June 2006 News Archive
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
John Becchio to Lead Santa Barbara Junior High School
This evening, the Santa Barbara School Districts’ Board of Education announced that Santa Barbara Junior High School’s Assistant Principal John Becchio has been selected to serve as the principal of that school, effective July 1, 2006 (on a 5-0 vote by the five-member board). Mr. Becchio replaces outgoing principal Susan Salcido, who recently accepted a position in curriculum services at the Santa Barbara County Education Office. Established in 1932, Santa Barbara Junior High School served 932 students in school year 2005-06.
“I am honored to be named principal of Santa Barbara Junior High. I look forward to leading the school in its continued effort toward the achievement of academic excellence for all students,” stated Mr. Becchio.
Superintendent Brian Sarvis said, “John Becchio has demonstrated strong leadership skills at Santa Barbara Junior High and his familiarity with that school’s students, parents, and staff, as well as staff from throughout the Santa Barbara School Districts, will make this a very smooth transition. John has a rich set of teaching and administrative experiences to draw from. I am confident that he is ready to fulfill the duties of a principal.”
John Becchio joined the districts in 1999, when he taught a variety of subjects including health, technology exploration, wood shop, physical education, math, and environmental studies at Santa Barbara Junior High. In 2004, he was an assistant principal intern at Goleta Valley Junior High and La Colina Junior High schools. Since 2004, he has worked as an assistant principal at Santa Barbara Junior High School, where his duties included master schedule, facilities, assembly program, SASI coordinator, student discipline, teacher evaluations, and summer school coordinator. Prior to joining the districts, Mr. Becchio taught English classes to Spanish speaking students in Costa Rica and once, as an employee of the Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, served as a youth services specialist at Santa Barbara Junior High School.
Mr. Becchio received a master’s degree in education administration from California State University Northridge; single subject California teaching credential from Chapman University; studied Spanish language, history and culture at the University of Granada, Spain; and earned a bachelor degree in exercise science from Arizona State University.
The salary range for a junior high school principal is $98,872 $110,561.
Santa Barbara Junior High School is located at 721 East Cota Street. The 16 acre-campus, which houses the Marjorie Luke Theater, draws students primarily from Cleveland, Cold Spring, Franklin, Montecito Union, Peabody Charter, Roosevelt, and Washington elementary schools.
Kate Ford Selected to be Peabody Charter School’s New Principal
This evening, at their regularly-scheduled meeting, Katherine Ford was introduced to the Santa Barbara School Districts’ Board of Education. Kate Ford, a graduate of Santa Barbara High School, will be returning to Santa Barbara to serve as Peabody Charter School’s new principal. Principal Pat Morales will be retiring as of July 1. Principal Morales has been Peabody’s principal for the past 14 years (13 of those years as a charter school principal).
Principal Morales stated: “Kate is a highly respected member of the education community and we are very fortunate that she chose Peabody. Our staff and families are very excited that she is here. She will build on the strength of Peabody and take the school to the next level.”
As a charter school, Peabody’s Governing Council conducted the search and hiring process for the new principal.
Kate Ford received a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Calfornia-Santa Cruz and master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Chapman University. She is proficient in Spanish.
Ms. Ford has more than 30 years of experience in public, charter, or private schools. She began her teaching career as a high school language arts teacher in Merced, CA. She then taught English, Spanish, and music at Marymount of Santa Barbara and then taught English and drama at Laguna Blanca School. She moved back to Merced and taught language arts and reading in a public middle school before moving on to work as a vice principal and then principal in a middle school in the Lodi Unified School District. She then worked as a middle school principal in San Jose, CA.
In August 1999, Ms. Ford became the regional vice president for the western division of Advantage Charter Schools, Inc., a Boston-based company. During her employment with Advantage, she represented the firm before local, state, and national levels of government as well as supervised five school directors and monitored their school operations and academic progress.
In July 2001, Ms. Ford began work as the executive director and principal of the Summit School of Ahwatukee, a private K-8 school in Phoenix, Arizona. In the five years that followed, enrollment increased from 75 students to more than 300. Her responsibilities included the creation of policies, staffing and evaluation procedures, curriculum, handbooks, schedules, professional development, budgets, marketing, and establishment of the school accreditation process.
Ms. Ford will begin her work at Peabody effective July 1, 2006. The salary range for the principal position is $115,000-$120,000 per year.
