“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.”
- Mae West
FIX YOUR 'WANT TO' !
August 25, 2012
Once again, as Principal of Scappoose High School it is a joy to be writing to all of you. I hope you have had a summer full of relaxation and time well spent with family and friends. The video above is from I man I listened to at a conference in late June; to say that I am inspired by him is an understatement. Please give it a whirl and find out if maybe it doesn't say something to you as well.
I am so excited about the upcoming school year and with the frenzy of fall sports practices beginning and teachers returning upon us it just makes the energy around SHS already turn up a notch!! As always, we have the highest of expectations at Scappoose High School as we pursue excellence in everything we do. Feel free to contact me at any time if you have any questions or comments about Mighty Scappoose High!
My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, he believed in me.
- Jim Valvano
September 9, 2012
What an amazing first week at SHS! It is always an awesome experience to greet our Freshmen, welcome Class of 2016! It is also a wonderful sight to see our upperclassmen step into new Leadership roles; yes, I'm looking especially at you Class of 2013. I believe SHS is in great hands with you leading the way.
Fall sports are doing great right out of the chute. There is a ton of optimism in all of our programs, I am excited to see how we continue to progress. Keep up the great work everyone!
Our wonderful staff has done a phenomenal job of helping our Administration set a strong tone of high expectations, as always. A special shout-out to our new staff members Courtney Scott, Mark Wicksted, Chris Dorough, Kerri Coyne, Kristen Caldwell and Tyler Baker; you have done a great job of jumping right in and making a positive impact from Day 1. Well done everyone!
Finally, I would say to all of our parents and community members that we thank you for your never-ending support. To say that you all make a fantastic difference is a tragic understatement!
What an amazing first week at SHS! It is always an awesome experience to greet our Freshmen, welcome Class of 2016! It is also a wonderful sight to see our upperclassmen step into new Leadership roles; yes, I'm looking especially at you Class of 2013. I believe SHS is in great hands with you leading the way.
Fall sports are doing great right out of the chute. There is a ton of optimism in all of our programs, I am excited to see how we continue to progress. Keep up the great work everyone!
Our wonderful staff has done a phenomenal job of helping our Administration set a strong tone of high expectations, as always. A special shout-out to our new staff members Courtney Scott, Mark Wicksted, Chris Dorough, Kerri Coyne, Kristen Caldwell and Tyler Baker; you have done a great job of jumping right in and making a positive impact from Day 1. Well done everyone!
Finally, I would say to all of our parents and community members that we thank you for your never-ending support. To say that you all make a fantastic difference is a tragic understatement!
There are three kinds of lies:
lies, damned lies,
and statistics.
-Mark Twain
If you can watch this without getting emotional then you are stronger than I...
There are two great days in a persons life;
the day that they are born,
and the day that they discover why.
- Kevin Carroll
October 2, 2012
Ola! I know it has been a few weeks since I checked in here and I have LOTS to tell you all. SHS has officially got into a groove and things are running very nicely (knock on wood). I have had time to visit a lot of classrooms and I will just say that I continue to be impressed by the level of instruction happening all around. Keep up the great work!
Our Fall Sports Teams are off to a rocking start! A quick shout out to our Boys Soccer Team as they got their first win last night with a 3-1 victory over Yamhill-Carlton. Nice work fellas, it shows that if you stay with it, AND BELIEVE, great things WILL happen. As for our Girls Soccer Team...yah, they continue to be a dominant force in 4A Soccer and will definitely have some say in who carries away the blue trophy at seasons end. Coach Harley has both Boys and Girls X-Country teams already performing at a very high level, well done both groups! Volleyball continues to come out of nowhere and perform at a very high level as well, taking second place in a quality tournament last weekend. Look out for those girls come playoff time.... And finally to football. Ahh, fellas, it is all coming together. Two amazing thrashings of Banks and Central the past two weeks has put them squarely into the upper echelon of 4A football. I have a sneaking suspicion that many of our teams will be making DEEP runs into the playoffs. Time will tell.
