WHS Musicians selected for Regional Honor Bands

Each year, music students in our area audition/apply to participate in the musical equivalent of an all-star team - honor bands.  This year, ten WHS musicians were selected for several upcoming honor bands. Congratulations to them on their hard work!

Riley Miller - All-Northwest Honor Band, Pacific Lutheran Univ. Honor Band, North County Honor Band (Trombone and Tuba)

Colton Gale - Pacific Lutheran Univ. Honor Band, North County Honor Band (Trumpet)

Emma Boyle - Pacific Lutheran Univ. Honor Band, North County Honor Band (String Bass)

Nick Torres - Pacific Lutheran Univ. Honor Band, North County Honor Band (Trumpet)

Maddie Gregory - Pacific Lutheran Univ. Honor Band, North County Honor Band (Clarinet)

Tess Russell - Pacific Lutheran Univ. Honor Band (Oboe)

Vanessa Scheg - North County Honor Band (Bass Clarinet)

Patrick Neill - North County Honor Band (Trombone)

Karina Miller - North County Honor Band (Tenor Saxophone)

Monica Wilcox - North County Honor Band (Clarinet)

Rotary Scholar of the Month for November: Matthew Hickey

Matthew (Matt) Hickey was selected was selected as the Camas Washougal Rotary Scholar of the Month for November 2014.  Matt is a sophomore at Washougal High School and has a 4.0 GPA.  Mary Walker, Matt’s Career and Technical Education teacher, says Matt is always “smiling, talkative, and a hard worker” and adds that he “has a passion for improving things” and is “very involved in ASB.”   Kathy Scobba, Matt’s FBLA and Yearbook Instructor, shares that “His interaction with others is always positive and uplifting. Students continually ask him for help in compute​r ​and Photoshop related issues​. ​ ​H​e is always willing to help with a smile on his face while solving the problem.”

Jeff Condon, the WHS Leadership Teacher, describes Matt as “a hard worker, he is always willing to help and is a standout leader in ASB.”  He also shared that “His classmates know he is somebody they can turn to for assistance and that Matt will step up when things are needed.  Matt is a great young man...and I'm excited to see where his future takes him!​“

Matt’s Spanish Teacher, Rochelle Aiton, has also noticed Matt’s positive attitude, noting that “Matt comes into class with a smile on his face, his homework completed and an attitude to learn.  He is self-motivated and an encouragement to his peers.”

Matt is the son of Chris and Julia Hickey.  Congratulations Matt Hickey!

Middle School Honor Band Members Selected to Play in Regional Honor Band

Six Washougal middle school students are among those selected to play in the Clark County Honor Band.  They will participate in 2 days of rehearsal, work with Mr. Dan Ogren, current Metropolitan Youth Symphony Concert Band Director, and perform in concert with other Clark County band students on Saturday, February 21, 2015.

Musicians from Jemtegaard Middle School are Emily Johnson, 8th grade, trumpet; Ian Palmer, 7th grade, percussion; and Clara Harris, 8th grade, clarinet.  From Canyon Creek Middle School they are Kyle Hendrickson, 7th grade, trombone; Audrey Hinchliff 8th grade, clarinet; and William Weihl, 7th grade, percussion.

The application for Honor Band involved the students writing an essay. In the essay students shared their experience with music, band, honors, awards, and why they should be selected for an honor band. Their music instructors then ranked students in areas of musicianship, solo ability, character and responsibility, and then ranked all of the students from their school who were applying.

"I remember participating honor bands in middle and high school,” said Dr. Jennifer Bohn, music instructor at JMS. “It was a once in a life time experience working under the baton of renown conductors and performing with the best of the best. Our students will learn a great deal, perform challenging band literature, perform with students from all over Clark County, and no doubt have an incredible experience."

Having the opportunity to play music with students at a high skill level is one of the reasons Harris is excited to be in the honor band.  Johnson agrees saying, “It will be a challenge to play with new people and see their different levels of skill.”

JMS Symphonic Band Students Accepted into 2015 North County Honor Band

Please join us in congratulating the following JMS Symphonic Band students for being accepted into the  2015 North County Honor Band:

Emily Johnson - trumpet
Ian Palmer - percussion
Clara Harris - clarinet

Students will participate in 2 days of rehearsal, work with Mr. Dan Ogren, current Metropolitan Youth Symphony Concert Band Director, and perform in concert with other Clark County band students on Saturday, February 21, 2015.

Great day to be a JMS Husky band student!! BRAVO to Washougal music students!!

"Day of the Dead” comes to life for WHS Spanish Language students

Along with a foreign language, Washougal High School Spanish language teachers also provide their students with an understanding and appreciation for different cultures.

As a part of that, each year WHS students celebrate the Mexican holiday of El Día de Muertos or Day of the Dead. “The key is that it's a celebration of life: mostly of those who have gone before us,” explained Brian Eggleston, WHS Spanish Teacher.

Students first create sugar skulls by combining sugar, meringue powder, and water, and putting it into a mold.  The skulls harden and are decorated with bright colors in icing, paint, colored foil, and other decorative materials as used in Mexico.

“We have discussed how the holiday is celebrated in some different countries, including Guatemala and México, and students have the opportunity to reflect on how it compares with our own Halloween celebrations, and what the spirit of El Día de Muertos might mean to them,” Eggleston explained.  “I'm impressed each year to see them take their spirit of inquiry into these special projects.”