A Legacy for Uplifting Hockinson: Chris Turner of Hockinson Public Schools Foundation to Transition from Board President Role
After ten years of service to the Hockinson Public Schools Foundation, Chris Turner is stepping down as Board President at the end of the school year. The Hockinson Public Schools Foundation looks ahead to a bright future thanks to Turner. He departs having secured tens of thousands of dollars in new, recurring scholarships for Hockinson graduates starting with the Class of 2022. The Hockinson Public Schools Foundation now offers six scholarships totaling nearly $55,000 annually. While these scholarships have varying criteria, they all support graduating HHS seniors attain advanced career preparation or pursue post-secondary education.
Turner takes satisfaction in the growth of the Foundation. After all, more scholarships mean more opportunities for Hockinson's students. “It is gratifying and fulfilling to know I'm leaving the Foundation in the very capable hands of a new board with great potential for benefiting our schools and community,” said Turner. “For my family, Hockinson is not only where we live, but who we are.”
When told of Turner's comments, Superintendent Steve Marshall nodded in affirmation. "That is absolutely what Chris and the Foundation are all about. Hockinson rallies around its schools and Chris, the Foundation, and its donors have dedicated themselves to lifting up our graduates." Marshall added, "I am so thankful for all Chris has done. He's helped to write a pretty amazing chapter in our history and created a brighter future for our students and all of us, really."
Robotics Team Mean Machine Charges into Competition Season
Let's hear it for Team Mean Machine and its successful start to the 2023 season! The team finished first at the PNW District Wilsonville Tournament on March 10-11, and are gearing up to compete again in Salem on March 24-25. If the team qualifies based on these initial two meets, the team will advance to the PNW District Championship on April 5-8.
FIRST Robotics enables students to apply what they are learning in school in a team setting and develop their skills for the future. "This robotics club has benefitted me a lot. After I graduate from high school, my goal is to earn a PhD in aerospace engineering," said Charlie Varney, a 10th grade student at Hockinson High School.
Team Mean Machine is a combined robotics team representing the Hockinson, Washougal, and Camas School Districts. Learn more about FIRST Robotics, this year's challenge "Charged Up" and Team Mean Machine here.
Community Collaboration
Great job, Graysen!
Graysen Aldridge worked with HMS counselor Nicole Schneider to organize this student-lead event. They also collaborated to bring a semi truck, electric car, and performance race car for event participants to view!
Crafting Cars by Hand
Solar Speed team member, Naya, proudly displays the team's race car. Teams worked for months to build hybrid cars themselves. These cars are powered by solar energy and batteries.
HHES Victory
Hockinson students won 5 trophies and three teams won second and third place titles. Normally, the countywide competition sees over 150 competitors each year.
HSD Buildings to Undergo Spring Cleaning, Upgrades over Break
While Spring Break is synonymous with vacations and rest, our custodial and maintenance staff associate it with an array of facility projects, especially those that are difficult to complete when school is in session.
In addition to the grant funded energy efficiency projects taking place at the Hockinson Community Center/District Office, HHES and HHS, Operations Director Dave Wilson will be coordinating a number of improvements across the district. They include:
Community Center: LED lights installed in Commons
HHS: Installation of new knock-off carpeting in entries
HMS:
- Pressure-washing of courtyard
- Removal of ASB Office wall and installation of new service window
HHES:
Expansion of West Commons Kitchen
LED lights installed in East (Blue) Gym
Repainting of lines in play area
All Schools
Entryways detailed and washing of windows
School-wide cleaning
Deep cleaning of restrooms
We are committed to protecting our community's investments. The 2022 maintenance and enrichment levy provides the HSD with funding so we can keep our buildings safe, compliant, and in good operating condition for school and community use - both now and in the future.
HHS Drama Club Students Qualify for International Competition
After its stellar performances at the Southwest Washington Regional Thespys in January, the HHS Drama Club set its sights on doing more of the same at the state level. They succeeded. This past weekend, the group wrapped up another round of superior performances at the Washington State Thespian Conference at Western Washington University.
