HSD News Round-up

At its Nov. 29 Regular Board Meeting, the Hockinson School Board voted to approve an Educational Programs and Operations Levy resolution. The decision places the proposed four-year levy on the Feb. 8, 2022 special election ballot.

If approved, the levy would replace the district’s current levy, which is set to expire at the end of 2022. This replacement levy will help to continue important programs and services for students not funded or underfunded by the state of Washington, including:

• Extracurricular activities, including all clubs and athletics
• Co-curricular activities such as band and theater
• Health and safety services such as school nurses and custodial and security staff
• Transportation for students
• Special education services for students with special needs

HSD families will receive additional information on the upcoming levy in January. The district’s levy page will be launched January 3 and an in-person and online informational night is scheduled for Tuesday, January 11. News articles on the levy are available now at The Columbian and Clark County Today.

HHES staff started the year with an ambitious vision: To collaborate and align practices so that every student will be a proficient reader by the end of 2nd Grade. Their commitment to literacy does not stop there. Read more in the article “HHES Rallies around Reading.”

Congratulations HMS Hornets! Last Friday, the 2021 HMS Canned Food Drive reached an impressive milestone: It surpassed the old school record of 5,223 canned food items...and it still has a week to go. Principal Meredith Gannon would like to thank the Hockinson community and HMS families for their generous contributions to this annual service project. Gannon has been amazed by the way staff and students have rallied around the shared goal of helping local families-in-need, saying, “This entire effort has exceeded expectations. I am so appreciative of the HMS community.” Fire District 3 Chief Scott Sorenson visited the school on December 6 to thank event organizer Joe Loper and his students, who now have a new goal of amassing 7,000 canned food items to donate to the fire department’s Toy & Food Drive! Sorenson informed the group that these items will benefit over 20 Hockinson families that have requested assistance this season.

HMS is accepting donations of non-perishable food items until December 16.

With wins over Wahkiakum, Prairie, and RA Long, the HHS Varsity Girls Basketball Team will defend its 3-0 record tonight at Hudson’s Bay HS. The Varsity Boys Basketball Team, after playing its first four games on the road, returns home for a game against Ridgefield at 6 pm on Monday, Dec. 13. Meanwhile, Boys Wrestling is gearing up for a tournament at La Center HS this Saturday while the Girls Wrestling Team has a tournament on Dec. 17 at Ridgefield HS. The final meet of 2021 for the HHS Boys Swim Team is slated for Dec. 13 at Lacamas Athletic Club. Hockinson sports fans can find all Winter Sports schedules here.

A familiar face and name will ring in a New Year of HSD Community Education programs. Alex Elerick, a 2017 graduate of Hockinson High School and current Community Ed employee, is excited to provide Hockinson families with Community Ed staples such as Before and After School Adventures, recent additions like Hockinson Saturday Market, and new programs like...well, you will just have to wait and see. We want to thank outgoing Director Charity Schadt for her years of service to the Hockinson community.

You can check out HSD Community Ed offerings at its website and new Facebook page. You can contact Alex with questions and program ideas at alexander.elerick@hocksd.org