| Chapman Hill Elementary School was
dedicated on February 15, 1987, with Dick Kemper as the principal.
The dedication was celebrated with a music program, tours, and
refreshments.
Chapman Hill was built because of the deteriorating condition
of West Salem Elementary School. West Salem School had been
built in 1911, the same year that Haley’s Comet appeared.
Increasing enrollment, structural damage and the effects of
time caused the school to be replaced with a bigger and more
up-to-date building. Strange to say, the West Salem school
was closed the same year Haley’s comet passed by in 1986!
Chapman Hill was built on the site of James Rolla Chapman’s
ranch “Twin Oaks”. His ranch was one of the largest
and best-equipped fruit and nut ranches in the Pacific Northwest.
He practiced law and farming and was involved in the community.
Chapman Hill is divided into three different areas called
“neighborhoods”. Each neighborhood has grades 1-5,
with kindergarten in its own area. Forests, Mountains and
Rivers are the names of the neighborhoods. Every neighborhood
in Chapman Hill does their own community project. For the
last five years, the Rivers have done things for the Union
Gospel Mission. At Halloween time, the third graders make
Halloween decorations for Union Gospel Mission and during
Christmas, the entire neighborhood cuts, sews, and stuffs
Christmas stockings that they then deliver to the families
and children that are staying there. Each teacher chooses
two students from each class to make the delivery.
Our school mascot is a Cheetah. In 1999/2000 we actually
got a cheetah costume for our school! Every year we have a
jog-a-thon fund raiser for our school. We go door to door
collecting money for laps we run. The money is used to purchase
new playground equipment, new books, computers, new games
for the game cart, and other things. If you get 100 points
or more you get a trophy! But everyone gets a ribbon for his
or her work.
Once a month, each neighborhood has a special awards assembly
to recognize students who have shown some of the life skills
our school believes are important. These life skills include
integrity, friendship, courage, problem solving, common sense,
curiosity, and caring. Those lucky students receive an award
with their teacher’s signature on it and the life skill
for which they are being recognized.
As you can see, Chapman Hill is an important part of our
community, blending the past with the present.
The information about Chapman Hill Elementary School was
written by a
Chapman Hill fifth grader.
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