May 2015 – Memo Pad

Each day members of our community quietly celebrate milestones, achievements and accomplishments–big and small. This department is meant to showcase these triumphs to the greater community.

When you send submissions, please include all details that apply: full names of any individuals mentioned, details of the milestone and everyone impacted by the event, and a contact name and phone number or email address. Send a photo if you have one.

Please identify each individual from left to right (large group shots can simply be identified by the group name) and provide the name of the photographer so we can give proper credit. Memo Pad submissions for the June issue are due Friday, May 15. For best results, e-mail Darlene Vinson at editor@midcountymemo.com or mail submissions to 3510 N.E. 134th Ave, Portland, OR 97230. To leave a phone message, call 503-287-8904. The Mid-county Memo fax number is 503-249-7672.
Reporter Pat MacAodha contributed to this month’s Memo Pad.

Scot grappler named wrestler of the year
Osawaru Odighizuwa, a David Douglas High junior, keeps racking up the awards. He was recently named the 2014/2015 Oregonian/OregonLive high school wrestler of the year. Odighizuwa completed his second consecutive undefeated season when he claimed the 6A state title at 285 lbs in February. He is now in the running for high school athlete of the year, an award given to the state’s top athlete regardless of sport or classification.

 

Parkrose Middle School principal is best in Oregon
Molly Ouche, principal at Parkrose Middle School, has been named the Oregon Middle School Principal of the Year by the Oregon Association of Secondary School Administrators and the Confederation of Oregon School Administrators.

Ouche arrived in the Parkrose School District in 2000 when she started her Parkrose career as a 7th grade language arts teacher. In 2007 she became assistant principal there, and in 2009 she moved on to the principal’s job.

“This award is truly a reflection of the hard work and commitment of the staff and students at Parkrose Middle School, who I am extremely fortunate to work with. I appreciate and am deeply humbled by the recognition of all of our efforts,” Ouche said.

Parkrose Superintendent Karen Fischer Gray praised Ouche with this comment: “With all of her years of hard work, steadfast vision and strategic leadership, Ouche has been a great leader at the helm of Parkrose Middle School. She and her fantastic assistant principal, Annette Sweeney, have made all of us in Parkrose very proud. Parkrose Middle School is a National AVID Demonstration Site and a level 4/5 middle school.”

Parkrose School District serves 3,400 students in grades K through 12 across four elementary, one middle and one high school. For more information about Parkrose School District, visit www.parkrose.k12.or.us.

 

Parkrose singers go to state
Parkrose High A-choir placed third at the Northwest Oregon Conference Choral Festival, earning a chance to compete at state at George Fox University in Newberg this month. The Debonaires qualified for the state small ensemble contest at Pacific University in Forest Grove by virtue of placing at the Oregon Music Educators Association District 2 event held last month.

 

Bronco earns full ride to U of O
Parkrose High School senior Nathaniel Frary has been awarded the Chick Evans Caddie Scholastic Scholarship for 2015 to the University of Oregon. The scholarship provides full tuition, housing and incidentals for four years.

Frary serves as the president of the Parkrose chapter of the Future Business Leaders of America and was involved with fundraisers including Mr. Bronco for Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, March of Dimes, and Think Pink Week for Breast Cancer. He is also a member of the National Honor Society, student senate, student advisory council, band council, varsity baseball, mock trial, theater, and jazz and symphonic bands, and he was the unit team captain for We the People. At the University of Oregon, Nate plans to major in business administration and minor in music technology.

“This has been a fantastic experience,” Nate said, “and I’d like to thank the staff and members at Columbia Edgewater and Riverside Golf and Country Clubs for their support, as well as all of my teachers.”

The Evans Scholar scholarship fund was founded in 1929 by then-famous amateur golfer Charles “Chick” Evans; the first two awards were earned in 1930. Today, there are nearly 900 scholars attending 19 different universities across the nation. As one of golf’s favorite charities, it is the nation’s largest privately funded, full-tuition-and-housing scholarship program. The Western Golf Association is entrusted with the selection of award winners who have met the qualifications that include a strong caddie record, high academic achievement, leadership involvement in their school and community service activities. The selection of the finalists was held at the Lake Oswego Country Club, where each candidate was interviewed in front of local business and community leaders as well as WGA directors.

