Dear Hockinson Families,

I am writing to let you know that I have accepted the position of superintendent of Cornerstone Christian Academy, beginning in July 2019. My resignation will go before the Board of Directors at this evening’s special meeting (Nov. 7). I have asked that it be effective July 1, 2019.

This afternoon, at approximately 2:30 pm bus 200 carrying elementary students was involved in an incident on NE 164th Street. 

The Hawks are student-athletes, making their mark in the classroom as well as on the field, in the pool and on the trail.

The girls swimming and cross-country teams have both been named Academic State Champions for the 2018-19 fall sports season—achieving the highest grade-point average among all Washington high schools in their enrollment classification.

When the HHS girls soccer team beat R.A. Long Oct. 18 for the league title, it was more than a win for the team. It was also a win for Wyatt.

The team has dedicated its season to Wyatt Draper, a 5-year-old from Ridgefield who has been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor.

“Now that we have that emotional connection to him, it makes it a lot more special to play and to win,” said soccer team captain Brooke Grosz.

Wyatt is the son of Tyler and Sara Draper, who went to school with HHS soccer coach Joe Chicks in Ridgefield.

“I thought it would be a good way to get our girls involved in something bigger than sports and giving back,” Chicks said. “Some things are more important than just soccer. This puts things in perspective.”

When the team warms up before matches, they wear “Warriors for Wyatt” T-shirts. Before each game begins, they say, “Let’s play for Wyatt.”

“We play for each other, we play for our community—but we also play for Wyatt,” said Brooke, who is a junior.

Technically, the team has one league game left, Oct. 23 against Woodland. But even if they lose, HHS will retain its No. 1 ranking in the 2A Greater St. Helens League.

“They’re a really talented group of players,” Chicks said, “but I think a big part of their success is they’re willing to put the team above themselves. When you’ve got the talent and the right attitude, it makes for a special season.”    

Lexie Stucki shows that practice can, indeed, make perfect.

The HHS senior scored a perfect 36 on her ACT test. She’s among fewer than 0.2 percent of test-takers scoring that high on the college entrance exam in 2018.

“I was pretty sure I did well, but did not think it’d be that good,” she said.

Lexie had taken the ACT once before and then bought a program that analyzed her previous score and guided her in areas where she could improve. She spent about 50 hours over the summer studying and working on practice problems.

Although she said she wouldn’t describe the process as “fun,” the new score has inspired her to expand the list of four-year universities she’s applying to. Her goal is to focus on math or science.

“She’s a motivated student who wants to do well and always wants to challenge herself,” said HHS guidance counselor Myke Pace. “Lexie is a well-rounded kid who’ll go on to be successful in whatever she does.”

Lexie plays clarinet in band and marching band—which she describes as “a big, happy family”—and participates in soccer, National Honor Society and Key Club.

What advice does she have for other students preparing to take the ACT?

“Find enough time to study, so you don’t have to cram it all in at the end.”

TIME CORRECTION: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), is scheduled to test the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) at 11:18 a.m. Oct. 3, 2018.

The test is intended to assess the operational readiness of infrastructure for distribution of a national message and will be sent to cell phones connected to wireless providers participating in WEA.

For more information, please see the FEMA website.

HHS will host a College and Career Fair on Wednesday, Oct. 3 from 5 to 7 p.m. in the HHS Commons. 

Representatives from colleges and universities around the Northwest, branches of the military, trade/tech schools and apprenticeships will be there to provide information and answer questions from students and families.

Also -- new this year -- is a workshop titled "The A-Z of Paying for College." It will run from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium.

The Hockinson School Board voted Monday, Sept. 24, to move Graduation Day for HHS's Class of 2019 to Thursday, June 13.

There's an app for that! Hockinson School District's smartphone app is available, and here's how to get it:

Visit your app store and search for "SchoolPointe Stay Connected." 
Download the Schoolpointe app. 
Select Hockinson School District.

HSD will become your default app, and you will have the latest district news, events, staff directory, notifications and more -- all on your smartphone!

Hockinson Middle School and architect DOWA-IBI Group have received an award for Outstanding Design! 

The HMS project will be included in the 2018 American School & University Architectural Portfolio, which is scheduled to be published in late November, and will be among projects included in an online database at SchoolDesigns.com.

The latest version of Hockinson's 2018-19 calendar is available in the Quick Links in the top righthand corner of the district homepage.

