MAY 2021

Principal: Curt Scheidel

Luis Castro-Quintanilla, Associate Principal
Kirstin Kunihisa, Associate Principal
Tony Liberatore, Associate Principal

James Ensley, Athletic Director

Kathleen Paradis, Dean of Students

Allison Darke, International Studies Coordinator

https://fort.vansd.org/

Main Office: 360.313.4000

Business Office: 360.313.4014

Attendance Office: 360.313.4040

We are globally aware and engaged citizens who are college, career and life ready.

We are leaders who value diversity, and we empower lifelong learners who actively and positively contribute to our school, our community and our world.

It’s important for our students to be prepared to compete, connect and cooperate with others locally and globally. Being an international studies school helps us accomplish this goal by creating an environment where all students are learning to become globally competent.

FVHS CIS Families,

My youngest son, Mason, just graduated from college this week. As with any milestone, it was filled with a lot of sweet and some bitter. This even brought me back to the time Mason was approaching his 16th birthday. In anticipation of his taking the driving test, we had spent the preceding months ensuring that he was ready. We spent extra time on the freeway, parking on hills, parallel parking, parking next to curbs, and backing around corners. The fine details of driving a car that could be the difference between a passing score and a 16 year olds humbling experience, and me having to continue driving him all over. The beautiful thing was that he was invested in the learning experience and the outcome. A driver’s license provides significant incentive for improved performance. Helping him learn to drive was no different than teaching my other sons. They all started off in a parking lot, barely able to get the gas and brake right. By the time of their exam, they were fairly functional and adequate drivers. I provide lots of leeway for interpretation of proficiency in each of their cases. But the lessons seemed to have stuck and they do well on the roads now, which is important, as two of them are trying to traverse the roads with my grandkids in the backseat.

The learning experiences I had with all my sons learning to drive still resonate with me today. In my recent reflection, I saw some connections to the school improvement work we have been undertaking. Both school improvement and good drivers are built on having a guaranteed and viable curriculum, a tried and true way that allows any student in the learning process to have success. Both begin with outlining certain baseline skills. New skills must be added upon incrementally, to reach the ultimate goal of individual competence and overall school performance. Both must practice those skills, in various methods, modes, and environments to build greater competence. Both in the classroom and on the road, the students must learn from mistakes and be given increasing amounts of responsibility that enables them to eventually perform without external support. There are a wide range of learners and, in both settings, the teachers must adapt to meet individual needs. Finally, when the exam comes, both the classroom student and driving student must assimilate all the skills and demonstrate proficiency. If proficiency is not displayed, then we teach again and target the skills needed to meet the standard. In the case of the potential driver, that extra time might have to come with a few tissues and hugs.

We have worked diligently to make school improvement an ongoing process. Each day, in every way, we have focused to become better. Just as I was confident that Mason had the skills to demonstrate his performance on the driver’s exam, I know that over time, more and more students will leave our school prepared to open the doors they desire for themselves. As we continue to focus on high quality instruction that produces results for student learning and establishes a climate and culture that reduces misbehavior and increases time on task, we will see more and more students ready to perform. I am thankful for the support the Fort Vancouver High School Center for international Studies community has shown our school this year and look forward to the continued work to ensure each and every student is prepared to be college, career and life ready as we move into next year.

Take care,

Curt

We want Fort to be a school where increasing hope and opportunity is the daily focus and reality for every individual who chooses to be a part of our school. As part of this effort, we have developed a site specifically for our families at FVHS-CIS. This site has content around Family Health and Wellness, Family Education, supporting Your Child at Fort, Community Resources, a Q&A page as well links to resources within and outside of Fort. Coming soon, we will be able to support virtual meetings in multiple languages with Fort Families, online "chats" with specialized staff (School Psychologist, Dean of Students, FCRC coordinator, etc.). By engaging with families and providing information and opportunities, we hope we are better able to increase hope and opportunity for all of our Fort Community. Come check us out!

https://sites.google.com/vansd.net/fvhs-cisfamilyresourcepage/home

Kathleen E. Paradis

(she, her, hers)

Dean of Students

Climate and Culture

Fort Vancouver High School

Center for International Studies

360.313.4012

IN LAK’ECH

"Tú eres mi otro yo.

You are my other me.

Si te hago daño a ti,

If I do harm to you,

Me hago daño a mi mismo.

I do harm to myself.

Si te amo y respeto,

If I love and respect you,

Me amo y respeto yo.

I love and respect myself."

