![MORE THAN A GAME. With two diving catches in the outfield, the Lions showed up defensively, aiding in their victory over the Pacers. One catch was made by Atwood, and the other by McGraw. Throughout the game, the Lions knew that it wasn’t just about their victory today. “I think [playing for cancer] makes it bigger than just a game,” McGraw said. “Knowing that you have a bigger impact in this world than just who you are as one person.”](https://wlhsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/I70A1454-1-1200x800.jpg)
![Students in the National Art Honor Society work on the Mount Hood mural on the window of SouthLake Church. The students brought a variety of paints and mixed their own custom colors. “Instead of brushstrokes, we’re doing more dabbing, because it gives [a] better impression of tree foliage, rather than looking like actual brush strokes, because if we’re painting trees, we need it to look like trees,” Crawford said.](https://wlhsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/IMG_2397-1200x900.jpg)
WLHS teaching staff undergoes a baby boom
Three staff members gave birth and will be on maternity leave for the rest of the school year
Jennifer Howe, science teacher holds her newborn baby boy Porter Martin Howe shortly after his birth on April 17. Nikki Coleman, health teacher and Brynn Gunderson, wellness teacher also had babies this month.
West Linn High School was buzzing with baby news when Brynn Gunderson, wellness teacher, and Jennifer Howe, science teacher, both had babies on Wed, April 17. Nikki Coleman, health teacher had her baby girl on April 29.
Gunderson gave birth first at approximately 1 p.m on April 17 to Maddox Gunderson. Howe gave birth to Porter Howe on April 17 three hours after Gunderson. Coleman’s baby, Ava Coleman, was born on Wed, April 29 at 2:58 a.m.
“The support from fellow staff is awesome! Our staff is awesome!” Howe said. “Sharing this experience has been so special mostly because our due dates are all so close together.” Howe will return to West Linn High School next August.
According to Oregon.gov, employees can take up to 12 weeks off of work after the employee or their spouse has a child. They will all be taking the remainder of the year off and they will return next school year.
All of their classes for the remainder of the school year will be covered by long-term subs: subs for Coleman are Clark Hoss and Bill Evans; Howe’s classes will be covered by Anne Ivans and Gunderson’s will be covered by Ryan Inahari.
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![MORE THAN A GAME. With two diving catches in the outfield, the Lions showed up defensively, aiding in their victory over the Pacers. One catch was made by Atwood, and the other by McGraw. Throughout the game, the Lions knew that it wasn’t just about their victory today. “I think [playing for cancer] makes it bigger than just a game,” McGraw said. “Knowing that you have a bigger impact in this world than just who you are as one person.”](https://wlhsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/I70A1454-1-600x400.jpg)
