Unity Day has become an integral part of West Linn High School. Students hosted the third annual Unity Day on Friday, May 24, increasing inclusivity while building school culture.

Once again, the entire day was dedicated to student-taught classes on subjects that matter most to West Linn High School students. Students had the opportunity to sign up for four different sessions, selecting Unity-inspired classes that are most relevant or interesting to them.

Classes covered a wide range of topics, including workshops titled “Sustainability 101,” “Be the Difference,” “Discrimination: thought you’d see the last of me,” “Islam and Islamophobia,” “Body Positivity and Eating Disorders,” “Mental Health and Sports: Balancing Your Life,” and “Nutrition 101” among others. In total, there were more than 50 different workshops taught by students. [READ MORE ABOUT UNITY DAY AT WEST LINN HIGH SCHOOL]

Eight West Linn-Wilsonville student scientists traveled to Phoenix, Arizona last week to showcase months of hard work against some of the best and brightest young scientists from across the world. Hailing from West Linn and Wilsonville high schools, students did more than just qualify for the prestigious event, leaving their mark on Intel ISEF Science Fair and the larger scientific community.

Nathan Tidball, a Wilsonville High School senior, was awarded second place in the category of Materials Science for his project "Acrylate Polymerization: Formation of UC Curable Antimicrobial Surfaces.” He won $1,500 and the honor of naming an asteroid for his accomplishments.

Not to be outdone, WLHS senior Jessica Yu placed third in the category of Systems Software for her project titled “A deep learning based drowning detection method for dynamic swimming pool environments.” Jessica won a total of $2,500 for her impressive work.

WLHS senior Pooja Jain and sophomore Neel Jain placed fourth in the category of Embedded Systems for their project titled “Skyhound: A low-cost, 3D printed autonomous WiFi tracking search drone to locate missing victims of natural disasters.” The pair won a $5,500 for their project as well as an additional $1,000 for West Linn High School.

WLHS seniors Rishima Mukherjee and Marlee Feltham also represented the District for their groundbreaking project titled “A 5^th Generation CAR-T Cell: MicroRNA Guided Radiogenetics for T-Cell Engineering.”

“Walking around that exhibit hall gives me renewed faith that there is no obstacle that our students cannot overcome. They have a true passion for improving the human experience for all,” said ISEF Program Coordinator Danielle Grenier.

Congratulations to all of our science fair participants for their important contributions to the science community and world!

Not even rain and lightning could put a damper on the fifth annual District Art Show on Saturday, May 18, marking another exciting chapter in the event's history.

Student artists from throughout the District showcased their work in a setting that the entire WLWV community could enjoy. Paintings, drawings, sculptures, and photography made up just some of the hundreds of pieces that were on display, and a special staff exhibit also highlighted the many talents of West Linn-Wilsonville teachers and staff members.

In addition to the wall-to-wall artwork to take in, community members remained entertained through a variety of interactive activities. Student bands performed live music throughout the afternoon, Wilsonville High School students manned a photo station complete with a green screen, and Arts and Technology High School students shared their screen-printing talents with District Art Show T-shirts for sale. Multiple food trucks and Jr. Scoop ice cream kept everyone well fed during the afternoon of celebration.

Thank you to our many students, staff, and community volunteers who helped make the District Art Show a massive success once again!

The West Linn High School Performing Arts Center played host to an important panel discussion on Friday, May 17, giving students a glimpse of the Oregon criminal justice system and where they can make positive impacts in the future.

The LIBRARYx event was inspired by TED Talks, including a panel discussion consisting of local experts. The panel included Multnomah County Jude Kelly Skye, Multnomah County Public Defender Megha Desai, Multnomah County Public Defender Taya Brown, Oregon Justice Resource Center Co-Founder Erin McKee, and West Linn High School Teacher and former Two Rivers Correctional Institute Writing Program Volunteer Anna Crandall. 