In school year 2005-06, Peabody Charter School served 714 students. The school is located at 3018 Calle Noguerra, Santa Barbara.
OAS Students to Bike, Swim, and Run in the Annual Iron Kid Triathlon
On Friday, June 16, 2006, Open Alternative School’s students in grades K-8 will participate in the school’s 24th annual Iron Kid Triathlon. The event celebrates the students’ physical fitnesss. The Iron Kid Triathlon will be held at Leadbetter Beach, beginning at 8:30 a.m.
Students in grades 2-8 will ride bicycles to Milpas Street and back, swim laps at Los Banos pool, and complete a mile run. Kindergarten and first-grade students will participate in a bike rodeo.
The Iron Kid Triathlon is not a race, rather a personal challenge activity. Parents will join students for a barbecue-potluck at noon.
Open Alternative School is a parent cooperative, open education school of choice. Located on the La Colina Junior High School campus, OAS serves 214 students.
La Cuesta Continuation High School’s First Annual Leadership and Senior Awards Ceremony
La Cuesta Continuation High School honored its outstanding seniors and scholarship award winners at the First Annual Leadership and Senior Awards Ceremony on June 8, 2006, at the Santa Barbara School Districts’ Board Room.
Along with the honored students, La Cuesta recognized a number of community partners and members of its first Community Leadership Group, students at La Cuesta who met monthly to discuss student issues and leadership ideas across the four continuation sites.
Outstanding seniors from each La Cuesta site:
- Susanna Mora, La Cuesta Dos Pueblos
- Veronica Gutierrez, La Cuesta Las Alturas
- Palmira Barron, La Cuesta San Marcos
- Isaac Saldana, La Cuesta Santa Barbara
- Natasha Brantingham, La Cuesta Independent Study
- Charlie Jourdan, La Cuesta Independent Study
- Jane Allen, La Cuesta Middle College
Scholarship Award Winners:
- Jenny Carrasco—Mariachi Festival Scholarship—$2000
- Jenny Carrasco—Southern California Gas Company Scholarship—$500
- Veronica Gutierrez—Southern California Gas Company Scholarship—$500
- CCEA (California Continuation Education Association) Scholarship—Susanna Mora—$250
- “Dodie” Lovett Memorial Scholarship—Tara McNabb—$250
Senior Spirit Award Winners (as recognized by the Santa Barbara County Office of Education):
- Isaac Saldana, La Cuesta Santa Barbara
- Julian Henderson, La Cuesta Middle College
- Susanna Mora, La Cuesta Dos Pueblos
Hispanic Chamber Honorees:
- Ana Guerrero, La Cuesta San Marcos
- Mayra Guerrero, La Cuesta Independent Study
Leadership Students:
- Melissa Alvarado, La Cuesta San Marcos
- Jessica Carmona, La Cuesta Las Alturas
- Ali Castruita, La Cuesta Las Alturas
- Maritza Cordero, La Cuesta Las Alturas
- Amanda Schoepp, La Cuesta San Marcos
- Tahjanae Valteau, La Cuesta Santa Barbara
Community Partners:
- Tim Mahoney, Southern California Gas Company
- Wilderness Youth Project
- Keith Terry, Gang Risk Intervention Program
- Kelley Baeza, School-University Partnership with UCSB
- Harvey Green, School-University Partnership with UCSB
- Karena Jew, Pro-Youth Coalition and Zona Seca
- Osiris Castaneda, Youth CineMedia Project
- Roberta Payan, City of Santa Barbara Youth Programs ADAP Coalition
- Mariachi Festival
- Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Santa Barbara School Districts’ 2006 National Hispanic Scholars
Since 1983, the College Board has been identifying outstanding Hispanic high school students who are academically well-prepared for higher education. They share that information with subscribing four-year colleges and universities. To qualify, students must be at least one-quarter Hispanic and must be among the highest scoring students who took the PSAT/NMSQT during their junior year. Eligibility is based on the student’s combined verbal, math, and writing skill scores on the PSAT/NMSQT and their high school grade-point average.
In school year 2005-06, approximately 3,300 seniors were selected from a nationwide total of 124,000 students who took the test. In our school districts, eight students have been identified as National Hispanic Scholars for 2005-06.