 

Record attendance boosts proceeds
What a party it was! Supporters of the Parkrose Educational Foundation gathered last month for its 12th annual dinner and auction. Hard work by the PEF board and auction committee was rewarded by record attendance, $51,000 in gross receipts and $9,000 for the special appeal bid in support of music education in all Parkrose schools.

Proceeds from this event enable the Parkrose Educational Foundation to continue to fund activities that enhance the educational experience of Parkrose students, such as field trips, clothes closets, books, resources for special needs students, Outdoor School, AVID and more.

 

DDSD Preparing for Next Year’s Kindergarten
Kindergarten registration for the 2015-2016 David Douglas School District began in March, but to provide an up close and personal introduction, DDSD provided its annual Connect to Kindergarten, Tuesday evening, April 21, offering opportunities for parents and children to learn about the District’s kindergarten programming. Teachers and principals were on hand at each of the District’s ‘s nine elementary schools, to talk about the District’s registration process, meet with parents and kids, and maybe take a brief tour of a school bus. More than 260 visitors attended the gathering, which also offered opportunities for parents to sign their children up for the coming school year.

Parents who missed the event can still register their child at their neighborhood elementary school until June 1. The child must be five-years-old by September 1.

Since school offices will be closed during the summer, registering your future kindergartener by June 1 is to your advantage; you and your child will have time to get acquainted with her/his school and teacher, and gain access to summer programs and free resources. Parents who are not certain which elementary school is in their neighborhood should call 503-256-6526.

 

Community steps up for homeless
Human Solutions’ auction and gala raised more than $80,000 to support the agency’s programs for homeless families. Human Solutions promotes self-sufficiency for homeless and low-income families and individuals in outer east Portland and east Multnomah County. Approximately 230 guests attended the April 11 event at the Melody Ballroom in Southeast Portland. The event featured silent and live auctions, a buffet dinner and dancing to live East Coast jazz, swing and pop by Portland’s Shanghai Woolies.

Human Solutions’ four primary program areas are direct services to homeless families, affordable housing, employment and economic development, and safety net services to prevent homelessness, such as rent assistance and utility assistance. For more information, visit www.humansolutions.org.

 

Student senate aids communication, encourages civic involvement
Parkrose Activities Director Mike Verhulst and Portland Parks & Recreation SUN Community School Site Manager Travis Richardson developed the Parkrose High Student Senate for the 2014-15 school year. Student representatives from various clubs and organizations developed the school’s first senate. Organizations such as the student government, National Honor Society, MEChA, Black Student Union, and Tri-M Music Society make up the Senate.

The senate was formed as a way to help student organizations communicate more effectively regarding events taking place at the school. Along with working on school-related events, Travis Richardson was able to work with the City Club of Portland to allow the student senate to participate in the Civic Scholars Program. Civic Scholars is designed to get students out of the classroom in order to engage in civic discussions with city planners. Throughout the spring, these students have been invited to join the City Club of Portland for a handful of their Friday Forum events downtown.

Parkrose Civic Scholars have had the honor of joining the Friday Forum for both the mayor’s State of the City speech, as well as the recent State of the State speech by Governor Brown. After both forums, Parkrose Civic Scholars were invited to a private Q-and-A session with both the mayor and the governor. These experiences deeply impacted these students and have provided lifelong memories for both the students and staff.

 

Bronco artists win awards
Parkrose High student artists showed their work at the Northwest Oregon Conference art show recently. Ashley Cha earned second place in digital photography; David Pavlenko, second place in printmaking; Ryan Nguyen, third place, printmaking; Katie Meighen, third place, digital fine art; and Maggie Grant, third place, pottery.

 

David Douglas administrator wins award
Barb Kienle, David Douglas School District Director of Student Services, has received Oregon’s 2015 Outstanding Administrator award. The award, given by the Oregon Association of Vocational Special Needs Personnel, is in special recognition of her oversight of the district’s special education programming. An employee of the district since 2004, Kienle was nominated by Vocational Tech Coordinator Ron Hall, who noted in his nomination letter Kienle’s commitment to special education vocational transition services.

Kienle has oversight of the Community Transition program, which helps special needs students transition from school life to life as young adults in their community.

Hall pointed out that “Barb has been a strong supporter of the Special Education programs and staff at David Douglas.” He added, “When there has been a need for more staff or other resources, she always finds a way to make it happen.”