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Stories by Danielle Frost

email icon danielle.frost@camaspostrecord.com

June 4, 2013
Grass Valley Elementary Principal Patricia Erdmann is retiring after 26 years in education. She has served as a teacher and administrator in several different learning environments. "I think it's helped me respect a lot of different people and the variety of those we serve."

Several Camas School District employees are retiring after years in education

"You laugh, you cry and you work harder than you ever thought you could. "Some days, you're trying to change the world and some days you're just trying to make it through the day. "Your wallet is empty, your heart is full, and your mind is packed with memories of kids who have changed your life. "Just another day in the classroom." For most retiring teachers and administrators in Camas, this poem by Krissy Venosdale rings true in a number of ways. Some chose the field of education years ago and have spent a career immersed in it. For others, it was a second calling later in life. All of those interviewed couldn't imagine doing anything else.

June 4, 2013
Skyridge Middle School students dissect salmon as part of a field trip at the Columbia River Fisheries Center in Vancouver.

Skyridge Middle School students spend a day with the Columbia River Fisheries Program

When avid fisherman Gayle Cooper was asked if she'd like to take students on a field trip to the Columbia River Fisheries Program, she jumped at the opportunity. "Fishing is really big in my family and there's also the environmental component, which is very important," said the Skyridge Middle School teacher. Cooper was contacted by Donna Allard, a fish biologist in charge of education at the fisheries program. For more information or to schedule a field trip, contact Donna Allard at donna_allard@fws.gov.

June 4, 2013
Cape Horn-Skye Elementary third-grader and cancer survivor Sammy Mederos will shave her hair off to benefit childhood cancer research.

Sammy Mederos, 9, will shave her head to help kids with cancer

Sammy Mederos's beaming smile and long, thick, curly blond hair are the very picture of health. To look at her, you'd never guess she is a leukemia survivor. But it wasn't that long ago the now 9-year-old was severely ill from chemotherapy treatments. She was diagnosed in 2009, while in kindergarten at Cape Horn-Skye Elementary. It was a long road to recovery, but Sammy is now in remission.

May 29, 2013
Ron Carlson is retiring after 40 years in education. He has served as principal of Jemtegaard Middle School in Washougal for the last four years. Here, he visits with seventh-grader Tucker Meyer.

Several Washougal School District employees retiring after years in education

"You laugh, you cry and you work harder than you ever thought you could. Some days, you're trying to change the world and some days you're just trying to make it through the day. Your wallet is empty, your heart is full, and your mind is packed with memories of kids who have changed your life. Just another day in the classroom." For many retiring teachers and administrators in Camas and Washougal, this poem by Krissy Venosdale rings true in a number of ways. Some chose the field of education years ago and have spent a career immersed in it. For others, it was a second calling later in life. In the May 28 and June 4 editions of the Post-Record, readers will find profiles of several notable retirees in the Camas and Washougal school districts who turned their love of teaching and learning into a career. Now, they are looking forward to the next stage. Up first are the Washougal educators, look for those from Camas next week.

May 28, 2013

Washougal’s Eric Johnson and Camas’ Candy Michener are teachers of the year

They come from contrasting backgrounds and work in very different environments. Candy Michener is a kindergarten teacher at Helen Baller Elementary School, and Eric Johnson is a language arts and Title I teacher at Jemtegaard Middle School who works with struggling students. However, in one area they are very similar, and that is in their passion to help students become successful learners, and seeing the potential in each and every one. Now, they share something else in common. Michener and Johnson were recently named teacher of the year for their respective school districts by the Camas-Washougal Chamber of Commerce. They will be honored, along with the businesses of the year and citizen of the year, at the annual chamber banquet at The Fairgate Inn on Tuesday, June 4.

May 21, 2013
Joseph Blanco talks about some of the interesting features and historical aspects of the Pittock-Leadbetter House at Lacamas Lake.

Cycling through history

"I'm going to get paid to ride my bike!" That was the first thought when my editor suggested profiling local history rides for a feature article.Anyone who knows me well understands I have a passion for exercise, and I'm also intrigued by most anything historical. Anyone who knows me well understands I have a passion for exercise, and I'm also intrigued by most anything historical. Although I'm new to cycling, I was pretty certain I could keep up with the other riders on the 15 to 20 mile jaunt, which includes several stops to visit local areas of interest. The Camas History Stroll, as its called, is led by Joseph Blanco. Given the amount of information he knows about the area, you'd think he'd lived here for several years.

May 21, 2013

Committee members planning for the future of Camas High School

Traditionally, when a high school becomes too crowded, a new building or addition is constructed and the educational programs to fit in that space are determined. A committee of teachers, administrators and community members are seeking to change that, by having the instructional models drive the future expansion of Camas High School. "The CHS Futures Committee believes our new culture and programs should drive our future facility decisions," said Nan Henriksen, former mayor of Camas and committee member. "We need to develop a CHS vision of our preferred future, complete with language, culture and instructional programs that support it." For more information about the Futures Committee, contact Steven Marshall at steven.marshall@camas.wednet.edu.

May 14, 2013
Elton Richardson, 85, has a map at his house that shows the route he and late wife Madeline took in their quest to visit state capitols and historic sites.

Cruising the country

Elton and Madeline Richardson shared a lot of memories in their 62 years of marriage: Raising a family, working in the state Capitol in Olympia, and delving into real estate were just a few.They also shared a passion for history and travel, which culminated in a two-year trip to see every state capitol in the continental United States. “I worked security in Olympia, and Madeline was a tour guide,” he said. “After being at the capitol, we decided it was a goal to visit all 48 of them.” The two also visited several historical sites, including all the battlefields of the Revolutionary and Civil wars. In addition, their tour included national parks and monuments, such as Niagara Falls, Yellowstone, Branson, Miss., the St. Louis Arch, Mount Rushmore, the Florida Everglades, Key West, space centers in Florida and Texas, the Statue of Liberty, the top of the World Trade Center and the Alamo, to name a few. Other highlights of the trip, which lasted from 1991 to 1993, included visiting the Connecticut state capitol and an unusual tour guide in Oklahoma. "They were remodeling the capitol there at the time, so there was no guided tour," he said. "So, we conducted our own. A gentleman came up and asked us what we were doing, and if we needed help. Then, he took us all around and gave us a great tour. Afterward, he introduced himself as a state senator. We had no idea."

May 14, 2013

Washougal School District surveys grads

Math instruction and money management skills are two areas graduates of Washougal High School cite as needing improvement. Students in the classes of 2000 through 2012 were recently surveyed as part of a district outreach focus to past WHS graduates. The School Board regularly holds linkage activities, such as meetings in local schools, to encourage staff, parents, volunteers community agencies and others to give input and feedback about the effectiveness of district programs and educational opportunities.

May 7, 2013
File photo Several swim camps, from beginner to lifeguard training, are found at the Camas Municipal Pool during the summer.

In search of summer fun

Summer. It’s a time for kids to kick back, relax and enjoy themselves. There are several camps in Clark County that offer options to do that, ranging from a few hours to several days. Camps include everything from how to improve sports skills to how to improve outdoor skills. Best of all, there are choices for all ages, stages and price ranges.