For those of you following the tremendous success of 2003 Valley graduate and two-time sabre fencing gold medalist Mariel Zagunis, linked below is a great, local article written by the Catholic Sentinel who has been following her since she was 16. The staff and students at Valley Catholic are proud of her continued success and to be able to name her among our great alumni.

Valley Catholic grad grabs gold once again
Catholic Sentinel - Portland, OR, USA

From Beaverton to the Top of the World
Beaverton Valley Times - Portland, OR, USA

Valley Catholic Middle School prepares students for high school by teaching valuable skills, such as researching, reading, writing, and public speaking. In a year-end activity, 8th grade students applied these skills in a mock congressional hearing on six controversial scientific topics.

Inspired by a fellowship through Oregon Health and Science University two years ago, June Poling and Courtney Ferrari, science and history teachers respectively, developed a curriculum to integrate their subjects.  8th graders study biology, genetics and ethics in science class; government and civics in social studies. In May, students were assigned to groups and researched a current controversy in biomedical or agricultural science.  Topics included stem cell research, performance-enhancing drugs, and genetically modified crops.

Student groups researched each topic from the perspectives of multiple stakeholders and then made a recommendation for government oversight.  In the case of stem cell research, for example, they considered the viewpoints of doctors, patients, researchers, and the Church; those researching antibiotics in livestock considered the positions of farmers, scientists, and consumers. Student Hollin Metz explained that “it was hard coming up with a conclusion with rival views about antibiotics.”

Students learned in US history that the committee process is an important forum for civic involvement in making laws. They understood that concerned citizens as well as experts in a given field present testimony to committees when measures are under consideration.

On May 27th & 28th, student groups presented their findings and recommendations for or against government action to a panel of community members, who represented a mock congressional committee.  Panelists for the medical topics included a biochemist, internist and a pediatrician. Volunteering for the agriculture panel were two farmers and a horticulturalist from Oregon State University.

After a 5-minute presentation from each topic group, panel members questioned students on their findings, just as a congressional committee would question experts giving testimony.  Finally, the panel offered feedback to each group. Students were commended for the thoroughness of their research and for the varied positions they considered.  Weston Miller, from OSU’s Extension Service, was impressed that viewpoints included not only scientific and economic stakeholders but religious ones. Mr. Miller encouraged students to think about the practicality of labeling foods for genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and to also take care in citing sources with as little bias as possible.

Students were nervous before the hearings and exhilarated when they were over. As a group leader for the GMO issue, Claire Rutledge felt that “presenting our topic to a panel of judges was exciting and I think it really tested our knowledge.”

Recently graduated 8th grader Aishwarya Vardhana researched the science behind the stem cell debate. “This project is one of the best projects I have been involved in this year.  I found my topic very interesting and intriguing and may even consider pursuing this field for a career.  I hope next year’s eighth graders get as much out of this project as I did.”

-Submitted by Courtney Ferrari, Valley Catholic Middle School

After high demand in the local community, Valley Catholic Elementary School (formerly known as St. Mary of the Valley School) now offers two classes of full-day kindergarten. The Kindergarten program now runs the same length as other grades in the elementary school from 7:50 a.m. to 2:40 p.m.

Lauri Davis, who has been teaching Kindergarten students since the program’s inception in 1985, will continue to teach her students in a new classroom across campus located at Valley Catholic Early Learning School (formerly Little Flower Development Center).

The other Kindergarten class will be taught by newcomer Melissa Boyles who has a stellar background teaching school-aged children. Her classroom will be located on the 1st floor of Valley Catholic Elementary School in the Convent building of the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon.

Beloved third grade teacher, Sr. Barbara Rose Sohler, was invited this summer to participate in two programs for the National Endowment for the Humanities. Her trip took her to New York City, where she attended a workshop about Religion, Culture and Immigration in the East Side.

The program included a study of the history of the Dutch, English, African-American, Irish, Italian, Jewish and Chinese settlements. She learned about the sweatshops of the 19th century and the labor movements that helped change working conditions.

Every day, they walked to monuments, tenement houses, historic buildings, churches and synagogues to study the architecture and time period of each. She sampled different ethnic foods, heard many languages spoken, and enjoyed the sights, sounds and smells of the city. She talked about how New York can absorb and intermingle many cultures, while still allowing each area to retain its own unique customs, food, language, dress and music. She is grateful for the rich experience offered by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

It’s been a busy summer at Valley Catholic Early Learning School (VCELS).  Wild West Summerfest week brought horse and pony rides to the campus. Next, the children took a trip downtown to meet the Portland Mounted Police and to learn how they help to keep the city safe.  The Little League World Series, Elephant Park, the Oregon Zoo and OMSI were also trips the children at VCELS have taken this summer.  One of their favorite outings was during Enchanted Week, a week filled with fairy tales, dress up and imagination.  That week included a visit to Round Table Pizza, joining the “Knights” for lunch activities!  To end the summer’s adventures, The Incredible Race Week brought roller skating and remote control car races.  What a blast!

The ages of the children at VCELS range from infants through twelve years old.  An important part of the philosophy is to create an environment where wonderful childhood memories are made by each child every day. According to Janet Lynn, VCELS Program Coordinator, “Little Valley tries to expose each child to all the fun things that make up the teachers’ and parents’ best memories of being a child.”  This includes things that many children might not have the opportunity to participate in otherwise, like picking berries, watching baseball games, visiting a dairy and even choosing a treat from a (staff driven) ice cream truck!

The Rosebuds and Daffodils (infants and toddlers) are often seen around campus in their wagons and strollers.  They enjoy visits from their siblings and Snapdragons (school-aged children) who come into their environments to play and interact with them.  Their special guests and activities coincide with the themes and field trips of the older children- they just occur on campus!

When the Pre-Kindergarten and school aged children aren’t out on field trips or running through sprinklers, they are intellectually engaged through at least three theme-based projects each day including story and reading time, science experiments, math and manipulatives.

As school begins in September, VCELS days will settle back into a more structured environment for the children.  Daily curriculum include a Bible focus, an honored children’s author, intergenerational activities with Valley Catholic Middle School and Maryville Nursing Home, monthly cultural celebrations, beginning Spanish, library times and many activities focused on teaching the whole child.  While the little ones miss their school age buddies, the teachers plan many fun activities throughout the school year to maintain those bonds formed all summer long.