We had Back to School Night last week and I want to thank so many of the parents that took the time to come in and visit with our teaching staff. Our Site Council has also met for the first time and I can tell you that with out hesitation our number one priority will be figuring out more effective ways to communicate with our parents and community. I am so excited to put that group to work!
Ola! I know it has been a few weeks since I checked in here and I have LOTS to tell you all. SHS has officially got into a groove and things are running very nicely (knock on wood). I have had time to visit a lot of classrooms and I will just say that I continue to be impressed by the level of instruction happening all around. Keep up the great work!
Our Fall Sports Teams are off to a rocking start! A quick shout out to our Boys Soccer Team as they got their first win last night with a 3-1 victory over Yamhill-Carlton. Nice work fellas, it shows that if you stay with it, AND BELIEVE, great things WILL happen. As for our Girls Soccer Team...yah, they continue to be a dominant force in 4A Soccer and will definitely have some say in who carries away the blue trophy at seasons end. Coach Harley has both Boys and Girls X-Country teams already performing at a very high level, well done both groups! Volleyball continues to come out of nowhere and perform at a very high level as well, taking second place in a quality tournament last weekend. Look out for those girls come playoff time.... And finally to football. Ahh, fellas, it is all coming together. Two amazing thrashings of Banks and Central the past two weeks has put them squarely into the upper echelon of 4A football. I have a sneaking suspicion that many of our teams will be making DEEP runs into the playoffs. Time will tell.
We had Back to School Night last week and I want to thank so many of the parents that took the time to come in and visit with our teaching staff. Our Site Council has also met for the first time and I can tell you that with out hesitation our number one priority will be figuring out more effective ways to communicate with our parents and community. I am so excited to put that group to work!
A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones that need the advice.
- Bill Cosby
November 26, 2012
Ok, no excuses, I have been a touch lazy in updating this site. My bad! Let me recap a few things since my last post. To start, we are doing great things in our classroom. I am continually impressed with the dedication, creativity, and high standards that our staff continues to put upon our students; and even more impressive is how well our students respond. Proof of this is easy to find: when the Oregon State Report Cards were released in mid-October our beloved Scappoose High School was rated as an 'Outstanding' High School and in fact is the top ranked 4A High School in the Achievement Index. Impressive, yes, but we are far from where we will be! I congratulate our students, staff, parents, and community for the collective effort that is providing such excellent results.
Fall Sports Teams, what can I say? Wow. Cowapa League Championships for Boys Cross Country, Girls Cross Country, Girls Soccer, and Football. Volleyball made the State Playoffs for the first time in over a decade and Boys Soccer is making great strides towards a League Championship. Boys Cross Country also finished 5th in State, Girls Cross Country 4th in State, Girls Soccer made the State Semi-Finals, and Football made the State Quarter-Finals. All in all it has been an amazing Fall for our Tribe!!
Drama Club put on their first performance to outstanding reviews and our choir and band have also begun their concerts to equally impressive applause. We also have new Clubs in our mix with the addition of Robotics and Acapella; both very cool ! I would like to give a round of applause to our Cheerleaders for their incredible spirit throughout the Fall Season, you are truly appreciated. And who can forget our Dance Team and their annual Happy Feet event? Another wow. Great job Vision !!
Last week we had our Conferences and had a reasonably good turnout. Thank you to all of the parents that took the time to come on in and spend time with our Staff. Also, I would like to give a shout-out to our new Superintendent Stephen Jupe who is quickly making a positive impact for our entire District.
Winter Sports begins tomorrow with our Boys Basketball Team hosting St. Helens and our Girls Basketball is at St. Helens. Wrestling has a meet at Estacada on Saturday. Swimming should also begin their meet soon, good luck to all throughout your season!
In a Facebook world during XMAS time I give you the following...Enjoy!