- Luis Valdez

If you have questions or concerns regarding your student’s schedule, high school planning, or other issues, please contact us at the Fort Vancouver Counseling Center. We serve students alphabetically based on their last name. A list of our counselors, as well as their email addresses and phone numbers can be found below. You can also request an appointment by contacting our Counseling Clerk, Cheri Chavers, at 313-4007.

Students A-Dar : Mike Dillman

Michael.Dillman@vansd.org

313-4031

Students Das-Jac : Jennifer Riordan

Jennifer.Riordan@vansd.org

313-4030

Students Jad-Mora : Layla Afu

Layla.Afu@vansd.org

313-4109

Students Morb-Santi : Jane Klaasen

Jane.Klaasen@vansd.org

313-4032

Students Santj-Z : Jackie Gibbs

Jacquelyn.Gibbs@vansd.org

313-4033

OTG Specialist : Susan Holden

Susan.Holden@vansd.org

313-4036

~

There are a few educational opportunities that open to students beginning their Junior year, but students must meet certain requirements in order to take advantage of these opportunities. Cascadia Tech is a technical/vocational school that offers half-day programs in a number of different disciplines (Auto Tech, Aviation Tech, Cosmetology, Information Technology Systems, etc.). Running Start is a state funded program that allows students to take college courses at Clark College while meeting high school graduation requirements. Cascadia Tech has attendance and credit requirements to gain acceptance and a minimum G.P.A. of 2.00 is required for students to access Running Start. Contact the Counseling Center if you have questions about these or other programs.

~

Tabby Stokes

Prevention/Intervention Specialist at

Fort Vancouver High School:

503-343-5576 or Tabby.Stokes@vansd.org

https://sites.google.com/vansd.net/fvhs-prevention-page/home

To those students who are enrolled with Mrs. Barry in Work Based Learning, zero period (credit for working), please continue to email your pay stubs to her so she can confirm your work hours. If you have a new part-time job and need your Parent/School Authorization Form signed, please email it for signature.

Email pay stubs or questions to: tamara.barry@vansd.org

On May 3rd WINTER sports will be starting! Please get cleared through FamilyID (Click Link)! Sports are found in the WINTER section. Sports physicals are only good for 2 years so please check your physicals!

The following Sports will be offered this winter season:

Basketball, BoysJames EnsleyHead Coachjames.ensley@vansd.org

Basketball, GirlsArlisa HintonHead Coacharlisa.hinton@vansd.org

BowlingJulie PagelHead Coachjulie.pagel@vansd.org

DanceKassie CarrikerHead Coachkassie.carriker@vansd.org

Cheer*Val NewcomerHead Coachvalerie.winkle@vansd.org

Boys SwimmingSarah DunnHead CoachSarah.Dunn@vansd.org

WrestlingShawn MartinHead Coachshawn.martin@vansd.org

James Ensley

Athletic Director Fort Vancouver

Head Boys' Basketball Coach

Athletics Website

James.Ensley@vansd.org

360-313-4021

The COVID-19 vaccine is available to people 16 years and older who live or work in Washington state.

Visit Vaccine Locator to find and schedule an appointment.

https://vaccinelocator.doh.wa.gov/

The Coronavirus Pandemic – Answering Your Questions What can teens expect when getting a COVID-19 vaccine?

Are you excited to get a COVID-19 vaccine? Maybe a bit nervous? People have different feelings about getting vaccines — and individuals even sometimes have different feelings about different vaccines. An array of feelings is normal, but sometimes it helps knowing what to expect.

Teen vaccine eligibility

As of March 2021, three COVID-19 vaccines are approved for use in the United States — Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson/Janssen. Of these, only the Pfizer vaccine can be given to teens ages 16 and older. The other two vaccines are approved for ages 18 and older. This means currently only some teens are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine. However, clinical trials are underway for younger teens and children.

When will vaccines be available for all teens?

Clinical trials for teens ages 12 to 17 have been fully recruited and are almost finished. These trials are helping to determine if the vaccines being used in adults will also be safe and work well in younger people. Hopefully, the findings from these studies will be available during the summer of 2021 allowing for use in this group soon thereafter. Companies will likely also soon start clinical trials in children as young as 6 months of age.

Preparing to get the vaccine

Most immunization sites require appointments though some may have “walk-in” hours for eligible people to get vaccinated. This varies widely from state to state, so you should check how things are being done in your area if you are now eligible to be vaccinated.

