School notes for Oct. 27, 2016

Mock election begins Oct. 31

As Washington voters begin filling out their general election ballots to meet the Nov. 8 deadline, thousands of students in kindergarten through high school soon will have their own chance to experience voting by taking part in the annual Washington State Mock Election.

The Mock Election begins Monday, Oct. 31 at 9 a.m. and ends Friday, Nov. 4 at 1 p.m.

The Mock Election is free and open to all Washington students who attend public, private and tribal schools or are homeschooled.

Now in its 12th year, this lets students experience “voting” for real candidates and measures. It is sponsored by the Office of Secretary of State, and a nonpartisan educational program that teaches kids to be informed voters.

Students can vote by going to www.vote.wa.gov/MockElection. Participants will receive free “I Voted!” stickers from their teachers.

Students in sixth-grade and up will “vote” for president, U.S. senator and governor. They also will consider three initiatives: I-1433 (raising state’s minimum wage); I-1491 (restricting firearms access); and I-735 (asking Washington’s congressional delegation to support an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that says constitutionally protected free speech excludes spending of money).

Students in kindergarten through fifth-grade will vote for president, U.S. senator and governor, as well as I-1433. Results will be posted online for the state and by school on the Elections Division’s webpage at http://1.usa.gov/bB9M3Q soon after the Mock Election ends on Nov. 4.

Free Kids Day health event set

There will be a free Kids Day event at Family Chiropractic of Salmon Creek.

Chiropractor Kayla Youngblood will be scanning children from birth to age 14, to evaluate their level of health.

A donation of clothes or toys for ARC of Southwest Washington is requested. Family Chiropractic is located at 11815 N.E. Highway 99, Ste. A, Vancouver.

Call 696-4405 for more information.

Applications are being accepted for Normandy institute

National History Day is now accepting applications for the 2017 Normandy: Sacrifice for Freedom Albert H. Small Student and Teacher Institute.

This competitive program accepts only 15 student and teacher pairs for an immersive experience of learning both in Washington, D.C. and on the beaches of Normandy, France.

It is funded through donations and covers nearly all expenses for accepted students and teachers, including travel, visits to historic sites, and lodging in both Europe and Washington, D.C.

The Institute teaches students about the sacrifices and challenges faced by U.S. service members during and after the D-Day landings. Each student selects a single service member, called a Silent Hero, from his or her home state or territory who died in the line of duty.

In June 2017, all 15 teams travel to Washington, D.C. Their first event is a welcome dinner with the White House Historical Association. Then, historians and archivists guide the students and teachers through primary source material from World War II at the National Archives.

Teams then journey to Normandy, France to walk in the footsteps of their Silent Hero and learn about D-Day where it happened. On the final day, students read graveside eulogies to their Silent Heroes at the Normandy American Cemetery.

Applications are due by Nov. 28. All participants must apply as one team and must be available to travel June 17 to 29, 2017. Students must be either sophomores or juniors in high school as of fall 2016. All applications must be fully completed and submitted as a single PDF document. The application, and more information, can be found online at www.nhd.org/normandy-sacrifice-freedom.

College Goal Washington event is Saturday

Prospective college students and their parents can get help finding funding for school at College Goal Washington, a free statewide event that helps students and families complete the FAFSA.

College Goal Washington is at 1 p.m. Saturday in the Undergraduate Building at Washington State University Vancouver.

The FAFSA is an application for financial assistance for higher education.

Assistance filling out the Washington Application for State Financial Aid will be available to undocumented students. The same October timeframe applies. Translation assistance will be available for Russian and Spanish speakers.

Attendees should bring their Social Security card/number or Alien Registration Number, income information backed up with bank statements, a W-2 or pay stub, and parents’ income information and Social Security number. Students ages 24 and older are considered independent from their parents.

Additional financial information such as child support statements, TANF or welfare information; real estate, stock or bonds investments; family business or farm information, is also requested.

At the event, there will be presentations on topics including “Getting to College and Succeeding,” “Paying for College 101,” “Financial Literacy/Budgeting” and more.

WSU Vancouver is located at 14204 N.E. Salmon Creek Ave.

EOU announces graduates

Three Camas students earned degrees from Eastern Oregon University.

They are John Payne, Bachelor of Science in physical activity and health; Michelle Stoller, B.S. in multidisciplinary studies and elementary education, early childhood teacher education, elementary teacher education, Magna Cum Laude; and Hans Wachlin, B.S. in fire services administration, Magna Cum Laude.