HSD News Round-Up

Students at HHES raised salmon from eggs to full grown fish, witnessing their life cycle in the classroom. This May, it was finally time for these salmon to be released into the wild. Students in Ms. Ruestig, Ms. Chavez, Ms. Beaty, Ms. Skar, and Mr. Tracey’s classes released the salmon at Salmon Creek Park on May 17 and 18.

Salmon in the Classroom is a partnership program with Columbia Springs Education Center in Vancouver, WA. “This program allows students to get up close and personal with the amazing life history and cultural significance of salmon in the PNW. Salmon are keystone species in this area and are facing many different threats from natural ones to human caused,” said Melissa Topping, Salmon in the Classroom Coordinator. “Plus, students grow a real attachment to their salmon and it’s really special for them to release their fish at the end of the year and send them off on their journey.”

The salmon are released in the spring because they’re mature enough to start hunting in a stream ecosystem in this season. HHES students raised Coho salmon, which spend about a year in freshwater streams like Salmon Creek before migrating to the ocean.

Dave Olson, who joined the HSD Board of Directors in August 2005, stepped down from the Board at its April 24 meeting to spend more time with family. Olson assisted in guiding the district through a number of challenges and to several noteworthy achievements during his tenure. The Hockinson community is invited to salute Olson and his 18 years of service to our schools at the June 27 Board Meeting (6:30 pm at the Hockinson Community Center). Read an interview with Olson here.

Our community puts the fun in FUNdraiser! Earlier this month, HHES families came together for the HHES Fun Run, organized by Hockinson Parents Working Together (PWT.) With each lap that students ran around the track, more funds were raised through community pledges. 61% of HHES students registered for the Fun Run and 45% of students pledged. In total, the event resulted in 696 pledges and $29,541 raised for classroom experiences and field trips!

Transitional Kindergarten (TK) - 12th grade student artists displayed their artwork at the annual District Visual Arts Show held on the evening of May 12. Fun fact: The HSD art show has been held for over a decade and features over 200 pieces of art!

For Hockinson Heights Elementary School art teacher Ms. O’Neill-Bratt, seeing student art created by TK through high school seniors is “awe-inspiring.” For her, a fun aspect of the show is perusing the artwork and coming across names she recognizes from their time in her classroom years prior.

For students, having their artwork displayed in a more formal gallery setting and exposed to those beyond their immediate family instills a sense of accomplishment, Hockinson Middle School art teacher Ms. Marano observed. Her favorite part of the show is how frequently attendees mistake the middle school artwork for those done by high school students.

The District Visual Arts Show demonstrates how levy-funded art programs are essential to the student learning experience. “The community has always responded very well with lots of praise for the kids and statements of how truly impressed they are with the level of work our kids produce,” Ms. Marano said.

The HSD is transitioning to a new Chromebook collection format. Starting this June students have the option of keeping their Chromebooks throughout the summer. This year, the only group of students to turn in their Chromebooks is the Class of 2023. Students in Grades 6-11 have the option of returning their Chromebooks by the end of the day on June 20. For those opting to keep their Chromebooks, it is important to know that the HSD Assurance Policy will remain in effect throughout the summer and cover repairs not caused by student negligence. Students and families: Please keep track of your Chromebook (and charging cable). It is an important learning and testing device. The cost of a replacement Chromebook is $364. A charging cable costs $20.

Next June, schools will collect Chromebooks from our outgoing 8th Graders and 12th Graders. The HSD will enact a new Chromebook replacement schedule by issuing new Chromebooks to students in Grades 6 and 9. Our Chromebooks will age out by 2026 and this schedule will enable us to keep our Chromebooks current and put the HSD on an affordable replacement rotation.

The following camps are hosted by Hockinson Community Ed in collaboration with the Hockinson High School Athletic Department. For more information, click here.

• Lil’ Hawks Football Camp: June 27-June 29

$60 2nd-8th grade for the 2023/2024 school year

• All Sports Summer Strength & Conditioning: June 26-August 10

$75 7th-12th grade for the 2023/2024 school year

• Tennis Camp: July 10-July 14

$80 9th-12th grade for the 2023/2024 school year

• Lil’ Hawks Cheer Camp: July 31-August 2

$80 1st-8th grade for the 2023/2024 school year

• Basketball Camp: August 1-August 3

$80 3rd-6th grade for the 2023-2024 school year

Congratulations to…

• the HMS Boys Track Team, which recently won the Southwest Washington Middle School League Track Meet. There were fourteen teams in the league meet this year, so this really is a remarkable achievement.

• the cast and crew of the HHS Spring Musical Beauty and the Beast, which concluded the shows’ seven-performance run on Saturday, May 20. The months of practice and dedication resulted in an amazing and entertaining production: The musical received rave reviews from younger and older audiences alike.

• the HHS Boys Soccer Team for qualifying for the State Tournament; Hailey Saeman, Grant Gumringer and Ethan Wall for qualifying for State Golf; and Zieynita Stidum and Celia Racanelli for qualifying for the State Track Meet. An additional Congrats to Saeman for qualifying for Day 2 competition and Racanelli for clearing 9’ 6” in the Pole Vault and placing 5th in State!

Thank You to…

• Cheryl Dorotik, Katie O’Malley-Soot, Mary Smith, and Janell Morley. This Fantastic Four were recognized for their reliability, willingness to assist wherever needed, and unwavering dedication to Hockinson School District and its students.