This is a message from the All Paws on Deck Team and Camas DECA team regarding the Camas Dog Mayor Contest:
Our All Paws On Deck team would first like to thank each of the 35 dogs who applied to be 2020 Camas Dog Mayor. It was a very difficult decision and we wish we could have all 35 dogs be finalists. However, all dogs went through an extensive voting process in which our team narrowed the applicant pool down to 10 finalists.
Starting October 20th-30th, you can cast your vote for the 2020 Camas Dog Mayor by donating a sum of money towards your favorite candidate. The winner will be determined by which dog has raised the most money. All proceeds will be donated to the West Columbia Gorge Humane Society, and the Southwest Washington Humane Society. On November 2nd, the 2020 Camas Dog Mayor will be announced on our website and all of our social media pages. During our campaign we will also be having challenges, treat recipes, contests, and activities on our social media pages! You may even be featured on our social media pages. Click https://all-paws-on-deck.webnode.com/products-/ to see a more detailed description of each day’s activity.
Again, we would like to thank each and every dog that applied. We are looking forward to seeing who wins the title of the 2020 Camas Dog Mayor! If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact either Esha Minhas or Ryley Anderson at [email protected]
https://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/15213540/1773CD5D-C441-4D7B-B2C3-1A47D986AA4F.jpeg7681080Ernest Geigenmillerhttps://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/07074147/lacamas_white_2-300x300.pngErnest Geigenmiller2020-10-15 21:54:512020-10-15 21:55:002020 Camas Dog Mayor Contest Organizers Announce Top 10 Finalists
Camas, WA — Adam’s Street Bar and Grill, a popular destination, has sustained $250,000 in financial losses stemming from the September 18 heavy rains and ensuing floods that wreaked havoc across town, said bar owner Greg Shelby.
“We’ve been down here most every day cleaning up trying to get things done,” said Shelby. “It’s such a big mess, we’ve had to move a lot of things, and at this time we haven’t had any help from any insurance or from the City of Camas, which I don’t think is right. I know there’s negligence on their part.”
He said the city cited a massive downpour and the streets were plugged up, and that there were no open drains on the streets the morning of the floods. The water poured in from the streets and flooded his 2,500 square foot business basement with nearly five feet of water, which damaged major appliances, ruined months of frozen food, equipment, and restaurant supplies.
He said there are many faults in the city’s plumbing system, which he said is ancient.
“I’ve had the city out here before with minor drainage issues before, which still haven’t been resolved,” he said. “This is all devastating. I stock up on stuff. Our freezers were full, our walk-in was full, my dry storage was full. We had a pallet of paper towels, napkins, toilet paper, everything was ruined. We threw away all our food. I just need to keep cleaning, we had just had the floors all done here. I had great cooking equipment, I had to throw away so much stuff.”
Shelby said his insurance company claim is still in process.
“The volume of water overwhelmed the capacity of the system with heavy downhill flows,” said claims adjuster Karen Tailman, of Sedgwick, representing the City of Camas in a letter to Adam’s. “This was not simply a matter of the catch basins overflowing, but of surface water cascading down the roadway and collecting to the lowest point.
“Accordingly, we find no evidence of negligence on the part of the City of Camas that caused or contributed to your loss, it was simply an act of nature.”
The adjuster said the city crew work was halted between September 7 and September 17 due to the unhealthy smoke conditions stemming from the Oregon wildfires.
Shelby is fighting back and has hired an attorney to handle the case. They are citing a May Downtown Camas Infrastructure Analysis by McKay Esposito that called out drainage and ponding issues throughout downtown Camas, particularly on 4th Avenue.
The report said “based on interviews with the City staff, several streets were identified as having ponding issues. One cause described was root intrusion into many sanitary sewer lines, especially along 4th Avenue. It is recommended that the lines be video inspected to gain a better understanding of repairs needed.”
The following areas were identified in the report:
6th and Adams ponding — usually due to clogged drains from leaves, etc.
Dallas from 7th to 6th — bubble up issues
4th and Birth periodic street flooding
5th and Dallas floods frequently
Lots of root encroachment into lines, particularly on 4th.