DOS PUEBLOS HIGH SCHOOL
Andrew Alker
Rachel Alonso
Bryant Engle
Steven Estrella
Gabriela Labrana
Ivan Tenorio
SANTA BARBARA HIGH SCHOOL
Deanna Danalevich
Ryan Walker
Cesar Chavez Charter School’s First Graduating Class
At 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 21, 2006, nine sixth-grade students will comprise Cesar Chavez Charter School’s first-ever graduating class. Four of those students are from the original group that entered the program: Yesenia Barreto, Leandra Perez, Mackenzie Hoeckley, and Tiffany Theis. The ceremony will take place in the Franklin Elementary School auditorium. Franklin Elementary School is located at 1111 E. Mason Street, Santa Barbara, CA.
Guest speakers will be educator Janice Ulloa-Brown, who helped write the school’s charter, and Lisa Figueroa, a new member of the school’s Governance Council who served as the school’s assessment coordinator for two years and has been a volunteer at the site.
The following day, Thursday, June 22, Cesar Chavez Charter School will host a kindergarten graduation at 1:00 p.m., outside on the field. Guest speakers will be Santa Barbara School Districts’ Board President Annette Cordero; Anna Muñoz, Governance Council past president; and UCSB’s Dr. Jason Raley,
Established in 2000, Cesar Chavez Charter School serves 192 students. Located on the Franklin Elementary School campus, the Cesar Chavez Charter School entrance is at 1102 E. Yanonali Street, Santa Barbara, CA.
For more information about the graduation, call Eva M. Neuer, principal of Cesar Chavez Charter School, (805) 966-7392, extension 2.
Santa Barbara School Districts’ 2006 National Merit Scholar Finalists
During their junior year, more than 21,000 high school students entered the 2006 National Merit Scholarship Program competition when they took the 2004 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. That test was the initial qualification screening.
Last fall, 16,000 semifinalists were identified. In order to be considered for finalist standing, each semifinalist had to submit information on their academic record; write an essay about their activities interests and goals; and submit a letter of recommendation from their school principal. More than 15,000 semifinalists advanced to the finalist level.
Following are the Santa Barbara School Districts’ 2006 National Merit Scholar Program finalists. Dos Pueblos
High School’s Jory Harris and Michelle Walker each received a National Merit Program college-sponsored merit
scholarship. The National Merit Scholar finalists were recognized at the May 30, 2006, meeting of the districts’ Board
of Education.
SANTA BARBARA HIGH SCHOOL
Ben Bastomski
Ben has been active in student government/ASB, participated in Mock Trial, and played defensive end on the Dons football
team. His has volunteered with Santa Barbara Teen Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Coalition and active in Teens Speak
Out, a gathering of local teens who talked about their perspectives and opinions on teen alcohol abuse in the Santa
Barbara area. Ben will be attending Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, majoring in sociology.
SAN MARCOS HIGH SCHOOL
Chloe Brown
Chloe’s high school activities include varsity mock trial for two years, including being on the team that just
went to Nationals in Oklahoma. She has participated in A Cappella choir and Enchante, the women’s ensemble, during
her freshman and sophomore years, and Madrigals during her junior and senior years. Chloe’s community service
was done at the McLeod Bird Sanctuary; Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic; training to become a NCCJ peer facilitator;
and through performances in the community with A Capella, Enchante, and Madrigals. She will be attending Williams College
in Massachusetts, where she plans to major in English
Charlotte Chang
Charlotte participated in Mock Trial and was a member of the school’s Global and Humanitarian Awareness Club:
which raised money for landslide victims in the Philippines and relief in Darfur, Sudan. Her community service was
done at the Maravilla Senior Living Center, San Marcos High school events, she was an intern at UCSB labs, and she
volunteered at the Santa Barbara Chinese School. Charlotte will attend Pomona College, where she would like to double
major in English literature and biophysics. One day, she hopes to become a post-doctoral researcher in the Amazon rainforest.
Katherine Poulsen
Katherine was a Pre-trial attorney on the state championship Mock Trial team, president of Math Club this year, and
a member of Junior State of America. She also plays violin and cello. She did her community service at Cottage Hospital
and volunteered as a counselor at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden’s summer Nature Camp for kids. Katherine
will be attending Columbia University in the fall, probably majoring in mathematics or political science.
Ning Tung
Ning is a co-founder of the San Marcos High School Philosophy Club. He completed approximately 250 hours of community
service, serving as the web master for the Chinese School and as a counselor at Zoo Camp. In the fall, Ning will be
attending UC Berkeley. He has not yet declared a major.
