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WHS Equestrian Team Competes at State (posted 5-14-2012)
The Washougal High School Equestrian team competed at State in Lynden, Washington March 10-13. The Working Fours Drill team brought home theBronze medal. Team members are: Captain Rachel Nelson, Captain Tenley Stedman, Maddie Kitchen and Nina Pawelzick. The team is coached by Rene' Carroll. To read more, please view the Student Success Blog.
Teacher Appreciation Week May 7-11, 2012 (posted 5-7-2012)

The week of May 7-11, 2012 is designated as national and state Teacher Appreciation Week. It is with sincere appreciation that the Washougal School Board of Directors and Administration recognize certificated staff during Teacher Appreciation Week.

As part of the week's celebration, the Washougal branch of Columbia Credit Union is again publishing a "Salute to Teachers" poster for distribution to staff and community members. Members of the Washougal Association of Educators will be honored at the School Board meeting on May 8th in recognition of Teacher Appreciation Week.

Teachers not only instruct and mentor their students, but also come to develop meaningful personal connections as well. For every teacher who makes the commitment to teach our children, please join us in saying "Thank You!" You are creating the leaders of tomorrow and we appreciate the hard work you do every day.
Community Connections Newsletter for Spring 2012 (posted 4-20-2012)
The latest edition of the Washougal School District Newsletter "Community Connections" is available for download. The current newsletter covers new in-district transfer procedures including an updated deadline of May 18, energy conservation successes, student achievements, and other current news in the district. Please visit the newsletter page to read the current edition, or to peruse past editions.
Blue Note Cafe April 20, 2012 at WHS (posted 4-18-2012)
WHS brings back the coffeehouse of the '50s and '60s with the Blue Note Cafe concert series. Students, faculty, alumni, and community members perform acoustic folk, blues, jazz, and rock tunes in a casual, cafe atmosphere. Concert begins at 7:00pm this Friday April 20.

SPECIAL GUEST: Jazz Pianist Steve Christofferson
$5.00 adult $3.00 student/child/senior Free: WHS Arts Pass
Clark County High School Culinary Competition (posted 4-17-2012)
Please come support Washougal High School Students who are competing to create Asian themed entrees at the Clark County High School Culinary Competition. WHS Students Melissa Cain, Danielle Crowley, Andrew Bastian and Jesse Kraft will be preparing and serving dishes, which will be judged by reception guests, voting to decide the best overall taste and presentation. The competition takes place at Battle Ground High School at 300 W. Main St. in Battle Ground, from 12:00 to 1:15 PM on April 21st.
Washougal School District Kindergarten Registration for 2012-2013 begins April 30 (posted 4-16-2012)
Kindergarten registration for the 2012-2013 school year begins April 30 and continues through May 4. Please remember to bring your child's birth certificate and immunization record. To be eligible for enrollment, your child must be age 5 on or before August 31, 2012.
To register your child, come to the school office during the following hours:
Gause and Hathaway: 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Cape Horn-Skye: 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Stuff the Scholarship Online Auction (posted 4-13-2012)
Help sponsor Stuff the Scholarship - a sister program to Stuff the Bus. Each year, Stuff the Scholarship provides one scholarship to a senior student at Washougal High School and one scholarship to a senior student at Camas High School based on their academic performance as well as their community involvement.

This year, the fundraiser will be an online auction with products and services from our own community up for bid along with a daily deal to a local retailer, service provider or restaurant. Don’t miss this opportunity to get a bargain AND support the kids in our community!

