
clude Current Events, Writing,
Physical Education and pre-
schooler activities. The dead-
line to sign up is December 29.
The Co-op has operated
since 2001, and is located at
the First Christian Church, 410
North Street in Vernonia. For
further information or to regis-
ter, call Becky Hooker at 503-
429-4550.
Vernonia
S e ri o us a bo ut s er vi c e. ®
Open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. 7 Days a week
357 Jefferson Ave. Vernonia • 503-429-3811
FREE MO VIE RENT AL!!!
Rent one movie at regular price
Sunday through Thursday and
get a second movie rental free.
Includes new releases
Offer valid with this coupon only. Expires January 1, 2004
BUY TWO GET ONE FREE!!!
Purchase any 2
previously viewed movies
get a 3rd movie free.
Free movie must be of equal or lesser value.
Offer valid with this coupon only. Expires January 1, 2004
This school year has seen a number of
changes at Lincoln Elementary School. As pri-
mary principal, I work with K-3 students and
staff at all three district elementary schools.
With the district’s desire to make all schools,
“Benchmark schools” grade levels were adjust-
ed to include a benchmark grade at each
school.
With the retirement of Mrs. Marguerite Nice, af-
ter many years of teaching Kindergarten in Ver-
nonia, Michelle Eagleson was selected for her abil-
ities to motivate, encourage and teach children,
and was transferred from Washington third grade
to guide the development of the Kindergarteners.
Ms. Judy Gingerich, a veteran teacher, was trans-
ferred from Mist when a third grade was added to
match the state’s benchmark configuration. Ms.
Gingrich joins Ms. Nayan Fleenor, second grade
teacher, and Mrs. Kelly Murphy-Shaw, first grade
teacher, to complete the K-3 teaching staff. Stu-
dents and staff are assisted by Title I Instructional
Assistants, Sheril McWhirter and Marsha
McLaughlin and Special Education Instructional
Assistant, Barb Ervin.
Mist Takes on a New/Old Look
Remaining a focal point in the community,
Mist’s One Room School continues to provide
for the educational needs of the children in the
area. Teacher Joanie Jones works tirelessly to
meet the requirements of the K-5 curriculum.
Helped by Instructional Assistant Rena Titus
and many volunteers, the individual needs of
children are being met. The Mist-Birkenfeld
Helping Circle and the M-B Volunteer Fire De-
partment have joined in to assist Mrs. Jones,
both with their talents and financially, to ensure
a quality education for the children.
Reading a PRIORITY
State test scores and the federal “No Child
Left Behind” legislative mandates have prompt-
ed our teachers to take a hard look at reading
instruction. Early student dismissals on Fridays
have provided much needed and appreciated
time for staff development. Some of this time
has been used to discuss research in “Best Ed-
ucational Practices.” While other time has been
spent working with consultants from NWRESD
to analyze and interpret the district’s 2003 State
Reading test scores. This analysis has provided
input for the development of the School Im-
provement Plan that will be submitted to the
state. Teachers are incorporating many of the
“Best Practices” strategies to improve the
teaching of reading. Large and small group in-
struction, daily time for silent reading, encour-
aging different parent volunteers to listen to stu-
dents read daily and teachers reading aloud to
the children are integral to helping children
learn to read. Buddy Reading (first and third
graders from Lincoln and Washington paired for
reading activities) is an excellent way for each
student to gain confidence in their own ability to
read. We encourage each family to regularly
read together and show the children that know-
ing how to read is an extremely important skill.
The K-3 teachers are
meeting after school to
coordinate a Calde-
cott Books Selection
Program to acquaint
their students with
good literature and
make them better crit-
ical readers. District librar-
ian LeighAnn Morlock is
working with teachers and students to read and
discuss many excellent new children’s books
and will have them select their favorite book to
be nominated for a Caldecott Award. Caldecott
Book Award winners are nationally recognized
as the top children’s (picture) books each year.
An anonymous Vernonia alumnus has donated
over $1800 worth of new books to the district to
be used in this program. Each of these pro-
grams or activities is designed to help improve
the children’s reading skills and their desire to
learn.
Lincoln connecting with community
This fall several parents from Lincoln ex-
pressed a desire to reactivate the PTA (Parent
Teacher Association). After an initial meeting of
parents and staff members at Lincoln, it was de-
cided that the district would be best suited with
a Community PTA. The State organization sent
several state officers to help in the organization
and start-up of the group. Parents from Lincoln
and Washington Grade Schools and Vernonia
Head Start elected officers and set the second
Monday of the month to meet. As their first ac-
tivity, in order to raise funds to register with the
state and purchase required insurance, the new
VPTCA organized “Turkey Trot Races” at each
school. The winners of each race took home a
donated turkey for their Thanksgiving Dinner.
The group is planning for the year to see how
they can best serve the schools and children in
Vernonia. If you would like to find out more
about the PTCA and its activities or would like to
join, please phone any of the school offices for
information.
Parents have been keen to help in other
ways as well. Many parents and community
members have stepped forward to help in the
classrooms. Each potential parent volunteer
submitted an application and went through a se-
curity screening before starting to help in the
classrooms. Over forty parents are now helping
teachers in the classrooms and, more impor-
tantly, listening to children read or review math
facts or assist them with classroom projects. A
number of students, parents and staff spent one
Saturday shoveling bark chips, donated by
Boise Cascade and hauled free by Gwin Log-
ging, under all the play structures. Other par-
ents planted flowers, trimmed shrubs and made
minor safety repairs. District maintenance per-
sonnel have been busy constructing a new ap-
proach to the modular units and are preparing
to remove the lower stairs, which have become
a safety hazard. Following up on the district in-
surance audit, it was determined that the much
loved Merry-go-round must be removed. Merry-
go-rounds have already been removed from
most schools and parks around the state. To
this end, it was removed just before Thanksgiv-
ing. The staff, students and PTCA are deciding
what should be put in its place. “Safety first” will
play a large part in the decision.