In addition, Council member Ellen Burton said just days before the floods Public Works Director Steve Wall addressed the many drainage problems in the downtown area.
https://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/14183733/B8C73DF5-7414-43E9-B8B0-1BAD486A1E39.jpeg6841280Ernest Geigenmillerhttps://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/07074147/lacamas_white_2-300x300.pngErnest Geigenmiller2020-10-14 18:55:302020-10-14 18:55:40Adam’s St. Bar & Grill: $250,000 in Flood Losses; City Denies Claim
Washougal WA — Flashing red lights on a brand new brushfire rig and a cluster of red balloons welcomed Cape Horn-Skye Elementary first grade students of Nichol Yung and Darcy Hickey as they arrived at the school parking lot to meet some local heroes on October 9. Through their family car windows, and wearing masks, students handed their handmade thank you cards to representatives from Camas-Washougal Firefighters, Chris Kassel and Matthew Miller, also masked and wearing gloves. In return, each student was given a shiny red fire hat. Although no one could actually see the smiles behind masks, you could feel the joy felt by firefighters and students in the exchange.
“These written notes are so important because they provide an opportunity for the students to show gratitude and connect with people in our community who work and volunteer to keep them safe,” said Yung of her students appreciation for the firefighters. “In a world where there is so much ‘virtual’ and for a 6 year old, it’s oftentimes difficult for them to distinguish between what is real and what is make-believe, these cards provide that bridge from what they may see on the news or hear friends and family talk about to something concrete.”
The class learned about wildfires and discussed how local fires had impacted the area. Some students shared how their families had to be ready to evacuate here in Washougal.
“We had some students keenly aware of how some of their extended family members in Oregon were affected by the recent fires,” Hickey said.
The project gave these kids an opportunity to open up and process their feelings from what they had encountered during that difficult time.
“Since all of the students were directly affected by the fires, especially with the smoke, they were able to offer support by providing a listening ear and observe the courage they all had in getting through this scary time,” said Yung. “This was a real-life experience for all of them and with the chance to meet some firefighters, they can make the connection with what they experienced to those who helped put the fires out.”
“It was great to just be out in the community and see all of these happy kids,” said Miller. “The cards were very sweet and mean so much to us.”
“We really enjoy being a part of these type of events,” said Kassel. “It is important for children to see us in normal situations so they know we are not scary, so in a time of emergency, they will not shy away from us.”
Student Ada Berg hoped her card made the firefighters happy. “I wanted to thank them for fighting fires and helping to keep people safe,” she said. For Berg and her family, the fires were very real with her grandparents evacuated from their home in Estacada, Oregon.
“I want to be a firefighter,” admitted student Grason Powell. “I want to help save the world.”
“We want the students to be able to understand that just as firefighters have a huge impact on communities in keeping them safe, children also have something to contribute by way of showing gratitude and support,” said Yung. “We hope that this show of gratitude and support will not only be evidenced in this activity but in every aspect of their lives and that it is a life-long attribute that can only help them have positive emotions, which can be easily shared. We want them to have an ‘attitude of gratitude’.”
“We are so excited to see the kids hand the firefighters their cards because we know that firefighters don’t always get recognized unless there is an emergency,” said Hickey. “We want them to know that, emergency or not, they are appreciated and we hope that we see the light in their faces as they receive a heartfelt card and well-wish from a 6-year old who admires them for their bravery.”
https://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/14171425/52012803-7C89-4A54-B543-119EAF8C823E.jpeg6721280Ernest Geigenmillerhttps://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/07074147/lacamas_white_2-300x300.pngErnest Geigenmiller2020-10-14 17:45:282020-10-14 17:45:37Cape Horn-Skye Students Meet With Local Firefighters to Express Gratitude
OLYMPIA — Governor Jay Inslee announced today that five counties east of the Cascade Mountains will advance to the second phase in his four-part state reopening plan.
Those five counties — Yakima, Benton, Chelan, Douglas, and Franklin — have stayed for months in a modified first phase, which is the most restrictive of Inslee’s pandemic emergency plan that locks down many businesses, social activities and social events.
It’s the first major movement forward since Inslee put his entire county-by-county plan on hold amid a statewide spike in corona virus cases.
These five counties were major corona virus hot spots this summer as Yakima County ranked among the nation’s most severely afflicted, and was the first area to require a face mask mandate. Days following, Inslee issued a statewide face mask mandate.
Inslee praised people in those communities for tamping down the spread of the virus, including through the use of facial coverings.
“And as a result of masking up, they have knocked down these numbers down dramatically,” Inslee said.
He told Washingtonians to keep masking up, and said those who don’t wear masks are “irresponsible” and even encouraged families to wear masks in their homes. Inslee also noted that cases continue to spike in Clark and Spokane counties.
