Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Part I, 2010 Staff Award Winners
Friday, June 25, 2010
Three Schools Honored for Achievement
Three Camas schools received statewide recognition this spring for profoundly affecting student learning. Liberty and Skyridge middle schools and Camas High School were among 174 schools statewide to be recognized with a prestigious 2009 Washington Achievement Award. In May, the awards were presented by the State Board of Education and the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. “It is simply amazing to have three Camas schools recognized with this honor,” said Superintendent Mike Nerland. “We’re so proud of how hard staff has worked to prove that great gains can be made for all students.”
Nerland said he was most impressed with the gains shown among students identified in the low-income category. The schools were all recognized in the “overall excellence” category. CHS also was honored for improvement in language arts.
The awards are given by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the State Board of Education based on student performance in statewide reading, writing, math and science tests, as well as the school’s extended graduation rate.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Camas School District Earns Energy Star for Superior Energy Efficiency
Liberty Middle School and Prune Hill Elementary are first schools in Camas to earn the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) prestigious Energy Star, the national symbol for superior energy efficiency and environmental protection. Commercial buildings and industrial plants that rate in the top 25 percent of facilities in the nation for energy efficiency may qualify for the Energy Star.
Commercial buildings that earn the Energy Star must use an average of 40 percent less energy than typical buildings and also release 35 percent less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. By following and implementing new energy policies, the District improved energy performance by managing energy strategically across our entire district and by making cost-effective improvements to its buildings. Camas School District conservation efforts have decreased utility cost for the district by 20% from last year.
The EPA’s national energy performance rating system provides a 1-100 scale that helps organizations assess how efficiently their buildings use energy relative to similar buildings nationwide. A building that scores a rating of 75 or higher is eligible for the Energy Star. Commercial Buildings that can earn the Energy Star include offices, bank branches, financial centers, retailers, courthouses, hospitals, hotels, K-12 schools, medical offices, supermarkets, dormitories, and warehouses.
Energy Star was introduced by EPA in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. Today, the Energy Star label can be found on more than 50 different kinds of products, new homes and commercial and industrial buildings. Products and buildings that have earned the Energy Star designation prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy-efficiency specifications set by the government. In 2006, Americans, with the help of Energy Star, saved about $16 billion on their energy bills while reducing the greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of 27 million vehicles.
Visit www.energystar.gov for more information about the Energy Star program.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Zebras Receive Green Award
On June 1, Grass Valley Elementary School attained Level One status in the Washington Green School program. To achieve certification, schools must earn a minimum of 100 points per level in a six-step process designed to take approximately one year. Under the leadership of the building Green Team and advised by Erin Rowland, Clark County Waste Reduction Specialist, staff and students conducted an Earth Day trash audit, earning points in the Recycling and Waste Reduction category. Washington Green Schools is organized into this and four additional environmental categories:
· Energy Efficiency
· Transportation & Outdoor Air Quality
· Toxics Reduction & Indoor Air Quality
· Water Quality & Conservation
With data from a Green Team waste and recycling assessment and the trash audit, staff agreed to make two lasting changes for the coming year: 1) develop and implement a plan to increase the percentage of recovery for a material already recycled at our school, and 2) develop a program to decrease the uneaten and unopened food in the garbage. With the help of classroom monitors, teachers and students aim to reclaim more clean paper for reuse and recycling. Also, our SOS (Save Our Scraps) cafeteria monitors plus a group of Eco Officer representatives from grades second through fifth can: encourage students to make better lunch choices, save leftover lunch for snacks, and take reasonable servings, going back for seconds instead if they choose.
To complete the certification process, schools must implement action in each of the other four environmental categories. At Grass Valley these include:
· Energy Efficiency: Improving school-wide strategies for turning off lights when adequate sunlight is available.
· Toxics Reduction & Indoor Air Quality: Making sure all air vents are unblocked to maintain healthier indoor air quality.
· Transportation & Outdoor Air Quality: Offer a bicycle safety workshop such as a bicycle rodeo.
· Water Quality & Conservation: Establish an environmental club that focuses on environmental issues and projects at your school.
Each year after attaining certification, schools can either renew at the current level, maintaining the same lasting changes, or build on those changes to advance to the next higher level. Currently in our district, Skyridge has also achieved Level One status. A representative from the WA Green School steering committee will present Grass Valley with a flag and certificate at the end-of-the-year assembly on June 17.
For more information on the Washington Green Schools program, visit: http://www.wagreenschools.org
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Baller Bears Shine at Junior Rose Festival Parade
Our teams completely filled two city blocks, and I couldn’t have been more proud. Looking out at those kids while they walked along the parade with red cheeks and smiles ear to ear makes my job COMPLETELY worth the time! They feel so proud! We had 30 parent helpers and three amazing teachers assist, which made my job so much easier. The whole experience brings tears to my eyes every year and I feel like the luckiest teacher in the whole world. Thanks to teachers like Cheryl Richey who pass on traditions that can last forever, the families and kids at Helen Baller continue to create lifetime memories. GOOOOOO BALLER BEARS!!! We are so lucky to be in the Camas School District.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Camas Athletics 2009-2010 Year in Review
Camas had an awesome 2009-2010 athletic season! CHS Papermakers shined with high placements in state championships for baseball (2nd place!), boys and girls soccer, girls track, volleyball and golf. To read more about the Papermakers’ awesome winning season, Coaches of the Year and scholar athletic teams, please read the list below.
League Champions
Boys Golf
Boys Swim
Baseball
Boys Soccer
Girls Track
District Champions
Boys Golf
Volleyball
Girls Basketball
Boys Swim
Baseball
Girls Track
Bi-District Champions
Girls Track
State Placers
Boys Golf – 5th
Volleyball – 7th
Girls Soccer – 3rd
Boys Soccer – 3rd
Baseball – 2nd
Girls Track – 3rd
Student Athletes of the Year
Logan Grindy - Football
Daniel Snoey – Boys Golf
Kailee Esser – Girls Soccer
Stefani Sorenson – Volleyball
Melissa Williams – Girls Basketball
Justin Natyzak – Boys Swim
Nick Palodichuk – Boys Soccer
Stuart Jergenson – Boys Soccer
Megan Kelley – Girls Track
Taylor Williams - Baseball
All State Student Athletes
Kailee Esser – Girls Soccer
Stuart Jergenson – Football
Coaches of the Year
Mike Bemis – Boys Swim
Jennifer McDonnell - Gymnastics
Rolland Minder – Boys Soccer
Alisa Wise – Girls Track
Tom Wallenborn – Girls Golf
Joe Hallead - Baseball
Varsity Grade Point Averages Winter and Spring
Boys Cross Country – 3.62 (11)
Boys Golf – 3.46 (14)
Boys Tennis – 3.33 (10)
Football – 3.16 (47)
Girls Cross Country – 3.36 (11)
Girls Soccer – 3.69 (18)
Girls Swim – 3.71 (24)
Volleyball – 3.70 (10)
Boys Basketball – 3.33 (12)
Boys Swim – 3.43 (22)
Cheer – 3.18 (10)
Girls Basketball – 3.44 (10)
Gymnastics – 3.27 (14)
Wrestling – 3.28 (21)
Dance and Drill – 3.29 ((28)
Baseball – 3.34 (19)
Boys Soccer – 3.50 (18)
Boys Track and Field – 3.14
Girls Golf – 3.39 (9)
Girls Tennis – 3.82 (9)
Girls Track and Field – 3.67 (27)
Softball – 3.48 (12)