DECEMBER 2018
Local
Racial equity policy searches to extend equal opportunities
By Clara Atwell, Editor-in-Chief The Vashon community has long prided itself with holding the values of acceptance and equality in high regard. However, given that the majority of the island’s population is white, many residents have not experienced discrimination based on skin color.
This lack of diversity has led to what Stephanie Spencer, district director of teaching and learning, refers to as “color blindness.”
“Because traditionally [Vashon has been] a predominantly white culture, it creates sometimes what is called ‘color blindness.’ So those of us who are white aren’t necessarily aware of the small things that happen every day because we don’t tend to notice the difference in color,” Spencer said.
District policy 3212 ― Ensuring Educational and Racial Equity ― was adopted on Oct. 26, 2017. The policy was put in place to address discrepancies within test results between white and non-white students by uncovering subconsciously-held biases and raising awareness around white privilege within the district...Read More
Zero Waste Vashon draws attention to environmental issues
By Klara Plenk, Reporter As a community, Vashon is passionate about reducing the impact of waste on the environment. Currently, the island’s means of dealing with solid waste follows the global pattern of overusing resources, increasing its carbon footprint, contribution to greenhouse gas formation, and global warming.
The local conservation non-profit organization Zero Waste Vashon (ZWV) has tasked itself with teaching community members how to help make the island more environmentally friendly.
“In [your] daily habits, [you] can have small impacts on improving the use of the world’s resources,” ZWV board member Nancy O’Connor said.
The organization was created four years ago by community members who recognized a need for a recycling-focused organization on the island; at the time, no island group existed that dealt with the issue of solid waste. It is funded through contributions from individuals, King County, and private grants...Read More
Years of planning results in new trail at Marine park
Eleanor Yarkin, Reporter
In the past several years, Maury Marine Park has been transformed from a blackberry-covered gravel mine to a popular park that is utilized daily by people from on and off the island. This year, a new trail is being built to expand the current trail network to provide access to acres of previously unreachable forest...Read More
Relish seeks to become a community gathering place
By Halle Wyatt, Reporter
For over 15 years, The Hardware Store Restaurant has acted as a community hearth. Melinda Powers, the restaurant’s owner, is now looking to expand with the opening of her new business, Relish, right next door.
Relish is a cooking school that offers both a wide variety of classes every month, as well as instruction on home and life organization. Classes officially began in early December.
“We want to empower people to be able to know how to cook a handful of great meals,” Powers said.
Powers’s goal is for Relish to become a place where islanders can reconnect with important values of community values and self-education.
“Food and drink are part of our most basic needs, and we nurture each other with the gift of good food,” Powers said. “At the most basic level, it starts with taking care of ourselves and our families.”
Powers believes that a place like Relish has the ability to strengthen bonds between community members...Read More
Arts & Entertainment
Local musicians sing for charity
By Catherine Brown, Reporter
On Friday, Dec. 7, the Vashon community held its fifth annual “Will Sing for Vashon” event, a holiday music performance designed to help support island nonprofit organizations.
During the event, all audience members received envelopes for cash or check donations to an organization of their choosing. More than 20 island-based nonprofits were listed on the envelope, with additional space for islanders to write in any organization that didn’t appear. Read More
Zoolights
Friday, November 23 - Saturday, January 6
Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
Tickets starting at $10
“Annie”
Friday, December 21 - Sunday, December 30
5th Avenue Theater
Tickets starting at $108
Secular Solstice
Saturday, December 22
The Factory Luxe
Tickets by donation
Seattle Rock Orchestra “Dark Side of the Moon”
Saturday, December 29
Moore Theater
Tickets starting at $25
Read More
‘Green Book’ teaches morals, exceeds standards
By Bella Crayton, Co-Copy Editor
Across the country, the role of discipline in schools has been slowly changing and adapting to the modern age. In response to the ever-developing culture, the school district has shifted away from punitive measures and towards an all-encompassing response to discipline.
