What's Good in Education
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What’s Good in Education - Briefs May 2, 2007 A Publication of the William S. Hart Union High School District Vol. VII, No. 16 Parent Volunteers Honored at Reception Nearly 90 parent volunteers, nominated by school sites across the Hart District for oustanding service to their children’s schools, were honored at the district’s annual Parent Volunteer Recognition program recently at the Santa Clarita Activities Center. Highlight of the evening was presentation of Outstanding Parent Volunteer awards to 10 of the nominees for exemplary levels of service, and three Parent Volunteer of the Year awards— the highest honor the District Advisory Committee confers in the annual program. Volunteer of the Year recipients are Richard Hilstein from Saugus High School and Jennifer Morrison and Sabrina Utter from Rio Norte Junior High. Outstanding Parent Volunteers include Josy Block, Dave and Pam Haendle, Elizabeth Lopez, Betty Salek, Doreen Love, Charlotte Murr, Russ Phillips, Laurie Wagner and Cheryl Wasserman. The Hartbreakers show choir from Hart High School performed at the reception, which allowed honorees to bring family members to share their evening in the spotlight. Bowman Honored for Senior Seminar Bowman High School received a 2007 State Exemplary Program Award from the California Continuation Education Association at the group’s recent state conference in Sacramento. Bowman counselors Suzy Mansfield and Lori Wilson accepted the award for Senior Seminar, a program instrumental in helping 91 percent of last year's Bowman graduates enroll in college. Dinner Recognizes Business Stars Each year local businesses contribute thousands of dollars and hours of time supporting Hart District schools with monetary and in-kind donations, mentor relationships, and on-the-job training and internships. This year the schools selected 80 of their top business partners to be honored at the district’s annual Business Partner Recognition dinner hosted by the district Student Communications Council. Honorees were invited to dinner and a program featuring the Saugus High School Concert Choir. Highlight of the evening was presentation of awards to six Outstanding Business partners and three Super Stars. Top awards went to Dennis Hogle from Quest Diagnostics, John Van Deventer from Big John’s, and Richard Green from Green Landscape Nursery. Outstanding Business Partner awards went to Carl Lucero, ABM Janitorial Service; Rex Baumgartner, D.D.S.; American Builders Supply; Adriana Farrell, Cruz’s Bridal; Mike Langford from B.J.’s Restaurant; and Jason Pair, D.D.S. Cary Quashen of ACTION received his third Lifetime Achievement Award for ongoing service. Xerox Corporation was host sponsor for the event. Hart Show Choirs Win in New York The Sound Vibrations and Hartbreakers, two varsity-level show choirs from Hart High School, have returned from a national invitation-only competition in New York with a Grand Champion designation in women’s show choirs for Hartbreakers and a second runner up in the highly competitive division of mixed show choirs for the Sound Vibrations. Hart’s choirs were competing with top groups from across the nation on the basis of music and show, including vocal technique and performance values. Each of the Hart show choirs has close to 50 members who, in addition to singing and dancing talent, must maintain a high grade point average and participate actively in student government and athletics in order to be a choir member. Hart Staff Loses More Than a Ton The Hart District is more than a ton and a half lighter this month, thanks to a Biggest Loser weight loss contest organized by district nurse Alison Schmidt. Expecting perhaps 40 or 50 employees to sign up in December, Alison was overwhelmed when 260 staff members across the district signed up for the 12-week contest. The winning team from Rio Norte Junior High School earned a cash prize and $2500 for their school. Les Hershberger, a counselor at Arroyo Seco Junior High, lost more than 25 percent of his starting body weight to claim the top individual Big Loser award. Employees created walking groups, joined health clubs, took on structured weight loss programs or just focused on a more healthy lifestyle. Alison is planning another short-term contest in the fall and another 12-week program in early 2008 to keep employees focused on their new healthy lifestyle. Teachers in Spotlight at Teacher Tribute The Hart District’s 2006-07 Teachers of the Year were in the spotlight once more as they joined outstanding teachers from districts across the Santa Clarita Valley for the annual Teacher Tribute sponsored by the Education Foundation of the SCV Chamber of Commerce. More than 550 guests attended the program, hosted for the first time this year at the College of the Canyons Performing Arts Center. Hart High School’s Sound Vibrations show choir performed on stage after an hors d’oeuvres reception in the foyer. The event celebrated