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| Team 2471 celebrating their 2nd Championship of the Year |
Special thanks to the parent support all season, but especially over the last two weeks. Your generosity, kindness and support is very much appreciated. THANK YOU!
Monday, March 28, 2011
Team Mean Machine Wins Again!
At the Portland Robotics Competition Friday and Saturday (3/25 & 3/26), Team 2471 once again demonstrated their superior work ethic, determination, team unity and gracious professionalism. Mohit Abraham, who has been instrumental in the development of this team the last four years, recently shared with the team, "When people hear Team 2471 or Team Mean Machine they know the team consists of amazing students who get the job done and are always willing to help support others succeed as well." Team 2471 has competed well in the past in both the Seattle and Portland competitions, but wasn't able to qualify for "The Big Dance". However, this year, after winning BOTH regionals, they certainly deserve to be in St. Louis with the best of the best.
The next competition for Team 2471 will be in St. Louis, April 27-30 where the Robotics World Championships will be held. In order to qualify for this event a team must either win a regional competition or be invited. If you want to know more about this event visit http://origin-www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/ftc/content.aspx?id=4378.
Special thanks to the parent support all season, but especially over the last two weeks. Your generosity, kindness and support is very much appreciated. THANK YOU!
Special thanks to the parent support all season, but especially over the last two weeks. Your generosity, kindness and support is very much appreciated. THANK YOU!
Cape Horn-Skye Students Competing in "Math is Cool" Competition
Two teams of Cape Horn-Skye 5th graders competed in the "Math is Cool" competition on March 18 at Fort Vancouver High School. Events included mental math, math relays, group multiple choice, knowledge bowl and an individual competition. Students prepared for the competition by practicing after school on Thursday afternoons throughout February and March with fourth grade teacher Penny Andrews. At the competition, Matthew Norvel placed 6th in the individual portion.
Three teams of 4th graders will be competing on April 15th. Good luck 4th graders!
Friday, March 25, 2011
Canyon Creek students collect shoes for those in need
Canyon Creek Middle School's ASB has collected more than 1100 pairs of shoes for One Step Closer to Love. The shoes will be presented during the school dance on Friday, March 25. More info about Shoes for Kids/Making Happy Feet: http://shoesforkids.me/
Monday, March 21, 2011
Robotics Team takes First in Regionals
The FIRST Robotics Team 2471 (Team Mean Machine) composed of students from Washougal, Camas, Hockinson and Hayes Freedom did an absolutely amazing thing this weekend. They dominated over 100 teams on their way to winning the regional competition.
They won eight of nine matches during the preliminary rounds which left them ranked 1st. During the quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals they held strong to become the Seattle Regional Champions. As a result of winning the regional competition, Team 2471 has qualified the World Championships in St. Louis the last weekend of April. Before that, however, they have one more competition this weekend at the Portland Regional Competition. If you have time and want to witness the spectacle that is a robotics competition, come down to the Memorial Coliseum on Friday or Saturday (3/25-3/26) from between 9:30am-4pm. You can also see it online at http://www.usfirst.org
Team 2471 was also awarded by the judges the Industrial Design for Engineering Award sponsored by General Motors which "celebrates form and function in an efficiently designed machine that effectively achieves the game challenge."
Team 2471 or Team Mean Machine has improved each year over the last four years. The very first year, Team Mean Machine was a CHS team only. The second year, four WHS students joined the team. This year the team was made up of Washougal High Students Patrick McCarthy, TJ Houze, Anna Kellogg, Jarred Freeman, Carolin Scheibel, Jacob Wright, and Riley Taylor joined Romney Kellogg from Canyon Creek Middle School along with students from Camas High, Hockinson and Hayes Freedom School. Along with the students, are the mentors. Team 2471 has absolutely incredible mentors. The dedication, hard work and long, long hours by the mentors and students is commendable and paid off. Congratulations to this year's regional robotics champions!
Monday, March 14, 2011
Two Washougal School District teachers earn National Board Certification
Washougal School District teachers Bryn Scamahorn, Cape Horn-Skye Elementary School, and Heather Carver, Washougal High School, earned National Board certification this school year.
Certification requires the candidate to be affiliated with a local university or an approved service provider for a lengthy study of advanced teaching strategies and the collection of classroom evidence demonstrating the candidate’s acquisition of research-based instructional skills. To be certified, the candidate submits for review an extensive portfolio of written work, including videotapes and candidate’s own analysis of his/her own classroom teaching against research-based standards of pedagogy. Finally, the candidate must take a proctored written examination in their endorsed content field. A national panel of peers then uses the certification standards to assess the candidate’s portfolio and written examination results. Candidates are known to complete the process in a year, but it may take as long as three years to acquire certification.
Both Scamahorn and Carver completed their National Boards in spring 2010 and received certification in November.