Just visit www.cwbusinessalliance.com/auction and enter your name and email to be notified when you can begin bidding!
Camas Washougal Rotary Scholar of the Month for April: Mac Wright (posted 4-13-2012)
Congratulations to Mac Wright, the Camas Washougal Rotary Scholar of the Month for April 2012. Mac is a sophomore at Washougal High School, and has a 4.00 GPA. Library Assistant and Drama volunteer, Fran Mccarty notes that she has "worked with Mac on several occasions in drama. He has always been so polite and cooperative." To read more about Mac, please visit the Student Success Blog.
Register for the 2012 STRIDE Fun Run (posted 4-12-2012)
The Stride for Education Fun Run will be held on Saturday, May 19, 2012, at Washougal High School's Fishback Stadium. Proceeds from The Student Stride for Education provide exciting educational opportunities for Washougal students via teacher grants from the Washougal Schools Foundation. Click here to read more, or to download the registration form.
Congratulations to Team Mean Machine, the Washougal, Camas & Hockinson Robotics Team (posted 4-10-2012)
Congratulations to the Robotics Club and specifically the Team Mean Machine that took first place at the Seattle FIRST Regional Robotics Competition. The theme of the competition was “Rebound Rumble” which basically required that the robots play basketball. Our Camas, Washougal, Hockinson team was also awarded the Delphi Engineering Excellence Award. They are now headed to the World Championship in St. Louis scheduled at the end of the month – April 25 – 28. Their flight is paid for but are raising the funds for food, ground transportation and hotels. Donations can be made at www.team2471.org. To read more about the robotics team, and Head Mentor Bruce Whitefield and mentor Bob Croucher, who were featured in an article in the Camas Washougal Post-Record, please click here.
Washougal School District refinances bonds to save taxpayers millions of dollars (posted 4-9-2012)
Washougal School District has refinanced its 2002 bonds in order to take advantage of lower interest rates. The recent refinancing will save the district's taxpayers more than $2.25 million over the next six years. Superintendent Dawn Tarzian emphasized that these savings flow directly to taxpayers through reduced taxes and are not available for district expenses. "This is a direct savings to our community members in the form of taxes they expected, but will not have to pay," Tarzian said.

The Washougal School Board accomplished these savings by approving the issuance of $15,645,000 in refunding bonds on March 15, 2012. The district has been monitoring bond market conditions and recent low interest rates allowed the district to exceed its savings target. Interest rates averaged 2.29% on the new bonds compared to 4.94% on the old debt.

During the bond refinancing process, the school district was rated "Aa3" by Moody's Investors Service. The district's strong underlying bond rating is attributable to its strong financial operations which includes a healthy fund balance and manageable debt levels. By maintaining a solid bond rating, the district was able to realize low interest rates on the refinancing transaction.
Help improve air quality for children by limiting unnecessary vehicle idling (posted 4-3-2012)
You may have noticed the “No-Idle Zone” signs in the drop off areas at our schools.
No one wants their children breathing exhaust, and yet a great deal of idling takes place at schools, where buses and cars line up to drop off and pick up children.

Children are especially susceptible to the harmful effects of vehicle exhaust. Consider the following:
-Children breathe 50 percent more air per pound than adults.
-Asthma is the third leading cause of hospitalization among children under the age of 15.
-Children’s asthma symptoms increase as a result of car exhaust.
-Asthma is the most common chronic illness in children and the cause of most school absences.
-Exposure to vehicle exhaust increases the risk of death from heart and lung disease and lung cancer.

A single vehicle dropping off and picking up kids at school puts three pounds of pollution into the air per month. In addition, idling produces twice as much pollution as stopping and starting your engine. Idling also costs money in wasted fuel and engine wear. Stopping unnecessary vehicle idling is one relatively easy way to contribute to improved air quality and respiratory health in our community.

Please join our Washougal School District bus drivers in their efforts to keep our students healthy and our environment cleaner by shutting off your vehicle when you are picking up or dropping off your child.
-Statistics courtesy of Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency
Washougal School District's Sound Financial Management Noted By Moody's (Posted 3-13-2012)
The Washougal School District received good news last week when it was notified by Moody's Investors Service that the district's sound financial operations warrant a bond credit rating of "Aa3". This is two steps above the most recent "A2" rating received during the most recent review in 2000.

While a credit rating takes into account may factors such as the size of the tax base, area employment and economic growth, Moody's noted that the district has been able to sustain balanced budgets through difficult financial times and maintain prudent financial reserves.

