Wells Fargo commits $1,000 to Hathaway Elementary School

Wells Fargo has committed $1,000 each to 10 Clark County schools, including Hathaway Elementary School in the Washougal School District.

Wells Fargo Community Bank President Casey Callinsky, District Manager Amanda Dolley and local team bank employees hosted the third annual Vancouver Principals’ Breakfast earlier this month at a local restaurant. The attendees included Hathaway Elementary Principal Laura Bolt.

The Wells Fargo executives handed out $1,000 ceremonial checks to educators, all of whom work at Washougal, Battle Ground and Vancouver and schools that have a large number of students from low-income families. It will be up to each principal to decide how to use the funds.

Callinsky explained to the group why Wells Fargo is such a strong supporter of education. “You can’t have a thriving company in a struggling community. And education is the base of a thriving community,” he said.

Dolley stressed how much Wells Fargo wants to support its local schools both financially and by providing financial education (through its free, online Hands on Banking program).  “We’d like to help you in any way, shape or form,” she said. “The hope is that we can build relationships so we can help more than just giving you $1,000.”

Dolley also asked the educators, many of whom have attended this event in prior years, to share what they had done with their previous grants. One school used its $1,000 Wells Fargo grant last year to create a program to develop good behavior. Another used its grant last year to buy school supplies and backpacks for all of its students.  One school used its previous grant to help upgrade equipment in every classroom. Another put the money in its emergency fund, which it taps whenever a student needs clothes or medications.

Founded in 1852, Wells Fargo has repeatedly been named one of the most generous firms in the nation. Education is one of the primary focus areas of its corporate giving. Wells Fargo employs more than 650 team members in Clark County.

Pictured:   Wells Fargo’s Camas bank manager Cristian Dragos presents a $1,000 ceremonial check to Principal Laura Bolt of Hathaway Elementary School in Washougal.

 

Camas Washougal Rotary Donates Dictionaries to 3rd Graders

All third graders in Washougal School District received a dictionary this week, thanks to a partnership between Columbia Credit Union and the Camas Washougal Rotary Club.  Shown in the photo are Superintendent Dawn Tarzian, presenting a dictionary to Cape Horn-Skye 3rd grader Emily Crabtree.

Watercare Industrial Services Student Achievement Highlight

 Katelyn Wright

 A gifted musician, WHS senior Katelyn Wright plays the euphonium in Wind Ensemble and Pep Band.  This talented young woman, one of the best in the region, is extremely committed and never misses a performance of any kind.  Katie traveled to France and Spain with the Spanish Club this summer, gaining a much larger view of the world.  Katie also plays goalie on the varsity soccer team.  Because she pushes herself to excellence in all she pursues, Katie will continue to experience life to the fullest and make a positive impact wherever life’s road takes her.

 Madeline Down

 Focused, organized, and a skilled time manager, WHS Senior Madeline Down is both an excellent student and an exceptional student leader.  As senior class president Maddie demonstrates great communication skills and the ability to get others involved.  Setting the example for others, Maddie will quietly come and do whatever is needed to accomplish the task at hand.  This highly motivated young woman is also a musician and athlete.  Maddie will do great things in her life professionally and within her community.  We are very proud of Maddie Down, who she is and who she will become.

Isaac Bischoff

WHS senior Isaac Bischoff is a highly motivated student who excels both academically and socially.  Isaac consistently displays responsible leadership skills that make him a positive role model for his peers.  Talented, pleasant and hardworking, this young man plays alto sax in the Wind Ensemble and Pep Band.  To round out the picture, Isaac is also a great basketball player.  We expect Isaac to accomplish the goals he sets for himself in the future.

WHS Choir X-Tet Group Holiday Performances Scheduled

Washougal High School's X-Tet choir group has a very busy holiday performance schedule.  Members of this student group dress as Dickens Carolers and will be singing holiday songs at events starting November 19th at the WHS Holiday Marketplace Bazaar, the Grotto Festival of Lights, Camas Hometown Holiday celebration,  and the Washougal Tree Lighting ceremony.  See below for a full list of their engagements.



Nov. 19     WHS Holiday Bazaar
9:00-11:00am    WHS Commons

Nov. 30    Grotto Festival of Lights
5:15pm    NE Sandy Blvd, Portland, OR
http://www.thegrotto.org/christmas/

Dec. 2    Camas Hometown Holidays
6:30pm    Downtown Camas

Dec. 3    Christmas Ships at the Port of Camas/Washougal
7:00pm    Port of Camas/Washougal

Dec. 3    Christmas Ships at the Puffin Café
7:40-8:10 PM    Puffin Café,
http://www.puffincafe.com

Dec. 6    Brighton Enterprises Christmas dinner
7:00-8:00 PM    Vancouver Episcopal Church

Dec. 9    Washougal Tree Lighting Ceremony
5-6 PM    Downtown Washougal

Dec. 9    Orchard Hills Country Club
7:00 PM   

Dec. 10    Lacamas Swim & Sport Bazaar
10-11 AM   

Dec. 10    City of Vancouver Bazaar
12:30 - 1:30 PM    Marshall Community
Center, Vancouver