DOS PUEBLOS HIGH SCHOOL
Patrick Brown
Patrick is a recipient of a Dos Pueblos High School President’s Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence.
Rachel Cohen
Rachel is an AP Scholar with Distinction. She received the 200% Community Service Award for her level of volunteerism.
Rachel will be attending the University of Pennsylvania.
Kyle Deacon
Kyle has served on the Dos Pueblos debate team and held leadership positions in student government, He also studied
Chinese at Santa Barbara City College and UCSB. Kyle was a Santa Barbara Scholarship Foundation Founders Scholar
recipient. He will be attending Brown University, double majoring in Chinese and biology.
Diane de Gramont
A member of the Dos Pueblos Debate Team, the Art Club, and the school’s tennis team, Diane volunteered at the
Santa Barbara Rape Crisis center as an advocate and a member of the Speaker’s Bureau and was certified as a sexual
assault counselor. She will be going to Harvard University next year and she plans to major in government.
Alex Foster
Alex participated in the Engineering Academy at Dos Pueblos and, this year, he was a member of the Robotics Team. Alex
will be attending UCSB on a Regents Scholarship, where he will major in electrical engineering
Jorgen Harris
An AP Scholar with Distinction, Jory is an outstanding senior in vocal music. He received a National Merit college-sponsored
merit scholarship to the University of Chicago, where he plans to study evolutionary biology and economics.
Sue Lin
An AP Scholar with Distinction, Sue will be attending Harvard University in Cambridge, MA.
Amanda Mangaser
Amanda served as the chairperson of the Santa Barbara City Youth Council; captain of the Dos Pueblos Mock Trial Team;
and ASB representative and commissioner of governmental functions in student government. She will attend Harvard
University, where she plans to concentrate in government with a focus on international relations.
Hannah Savage
Hannah’s was president of Math Club, member of the robotics team, Academic Decathlon team, and Junior State of
America. She played water polo and swam during her first two years of high school. Hannah is going to Harvey Mudd College,
where she will major in math.
Michelle Walker
Michelle participated in the Engineering Academy’s Robotics program this year. She served as co-president of
the Dos Pueblos Interact Club which raised $1,000 last year for the Santa Barbara Breast Cancer Resource Center and
$2,500 this year for Domestic Violence Services. Michelle will be attending Harvey Mudd College. Her major is engineering.
Michelle is the recipient of a National Merit college-sponsored merit scholarship to Harvey Mudd.
Caitlin York
Caitlin was the senior class secretary. She played varsity volleyball; she was a team captain and won the Coaches Award.
Caitlin served as the Students Talking About Respect Club president. She will be attending Yale University, where
she hopes to major in Latin American studies.
Adam Zok
Adam participated in cross country, track and field, and inline hockey. His community service hours were earned by
volunteering at the Goleta Valley Public Library, Santa Barbara ZooCamp, UCSB Family Vacation Center, and several
local road races. He will be attending UC Berkeley, where he will major in physics.
Will Gonzales to Serve as Head Coach of the Santa Barbara High School Dons Football Program
Coach Will Gonzales will be taking over as the head football coach at Santa Barbara High School for the coming school year. He will fill the position recently vacated by Craig Moropoulos, who accepted a coaching position at Santa Barbara City College. Coach Gonzales was selected because of his knowledge of the game and his enthusiasm about coaching with the Dons staff and athletes.
“I grew up going to Santa Barbara High football games. My dad is a Don and I have a lot of cousins, aunts, and uncles that went to Santa Barbara High. If it hadn’t been for a move when I was in the fourth grade, I would have been a Don. I am well aware of the Dons tradition, which is second to none. I am looking forward to working with the staff and students. I have spoken with several former coaches from Santa Barbara and their words convinced that this would be a good fit,” said Will Gonzales.
Santa Barbara High School Athletic Director Nan Verkaik said, “We are fortunate to get a head coach with the experience of Coach Gonzales. He will be a great addition to our staff and I look forward to working with him. Coach Gonzales will fit well into Santa Barbara High’s philosophy of kids first.”
Principal Paul Turnbull added, “I am excited about the skills that Will brings to the Santa Barbara High School football program. He is a proven teacher and coach with kids at heart and he knows how to develop players that succeed at a higher level. I know he will represent the Dons tradition in an exemplary manner and he will guide our football program with clear purpose and distinction.”
