Two Opportunities for Budget Input

The School Board will be making a decision on possibly altering the kindergarten schedule for next school year at its regular meeting tonight, April 26, at 5:30 p.m. at the JDZ Administration Center. The decision to alter or retain the current kindergarten schedule will be made tonight in order to relay accurate information to parents at kindergarten registration events which begin next week.

Additionally, the Board will be taking input on other possible areas for budget reductions at a listening post at Grass Valley Elementary tomorrow, April 27, at 7:00 p.m. No board decision or action will take place at this event. Topics will include:

• Reductions in athletics;
• Implementation of half-mile or one mile walk zones;
• Reductions in administration;
• Reductions in teaching staff;
• Reductions in support staff; and
• Reductions in elementary music.

Please join us and share your thoughts about areas for budget reductions. If you are unable to attend, you may e-mail your ideas to the entire school board at school.board@camas.wednet.edu.

Calling All Youth Bands

The 2010 Camtown Youth Festival will be once again offer a performance site at the event to feature local youth “garage” bands. Twenty-minute performance slots are open to local youth band performers under the age of 18. All sound equipment plus a drum set will be available for your use – just bring your own instruments. Performance slots are available by reservation only and space is limited. Lyrics and attire need to be approved and deemed appropriate for both school and families. Call Krista Bashaw with Camas Parks and Recreation at 360-834-5307 to reserve your spot or for more information. Reservation deadline is June 4.

2010-11 Budget Listening Post

The state concluded its session this week solidifying reductions in the area of public education funding for the coming year. Now the work to firm our budget figures begins. The School Board would like to hear your thoughts on possible budget cuts for next year. If you would like to express your thoughts, join us on April 27 at Grass Valley Elementary from at 7:00 in the commons.

Knowledge Bowl Team Takes State

For the first time in ten years, Camas High School was not the host site of the Knowledge Bowl State Championship. So it is a bit ironic that they not only qualified two teams to state for the first time ever, but also that one of the teams earned the first CHS state championship in Knowledge Bowl.
“It was fun to travel with the team to Richland, and it was especially nice for me to not be trying to run the meet while my kids were competing,” commented Dale Croswell, Knowledge Bowl coach for the last 25 years.

Camas Varsity #1 -- consisting of senior Devynne Barret, juniors Jacob Freedman, Connor Sullivan, and Keira Alkema, and sophomores James Marsh and William Sarchet -- competed very well at state, finishing in 11th place out of 18 teams, but falling short of the top 9 which would have advanced them to the final rounds.

Camas Varsity #2 -- consisting of juniors Ryan Gompertz, Chris Emmet, Chris Grote, Nicholas Lim, and Alec Maier -- won their preliminary division and advanced to the Semi-Final and Championship rounds, a first ever for a Camas HS Knowledge Bowl team.

At the end of their Semi-Final Oral Round, the team was tied with North Thurston, forcing a tie-breaker session. They were still tied at the end of the first tie-breaker set, and the end of the next tie-breaker found the two teams tied even still. However, the Camas team decided to officially challenge one of the questions in which their answer had been ruled incorrect. Their challenge was accepted and their point was granted, which earned them the right to advance to the championship oral round.

In the Championship Oral Round, three very good teams -- Camas, Charles Wright Academy, and Port Angeles -- were engaged in a close match to determine 1st, 2nd, and 3rd final places. At question 40 out of 50, the teams were all tied up at 10 points apiece. By question 45, Port Angeles had forged ahead, but the Camas team was able to tie it up with one question remaining. As the last question was read aloud by the reader/judge, a moment came when the teams seemed to recognize the answer all at once, and they buzzed in. The Camas team got in first, discussed it, offered their correct answer, and won the state championship.

“I have been coaching Knowledge Bowl at Camas HS since 1986, and the state coordinator since 1999. This is the first time I can recall that both the 4A state championship (Skyview HS) and the 3A state championship (Camas HS) were earned by teams from Clark County in the same year,” remarked Croswell. “That is fantastic, and speaks to the strength of the schools and knowledge bowl teams in our area.”