On Monday, Nov. 12, a shooting threat was reported to the administration. The threat was investigated and the case was quickly resolved, resulting in two arrests. The threats and the administration’s ensuing reaction sparked a larger conversation surrounding discipline, and what can be done to increase its effectiveness.
Currently, the middle school employs a system of conflict management as an alternative to punitive measures such as detentions or expulsion. This method of resolution is known as restorative justice.
“We really try to help them navigate and work out those conflicts together with adults,” middle school principal Greg Allison said...Read More
People
Sophomore stars in local playSylvie Koefoed-Nielsen, Reporter
Vashon Island is a place that prides itself on an appreciation of the arts. The island theater scene provides many opportunities for young actors and actresses to prove their talent, and sophomore Lucy Rogers has done just that.
Rogers began acting six years ago when she auditioned for the lead role in the play “Bye Bye Birdie.” Although her age kept her from getting the role, it was the beginning of a lifelong passion.
“Ever since then, I’ve started acting, and I have really enjoyed it; it’s one of my favorite things to do now,” Rogers said.
Rogers recently expanded her resume by being cast as a starring role in the Vashon Center for the Arts (VCA) production of “My Mother, Myself,” a play that highlights sexual abuse and the conflicts of a mother-daughter relationships.
“I [was] the only high schooler in the show. Everyone else [was an] adult,” Rogers said. “It’s been really cool because most of the shows I’ve been in are Disney kind of shows … while this one has actual intensity.”...Read More
Pirate TalkWhat Holiday treat would you be and why?
Jewel Wass De Czege: “A candy cane: the perfect mix of boring and holiday cheer.”
Read More
Gleb takes maternity leave, Pipkin takes over
Aidan Janssen, Reporter & Designer
Science teacher Elizabeth Gleb is currently taking a break from her position as the high school chemistry teacher to be on maternity leave. In early November, she and her husband welcomed twin girls, named Cora and Marion Gleb.
The school district chose Izabella Pipkin to take over Gleb’s position for the remainder of the year...Read More
Feature
Controversy over internet at high school
By Mari Kanagy & Isabelle Spence, Co-Content Editors
With technology so integrated into academic life, school administrations across the nation must now face the challenge of how to regulate this tool. This issue has been heavily debated among the high school student body, with opinions ranging from indifference to outrage.
The school district has several methods of monitoring what students are able to access while at school or while using the school’s Chromebooks. Some of these programs restrict what websites and URLs are searchable, while others monitor the individual sites for specific, pre-designated keywords. The goal of these programs is to prevent exposure to possibly dangerous or explicit material.
“There’s certain categories that we’ve just flat-out blocked, regardless,” high school network engineer and application developer Thane Gill said. “That would be pornagraphy, malware, [and] stuff people wouldn’t really want to [have access to] to anyway.”...Read More
News
Restorative justice affects students
By Bella Crayton, Co-Copy Editor
Across the country, the role of discipline in schools has been slowly changing and adapting to the modern age. In response to the ever-developing culture, the school district has shifted away from punitive measures and towards an all-encompassing response to discipline.
On Monday, Nov. 12, a shooting threat was reported to the administration. The threat was investigated and the case was quickly resolved, resulting in two arrests. The threats and the administration’s ensuing reaction sparked a larger conversation surrounding discipline, and what can be done to increase its effectiveness.
Currently, the middle school employs a system of conflict management as an alternative to punitive measures such as detentions or suspensions. This method of resolution is known as restorative justice.
“We really try to help them navigate and work out those conflicts together with adults,” middle school principal Greg Allison said...Read More
Program works to integrate Spanish-speaking program
By Mari Kanagy, Co-Content Editor In order to provide more support for Spanish-speaking families on the island, a local program is connecting community members to important services. Hispanic and Latino Outreach and Human Services, a program run by Vashon Youth and Family Services (VYFS), is working to become a consistent, reliable resource center for these minority families.
The program was first created last December by Mariela Franco, VYFS Human Resource Manager and Latino Outreach Manager, a few months after being hired by VYFS. The program was initially integrated into McMurray Middle School. Prior to the program, there were few resources available to help Spanish-speaking families connect with the school.