In today’s Clark County Public Health update another 23 people have tested positive for COVID-19 and one person has died – a man in his 80s with no underlying health conditions. To date, 3,979 Clark County residents have tested positive and 64 people have died.
The current incidence of new COVID-19 cases in Clark County is 100.1 cases per 100,000 residents over 14 days. That’s an increase from last week (95.6 cases per 100,000), and means Clark County remains in the “high” range under the state’s school reopening guidance.
Currently, Clark County has 135 active cases.
“The number of active cases reflects the number of confirmed cases who are currently in their isolation period. For most people, isolation is based on when symptoms began, not when they received the positive test result. Some individuals learn they are COVID-19 positive and only have a few days of isolation remaining,” said Marissa Armstrong, of Clark County Public Health.
There are 20 COVID-19 patients and nine persons under investigation (PUIs) for COVID-19 hospitalized.
Camas, WA — Paodle Games, a locally-owned company, is currently running their second product, “Space Dinos,” through a Kickstarter campaign.
“Our company uses Kickstarter as a platform to create the best possible game,” said company co-founder, Kathi Sjostrom. “Backing on Kickstarter is simple, and it will run through October 31. Limited copies will be available after as pre-orders but the best price will be on Kickstarter.”
“Space Dinos” is a puzzle game that is family friend. It has a solo gamer mode, play levels for children and the Original Voyage allows players at all levels to play with strategy.
Paodle Games is also releasing Helio and Mini Macaron Madness at the same time. Both games are mint tin games and will be delivered in time for Christmas delivery to local backers. They are the perfect stocking stuffer size.
Sjostrom, her husband, Seth, and Pete and Cheryl Emerson created Paodle Games in December 2019.
The virtual NASA conversation to include Q&A participation from Vancouver iTech Preparatory and Camas’ Odyssey Middle School
VANCOUVER – Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler and NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine will host a virtual Q&A with Camas native, NASA Astronaut Dr. Michael Barratt and Vancouver iTech Preparatory and Camas’ Odyssey Middle School, on October 15. The event will feature a presentation by Dr. Barratt focusing on NASA’s Artemis Program, and will give students the opportunity to participate in a Q&A session.
This is the first part of a two-part Question and Answer session with Dr. Alan Melnick, MD, MPH, CPH, Director of Clark County Public Health, as he and his team manage the complexities and pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Question 1: How is COVID-19 test data gathered daily?
We get data and test results in a variety of ways: From local providers within 24 hours (clinics, hospitals, labs, all of them) rolling in throughout the day and most send data electronically, some send via FAX, and those are rolling in throughout the day. We have a big team of nurses who do the investigating. The data comes in and we go through all of that daily. We are staffed seven days per week. We have about 24 nurses and five office assistants working each day. The nurses are calling cases to interview them and identify close contacts, and working on facility investigations (if we have multiple cases in a workplace, health care setting, long-term care facility, school, etc.). The office assistants are supporting the nurses.
In addition to those folks, we have teams that do contact notification. These are the people who call everyone who is identified as a close contact of a confirmed case, notify them of their exposure and give them instructions on quarantine. They also monitor those individuals who test positive during their isolation and close contacts during quarantine, by calling and/or texting every day. We contract with an organization, Public Health Institute, to provide these services. They are working seven days a week and have five teams with eight contact notifiers on each team.
We also have staff coordinating wraparound services (such as seeing if cases need rental assistance, groceries, etc.), epidemiologists and data analysts compiling our data, among others.
Question 2: Does Clark County track cases by ethnicity?
Yes, we do. There are disparities by ethnicity. Some are impacted more than others.
Question 3: With the current cases per 100,000 that are in place do you foresee the possibility that we should look more at hospitalizations per 100,000? As the numbers currently stand getting kids back in the classroom appears nearly impossible.
We do look at hospitalizations and capacity. When COVID-19 activity increases in the community there is a lag time and there is a long incubation period. It can be as long as 14 days. So one of the things I’ve shown to our Board of Health is that kids are less likely to get sick than adults, so why are we concerned about schools? Not all kids do so well. Certainly kids can get sick, but number two the schools are not an island and kids have a congregate setting in a school. They take the infection home to their parents and grandparents. Schools are part of the community, and that will bleed out into transmissions. We see more of the disease in young adults. There are reports in Florida that the older population is in jeopardy. We had some cases involving young adults who are partying with each other and not practicing physical distancing or masking. The incubation lag time is 14 days. Then there could be more lag time before that and when they visit grandpa and grandma, after several weeks you can start seeing cases in older people. Once you get to that point, it’s the point of no return.