Dec. 12    WHS Choir Concert
7:00 PM    Washburn Performing Arts Center

Dec. 13    Washougal Lions Club Dinner
7:00-7:30 PM    Orchard Hills Country Club

Dec. 14    East County Fire & Rescue Holiday Party
6-6:30 PM    Fern Prarie Fire House

Dec. 14    Hathaway "Cookies with Santa" event
7:00-8:00 PM    Hathaway Elementary

Dec. 15    Blue Note Café    7:00pm    Washburn Performing Arts Center

Dec. 19    AMD/Dorenbecher Fundraiser
12:00 - 1:00 PM    Downtown Portland

Rotary Scholar of the Month for October: Erin Locke

Erin Locke was selected as the Camas Washougal Rotary Scholar of the Month for October 2011.  Erin is a sophomore at Washougal High School and has a 3.892 GPA.  Erin’s Spanish teacher, Brian Eggleston says she “is a student with extraordinary talent in language learning” and adds that she has “a very positive attitude and an eagerness to take part in whatever we do in class.”  Biology teacher Pauline Rule says “Erin is outgoing, a hard worker, and a team player.”  She is described by Band teacher Kelly Ritter as “an overall fantastic kid” and a “great musician, hard worker, and active in all the arts.”  Erin is the daughter of Melvin and Cheryl Locke.   

Congratulations Erin Locke!

Cape Horn-Skye Families Raise Funds for Veterans

Families at Cape Horn-Skye raised $1,148.67 for American Legion Post #122.  The American Legion will use the money to purchase turkeys, potatoes and other staples for area families at Christmas. DeeAnn Ferguson (Far left) and Cape Horn-Skye Principal Mary Lou Woody (4th from left) presented the check to the American Legion members at the school's Veterans Day assembly on November 10, 2011.

Artwork from Excelsior High School Featured at Los Dos Restaurant

Masks and poetry created by Excelsior High School students is being featured at Los Dos Mexican Restaurant at 701 E St in Washougal.  Students from EHS teacher Ali Miller's classroom created plaster masks as part of a creative writing assignment.  The students designed and painted the masks, and then wrote poetry to help interpret or explain their choice in the design.

Show are masks created by students Emily Quist, Tristan Collins, Travis Hibbs, Carl Niskanen and Jon Colligan.

WHS Choir and Band Students Selected for WMEA All-State Performance Groups

Outstanding music students from across Washington have received top honors by being selected to participate in one of our 2012 WMEA All-State performing groups. The following WHS students auditioned and were selected for these Honor groups in Feb. 2012:

Crystal Saltmarsh, junior, for Percussion All-State Wind Ensemble
Luke Block, senior, for All-State Symphonic Choir
Cortney Gonzalez, senior, for All-State Symphonic Choir
Austin Smith-Brown, sophomore, for All-State Symphonic Choir
T Walker Anderson, sophomore, for All-State Symphonic Choir

Congratulations WHS Panthers!

Guys and Dolls Play at WHS Performing Arts Center Nov 10-12, 18-19, 2011

Make plans to join over 50 of Washougal High School’s talented students and enjoy Guys and Dolls! Frank Loesser’s m1950 Masterpiece was recently voted the most popular American musical of the 20th Century – and with good reason.  The story of gamblers, showgirls, and mission workers in 1950 New York has produced so many memorable songs such as “Luck Be a Lady Tonight,” “Sit Down, You’re Rocking the Boat,” and “If I Were a Bell,” along with many others.  The play runs November 10-12 and 18-19 at 7:00 and also at 1:00 on the 19th.  Tickets are still only $8 for adults and $6 for students and seniors and are available at the door.  We hope to see you there!

Veterans Day Assemblies Honor Veterans

Washougal School District Students learned about Veterans Day and honored those who have served our country during assemblies on November 10th.  At Hathaway Elementary, members of Ms. Hayes' class shared essays they wrote celebrating Veterans Day during their assembly.  Fourth grader Scott Lees wrote a piece titled "Americans are Free" and Fifth grader Bayli Gale wrote on the topic "What is an American."  Here are their essays:
 
What is an American?
by Bayli Gale

    An American is a person who acts upon their freedom to work hard and support all beliefs.  All Americans are available to freedom of religion, which is part of the first Amendment of our Constitutional Rights.  What is religion?  Religion is a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose when considered as the creation of superhuman.  Our freedom to worship as we please allows an individual to choose a lifestyle that will determine values, beliefs, and ways of life.  American families can have the right to choose what is best, and it is a privilege to have this freedom.
   
    Americans pay taxes because, if you did not know, it goes to our economy wealth.  Donate and share because it could be pointed to a good cause.  Being in a Democracy, we vote pretty often on how many taxes we pay and what the different taxes are used for.

    What are democrats and republicans?  They are two different parties that believe our country should be run differently from one another.  A great democrat or republican is a person who does what is best for our country and not best for just that party.  “This country will not be a good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a good place for all of us to live in.” – Theodore Roosevelt.



