HSD News Round-up

Have you noticed the new t-shirts being worn by HSD custodian’s this spring? Good! That’s the point.

The shirts were purchased for a number of reasons, two of the biggest being improved visibility and campus safety. “Our custodians are key players in our schools,” said Superintendent Steve Marshall. “They clean, maintain, and secure our facilities. They are also frequently called upon to assist students, staff, and visitors day and night. Our hope is that these shirts are comfortable for our custodians and make them more visible and easily identifiable as a school employee during both the school day and evenings.”

The shirts display an HSD logo on the front and “STAFF” lettering on the back. The t-shirt design is common across all three HSD schools.

Charlie Varney, a 9th Grader at Hockinson High School, has been named a STEM Rising Star for Clark County. The STEM Rising Star program is a cooperative effort by Washington STEM, ESD 112, and Career Connect Washington to “encourage girls to embrace science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and explore the use of STEM in ways that will support their education, career, and personal development as well as the needs of others.” Varney was nominated by HHS staff for her interest in math and science and her involvement in the school’s successful FIRST Robotics Competition Team.

Varney and other honorees will be recognized at a STEM Rising Star and Regional Partner Awards event on June 6.

The AAA Boosters are excited to be bringing Hockinson Fun Days back to the Hockinson community after a two year hiatus. They invite all families to come out on Friday, June 3 and Saturday, June 4 and join the fun.

According to Julie Atchley, President of the AAA Boosters, this event “requires a lot of coordination as well as a lot of volunteers especially the day-of to make it a fun and safe event for all ages.” Fun Days is in need of both adult and student volunteers. Please consider signing up on the Booster’s Sign Up Genius for a volunteer shift and help out for a few hours.

Hockinson High School celebrated ten more college-bound scholar athletes at its Spring Signing Day ceremony held in the school’s commons on Thursday, May 12. When added to the seven fall signees, HHS now boasts a total of 17 athletes from the Class of 2022 who will compete at the next level! Congratulations to:

Gracie Birkinbine- Clark (Track); Nora Roscoe- Clark (Track); Amanda Jeschke- Clark College (Soccer); Garrett LeDoux- Central Washington University (Rugby); Andrew Domingos- Eastern Oregon University (Football); Andre Northrup- Western Oregon (Football); Kasen Goleman- College of Idaho (Football); Kenyon Johnson- Southern Oregon University (Football); Cody Wheeler- Whitworth University (Football and Track) and Trey Williams- Corban University (Baseball).

One topic that comes up every few years is a school levy. However, a levy’s impact is felt every day between ballots. The HSD’s Technology Replacement Cycle illustrates one answer to the question: “Where do the levy dollars go?”

One thing voters may not realize is that levies are funded on a January-December cycle, whereas school funding from the state is delivered on a September-October cycle. This means that the current funding for such things as band concerts, sports, nurses and supplies comes from the levy passed by Hockinson voters in 2019 (funds from the levy passed in February 2022 won’t become available in January of 2023.)

Another critical expense covered by levy dollars is instructional technology. The HSD Tech Department is currently wrapping up Year 1 of a six-year replacement cycle for school and classroom technology. As a result, for the first time in eleven years teachers and staff at HHS will have a new desktop computer and monitor when they start the 2022-23 school year! Next year, high school classrooms will receive new document cameras, projectors, and cables. Some classrooms will also receive new voice amplification hardware. Once completed, the focus will shift to HHES for 2023-25 and HMS in 2025-27.

This replacement cycle only includes hard-wired school technology. HSD leaders are currently planning how the district will cover the costs associated with replacing student Chromebooks, which are necessary for state testing and online learning activities.

The HHS Marching Band will be joined by the HMS Marching Band (pictured) at the Hazel Dell Parade on Saturday, May 21. This year’s parade theme is “Back in the Saddle, Again.” More parade information can be found here.

Both bands will continue to march on, appearing in the June 4 Fun Days Parade. The HHS Marching Band will also march in the Portland Rose Festival’s Starlight Parade later that same evening.

Schools are at their best when staff, parents, and students are working together. With that in mind, we would like to offer a big “Thank You” to Hockinson families and community members for your generous support of events like the recent HHES & HMS Fun Runs and upcoming HHS Grad Night Party and last night’s Band Benefit Dinner and Auction (pictured). Funds raised by efforts like these provide students with opportunities (field trips, uniforms, equipment, safe and supervised events) they might not be able to access otherwise. Your support creates memories for our students and gives them a chance to shine, putting them on a path to future success.

Your thoughtful cards and gifts for our classified staff, teachers, nurses, and bus drivers make a difference for our dedicated employees. A little recognition goes a long way and we appreciate all of the support you’ve shown our staff this year and every year.

Website: hocksd.org
Location: 17912 NE 159th St, Brush Prairie, WA 98606
Phone: (360) 448-6400
Facebook: facebook.com/HockinsonSchools