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Valley Catholic’s own religion teacher Eric Berge was chosen by the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington D.C. to join a select group of teachers from around the country to study more about the Holocaust.
Beaverton Valley Times published the article March 11 here.
Thanks to all of the parents who have made a tax-deductible gift to the Valley Catholic School Annual Fund, participation has reached an all-time high at nearly 50% overall!
Check to see how your class is doing. At the end of February, Kindergarten was in the lead with 64% participation and third grade was close behind at 60%! Don’t forget you can conveniently make your tax-deductible gift to the VCS Annual Fund when you register your child for the 2010-2011 school year. Indicate the amount you want to give or pledge on your Financial Commitment Agreement and choose how you’d like to pay.
Help bridge the Gap for Valley Catholic Students. It all starts here!
Questions? Contact Melissa Maxwell at 503-906-1139 or giving@ssmoministries.org
Valley Catholic’s Mock Trial team – Litigating for You. Team Members include: Emily Bishop, John Deeney, Brandon Gallinat, Erin Gibbs, Melissa Haines, Anna Jesse, Owen Jones, Katherine Kraemer, Kindra Mills, Zeke Seminario, Vivian Tran, Lara Walsh
Woodville, a cozy little town in Oregon, earns its main source of revenue from tourism, especially from a summer concert held annually in the woods which showcases local talents and attracts viewers from all over the country. When a religious group called the New Believers settles in the town, problems begin to arise. Tension quickly mounts as the New Believers scare away tourists and the town’s revenue rapidly decreases. Finally, the discontentment reaches its climax when the New Believers close the entrance to the woods, causing the cancellation of the summer concert.
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Valley Catholic High School recently hosted the Oregon Association of Student Councils (OASC) bringing 65 student leaders and advisors from schools around the state for a weekend workshop called the Winter Energizer to gain tools and ideas that they could then bring back to their own school communities.
A Reflection by SBO President Owen Jones
I have been participating in OASC events since my freshman year. Throughout these four years, I have participated in 10 events including summer camp and even the National Student Councils Conference. My first event was the Fall Conference that is always held in Seaside. When I stepped through the doors, I was blown away by the energy levels in the kids. These teens were the best of the best when it came to leadership in Oregon. They were the ones who were planning the best assemblies, the fun dances, and the awesome spirit weeks.
I was inspired on so many levels. I wanted to learn their secrets and by the end of the conference, I realized the secret was OASC. OASC not only teaches high school teens leadership skills, but it brings together students who would otherwise not know each other, and gives them the opportunity to share ideas and make connections. It provides Oregon student councils with an easy outlet to keep in touch with other councils and bring ideas that are working for others to their school. Fueled by the passion of the adults and teens alike, OASC manages to build the necessary support network that keeps student councils running smoothly.
At the OASC Winter Energizer, the adults are passionate about leadership and service, and they manage to create an infectious atmosphere of fun. During the event, which was themed after the Winter Olympics, we learned a number of important skills for a student leader. They ranged from being more inclusive of the student body, to how to make the school more “green,” to how to liven up a crowd at an assembly.
I always look forward to OASC events and find myself loving them even more the 2nd, 3rd, or even 10th time around. I strongly encourage any student interested in leadership to participate in an OASC event. You don’t just have to be in student council. You can be a team captain, an NHS leader, a club president, or a group project leader; they are all equally important and you will receive the same benefits from attending. I love OASC!
A Reflection by SBO Treasurer Devon Bathon
In the last two years, I have attended four Oregon Association of Student Council (OASC) events. I was introduced to OASC via the summer leadership camp, which I decided to attend in order to prepare for my senior year as a Student Body Officer. When I arrived at the camp, I felt at home because I was greeted by lots of high energy students from all over the state. Throughout the week I established long-lasting connections with some of the students from my counsel and even helped one friend prepare for and organize the inaugural winter semiformal dance at their high school.
While the OASC Winter Energizer is a way for students to reconnect with OASC friends and gain new ones, the main goal is to “energize” student leaders to be successful through the end of the school year. Around this time of year it’s easy to be worn down from previous school projects and events, as well as mentally exhausted from school work and extracurricular activities.
Without OASC, every year would have a learning curve for new leaders within their school, as the student leaders would have to start from scratch thinking of assemblies, dance themes and other student-led activities. OASC helps us gain valuable tools and creative ideas to continue contributing to our school, community, family and even our friends. During these workshops guest speakers, advisers and even students talk about different organizations and events a school can participate in to help their communities and school be active and successful.
