West Ranch Video Team Brings Home Awards
The video production team from West Ranch High School brought home five trophies and an honorable mention from the Student Television Network competition, where they were competing with more than 1800 students representing 27 states and more than 127 schools. The 37-member West Ranch team competed in two team events and 16 individual competitions. They earned first place in Sweet 16 Broadcasting, second place awards in Sweet 16 Film and Spot Feature (Adi Machness and Hannah Button), third place in Stand Up (Luis Garcia and Brad Taylor) and Commercial (Alexis Hurey, Kyle Burke and Evan Stevens). Alex Stevenson, Mikaela Cimarusti, Erik Ross and Eli Montgomery earned honorable mention for their promotional video. In Sweet 16 competition, students had 16 hours to produce, write and film an entire broadcast about one word (Harmony) or complete a film by acting out the script for two scenes and then writing and filming the final scene from scratch.
Pre-Engineering Students Get Hands-on Experience
The Exploring Engineering Technology (EET) class in the Hart District’s Regional Occupational Program gives pre-engineering students a chance to see how engineering works through actual hands-on projects. The students first worked on building and launching rockets in the practice field at Canyon High School. Their next project included building and racing a solar car. The students also are learning to use the Autodesk Inventor program to draw 3-D models including proper dimensions and sketch modeling on a blueprint. They also will learn different aspects of machining using a lathe and a milling machine.
ROP Crews Repair Hiking Trails
Forestry Basics & Trail Construction students in the Hart District’s Regional Occupational Program have an ambitious program of work ahead of them. In additional to regularly scheduled work projects on local trails, the students will learn CPR/first aid, take a geology exploration trip, participate in Cal Trails Day, conduct a wildland fire exploration trip and work project, and take part in a search and rescue activity in which they will use their backcountry navigation, first aid and tactical radio communication skills. The team recently worked on a section of the Pacific Crest Trail, moving rock to support a soon-to-be-installed switchback.
Business Professionals Elect Officers
The Hart District Chapter of Business Professionals of America has elected new officers for the spring semester and club members are preparing for the National BPA Conference and competition upcoming in May. Three teams are working to prepare for competition in several categories, including presentation and human resources management, hoping to win scholarship money for college while preparing for business and professional careers. Spring 2010 officers include George Odor (West Ranch High School), president; Alexandra Garcia (Valencia High School), vice president; Mayra Aguilar (West Ranch), secretary; Alex Duarte (Saugus High School), historian and treasurer; and Michael Cisneros (West Ranch), parliamentarian. BPA is an offshoot of the Business Office class in the Hart District’s Regional Occupational Program.
Industrial Arts Alive and Well at Placerita
The Industrial Arts Program is alive and well at Placerita Junior High School, led by teacher Brad Hampton. The class provides students with the hands-on skills to use machinery such as the drill press, spot welder and lathe. In their quarter-long classes, students learn how to make such items as a banana rack, card caddy, sugar scoop, tack hammer, napkin holder and trash can basketball hoop. Students are required to take what they have learned in core classes and apply that knowledge to lessons in the industrial arts class. “Teaching across the curriculum and tying it all together to solve real-world problems is when young minds start to connect their whole educational experience,” Hampton said.
ER Nurse Brings Reality Lesson to Golden Valley
Linda Dutil, R.N., an emergency room nurse, visited Golden Valley High School recently to show students exactly what to expect if they are ever rushed to a hospital emergency room. The demonstration was part of an interactive program titled “A Taste of Reality,” which features startling stories Dutil has collected from her own experience with young people who have made poor decisions. The attention-grabbing program deals with the tragic results of illegal underage drinking and illegal drug use. Mark Chester, PE Department chair, helped bring the program to Golden Valley.
English Learners on the Way to a Bright Future
Fifty English language learners from La Mesa Junior High School participated in the 2010 “College–Make It Happen” program at College of the Canyons. La Mesa Counselor Robert Kerman decided to include English learners in the program and expose them to what he thought was going to be an opportunity of a lifetime. The students were able to see first-hand training from different college courses such as welding, computer network, dance and athletics, among others. Students left the COC campus with new ideas and a college-bound focus.
