March 2004 News Archive
Tuesday, March 23, 2004
Board of Education Candidate Presentations and Interviews
As the result of a recent vacancy on the Santa Barbara School Districts’ Board of Education, 17 persons submitted their names as candidates for the position (one individual has since withdrawn from consideration). The candidate presentations and interviews will take place in the Board Room, Santa Barbara School Districts’ Administration Center, 720 Santa Barbara Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101.
The order of the presentations by the candidates was determined through a random selection process. Four candidates will be interviewed at a public board meeting on March 23, 2004, beginning at 6:00 p.m. Five candidates will be interviewed at the April 13, 2004 board meeting, beginning at 6:00 p.m. Seven candidates will be interviewed at a special board meeting on April 20, 2004, beginning at 6:00 p.m.
A total of 15 minutes (time certain) will be allotted per candidate. Each candidate will be given five minutes to make a presentation, after which ten minutes will be set aside for questions from board members and the public.
Open Alternative Students Unveil Shakespeare in the Park
As part of the Open Alternative’s middle school program, 27 seventh- and eighth-grade students will present William Shakespeare’s "As You Like It." The March 24 and 25, 2004, performances will take place at 6:00 p.m. in the Wells Fargo Amphitheater at Elings Park. The public is invited to bring flashlights and blankets and bundle up for the performance. Tickets are $4 for adults and $2 for children.
A separate pre-show dinner fundraiser begins at 4:30 in Godric Grove picnic area. Tri-tip, grilled veggies, hot dogs, salad, beans, and lemonade will be sold. Dinner tickets are $6 for adults and $3 for children.
"As You Like It" promises to be an enjoyable event. Costumes and language have added to the students’ understanding of Shakespeare’s time. The outdoor setting is a perfect local to present the Bard’s work.
The performance is directed by Matthew Tavianini; teacher Jonathan Davis is in charge of production. Questions about the performance should be directed to Open Alternative School (805) 683-3127.
San Marcos High Students Head to State’s Academic Decathlon
On February 5 and 7, 2004, an eight-member team from San Marcos High School took first place at the county level of the Academic Decathlon. The San Marcos High School team scored more than 37,000 points out of a possible 60,000. With that county-level win, the team will be one of 50 teams to compete in the March 12-14, 2004, California Academic Decathlon State Finals in Sacramento. All California public and private schools are eligible to compete. The winning team will go on to compete in the United States Academic Decathlon in Boise, Idaho, which takes place on April 14-17, 2004.
Each year, the Santa Barbara High School District has made a strong showing in the Academic Decathlon. The decathlon is an inter-school competition designed to encourage and involve a cross-section of students at each school site. Student academic categories include Honors (3.75-4.00 GPA), Scholastic (3.00-3.74 GPA), and Varsity (GPAs up to 2.99). Contestants may compete in a higher division than their own GPA, but not in a lower division (i.e., a Scholastic student may compete as an Honor student, but not as a Varsity student). The members of the San Marcos High School team, comprised of three Honors students, two Scholastic students, and three Varsity students, are: Peter Devore, Eli Kupperman, Wayne Feng, Eetai Ben-Sasson, Jeffrey Barnes, Edward Anderson, Spencer Fox-Galassi, and Christopher Weatherhead. Their advisor is teacher Lawrence Gamble.
