Washougal School District

Jemtegaard Middle School teachers Nathan and Heidi Kellar were recognized by Identity Clark County as staff Learn Here Heroes for their service to education and volunteer work in the Washougal Community. They are dynamic educators working closely with other teachers to lead instructional improvement who also volunteer in the community, bringing services to at-risk youth and their families in neighborhoods served by the school. The pair work to support the whole child, both within and outside the school day.

Washougal High School students in the Career & Technical Education?Construction?Technology program applied?construction?skills learned in the classroom to build two prop rooms for a?fire?safety demonstration by the Camas-Washougal?Fire?Department. On September 23, the?fire?department set both prop rooms ablaze to demonstrate the effectiveness of residential sprinklers at the Health & Safety Fair Open House. Over 2500 spectators attended the open house. “The students came with all levels of experience and gained skills working as a team on a real?construction?project,” said Ron Schumacher,?Fire?Marshal at the Camas-Washougal?Fire?Department. “They’re practicing installing drywall and using?construction?tools in high school.” Eleventh grade students Gage Leavitt, Gavan McCallister, and Noah Wheeler?constructed?the two prop rooms after school on Wednesday, September 20. “Our aim is to create opportunities for student leadership. This team of students had to overcome some challenges in order to finish these projects,” said Brent Mansell, Woods Technology teacher at Washougal High School. “Opportunities for real world application of classroom-learned skills with businesses in our community are invaluable. When our students realize that their skills are valued and can be applied to specific jobs, they gain confidence and get that much closer to decisions on their post high school career goals. They also see the results of their effort in our community,” Margaret Rice, Director of Career and Technical Education shared. The Camas-Washougal?Fire?Department equipped one prop room with a residential sprinkler, while the other prop room was unequipped with this?fire?suppression measure. During the demonstration, the prop room with a sprinkler installed sustained much less?fire?damage than the second room. Sprinklers are not designed to suppress all?fires, but help to create a safety corridor so that occupants can evacuate. The?fire?department should always be notified in?fire?emergencies by calling 9-1-1. The Camas-Washougal?Fire?Department began hosting the annual Health & Safety Fair Open House in 2001. This is the first year that Washougal High School students are involved in?constructing?the prop rooms for the community event. “We hope to do this again next year,” said Mansell.