“What we are really wanting to do is work for the Latinx population on the island and provide services that they need,” VYSF executive director Carol Goertzel said.
Franco spoke to the program’s goal of uniting the often-separated groups on Vashon.
“Right now, we have the Latino community, then the rest of the Vashon community,” Franco said. “What we’re trying to do is bring everyone into one place.”...Read More
High school band will travel to out of state competition
Eleanor Yarkin, Reporter
In the spirit of competition and self-improvement, the high school band is traveling out-of-state for six days this April to attend the Forum Music Festival (FMF) in San Francisco. The band will have the chance to compete and be judged against other high schools on the national level...Read More
Editorial
School administration must clearly outline internet policy
By The Editorial Board Historically, interactions between the administration and students have always been a topic of contention. At the high school, this divide has recently been amplified through the district’s internet restriction policies. It has become increasingly clear that this is an issue for which the school needs to construct a clear, outlined policy, leaving no room for confusion among the staff or student body.
The Editorial Board does not disagree with the implementation of restrictions on the district’s guest Wi-Fi policy, a system which blocks all users from accessing explicit content. This form of restriction falls under laws established in 2000 as part of the Child Internet Protection Act and is mandatory for all schools if they wish to obtain state and federal funding. For this reason, we understand that some of the restrictions are necessary...Read More
Sports
All winter sports prepare for good season
By Alex Ryan, ReporterWrestling The wrestling team is in the midst of a strong season. Head coach Anders Blomgren is currently coaching the youngest team he has worked with in his career, with seven freshman starting this season. Last year, the team placed in both league and districts. Blomgren is hopeful that, building off this success, the new team will send several members to the state competition.
“We have a lot of potential, that’s for sure,” Blomgren said.
So far this season, the team has competed in 3 matches — all victories.. Over the course of the season, the team will wrestle in a total of six matches and six tournaments. They will also be hosting one of their own tournaments, welcoming 15 other teams to the island on Dec. 29.
“[The tournament] is a big event for our team and our community,” Blomgren said,
Community members are welcome and encouraged to attend...Read More
Students compete in swimming championship
By Catherine Brown, Reporter & Katherine Poston, Reporter
Last weekend, two high school student swimmers went head-to-head in the Washington State Senior Championship.
Junior Kasey Kirschling and senior Lucas MacLeod competed in the championship on Saturday, Dec. 15 and Sunday Dec. 16...Read More
Opinion
Thriftway offers surprising glimpse into island culture
By Elizabeth Lande, Co-Copy Editor
Whoever said “All roads lead to Rome” has clearly never been to Vashon Thriftway. While the eternal city certainly brings its own people together, this grocery store does a better job than Rome could ever hope to perform in uniting a community. In fact, I’m prepared to swear on all the pasta sauces in aisle three that, during one of my regular eight-hour shifts as a courtesy clerk, I see half the island’s population enter and leave the store.
However, the most profound realization I’ve experienced working at Thriftway is that standing behind a check stand and carefully arranging customers’ groceries in a high stakes game of Tetris® provides an oddly accurate snapshot into Vashon life.
As I bag groceries, carefully dividing their produce from their crackers, and their free burrito from their vanilla ice cream, there’s a brief exchange about casual topics such as the weather, or perhaps the sports team they’re displaying on their faded baseball cap...Read More
Jumping the hurdle of student debt
By Garrett Mueller, Business Editor In addition to constant academic stressors, college students must deal with the added difficulty of paying for college tuition and expenses.
Most college students can expect to take out a student loan at some point during their collegiate career in order to make ends meet. Going into debt as a student is challenging and can even be dangerous for those who aren't fiscally educated. However, there are methods available to reduce the stress and effects of student debt.
The most important skill for a college freshman to learn is budgeting. Many students try to live more comfortably than they can afford during college.
“Number one, you got to realize there’s an issue: … you’ve overextended yourself and are in too much debt,” said local portfolio investment manager Brett Saunders. “ The next step is to come up with a plan, and part of this plan is to budget.”...Read More