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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (June 6, 2012)
Page 12 The INDEPENDENT, June 6, 2012 Chalk Talk Chalk Talk is a column of information about Ver- nonia schools. This column was provided by Su- perintendent Dr. Ken Cox. Congratulations to the class of 2012! Last Saturday’s graduation ceremony dodged the rain, and even the wind seemed to cooperate, as 62 students received their diplomas. This class spent their entire high school career in the mods. Next year’s graduation will be just as memorable, but the students will have spent the year in our new building. As the school year winds down for the rest of the students, it seems that concerns that have been brewing under the surface throughout the year come to a head. The District has spent a great deal of time in the past couple of years ad- dressing the issue of bullying. I would like to think that we have made progress, but for those whose students are still being bullied it may seem like we still have a long way to go. I would encourage any student or parent who has had an issue with bullying, or any other is- sue for that matter, to contact us. We ask that you address the issue at the lowest possible lev- el. If you know the parents of the student who is bullying, then contact them to address the situa- tion. If you have a concern about grades or the way your student is being treated in a class- room, please contact the teacher directly, either by email or phone. If you do not hear back from the teacher within 48 hours please feel free to share your concerns with the building adminis- trator. This same guideline applies to concerns that you might raise with a building adminis- trator, once you have contacted them about a concern and you have not been contacted, or the issue has not been resolved within 48 hours (or at most a week), please feel free to contact me and share your concerns. My greatest concern is that some issues have not been mentioned because it wasn’t that big a deal at the time, and then it happens again, and pretty soon it has become a big deal that should have been addressed much sooner. Please let me know if you have a concern about our schools before it becomes a big deal. I am here, and I am willing to listen. When someone comes to visit with me I take the time to listen. I jot down some notes and may even ask some questions. I do not try to de- fend anyone, I am gathering information. I will take a number where I can contact them and then I talk to those staff involved to gather more information. I want to help resolve situations, and to improve relations wherever possible. We are in the people business and I want to ensure you that it is our job to establish a good working relationship with you throughout your children’s time in school. If you have a concern, please share it with me by email, phone, or stopping by, and I will ad- dress it. I would also point out that I am human, and if you feel I have not addressed your con- cern appropriately, please let me know that, too. State results for VHS Track team From page 1 Nicolo Casale also earned a second place finish in the Boys 100 Meter Dash (11.22). Nathan Fleck took sixth place in the 1500 Meter Run (4:28.31) and Samantha Lin- dauer had a seventh place fin- ish in the Girls 400 Meter Dash (1:03.69). Other members of the team included Lane Sullivan, Paul Ji- ranek, Tynstan Talantov, Meg- han Sullivan, Julie Zhunosso- va, Kim Allen, Lea Wilson, Stephanie Castro and Dezi Roberts. Pet of the Month Find the pet that’s right for you at the Columbia Humane Society 2084 Oregon Street, St. Helens. Phone 503-397-4353 Open Mon - Fri 1 pm to 5 pm & Saturday, 11 am to 5 pm I’m Sunny and they tell me I am a Labrador/Pitbull mix. I'm about 2 years old. I am potty trained, and mostly like other dogs. I love to go for walks. If you have a fenced yard and want to play with me, I’m your girl. Once I’m out of the kennel, I’m as sweet as can be. I can be a bit nervous of new places and situa- tions (oh, yeah, and cats). If you think you might want to be my new family please