We're so excited to have our students back in class! Check out our back-to-school photos at: www.hocksd.org/Gallery

Hockinson School District and Hockinson Education Association negotiators reached a tentative agreement Sunday night on a two-year contract for certificated staff.

Details of the agreement will be released pending ratification by the teachers union, which is meeting at noon Monday, Sept. 3.

School is tentatively scheduled to begin Tuesday, Sept. 4. The district will send an update Monday.

“We appreciate our community’s patience during these negotiations and their enthusiastic support for education in Hockinson,” said Superintendent Sandra Yager. “We are eager to welcome our staff and students back to school and to embark on another exciting school year.”

We are excited to welcome our Hockinson students back to school tomorrow—Tuesday, Sept. 4—and kindergartners on Friday, Sept. 7! More ...

The negotiating teams are not meeting today but are scheduled to return to negotiations tomorrow—Sunday, Sept. 2. We apologize for the multiple messages but will continue to do our best to keep our community updated during this process. Our next update will be on Sunday.

Hello, Hockinson Families --

The district and teachers union bargaining teams are still at the table negotiating, working toward an agreement.

We will be in touch again tomorrow, Saturday, with a negotiations update.

Thank you for your patience. 

For additional details about the process, please see our Labor Relations web page. If you have questions that have not been answered, please email districtcommunication@hocksd.org.

Hockinson School District

Dear Community Members:

Greetings from your Hockinson School Board.

Our school district’s work stoppage has been a challenging time for our community, staff and particularly for our families with school-age children. We appreciate your sacrifices and your patience.

We have been keeping in close contact with Superintendent Yager throughout this negotiation and mediation process, providing her with support and encouragement as she and her staff work toward a prompt, affordable and sustainable solution.

We truly value each of our employees, and want to find resolution within the constraints of the district’s budget. Our goal is to get our teachers, classified staff and students back to school as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

Kathy Nordberg, Chair

Dave Olson, Vice Chair

Gordon Smith, Director

Greg Gospe, Director

Steve Nylund, Director

Good morning, Hockinson community --

The negotiating teams are meeting with the state mediator again this morning after a one-day break, and everyone is working hard to reach agreement.

The district will send an email, text and voice call by 5 p.m. today—and earlier if possible—informing everyone whether school will start tomorrow.

The district appreciates the hard work of the negotiating teams and extends its thanks to the district’s entire staff, and students and families for their patience at this difficult time.

Updates will continue to be posted on the District’s Labor Relations webpage and on the hotline at 360-448-6401.

Hello, Hockinson Families --

We continue to make progress in negotiations.

The Hockinson School District and Hockinson Education Association (HEA) have yet to reach a tentative agreement.

This means that HEA, which represents our teachers, will continue its work stoppage, and there will be no school tomorrow, Friday, Aug. 31.

School offices remain closed, and the District Office will be open regular hours.

The district and union bargaining teams will continue negotiating, and we will keep you posted as we work toward an agreement.

Our goal remains unchanged: to provide a competitive salary that is affordable and sustainable, both for our school district and for our community.

The district will continue providing updates on its Labor Relations web page and its hotline at 360-448-6401.

If you have questions that have not been answered, please email districtcommunication@hocksd.org.

Hockinson School District

Road work is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 31, at the corner of NE 159th Street and 182nd Avenue. Please use caution.

Mediation to resume Thursday, Aug. 30.

The Hockinson School District and Hockinson Education Association negotiating teams will be meeting Thursday to continue working toward a contract agreement. 

HSD will use the same notification process we used Tuesday, Aug. 28, to notify our families about whether there will be school the following day -- robocall, email and text messaging. We will share this information as soon as it is available.

The document linked below offers answers to many questions from our community, including questions about the current work stoppage. We also have added an article from WSSDA on 2018-19 school district budgets and collective bargaining. 

Hockinson School District Labor Relations Q & A

The negotiating teams are back to mediation after working until 2 this morning. Both the district and teachers union are committed to working hard today in an effort to reach agreement.

With the first day of school scheduled to begin less than 24 hours from now, we understand that families need to finalize their plans for Wednesday.

Dear Hockinson Families:

I am writing to let you know that even though we have made progress over the past couple of days, the Hockinson School District and Hockinson Education Association (HEA) were unable to reach a tentative agreement today. This means that HEA, which represents our teachers, will begin a two-day work stoppage tomorrow, Wednesday, Aug. 29.

