School notes for Jan. 4, 2011

School board seeking applicants The Washougal School Board is seeking applicants to fill two vacancies that will be left when longtime members Orlan Gessford and Tom Huffman retire Jan. 31. Qualified applicants must be U.S. citizens, registered voters and reside in the appropriate director district. The open positions will be in districts one and four. Employees and immediate family members of district employees are not allowed to serve on the board. The term of service would be through the end of December. To continue in the positions, appointees will need to file and win the next school district election in November. For more information, visit www.washougal.k12.wa.us/school board/2010-board-vacancies.htm. Childfind screening set The Camas School District is conducting a Childfind screening for the purpose of locating, evaluating and identifying students with disabilities who reside in the district. Parents with concerns about their child's health, hearing, intellectual functioning, language, learning, movement, serious behavioral needs, speech or vision can call the district's special services department at 833-5570. The screening will take place by scheduled appointment on Monday at Grass Valley Elementary School, 3000 N.W. Grass Valley Drive. Library district launches annual bookmark contest The Fort Vancouver Regional Library District will launch its 2011 Bookmark Contest on Sunday, Jan. 2. The contest, held every other year, is open to children in kindergarten through eighth grades. Entry forms for the contest are available in English, Spanish and Russian at the district's website, www.fvrl.org. The deadline for submissions is Monday, Jan. 31. Locally, the Washougal Community Library is participating. It is located at 1661 "C" St. Finalists for each grade level will be chosen at individual libraries. One district-wide, grand-prize winner will be selected from among local finalists for each grade level. Grand-prize winners will be notified the week of Feb. 22. Celebrations for all participants will be held in libraries during National Library Week, April 9-16. Grand-prize winning designs will be printed and distributed throughout the year as bookmarks. Grand-prize winners will also receive framed copies of their bookmarks. "Our 2009 contest attracted more than 4,000 entries," said Sarah Nelsen, coordinator of children's services for the district. Questions about the contest may be directed to the Washougal library at 835-5393. Running Start informational nights set High school sophomores and juniors, and their parents have two opportunities to attend a Running Start information night this month at Clark College, 1933 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver. The identical sessions will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 12 and Wednesday, Jan. 19 in the Clark College gymnasium in the O'Connell Sports Center. The sports center is located on the southwest corner of the main campus. Parking will be available in the college's red lots on the east side of Fort Vancouver Way and in the purple lot on the west side. Driving directions and parking maps are available on the college's website at www.clark.edu/maps. Running Start allows eligible juniors and seniors to take classes to earn college credit while they fulfill their high school graduation requirements. Running Start students attend regular Clark classes during the day or in the evening, along with "regular" college students. They can choose from a full range of academic and professional/technical courses as long as the students meet the criteria and the classes are college-level. Students pay for books, transportation, and some fees. Fees are subject to change by the Washington state Legislature. Fee waivers and limited textbook assistance are available for those demonstrating financial need. According to Associate Director of Running Start Linda Calvert, "These are the kick-off sessions for sophomores and juniors -- and their parents -- who want to know more about Running Start and what the 'Next Steps' are to begin the program in fall 2011.

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