McLoughlin’s Math Team, coached by Sarah Burgardt, took home more medals than any other school in the competition. The eighth-grade team won two medals; the sixth- and seventh-grade teams both nabbed a medal and a ribbon.

The regional MESA competition asked students to engineer prosthetic arms that would perform various tasks related to distance, accuracy, object relocation, and dexterity. In addition, they designed displays that explained the science behind their devices and presented their findings to a panel of judges. At the end of the day, Jason Lee’s The A.M.E.S.A.I.N.G.s, consisting of Tyler Bacon, James Hess, and Sam Sparkman, was named the first-place middle school team. In second place was another team from Jason Lee, The Twinkies, with Emma Holm, Aurora Lauser, Noah Sweeney, and Sativa Sweeney. Both teams are coached by Jason Lee teachers Susan Lindenmeyer and Suzie Womack. McLoughlin Middle School’s the Hands-On Mac Tech Ninjas, with Livia Anderson, Yesenia Ceron-Nava, Sydney Fox-Middleton, and Tracy Tran, claimed third place. The team is under the direction of teachers Cyndy Hagin and Brigham Williams.

As the top middle school team, The A.M.E.S.A.I.N.G.s will head to the statewide MESA Day competition later this month.

Winners of the Math Olympiad also were crowned at MESA Day. The Math Olympiad Middle School Competition was won by the team of Austin Bryant, Trevor Bryant, David Kang, Utsav Kapoor, and Jacob Mabey, from McLoughlin Middle School. The team, coached by Hagin, earned a perfect score.

Previously, Columbia River’s Gold Team took fifth place in the C Division of the Southwest Washington regional tournament in March. The school’s Purple and White teams nabbed seventh and ninth places, respectively. In addition, the team from Jason Lee Middle School took fourth place in the B Division at the regional competition.

The Early Learner Initiative also received a $12,500 grant from the Community Foundation
for Southwest Washington, a public charity that helps support nonprofit organizations and provide benefits to the community. In addition, the Community Foundation awarded FVPS a $9,000 grant for Basic Needs Programs and a $6,000 grant for Parent Academies, which offer English language learner classes, Love and Logic courses, and early learning parent support.

Communications Director Kris Sork, Communications Specialist Pat Mattison Nuzzo, and Graphics Technician Sara Neal collected a Merit Award for the Report to the Community, the district’s newsletter on activities and teacher, staff, and student accomplishments. Sork also was honored with an Excellence in Writing Award for her piece titled “Making the world a better place,” published in the October 2012 Report to the Community. Click here to read past issues of the report.

U.S. News evaluated more than 21,000 public high schools in the nation. Academic indicators included a college readiness index, writing proficiency, reading proficiency, and student/teacher ratios. Measurements included student performance on state exit exams and internationally available exams on college-level course work (e.g. AP and IB exams).

VSAA was ranked number 10 in the state and number 357 in the nation. Columbia River was ranked number 40 in the state and number 1,390 in the nation. Of the 587 high schools in Washington state, 10 schools received gold medals and 45 received silver medals for 2013. Read the full report.

VPS is the only school district in the region to earn nominations. And the competition is stiff--the district is competing against commercial television stations in Alaska, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana.

Science stars Skyview High School physics teacher Nate Macon. The show is produced three to four times a year by the district producers Nick Voll and Ian Southworth.

There are currently 11 FCRCs at the district’s high-poverty elementary and middle schools. The schools serve as hubs for community partners serving youth, families, and communities. Partners promote learning readiness; consistent school attendance; and student engagement with school, family, and community. Their work supports academic success and physical, social, and emotional health.

FCRC coordinators pictured above: Ryan Scott, McLoughlin Middle School; Staci Boehlke, Fruit Valley; Pat Roe, King Elementary School; Jennifer Blechschmidt, FCRC Supervisor; Lori Weedman, Peter S. Ogden Elementary School; Elizabeth Huntington, Roosevelt Elementary School; Brittany Gadbury, Minnehaha Elementary School

A few highlights of Sacajawea’s efforts include:
• A partnership with Clark Public Utilities and the Bonneville Environmental Foundation to install an outdoor classroom and solar panel array, which will reduce the school’s overall energy use and teach students about the positive impact of renewable energy.
• The installation of an energy-monitoring kiosk to allow students to track the school’s energy generation in real time. The kiosk will build on a past effort that used classroom energy monitors and lessons on energy conservation to reduce energy use by 11.7 percent.
• A biannual mileage club that encourages students to run during recess.
• The school and PTA’s Walking School Bus, which provides 10 percent of the student body with up to one mile of supervised outdoor walking daily.
• The school’s maintenance team, which actively participates in the EPA IAQ Tools for Schools program to improve air quality. Sacajawea has also achieved EPA IPM Star certification.
• The emphasis on environmental education as a central part of the academic curriculum and work with community partners to make environmental lessons come to life. As one example, second- and fourth-graders participate in a stream-monitoring program, working with community volunteers to conduct water-quality tests and examine macro-invertebrate species.

“Galvas’ work in Vancouver is a lifeline to the students who need her,” said State Superintendent Randy Dorn. “After working with at-risk students for six years, she cares deeply for families in crisis and shares her expertise with teachers and staff across the district. All of this year’s regional finalists demonstrate a dedication to their work, which truly benefits the kids of this state.”

Since Galvas took this position seven years ago, the number of students she serves has increased from 95 a year to 650 a year. In addition to working with families of generational poverty, she is encountering families caught by the economic downturn who are experiencing the predicament of homelessness for the first time. Galvas seeks both short-term and long-term solutions to ensure that students are enrolled and participating fully in their schools. She visits families, finds shelter, and arranges transportation. She tracks school records and makes sure students have food, clothing and school supplies. By collaborating with school staff and community members, providing training, and writing grants, she harnesses all possible resources to support homeless youth.