Valley Catholic School

Emergency Messages as of 1:07 PM, Wed. Apr 15

No information currently posted.

Subscribe to receive FlashAlert messages from Valley Catholic School.

Manage my existing Subscription

News Release

Dog Mobility Showcase Today At 11:30 - 04/15/26

Dog Mobility Showcase is TODAY at Valley Catholic Middle School. See how STEM students designed life-changing mobility devices for special rescue dachshunds. 

 

WHO:
Eighth grade students from Valley Catholic Middle School, in partnership with Portland Dachshund Rescue

 

WHAT:
Media are invited to attend a dynamic Dog Mobility Showcase.
The students will unveil their custom-designed mobility devices for three special dogs with limited mobility. Working in structured “design firms,” students have spent the school year applying engineering, design thinking, and storytelling to develop real-world solutions that improve the lives of rescue dogs.

 

WHEN:
Today at 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

 

WHERE:
Valley Catholic Middle School, Eagle’s Gym, 4420 SW Saint Marys Dr, Beaverton, OR 97078 - Check in at the middle school office and we will escort you to the Showcase. 

 

VISUALS / PHOTO / INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES:

  • Three of the 15 student teams will present and demonstrate their custom-built dog mobility devices

  • Rescue dogs from the Portland Dachshund Rescue interacting with prototypes and (as available) a few dogs to showcase the adopt and foster options available through the rescue. 

  • Hands-on displays of design models, materials, and engineering concepts from all 15 teams.

  • Student and faculty interviews showcasing innovation, teamwork, and empathy.

WHY THIS MATTERS:
The Dog Mobility Project is a unique, year-long experience blending STEM education with compassion and community engagement. Students collaborate in teams that mirror professional engineering environments, taking on roles such as Project Manager, Design Engineer, Build Specialist, and Marketing and Media Specialists.

Through this partnership with Portland Dachshund Rescue, students are not only gaining hands-on technical skills—they are making a tangible difference in the lives of animals in need. The project emphasizes leadership, problem-solving, and communication, while fostering empathy and purpose-driven innovation.

 

BACKGROUND:
The project launched in September 2025, inspired by animal prosthetics featured on Wizard of Paws and reinforced by a live virtual workshop with animal orthotics expert Derrick Campana. The students (7th graders at the time) have since progressed through research, prototyping, testing, and iterative design — culminating in this final public showcase. This project follows the successful work to create a prosthetic prototype for Ember, a 16-week-old labradoodle whose back legs were paralyzed as a result of a spinal injury.

 

Media Access:
Journalists and photographers are encouraged to capture students in action, interview faculty and students, and speak with the Dachshund Rescue director.  Ample parking spaces are available along SW St. Mary’s Drive.

 

Dog Mobility Showcase Today At 11:30 - 04/15/26

Dog Mobility Showcase is TODAY at Valley Catholic Middle School. See how STEM students designed life-changing mobility devices for special rescue dachshunds. 

 

WHO:
Eighth grade students from Valley Catholic Middle School, in partnership with Portland Dachshund Rescue

 

WHAT:
Media are invited to attend a dynamic Dog Mobility Showcase.
The students will unveil their custom-designed mobility devices for three special dogs with limited mobility. Working in structured “design firms,” students have spent the school year applying engineering, design thinking, and storytelling to develop real-world solutions that improve the lives of rescue dogs.

 

WHEN:
Today at 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

 

WHERE:
Valley Catholic Middle School, Eagle’s Gym, 4420 SW Saint Marys Dr, Beaverton, OR 97078 - Check in at the middle school office and we will escort you to the Showcase. 

 

VISUALS / PHOTO / INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES:

  • Three of the 15 student teams will present and demonstrate their custom-built dog mobility devices

  • Rescue dogs from the Portland Dachshund Rescue interacting with prototypes and (as available) a few dogs to showcase the adopt and foster options available through the rescue. 

  • Hands-on displays of design models, materials, and engineering concepts from all 15 teams.

  • Student and faculty interviews showcasing innovation, teamwork, and empathy.

WHY THIS MATTERS:
The Dog Mobility Project is a unique, year-long experience blending STEM education with compassion and community engagement. Students collaborate in teams that mirror professional engineering environments, taking on roles such as Project Manager, Design Engineer, Build Specialist, and Marketing and Media Specialists.

Through this partnership with Portland Dachshund Rescue, students are not only gaining hands-on technical skills—they are making a tangible difference in the lives of animals in need. The project emphasizes leadership, problem-solving, and communication, while fostering empathy and purpose-driven innovation.

 

BACKGROUND:
The project launched in September 2025, inspired by animal prosthetics featured on Wizard of Paws and reinforced by a live virtual workshop with animal orthotics expert Derrick Campana. The students (7th graders at the time) have since progressed through research, prototyping, testing, and iterative design — culminating in this final public showcase. This project follows the successful work to create a prosthetic prototype for Ember, a 16-week-old labradoodle whose back legs were paralyzed as a result of a spinal injury.

 

Media Access:
Journalists and photographers are encouraged to capture students in action, interview faculty and students, and speak with the Dachshund Rescue director.  Ample parking spaces are available along SW St. Mary’s Drive.