The INDEPENDENT, September 2, 2010
Get a clean dog and help VHS Jr. class
The Vernonia High School
Junior class is planning a se-
ries of fund raisers in the com-
ing months to raise money for
Homecoming, Prom and to get
their class out of a financial
hole before next year. Crea-
tures, 736 Bridge St. is having
“Saturdays in September” for
dog washing. Every Saturday is
available; spots filling up so call
now to schedule, 503-429-
7387! All proceeds go to the Ju-
nior class.
Please sign up today if your
pooch needs a good flea bath
or just a cleanup before the
winter months. Appointments
are being taken from 10:00
a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for this com-
ing Saturday, September 4.
Nails can be clipped by the
groomer for $7.50 and those
proceeds also go to Junior
class. Baths are $20 suggested
donation.
There is also a car wash
planned for August 18 in the
District office parking lot, along
with a can drive! If you have
cans you would like to have
picked up, call 503-429-7387 to
make arrangements.
How to smooth the return to school
Back to school time is often
a time of change for many fam-
ilies. First day of school, new
schools, and new teachers are
only a few of the many changes
children and families encounter
at the beginning of a new
school year.
Making a smooth transition
between the summer break
and the beginning of school
can help children feel good
about themselves, and help
everyone in the family create
and maintain a positive outlook
about the coming school year.
Parents play an important
role in helping make this transi-
tion smooth. Here are some
tips to make the transition more
relaxed and enjoyable for
everyone.
• Establish a routine. Bed
times, rise and shine times,
where do I put my backpack
and important notes when I get
home – whatever your routine/
schedule will be, begin follow-
ing it a week or so before
school actually begins.
• Take a school tour. This is
especially important if your
child is new to the school sys-
tem or building. Knowing where
to go on the first day can re-
lieve a lot of stress.
• Meet with your child’s
teacher(s). Introduce your-
selves. Discuss what will be
happening in the classroom,
any special needs or situations
your child may have. Is there
any way you can help out in the
classroom?
See Help on page 22
ODFW to hold bird hunt for youngsters
The Oregon Department of
Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) and
its partners will be sponsoring
14 pre-season upland bird
hunts in September for young
hunters under age 17. Regis-
tration for these hunts begins
today.
According to James Reed,
ODFW hunter education coor-
dinator, these pre-season
pheasant and upland bird hunts
allow young and possibly inex-
perience hunters to hunt before
the season opens and other
hunters are in the field.
“These early hunts offer
young hunters a good chance
at bagging a bird,” Reed said.
In conjunction with many of
the youth hunts, ODFW will be
holding free shotgun skills clin-
ics where participants will learn
basic shotgun skills and shoot
some sporting clays.
Pre-registration is required
for youth hunts. No registration
for the shotgun skills clinics is
required; participants can ar-
rive anytime between 9:00 a.m.
and 3:00 p.m.
Refer to pages 22-23 of the
2010 Oregon Game Bird Regu-
lations for complete information
about the hunts and clinics.
Season dates for youth up-
land bird hunts nearby:
September 11-12 at Sauvie
Island, call 503-621-3488 to
register. Shotgun skills clinic
both days.
September 18-19 at E.E.
Wilson (Monmouth near Cor-
vallis), and September 25-26 at
E.E. Wilson (Monmouth), call
541-745-5334 to register. Shot-
gun skills clinic each day.
Hunters 17 years and
younger may participate in the
pheasant hunts; they must be
accompanied by one adult who
does not hunt. Each hunter
must have in possession a
hunter education certificate,
HIP validation and a permit for
the area hunted. Hunters 14
years or older must also have a
valid juvenile hunting license
with an upland game bird vali-
dation.
All hunters, and accompany-
ing adults, must wear a blaze
orange hat, shooting glasses
and vest. In most cases,
hunters also must provide their
own shotguns and shells.
Shotgun skills clinics are
open to youth 17 and younger.
No hunter education, license or
validation is required to partici-
pate. ODFW will provide in-
struction, shotguns, shells,
clays, and ear and eye protec-
tion.
Creatures
&
Vernonia
Florist
PET SUPPLIES, GROOMING & U-WASH
(503-429-PETS (7387)
www.creaturespetshop.com
Plants ~ Antiques ~ balloons ~ Handmade Crafts
Stuffed Toys ~ Greeting Cards & More
(503) 429-2000
www.vernoniaflorist.com
OPEN Mon-Sat 10-6
736 Bridge St. Vernonia
Family Owned & Operated
Superior Customer Service
Page 11
Chalk Talk
Chalk Talk is a column of information about
Vernonia schools. This column was provided
by Washington Grade School Principal Aaron
Miller.
Another summer is coming to a close, and we are nearing the
beginning of another school year. I hope you and your children
have had a relaxing and enjoyable summer, and are looking for-
ward to the school year as much as the Vernonia School District
staff.
While we look forward to your students’ arrival, there are a cou-
ple of reminders about procedures that will make our school year
run smoothly:
• Attendance: Please be sure your student is at school, and on
time each day. Regular attendance is an essential key to a stu-
dent’s academic growth and development.
• When you drop off and pick up your children by car, please
park in a designated parking or drop off space. This avoids traffic
being backed up on Bridge Street. Please have your children USE
THE CROSSWALK when crossing the road or parking lot.
• If you are waiting for your child in the play shed area, please
wait for them to come to you. This enables teachers to keep track
of their students more easily, and ensure that each student gets
to where they are supposed to be, quickly and safely.
• Please sign in at the office and pick up a visitor’s pass each
and every time you visit or volunteer at school. This helps us track
volunteer hours, and ensure the safety or our students.
• Please send notes with your children ANY time their after
school routine is changed, and ANY time they are absent or tardy.
If you communicate with us in advance, we can ensure your stu-
dents get to their designated destination after school.
The Vernonia School District staff truly appreciates all the work
you do as parents, and would love to have you work as volunteers
at school. If you are interested, please contact your child’s
teacher, or school, about volunteer opportunities they have in
their classrooms.
Thank you so much for your cooperation and communication
throughout the upcoming school year. We look forward to working
with you in the education of your children, and appreciate your
partnership in our efforts. The more involved you are, the more
successful your child will be. Together…we can truly make a dif-
ference!
Pet of the Month
Columbia Humane Society in St. Helens has a variety of wonderful pets
available for adoption. Find the pet that’s right for you in the shelter
at 2084 Oregon Street. Phone 503-397-4353
Open Mon - Fri 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, 11 am. to 5 pm.
Carissa was a pregnant stray.
Almost all of her kittens have
been adopted and now it is
Carissa’s turn. Carissa is very
sweet and loving. Can you give
this deserving cat the second
chance she's hoping for?
Carissa is up-to-date with rou-
tine shots and house trained
The Columbia Humane Society is a No-Kill non-profit shelter
dedicated to helping friends find each other since 1985.
This Pet of the Month is Sponsored by:
Senator Betsy Johnson
Paid for by Committee to Elect Betsy Johnson