Gonzales, a San Marcos High School graduate, attended Cal State Northridge and Cal State Hayward, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology. A ten-year employee of the Santa Barbara School Districts, he has been an American history and Chicano studies teacher at San Marcos High School since he joined the district; his assignment at San Marcos ends June 19.
Gonzales is a fourth generation Santa Barbaran. He and wife Barbara, a first-grade teacher at Montecito Union School, are the parents of two young sons: Jackson and Grant, ages 4 and 2 respectively.
Six Students in the Santa Barbara School Districts Lead the Way in Community Service Marcus Worthington Sets a District Record
One of the Santa Barbara High School Districts’ graduation requirements is 60 hours of community service, completed over a four-year period. In addition to their commitments to academic, co-curricular, and extra-curricular activities, many of the districts’ students set a high personal standard in their level of volunteerism. Each year, the Board of Education recognizes two seniors from each high school who have accomplished a significant number of community service hours, generally in the range of several hundred hours to more than 1,000 hours. At two recent board meetings, the board honored the following students for their exemplary service, including San Marcos High School’s Marcus Worthington, who has amassed an incredible, unprecedented 3,056 hours of community service. This is the first year that a student has come before the board who has reached the 2,000-hour mark, much less exceeded the 3,000-hour mark.
DOS PUEBLOS HIGH SCHOOL
Hannah Savage
Hannah amassed 1,032 community service hours; about 500 of those hours were spent with the Animal Shelter Assistance
Program, the county’s cat shelter. She is one of the volunteers who feed the cats, clean their cages, gets them
adopted, and takes care of their health. She has advanced to the position of being in charge of her shift. About 350
of Hannah’s volunteer hours were spent at the Goleta library, where she helped with the summer reading program.
Additionally, Hannah volunteered with the Botanic Gardens’ summer camp, Old Spanish Days Fiesta activities, served as a Safety Town counselor, and was a Math Counts tutor at Goleta Valley Junior High.
In addition to her studies, during her four years at Dos Pueblos High School she made time for the Math Club, Academic Decathlon team, water polo team, swim team, founder of the Latin Club, Economic Challenge team, Junior State of America, Future Scientists and Engineers of America, and she currently participates on the Engineering Academy’s robotics team,
Hannah will be attending Harvey Mudd in the fall, where she will major in mathematics.
Zoe Georgakis
Zoe has contributed 764 hours to our community. Her volunteer work has primarily been with Girl Scouts of Tres Condados
and the Ridley-Tree Art Education Center.
Zoe has participated in technical theater throughout her four years at Dos Pueblos, serving as stage manager for the past two years. She has also been active in Leadership, serving as the commissioner of clubs and organizations.
Zoe will be attending Vassar College. Her major is American culture.
SANTA BARBARA HIGH SCHOOL
Alexandria Hood
Alexandria has accumulated 820 hours working summers with Girls Inc. helping with childcare and camps. She has been
on the school’s softball team throughout her four years and a member of the dance team during her senior year.
Alexandria has been a member of Future Leaders of America for four years and a member of the Black Student Union for
three years.
In the fall, Alexandria will be attending the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles.
Riley Berris
Riley trained for three months in preparation for a 60-mile Breast Cancer walk, where she raised $2,340 dollars. The
majority of Riley’s more than 700 hours of community service were contributed to the Santa Barbara High School
theater. She directed “Music of the Night” in 2006. Riley was on the Dons water polo and swim teams for
her freshman and sophomore years. In addition to a four-year commitment to the theater program, Riley was in A Capella
for three years, and this year she has been in Madrigals.
In the fall, Riley will be attending Loyola Marymount, majoring in theater.
SAN MARCOS HIGH SCHOOL
Christy Prager
Christy has completed 769 hours of community service. For the past five summers she has been a Santa Barbara Zoo Camp
volunteer. For four years, she has worked with the leadership department at San Marcos. Christy has also helped a local
community theater group. In addition to her studies, Christy was the treasurer with the Drama and Improvisational Club
for two years.
Christy will be attending the University of Toledo in Ohio.
Marcus Worthington
Marcus has completed 3,056 hours with the YMCA, AYSO, and coaching Peabody track. At San Marcos High School, he has
been involved in cross country, track and field, video production, and leadership.
