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September 4, 2012
School notes for Sept. 4, 2012
Sullivan graduates from Juilliard Macy Elizabeth Sullivan of Camas graduated with a bachelor of fine arts degree in dance from The Juilliard School in New York City.
Sullivan graduates from Juilliard Macy Elizabeth Sullivan of Camas graduated with a bachelor of fine arts degree in dance from The Juilliard School in New York City.
This year marks the 15th anniversary of the Camas Educational Foundation. To celebrate, board members have named the annual auction, "Soaring with CEF: Our 15 year Journey," and are asking community members to donate unused airline miles. "The idea came from the Make-A-Wish Foundation," said Mandy Huth, CEF president. "They have a great message about donating miles or tickets to children. Since this year's auction is based on a journey, I thought this was a good approach to ask our community to support the children in this manner."
Washougal teachers overwhelmingly approved a new three-year contract on Thursday. The new agreement came after negotiations between the Washougal Association of Educators and the School District. "I am very pleased with the negotiation process," said Dawn Tarzian, district superintendent. "It is important and we have learned a lot, and reached an agreement that the association, board and administrators can feel good about." "Washougal teachers feel that this was an equitable contract, given the current economy," said Sheila Good, WAE co-president.
The Washougal School Board has approved a $28.8 million budget for the 2012-13 school year. It is a $1.5 million increase over the 2011-12 budget. Of that, approximately $800,000 is for a planned gym floor and turf field replacement at Washougal High School. "I feel very positive about this year's budget," said Dawn Tarzian, district superintendent. "It identifies key priorities and sets aside money for those things."
Educators in the Camas-Washougal area spent a recent Tuesday morning exploring ways to teach their students by getting outside of the classroom and into nature. Jim Clapp, Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge manager, coordinated two environmental education teacher trainings held at the refuge and nearby Jemtegaard Middle School in Washougal. With the help of the Columbia Gorge Refuge Stewards, Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership, Educational Service District 112 and Friends of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, teachers from Camas, Washougal and Battle Ground spent six hours learning how to teach using the outdoors. "It is geared toward elementary schools, but there are applications for any level," explained Josie Finley, one of the environmental education workers at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the area. "We really try to address the needs of the students. "Teachers especially need to know about the area since we don't have the number of volunteers to host tours ourselves." There will be another training program held on Oct. 20. Educators can register through ESD 112. For more information, contact Clapp at 835-8767.
A first-year Clark College entrepreneurship club, Winning Innovations through Student Entrepreneurship, placed in the top 15 percent globally in the Google Online Marketing Challenge. The challenge required teams of two to six students to build a campaign for a local business or non-profit organization that would drive business to their website. More than 2,000 teams entered, and W.I.S.E. earned the highest rating before making it into the semi-finals.
Local student receives scholarship from WSU Nicholas Lafrazia was awarded a $500 Charles W. Harrison Engineering Scholarship and a $2,000 Washington State University achievement award. The College of Engineering and Architecture awards the Charles W. Harrison scholarship to a student interested in engineering based on academic excellence in math and science.
Camas and Washougal schools will host welcome nights throughout the week before classes begin.
With a focus on wellness and physical activity, two local schools have installed walking paths. Helen Baller and Dorothy Fox elementary school Parent Teacher Association members spent approximately two years fund-raising for the projects. The paved walking track at Helen Baller circles the perimeter of the school and ends at the playground. It is one-quarter mile loop. The track at Dorothy Fox was converted from an existing gravel path to a paved version. It loops around the perimeter of the playground and into the existing play area.
Two locals graduate from SPU Two students from Camas recently graduated from Seattle Pacific University. Leslie Anne Simpson graduated with a master of education degree in school counseling.