School notes for May 6, 2014

Daniels earns master's degree Katie Ann Daniels, a 2009 Washougal High School graduate, received her master's degree in teaching from Concordia University April 26. She also earned a perfect 4.0 GPA in graduate studies. Previously, Daniels earned a bachelor of science in mathematics from Portland State University in 2013. She hopes to find a job in Southwest Washington teaching high school algebra, geometry and trigonometry with her new credentials. Daniels worked part-time at Starbucks, Pendleton Outlet Store and the Washougal Safeway while attending college. Students recycle 1.75 Tons of 'E-waste' Students from the Clark County Skills Center IT System, Service and Support program have successfully collected 3,500 pounds of electronic waste. Instead of sending it to a landfill, they turned it over to Earth Friendly Recycling, a green waste recycling company. Under the direction of instructor Ira Erbs, a student leadership team managed the recycling project from start to finish and are planning another e-waste collection event in January. United Mayflower Container Services also donated a storage unit for the event. Local businesses and individuals who want to contribute their useable computers, printers and other peripherals to the ITSSS program for classroom training can contact Ray Nelson, campus technology coordinator, at 604-1050, Ext. 2124. 'New' Skills Center offers tours to public The Clark County Skills Center, owned and operated by 10 Clark County School Districts, is repositioning itself to meet future employment demands. It invites the community to see what's new at the next Clark County Skills Center VIP Tour set for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, May 16, 12200 N.E. 28th St., Vancouver. There are new administrators, new programs and new buildings. Director Kari Duffy and Mark Osborne, Assistant Director, will lead the tour. Attendees can also watch student demonstrations, explore state-of-the-art equipment and sample a gourmet lunch prepared by the students in the Skills Center Restaurant Management and Culinary Arts program. The lunch is $5. To make reservations, contact 604-1050, Ext. 2151 or janice.strickland@evergreenps.org. For more information about the 16 programs that the Skills Center offers, visit www.ccskillscenter.com. WSU Vancouver commencement set May 10 Washington State University Vancouver will graduate 915 students at its 2014 commencement ceremony at 1 p.m. Sunday, May 10, at the Sleep Country Amphitheater in Ridgefield. Chancellor Mel Netzhammer will preside over the ceremony. Shavenor Winters, president of the Associated Students of Washington State University Vancouver and a graduating senior, will deliver the commencement address. May 10 is also the 25th anniversary of the legislative act that established Washington State University's urban campuses in Spokane, Tri-Cities and Vancouver. The graduating class of 2014 is represented by five doctoral candidates in the areas of education, American studies, political science and sociology. There are 118 master's candidates and 792 bachelor's candidates. The Sleep Country Amphitheater is located at 17200 N.E. Delfel Road, Ridgefield. Parking and gates open at 11 a.m. The seating area opens at 11:30 a.m. Concessions will be available. Commencement is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required. More information about the commencement ceremony can be found at vancouver.wsu.edu/commencement. Washougal kindergarten registration open Registration opened on Monday for incoming Washougal School District kindergarteners for the 2014-15 school year. The district will offer free, full-day, every day, kindergarten to students at all three of its elementary schools this fall. The district urges early registration because it allows for more accurate planning for staffing and promotes small class sizes. The first day of school will be Sept. 2. Full-day kindergarten is already being offered at Hathaway Elementary this year, because state funding supported kindergarten programs at schools with higher percentages of students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals. Due to voters who approved the recent maintenance and operations levy, the district is able to extend the full-day, every-day kindergarten program to include Gause and Cape Horn-Skye schools as well. To register, students must be 5 years old before Sept. 1 and have an original birth certificate and current immunization records. For more information, visit the district website: www.washougal.k12.wa.us/kindergarten. WHS bands garner awards Washougal High School's bands have accumulated several awards this spring. Both the wind ensemble and jazz bands took first place at the Heritage Festival in Anaheim, Calif., during spring break in April. More than 80 band, choral, and orchestral groups from all over the country participated in the festival. Senior alto saxophone player Brad Spring also received the Maestro's Award as outstanding soloist. The jazz band competed at the University of Portland Jazz Festival, where they took first place in the AA division. Three 'Soloists of Merit' were named: T Walker Anderson (piano), Godfrey Phipps (drums) and Jared Anderson (trombone). Anderson also received the Outstanding Musician Award for the entire AA division. The band was also the winner of the Best Sight Reading Band in the AA division. "This is great evidence of the Washougal School District's work to assure that students develop a strong academic foundation that includes the performing arts," said Dawn Tarzian, district superintendent. "Congratulations to these talented students and their dedicated instructors."

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