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Stories by Danielle Frost

email icon danielle.frost@camaspostrecord.com

September 24, 2013

School district sets levy amounts

The Washougal School District has set amounts for its upcoming three-year maintenance and operations levy, as well as a technology levy. Current levies are due to expire at the end of 2014. These were approved by voters in 2010 and provide additional funding to areas such as school safety, textbooks, special education, sports, music and technology. The levies will go before district voters in February 2014. The M&O levy will be set at $6.3 million, which is 23 percent more than the current $5.09 million levy. Additional levy dollars are needed to maintain current programs for increasing enrollment, and fund expanded learning opportunities and programs, such as all-day kindergarten district wide, summer school, instructional coaches and safety improvements at all buildings, according to business manager Brian Wallace.

September 17, 2013
Contributed photo Camas High School student Rachel Fadlovich (far right) tests a water sample at the Port of Camas-Washougal during her internship with the Center for Coastal Margin Observation and Prediction.

Students explore future careers in CHS internship program

While some teens were spending their summer kicking back with friends, others were working up to 40 hours per week in professional internships. These students, from the CHS Math, Science and Technology Magnet program, worked at internships ranging from designing a program at Underwriters Laboratories to spending time in the operating room of a plastic surgeon's office, to measuring the health of local waterways. The internship program was spearheaded by CHS Magnet teacher Ron Wright and community volunteer/business organization developer Chad Stewart four years ago, as a way for students to gain real-world experience in potential future careers before going to college. Students are paired with businesses or experts in various fields and also had mentors.

September 17, 2013
Now that school is in full swing, local law enforcement agencies are urging drivers to be aware of young pedestrians and cyclists on their way to school. Here, two Grass Valley Elementary crossing guards help a student get through an intersection safely.

Being aware on the road helps save lives

With school in full swing, there are an abundance of children walking and cycling through Camas and Washougal compared with the summer months.This means drivers need to be more alert near schools, bus stop locations and student commute areas, according to Scot Boyles, a sergeant with the Camas Police Department. "Oftentimes, children can be inattentive or unaware of the rules of the road and this can cause dangerous situations," he said. "We are asking drivers to be extra vigilant in both obeying the traffic laws and also in being aware of the students who might be walking/riding near them. The beginning of the school year is a time when children are at increased risk of transportation-related injuries from pedestrian, bicycle, school bus, and motor vehicle crashes." This includes parents dropping off their children at school, added Laura Bolt, principal at Hathaway Elementary in Washougal. "Please don't double park on the street," she said. "Children run out and may not see oncoming cars."

September 17, 2013

School district enrollment numbers increase

The Washougal School District will be hiring additional staff, including a new kindergarten teacher, due to higher-than-expected enrollment numbers in the primary grades. After the first week of school, full-time (FTE) enrollment in the district was 2,975, which is 57 more students than projected. Most of the growth was at the kindergarten through second-grade level at Cape Horn-Skye Elementary School. There will be a half-time kindergarten teacher added, and a full-time teacher for a first- and second-grade combination classroom. "It's an exciting time," said Mary Lou Woody, principal. Enrollment numbers at the high school were also slightly higher than last year. "There weren't any big surprises," said Brian Wallace, district business manager. "We expect enrollment to increase slowly over the next few years. This has been the trend in Washougal the past three years." Enrollment last September was 2,887 FTE.

September 10, 2013
Sean McMillan is the new principal at Grass Valley Elementary School. He served as a principal in the Vancouver School District for 10 years before coming to Camas.

Sean McMillan is looking forward to getting to know Camas’ Grass Valley community better

Very few of us know in elementary school what our future career choice will be.As a young student at Francis Willard Elementary in Rock Island, Ill., Sean McMillan made that decision. "Mrs. Turnbull, my second-grade teacher, and Mrs. Findley, my third-grade teacher, kept me on the straight and narrow," he said. "I always knew they really believed in me and held me accountable." McMillan is hoping to do the same for the students at Grass Valley Elementary School, as its new principal. He replaced Patricia Erdmann, who retired in June.

