The Washougal School District is asking for community input as it begins the process of searching for a new superintendent. Interested patrons are invited to fill out a survey, located on the district's website, www.washougal.k12.wa.us.
School notes
The Camas School District has entered into an agreement with the United States Department of Education, office of civil rights, over a complaint of discrimination in athletics. The complaint, filed on Aug. 23, alleges that the district is discriminating against female middle and high school students on the basis of gender, by failing to provide them with equal athletic opportunities. Since the district has agreed to report its activities regarding female students in athletics, the OCR will no longer investigate the complaint. It states that, "This agreement resolves the allegation OCR has accepted for resolution as a result of the above referenced complaint and does not constitute an admission by the district of any violation of Title IX...or any other law."
Imagine not knowing if you would be able to eat a meal this weekend. For some at-risk children in the local community, it's a reality. During the week, they receive free lunch at school, but come weekends, many are left to fend for themselves. This is where the Weekend Backpack Program comes in. Its goal is to help alleviate child hunger by addressing the lack of food on the weekends for at-risk children. Currently, the East County Resource Center in Washougal works closely with Hathaway Elementary School to provide these children with basic groceries. The program will be the beneficiary of the Soroptimist International of Camas-Washougal ABC Dinner and Silent Auction this Saturday.
Satya Hariharan talks about political and physical maps the same way some kids his age talk about video games. He has an ease and familiarity with the subject matter that few adults could master. That's probably why Hariharan, a Skyridge Middle School seventh-grader, has twice won the school-wide Geography Bee. As a sixth-grader, Hariharan made the state level Bee, but missed out on going to nationals. This year, he has his eye on the prize.
To say that Sarah Webb enjoys coffee is putting it mildly. The 22-year-old, who manages the Coffee Shak at the Sixth Avenue Commercial Center, is passionate about the subject. It's kind of ironic, considering she didn't even really like coffee before she got a job as a barista two years ago. "I drank frappachinos and that doesn't really count," she joked.
The arts have been a part of Athena Cole's life for as long as she can remember. Cole, a Camas High School senior, has a mother who is a professional artist, and a musician father who plays 15 different instruments. So, it's not a huge shock that Cole enjoys art as well. But what is surprising in the number of ways she uses her talent: Cole, an avid "gamer" is considering programming video games as a career. At the same time, she also loves to create costumes, build props from scratch, paint, design backdrops, play the piano and sing.
Not every 9-year-old knows how to design, build and program a robot. But the kids on Jeff Hendricks Robo-Titans team are becoming experts in the field. That's because they are part of a FIRST LEGO league team, where children learn to design and build robots using special LEGO kits. The program includes a 10- to 12-week period in which youngsters form teams, build robots that can complete individual tasks as part of an overall challenge, then compete at a local tournament. The robots are programmed using a flow chart rather than traditional programming language, and coaches often have the help of technical mentors to teach team members how to build and program the robot.
"My life is better, for you being in it. My day is brighter, for you being a part of it." This is the introduction to a poem called "Thank You," by local resident Sheri Allen. Allen, 50, has been writing poetry since she was in high school. It all began when she had to do a project for an English class. "I chose poetry, and I think I was the only one in the class who did," she said. "I received an 'A-' on it, and I wasn't happy because I wanted an 'A'.
Washougal School District Superintendent Teresa Baldwin has announced her retirement. Baldwin, 63, will make it official at the School Board meeting tonight. Her retirement will become effective in July. "Washougal has been the most wonderful place for this phase in my career," she said. Baldwin began working in the district in 2005 as assistant superintendent to then-Superintendent Bob Donaldson.
danielle.frost@camaspostrecord.com