Dr. Alan Melnick, Director, Clark County Public Health
We look at hospital utilization, but the number is creeping up slowly a bit. You also have to look at capacity in the nursing homes, and we are approaching capacity there. The hospitals have no place to discharge those patients if that happens. I’m concerned about that. We are entering the Fall where more people will be exposed indoors. I’ve got data on where people are exposed. I’m really concerned about nursing home facilities. I will want to take a look at nursing home capacity. This will be a new metric. We haven’t published it. These are the things that keep me awake at night. This is horrible. It’s all horrible. I’m speaking as a public official and physician, and there’s an incredible amount of logic applied to it, and it’s become political. It’s a recipe for disaster. When you go into a business and the masks use has become a statement of political stance. It’s similar to what we went through with the measles outbreak. Dealing with anti-science makes this political. The virus doesn’t care about our politics. COVID-19 is a top cause of death in the United States.
Question 4: After a person tests positive and then they go back in for subsequent tests so that they can go back to work, if those tests are positive also are they considered new positive cases?
A person is counted as a case once. They can have 10 positive lab results.
Question 5: How is Mead School District near Spokane able to open up yet they’ve had more than double the COVID cases?
I listen to all perspectives also. Everyone who lives in Clark County is our constituent. So we have to listen to their perspectives. I can’t answer why Spokane is doing what they are doing. These state guidelines are recommendations. We have looked at the data, schools are not an island. We’ve looked at the metrics of not only cases per 100,000. We have considered the impact of the holidays. We decided as a group to delay to make sure the metrics are post three weeks Labor Day. We don’t want to open up to have to close again. They are bringing back special needs kids in small groups. The other thing is that we’ve had some cases in staff at some of the schools. We are putting out a dashboard about what is going on in the schools. We want to be proactive with parents. We have a vocal group pushing for reopening. It’s a complex discussion. We are trying to be as thoughtful as possible.
Question 6: Is the 25 cases per 100,000 metric that allows schools to open as normal even attainable before Spring 2020?
It depends. If people practice physical distancing and masking we can do it. We have it in our power to do something about this, but the poltical nature of this has inhibited us. We were there. The idea is to protect everyone else around us. COVID-19 is a disaster but it’s an opportunity for us to see what we can do to look out for our neighbors and co-workers, our kids. We have it in our power to protect us, and listen to the science, and make this less political. It’s a cloth, it’s a mask. Wear it.
Question 7: What is the COVID-19 recovery rate in Clark County?
For us, we’re not really tracking or categorizing cases as recovered because we interview cases and then we monitor those cases during the isolation period. We check in with them during the 14-day quarantine period. Beyond that we don’t have the bandwidth to verify recovery. We don’t follow up at the end of that isolation period.
Question 8: When you submitted your application for Phase 3 you were confident the County was ready for that. Then we had an outbreak at a local business that derailed that and then the Governor put a pause on any variances statewide. Do you think the Governor’s approach is too draconian? Is his approach the correct one?
It’s the right approach. We wouldn’t be in this position if people would physically distance and use masks. Other countries are opening up. We need to be concerned about doing our share. The best answer to improve mental health is to mask up and social distance. We were in the moderate range and now we’re a 95.6 cases per 100,000. We were at 19.45 cases per 100,000 when we submitted that application in June, over 14 days. Take a look at our website https://clark.wa.gov/public-health and look at epi-curve. July 4 and Labor Day did us in.
The remaining questions and answers will appear in Part 2. We will likely have more interviews with Dr. Melnick. Do you have any questions you’d like us to ask?
https://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/07072944/8508C89C-55ED-40CF-8779-479BB93A07F1.jpeg11731920Ernest Geigenmillerhttps://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/07074147/lacamas_white_2-300x300.pngErnest Geigenmiller2020-10-12 16:18:482020-10-12 16:18:58Q&A w/ Dr. Alan Melnick: Using Nursing Home Capacity As New COVID-19 Metric
Camas, WA — Supporters of the Open Camas Schools movement are meeting at Doc Harris Stadium Monday at 6 pm to rally and have a car parade through Camas neighborhoods.
“We believe that Camas Schools need to open sooner than later as there are many more factors that need to be taken into consideration, not just COVID-19,” said Bill Criddle, a concerned Camas parent. “As more and more information comes about we see a potential rise in mental illness, depression, suicide and abuse just to name a few. All of these need to be considered by the Camas School Board not just cases of COVID-19. We understand the seriousness of the virus but know that protocols can be put in place to keep students and staff safe.”
