HSD News Round-Up

Although this is only Redeau’s second season with the HSD, his experience with coaching and his involvement with the sport stretches back decades. After all, Redeau grew up in a wrestling family and first stepped onto the mat as a young boy.

Growing up, Redeau always had his father, uncle, and grandfather as his coaches and mentors on and off the mat. He observed the positive impact they had on his teammates and fellow students, even filling in as father figures for those without a role model at home. After graduating college, Redeau felt like it was his turn to give back. The Portland native visited Hockinson after hearing of an open wrestling position and fell in love with the school’s strong sense of community and family support. Redeau and his fellow coaches have taken HHS (and HMS) student-athletes to a whole new level ever since, most recently with HHS placing 2nd overall at the Battle of the Bridge Tournament.

Excellent public schools don’t just happen; they require a team effort. Hockinson Helpers is a place to find opportunities to pitch in for Hockinson’s students. Hockinson Helpers helps to lift HSD students to new heights by linking community expertise to HSD needs in a collaborative and financially responsible way. You'll find volunteer opportunities, call-outs for equipment rental needs, donation requests, and more on our newly launched webpage here.

Thank you, Hockinson community, for helping us create exciting educational experiences for our kids and maintain high quality school facilities for everyone.

The Upward Together Committee will support the upward progress of the Hockinson School District by aligning its focus and efforts with:

• The HSD's motto: "Preparing all students for lifelong success";

• The HSD Strategic Plan (Academics, School Climate & Facilities, and Communication & Community); and

• The "Four Bs" of student-centered improvement: Remove barriers to student participation, learning, and success; monitor and broadcast student voice; enhance student belonging; and show and support a belief in the unlimited potential of every student.

This committee, consisting of staff, students, and parents, will meet four times a year and look for opportunities to improve HSD schools and engage the larger Hockinson community. Space is limited. Interested? Please fill out this form by Friday, February 21, 2024.

We are aiming to feature a Hockinson student in every HSD Round-Up this year. This month, we asked Landon Brown, a 7th grader, a few questions about his time at HMS. This is what Landon had to say:

What are your favorite classes right now?

My favorite classes would probably be Spanish and History.

What do you look forward to most at school?

I look forward to seeing my friends and playing football and basketball at lunch.

What are your favorite after-school activities?

My favorite activity to do after school is to go to my baseball and basketball practices.

Do you have any advice for incoming 6th graders new to HMS?

My advice for the upcoming 6th graders is that if the school year seems like it is tough, it gets better, I promise. Make sure to get all your homework and work done as it will definitely benefit you in your classes and grades.

Have you thought about any plans for the future?

My plan for high school is to play basketball, baseball, and football. I would also do track but I can’t because it is during baseball [season]. But in college, I hope to play baseball for either Oregon State University, Stanford, or Vanderbilt and later in life it is my dream to get drafted and make it into the MLB and be a really successful baseball player.

Thank you for sharing a little bit about yourself, Landon. Best of luck with your classes, sports, and achieving your dreams. We believe in you!

Last year, a number of HHS staff shared a common desire for a better connected workplace community. Following winter break, staff also expressed an interest in getting healthy after the holidays. Enter the Kettle Crew, a committee dedicated to finding creative ways to foster professional bonds and better health. (In case you are wondering, “kettle” doesn’t refer to a container for tea, but a group of hawks soaring together in the air.) Who comprised the crew? Eleven teams were organized to bring together staff who otherwise may not have crossed paths throughout the workday.

The Kettle Crew recently wrapped up their January Wellness Challenge. Underpinning the challenge was a figurative trek from Marseille, France to Florence, Italy. Competitors put their pedometers to good use and earned additional steps towards their destination by completing positive wellness habits, such as strength training and eating lunch as a team. Teams’ steps were tallied each week, and their progress was tracked via flagged pins on a map-progress board in the main office. This high-visibility location helped to sustain participants’ motivation and generate interest. Even students took notice, and with some keenly following the leaderboard and letting participants know about it!

This month-long focus helped to build positive habits for both physical and mental health. While the challenge ended on February 4th, many staff hope to continue their new habits long into the future. Next up for the Kettle Crew is a “Souper Bowl” event featuring a soup potluck and a cooking challenge.

Read the full-length version of this article on our website here.

You may not know him, but you see the results of his leadership on a daily basis. Just last month, HSD Operations Supervisor Dave Wilson and his team of grounds workers and custodians executed a meticulous plan of attack to respond to snowy and icy conditions. Wilson contracted with an excavation company to clear snow from the HSD’s higher-elevation bus stops and district parking lots and prepare all HSD buildings and portables for freezing temperatures by keeping faucets running and heaters on. Wilson came in every day during the storm to do a status check on every HSD campus.

On a day-to-day basis, Wilson bases his action steps on the School Culture & Facilities Goal of the HSD Strategic Plan. That goal identifies the importance of providing “a safe, welcoming, and positive learning environment that supports high academic and behavior expectations for all.” With a focus on safe and quality schools, he and his team have moved forward on a variety of improvement projects across the district, many of which are featured in our weekly Facility Fridays posts. Although he has only been in the HSD for two years, Wilson led his team in:

• Pressure washing and resealing the entire exterior of HHS

• Completing a retaining wall on the HMS track

• Retrofitting lighting at HHES, HHS, and HCC with energy-efficient LED lamps and fixtures

• Replacing HHS entry carpet with new walk-off carpeting at all entrances

• Sanding down, repainting, and refinished the HHS main gym floor

• Installing new security fencing around the HMS play area

• Replacing damaged asphalt in the HCC parking lot and sealing the entire surface

• Upgrading the MPR’s halogen lights with new LED stage lights (featured in our latest Facility Friday)

According to Wilson, these facility improvements symbolize the HSD’s commitment to proactive building maintenance. “I enjoy working in the HSD because our Superintendent and School Board place a priority on addressing building repairs rather than deferring them,” said Wilson. He finds it rewarding to protect the Hockinson community’s investment in its school buildings by prolonging their usable life and enhancing their appearance and functionality. With nearly 40 years of experience working in schools, Wilson prioritizes student wellbeing above all else. “I have always enjoyed working in schools. It makes me happy to see students safe, happy and enjoying the schools,” he said.