the valley’s outstanding teachers while earning some $15,000 for teacher grants and scholarships offered by the Education Foundation. Saugus Sophomore Wins National Essay Contest Joseph Taylor, a sophomore from Saugus High School, has been named one of only 10 California finalists in the high school category of the “Letters About Literature” national essay contest sponsored by the Library of Congress. His winning essay was selected from more than 4600 submitted across the nation. The essay contest asked students to write letters to an author about a book that has influenced them and Joseph wrote a letter to George Orwell about his book, “1984.” Joseph is taking Honors English at Saugus High and was encouraged to enter the essay contest by his teacher, Frank Koroshec. Cowboys Corner League Championship (Again!) Congratulations to the Canyon High School track team which won yet another Varsity Boys Foothill League Championship during the recently completed track season. Coaches for the winning team include Dave DeLong, Paul Broneer, Kent Richardson, Joe Stassen and Chris Jackson. This makes Dave DeLong’s 50th league championship—48 in the Foothill League and two at John Burroughs. Dave as been coaching track for over 24 years and Paul 18 years. ACSA Award Winners in State Spotlight Bowman High School Principal Robin Geissler and graduate Gloria Christine Shea Hererra received awards at the Association of School Administrators (ACSA) Region XV Spring Leadership Conference recently in Burbank and will be honored at the annual ACSA State Conference in Santa Clara in November. Geissler received the Continuation School and Educational Options Award for Region XV, where it was announced that she is also the state winner for Educational Options Principal of the Year. Gloria was awarded the Every Student Succeeding Award for Region XV and also will be recognized at the state level. This award celebrates students who exceed expectations and who have overcome great obstacles to succeed. Donna Manfredi from Canyon High School also received the Region XV award for Secondary Co-administrator of the Year, and John Krinkel from Rio Norte Junior High received the region’s Valuing Diversity award. Local Students Win Big Read Essay Contest Congratulations to students from Hart District schools who have been named winners in the Big Read-Santa Clarita Valley essay contest sponsored by the County of Los Angeles Public Library, Friends of the Libraries, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Alyssa Olinger from Placerita Junior High won first place in the junior high division, followed by Melissa Chang (Placerita - second place) and Magan Buthrie-Wedemeyer (Rancho Pico Junior High – third). Top winners in the high school division were Caitlin Coen (Canyon – first place), Kristen Caprino (Saugus – second) and Jennifer Swann (Academy of the Canyons – third). Honorable mentions went to Roann Bautista, Golden Valley High School; Josh David, La Mesa Junior High; and Holly Nelson, West Ranch High School.The contest drew 249 entries, answering the question “If you could save only one book from extinction, which one would you choose, and why?” Cash awards were provided by Friends of the Libraries of the Santa Clarita Valley. Carnival Celebrates Successful Testing Students and staff at Rio Norte Junior High School celebrated conclusion of the school’s STAR testing week with the schools third annual Carnival Day last week. Teams and clubs from across the campus participated by sponsoring both food and game booths. Teacher Nancy James won a drawing for a video iPod, open to all Rio Norte teachers who followed all testing instructions correctly and had all students present during testing. Each student who had perfect attendance during testing was entered into a separate drawing as well for an iPod. Hart Soccer Receives Academic Award The Hart High School girls varsity soccer team was honored recently at Angel Stadium of Anaheim in a pre-game ceremony for capturing first place in the CIF team academic achievement award. The award is presented to the team with the highest grade point average in its sport. Hart Principal Gary Fuller, Athletic Director Linda Peckham and Assistant Principal Mark Crawford were in attendance to watch the ceremony. This is the fourth time in Hart High School history that one of its athletic teams has won first place in the team academic award and the first time for the school's soccer program, boys or girls. Kate Kuykendall, who had the highest GPA on the team, and Coach Louis Romero represented the team in the pre-game ceremony on the field at home plate. Rio Norte Shares Support for Virginia Tech On Friday, April 20, hundreds of students and staff members at Rio Norte Junior High joined together with schools all across the nation by wearing maroon and orange, the colors of Virginia Tech. The school turned their thoughts and their hearts to all members of the Virginia Tech community affected by the recent shooting on the college campus.