Negotiating teams for Hockinson School District and the Hockinson Education Association (HEA) are working into the night with a mediator from the state Public Employees Resource Commission (PERC).

They engaged in mediation Sunday, Aug. 26, 2018, from 9 a.m. until midnight. Negotiations resumed at 9 a.m. Monday, Aug. 27. The District is willing to stay at the table for as long as it takes to reach a tentative agreement on a new contract. HSD is striving to provide its staff with competitive compensation while ensuring contracts are affordable and sustainable for the District.

The updated document linked below provides answers to many questions regarding labor negotiations.

Hockinson School District Labor Relations Q&A

If you have a question that has not been answered, please send it to districtcommunication@hocksd.org. 

Click here to visit the Labor Relations webpage.

Dear Hockinson Families:

As you are probably well aware, Hockinson School District is negotiating a new contract with the Hockinson Education Association (HEA), which represents teachers, counselors and other education professionals.

The document linked below is an analysis of guidance sent to districts today, Aug. 22, 2018, by state schools Superintendent Chris Reykdal.

State schools superintendent cautions negotiating districts

Mediation to begin Sunday, Aug. 26

Today, Tuesday, Aug. 21, we were notified that the first meeting for Hockinson School District (HSD) and the Hockinson Education Association (HEA) with a mediator will take place Sunday, Aug. 26.

Why bring in a mediator?

On Wednesday, Aug. 15, there remained a considerable difference between HEA’s compensation requests and what HSD’s budget can afford. Per the request of the district, HSD and HEA jointly filed a request for a mediator from the Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC). A mediator was assigned to Hockinson on Friday, Aug. 17.

Click here to visit the Labor Relations webpage.

If you have a question that has not been answered, please send it to districtcommunication@hocksd.org.

Dear Hockinson Community:

I hope you have been enjoying a good summer. We are eagerly anticipating getting our students back on our campuses for the start of the 2018-19 school year.

As you have likely heard, we are still negotiating contracts with our staff. As of Aug. 21, 2018, the district and Hockinson Education Association (HEA)—teacher union—have negotiated tentative agreements for 23 changes requested by the union. However, there remains a considerable difference between the union’s compensation requests and what the district’s budget can afford. We are scheduled to begin mediation Sunday, Aug. 26, with assistance from Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC).

The document linked below provides answers to many questions our community has about Hockinson School District's budget, state funding and current labor negotiations. 

Hockinson School District Labor Relations Q&A

If you have a question that has not been answered, please send it to districtcommunication@hocksd.org. 

Click here to visit the Labor Relations webpage.

This provides information about the Hockinson School District’s budgeted revenues and the salary and financial requests from Hockinson Education Association (HEA) and Hockinson Educational Support Staff (HESP).  It also shows the current proposals of average salaries from the Hockinson School District (HSD) and (HEA).  If you have a question that is not answered in this document, please email it to districtcommunication@hocksd.org.

Greetings from Hockinson School District.

Our district has been in contract negotiations with its two unions over the past few months.

As of Aug. 16, 2018, the district and the Hockinson Education Association (HEA)—teachers union—have negotiated tentative agreements for 23 changes requested by the union.

However, at the Aug. 15 meeting of HEA and district negotiators, there remained a considerable difference between the union’s compensation requests and what the district’s budget can afford.

Hockinson School District is pleased to announce a new online facility request and rental system designed to provide a positive user experience for all.  

Washington State Law requires that all children attending a licensed child care or school must provide proof of vaccination prior to entering school. Parents/guardians can meet this requirement by completing and returning the State of Washington Certificate of Immunization Status form, this form shows their child has received the required vaccinations (or has immunity from previous illness). Parents can also print a copy of their child's immunization record directly from the WA Immunization Registry. This form and instructions can be found at https://www.doh.wa.gov

Congratulations to our 184 students who graduated on June 15!

Please join us at 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 6, in the High School MPR for an information night and discussion about what HSD is doing to address school safety.

Hockinson School District will see some leadership changes this summer

The Hockinson Board of Directors officially accepted the new Hockinson Middle School at a May 9 dedication ceremony in the HMS gymnasium.

Hockinson School District is home to some amazing artists! Here are exhibits that our High School students shared at the district art show May 4.

