Teachers of the Year Honored
Seventeen teachers from across the Hart District are being honored as site Teachers of the Year, selected by their peers and the administration at each school. The District Teacher of the Year, to be announced at tonight’s Governing Board meeting, will represent the Hart District at the County level, where a small number of honorees are selected to represent Los Angeles County at the state and possibly even the national level. All 17 local teachers will be honored at a luncheon this fall at Robinson Ranch in addition to their Governing Board presentation. This year’s honorees are Bruce Arnold, Placerita Junior High; Zaid Bakoo, Saugus High; Brady Burrill, West Ranch; Christine Enns, Valencia; Mary Gaskin, Bowman; Jeff Gilbert, Rio Norte; Jamie Hawn, Golden Oak Adult School; Daren Hoisington, Academy of the Canyons; Jennifer Huhn, Golden Valley; Nelson King, La Mesa; Lori Ann Levy-Holm, Rancho Pico; Laura Luxmore, Sequoia Charter School; Chris Mansfield, Hart High; Brenda Monteleone, Arroyo Seco; Mike Motherspaw, Canyon; Ilona Pennay, Sierra Vista; and Jennie Siemens, Early College High School.
Rancho Pico Celebrates Distinguished School Designation
Students, staff, parents, district administrators and elected officials gathered in the outdoor amphitheater at Rancho Pico Junior High School recently to celebrate the school’s designation as a California Distinguished School. The award is granted to less than 5 percent of schools in the state. Rancho Pico’s application emphasized the school’s strong interdisciplinary team structure and its targeted intervention program.
La Mesa Donates Cards to Firefighters
A classroom assignment at La Mesa Junior High School turned into a boon for firefighters camping out in Santa Clarita’s Central Park while fighting the recent Station Fire. Adam Engberg, from Jeffrey Aronsky’s business math class, wrote a letter to Wynn Casinos last year asking for an annual report from the company whose stock he was “buying” in the school’s Stock Market Game. In return, the casino sent the La Mesa student a box packed with 1200 packs of cards! Adam donated a box full of the cards to the firefighters to help them pass the time between sessions on the fire lines.
Saugus High Aids Fire Victims
On Sunday, August 30, Mill Creek Fire Station located off of Angeles Forest Highway in Acton was victim to the Station Fire. The fire station, along with personal residences, was completely destroyed in the fire. Five firefighters and their families lost their homes and everything in them that day. Saugus High English Teacher Crystal Hilstein immediately organized a donation drive for the families, and Saugus teachers and students responded with gifts of clothing, toys, toiletries, food and gift cards – even a microwave and stereo were donated! Senior Ryan Campos, one of the students who helped organize the donations, said, “I know someone whose dad is a firefighter. It’s important for people to help each other.”
Program to Showcase Placerita Talent
Students at Placerita Junior High are rehearsing for the annual school-wide Talent Show which will take place 7 p.m. Oct. 7 and 8 in Tanner Hall. The Talent Show is the Drama Club’s main fundraiser for the year. Comments drama coach Vicki Kennedy: “Not only do we raise funds for the drama program, but it’s a great way for students to showcase their talents, make new friends and have fun.” Approximately 75 to 100 students are involved in the show. Tickets are $7 for family and friends and $5 for students. In an outreach to the community, show organizers extend an invitation to senior citizens involved with the Santa Clarita Senior Center to attend free of charge.
Administrators, Counselors Welcome Students Back to School
Rio Norte Junior High School administrators and counselors visited with students on all of the school’s interdisciplinary teams to welcome them to school. While visiting the classrooms Principal John Costanzo, Assistant Principals Betty Sternberg and Dr. Rita Thomas, and counselors Gina Burns, Nadia Cotti and Kathi Giddens explained what it takes to be a successful student. Counselors reviewed information about credits for graduation. Administrators discussed school safety and the importance of following school rules. The program is effective because it gives the school’s leaders direct contact with all students and gives students the opportunity to interact with administrators and counselors in a more personal manner.
West Ranch Marching Unit ‘Grows Up’
The West Ranch High School Wildcat Marching Band and Color Guard have been competing for only four years, but in that time have grown from parade exhibitions to a Division 2A contender and into the Division 3A Champions and High Auxiliary for the past two years straight. This year, with 140 students in the marching band and 26 students in the color guard, the band will move into the 5A Division, making the West Ranch unit the largest high school competitive marching band in the Santa Clarita Valley. The band performs at West Ranch football games and in field show competitions and will host its own competition, the Wildcat Classic, Oct. 10 at Valencia High School. Every high school in the Santa Clarita Valley is expected to compete.
Rider Wins Cash for West Ranch Library
Equestrian Ashlyn Matheus, a freshman at West Ranch High School, has earned a donation for the West Ranch library by winning her class in a recent “Ride for Reading” show. Last year, Ashlyn won $2500 for the library at Rancho Pico Junior High for her riding acumen.
Advisory Committee Launches New Year
La Mesa Junior High School’s first English Language Advisory Committee meeting (ELAC) was a total success. More than 50 parents with their students participated in an active informational meeting. During the meeting, Principal Pete Fries, Assistant Principal Ana Dwork, the English Language Development (ELD) staff, and ELD team counselor Robert Kerman covered the purpose, goals, upcoming CELDT test and the expectations of La Mesa’s English Language Development Program. This fully dedicated group of teachers and bilingual instructional assistants’ main goal is to help La Mesa’s English language learners to achieve their full potential. The team’s motto: “Failure is NOT an option!”