Organizers ask that all participants wear face coverings and follow COVID-19 safety protocols.
“It is hard to know what the physical support will be but we anticipate that we will have more than 25 cars,” said Criddle. “I would love to see 100+ cars but I am realistic to know that not everyone wants to get out on a rainy evening and drive through town.”
He added: “We want the school board to know that the community expects them to do what is best for the students in all facets, not just virus prevention. We want them to know that their current system is failing our students and our teachers.”
Camas Superintendent Dr. Jeff Snell said the schools will follow Clark County Public Health guidelines for school openings. Camas schools currently have about 350 students in the classroom.
Snell said the schools will open to a hybrid model when the county hits the moderate range (25-75 COVID cases per 100,000 residents). Currently the county is at 95.6 cases per 100,000, with 169 active cases. There are 25 COVID hospitalizations.
The Open Camas Schools Facebook page has more than 800 members. The page founders seek compromise with the school district to get students in the classroom as soon as possible.
https://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/12105402/55127741-B675-43CD-BA0C-8D0543438446.jpeg7411280Ernest Geigenmillerhttps://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/07074147/lacamas_white_2-300x300.pngErnest Geigenmiller2020-10-12 11:00:362020-10-12 11:06:48Open Camas Schools Supporters To Hold Car Parade/Rally Monday Night
Washougal WA — It is 7:45 am and 60 first grade students at Columbia River Gorge Elementary are beginning their school day. At their home workspace, they log in to a Zoom classroom to welcoming music and each is greeted by name. On the screen is a list of materials they will need for the day’s instruction flacked by smiling and waving bitmojis illustrations of their teachers. A five-minute countdown begins at 8:00 am, and at 8:05 am, each student, now prepared for their day, breaks into individual virtual classrooms with teachers Allison McGranahan, Sydney Termini and Taryn Tedford.
“We feel it is important to start our day by having everyone together and greet each student by their name,” explained Tedford. “The bitmojis are just a fun way to represent us and our excitement for what’s to come. For instance, we had them wearing scrubs on the day we were studying the human body. Our morning routine is a small way to build a sense of community and connectivity that is missing in distance learning.”
Once broken out into classrooms, teachers lead an hour lesson. The larger group comes back together again at 9am to meet with a specialist for instruction and activities in art, music, PE and even Library. “It is important that students are able to stay connected with other teachers and continue to learn in these other important curriculum areas,” McGanahan said.
Students then go back to their classroom group for the last half hour of instruction. The remainder of the school day is spent viewing selected pre-recorded lessons and completing assignments.
The CRGE first grade team’s approach to teaching changed some since last spring, when teachers everywhere were asked to turn on a dime to online classes. They began this year by reviewing curriculum and deciding which lessons to begin with for remote learning. “We know that certain topics were okay being recorded and others are more conducive to being live lessons,” explained McGanahan. “We’ve tried to make it so that even if kids aren’t able to be at the Zoom lessons, they are able to engage in the learning lessons.”
Like the K-2 teachers of the Washougal School District, they are using the educational software app, SeeSaw to capture learning during the distance learning. They are able to send video lessons and activities for students to interact with during the afternoon asynchronous learning time.
Teachers set up activity buttons for students to connect to three lessons. One day may include math, a listen and learn activity and a skills practice, such as handwriting or answering questions about a story. There are also activities for the areas of science and even community building. Students can log in at any time in the day to complete the work. “I had a student who had a dentist appointment during class time but was still able to participate easily in the activities,” said McGanahan. “This offers a lot of flexibility for families.”
A good example of Seesaw’s use was a recent first grade unit on folk tales. “The assignment was for students to retell a folk tale or fable in their own words,” explained McGanahan. “They recorded themselves telling the story and even downloaded artwork they created to illustrate it. Then we were able to watch and listen to their work.”
“I am so amazed at how committed many of our families and students are to this whole distance learning process,” McGanahan added. “It is a lot and it is a challenge, but we have had kids show up when the power is off, the wind is blowing, and the smoke is in the air. Kids show up and participate when they are tired and are not feeling well. I have had a kid show up to Zoom because he did not want to miss it, even though his tummy hurt, and he had to leave because he was getting sick. Our students are not giving up just because we are doing distance learning! They are actively engaged and will be able to pick up right where we left off when we get the chance to be back in the building.”