Osprey Return to Their Doc Harris Home

They’re back! The pair of osprey who’ve made the stadium lights at Doc Harris their home for several years are back in town and have apparently embraced their new digs.

When planning for the new Doc Harris stadium, there was much concern for the wellbeing of this pair of birds who would arrive for the 2010 nesting season to find the old stadium lights missing. In fact, it became a condition of the building permits that a new nesting place be created for the birds.

The Doc Harris design team from DOWA, Inc., tapped the expertise at Clark Public Utilities to design the nests. TEAM Construction, the contractor for the project, then built the extensions on existing poles. In order be attractive to the birds, the nests were designed to be higher than the new stadium lights will be when Doc Harris is completed this summer. Twigs and nesting material from the ospreys’ previous nests were also placed in the nests.

“It was a thoughtful, concerted effort of those involved,” commented capital program manager Heidi Rosenberg. “We’re thrilled to see the birds return.”

Skyridge Haiti Relief Efforts

The Skyridge Hawks have been busy and quite creative in seeking funds for Haiti relief. Recently, teacher Jeanette Manwell’s Service Learning class partnered with the Mercy Corps, creating a link on the Mercy Corps web site where the Camas community could electronically donate money. A container where students and staff could deposit cash donations was also implemented in the Skyridge library.

The Associated Student Body hosted a student social on March 19 to round out the Hawks fundraising efforts. Live music was performed by Spam Finger, a band of comprised of teachers from both Skyridge and Liberty Middle Schools. They played a hit list of songs for the students in the main gym. Afterwards, a DJ spun contemporary music while students in the next gym played basketball, ping pong, and participated in other games. In the cafeteria, students enjoyed concession stands with pizza, soda and juice, giant cookies, and snack bars.

These combined efforts totaled more than $1,300 in donations for Haiti relief. Thanks to the students, staff, and the community, Skyridge made a difference to a community in desperate need. Great job!

Kindergarten Orientation Events Scheduled

It is time for Kindergarten registration for the 2010-11 school year! Listed below are the dates for registration and orientation events for each school. The purpose of orientation is to meet teachers and staff, learn about the kindergarten curriculum, and take a ride on a real school bus! If you are not sure which school your child will attend, please call the transportation department at (360) 833-5585. The district registrar, Shanna Anderson, will be on site at each event to register your child. You may access registration packets and requirements for entrance on the district web site. If you are unable to attend kindergarten orientation, please contact Shanna Anderson at 360-833-5410 to schedule a registration appointment.

Please be aware that in addition to the registration forms, you will need to submit the following paperwork:

• State-issued birth certificate

• Immunization information Students must be fully immunized (doctors refer to this as “5-year-old” or “kindergarten shots” or an exemption needs to be on file in order for your child to be registered.

• Proof of residency, i.e., driver's license, utility bill, purchase agreement, renter's agreement

If you are aware of or know any future Camas kindergarten students in your neighborhood, preschool, etc., please let them know about kindergarten orientation and encourage them to attend!

Dorothy Fox Elementary
2623 NW Sierra St., (360) 833-5700
Date: May 19
Time: 4:00-6:00 PM
Location: Gymnasium

Grass Valley Elementary
3000 NW Grass Valley Drive
(360) 833-5710
Date: May 26
Time: 9:00-11:00 AM
Place: Library

Helen Baller Elementary
1954 NE Garfield Street
(360) 833-5720
Date: May 19
Time: 9:00-11:00 AM
Place: Cafeteria

Lacamas Heights Elementary
4600 NE Garfield Street
(360) 833-5740
Date: May 12
Time: 9:00-11:00 AM
Location: Gymnasium

Prune Hill Elementary
1601 NW Tidland St.
(360) 833-5730
Date: May 5
Time: 2:00-3:30 PM
Location: Library

Camas Iron Chef

Come see Jerry Moss, retiring Helen Baller Principal, battle Steve Marshall, CHS Principal, in a first-time ever Camas Iron Chef event! Both teams will include a professional chef and our own variety of local celebrities. This Camas Educational Foundation fundraiser will take place in downtown Camas at Around the Table on April 21 from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $25, and seating is limited. Click here to purchase tickets directly from the CEF web site.

