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Sept. 17, 2019

Columbia River student is finalist in Google national competition

An estimated 72% of teens ages 13 to 17 play video games, according to a report from the Pew Research Center. Bridgette, a junior at Columbia River High School, took her love of gaming further and developed the concept for a game she called Lune.

Creating the concept art required a month’s worth of intensive work. Bridgette drew characters and settings. She studied professional game concept art to flesh out her submission with wire frames depicting screens, menus, dialogue and other details.

Then she submitted it to Google Play’s Change the Game Design Challenge, which strives to make mobile gaming more inclusive.

Board Director Wendy Smith congratulated Bridgette at the Sept. 10 school board meeting.

"We are fortunate to be able to highlight one of many, many talented and impressive students that we have here at Vancouver Public Schools," said Director Wendy Smith. "What is especially noteworthy in this specific competition is that the purpose is to challenge the status quo of mobile gaming to make it more inclusive and to increase opportunities in game design for underrepresented groups like women and people of color."

Read more.

Community will participate in updating vision for schools

Vancouver Public Schools will enlist members of the community to write the next chapter of its Design II strategic plan. Design II, Chapter 3 will build on the successes of the current plan and will continue the work to remove gaps in opportunities and to prepare future-ready students.

An inherent part of Vancouver’s strategic planning process is to engage community stakeholders in symposia and focus groups and through public surveys. Students, recent graduates, district employees, parents and community members along with leaders in government, business and nonprofit sectors will have a voice in setting the district’s direction for the next five years.

CR Sports wins an Emmy

On June 8, Columbia River High School’s CR Sports crew won a Northwest Regional High School Student Production Award in the Live Sport Event category. Pictured left to right: Teacher Janine Blackwell, Jordyn Ryan, David Ryan, Jaxon Pace, Jaelyn Gaylor, Miles Campbell and Keegan Duke. Not pictured are graduates Brody Duke and Rhys Holmes.

The team was recognized at the Sept. 10 school board meeting. Said Director Rosemary Fryer, "This is a standing achievement, recognizing the best for TV and advanced media industries. That's commitment and that's what we see in these young people."

Learn more.

Vancouver educator is finalist for national history award

After being named the 2019 Washington state History Teacher of the Year, Vancouver iTech Preparatory’s John Zingale is now 1 of 10 finalists for the national title. The award from the nonprofit Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History honors exceptional K-12 American history teachers from every U.S. state, the District of Columbia, Department of Defense schools and U.S. territories.

Zingale was recognized at the Sept. 10 school board meeting.

"Mr. Zingale is the epitome of a caring educator," said iTech Principal Darby Meade. "The experience he gives to his students breeds a curiosity and love of learning history that will stay with them the rest of their lives."

Said Dale Rice, school board vice president, "Great teachers, like you, teach to make the world a better place. Thank you for making Vancouver and your students better."

Read more.

Welcome, new educators!

We're glad you're here, #TeamVPS

In the past few months, 55 brand-new certificated employees were welcomed to the district. These new staff members will perform a variety of crucial roles related to teaching, counseling, administration and special services.

Read more.

Bond project update

There is a lot going on throughout the district on the construction and upgrade front. Improvements and upgrades are underway at 28 schools. Here's a rundown of the projects currently in progress.

Remodel and expansion projects

Columbia River High School: Final design phase of remodel and expansion; construction scheduled to begin winter 2020
Early Childhood Special Education assessment center: Will move to remodeled McLoughlin classroom pod; remodel scheduled to begin spring 2020
Eisenhower Elementary School: Construction of two new K-3 classroom additions underway
Felida Elementary School: Construction of five new K-3 classroom additions and remodeled restrooms underway
Franklin Elementary School: Going to bid for expansion of parking lot, classroom additions and elimination of portables; construction to begin November 2019

Read more about all of the bond projects underway.

SEIU members ratify new contract

Members of Service Employees' International Union, Local 925 ratified a new three-year agreement with the district on Aug. 26. The board of directors approved the contract at their Sept. 10 board meeting. Contract changes are effective Sept. 1, 2019.

Highlights include:

A new five-step wage scale with a 2% increase at each step. Step years are 1, 5, 10, 15 and 20.
2019-2020: 3.15% wage increase across the board (includes the implicit price deflator).
2020-2021: Wage openers for anything above the implicit price deflator in 2020-2021 and 2021-2022.
2021-2022: Minimum implicit price deflator.
August bid for bus drivers versus an October bid.
Participation of transportation supervisor in IEP meetings for students who have significant behavioral or medical needs while on the bus.
District resource officers' enhanced professional development program aligned to essential functions of their job.
No contracting of services for the length of this agreement.