Americans are Free
by Scott Lees

    I think that Americans are free because we all have differences.  We all are both boys and girls with different skin colors.  If your skin color is black or white, you should still be treated the same way that everyone else is being treated.  You should because everyone has feelings.  Both boys and girls can be in the same classroom even if your skin is brown or white or whatever.

    Americans are also free because if you are eighteen or older you can vote for who you want to be the president of the United States.  I think that is a great rule because kids don’t really know what they are voting for.  This candidate we hope will serve our country and keep us safe.  The president gives us a lot of big speeches on how to make our country safer and nicer.

    Americans are free because we can live in whatever city or state we choose.  We can have as many people like grandmas, grandpas, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, and neighbors visiting our house when we want.  You can travel all over the country with your families, go to the fair, to the beach, or to visit other relatives.  It is amazing that we can do that stuff.  No matter what, Americans will be free forever.  Never will Americans not be free.

Festival of Trees Dec 9, 2011

Friday, December 9, from 3-6 PM, the Washougal community is invited to view and bid on decorated trees, wreathes and baskets, with all proceeds going to the Washougal Schools.  Local community businesses, non-profit groups, and school staff people have donated the trees and the decorations.  The Festival of Trees raised $2,500 for Washougal Schools last year, and we hope to double that amount this year.  The decorated trees will be in Washougal Town Square, on the corner of Main Street and Love Street, across from the Hearth Restaurant. �

There will be music and refreshments prior to the annual tree lighting ceremony.  Final bids will be taken on Saturday December 10th from 4-4:30 PM, with more entertainment and a visit from Santa Claus!  If you have questions, please contact Chuck Carpenter at 360-335-1947.

Trail Band Concert at Washburn Performing Arts Center Nov. 26, 2011

Always a holiday favorite, the Trail Band is returning to the Washburn Performing Arts Center on November 26th at 7 PM. Tickets are $30, $20, and $15. The event is a fundraiser for the Grant and Scholarship program of the Washougal Schools Foundation. For more information, please visit the Washougal Schools Foundation website, or call Roger Daniels at 360-852-5151 or e-mail rogerdaniels@windermere.com �

To learn more about the Trail Band, visit their website at http://www.trailband.com/

Holiday Marketplace Bazaar at Washougal High School Nov. 19, 2011

Please support Washougal High School's Associated Student Body by coming to this year's Holiday Marketplace Bazaar, on Saturday, November 19th, 2011. Booths will be open from 9 AM to 4 PM. The ASB and class officers are helping set up and clean up after the event. Vendors from a variety of businesses and individuals will be selling hand crafted products. Please stop by and check out the event, to get a head-start on your holiday shopping. For more information, please contact Gordon Washburn at 360-954-3103. �

Free Breakfast Week Nov. 7-11, 2011

Free Breakfast Week (November 7 - 11, 2011)

Students at all grade levels in the Washougal School District will have access to breakfast at no charge from November 7-11, 2011. For this week, regardless of the student’s free and reduced status, all schools in the district will offer free breakfast. It is our hope that exposure to the school breakfast program will encourage children who might normally skip breakfast to eat breakfast on a regular basis.

According to studies, the benefits of eating breakfast include:
•    Eating breakfast can help improve math, reading, and standardized test scores.
•    Children who eat breakfast are more likely to behave better in school and get along with their peers than those who do not.
•    Breakfast helps children pay attention, perform problem-solving tasks, and improves memory.
•    Children who eat school breakfast are likely to have fewer absences and incidents of tardiness than those who do not.
•    By eating breakfast, students get more of important nutrients, vitamins and minerals such as calcium, dietary fiber, folate and protein.
•    Studies have shown that children who eat breakfast on a regular basis are less likely to be overweight.
•    Eating breakfast as a child is important for establishing healthy habits for later in life.
•    School Breakfast provides ¼ the recommended amounts of protein, calcium, iron, vitamin A, and vitamin C for the day.�

Stuff the Bus 2011

Stuff the Bus 2011

For the last three years, Washougal High School has joined Camas High School in a friendly rivalry to see which school can gather the most food and toys for needy families on one day. Last year, Camas High beat Washougal High, but the real winners were the families in need who live in Camas and Washougal. The East County Family Resource Center of Children's Home Society, Camas Treasure House and other charities that provide food and household supplies to needy families joyfully accepted over 70,000 pounds of goods donated by our communities last December.

This year, Stuff the Bus will run through December 9. When Washougal High School ASB leaders and students show their community spirit, it is enough to inspire all of us to join this great cause. Community members are invited to drop off non-perishable canned or boxed foods, household supplies and unwrapped toys at any Washougal school. The big yellow bus will be parked in front of Washougal High School all day on 12/9/2011, and this is when the action is the most exciting. The ASB is also accepting cash donations which will be used for purchasing additional food and household supply items throughout the day.

Stuff the Bus is a community project of the Camas-Washougal Business Alliance, and supports local families in need. All goods received benefit local charities right here in Camas and Washougal.

Please Support Washougal School District's students and staff as they try to beat Camas in a rematch of last year's "Stuff the Bus" fundraiser. Bring a donation to any Washougal School, and leave it in the "Stuff the Bus" bins.