Check out this beautiful artwork by some of our district’s elementary school students! It was on display May 4 at the district art show, along with art from students in Hockinson’s Middle and High schools.

Come and celebrate our talented student artists at Hockinson School District’s annual district-wide art show! It will be 5:30-7 p.m. Friday, May 4, in the HHS Commons.

Kindergartners-to-be and their families are invited to the annual Kindergarten Roundup on May 10, 6-7 p.m., at Hockinson Heights Elementary School. They will have the opportunity to meet teachers, tour the lunch room and library, and even check out a school bus!

Feel free to bring in completed kindergarten registration packets, or pick one up that evening.

After a whirlwind of a weekend, Hockinson High School’s musicians brought home a treasure trove of awards.

Hockinson Heights Elementary invites the community to its annual Multicultural STEAM Night from 5:30 to 8 p.m., Thursday, April 19.

A robot named Atlas is taking some Hockinson students—and their teammates from Camas and Washougal high schools—to Houston, Texas this week. 

Hockinson School District congratulates Assistant Superintendent Slade McSheehy on his acceptance of the position of superintendent at Vashon Island School District. He will begin his new position July 1

The Hockinson School District Board of Directors has decided to sell a 35-acre parcel at Northeast 169th Street and Northeast 217th Avenue in Brush Prairie.

Water testing at Hockinson Heights Elementary School shows the water is safe to drink, and lead levels are far below federal guidelines.

It isn’t every day that Sheriff’s Deputy Jason Granneman hands out a citation for kindness. In fact, the one the Hockinson High School resource officer handed out on Friday was the first to go to an HHS

The 2018 Southwest Washington Regional High School Art Show is in progress, and you are invited!

Dear Hockinson Families,

As our nation engages in the very difficult but necessary conversation about school safety, I want to share with you that in Hockinson we take this issue very seriously. 

Hockinson collaborates with several local school districts to support a local student Robotics Team that primarily works out of Camas. 

Reflecting on the Hawks’ first-ever state football championship in December, two teammates said a sense of community—on field and off—was key to their success. 

A new school does more than replace an old one—it opens up new ways of teaching and learning.

Collecting food and other donations for those in need is a tradition in all of Hockinson’s schools, and the end of 2017 found our students especially busy making life better for their neighbors. 

This year’s property tax bills include new tax rates related to schools, particularly at the state level. Here is some information about these changes.

Congratulations to our amazing and talented Hockinson musicians! The HHS Jazz Band won first place at the Clark College Jazz Festival in the AA Division, and Riley Lyons, Erik Hawkins, Zeke Dodson, and Jack Broer received Outstanding Soloist awards. Corey McEnry is the HHS band director.

Nineteen HHS and five HMS students were selected for the 2018 North County Honor Band, which gathered Jan. 19-20 at Hockinson.

Hockinson School District, as part of the identification process for the Highly Capable Program, will be accepting applications to the Highly Capable Program between January 17th and January 31st. Applications will be screened and the district will be administering the full CogAT between February 5th and February 9th during regular school hours. Please read the parent letter by clink on the link below.
HSD HiCap Testing Parent Letter

Congratulations to Hockinson School District's newest National Board Certified Teachers! 

We’ve had an amazing start to the school year with the brand-new Middle School, and we're eager to share it with our community! Please plan to join us for a dedication and open house in the spring, when everything is complete. Meanwhile, stay tuned for upcoming patron tours.

Around 100 HHS students sang, danced and acted their way into the hearts of audiences with their December production of Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas. Here are a few photos in case you missed it—or would like a glimpse of the production! Congratulations, Hawks!

Students at Hockinson Heights Elementary are learning to reduce food waste and share what they don't need with others. Check out their efforts, which were recently shared on the Clark County Green Schools website. Way to go, Hornets!

With winter here and memories of last year's snows still fresh on our mind, it is time for a quick refresher on how Hockinson lets families know when weather or other emergencies force school delays or closures. We've included the link to our district web page for emergency closure information. As always, please remember to keep your contact information up to date if you have recently moved or changed your information. 

Thank you very much and have a Happy Holidays! 

Weather & Emergency Closure Information

Joshua BrownSilva has joined Hockinson School District as its new nutrition director with Chartwells food service.

The Hockinson Heights Elementary School’s elves have been hard at work creating holiday murals for the art contest at the 25th annual Winter Wonderland light show at Portland International Raceway.