Scarpelli sworn in to fill board vacancy

Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey (pictured left above) administered the oath of office to school board appointee Paul Scarpelli at the Sept. 10 board meeting.

A lifelong resident of Vancouver and a graduate of Fort Vancouver High School, Paul Scarpelli is dedicated to the school district and this community. Scarpelli has been employed in management positions with Clark County and has worked in global manufacturing. He contributes to the community through service on various boards. Scarpelli has a Bachelor of Mathematics degree from the University of Washington and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Portland. He and his wife, Avaly, have three children, ranging from kindergarten to college age.

Scarpelli fills the temporary vacancy left by Michelle Giovannozzi following her resignation in July.

Recap of the Sept. 10 school board meeting

The board of directors approved the following at its Sept. 10 meeting:

An agreement with Bassetti Architects, Seattle, Washington, for architectural and engineering services for Vancouver School of Arts and Academics
A change order with Team Construction LLC at Harney Elementary School to create a more secure entrance through the office and remodel the Family-Community Resource Center
Purchasing agreement 2019-048 with SofSURFACE for rubberized tile, delivery and installation for playground surfaces at the new Marshall, Truman and Walnut Grove elementary schools
Purchase agreement 2019-052 for surfacing of the track at Fort Vancouver High School
Purchasing agreement 2019-054 for furniture at the new Vancouver iTech Preparatory

Featured tweet:

Head this way to Grow and Learn!

So excited that 1,2,3 Grow and Learn started again this week. These excited kiddos are heading to Hough Elementary. Check https://t.co/7I6UFc1cya for up to date schedules at 14 VPS elementary sites. @T_Shoup @HoughElementar1 @VancouverSD #vpsamazing @ESD112_EL @jacobson_julie pic.twitter.com/8ZsOgXyUwI
— Carla Feltz (@FeltzCarla) September 11, 2019

See #VPSAmazing tweets from our staff

Go back in time at King Elementary

The current and past principals at King Elementary School examine the contents of a time capsule from 1981, recently dug up as the school was demolished to make way for a new building.

Congratulations, retirees!

Edward Castellani, bus driver, will retire Oct. 31 with 10.5 years of service.

Jeannette Hathaway, secretary at Jefferson Middle School, will retire Jan. 2, 2020, with 29.9 years of service.

Debbie MacKinnon, bus driver, retired June 19 with 13 years of service.

Susan Mongrain, a paraeducator at Roosevelt Elementary School, will retire Oct. 31 with 18.9 years of service.

Ellyn Papenfuse, a human resources specialist, will retire June 30, 2020, with 27.9 years of service.

Debra Rhodes, a paraeducator at Washington Elementary School, retired June 21 with 30.9 years of service.

Upcoming:

Dates to know

Sept. 23 – 40 min. early release

Sept. 30 – 40 min. early release

Oct. 7 – 40 min. early release

Oct. 11 – In-service day, no student attendance

Oct. 14 – 40 min. early release

Oct. 16 – Parent conferences, 2-hour early release, all schools

Oct. 17 – Parent conferences, 2-hour early release, middle and high schools only

Oct. 17 – Parent conferences, no school, elementary only

Oct. 18 – Parent conference, no school, all schools

Get more calendar information.

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Copyright © 2019 Vancouver Public Schools. All rights reserved.

Our address is:
2901 Falk Rd., Vancouver, WA 98661
P.O. Box 8937, Vancouver, WA 98668

Superintendent: Dr. Steve Webb
Board of Directors: Rosemary Fryer, Dale Q. Rice, Wendy Smith, Mark Stoker

Vancouver School District is an Equal Opportunity District in education programs, activities, services, and employment. The district does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, sex, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, including gender expression or identity, age, families with children, honorably discharged veteran or military status, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal. The district provides equal access to the Boy Scouts of America and other designated youth groups. The district complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 402 of the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Act of 1974, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Older Worker Protection Act, and all other state, federal, and local equal opportunity laws. You may also contact any of the following people by writing to them at Vancouver School District, PO Box 8937, Vancouver, Washington 98668-8937 or by calling 360-313-1000: ADA–Kathy Everidge; Title VII, 504–Tamara Shoup; IDEA–Daniel Bettis; Affirmative Action–Kathy Everidge; Title IX Elementary–Debra Hale; Title IX Secondary–Chris Olsen; Athletic Equity–Jim Gray. This notification can be provided in the appropriate language for communities of national origin and minority persons with limited English language skills by contacting 360-313-1250.

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Vancouver Public Schools · 2901 Falk Road · Vancouver, Wa 98661 · USA