September 10, 2013
Malini Naidu tosses a ball for Castilla. Teen volunteers walk and socialize the dogs, in addition to cleaning and laundry duties.

Broadening their perspectives

It has been said that if one wants to broaden their perspective on life, volunteering is the way to begin. Several local teens are doing just that by making a difference in the lives of homeless animals. Eric Hou, Malini Naidu and Julia Bedont, all of Camas, participate in the Humane Society for Southwest Washington's teen volunteer program. With only 30 spots available each term, and approximately 80 applicants, it's a highly competitive process. Hou, 16, was motivated to apply because of his love for animals. "I have a dog of my own, so it really made me want to help animals who don't have a home," he said. "They really need love and attention."

September 10, 2013

Local schools show gains on state tests

Students in Camas and Washougal have posted gains on several state tests recently released as part of an overall Washington State Report Card. The 2012-13 results include the Measurements of Student Progress, the state's exam for third- through eighth-graders. Students are tested in reading and math, with fourth- and seventh-graders also taking tests in writing, and fifth- and eight-graders taking tests in science. Tenth-graders take a proficiency exam to assess overall knowledge in reading and writing, as well as end-of-course exams in biology, algebra and geometry. The end-of-course exams are also offered to students in lower grades who are taking those classes. Washougal posted impressive gains in math, with 78 percent of students passing the algebra exam, and 92 percent passing the geometry exam, compared with 64 and 66 percent the year before. The biology exam increased from 72 to 80 percent of students passing.

September 3, 2013
Contributed photo Paige Maas, 9, is all smiles after completing the 26-mile course in the recent Tour de Cure event in Hillsboro, Ore. Her team, Paige's Pilots, raised more than $14,000 to help find a cure for diabetes.

Riding for a cure

Nine-year-old Paige Maas was all smiles after crossing the finish line of the Tour de Cure bike course in Hillsboro, Ore. Not only did she ride her bike 26 miles, a personal record, but she and other team members raised money for the American Diabetes Association. Paige, a Washougal resident, has type 1 diabetes, which requires that she check her blood sugar six times a day and carefully monitor her food and fluid intake. For the first year, she used a syringe for blood sugar monitoring but now has an insulin pump. She first participated in Tour de Cure as an 8-year-old with her team, Paige's Pilots. Inspired, Paige set two personal goals after the event: Double the team fundraising from $5,000 to $10,000; and ride 10 miles instead of 5.

September 3, 2013
Will Ray and Luane Penarosa both are drawn to color and form in their work, although their artistic styles are different. They are the featured artists at the Second Story Gallery in Camas this month.

Sharing a love of color

Two artists who share a passion for color and form will fuse their interests with a September art show at the Second Story Gallery. Will Ray of Vancouver is a dedicated watercolorist, while friend Luane Penarosa of Washougal is branching out into oils. Their show, "Kaleidoscope," will feature their different mix of artistic styles, but also similarities in their love of color, and dedication to their craft. "It takes me a long time to paint," Ray said. "We're both planners, we paint a little, then look at it, then decide what to do next." Penarosa, 68, said she gets a lot of composition advice from Ray, 66, who has been painting for 25 years and has an art history degree. "I visualize what I want, then I go for it," she said. "Both of us really like color and form, and that's why we named our show 'Kaleidoscope.' It is all coming together."

September 3, 2013

Washougal School District approves budget

The Washougal School Board adopted its 2013-14 budget last week with little fanfare, a marked change from years past when cuts were more apparent. Brian Wallace, business manager, described the spending plan as reflective of School Board priorities. Last year's budget was $28.8 million. The current budget of $30.14 million is based on an estimated enrollment of 2,918 full-time equivalent students, 48 more than the budgeted enrollment for 2012-13. "It is a fiscally responsible budget, and at the same time, increases resources that support technology integration, new curriculum, improved facilities, safety and staff development," Wallace said.