Each team member participates in ten grueling events in the Academic Decathlon, including economics, mathematics, art, music, language and literature, and science. In addition, the contestants perform prepared and impromptu speeches, write an essay on a given topic, and are interviewed by a panel of judges. The final event, the Super Quiz, an academic relay, is held before a cheering crowd. This year’s Super Quiz topic is the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
Following is a list of all the San Marcos High School (and, when noted, Dos Pueblos High School) winners at the county level of competition (and their respective team designation):
Essay: Wayne Feng (Honors); Eetai Ben-Sasson (Scholastic); Edward Anderson (Varsity)
Speech: Eli Kupperman (Honors); Spencer Fox-Galassi (Varsity)
Art: Eli Kupperman (Honors) / tie with Leah Silverstein, Dos Pueblos High School; Eetai Ben-Sasson (Scholastic) / tie with Kate Rogalsky, Dos Pueblos; Edward Anderson (Varsity)
Music: Peter Devore (Honors)
Language and Literature: Edward Anderson (Varsity)
Mathematics: Eli Kupperman (Honors); Eetai Ben-Sasson (Scholastic)
Economics: Eetai Ben-Sasson (Scholastic); Christopher Weatherhead (Varsity)
Science: Edward Anderson (Varsity)
Overall Points (Honors category): First Place = Leah Silverstein, Dos Pueblos High School; Second Place = Peter Devore, San Marcos High School; Third Place = Eli Kupperman, San Marcos High School
Overall Points (Scholastic category): First Place = Kate Rogalsky, Dos Pueblos High School; Second Place = Eetai Ben-Sasson, San Marcos High School; Third Place = Jason Liu, Dos Pueblos High School
Overall Points (Varsity category): First Place = Edward Anderson, San Marcos High School; Second Place = Spencer Fox-Galassi; Third Place = Will Freeland, Dos Pueblos High School
Super Quiz: San Marcos High School
For further information about the competition, call Lawrence Gamble, San Marcos High School teacher and Academic Decathlon advisor, at (805) 967-4581, extension 309. San Marcos High School is located at 4750 Hollister Avenue, Santa Barbara, CA 93110.
Santa Barbara Community Academy’s Status as a
Core Knowledge Program Visitation Site
The Santa Barbara Community Academy received recognition as an Official Core Knowledge Visitation Site at the organization’s recent national convention in Atlanta. Only twelve schools hold this coveted designation nationwide. The school succeeded in meeting the rigorous eligibility requirements and now looks forward to sharing its successes with schools around the country. Beginning in kindergarten, Core Knowledge schools teach specific skills and content in all areas of the curriculum that include and exceed California standards. The subjects taught embrace many cultures with the idea that a shared body of knowledge is the path to true literacy. The school enjoys the enthusiastic support of its families. The rising achievement level of all students and, especially, socio-economically disadvantaged students, as measured by annual state achievement tests.
For more information on the Core Knowledge program, call Joan Jamieson, Santa Barbara Community Academy principal, at 884-5902. The year-round school is located at 215 E. Ortega Street.
Start the Engine and Hold the Fries: La Cumbre Students Convert a Chevy Suburban to a Soy-burban
On Friday, March 5, 2004, from 5:00-6:00 p.m., La Cumbre Junior High School students in Michael Shallenberger’s industrial technology class (Room 124) will host a special viewing of a 1982 Chevy Suburban that students converted to run on waste vegetable oil (i.e., used cooking grease). The vehicle has been dubbed the Soy-burban. This study in efficient use of existing resources provided the perfect opportunity for interdisciplinary scrutiny, which will also be showcased on Friday:
- the math department will present a cost analysis of the project and break-even point for the cost of fuel vs. the cost of conversion;
- the science department will examine the carbon cycle and it’s impact on air quality;
- the industrial technology department will have students speak and answer questions about the project and will show a 15-minute video about biodiesel.
The vehicle conversion was a first-time, four-month class project done by 7 th and 8 th -grade students. According to Mr. Shallenberger, this project benefited significantly from the expertise, financial support, and encouragement of the local Automotive Service Council.
And what have students learned? Mr. Shallenberger stated, "Besides learning about the operation of an engine, how to plan a project, and using power and hand tools safely, students learned about the environmental impact of cars. We discussed alternative forms of energy. We can not continue burning petroleum fuel at our increasing rate without destroying our environment. And how long until we run out of fossil fuels? I don’t want these students to ever just accept the world the way it is handed to them; they need to know they can make a difference. Each one of these kids has the ability to make the world a better place."
The 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. viewing, near Room 124, is open to the public. La Cumbre Junior High School is located at 2255 Modoc Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93101.