Michael Kissinger

Bravo! Vancouver offering
first symphonies of masters

Bravo! Vancouver's Washington Chamber Orchestra, led by Michael Kissinger, this weekend presents a concert of first symphonies by the masters of the classical music period (1750-1820), Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven.

The first symphonies of each composer will be presented at the 3 p.m. Sunday, May 17, concert in St. Joseph Church, 400 S. Andresen Road.

Tickets are $20 each. For further information, call 906-0441.

Evergreen, Hockinson
scholars to be feted

More than a hundred high school students from the Evergreen and Hockinson School Districts will be honored by school board members, district administrators, community members, parents and school principals for their outstanding academic achievements. The Evening of Excellence will begin at 6:00 p.m. Thursday, May 28, in Union High School, 6201 NW Friberg-Strunk Street, Camas.

In its fourth year, “this event is all about honoring students,” says Evergreen Public Schools Superintendent John Deeder.

"We realize there are banquets and awards for sports and music and all kinds of other activities, but we wanted there to be something specific that recognized how hard these students work at academics and what they have achieved in those areas. We are thrilled to be participating in this event with the Hockinson School District, which is committed to that same recognition of their students."

Categories to be honored include National Merit Scholars and finalists, Advanced Placement Scholars and any state, national or international academic competition in which students placed in the top five. The program will include a performance by the Mountain View High School Jazz Band and a slide show of student honorees. Chartwells has donated refreshments for the reception.

Battle Ground School District begins
process of reducing number of teachers

Faced with a budget shortfall of at least $5.24 million in state funds, the Battle Ground School District has identified the equivalent of 72 full-time positions held by certificated employees (classroom teachers, intervention specialists, etc.) that could be eliminated.

State law requires that reduction in force letters to certificated school personnel be delivered by May 15 each year. But school districts have more time to notify members of other employee groups if they will not be offered new contracts.

At least two administrative positions also will be eliminated at this time, according to Superintendent Shonny Bria.

Says Bria: “The bleeding doesn’t stop with today’s RIF. Cuts in academic and/or extracurricular programs and in salaries and/or other personnel are still to come. Even students’ pocketbooks could be affected if fees for various student activities are imposed or increased.

Representatives of the district’s various employee groups will resume negotiations Monday and Tuesday as they seek agreement on budget cuts separate from Thursday’s action but which could save jobs and bolster academics.

“It is my hope that many of the certificated slots will be reinstated before the new school year begins on Sept. 9,” Bria says.

The teachers whose positions are being eliminated will not necessarily be the people who lose their jobs, according to Bria. Teachers with more seniority whose positions are being cut are typically offered other teaching jobs in the district.

People

Clark County Skills Center recipients sharing $3,000 in Vancouver Rotary Club scholarships are as follows: Brooke Cushwa, a Ridgefield High School 12th grader enrolled in the Skills Center Applied Medical Sciences program; Kelsey Niemeyer, a Camas High School senior enrolled in the Skills Center Restaurant Management/Culinary Arts program; and identical twins Nelya and Vera Vashchenko, Evergreen High School seniors enrolled in the Skills Center’s Dental Assisting program.

Calendar

Magenta Theater’s production of Robert Harling’s Steel Magnolias continues with performances at 7 p.m. this evening and tomorrow, May 15, and Saturday, May 16, in the Magenta Theater, 606 Main Street. A matinee is scheduled for Saturday, May 16, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 to $14. For tickets and further information, call 635-4358. <> Clark County’s 49th Legislative District Democratic delegation, Sen. Craig Pridemore and Reps. Jim Moeller and Jim Jacks, are holding a town hall meeting from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 16, in the 6th floor commissioner’s hearing room in the Public Service Center. <> The Hazel Dell Parade of Bands begins at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 16, from Fire District 6, Station 1, 8800 NE Hazel Dell Avenue. <> Dozer Day, which benefits the Parks Foundation and several other nonprofit organizations locally is from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 16, in the Cenex gravel mine, just east of Vancouver at SE 192nd Avenue and Brady Road. Fun for the whole family, especially junior road-builders and heavy equipment operators. <> Downtown Vancouver’s Association Spring Clean-Up is from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 16. The public is invited to participate in the annual event. Crews will work from 3rd Street and Fourth Plain Boulevard between Columbia and C Streets, the waterfront from Beeches to the Red Lion Hotel at the Quay, and the area around Esther Short Park. Prizes,  lunch and  music are being offered at noon in Esther Short Park.

 

  

Community Calendar Links

• Southwest Washington Center for the Arts

• Greater Vancouver Chamber Community 

• City of Vancouver Calendar