A few other considerations are important before going for a COVID-19 vaccine:

· If you have a history of severe allergic reactions (i.e., you carry an “epi pen”), a compromised immune system, or a health condition that might interfere with getting the vaccine, check with your healthcare provider to figure out if you can get the COVID-19 vaccine. You may be able to get it, but need to take special precautions. For example, some people are recommended to wait for 30 minutes of observation instead of 15 minutes after getting the vaccine.

· The CDC recommends waiting at least 14 days between receipt of a COVID-19 and a non-COVID-19vaccine.

· Unless you regularly take a pain-relieving medication prescribed by your doctor, it is not recommended to take a pain reliever (such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen) before vaccination. These types of medications may affect how well the vaccine works. However, it is important not to stop taking a medication prescribed by your doctor before getting the vaccine without first checking that it would be safe to do so.

What to expect when getting the vaccine

If you are going to get a COVID-19 vaccine, here is an idea of what you may experience:

· Before you go to the immunization site, remember to wear a mask and plan to social distance the same way you would in any other public space during the pandemic. Wear clothing that makes it easy to access your upper arm without removing your shirt. Take any appointment confirmation, identification, or other items requested by the site. You may also want to take a book or your phone to pass time spent waiting. In some cases, you may be asked to read information about the vaccine and complete a form on the computer before you go to the appointment.

· When you arrive, you will most likely be asked to sign in or confirm your appointment and eligibility. The health care professionals at the site will probably ask you and your parent or guardian a few questions before you get the vaccine. For example, they may ask if you have any history of severe allergic reaction, if you are allergic to certain things, or if you have had a vaccine in the last two weeks.

· After you are signed in, you may need to wait for your turn to get vaccinated. Waiting areas should be set up with

social distancing measures to ensure everyone’s safety.

· When it is your turn, the person giving the vaccine may ask you a few more questions. For example, they might confirm your name, ask in which arm you want the vaccine, or repeat questions about allergies or other vaccines. This repetition helps ensure that people are safely and appropriately vaccinated. It is particularly important at vaccination clinics where many people are coming and going.

· When the vaccine is administered, it does not take long and usually feels like a pinch. Many people find it helpful to distract themselves during the shot by looking at something across the room or talking to someone. If you feel nervous about getting the vaccine, you could also try listening to music or playing with an app to distract yourself. Other ways to decrease your nervousness and the “pinch” include taking a few slow, deep breaths as the vaccine is given, or ask for an alcohol pad to be rubbed on your opposite wrist shortly before the vaccine is administered. As the vaccine is given, blow on the area with the alcohol; you will feel the cool temperature of the alcohol evaporating more than the shot.

· After the shot is complete, you will most likely be asked to go to a waiting area. While the risk of an allergic reaction from a COVID-19 vaccine is very low, it makes sense for everyone to be observed after the injection as a safety precaution. People are asked to wait 15 to 30 minutes in case they have any allergic reactions to the vaccine. Although rare, these reactions typically occur soon after getting the vaccine, which is why people are asked to wait.

· At some point during the appointment, you should receive a vaccination card that tells you which COVID-19 vaccine you received and the date you received it. Some people immediately take a picture of this card, so if it is misplaced, they still have the information. While it may be tempting to post a picture of your vaccination card on social media, it is not recommended to do so as the card may have personal information that should not be made public. Some vaccination sites have selfie stations or offer stickers that provide alternative ways to share your vaccination experience with your followers.

· You may also be asked to sign up for a second appointment if you are getting a two-dose vaccine, like the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. The site will let you know the correct timing for your second injection. Many sites do the second appointment scheduling during the post-vaccine observation period.

What to expect after getting the vaccine

Getting a COVID-19 vaccine is similar to other immunizations. Some people have side effects while others do not. Side effects are a sign that your body is responding to the vaccine, but don’t worry if you don’t have side effects — it doesn’t mean the vaccine didn’t work. People’s immune systems respond differently. The most common side effects are pain, redness or swelling at the injection site or tiredness, low-grade fever, or muscle aches for a day or two after getting the vaccine. For the mRNA vaccines, these side effects tend to be more common after the second dose.

To help scientists monitor vaccine side effects, you can sign up for V-Safe. V-safe is a vaccine monitoring program developed by the CDC. This program will send check-in text messages after each dose of vaccine to gather data on any symptoms you may have experienced. This system helps with continuing to monitor vaccine safety, particularly in different groups of people. Individuals across the country have participated in the program. Hopefully, you will consider participating, too, so that scientists can gather information about the vaccine experience of young people.