Ok, no excuses, I have been a touch lazy in updating this site. My bad! Let me recap a few things since my last post. To start, we are doing great things in our classroom. I am continually impressed with the dedication, creativity, and high standards that our staff continues to put upon our students; and even more impressive is how well our students respond. Proof of this is easy to find: when the Oregon State Report Cards were released in mid-October our beloved Scappoose High School was rated as an 'Outstanding' High School and in fact is the top ranked 4A High School in the Achievement Index. Impressive, yes, but we are far from where we will be! I congratulate our students, staff, parents, and community for the collective effort that is providing such excellent results.
Fall Sports Teams, what can I say? Wow. Cowapa League Championships for Boys Cross Country, Girls Cross Country, Girls Soccer, and Football. Volleyball made the State Playoffs for the first time in over a decade and Boys Soccer is making great strides towards a League Championship. Boys Cross Country also finished 5th in State, Girls Cross Country 4th in State, Girls Soccer made the State Semi-Finals, and Football made the State Quarter-Finals. All in all it has been an amazing Fall for our Tribe!!
Drama Club put on their first performance to outstanding reviews and our choir and band have also begun their concerts to equally impressive applause. We also have new Clubs in our mix with the addition of Robotics and Acapella; both very cool ! I would like to give a round of applause to our Cheerleaders for their incredible spirit throughout the Fall Season, you are truly appreciated. And who can forget our Dance Team and their annual Happy Feet event? Another wow. Great job Vision !!
Last week we had our Conferences and had a reasonably good turnout. Thank you to all of the parents that took the time to come on in and spend time with our Staff. Also, I would like to give a shout-out to our new Superintendent Stephen Jupe who is quickly making a positive impact for our entire District.
Winter Sports begins tomorrow with our Boys Basketball Team hosting St. Helens and our Girls Basketball is at St. Helens. Wrestling has a meet at Estacada on Saturday. Swimming should also begin their meet soon, good luck to all throughout your season!
In a Facebook world during XMAS time I give you the following...Enjoy!
Logic will get you from A to Z;
imagination will get you everywhere.
- Albert Einstein
January 19, 2013
Ahh the joys of technology! NO IDEA where my last two submissions are. Newtown.... to briefly capture my comments on it I will simply say this; lots of tears and little angels. Perspective is a humbling experience. Hhmmm.... Ok, moving forward.
The end of our Semester 1 is getting AWFULLY large in the window and my hope is that our Staff and Students are ready to go. Actually let me rephrase that; Staff and Students be READY!
Our Winter Sports are rolling along pretty nicely overall. Our Boys and Girls Swim Teams are competing well and will be in great shape to contend for League titles. Our truly elite Vision Dance Team has begun preparations for State and look out 4A (yes, means you Stayton). Both Varsity Hoops Teams are coming along, the boys in particular have hit their stride and are beginning to roll! Do what you do Coach Tufts! Meanwhile, Wrestling does what wrestling does; they win BIG. Coach Jones and his Staff are truly an elite group and get the most of our boys. When the Tribe hits the mats you know you are in for a knock-down-drag-out. Not to jinx it but as of this morning they are in First Place over in Redmond at the incredibly prestigious Classic. Go get 'em boys!
Awesome news to report on the Arts front; Tom Weaver and our Drama Club will be doing a Spring musical called 'Thoroughly Modern Millie'. No pressure Mr. Weaver but we are all expecting an amazing performance, LOL ! I could not be more proud of how this group has grown and the way they go about their business. Incredibly impressive.
The Wicked Duck is Dead. So long Chip Kelly, don't let the door hit you on the way out. Is it obvious I am a Beaver Die-Hard?? Yep, Go Beavs! ; )
As we begin 2013 I will once again disclaim to anyone that will listen about how much pride I take in Scappoose High School, how much I admire our devoted and gifted Staff, and how I would not trade my Student Body for anyone else, anywhere, anytime. We are truly an Academic, Athletic, Artistic and Activity Powerhouse and yet we are far from our ceiling. My time here is something I will treasure my entire life.
In the book of life, the answers aren't in the back.