Creative Cookery Class Provides Lunch
The eighth grade Creative Cookery class at Arroyo Seco Junior High School got a chance to show off their culinary talents recently when they provided a delicious lunch to parents who attend the bimonthly Parent Advisory Council. Students created the menu, set the tables, prepared and served the food and took care of clean-up afterward. The food was great, service was perfect and everyone enjoyed the whole experience!
Saugus Students Tour Sewage Plant
Saugus High School’s AP Environmental students recently toured the Valencia Water Reclamation Plant (VWRP), a facility that provides a three-tiered treatment for 21.6 million gallons of wastewater per day and serves a population of approximately 216,000 people. Students first attended a lecture by Greg Osburne, supervisor of treatment plant operations, then toured the plant, saw where the reclaimed water is discharged into the river and had an opportunity to ask questions about careers in the industry. Arrangements for the trip were made by teacher Kristi Schertz.
Math Students Score at Competition
Top math students from five Hart District junior high schools journeyed to the Pasadena Jet Propulsion Laboratory to compete against more than 100 of the best math students from across the San Fernando and Santa Clarita communities in the 2010 MathCounts competition. Students from Rancho Pico, Placerita, Rio Norte, La Mesa and Sierra Vista junior high schools were surrounded by NASA’s high-tech satellites and space ships, working in teams to solve challenging math problems. The Rancho Pico team scored a stunning upset victory over some of the area’s powerhouse magnet schools and will send four students to compete in state competition at UC Irvine. Placerita’s team also qualified for the UC Irvine match, and the third best individual performance came from a young elementary school student who studies geometry at Placerita (he’s 10 years old!)
Creativity Breeds Creativity at Saugus
Hoping for an avalanche of submissions, the Literary Magazine staff at Saugus High School created a papier-mache’ mannequin (complete with shoes!) and perched him on top of a building to catch the attention of students. They also decorated trees, tied poems to the branches and attached messages to the railings encouraging students to submit their written and artistic efforts. “Creativity breeds creativity,” said senior Jordon Simon. “We’re hoping to inspire others by putting ourselves out there.” Ty DeVoe is Lit Mag adviser.
Cell Phones for Soldiers Draws Record Support
Cheerleaders from Hart High School collected a record 439 cell phone in their recently completed Cell Phones for Soldiers drive. The teams credit publicity in The Signal, Magazine of Santa Clarita and KHTS radio with their campaign’s success. The girls and their families collected 140 phones the first year and 320 last year, for a total of nearly 900 phones for all three drives. The used cell phones are exchanged for international calling cards, which are sent to military personnel serving overseas to make it easier for them to call their families at home.
Writers, Artists Win in Diversity Competition
Fifteen students from Hart District schools earned awards in the Season of Diversity essay and poster contests hosted by the city’s Human Relations Forum. Winners in the junior high essay contest included (first through fourth place) Ricky Novaes, Placerita; Denise Reynoso, Placerita; Noel Silva and Heath Engebretsen, La Mesa. High school essay winners (first through fourth) are Michelle Ngan, West Ranch; Chelsea Johnson, Hart High; Gretel De Santiago, Saugus; and Alex Ngan, Hart. Junior high poster winners (first through fourth) are Ryan Pfenning, La Mesa; Sarah Suwanaksorn, Sierra Vista; Esther Choi and Justin Myung, Rio Norte. High School poster winners (first through third) are Hannah Kim and Annjela Saet, Golden Valley; and Teddie Ordog, West Ranch.
History Comes Alive for Rio Norte Class
Seventh grade history students at Rio Norte Junior High School traveled back in time to a medieval monastery thanks to “History Alive!” Students took vows of silence and obedience and worked at four monastery stations, including activities in which student ‘monks’ copied ancient manuscripts and worked in the monastery workhouse. The state history standards came alive as students described and experienced the life of a monk in medieval Europe.
Students, Teacher Artists Featured in COC Gallery
Hart District fine art instructors along with three of their students were showcased at the opening of an art exhibit entitled “Inspiration” in the College of the Canyons art gallery. Bowman art instructor Mary Gaskin and students Sally Rodrigues, Melanie (Max) Johnson and Teresita Trejo displayed their work in the exhibit. This was the first time that instructor work was highlighted in the COC exhibit.
