Forensics host regional Skills USA

Wednesday, January 22nd, students in the West Valley forensics club hosted the regional Skills USA Competition.  Students competed in knowledge areas around collecting evidence, maintaining a controlled and safe crime scene, and dusting and comparing finger prints.  

DECA Qualifies for State

Students from West Valley High School competed at the DECA regional competition this winter.  The top Business and Marketing students from across the Yakima Valley came together all vying for a spot at the DECA State Conference.  

Big congratulations to West Valley students meeting the mark. 

• 1st place - Cara Edwards - Start Up Business Plan
• 1st place -  Carl Stampe - Sports & Entertainment marketing 
• 1st place -  Daniel Marinace & Gracie Evans - Sports & Entertainment Team
• 1st place  - Nina Okubo - Professional Selling - Financial Consulting
• 1st place  - Leah Hawkins - Apparel & Accessories marketing
• 2nd place -  Rachel Argento - Accounting
• 2nd place  - Jasleen Hans - Hotel & Lodging
• 2nd place  - Isabella De La Combe - Human Resources Management
• 2nd place  - Allysa Miles - Hospitality & Tourism Professional Selling
• 2nd place  - Teryn Bunting - Professional Selling
• 3rd place  - Taylor Nelson - Human Resources Management
• 3rd place  - Emma Dunn - Hospitality & Tourism Professional Selling 
• 3rd place  - Abigail Pitts - Professional Selling
• 3rd place  - Kiana Griffiths - Restaurant & Food Marketing

WASA Hotline Feature Story on AIR/AASA Visit to West Valley

West Valley Team - This is a feature in the recent WASA Hotline that goes to all 1,000 or so members of the Washington Association of School Administrators. This article highlighted our recent visit by the American Institute of Research researcher on behalf of the American Association of School Administrators. Congrats to Cottonwood Kindergarten teacher Abigail Ferguson and her student Noah for being the face of our visit! 

This was just one of the many visits that were provided to the AIR researcher during her December 10-12 visit to West Valley. Thank you again to everyone who did such a great job those days in providing the interviews necessary for our story on Personalized Learning! 

The Students Have Become the Teachers.

In a pilot, West Valley Computer Science Teachers, Devina Khan and Arin Lee, have partnered with Minerva Pardo and the West Valley Family Engagement Department. 

For the last five years, West Valley Junior High has been a state and national leader in job skill development with Microsoft Certification.  All seventh graders earn their MOS Certification in Word, Excel and PowerPoint while eighth graders take courses earning their Python certifications in Computer Science.

As an extension of the English Classes already available for families, certified students from West Valley High School and West Valley Junior High are volunteering to teach courses in Spanish for families to earn their own Microsoft Certification.  

Thanks to these students for volunteering.

- Elayna Orwin,  10th

- Cara Connelly,  10th

- Evelin Martinez, 7th

- Angelina Orwin, 8th

If we are truly committed to changing the lives of our students it begins with improving the lives of our families.  Students in West Valley are already leading the way in Computer Science and in Office Production.  Why shouldn't our students help the whole family?

One night in and this is definitely a program we plan to expand.  Classes are Tuesday and Thursday nights at 7pm.  This course is full but are looking for interest in future course offerings.   

JROTC Wins Big at Home Drill Meet

For the fourth year in a row, the West Valley School District has hosted the Cascade Mountain League Drill Meet and arguably, West Valley's most successful.

West Valley precision marksmanship team swept the competition, winning the top four spots and earning medal with first through third places.

• 1st Place - Precision Marksmanship Team
• Gold Medal - c/CPT Samantha Lamb
• Silver Medal - c/2LT Angelina Gutierrez
• Bronze Medal - c/CPT Dakotah Goodlake

West Valley Drill Teams also came up with many first time awards.  With heavy practice accommodations being made due to West Valley freshman joining the high school and a squeeze on facility space, practice accommodations did not hold the JROTC team back in anyway.  

Drill Teams placement

• 3rd Place - Dual Armed Exhibition Drill - c/SGT Kaleb Howerton and c/1SG Austin Pomerenke 
• 4th Place Dual Unarmed Exhibition Drill c/CPL Kassie Morales and c/SGM Able Tinajero 
• 6th Place Individual Armed Exhibition Drill c/SGT Gabe Lovelass 
• 4th Place Armed Drill Down c/CPL Jackie Fitzgerald
• 6th Place Unarmed Drill Team 
• 6th Place Unarmed Drill Team Commander c/CSM Kyle Black
• 6th Place Armed Drill Team 
• 4th Place Armed Drill Team Commander c/1SG Austin Pomerenke 
• 6th Place Color Guard Team Commander c/CPT James O'Shea

West Valley's Physical Fitness team is also off to new heights with both teams place.  

• 6th Place Physical Fitness First Team
• 6th Place Physical Fitness Second Team 

West Valley Junior ROTC is grateful for the support received from the West Valley Community in hosting this drill meet with fifteen JROTC programs and five-hundred cadets.  The West Valley JROTC program is reaching new heights and we are excited for the future of the program.