At the March 9 regular board meeting:

Capital Programs Report – Heidi Rosenberg, Captial Programs Director, indicated in her report to the board that the construction bids for the Garver Theater are due on April 8. Construction is slated to begin May 2020 and end May 2021. We already have our first event planned for the newly restored theater: Hayes Freedom High School graduation in June 2021!

Heidi also indicated that Woodburn Elementary is experiencing a remarkable growth spurt in enrollment. This summer, we will add their first portable which will allow for two additional classrooms.

Superintendent's Report – Jeff Snell gave an overview of our current situation regarding the novel coronavirus COVID-19. He indicated that while we have not yet seen a case in Camas, we are actively monitoring the developing situation and evaluating which events may need to be modified, suspended or postponed. We have also increased cleaning cycles with an emphasis on high-contact areas. Jeff also said we have contingency plans in place for closing schools, should that be necessary.

Pictured: Board President Connie Hennessey, Cole Schluter, and Superintendent Jeff Snell.

Cole Schluter
In a recent wrestling invitational in Hoquiam, Cole found a fifty-dollar bill on the gym floor and turned it in at the announcer’s desk. What stood out was the way Cole told the superintendent and other Hoquiam officials about the money sharing that he wanted to get the word out in hopes the bill would make it back to its owner. The rightful owner was eventually found and they were very happy about the ‘honest individual’ who returned the money.

In an email to us, the Hoquiam superintendent wrote, "The Camas wrestling program, high school, and community can be proud to know that Cole represented all of you in a positive manner. Interestingly, a group of us followed Cole throughout the day and cheered him on as he wrestled during the tournament."

Way to represent, Cole!

Pictured: (back row) Al Moller, Lloyd Stoller, Randy Dickerson, Mike Trumble, Steve McCarthy, (middle row) Taunya Stainbrook, Alona Dickerson, Amy Stoller, Angela Severson, Athletic Director Rory Oster, (front) Board President Connie Hennessey, and Superintendent Jeff Snell.

Camas Athletics Boosters Board
The board of Camas Athletics Boosters is a group of servants that are continually working and volunteering their time to support the student-athletes of Camas School District and its athletic programs. They are directly responsible for providing supplemental funding of over $60,000 per school year to Camas HS, Liberty MS, and Skyridge MS athletic programs.

From running concessions and apparel stands at home football games, to organizing banner sponsorship programs at CSD facilities, to putting on large fundraisers like the annual golf tournament in September, these dedicated pros put in hours upon hours of volunteer work for Camas athletics. They are also responsible for funding the Camas High School athletics hall of fame events, which is genuinely the best hall of fame ceremony in the whole state!

Would you like to see more? Agendas, supporting documents, and minutes are always posted here.

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On February 24, CHS Knowledge Bowl traveled to Lower Columbia College in Longview and toppled the competition at the SW Washington Regional Knowledge Bowl Tournament.

"We won the varsity tournament, placing first and second overall, thus qualifying one of our teams to go to State," relays Advisor Sam Greene. "And the JV teams also did very well, winning the JV tournament by taking first and second overall out of nine total! In short, the kids did us proud once again." See full details here.

Pictured: JV Teams #1 and #5 who placed first and second respectively. Check out many more photos here.

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Just ask these 4th and 5th graders from around the district, Math Is Cool! Congratulations to Grass Valley for taking 1st place, Prune Hill for their 2nd place finish, and Fox taking 3rd place!

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Over the weekend, 12 Camas DECA students medaled at the state competition and 30 qualified for the International Career Development Conference (ICDC) in Nashville, Tenn., in late April. Advisor Suzie Downs stated, "We are so proud of these students, as Washington DECA is one of the most competitive programs in the nation. Please take time out to congratulate them."

Two buses loaded with 75 students made the trip to Bellevue to compete against 3,600 competitors. Students needed to place in the top seven in their role-play category and written events to earn a spot at ICDC. See how they fared here.

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At Dorothy Fox Elementary, on March 2, the entire KDFX Fox morning news program — including lunch menu, birthdays, and general announcements – was written in Dr. Seuss rhyme for his birthday. Too awesome not to share! Kudos to Sarah Logan in the Dorothy Fox Library. (The Seuss part happens in about the first 2:20 minutes, followed by the talking Melvil Dewey character.)

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Check out the Camas Robotics team's new robot, Artemis, who's all geared up for the competition season. The FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) team 2471 – AKA Team Mean Machine – helps students expand their knowledge in STEM-related activities while also giving them strong team and business skills. The team is always looking for additional mentors, and in just a few months, students can get involved in next year's team. To get a feel for what they're all about, see the calendar at https://team2471.org, and then swing by a competition.

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Our friends at Camas Parks and Rec are looking for student input on which movies to show this summer for their Movies in the Park season. Every year, students determine which four movies will run each Friday night in August at Crown Park. Voting ends March 13. Results will be posted on the City of Camas Parks & Recreation Facebook page and in the next CSD Newsroom. Please click on the following link to have your child participate in this annual vote: https://forms.gle/1Nt5X3B62Ubi2HJbA

Descriptions of the movies listed can be found on www.imdb.com and www.commonsensemedia.org/reviews is a useful site for movie reviews from the viewpoints of parents and youth.

If you have any questions regarding Movies in the Park, please contact Krista Bashaw, Special Events Coordinator with the City of Camas, kbashaw@cityofcamas.us . Thank you for your participation and your support of Camas Parks & Recreation.

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Get your paperwork filled out and come ready for our Kindergarten Registration events – also known as Kindergarten Orientation – where you and your child will meet teachers and staff, learn about the kindergarten curriculum, and take a ride on a real school bus! For more info, visit www.camas.wednet.net or contact District Registrar Maria Spencer at 360-833-5410.

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Under the direction of Ethan Chessin and with the support of Young Audiences of Oregon & SW Washington (an arts education nonprofit), the Camas High School Choir will be performing with Luz Elena Mendoza – a songwriter, guitarist, and frontwoman of Latin folk group Y La Bamba, based in Portland – and you're invited! It’s happening Fri., April 17, at Revolution Hall in Portland. Doors 7:30 p.m., show at 8:30 p.m. Get tickets and details here.

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The showcase will feature a performance by the Camas High School Dance Team, the Camas Middle Schools Dance Team, soloists from both teams, and more! Tickets are $10 at the door (11 a.m. – 12 p.m.) Doors open at 11:30 a.m. All proceeds go to the CHS dance team for costumes, choreography, and camps.

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Get your tickets to the Camas Theatre production of "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying," taking place March 13-21.

Email: communications@camas.wednet.edu
Website: camas.wednet.edu
Location: 841 Northeast 22nd Avenue, Camas, WA, USA
Phone: 360-335-3000
Facebook: facebook.com/CamasSchools
Twitter: @CamasSchools