Couve Scoop: Firmly Planted Homeschool Resource Center Expands Vancouver Campus & More
Notable news, events and efforts happening in Clark County
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Salt & Straw Ice Cream Shop Opening at Vancouver Waterfront
If you’ve ever been craving a scoop of Salt & Straw but haven’t wanted to make the trek across the river, your year is about to get a whole lot better! The beloved Portland ice cream shop, founded by Kim and Tyler Malek, is set to open a Clark County location at the Vancouver Waterfront this winter, after years of trying to find a suitable spot in Vancouver.
While Salt & Straw started as a small-batch ice cream shop, Vancouver now marks its 25th location, and the 1200-square-foot space will be offering 20-25 new job opportunities. The founders are committed to working with local businesses and restaurants to turn Washington’s most unique culinary triumphs into the eclectic ice cream flavors Salt and Straw is known for. The shop will uphold their more traditional offerings such as Chocolate Gooey Brownie and Cinnamon Snickerdoodle, but will also offer some of their more eccentric staples such as pear and blue cheese or limited holiday flavors like cheesy potato casserole.
Students Serve on Evergreen Public Schools’ Board of Directors
In December 2022, Evergreen School District welcomed two exceptional students to join the school board of directors as student representatives who will continue to serve through the end of the current 2023-24 school year. Ifeanyi Covenant Chukwuocha from Henrietta Lacks High School and Sullivan Taylor from Heritage High School are currently both seniors who have spent the past year dedicated to representing the needs of all students and marginalized voices across the district. “My passion is advocating for the shy kids,” says Chukwuocha. “I want to empower all kids and tell them you too can have a voice.”
Through attending board meetings and community events, Chukwuocha and Taylor are bringing forth student perspectives and initiatives as well as learning about what it takes to make a school district run. “I’ve learned that the board members’ jobs are not easy,” says Taylor. “There is no way to please everybody and so much compassion is needed.” These two student leaders are committed to listening to student voices and bringing these perspectives to the board, citing safety, belonging and mental health as some of their top priorities.
Chukwuocha enjoys studying, spending time with family, dancing and singing baritone, and he plans to attend NYU to pursue his dream of becoming a cardiac surgeon. Taylor plays oboe and is a drum major in her high school band, and she wants to continue her education at Clark College and major in biology. Their commitment to equity and being a voice for all students is helping the district with its new strategic plan that strives for “Belonging for Each, Success for All.”
The student involvement has proved so successful that Evergreen has formed a student council made up of two student representatives from each of the six high schools in the district.
Firmly Planted Homeschool Resource Center Expands Vancouver Campus
As of the start of the 2023-24 school year, Firmly Planted Homeschool Resource Center moved to a new location on 1st Street in Vancouver, more than doubling the space they previously used to support students and families. “This building far outweighs anything we could have dreamed of,” says Haley Choate, the office and front desk director. Thanks to vigorous fundraising and angel donors, the new space is able to offer more room and appropriate space for the organization’s many classes, tutoring, activities and community gathering areas. The nonprofit is dedicated to guiding and encouraging parents through the home-schooling process and offering a multitude of classes.
At the new location, Firmly Planted is able to currently serve 300 families and 715 students, and one of the greatest assets of the new building is an auditorium for musical and theater performances. A walk through the new space highlights students engaging in classes such as ceramics, dance, wrestling, choir, chess, as well as families gathering in communal spaces to support one another.
The organization is run with the help of staff members, teachers and numerous volunteers who have seen how much Firmly Planted has to offer and want to give back. Choate says, “This place is really a modern-day miracle.” All classes and programs are offered a la carte, and new families are encouraged to check out all offerings online before winter registration closes on Monday, January 15.
To see more of what Firmly Planted has to offer, go to fphrc.groupzu.com.
Read the full January 2024 digital issue below.
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