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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 1, 2007)
The INDEPENDENT, February 1, 2007 Bring Your Family to School Week Vernonia Community PTA will be holding several events, February 12 through February 15, during Bring Your Family to School Week: Monday – Friday; Student Art and Writing Projects will be showcased in the hallways of Washington Grade School (WGS). Monday, February 12, from 8:00 to 8:30 a.m. there will be a Parents’ Tea in the WGS library so parents can learn about the programs available for stu- dents and the volunteer oppor- tunities in the schools. Tuesday, February 13, from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. join in the Bedtime Stories at WGS. Come in your PJs and enjoy four bedtime stories, cookies and milk. Wednesday, February 14 – Happy Valentine’s Day. Check with your student’s teacher to see if volunteers are needed for class parties. Thursday, February 15, from 8:00 a.m. to noon, is Bring Your Parent/ Grandparent/ Guardian to School Day! Visit the child’s class and have lunch too! Adult hot lunches cost $3.50, please fill out a hot lunch order form lo- cated in the WGS office. Thursday, February 15, at 7:00 p.m., there will be a gener- al membership meeting of the Vernonia Community PTA. It is a good time to meet your PTA, learn about the great things planned, and how you can get involved! Four children’s classes offered Classes for February 2007 at the Vernonia Community Learning Center will include of- ferings of “Clever Little Crick- et’s Parent & Me Classes.” All classes are for children ages 3 - 5 years old and parent participation is required. Younger children are welcome, at parent’s discretion about a child’s ability to participate in the classes offered. Class size is limited and pre-registration is required. Registration forms or call-in registrations are being accept- ed at either The Clever Cricket, 503-429-5049, or at the Ver- nonia Community Learning Center, 503-429-1030. The following classes are scheduled: • Valentine’s Day Party, Tuesday, February 13, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. – Make your own King or Queen of Heart’s crown, and create special Valentines to give. There will be Valentine games followed by heart-shaped cookies and juice, plus small goody bags to take home. Instructor Camrin Eyrrick. Fee is $8 per child, siblings $5. • Flubber & Play Dough, Tuesday, February 20, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. – Learn to make “Flubber” and Kool-Aid scented play dough, then play with their creations. Instructor Camrin Eyrrick. Fee is $6 per child, siblings $4. • Green Eggs & Ham, Tues- day, February 27, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. – Does your child like green eggs and ham? Find out at this story, games and cook- ing class. (Remember, Dr. Seuss’ Birthday is March 2!) Instructor Camrin Eyrrick. Fee is $6 per child, siblings $4. • Jr. Jazzercise, Tuesday, March 6, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. – Exercise habits that kids de- velop now can help shape their future. Jr. Jazzercise includes coordination, strength and en- durance, nutrition, and the im- portance of physical fitness. Kids ages 3-11 can experience the joy of physical movement as they dance their way through age-appropriate rou- tines choreographed to today’s music. Instructor Penny Costley. Fee is $6 per child, siblings $4. Chalk Talk Chalk Talk is a monthly column with Vernonia schools information. It is written by various staff members. This month’s column is by Superintendent Kenneth Cox. Isn’t it beautiful when it snows? Everything covered in white makes it look like the whole world just got a fresh coat of paint. I easily be- come mesmerized watching those great big clumps of flakes floating slowly down. I enjoy it because sounds are softened by the falling snow so everything seems more quiet and subdued. Watching falling snow gives me an opportunity for contemplation and fosters fascination in the wonders of the world around me and, when I take the time to ponder, feelings of inner peace. As you can tell, I enjoy the snow, especially from behind a plate glass window. When I moved to Vernonia I had no idea that I would have the opportunity to make so many decisions about whether to keep schools open or closed. I just didn’t think winters got that bad here. Now I know better and I still enjoy being here. I ap- preciate your support and cooperation during recent days when I chose to ensure the safety of our children and staff by keeping them home. I know it can be an inconvenience, especially when it comes unexpectedly. I recently sent home a letter to parents describing snow routes and sharing information about how to keep in- formed when bad weather comes. I would also like to thank Rob Curl and Shelley Cota of Curl Transportation for the time they have spent in the wee hours of the morning checking road conditions to provide in- formation to me in making school closure decisions. It is my hope that we have seen the last of our snow days for this year, but if not, rest as- sured that student safety will be the deciding factor. I would like to address an- other issue that has come to my attention. A parent shared with me that on a recent morn- ing, while they were dropping off their children before school, they noticed a rifle in another car. For many this may be no big deal, but today, with the media attention that school shootings receive, some chil- dren could find this very upset- Small ting. I recognize that a lot of hunting goes on in our community and that for many of us having a rifle, or two (as in my case) is common practice. However, many of our children have not been around firearms and the mere sight of one on school grounds could cause considerable anxiety for them. We may not realize just how much of the news our children hear and, when the media dramatizes something that happened thousands of miles away, they worry that it could happen to them. All of us must be more aware of our ac- tions when we are around children. We must be careful about what we bring to school, especially if it carries a felony charge. It is a federal law that no firearms are allowed with- in 1000 feet of a school. I spoke with Chief Work- man of the Vernonia Police Department and he indicated that having a firearm on private proper- ty within the vicinity of a school may not be a problem, but that there are specific laws about how they can be transported. So I am asking that all of us to please be careful and thoughtful about how firearms are stored when coming to school. As always, I want to express my appreciation for the staff with whom I work and the quality of our children. Please feel free to contact me if you have questions, concerns, or information that Midway Veterinary Clinic Senior Discounts Open in Vernonia Wednesdays and Saturdays 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Call for appointments 503-429-1612 805 Bridge Street Vernonia and Large Animals Vernonia Sports Home Game Schedule Varsity Basketball Boys Saturday, Feb. 3 against Catlin Gable at 7:30 pm Tuesday, Feb. 6 against Neah-Kah-Nie at 7:30 pm Saturday, Feb. 10 against Riverdale at 7:30 pm Girls Same as Boys above except game time is 6:00 pm JV Basketball Boys Girls Your Painting & Interior Specialist Vernonia, Oregon 503-830-6057 CCB# 159353 Page 11 Same as Varsity except games at 4:30 pm Same as Varsity except games at 3:00 pm Brought to you by The INDEPENDENT