When asked why she decided to pursue National Board Certification, Scamahorn answers, “I felt that as a music teacher with my master's degree, it offered me the best opportunity to further my music education skills through specific music pedagogy, reflection, and skill building.”
Both Scamahorn and Carver described the process as a challenging one.
“The process was difficult in how revealing and confronting it was,” said Scamahorn. “Through the processes of reflection and video taping, I was able to see the good, and the weaker practices in my own teaching. Since going through the process, I have spent more time in reflection and planning guiding my teaching. It has made me a stronger teacher exponentially,” said Scamahorn.
WHS teacher Heather Carver calls the process a “thorough” one, which “focused on major analysis of teaching practices, the impetus behind the classroom action, and also analysis of results to better adjust teaching in the classroom.”
“It reminded me of coaching athletes and breaking down the skills,” said Carver, who also coaches at WHS.
“Through the process, I looked carefully at what I do in the classroom and questioned why I do it,” said Carver. “I looked at different ways and angles to teach a concept to diverse learners, and I also looked at numerous ways to bring diversity into the classroom. The process requires you to analyze your current practices. The fantastic byproduct of this reflection and self-analysis is indeed adjustment and improvement, which is how the process improves teaching skills.”
“I am extremely proud of the work that I have done for the program,” said Carver. “I look forward to continually trying to improve and hone my skills in and out of the classroom, and I am proud of Washougal School District for their support of the National Boards.”
Certification requires the candidate to be affiliated with a local university or an approved service provider for a lengthy study of advanced teaching strategies and the collection of classroom evidence demonstrating the candidate’s acquisition of research-based instructional skills. To be certified, the candidate submits for review an extensive portfolio of written work, including videotapes and candidate’s own analysis of his/her own classroom teaching against research-based standards of pedagogy. Finally, the candidate must take a proctored written examination in their endorsed content field. A national panel of peers then uses the certification standards to assess the candidate’s portfolio and written examination results. Candidates are known to complete the process in a year, but it may take as long as three years to acquire certification.
Both Scamahorn and Carver completed their National Boards in spring 2010 and received certification in November.
When asked why she decided to pursue National Board Certification, Scamahorn answers, “I felt that as a music teacher with my master's degree, it offered me the best opportunity to further my music education skills through specific music pedagogy, reflection, and skill building.”
Both Scamahorn and Carver described the process as a challenging one.
“The process was difficult in how revealing and confronting it was,” said Scamahorn. “Through the processes of reflection and video taping, I was able to see the good, and the weaker practices in my own teaching. Since going through the process, I have spent more time in reflection and planning guiding my teaching. It has made me a stronger teacher exponentially,” said Scamahorn.
WHS teacher Heather Carver calls the process a “thorough” one, which “focused on major analysis of teaching practices, the impetus behind the classroom action, and also analysis of results to better adjust teaching in the classroom.”
“It reminded me of coaching athletes and breaking down the skills,” said Carver, who also coaches at WHS.
“Through the process, I looked carefully at what I do in the classroom and questioned why I do it,” said Carver. “I looked at different ways and angles to teach a concept to diverse learners, and I also looked at numerous ways to bring diversity into the classroom. The process requires you to analyze your current practices. The fantastic byproduct of this reflection and self-analysis is indeed adjustment and improvement, which is how the process improves teaching skills.”
“I am extremely proud of the work that I have done for the program,” said Carver. “I look forward to continually trying to improve and hone my skills in and out of the classroom, and I am proud of Washougal School District for their support of the National Boards.”
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Justice Rosales: Rotary Scholar of the Month for March 2011
Justice Rosales was selected as the Camas-Washougal Rotary Scholar of the Month for March 2011. Justice is a sophomore at Washougal High School and has a 3.839 GPA. Justice’s Spanish teacher, Rochelle Aiton says Justice “studies hard AND enjoys what he’s doing” and adds that he “has a consistent dedication to doing top-quality work.” Justice is described by English teacher Sheila Good as “highly intelligent and very capable.” Justice is a very industrious student, and works hard in all his classes. His World Geography teacher Scott Boothby praises Justice as “hard working, always volunteering during discussions and exhibiting a positive attitude.” Congratulations Justice Rosales!
Friday, March 4, 2011
Washougal Hosts Clark County American Sign Language Competition
WHS hosted the 2011 Clark County ASL Competition Wednesday, March 3, 2011 in the Gordon Washburn Performing Art Center. This was an outstanding event and we want to thank all of the schools that participated as well as all of supporters in the audience.
Washougal ASL students did an awesome job at the competition. Congratulations to the following students:
Anthony Valdez 1st place ASL I
Lauren Fialdini 1st place ASL II
Michael Waterman 2nd place ASL III
Austin Lindsey 1st place ASL IV
Emma Haynes and Michael Waterman 3rd place Duet/Trio
Emily Carroll, Breanna Barlow, Hayley Murray, Karlee Peake, Ashley Hobbs 2nd place Large Group
Please join us in congratulating these students on their accomplishment!
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