In conjunction with the 11th grade English Language Arts students' study of "Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption," the panel discussed the importance of the literature and the status of the justice system in both Oregon and the United States. 11th-grade students prepared questions ahead of time, allowing the panel of local leaders to discuss justice and reform within Oregon's criminal justice system. Speakers highlighted the inadequacies in the system and where improvements are coming, as well as the importance of rehabilitation and resources for all people. 

Students will use what they learned during the passionate discussion to connect themes from their studies to our local justice system.

The inaugural event was put together by WLHS teachers and WLHS Teacher Librarian Megan Dobson. The goal is for this to be the first of many LIBRARYx events.

West Linn-Wilsonville ISEF students arrived in Phoenix earlier this week for the 2019 international ISEF Fair. Eight WLWV students in total qualified for the prestigious event: Nathan Tidball, Pooja Jain, Neel Jain, Marlee Feltham, Rishima Mukherjee, and Jessica Yu, as well as observers Anna Nielsen and Sophia Nielsen. Those students are among just 33 from the State of Oregon to compete in the international science fair.

Every day, hundreds of students across the West Linn-Wilsonville School District walk or ride their bike to school. This past week, students at Wood and Rosemont Ridge Middle School celebrated the healthy and environmentally-friendly practice by participating in National Walk and Bike To School Day. Wood students celebrated the National initiative on May 9, while Rosemont Ridge students participated on May 15.

Partnering with the City of Wilsonville’s SMART Transit and the City of West Linn, students were encouraged to participate by riding their bike or walking to school. Upon arrival, students received certificates of participation, pencils, other school supplies, and even donuts to recognize the special day.

At Rosemont Ridge, students spent the remaining time before class began hanging out in the special Bike and Walk to School “VIP Lounge,” spending time with other bikers and walkers.

“This is my first time walking to school and didn’t realize so many other kids did this every day,” said one Rosemont Ridge student.

“We should do this more often. It’s fun and good for the environment,” said another student.

At Rosemont Ridge, staff counted 40 bikers and 110 students who walked to school on May 15. Students hope to increase that number even further next year, making the practice a regular routine.

In addition to the Walk and Bike to School event, WLWV City partners have been instrumental in forming Safe Routes to School for students across West Linn-Wilsonville. With careful planning of sidewalks and safe channels of travel, the District hopes to encourage even more students to utilize walking and biking as their form of transportation to and from school.

Additional West Linn-Wilsonville schools plan to participate in the National event next school year, continuing to promote the importance of healthy exercise and reducing our impact on the environment. Thank you to our City partners for all of their help, and thank you to our West Linn-Wilsonville community for practicing safe driving habits, especially during school hours.

If you’ve been out to the Athey Creek Middle School soccer fields recently, you might have noticed a new addition to the fence lines that surround the schools’ property.

The black covering that can be seen along the base of District fencing is actually a specially-designed fence guard that prevents the growth of pesky weeds that can lead to dangerous pests. The new environmental safety feature is just one example of the District’s efforts to reduce the use of herbicides across school grounds. READ MORE ABOUT HOW THE DISTRICT IS REDUCING HERBICIDE USE

The West Linn High School Symphonic Choir placed first in all of Oregon on Wednesday, May 1. It was the first time West Linn High School has ever finished first in the 6A competition. West Linn High School Choir Director Aubrey Patterson also made history on May 1, as she was just the fourth woman in Oregon history to win the state competition in the 6A category. Congratulations, West Linn High School Symphonic Choir!

Students from across West Linn-Wilsonville impressed friends and family during the 2019 Dual Language Showcase on April 20. Students from Lowrie Primary, Trillium Creek Primary, Wood Middle School, and Rosemont Ridge Middle School performed dance and music routines. Students also shared work from throughout the school year, capping off the night of celebration with ice cream courtesy of Jr Scoop.

Lowrie Primary students, staff, and families celebrated cultures from across the world on Friday, April 26, with their annual International Fair. Dozens of countries from across the globe were represented, allowing students and communities alike to learn from one another. Students cooked dishes of their native countries, partaking in cultural dances, songs, and hands-on activities as well.