Saugus Junior to Attend Prestigious Summer Institute
Congratulations to Saugus High School junior Alex Petrovich, who will attend the Stanford University Junior Statesmen summer school program for outstanding high school students June 28 through July 19. Admission for the program was extremely competitive with acceptance decisions based on academic achievement, leadership ability, maturity and interest in politics, history and government. Alex says she is looking forward to the challenges and opportunities the experience will bring.
Dental Assisting Class Graduation
Eighteen students received their certificates of completion and their valuable X-ray certification upon completion of the Hart District Regional Occupational Program’s Dental Assisting class. The full year course offers training in instruments used by dentists, sterilization techniques and working on patients, including on-the-job training in local dental offices. Goal of the program is to prepare students to work as chairside dental assistants and, in some cases, to pursue even higher training in the field.
Wildcat, Grizzly Students Honored
West Ranch High School senior Joshua Chocooj and Golden Valley High School senior Angelica Martinez have received Student of the Month awards from Lockheed Federal Credit Union this spring. The winners were selected because of overall performance, including academic accomplishments, extracurricular activities and leadership abilities. Both students received a $250 scholarship from the credit union for their achievements. Chocooj was the director and producer of West Ranch TV, a peer mediator for general education students and a peer mentor for students with Asperger’s syndrome. He hopes to become an elementary teacher and, eventually, a counselor. Martinez was a member of Golden Valley Renaissance, a studentrun group that recognizes student and staff achievements, and was one of the school’s top 10 seniors, with a grade point average of 4.25. She also volunteers in the community.
ROP Students Report Success
Two students who completed classses in the Hart District’s Regional Occupational Program have reported opportunities that have opened to them thanks to their ROP class. Melissa Rodriguez discovered her true calling through the hands-on Dental Assisting class and plans to pursue a goal of becoming a dentist. Seeking to ease the burden of college expenses on her family, Melissa actively pursued scholarships and grants, eventually receiving $20,000 a year to study at Azusa Pacific University. Once she reaches her career goals, she plans to “give back” to the ROP program through scholarships, speaking to future students, or serving on an ROP Advisory Committee. And Yoshira Macias, a student in the ROP Cosmetology class offered in conjunction with Flair Beauty College, has been accepted into a summer transitional program at California State University, Northridge. She is the first person in her family to attend college and will receive a grant and support services under CSUN’s Educational Occupation Program when she enrolls next fall, with a political science major. She credits her ROP Student of the Year interview with giving her the tools she needed to earn the EOP grant.
Psychologist Publishes First Novel
Congratulations to school psychologist Wendy Jones, who has published her first novel, “Waves Crashing.” The book deals with a teen facing a family crisis and coming face to face with experiences that compel her to discover who she is, as well as the difference between family values and the value of family. Jones’ experience as a psychologist helps her guide her heroine through the story. The book is now available from AuthorHouse and is covered in more detail at http://www.wendy-jones.com.
Sequoia, Valencia Team for Prom
Since Sequoia Charter School first opened its doors in the 2006/2007 school year, one of the things that students in the small school have missed was a prom. This year Sequoia students were invited to attend the prom with fellow students from Valencia High School. Valencia High students have embraced a partnership with Sequoia students and have made the students feel welcome at all of the school’s dances, sporting events and ASB activities this year. Sequoia students thank their peers at Valencia for making this a memorable year for them.
Hart District Featured in State Magazine
The spring 2009 issue of “California Schools” magazine features two articles on the Hart School District—one on the district’s Safe School Ambassadors program and the other on diversity and the fight against bullying. The magazine is a quarterly publication of the California School Boards Association, and the coverage was triggered by the Golden Bell award presented to the district’s diversity program. In the Class Acts section, the district’s work to create a “culture of respect” to honor diversity is saluted.
Ecology Club Travels to Channel Islands
The Saugus High School Ecology Club traveled to The Channel Islands, part of one of the richest marine biospheres of the world, allowing club members to see unique animals (such as the endangered Channel Islands fox), plants, and archeological resources found nowhere else on earth. The trip was planned and organized by senior Grace Vaziri, the club’s president. The students themselves raised all the funds for the trip by selling reusable water bottles. AP Environmental teacher Kristi Schertz is advisor for the club.
Valencia Choir a Hit in Italy
Valencia High School’s choir continues to enchant audiences on their performance tour of Italy. At an open air concert in Montecantini, a local man was so overjoyed by the experience that he thanked Choir Director Christine Enns over and over. “He was an adorable old man and he was so happy!” Christine reported.
SHS Character Counts at Saugus High
Saugus High School recognized nearly 100 students during the 2008-09 school year through Character Counts, a program based on the Six Pillars of Character: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship. Students nominated by teachers and staff for exhibiting good character in class or around the campus received a special certificate as well as having their photo placed in a prominent position in the school’s main office. Assistant Principal Jamie Timmins oversees the program at Saugus.
ROP Pharmacy Class Points the Way
The Hart District’s Regional Occupational Program has received a graduation announcement from Nicholas Berry, a Saugus High School graduate of 2003 who took the ROP Pharmacy class as a high school senior. He was so motivated by the class that he entered the School of Pharmacy at University of the Pacific, where he received his degree this spring. He was supported by his ROP mentor, Levi Locke, with whom he did his ROP on-the-job training, and has kept in touch with ROP administrators throughout the years. He was the silver medal winner in the ROP Student Recognition program in 2003.
Promoting Literacy through Comics
Every student at Placerita Junior High received a free comic book in a literacy program cosponsored by Brave New World Comics and the Career Visions workforce preparation classes at Saugus High School The students, under the direction of teacher Kevin Miner and Career Visions Adviser Louise Willard, labeled over 2000 comic books for distribution to Placerita students. Willard has a long history of collaborating with Brave New World Comics, who donated the books. She first became involved in the program when her son Frank, soon to be a sophomore at Saugus High, was a student at Plum Canyon Elementary. According to Willard, reading comic books improves literacy in students no matter what their age. “Our students really take this project seriously,” said Miner. “Helping others is a strong component of this class.”
Sequoia Students Assist Meltdown Concert
Students from Sequoia Charter School worked closely with the staff and students from Golden Valley High School to create a successful Summer Meltdown Concert aimed at raising awareness and funding for students on the autism spectrum. Sequoia students helped with the set-up, crowd control, sales and clean-up on the day of the concert. The students enjoyed spending time backstage with the various artists while learning about the many career fields in the music industry. Sequoia students are committed to helping make the annual Meltdown a success and to educating the community on the diverse needs of all of our students.
‘Yes I Can’ Class Hosts Barbecue
The “Yes I Can” class at Saugus High School reached out to the community by hosting a barbecue social at LARC Ranch in Bouquet Canyon. Close to 60 developmentally disabled residents of the ranch were able to join the Saugus students in eating, socializing, playing bocce ball and basketball. Nine Saugus students organized the outing, with the support of Centurian staff members.