Cheerleaders Collect Cell Phones
Hart High School’s cheerleaders are once again collecting used cell phones to contribute to the Cell Phones for Soldiers drive. The used phones are turned in for recycling and the money collected is used to buy prepaid calling cards for service members stationed overseas. The Hart squads hope to exceed their record of 340 cell phones collected last year. Phones can be turned in at the Hart High office or at the KHTS office in Canyon Country. The collection drive will run through December.
Children’s Theatre Presents Saga of Big Bad Wolf
Golden Valley High School’s traveling Children’s Theatre troupe will begin its fall season with an Oct. 13 presentation at Rio Vista Elementary School. The fall program will feature “Big Bad (The Trial of the Big Bad Wolf).” The group will follow up with a presentation of “A Christmas Carol” Dec. 2 at Golden Oak Elementary School.
Saugus Featured in Two Statewide Publications
Saugus High accomplishments were highlighted recently in two California statewide publications: the “Workability I Newsletter” published bi-annually by the California Department of Education and “The Grizzly,” the official monthly news magazine of the California National Guard. The Workability newsletter focused on the 13 year partnership between the Bouquet Canyon CVS Pharmacy and the Saugus High Career Visions workforce preparation class while “The Grizzly” spotlighted the support Saugus has extended to the military through donation drives and various other campus activities.
In-house Video Spans the Nation
Brad Fogel, a former teacher at West Ranch High School now teaching in Massachusetts, was watching a newscast with his class when, to his amazement, up popped Hannah Button and West Ranch TV with their in-house coverage of the Southern California fires . The broadcast appeared on a television news show called Channel One, a national show broadcast every morning for subscribing high schools across the country. “Such a small world,” was Fogel’s comment in a note to West Ranch Principal Bob Vincent.
Culinary Arts Explores Career Ladder
Foods and Nutrition has a new name. Throughout the district, the foods and nutrition teachers have been working closely with the chef instructors at College of the Canyons to upgrade high school programs. Culinary Arts is the new title and the program will be adding classes to give students an opportunity to take two full years of culinary classes at the high school level. The first year is designed for the “casual cook” or those students who want just a basic course in how to get around the kitchen and prepare some basic foods. The second year is designed for students with an interest in pursuing their cooking skills for their own use or as professional chefs. Students will also have the opportunity to take Regional Occupational Program classes in Culinary Arts taught by an instructor from Cordon Bleu, which could substitute for one of the entry classes at COC’s Institute of Culinary Education. Canyon High School is looking forward to some delicious things happening in the Culinary Arts Department in the next few years.
Students Inspired by President’s Speech
Rio Norte Junior High School students watched President Obama address the nation’s school children during homeroom. The message was delayed so that students could watch during homeroom without interrupting their academic classes. “I liked how he addressed students who might drop out. He could inspire them,” said student Kelsey Gray. “It’s cool how he said that we are more fortunate because we learn easily and everyone should try hard,” added Gabrielle Zacky. Sharon Lee said, “I liked that the speech was directed to kids.” “I liked how he talked about his childhood and waking up at four in the morning to do school work,” said Baily James.
Mascot Builds School Spirit at Arroyo Seco
A recent campus visit by Arroyo Seco Junior High School’s new Conquistador mascot helped to build school spirit, allowing students to get excited about all of the interesting programs upcoming at the school. Seco Sam was very popular with students, who had an opportunity to have their photos taken with the mascot during his appearance.
Bowman Sends Cakes, Card to Firefighters
ASB students at Bowman High School expressed their appreciation for the heroic efforts of firefighters battling the Station Fire by taking them two cakes and a card at their staging area at Central Park. “Bowman students really wanted to express their feelings of gratitude and support for the sacrifices made by the brave men and women fighting the Station Fire,” explained ASB Director Stacey Weatherman. Senior Richard Sanchez thanked the firefighters for their heroism and added that he would like to be a firefighter some day.
Fusion Team Builds Team Spirit
The Fusion Team at Arroyo Seco Junior High School spent their team building day helping students and teachers bond and learning how to work together as a team to maximize cooperative learning opportunities. Students participated in activities that allowed them to group and regroup with their team members based on such criteria as size, vacation activities and types of animals (which they located by seeking out other students making similar animal sounds!). There were also a number of competitions designed to help students and teachers get acquainted at the start of a new school year.
Safe School Ambassadors Retrained at Valencia
Students and staff who participate in the Safe School Ambassadors program at Valencia High School recently completed a refresher training, preparing them to address incidents of mistreatment and/or injustice that they see on campus. Members reviewed the dynamics of mistreatment as they apply to the aggressor, target and bystanders. Trainers reviewed the seven actions that ambassadors are taught to use in responding to incidents they see on campus. The program has made positive changes in disciplinary and attendance issues on campus and helps students feel included, connected, valued and involved at Valencia.
Hart Show Choirs Serve the Community
Hart High School’s choirs do more than make beautiful music. They also reach out to the community, with more than 75 choir students working the Special Olympics at an all-day bowling event at Valencia lanes. They will be encouraging and cheering on the participants while helping in any way they are asked. The choirs also earned funds to support their upcoming competition season and made new choir family friends last weekend with their annual car wash and rummage sale.