- Charlie Brown
February 21, 2013
Heckuva Winter Sports Season! Our Girls Swim Team is once again Cowapa Champions, Boys Basketball is also Cowapa Champions for the second year in a row, and Wrestling took 2nd and will send 10 to State. For those scoring at home, and I am, that is 6 Cowapa Championships of 11 possible so far this year. Spring should see us continue the overall excellence that Scappoose Athletics represents. One reminder, our amazing Scappoose Vision Dance Team will be competing at State in a few weeks. Go Tribe!
Semester 2 is off and rolling. In a few weeks we will have over a dozen students heading out to Germany for our annual GAPP trip, Senior Seminar projects are still on the horizon but definitely getting closer, and our newly formed Robotics Club has their State competition coming up soon as well.
Every now and then I get a moment to stop and appreciate how special this High School is. Whether it be an opportunity to spend quality time in a classroom seeing our amazing staff at work, talking with my Seniors about their future plans, seeing Leadership make connections with our Community and the other schools in our District, etc..... Yep, I could spend all day promoting this special place. We Are One, We Are Tribe.
On a final note, yes, I am a total movie dork and am pumped up for this to come out!
Heckuva Winter Sports Season! Our Girls Swim Team is once again Cowapa Champions, Boys Basketball is also Cowapa Champions for the second year in a row, and Wrestling took 2nd and will send 10 to State. For those scoring at home, and I am, that is 6 Cowapa Championships of 11 possible so far this year. Spring should see us continue the overall excellence that Scappoose Athletics represents. One reminder, our amazing Scappoose Vision Dance Team will be competing at State in a few weeks. Go Tribe!
Semester 2 is off and rolling. In a few weeks we will have over a dozen students heading out to Germany for our annual GAPP trip, Senior Seminar projects are still on the horizon but definitely getting closer, and our newly formed Robotics Club has their State competition coming up soon as well.
Every now and then I get a moment to stop and appreciate how special this High School is. Whether it be an opportunity to spend quality time in a classroom seeing our amazing staff at work, talking with my Seniors about their future plans, seeing Leadership make connections with our Community and the other schools in our District, etc..... Yep, I could spend all day promoting this special place. We Are One, We Are Tribe.
On a final note, yes, I am a total movie dork and am pumped up for this to come out!
When you pull on that jersey you represent yourself and your teammates.
And the name on the front
is a hell of a lot more important than the
one on the back.
- Herb Brooks
March 27, 2013
Ahh, where to start. How about Spring Break? Yep, we are in it and I think I can speak for ALL students and staff when I say "thank goodness". A well placed break will be good to 'charge the batteries' of all of us for the stretch run. When we resume on April 1st it will be on!! ; )
Athletic update: Boys Hoops fell in the playoff at LaSalle but I could not be prouder of their season. Congrats to Coach Tufts on another spectacular season. Girls Hoops placed third in League and look to be setting up for a step forward next year. Both Boys and Girls Swim Teams did us proud, as usual, and the Girls sent 2 to State. Our amazing Wrestling Team finished 6th at State and continues to be our most consistently successful program, congrats to Coach Jones and Crew. Finally, our Scappoose Vision Dance Team finished 2nd in State for the second straight year and always provide a fantastic level of performance!
Spring Sports have begun and Softball, Baseball and Golf are seeing good success as some young teams are growing. Our Boys and Girls Track Teams...yikes! Tough tough tough!! Both of these are the real deal so expect to see great things from them this year.
We have a dozen students returning tomorrow from Germany for our annual GAPP trip. Travel safe everyone and we are excited to have you all home! Robotics Club had their inaugural competition at State and came away with the Rookie Inspiration Award. Well done to all and I can't wait to see the next step in '13-'14.
It's official, we will be back on the Trimester schedule next year. Even better, we are locking in a deal with EOU called 'Eastern Promise' in which we will be able to offer multiple courses in English, Math and Science for College Credit. Add to which we are adding a 9th Advanced Placement course in the form of AP Environmental Science and you can see why we have so much optimism for our continued push of academic achievement.
Also, we will be moving our AP Literature and AP Language courses to the Sophomore and Junior class levels as the College courses are provided to Seniors. In all, our students have a ton of opportunity to find rigorous academics in their pursuit of excellence. I absolutely love it!