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Schools

November 20, 2012
Students fill a school bus with non-perishable food items during last year's Stuff the Bus food drive, which generated 61,000 pounds of food. Organized by the Camas-Washougal Business Alliance, the effort is a friendly competition between Camas and Washougal high schools and involves students in all grade levels.

Stuff the Bus: Neighbors helping neighbors

An annual food drive that brings together hundreds of kids to help generate thousands of pounds of food for the needy is underway. Stuff the Bus, organized by the Camas-Washougal Business Alliance, is a friendly competition between Camas and Washougal high school students. Each and every school in both cities' school districts participate by collecting donations. Last year, 61,000 pounds of food was raised, and organizers are hoping to top that this year.

November 20, 2012

School notes for Nov. 20, 2012

CYT works under a new name Christian Youth Theater VanPort has changed its name. The new organization is now called Journey Theater Arts Group. Organizers hope the new affiliation will better serve its participants.

November 13, 2012

School notes for Nov. 13, 2012

G.E.T. program enrollment open Parents wanting to save for college can open a Guaranteed Education Tuition account. The new enrollment year runs through May 2013.

November 13, 2012
Liberty Middle School students climb on the anchor which was once a part of the SS Davy Crockett, a World War II Liberty ship. "It's a community art piece," principal Marilyn Boerke said. "You can climb on it."

Anchor from a ‘Liberty ship’ will rest at Liberty Middle School

Students, city officials and school administrators gathered to watch a piece of history come home Friday.A 4,500 pound anchor from a decommissioned World War II Liberty ship was unveiled at Liberty Middle School. It was an event several years in the making. "This is a very exciting day," said Liberty Principal Marilyn Boerke. "It has been in the works for six years." Eunice Abrahamsen, a local community member, pitched the idea of procuring a piece of a Liberty ship to install in the school when it first opened. The goal was to teach the students the history behind Liberty's name. "I was thinking a cute little porthole or doorknob or some kind," Boerke said. "Then I got a call, 'Do you want to take the anchor?' I thought it would be something small. Then I saw it and realized it was ginormous."

November 6, 2012
Hathaway Elementary School fifth-grade teacher Erin Hayes assists Consuelo Martinez with a research question. The students in Hayes' class are part of a district-wide iPad pilot group. "The use of technology increases my ability to meet the individual needs of each student," she said.

Bringing the world to their classroom

When teacher Erin Hayes first told her students they'd be using iPads in class, the general response from the fifth-graders was, "What's an iPad?" Two months later, the students are becoming experts in using apps, doing Internet research and using the devices as a resource for a majority of their class work. "The iPads extend learning in every subject," Hayes said. "They have apps for math, spelling, writing, everything. (The students) are recording themselves to practice public speaking, they are using Google Earth to take virtual field trips of the locations they're studying, and they are interacting with each other to discuss new ways to create projects and solve problems."

November 6, 2012

School notes for Nov. 6, 2012

Cape Horn names Super Citizens Cape Horn-Skye Elementary School in Washougal has named its Super Citizens for the month of September.

October 30, 2012
Washougal Mayor Sean Guard serves lunch to children at Gause Elementary School in celebration of National School Lunch Week.

Local ‘celebrity’ chefs take turns behind the school lunch line

School lunches have definitely evolved in the past 65 years. Gone are the mystery meat and rubbery pizza. Instead, students have choices of fresh fruit, veggies and whole grains in addition to traditional favorites such as burgers and chicken nuggets. "My lunches at school were boring compared to what they have now," said Washougal Mayor Sean Guard. "(They have) fajitas, chili, and lots of fresh options. Our lunches were good, though. My neighbor was the head cook forever. I think it is better now, just fast!"

October 30, 2012
Kendra Short and Syerrah Wilson-Brown (left to right) present a money order to West Columbia Gorge Humane Society volunteer Caitlin Hanky.

Girl Scouts support humane society

The members of Junior Girl Scout Troop 40145 are working on projects to earn their Bronze Award, the highest honor a Junior Girl Scout can attain. The troop meets twice a month in the basement of Zion Lutheran Church and is led by Theresa Cole. Girl Scouts Syerrah Wilson-Brown and Kendra Short chose a project to help support the West Columbia Gorge Humane Society in Washougal.

October 23, 2012
Sandi Christensen, Canyon Creek Middle School principal, and seventh-grader Natalie Garner proudly display the Energy Star decal earned as a result of energy improvements at the school.

Washougal School District saves $379,000 in two years with changes

Being energy conscious is paying off for local schools. The Washougal School District has saved $379,000 in energy costs since beginning a new program two years ago. Money saved from lowering costs has been used to support facility operations and fund future energy-saving measures throughout the district, according to a press release. In addition, Washougal High School, Canyon Creek Middle School and Cape Horn-Skye Elementary schools have earned Energy Star certification.