Once, Twice, Three Times the Winner

For the third consecutive year, Camas High School took first place at the Southwest Washington Regional Science Olympiad tournament. The event was held Saturday, March 13, at Lower Columbia College in Longview, WA. 18 teams represented 12 high schools—most of which hail from Clark County.

The CHS “Black” team was the first place winner while the CHS “White” team placed fifth. Both teams will proceed to the State competition on April 10 at Eastern Washington University in Cheney.

The two CHS teams “double-medaled” in nine of the 23 events. In two events, “Fossils” and “Disease Detectives,” the CHS teams took first and second place.

CHS has competed at the state level every year since the program’s inception four years ago. The first year, the team won the “Spirit” trophy and placed tenth. In the following 2 years, CHS placed third.

The Skyridge Middle School team also did very well at the regional event and will proceed to the state competition. This will be the Hawks first trip to the state event.

“Clark County has very good prospects for the state event. The four teams most likely teams to be fighting for the State title this year are Stanwood, Bothell (last year’s champion), Union and Camas,” commented team member Ryan Gompertz. “Prairie and Columbia River very likely will be in the top 10 and are possible challengers for the title,” he added.

Each state in the US will send one High School and one Middle School team to the national competition at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign on May 20-22, 2010.

Good luck, CHS!

Three Camas Schools Recognized for Achievement

Camas High School, Liberty and Skyridge have been recognized by the state as schools that profoundly affect student learning and are being awarded for their efforts.

A total of 174 schools are receiving Washington Achievement Awards for 2009. This year, 70 elementary, 26 middle, 52 high schools and 26 comprehensive schools received awards.

The awards are being given by the State Board and the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Our schools will be recognized at a celebration at on May 5.

Assistant Superintendent Tanis Knight noted that this award is particularly encouraging because it recognizes the efforts of teachers to move ALL of their students to higher levels of achievement. "Camas educators believe that every student can benefit from clear learning targets and excellent instruction. This award is a validation of their hard work and commitment to their students," commented Knight.

The awards are part of the State Board’s accountability program, adopted in 2009. Under the program, all schools will be indexed according to outcomes and indicators from 2007 to 2009. The five outcomes are student performance in statewide reading, writing, math and science tests, as well as the school’s extended graduation rate, which includes those students who took longer than four years to graduate.

Those outcomes are each measured using four indicators:

1. achievement of students who are not from low-income families;
2. achievement of students from low-income families;
3. achievement of all students when compared to “peers” (those with similar student characteristics, such as the percentage of students who have a disability, are learning English, are designated as gifted, come from low-income families, and are mobile); and
4. improvement in the achievement of all students from the previous year.

Outstanding FIRST Robotics Competition

The Camas-Washougal FIRST Robotics team took second place at regional competition on March 5-6 at the Memorial Coliseum in Portland. The team is comprised of students from both Camas and Washougal high schools and is sponsored and mentored by many corporations and professionals from the local area.

The Camas-Washougal team placed so well in the competition. In fact, going into the final round, the team was tied for first ranking position. Unfortunately, the other team won the last game and we came in second. Nonetheless, this was a fantastic showing on our team’s part out of 60+ teams.

“I have never attended such a positive and pumped-up display of technical inspiration and energy,” commented mentor Roy Thornley, mechanical engineer. “These kids are the promise and hope of our country’s future and after sharing in this experience, and seeing what these kids can do, I have a new infusion of confidence. “

This is a win-win situation for the schools as FIRST Robotics is an industry-sponsored program. Thanks to tremendous support from organizations like NASA, Autodesk (Inventor of 3D CAD systems), FLIR, Platt Electric, Boeing, US Digital of Vancouver, as well as several other computer and electronics corporations, there is relatively little cost to the district. It is worthy to note that the intense interest these groups have in competitions should be an indicator of the importance industry places on the students that participate.

