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Schools

August 21, 2012
The new walking path at Helen Baller Elementary School (above) will complement its goal-setting track program.

Schools are paving the way to better health

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.

August 21, 2012

School briefs for Aug. 21, 2012

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.

August 21, 2012

School Board discusses paying off Kerr property in Washougal

The Washougal School Board is considering paying off a loan early to save money on interest payments. In 2001, the district purchased the 30-acre Kerr Property as a future school site. It is located behind its office at Evergreen Way, and was purchased for $1.85 million through a loan at what was then known as First Independent Bank. Rosann Lassman, business manager, said after doing some research, she realized the loan could be paid off with impact fees. "We have $780,000 left to pay, with $101,000 left in interest," she said. "We would save $91,000 if we paid it by Sept. 1."

August 14, 2012
Photo courtesy of Tammy Connolly Thanks to the efforts of the Cape Horn-Skye Elementary School Booster Club and contributions from the community, students at the rural Washougal school will have a covered play area starting this fall.

Washougal school gets new playground cover

Cape Horn-Skye Elementary School's Booster Club has spent two years raising money for a new playground cover, and now they've finally reached their goal. The new cover will be ready for this coming fall, by Sept. 1, according to Tammy Connolly, the Booster Club president. The club, made up of current students' parents, originally thought it would take five years to raise the money, but parents were surprised at the school's and community's support. "We were so thrilled," said Connolly. The Booster Club put on two different fundraising events: its annual Sport-A-Thon and a new endeavor -- cookie dough sales. After each event, they had raised $5,000 to $6,000 for the Washougal school's booster club.

August 14, 2012
More than 300 educators from around the Clark County attended a conference in Camas focusing on student safety earlier this month. The event, organized by the Clark County Safe Schools Task Force, included discussion about cyberspace, bullying, child sex trafficking, suicide, drugs, gangs, rapid response and threat assessment.

Administrators go back to school

Local school administrators, counselors and security officers recently went back to school to learn how to foster a safe environment for Clark County schools. Clark County Safe Schools Task Force puts together a summit each summer that shares new information and insights with participants. Nine specialized seminars were offered on Aug. 6 during a four hour period; participants chose four to attend. "The crux of the summit is to inform administrations how to make schools more safe," explained Dr. Ron Carlson, Jemtegaard Middle School principal and chairman of the Safe Schools Task Force. "We try to really understand all angles."

August 7, 2012

School notes for Aug. 7, 2012

School District preschool has openings The Washougal School District Preschool has openings for the 2012-13 school year. Preschools are located at each elementary school: Cape Horn-Skye, Gause and Hathaway. Children ages 3 to 5 years can attend sessions two or four days per week.

August 7, 2012

Skyridge honored for environmental excellence

Skyridge Middle School continues to be an environmental leader, winning a statewide award. The school, along with others, was honored for environmental impact and energy efficiency last month. The recognition was an extension of a national competition, which named finalists from several states as Green Ribbon Schools. State level awards were given in three categories: Environmental impact and energy efficiency, healthy school environments, and environmental and sustainability education.

July 31, 2012
Identical twins Brandi (left) and Brittni Nester have kept busy modeling handbags and designer clothing this summer. They plan on attending Green River Community College in the fall and focusing on early education.

Local teens enjoy their experiences in modeling world

It's been quite a summer for identical twins Brittni and Brandi Nester. They've traveled to L.A. for a runway show, done hair modeling and fashion shoots in Portland, and most recently, jetted to New York for a runway charity event put on by VH1. The 18-year-old Camas High School grads got their start last year, when Brittni signed up for the American Mall Model Search Contest at the Westfield Vancouver Mall. "It was something new to do and I thought it could be fun," she said.

July 31, 2012

School notes for July 31, 2012

Grotter graduates from Loyola Marymount University Erik Grotter of Camas recently graduated from Loyola Marymount University, joining more than 1,300 classmates in LMU's 2012 graduating class. Grotter earned a bachelor's degree in business administration.