April 1999 News Archive
Thursday, April 29, 1999
Paul Serka Accepts Principalship of San Marcos High School
Paul Serka, San Marcos High School’s interim principal since November 16, 1998, has been selected to lead the school. The principalship is effective immediately.
Last November, as the result of an administrative shift, former San Marcos High principal Bob Ferguson accepted the superintendency of the El Dorado Union School District in northern California. His position as the Santa Barbara School District’s Director of Instructional Support Services and Secondary Curriculum was filled by then San Marcos High principal, Donna Stuart. As a result, Serka was asked to serve as the 1998-99 interim principal of that school.
"Paul has done an outstanding job during his relatively short tenure at San Marcos," commented Michael Caston, Superintendent of the Santa Barbara School Districts. "He is a skilled administrator, with years of experience in the High School District. Paul showed exemplary leadership when shifted from La Cuesta to San Marcos. When he began the new assignment, he developed an immediate rapport with students, staff and parents. San Marcos High is recognized as an outstanding school with a tradition of academic excellence. I am pleased that Paul will play an important role in continuing that tradition," stated Dr. Caston.
Serka began work with the Santa Barbara High School District in 1972. He taught computer programming and accounting at Santa Barbara High from 1972-73; accounting and keyboarding at Dos Pueblos High from 1973-78 (and was the Business Department Chair during that time); business and economics at La Cuesta from 1978-90, and served as the head teacher who set up each of the four La Cuesta satellite sites and programs during that period; served as an assistant principal at Santa Barbara High School from 1990-93; then, in September 1993, as the principal of La Cuesta Continuation High School. In his new post as principal of San Marcos High School, Serka’s annual salary will continue to be $92,695.
Serka is committed to taking San Marcos to new heights. "One of the greatest strengths of San Marcos High School is the outstanding teamwork forged by teachers, counselors, administrators, clerical and support staff, students and parents," he noted. "By using our collective skills, resources, energy, and commitment we will continue to build the safest of learning environments where students are challenged to be interested, enthusiastic, and involved in their education."
San Marcos High School, located at 4750 Hollister Avenue, has an enrollment of approximately 2,000 students.
The screening for a new principal at La Cuesta School will begin soon. The District expects to have a principal in place in time for the opening of school, fall 1999.
Dos Pueblos High, La Colina Junior High and Goleta Valley Junior High Recognized at California Distinguished Schools
On Monday, April 26, 1999, the winners of the 1999 Distinguished Schools Program were announced. There were a total of 158 winners from throughout California, 94 middle schools and 64 high schools. Five of the 1999 Distinguished School recipients are located in Santa Barbara County. Three of them are part of the Santa Barbara High School District: Dos Pueblos High School, La Colina Junior High School, and Goleta Valley Junior High School. According to State Superintendent of Public Instruction Delaine Eastin, "No matter how the schools differ in size, location, or population, they have one important thing in common – a complete dedication to providing the best education possible to every child on their campuses."
The Distinguished Schools Program was established in 1985. Candidates must complete a detailed application, outlining school demographics and providing in-depth information on programs and services. The application process allows each school to conduct a self study, examining every facet of operation. Information was required in areas such as standards, assessment, and accountability; curriculum content and instructional practices; processes that support teacher professionalism; integration of technology into the total school program; school philosophy and strategies that nurture students; academic counseling; learning support services for special needs and at-risk students; community partnerships; standards for student behavior and strategies for conflict resolution. The application process reflects a rigorous assessment of programs at each school site. Additionally, site visits were conducted by an evaluation team.
The California Distinguished Schools will be recognized in an awards ceremony in Santa Clara on Friday, May 21st. Representatives from each school will receive an award plaque and a Distinguished School flag.
David Ortiz, principal at La Colina Junior High, summed up the importance of Distinguished School designation when he stated, "It’s a clear affirmation that everything we are doing is worth it. The ‘we’ that I am talking about includes students, parents, community partners and staff. It’s all about our combined efforts to help kids be successful in school and in life. "
Dos Pueblos High School is located at 7266 Alameda Avenue, Goleta (Mike Couch, principal); Goleta Valley Junior High School is located at 6100 Stow Canyon Road, Goleta (David Cash, principal); La Colina Junior High School, 4025 Foothill Road, Santa Barbara (David Ortiz, principal).
San Marcos Marquettes are National Champions
The San Marcos Marquettes are national champions once again! The 13-member dance team traveled to Anaheim, CA in late March to compete in the United Spirit Association National Championships at Disneyland. Over 6,000 competitors from around the country participated in the Anaheim championships. The team’s winning performance will be televised on ESPN 2 in late August.
Their win represents the fourth national title for the Marquettes in four years:
- 1999 USA National Song Championship (they placed 2nd in 1997)
- 1998 NCA National Jazz Dance Championship
- 1998 NCA National Lyrical Dance Championship
- 1996 USA National Song Championship
The team members are Betsy Dukes (captain), Veronica Montenegro (captain), Angelina Bernardi, Annalisa Gross,Tifany Johnson, Elena Keys, Chelsea McFadden, Brie McKernan, Brooke Preston, Jessica Sonquist, Christi Swanson, Brooksann Weisz, and Brooke Wolthausen. The team’s choreographer is Marni Cheverez.
And the key for a winning performance? Dedicated students and lots of practice. The Marquettes devote one class period daily (1 1/2 hours) plus 3-4 additional after-school hours perfecting their routine.
Anita Linn is the Regional Representative to Library of California
Anita Linn, library media teacher at McKinley Elementary School, was appointed as regional representative to the Library of California. The group will develop the State plan to link together all public libraries (and private collections that choose to participate). Anita represents school libraries. Representatives for public libraries, community colleges, and private libraries are also part of this planning group.
