Happy Valley Magazine 2024

The City of Happy Valley works closely with North Clackamas School District (NCSD) through a partnership that extends beyond the classroom. By joining forces, the City aims to support education and offer experiences that bolster learning and help connect the community. In many ways, these opportunities augment classroom instruction and provide a way for youth to deepen their understanding of issues at both the local and national level. By further extending the partnership to include Happy Valley Parks and Recreation, Happy Valley Youth Council, and the Happy Valley Police Department, the relationship between NCSD and the City remains strong, benefitting all students and their families.

Second grade City Hall Tours are a prime example of this partnership in action. With classroom curriculum focusing on community helpers and what makes a city run, second graders from North Clackamas School District typically spend an entire unit learning about what makes a community tick. Some teachers even have their students work together in class to build a makeshift city of their own where they learn about the role of city leaders and collective needs of a community. To reinforce these concepts and help offer a hands-on learning experience, the City of

Happy Valley invites second grade classes from the local Happy Valley elementary schools to visit City Hall. During the field trip, students learn about different departments and their unique responsibilities.

In Council Chambers, the class is offered an opportunity to participate in a mock City Council Meeting. The student audience acts as citizens and directs questions to a handful of their peers who play the roles of Mayor and Council. Students are encouraged to think critically about a theoretical proposed addition to the City (usually a park or other amenity) and are given some points to consider when it comes to cost and location. Led by Community Services Director, Steve Campbell and Parks and Recreation Manager, Stephani Hern, the students can see the democratic process at work and better understand how the community voice plays a vital role in helping guide decisions. The exercise offers students a way to experience, at a basic level, how the government operates.

Activities, such as this one, are important to our community youth. By engaging students early on, the City aims to establish positive connections and encourage students to be excited and inspired by the possibilities that civic involvement entails.