Youngest learners thrive with structure and routine and the CRGE team understands that it is a struggle for students to not be in the classroom. “Even with all the tools we have in place, this is not the same as it would be in person,” McGanahan said. “Sometimes students just need to be near the teacher and talk through a problem without the whole group watching. They need to get up and move and learn in different ways, and that is difficult over Zoom.”
Termini agrees. “It is a challenge for me to not see each students’ process,” she explained. “I don’t see them individually as they work through an assignment to recognize where they may have struggled. I just see the outcome, not how they problem solve and approach the work.”
Another challenge to distance learning is lesson preparation that must take weeks of lead time to gather and distribute materials to families who drive to the school at specific times for pick up. “It was such a treat to see students as they came to pick up bags,” said Termini. “It was good to touch base face to face with our students and their parents to check in on how it is going.”
A benefit that has risen from remote learning is the stronger connections being made with many of the students’ families. “We are working hard to address parent needs as much as we can and support them,” said Tedford. “The partnership we have with parents is so important and is being fine-tuned.”
“We are not able to do our job without family support and I absolutely love the depth of connection with parents I am able to make because of distance learning,” said McGanahan.
“I appreciate how supportive our student’s families have been,” added Termini. “We couldn’t do it without them!”
https://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/09101946/EE20BB90-6FDC-4651-8DEC-E2B46BE5E76F.jpeg6211280Ernest Geigenmillerhttps://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/07074147/lacamas_white_2-300x300.pngErnest Geigenmiller2020-10-09 10:25:252020-10-09 10:25:58CRGE First Grade Teachers Connect With Students During Distance Learning
Field trips are often one of the most memorable learning experiences for young students. The opportunity to go outside the classroom can be an exciting and impactful way to bring lessons to life. This is why Cape Horn-Skye Elementary first grade teachers, Darcy Hickey and Nicol Yung, decided to deliver the experience online.
“The idea of having Virtual Field Trip Fridays came about from us as a team discussing how we could do something fun as a grade level and make it meaningful to the kids,” said Hickey. “We chose Fridays because after a week of distance learning, we wanted the kids to have something fun and different to look forward to. We set up a Zoom link for the entire first grade so all the students get to experience the field trip together.”
Students have participated in four virtual field trips so far this year. “We have visited a dairy farm, an egg farm, an ice cream factory and a symphony,” explained Yung. “An upcoming field trip will be to attend a shadow puppet show.”
Each field trip is planned with a thought to science, literacy, and the arts. “For example, our trip to the symphony fell in line with our study of sound in science,” said Hickey. “We also love that it supported music standards.”
A lesson unit in language arts involved fables, and since many centered around a farm setting, a virtual trip to an egg farm was arranged. “Our trip was also a segue into doing a science experiment with eggs,” said Yung. “Our art teacher, Alice Yang, was a special guest who joined us on our field trip to the dairy farm. She led the students in a directed drawing of a cow. The upcoming field trip to the shadow puppet show aligns with our study of light and shadows in science.”
“We want the kids to know and understand that despite the fact that we are in a remote learning situation, there are still many opportunities for them to experience and learn things about their world around them,” explained Hickey. “We want them to know that they are still connected to the world and that they can participate in meaningful activities, experiments, literature and discussions about everyday things that are a part of their lives like eggs, milk, ice cream, light, and sound to name a few.”
Hickey and Yung strive to help students think about topics that they are familiar with more critically and on a larger scale. They provide hands-on science experiments and activities throughout the week that support the field trips. For example, students were provided materials to do an experiment on how sound waves travel before the symphony. For the upcoming puppetry field trip, they were given materials to create shadow shapes on the wall.
The most recent field trip to an ice cream factory on October 2nd also featured CH-S’s new principal, Brian Amundson, reading the book Should I Share My Ice Cream, by Mo Willems. “This was a great way for our students to get to know Mr. Amundson since we aren’t in person right now,” said Hickey. “He also led the students through a STEM challenge.”
“The entire staff at Cape Horn-Skye is awesome,” said Amundson. “The creativity of the teachers and the ways they are finding to connect with students and families is amazing.”
The virtual time together this week ended with a surprise Dairy Queen gift card for a free ice cream. “We reached out to former School Board member, Teresa Lees, who contacted the manager of Cams DQ to ask about donating the 50 gift cards to our students,” said Hickey. “Donna from DQ was thrilled to be a part of this and didn’t hesitate to say yes.”
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