Immune responses develop a couple of weeks after getting the last dose. Right now, we know that people who completed the full course of coronavirus vaccine are unlikely to get sick from COVID-19. However, we don’t yet have enough data to say how long protection lasts. We also aren’t sure whether someone who received the vaccine can still spread COVID-19 to unvaccinated people. For those reasons, people should still wear masks and social distance when in public, even after getting the COVID-19 vaccine. As scientists continue to learn more about the force of this pandemic, these recommendations may change. For example, recently, the CDC indicated that fully vaccinated people can get together in small groups in homes or non-public places without wearing masks.

As more people get vaccinated, more restrictions will be lifted. For this reason, it is important that everyone who can get vaccinated do so — not only for themselves, but also for those around them and for the community at large.

Think about it:

1) Why do you think it is important to do vaccine clinical trials on teens and children rather than relying on the findings in adults?

2) How do you think the experience of a teen receiving a vaccine would be different from that of an adult?

Related resources

Your COVID-19 Vaccine Appointment, CDC, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/expect.html Age Groups and Vaccines: Teens/College, VEC, https://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/vaccine-education- center/age-groups-and-vaccines/teens-college-students

Questions and Answers about COVID-19 vaccines, VEC, www.COVIDVaccineAnswers.org

This article, and other questions from “The Coronavirus Pandemic – Answering Your Questions” series, can be accessed

at https://vaccinemakers.org/news-events/coronavirus-pandemic-answering-your-questions.

“21 Helmets” is a yearly design experience sponsored by See See Motorcycles, an amazing motorcycle company located in Portland, Oregon. Over the last three years, they have opened this event to high school students from Oregon and Southwest Washington.

This year Gloria Winner and Karis Zumpano, two outstanding artists from Fort, were the only high school students to participate in a field of professional artists!

The “21-Helmets” traveled between the company’s three See See coffee shop cafes, two located in Portland, and one in Newberg.

“The One Motorcycle Show”, sponsored by See See motorcycles will be held this on April 30-May 2 at 3121 S. Moody Ave, Portland, Oregon. This is an amazing event and showcases motorcycles, old and new, from around the world. You don’t have to be a motorcycle enthusiast to enjoy this event.

Dean Dickinson, the photography teacher here at Fort, has been instrumental in show-casing student work at this event.

All of the helmets from the “21-Helmets” tour, as well as student art work and photographs will be on display during the convention. I hope you have an opportunity to check it out.

Joanne Andrew Visual Arts teacher

Seniors, all fines must be paid before you can receive your diploma!

The Business Office is now open to take all payment methods: cash, check or credit card.

You can also make outstanding fine payments and other purchases through Skyward at fines.vansd.org,

2020/21 Yearbooks are for sale in the Fort Business Office or online at fines.vansd.org. Yearbooks are $30 and are first come first serve, at this point. Get your yearbook now before they are all gone!

If you purchased a 2019/20 Yearbook and have not picked it up, please come by the Business Office and do so. We still have some available for $50, if you did not pre-purchase one.

AP Testing Update: Due to Covid, the College Board allowed some flexibility with AP tests this school year. School's were able to work with different sessions to find what works best works for them.

Here is Fort Vancouver's AP Testing Schedule - As you will see only Spanish Literature and Spanish Language will be administered at school with paper and pencil. All other tests will be administered digitally at home. VPS will upload any/all applications from The College Board to student Chromebooks.

We will send more info to AP teachers and students as it becomes available.

Thank you,

Tony Liberatore

Associate Principal

Dear Fort Vancouver High School Community

We are excited about getting our teams out to compete! Fort Vancouver Boosters is changing the way we fundraise this year. With current regulations and safety in mind we are thinking of new ways to take most fundraisers online. Our main goals are simple: raise enough funds so our teams are taken care of; make sure all Trappers have the opportunity to play; and keep our coaches, athletes and volunteers safe. With these goals in mind we are asking for your support of the following fundraiser.

This fundraiser is for businesses that are looking for a great way to advertise and support Fort at the same time! We are selling banners that can be hung on our fields. Please pass on the link to any businesses that you think might be interested. Please also feel free to share it on your social media.

https://fort-vanouver-banner-fundraiser.cheddarup.com

Please help spread the word!

If you have questions or would like to be part of Fort Vancouver Booster Club please email trapperboosters@gmail.com .

Thank you for any support you are able to give! We are excited to see some Trapper Sports Action!

Fort Vancouver High School Boosters

Buy your Fort Class of 2021 Yard Sign for your favorite senior or get a Fort spirit yard sign. The cost is $20. All proceeds benefit the class of 2021.

Buy one here:

https://fort-senior-2021-and-spirit-yard-signs.cheddarup.com