"This is a strong credit rating, just one notch lower than our larger neighbors such as the Vancouver and Evergreen school districts. It will definitely help Washougal School District taxpayers in the future by lowering borrowing costs." said Superintendent Dawn Tarzian. The Board of Directors, business manager, and district staff are to be credited with the thoughtful management of district resources.

The district applied for the rating in anticipation of refinancing a portion of the district's outstanding bonds to provide lower interest rates. If successful, it is anticipated that the Washougal School District will be able to pass along substantial savings to taxpayers in the coming years.
Gause School Improvement Plan Presentation Rescheduled for 4/24/2012 Board Meeting (posted 3-13-2012)
The Gause School Improvement Plan presentation scheduled for the March 13, 2012 school board meeting has been rescheduled to April 24 at 6:30 PM. The meeting will take place at 6:30 PMin the Gause Library at 1100 34th Street, Washougal, WA 98671.
Snow Makeup Days (updated 3-14-2012)
Due to inclement weather, Washougal schools were closed on January 17 and 18, March 1, and March 13. Because January 18 was designated as an elementary early release day, students will make up these days as follows:
-March 16 (full day for all students)
-April 27 (elementary early release day, full day for grades 6-12. Parents of students in grades K-5, please note there will be early release on Wednesday, April 25 and also on Friday, April 27 due to snow make up days.)
-June 15 (full day for students K-8, and a 3 hour early release for 9-12 for finals)
-June 18 (3 hour early release as the "new" last day of school. June 14, which would have been the last day, will be a full day for students K-8, and a 3 hour early release for 9-12 for finals)

For more information, please see the Calendar page, where you can download an updated calendar.
Immunization Notice (posted 2-9-2012)
The Washougal School District is committed to providing a healthy, safe environment for all students. Immunization has proven to be one of the most effective ways to control the spread of preventable diseases. Washington state law (RCW 210.080) requires that all students be properly immunized in order to attend school and all students must have a signed Certificate of Immunization Status on file. Students who do not receive the required immunizations or provide exemption information will be excluded from school starting on October 15, 2012.

Parents of students with missing information will be notified by their school before February 15.

Immunizations are available at your doctor's office, local pharmacies, Sea Mar Community Health Center (accepts Medicare, Medicaid, call 360-896-5128 or 360-852-9070), and The Free Clinic of Southwest Washington (walk-in clinic available the first, second and third Wednesdays of each month from 5:30-7:30 p.m., 360-313-1390). To read which vaccines are required, please view this list. To read more about this change, please click here.
Washougal School District considers options for turf replacement at Fishback Stadium (posted 10-10-2011)
The Washougal School District has begun the process of planning for the replacement of the turf field at Washougal High School's Fishback Stadium. At the October 4 School Board meeting, Superintendent Dawn Tarzian presented a plan in which the District would match each dollar raised in the community and invited local business leaders to do the same. Patrons attending the meeting offered support and suggestions for possible donors who might be willing to make substantial donations or front the money to the District for a low interest rate, to be paid back over the course of the life of the new field.

The School Board expressed support for the plan, including the recommendation from the Superintendent that the District implement a turf replacement savings plan to assure that resources exist to care for and replace the field in the future.

Fishback Stadium's current turf surface has been in place for 10 years (installed in 2001), with resources provided through the passage of the Capital Improvement Bond. It is estimated that the field is used by more than seven high school sports teams annually, including Varsity and JV girls and boys soccer, football, girls and boys track, and sometimes baseball. Washougal High School physical education classes use the field on a regular basis. In addition, many community education and youth recreation teams use the field as well. The District commissioned a study of the safety of the aging turf field in October of 2010. The consultant from BioMechanica said that the field was in good condition considering its age. The District has been performing maintenance on the field as needed to maintain a safe recreation area for students, but ultimately, the turf will need to be replaced. Studies also revealed that replacing the turf field with a natural grass field would cost the District more money and would not support the same level of use.

If you would like to get involved or make a contribution, please contact Superintendent Dawn Tarzian, 360-954-3001.
Click here to read archived news stories that were previously featured on this page