Hockinson students performed in Legend of Sleepy Hollow for adjudication and applied for Honor Troupe status. Troupe members participated in immersive theater workshops along with 1,200 other Washington high school students at the state competition. “We’re hoping to bring home a couple of awards, but more importantly, memories of a rich weekend celebrating the theater arts,” Hockinson troupe director Greg Saum said.
A total of thirteen HHS students qualified to compete in the state competition with three earning the right to move on to the next level. Abby Hansen, Jonah Charles, and Alex Gutridge scored Superior on their respective performances and are eligible to advance to the International Thespian Festival held in Bloomington, Indiana where they will audition for the Thespy Showcase. If selected, their performances will be viewed by people around the world.
HHS Jazz Band Plays Up a Division, Finishes First at Clackamas Jazz Festival
The HHS Jazz Band returned to Clackamas Community College this past Saturday to compete in the Clackamas Jazz Festival. The Jazz Band was one of three bands invited back to play in the evening finals competition in the 5A division - the equivalent of the 3A classification in Washington. The musicians took the added challenge in stride and finished with top honors. Avery Viles (trumpet) and Thilo Kluth (trumpet) were also recognized as outstanding soloists.
"This was a great competition for the Jazz Band, and the first in which they went into a competition not knowing which songs they would be performing," said Corey McEnry, HHS Band Director. Bands were required to come prepared with 6 songs ready to play and each director rolled a die on stage to determine which 3 songs would be performed. You can watch the band's preliminary and finals performances here.
The Hockinson High School Band program made a name for itself at the Clackamas competitions. Earlier in the week at the Clackamas Band Festival the Wind Ensemble took 2nd place in the Open (5A/6A) division and the Symphonic Band took 1st place in the Small Schools (1A-4A) division!
Hockinson High School’s Drama Club and Band program are supported by the Hockinson School District Levy. A big "Thank You" to the Hockinson community for enabling our students to pursue their interests, develop skills, and make lifelong memories.
HSD News Bites
Parent-Teacher Conferences Week of 3/27: Next week is devoted to parent-teacher conferences in the HSD. This means all three of our schools will be on 3-hour early release schedules: HHES will release at 11:15 am, HMS at 12:30 pm and HHS at 12:40 pm.
Getting ready for the end of the 2022-23 school year: Save the dates! HHS Graduation on Fri, June 9 at 7 pm and HMS Promotion on Wed, June 14 at 6 pm.
Getting ready for summer: Families can begin registering online on Mon, April 17 for Little Hawks Football Camp, Art Club, and Quick Start Sports Camps. Online registration for Community Education Summer Day Camps opens Tues, May 2. Visit Hockinson Community Education for more information.
Getting ready for the 2023-24 school year: Information on TK, Kindergarten and boundary requests below.
For families interested in Transitional Kindergarten that have a child who will be 4 years old before August 31, please fill out this application FORM by Friday, March 24. After you submit the form, you will get a call from the school to schedule a screening with your child that will take about 30 minutes. HHES will host an information night in late May for families who qualify for TK that will include a program overview as well as an opportunity to talk with the TK teachers, and answer any questions.
For families interested in Kindergarten that have a child who will be 5 years old before August 31, you can register online HERE beginning Monday, April 10. Please note: Families are encouraged to register by Friday, April 28. Please note: To register successfully, families will need to provide proof of residency as well as the student's immunization records and birth certificate. HHES will host its Kindergarten Round-Up, an on-site Kindergarten preview, on Wednesday, May 3.
For families interested in, or currently on, a boundary exception: Boundary exceptions are not granted for Transitional Kindergarten. There are usually a limited number of boundary exceptions available for Kindergarten-Grade 5, although in most cases the school often not know if space will be available until well after the Kindergarten Round-Up, sometimes not until the end of the school year. Boundary requests must be renewed every year. New and returning families can submit a boundary request beginning Monday, May 1.
Contact Us
Email: justine.hanrahan@esd112.org
Website: https://www.hocksd.org/
Location: 17912 NE 159th St, Brush Prairie, WA 98606, USA
Phone: (360) 448-6400