stop by and say hello. The Columbia Humane Society is a No-Kill non-profit shelter dedicated to helping friends find each other since 1985. This Month’s Pet is Sponsored by: THE INDEPENDENT News & Information you can use School board finds way to keep Middle School sports in budget The Vernonia School Board meeting of May 24 was preced- ed by the district’s budget hear- ing. After discussion, the budg- et committee reinstated the middle school sports program by raising fees and using a do- nation from the Vernonia Com- munity PTA. The changes will pay for an assistant coach only for track; other sports will have to rely on volunteer assistant coaches. The staffing cuts approved by the budget committee were still in place when the board approved the final budget, fol- lowing completion of the budg- et hearing. The board had only one ad- ditional item of business, the passage of Resolution #11-08 authorizing the district to partic- ipate in the Oregon Depart- ment of Energy small scale en- ergy loan program. The loan will be used to help complete the new K-12 school. The next regularly sched- uled board meeting will be held June 14, starting at 6:00 p.m. at the district office. New school Facebook page ready to help with fundraising efforts The fundraising effort for the new Vernonia schools has now gone social with a Facebook page. “We hope to build on the momentum of the strong sup- port generated from within the Vernonia community to further spur a statewide barn-raising campaign for Vernonia’s new school and community center,” said John Donovan, from the Metropolitan group, in a letter about the new site, The site, set up by the Ver- nonia Education Foundation is at www.facebook.com/Vernon ia Education Foundation. Results of the first CCRA 2012 race Sportsman Division – Fast Time: Eric Lindquist, Milwaukie 15.30. Trophy Dash: Bud Rus- sell, St. Helens. Heat 1: Koish Somor, Portland; Brian Raden, Portland; Jake VanOrtwick, Portland. Heat 2: Aaron El- wess, Portland; Russell; Smith. Main: Elwess, Russell, Smith, Brad Beehler, St. Helens; Clark Tenney, Scappoose; Raden, Lindquist, Matt Taylor, St. He- lens; Travis Williams, Portland; Jesse Allen, St. Helens. Street Stock – Fast Time: Jeremy Weatherbee, Portland 16.03. Trophy Dash: Todd Newton, Portland. Heat 1: Curt Zelmer, Portland; Ron Dodge, Vernonia; Aaron Snook, Port- land. Heat 2: Rick Rehanek, Vancouver; RT Cutler, Port- land; Steffan Strawn, Deer Is- land. Main: Rehanek, Justin McMullen, Deer Island; New- ton, Strawn, Ken Bryan, Tole- do; John Haagenson, St. He- lens; Gerardo Maya, Portland; Zelmer, Cutler, Dodge. Mini Stock – Fast Time: John Oyler, St. Helens 16.52. Trophy Dash: Tim Oyler, St. Helens. Heat 1: Brad Beehler, Jerry Winchester, Longview; Lisa Oyler, Gresham. Heat 2: Joel Beehler, St. Helens; Rich Gooding, Castle Rock; John Oyler. Main: Joel Beehler, John Oyler, Winchester, Lisa Oyler, Brad Beehler, Gooding, Darrin Rye, Deer Island; Gary Brag- don, Kelso; Russ Krein, Port- land; Ron Krein, Portland. Modified Division – Fast Time: Doug Davenport, Ver- nonia 14.45. Trophy Dash: Don Jenner, Vancouver. Heat 1: Dave Walters, Gresham; Clark Tenney, Rick Graham, Port- land. Heat 2: Clint Petty, St. Helens; Dan Smith, Don Jen- ner. Main: Petty, Don Jenner, Robert Jenner, Vancouver; Walters, Graham, Tony Hen- don, Portland; Mike Harrison, St. Helens; Matt Jenner, Van- couver; Curt Zelmer, Smith. Women's Division – Fast Time: Jenae Frelich, St. Helens 15.96. Trophy Dash: Sundee Hamrick, Portland. Heat: Ham- rick, Frelich, Susan Nelson, Portland. Main: Hamrick, Nel- son, Frelich. Pacific Mini Sprints – Fast Time: Greg Lane, Portland 12.84. Trophy Dash: Lane. Heat: Lane, Walters, Mike Opo- ka, Phoenix, AZ. Main: Lane, Walters, Keith Everson, Marysville; Dan Beck, Castle Rock; Opoka, Vinny Villiggiarie, Portland; Kalista Ross, Port- land. Dwarf Cars – Fast Time: Kevin Hicks, Portland 15.02. Trophy Dash: Lucas Eaton, St. Helens. Heat: Ryan Martinez, Portland; Kevin Hicks, Eaton. Main: Martinez, Doug McVae, Scappoose; Eaton, Brian Hicks, Portland; Jenelle Harri- son, St. Helens; Kevin Hicks.
