Welcome Heights Home Connection Families to the 2022-2023 school year. We cannot wait to see our returning and new students. The summer break has been great, and we are ready to reconnect with our students and families. We are especially exciteded to be able to engage with parents/guardians in a more authentic way now that there are not as many COVID restrictions.

We will start with Heights Palooza on Thursday, August 25 from 4:30 to 6:00.Heights Palooza is an opportunity to meet your teacher and tour the school, including your classroom. Come enjoy the music and ice cream treats. Sign up for the Parent Teacher Organization and volunteering.

The next opportunity to engage with families is Heights 101 where you will learn more about the nuts and bolts of the Vancouver Home Connections learning environment, roles, and expectations/ Teachers will review academic expectations, curriculum, and communication methods. Families with students in multiple grade levels whould plan to attend each session. Heights 101 for K-6 parents/guadians is scheduled for Wednesday, August 31 and for middle and high school parents/guardians on Thursday, Septermber 1st. Details about times will be shared by your student's teacher.

2022-2023 is a great year to parnter with Vancouver Home Connection. We look forward to working with you to support student learning.

Regards,

Deanna Hogan

Heights Campus Principal

We have a new teacher for Home School Support, Kristin Beck. Mrs. Beck has been an educator in Vancouver Public Schools for many years. She has been the third grade teacher in Vancouver Home Conntection parent partnership for nine years. She is experience planning with parents to provide the best educational experience possible. She is a wealth of knowledge and skills.

Mrs. Beck will schedule an intial parent/guardian meeting for the week of August 30th. At that meeting you will determine goals, pacing, and resources. Once resources are identified, our Teacher Libraian, Judy Weingarz, will contact you to schedule a time to pick up requested materials.

Email: kristin.beck@vansd.org
Phone: 360-313-4990

When it comes to learning, every single school day counts. Research shows that attendance plays an important role in academic success, which affects success in life. Simply put, students must attend school in order to benefit from it.

Just two missed days of school every month, for any reason, can cause a child to suffer academically and decrease the chances that he or she will graduate. Absences add up—and subtract from learning.

School attendnace is critical to student academic success. Strong school attendnace is build on at home habits. If your student is ill (Symptoms Flow Chart), do keep them home and then contact the attendance clerk, Jennifer Crooker, at 313-1476

Attendance Works Inforgraphic

Elementary School Attendance Infographic

Middle School Attendance Infographic

Mrs. Cantrell is elated to be teaching 3rd grade this year! This will be Mrs. Cantrell's 7th year of teaching in the Vancouver School District. Jessica currently lives in Vancouver with her husband Dan, and children Daniel and Josiah. In her free time she like to take care of her cows, goats, pigs, dogs and numerous chickens.

Email: jessica.cantrell@vansd.org
Phone: 3603134990

My name is Shanda Bigelow and am the mother of 7 children adopted from all over the world. I have two girls from Bulgaria, two boys from Ethiopia, one girl from Guatemala, and two twin girls from in state. I have been married for twenty-one years to my partner in crime, Scott Bigelow. He is an engineer at Hewlett Packard, and he just celebrated his thirty-third year with them.

I live on a small farm in Brush Prairie, WA and have an assortment of fur babies. Currently I

have three donkeys, a cow, two sheep, three goats, two pigs, two horses, six dogs, six cats, five chickens, three rabbits, and a turtle named Frankie. I am very lucky that all my animals live amongst each other and in peace.

I have both my parents and two younger brothers that live nearby and their significate others.

We have Sunday dinner every week at my parents’ house, and enjoy vacationing together as

well. Family is important to me, and I feel blessed to have then in my life.

My education background involves getting my AA at Clark College, my BA in Business

Management at University of Phoenix, and my Masters in Elementary Education at Grand Canyon University. I completed my student teaching at Hough Elementary School in first grade.

Future goals would be to find a grade between K-,6 set my roots, and master my teaching

techniques. Love working with children, and enjoy working with other educators who have the

same passion for the profession that I do.

I am excited to start this new chapter of my life, and to assist your students in conquering the

6 th grade, and setting a strong foundation for 7 th . If at anytime I can do anything to make their travels more enjoyable please don’t hesitate to call or email me (Shanda.karraker-

bigelow@vansd.org).

Email: shanda.karraker-bigelow@vansd.org
Phone: 3603134990

We are looking for parent volunteers. Help in the classroom or support teachers with prep work. Particpate in the PTO and/or one of our fun events like the yearly Garden Party. Apply to become a volunteer at vansd.org/volunteer/

We look forward to working with you.

Mac is just a quick walk from Heights! Volleyball is available to 7th and 8th grade girls and is a no-cut sport. The cut off date to sign up is September 2nd (sometimes the deadline gets extended). The first practice is August 24th.

VPS is using a new software called FinalForms for families to sign their students up online, upload physical documentation, etc.

Contact head volleyball coach Rebecca McMurrin (rebecca.mcmurrin-hossom@vansd.org) or coach Maddy Bozarth (madeline.bozarth@vansd.org) with questions.

Administrative

Principal-Deanna Hogan

Associate Principal-Kathleen Paradis

Secretary-Larisa Romanchenko

Reception/Attendance Clerk-Jennifer Crooker

Enrollment Clerk-Brandy Clarno

Enrollment Clerk-Kelly Hatfield

Fiscal Clerk-Angella Lindsay

Counseling Clerk-Maureen Jarrett

Teachers

Kindergarten-Kia Sastre

1st Grade-Chris Piper

2nd Grade-Meg Perlick

3rd Grade-Jessica Cantrell

4th Grade-Tessa

5th Grade- Allison Susen

6th Grade-Shanda Karraker-Bigelow

Learning Support- Jillian Jones

School Counselors

Kelly Moore K-6

Ashley Anderson 7-10

Erin Sasser 7-10

Heights Campus is a unique collection of programs designed to meet various student and family needs.

Email: heightscampus.school@vansd.org
Website: heightscampus.vansd.org
Location: 6450 Macarthur Boulevard, Vancouver, WA, USA
Phone: 360-313-4990
Twitter: @VPSOcelet