[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 195 (Wednesday, December 19, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2661-E2662]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       SCAPPOOSE-VERNONIA SCHOOL

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. DAVID WU

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 19, 2007

  Mr. WU. Madam Speaker, as my colleagues know, in early December, the 
Pacific Northwest coast experienced severe storms. The storms caused 
devastating damage that isolated towns, left citizens without housing, 
transportation, communications, water, heat or electricity, and 
tragically caused loss of life. One city in my district, Vernonia, was 
particularly hard hit. The elementary, middle and high school were all 
severely damaged. Because of the damage, Vernonia students in grades 6-
12 are now going to school in the nearby community of Scappoose. 
Although the storm recovery continues, and will continue for sometime, 
I wanted to share with my colleagues the following communication from 
Scappoose High School Principal Sue Hays reporting on the first day of 
Scappoose-Vernonia school. Her message is one of communities coming 
together, neighbors and families helping each other. Simply put, 
Oregonians at their best.
  I will continue to do all I can to assist Oregon communities and 
families recover from the storms, but I wanted my colleagues in the 
House to know that the compassionate, proud, and hardy Oregon spirit 
shines on. Here is Principal Hays' message:
  ``Dear Scappoose Families,
  I wanted to let you know how our first day of Scappoose-Vernonia 
School was. It was a great day, a very emotional day as the Vernonia 
students arrived in seven buses. Their teachers greeted them at the 
cafeteria doors with open arms. Every comment from the Vernonia staff 
to students was so heart felt. Questions about how is your family? How 
is your house? Are you ok? And . . . ``we are so glad you are here . . 
. we have missed you'' was repeated with each child. Many hugs took 
place as if these students had not seen each other for a lifetime! It 
was a very emotional moment for some of us.
  We managed to feed all 300 students that showed up in record time, 
and then the

[[Page E2662]]

Vernonia students were off to the gym for an assembly and to get their 
new schedules. The Scappoose students then assisted the students to 
their classrooms and gave them guided tours of our building. Our 
Scappoose students came in for lunch shortly afterwards and then they 
headed home for the day.
  It is now 3:30 and the halls are quiet and the Vernonia student's 
grades 6-12 are in class listening to teachers and working away on the 
latest assignment given to them. It is like nothing ever happened and 
they don't seem to know that they are even in Scappoose. They do know 
that there is teaching and learning going on, friends have reunited and 
the teachers that love them are there to support them and teach them.

  I am so in awe of our staff and students who have handled this 
situation with grace, enthusiasm and superb organizational skills. The 
Vernonia students and staff have been very appreciative and they do 
have ``stories'' to tell. I talked to a couple of students today where 
one told me he still had 6 feet of water in his house. Another student 
told me he lost everything including his house. The lesson of the day 
was ``giving and receiving''.
  Thank you all for your support and ``class act'' that your sons and 
daughters displayed today, even at 7:30 am in the morning! Report was 
that most everyone was on time!
  If any of you wish to volunteer to ``man'' the donation areas at the 
high school, please let us know via email scappoosehighschool@
scappoose.kI2.0r.us. Mr. Casey Honl has volunteered to coordinated and 
supervise the donations! People are now wanting to donate appliances 
and furniture, and we are trying to locate a facility that we can store 
the items in. We are still accepting cash donations with checks made 
out to ``Vernonia School Project''. We are hoping to get all students a 
new pair of tennis shoes. I have 60 donated from Nike at this time. 
Lastly, we can't forget the food drive to fill our own food bank in 
Scappoose as well as sending food to Vernonia. The U-haul in front of 
the school will be open school hours Wednesday through Saturday am. 
Thanks again for being such a great community! You are loved!

                          ____________________