One of my favorite activities is something the OASC calls “Speedership.” During Speedership, students break into small groups and spend 5-10 minutes discussing topics such as school spirit, fundraisers, technology and community service. Each student shares some unique ideas on the topic at hand.
Every time I attend the Winter Energizer, I learn a little more about leadership, and even more about my friends, and myself. OASC has given me the skills I need to improve as a leader, and those skills have, in turn, helped me give back to Valley Catholic.
There aren’t words enough to describe the incredible feelings I have for OASC and for Valley Catholic. I would like to thank OASC Director Nancy Moen and Student Activities Director Mary Donovan. I also want to thank Valley Catholic for opening its doors to students from other schools and establishing the Winter Energizer for all to enjoy.
OASC is a non-profit member association, serving middle and high schools throughout the state. OASC provides leadership development to both students and advisors. OASC is governed by an Executive Board comprised of 10 adults and 10 students.
Laura Sams (Sis) and Robert Sams (Bro) talk about how to make a book with VCES students
Authors Laura and Robert Sams of Sisbro Productions visited Valley Catholic Elementary School in February and presented their “Oceans, Pirates, and Writing Ahoy” during an assembly. Laura and Robert have created several videos based on the books by their cousins; Carl R. Sams II and Jean Stoick. They have also created the video “Riddle in a Bottle” and their own book, “A Pirate’s Quest.” The brother and sister team enjoys sharing their talents through author visits and live performances each year. They have performed at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Chicago Field Museum, and to hundreds of schools and libraries across the United States. They have also traveled outside the U.S. to present to schools as far away as Dubai.
Laura Sams (Sis) and Robert Sams (Bro)
Sisbro programs are interactive and age-appropriate. They work to provide a good mix of education and entertainment — mixing stories, music, video clips, art, and humor with learning theory. “I want them to feel like they can tell their own stories, about whatever it is that they love,” said Laura Sams. “We happen to love the ocean and the animals.”
The idea for “A Pirate’s Quest” started with aquatic wildlife, because water covers most of the planet, the authors told their audience. The Sams threw a beach ball of the Earth into the student audience and counted how many fingers landed on water as children caught it — more fingers landed on water than on land each time. That idea led the authors to their story: A pirate who lost his family heirloom peg leg and must travel through different waters to find it.
The students thoroughly enjoyed the presentations and have asked to see their videos and listen to their stories over and over.
You can learn more about Sisbro by visiting their site here.
Update -On March 1, Valley Catholic Middle School was informed that Kasper Adamiec qualified to represent Valley Catholic Middle School and participate at the State Level of the National Geographic Bee, sponsored by Google and Plum Creek. The State Bee is to be held on April 9, 2010 at Western Oregon University in Monmouth.
One winner from the state will advance to the national competition, which will be held in May, at the National Geographic Society Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
We wish Kasper the best of luck!
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Valley Catholic School AP Biology students recently participated in a program called “Discover OHSU.” The program is designed to allow advanced high school biology students to visit the OHSU hospital, learn about a few hospital programs, and further their understanding of human anatomy. To get to the hospital, the students enjoyed taking the tram there and back so they could get a great view of the Willamette River and the city.
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Valley Catholic’s Drama Department just wrapped up their production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
VCHS Drama Director Ginnie Sutfin said “If I had to sum it up in one sentence, I would say that Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat—with a cast of 60 elementary, middle, and high school students, sold-out crowds, and delighted audiences, is Valley Catholic’s most successful production ever.” She expressed praise of what the cast, crew and directors of the show accomplished.
See photos taken by long-time volunteer Scott Cary and read the preview article written by senior Rebecca Kravitz and edited by senior Lara Walsh.
It’s that time of year again. Walking into the auditorium any day after school after Christmas Break you would have found both cast and crew members alike singing, dancing, acting, and working hard on this year’s spring musical. For the past 40 years, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat has been performed by both professional and amateur groups. More than 20,000 schools have performed this light-hearted musical, and now Valley Catholic can be added to that list.
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Congratulations to the Valley Catholic CYO Swim Team on winning the league championship this season.
You can see a final collection of team points below:
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Story and Photos by 9th Grade Student Yamini Naidu, of Valley Catholic School and Member of Beaverton Mayor’s Youth Advisory Board
The Annual Maryville Senior Prom was held Tuesday, Feb. 16. The Beaverton Mayor’s Youth Advisory Board (MYAB) hosted the event to give the Maryville residents an enjoyable night of fun and merriment.
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