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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 2007)
The INDEPENDENT, November 1, 2007 It’s not too late to join parenting class Make Parenting a Pleasure class started October 15 at the Vernonia Head Start Center. The nationally recognized strength-based parenting class supports families in building positive foundations during the formative years of their chil- dren’s lives. Parenting is the most chal- lenging and most important job there is. There is no one right way to be a parent or a child but parents are the experts about their children and this class will show you the joys of parenting. The class is designed to ex- plore proven techniques for challenging behaviors; rein- force taking care of ourselves; create a support network that allows parents to make new friends; provide education in stress management, child de- velopment, communication skills and positive discipline; encourage positive interactions with children; help parents de- velop and accomplish personal and parenting goals; share community resources; and have a fun time. Although the ten-week class started October 15, space is still available. Call 1-503-556- 3736 to register. Registration is based on a sliding fee scale. The classes are on Mondays at 9:00 a.m., at Vernonia Head Start, 500 California Ave. No cost quality child care and snacks are provided. Enter to win money for student loans American Education Ser- vices (AES) announced The $20,000 Lighten Your Loan SweepstakesSM, an innovative initiative created to assist bor- rowers by alleviating their stu- dent loan debt. The $20,000 Lighten Your Loan SweepstakesSM is part of AES’ nationally recognized public service campaign, You- CanDealWithIt.com, which em- phasizes the importance of re- paying student loans, the long- term implications of default, and the importance of overall debt management and financial responsibility. “Most of today’s students are finding that their dreams of higher education are unobtain- able without some form of edu- cational loans, which places them in debt upon entering the real world,” said AES Interim President and CEO James Pre- ston. “We’ve held this sweep- stakes twice thus far and each has proven incredibly success- ful. Not only do four winners find their debt considerably lighter, every entrant finds use- ful debt management and loan repayment information on You- CanDealWithIt.com while en- tering the sweepstakes. So, in a way, every entrant is a win- ner.” AES’ Lighten Your Loan Sweepstakes includes four prizes: $10,000, $5,000 and (two) $2,500 FFELP loan pay- ments to be made toward each winner’s student loan balance. The sweepstakes will run from October 15, 2007 through De- cember 15, 2007 and is open to all AES customers holding a FFELP loan guaranteed by AES. Students and recent gradu- ates can enter for a chance to win at YouCanDealWithIt.com. There is a limit of one entry per day per student loan borrower. Bonus entries will be awarded when a contestant refers a friend who also enters the sweepstakes. The four winners will be drawn at random in Jan- uary 2008. YouCanDealWithIt.com was launched over eight years ago in an effort to educate students on debt management and loan repayment and ultimately lower the number of student loan de- faults. The nationally recog- nized campaign has con- tributed to AES’ all-time low co- hort default rate of 2.9 percent for the 2005 cohort year, which is the most recent reporting timeframe. The cohort default rate measures the percentage of borrowers who have default- ed on their student loans within 12 to 24 months of entering re- payment. The AES rate of 2.9 percent marks a 24 percent de- crease from the 2004 cohort rate of 3.8 percent. American Education Ser- vices (AES) is among the na- tion’s leading providers of stu- dent financial aid services. Babysitting class offered at VCLC The American Red Cross Babysitting Class will be of- fered to all students who are at least 11 years-old. The class will be held at the Vernonia Community Learning Center, 939 Bridge Street on Novem- ber 2 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. with a half-hour lunch. The cost is $20. Please call 503-429-1030 or email vclc@ vernonia-or.gov to register. Each year, AES serves millions of students and thousands of schools through its loan guar- anty, servicing, and financial aid processing systems. As a nonprofit enterprise with $103 billion in assets under manage- ment (9/30/07), AES channels its earnings into a wide array of public service programs and initiatives that help ease the fi- nancial burden of higher edu- cation. Focused on guaranteeing the next generation of leaders, thinkers and doers, AES is a pi- oneer of pro-student products and services, such as its Zero Guaranty Fee Policy and low- cost student loans. From early awareness, to managing the fi- nancial aid process and sound student debt management, AES is a trusted source of in- formation and advice for stu- dents, parents, school coun- selors and financial aid offices across the country. AES is also the home of the award-winning college-plan- ning website EducationPlan- ner.org, as well as the debt management resource You- CanDealWithIt.com. For more information, please visit us at www.aesSuccess.org . Remember Page 11 Chalk Talk Chalk Talk is a monthly column of informa- tion about Vernonia schools. It is written by various staff members. This column was written by Glenda DeLemos, District Tech- nology Coordinator. Washington Grade School (WGS) opened this fall with a new computer lab in the media center. Students are learning about computers during scheduled library times and teachers can schedule the lab for class projects. The computer lab consists of 30 new Linux-based thin-client computers that all run off of a sin- gle, powerful server. These computers use LCD monitors, have no moving parts, and produce very little heat. This keeps the lab cool and quiet and saves on energy costs even when it’s full of students exploring the new systems. Linux is a free, open source operating system. The new WGS lab is running a version of Linux called K12LTSP which is used widely in schools all over the world, but was developed here in Oregon. Students are learning to type, using art programs and working on basic math skills on the new computers. Older stu- dents are learning about Internet searches and about the District web pages and resources. All students will use the lab to learn about basic productivity software like word processing, spread- sheets and presentation tools. All students K-5 are scheduled for weekly visits to the WGS Media Center. Each week we are learning about books, libraries, and computers. The 4th and 5th grade students are being intro- duced to the Vernonia School District Web page (www.vernonia.k12.or.us). They are learning where to find teacher homepages to check on homework and where to have their parents sign up for our new List Serve. The website is im- proving and changing, please check it out when you get a chance! VCLC seeks original art to display The Vernonia Community Learning Center Gallery is seeking exhibition-ready origi- nal art, photography and sculp- ture for display and possible sale. Also needed are people with a strong interest in Art to serve as jurors for the selection process, which will take place on November 30. Entries should be received at the Learning Center no later than November 27. Submis- sion criteria are available at the Learning Center between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., or by e-mailing vclc@ver nonia.or.gov. Newcomers to gallery exhibition encouraged. The Vernonia Community Learning Center is located at 939 Bridge Street. The phone number is 503-429-1030. VERNONIA INN Enjoy a quiet weekend with us. FULL SIZE, IN ROOM HOT TUBS to change Queen Beds • Private Bath • Separate Entrance Cable TV • Phones • Handicapped Access • Commercial Rates your FOR RESERVATIONS CALL clocks on November 3 1-800-354-9494 / 503-429-4006 Gift Certificates Available 900 MADISON AVE., VERNONIA, OR 97064 Just one block off scenic Nehalem River Hwy. (Oregon 47)