The team will compete in Seattle next month for another shot at the national competition in Atlanta.

“As one of the top schools in the State of Washington, Camas High School is an ideal venue to promote and nurture this fantastic educational opportunity,” said Thornely. “As a FIRST mentor and the father of a Camas High student, I can’t say enough about the importance of this program,” he added.

Click here for a behind-the-scene look at the competition.

Nominate Your Favorite Teacher Today

Do you know a fantastic teacher in Camas? One who inspires creativity and enthusiasm in the classroom? One who demonstrates exemplary teaching methods and style?

Nominate that teacher for the OnPoint Excellence in Education Award. The winner will win $5,000 for their school and will have their mortgage paid for one year! Click the link below for more information and the nomination form.

http://www.onpointprize.com/Home.aspx

Participating in the Census is Easy, it’s Safe, and it Counts!

Some people are unfamiliar with the Census or the fact that one will occur in 2010, and many more are unaware of the benefits a complete count offers. Census data guides critical decisions that will affect our area, from congressional representation to the location of retail stores. In fact, the information the census collects helps to determine how more than $400 billion of federal funding each year is spent on infrastructure and services like hospitals; job training centers; schools; senior centers; bridges, tunnels and other public works projects; and emergency services. These funds support numerous programs such as Title I grants, Head Start, WIC, and services for the elderly.

For each person counted during the Census in our area, Clark County is allocated $1,032 every year for the next ten years. By completing your census questionnaire, you directly affect your community. Help Clark County receive the funds it needs by returning your form.

It’s easy. The 2010 questionnaire is one of the shortest in history, and comes very close to the length and scope of inquiries asked in 1790. For each person in the household, there are seven questions including name, gender, race, ethnicity, and whether they sometimes live somewhere else. The head of household answers three questions the residence in general. Census workers follow up if any information is incomplete or missing.

Forms were mailed March 15 and must be returned by April 1. For more information, visit www.2010census.gov. Be counted and make a difference in the future of Clark County!

Elementary Counselors Present Parenting Class

The Camas Elementary Counseling Team is pleased to bring back the very successful 1-2-3 Magic program. This simple, yet powerful approach to disciplining kids has won rave reviews from parents, educators and professionals alike. Parents will learn techniques that are down-to-earth, kid-friendly and make a dramatic impact in a short time. Topics include encouraging good behavior, independence, and self esteem.

Thanks to a grant from the Camas Educational Foundation, program videos are available for checkout at each elementary library.

Join us on Tuesday April 13, 2010, from 6-8 PM at Helen Baller Elementary School. Registration is not necessary. Unfortunately, childcare will not be provided. If you have questions, contact your school counselor.

Hope to see you there!

Grass Valley Elementary Places Third in Regional Math Competition

Grass Valley Elementary has some of the best fifth-grade mathematicians around, as demonstrated by their third-place finish in the 2010 Elementary Math Is Cool Championship. The event was held at Ft. Vancouver High School last Friday and featured 78 teams from across the region. Grass Valley teacher and coach Jackie Graue prepared students for the event, which included a free-response Individual Test, Team Tests in free-response and multiple-choice formats, Relays, a Mental Math Test, and a unique College Bowl event. The problems on each test covered a range of difficulties in diverse topics, challenging the most experienced students to answer all of the questions within the time limit and requiring less-experienced students to decide on which problems they should focus.

Extracurricular math competitions are an increasingly important way for schools to challenge their most advanced students and also encourage those students who are not as connected in their math classrooms as they could be. The annual Math is Cool Championships engage thousands of students at multiple sites throughout Washington, and just expanded to the Vancouver/Portland area last year. After all the tests were scored and the numbers were crunched, Aubrey Johnson had the highest individual score from Grass Valley. Way to go, Aubrey!