California Math League
The 7th grade team from Goleta Valley Junior High took first place in the California Math League competition. Their 8th grade team took second.
Theresa Weissglass is a Recipient of the Child Friendly Award
The County Board of Supervisors and the Kids Network included Healthy Start’s Theresa Weissglass in their field of six 1999 honorees.
Golden Deeds Award
Mike Couch, Dos Pueblos High School principal, was one of five recipients of the 1999 Goleta Lion’s Club "Golden Deeds Award."
Goleta Chamber of Commerce, Youth of the Year
Danny Soto, a student at Goleta Valley Junior High, was chosen as the Chamber’s "Youth of the Year." Danny is active in the school’s performance arts program. He also contributes articles to the Santa Barbara News-Press Youth Section.
District Students Move on to State Spelling Bee
Two District students, Debbie Chong and Nanu Das, took second place honors at the annual Santa Barbara County Spelling Bee. Debbie won in the elementary division and Nanu won in the secondary division. They will continue on to the State competition in San Rafael, scheduled for May 15th.
Debbie Chong is a 6th grade student at Roosevelt Elementary School. Debbie attributes her strong showing in the Spelling Bee to her interest in reading. She favors fairy tales, humor, and mysteries.
Nanu Das is a 7th grade student at Goleta Valley Junior High School. He is preparing for the State competition by memorizing the dictionary and reviewing lists of words.
Nanu loves to read, especially science fiction and classics, including the Illiad. He is a creative writer who has participated in the Southcoast Writers Workshop and submitted work to the National Poetry Competition. In addition to a strong interest in reading and writing, Nanu is a top math student. He also enjoys participating in basketball, football, and baseball. Currently, his goals are to attend Stanford University and, ultimately, do medical research that results in the discovery of a new medicine.
Alexis Palius Aces 44th Annual Santa Barbara County Science Fair
There were 162 entries in the 44th Annual Santa Barbara County Science Fair. The entries were created by 179 students from 11 public and private schools. This year, Santa Barbara High School District students from La Colina Junior High, Goleta Valley Junior High, Dos Pueblos High and San Marcos High School took 11 of the top 13 awards.
Alexis Palius, a San Marcos High School sophomore, was the grand prize winner. Her project was entitled "The Mystery of Stone Alley." It will be presented at the State Science Fair in Los Angeles in late-May. Her project analyzed the chemical composition of enteroliths in horses. Enteroliths are stones that are formed when deposits of magnesium and phosphorus form around foreign objects lodged in the animal’s intestinal system.
Alexis is a member of the California Scholarship Federation. She participates in the San Marcos High School Marching Band and the Concert Band. She enjoys horseback riding. Her goal is to attend UC Davis and follow an academic path that will train her to become an equine veterinarian.
German Students Visit Santa Barbara High School
Twelve German students are learning about American language and culture during their current visit to Santa Barbara High School. The students are part of the German-American Partnership Program (GAPP). GAPP, a four-week program for 15-17 year olds, is open to secondary schools with a German language program. GAPP students have the unique opportunity to live with a host family; attend a school that is very different from their school system; develop new friendships; and travel with a teacher/advisor from their own community.
In order for Santa Barbara High to qualify for the German-American Partnership Program, the following requirements must be met:
- Partnership: An American high school must be matched with a German Oberschule or Gymnasium to form an on-going partnership.
- Annual Exchange: Both schools exchange alternately on an annual basis, if possible, or biannually at the minimum.
- Reciprocity: There is an obligation to reciprocate on the part of all participants: teachers, students and parents. Each in turn will be hosts and guests.
- Size: The group participating should be not less than ten students and no more than 20. The groups in each country should be approximately the same size.
The Santa Barbara High School District has been part of the GAPP program since 1989 and is the only participating school district in Santa Barbara County.
Santa Barbara High School is partnered with Stadthagen Gymnasium in Stadthagen, Germany. Stadthagen is a town of 25,000, approximately 22 miles from Hanover. The Gymnasium is a college preparatory high school, which includes grades 7-12. The GAPP students at Santa Barbara High began their American sojourn on March 19 and will complete their stay on April 9.
This year, the German participants are Phillip Hein, Nina Brinkmeier, Jan Rodenbeck, Heinrich Gerhardt, Sarah Meier, Lars Epp, Mirko Hardtke, Andre Bock, Inga Bergmeier, Anne-Christin Sievers, Bjorn Boevers, and Markus Bugdol. Their English teacher, Friedrich Lenz, accompanies them. Their partner students are Anna Lehr from Santa Barbara Junior High, Darren Renna and Andrew Hollifield from San Marcos High and Paul Bartz, Puck Bartz, Oliver Benedicktus, Devon Charlton, Sophie Davidson, Nolan Flavell, Scott Gordon, Erica Nelson, and Brian Peariso from Santa Barbara High. Santa Barbara High teacher Rolf Richter will travel with the students to Germany. Roxanna Stern teaches the German classes at San Marcos High.
The German students began their visit to Santa Barbara with a welcome party at Be-Bop Burger. In addition to their time in the classroom, they have visited the Getty Museum and Big Sur, met Mayor Miller, and learned to surf at Leadbetter Beach. They plan to visit Universal Studios before they depart.
Santa Barbara students will reciprocate the visit during a July 7-28, 1999 trip to Germany. Santa Barbara’s GAPP students will travel to Bonn (the outgoing capital) for an official tour of the city by the German government. Then they will travel across country to Berlin to tour newly completed government buildings (chancellery, parliament, etc.). This summer, Berlin will resume its historical role as Germany’s capital. Santa Barbara students will learn about the history of Germany, its culture and customs.