Marcus plans to attend Santa Barbara City College, where he will run track, and then transfer to New York University.
Districts’ Students Recognized at the California State Science Fair
For several junior high and high school students in the Santa Barbara School Districts, the journey to the May 22-23, 2006, California State Science Fair began on April 21, when top winners were identified from a field of more than 120 competitors at the Santa Barbara County Science Fair. Following their experience at the state level, where more than 900 students competed, the following students were recognized by the districts’ Board of Education on May 30, 2006:
| Student | School | Title | Teacher | County Award | State Award |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category - Behavioral Science | |||||
| Samantha Wopat | Goleta Valley JHS | “Can You See In Stereo?” | Brad Penkala | Gold | |
| Alyssa Hufschmid | Goleta Valley JHS | “Perceiving Facial Emotions” | Brad Penkala | Gold; Best in Division | |
| Samantha Flattery and Chiara Perez del Campo | La Colina JHS | “Can You Believe Your Eyes” | David Marchetti | Gold | Third Place |
| Alexis Chasney | Goleta Valley JHS | “Musical Stimulation For The Brain” | Brad Penkala | Gold | |
| Category - Biology | |||||
| Jenny Haden | La Colina JHS | “Sinister Sunflowers” | David Marchetti | Gold | |
| Keaton Hudson and Scott Messier | La Colina JHS | “The Effects Of Physical And Biological Factors On Limpet Densities” | David Marchetti | Gold | |
| Max Ross | Goleta Valley JHS | “Ants And Plants” | Brad Penkala | Gold; Best in Division | |
| Category - Environmental Science | |||||
| Nicole Schauser | Goleta Valley JHS | “Ocean Acidification And Its Anticipated Effects On Calcifying Marine Species” | Brad Penkala | Gold; Best in Division | Third Place |
| Jade Wentz Fitzgerald | La Colina JHS | “How Is It Possible That By Washing Our Cars And Spraying Our Flowers, We Are Polluting Our Local Creeks, Streams, And Ocean?” | David Marchetti | Gold | |
| Category - Mechanical | |||||
| Alexa Canova-Parker | Goleta Valley JHS | “Mussel Bound” | Brad Penkala | Gold | |
| Hanna Vincent | La Colina JHS | “Force On The Sailes Of A Club Flying Junior Sailboat” | David Marchetti | Silver; Best in Division | |
| Category - Microbiology | |||||
| Rebecca Neilsen-Robbins | Santa Barbara JHS | “Which Building Materials Are Most Resistant to Mold Growth?” | Marilyn Garza | Gold; Best in Division | Third Place |
| Category - Physical Science | |||||
| Ellen Feldman | La Colina JHS | “The Science of Music” | Laura Wilson | Gold; Best in Division; Best in Fair | |
| Anjian Wu | Goleta Valley JHS | “Semiconductor Lighting” | Brad Penkala | Gold | Third Place |
| Scott Hempy | La Colina JHS | “Sound Busters” | Laura Wilson | Gold | |
| Montana Marshall | Santa Barbara JHS | “Chemical Kinetics” | Marilyn Garza | Bronze (CSSF Alternate) | |
| Student | School | Title | Teacher | County Award | State Award |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category - Environmental Science | |||||
| Justin Feng and Alexander Kayfetz-Gaum | San Marcos HS | “What’s So Great About Sex?” | Olin Bausback | Gold | |
| Angie Afman and Kristin Hempy | San Marcos HS | “Beach Grooming: Does It Banish The Beachhoppers?” | Olin Bausback | Gold | Hon. Mention |
| Category - Physical Science | |||||
| Joy Sun | San Marcos HS | “An Alternative Source Of Energy: Can Sawdust be Catalyzed Into Fuel?” | Olin Bausback | Gold | |
Dos Pueblos High School’s Swimming Pool Groundbreaking on Friday, June 9
On Friday, June 9, 2006, at 11:00 a.m., ceremonial shovels will be turned, signaling the construction phase of Dos Pueblos High School’s new, highly-anticipated 50 meter x 25 yard competition quality swimming pool. The new Elings Aquatic Center, named in honor of donors Virgil Elings and Betty Wells, will provide an Olympic-size pool for competition water polo, swim meets, and community aquatics programs.
Included in the project will be a new pool building, a new pool mechanical room, and outdoor showers. The new pool building will house an office with a full view of pool activities, a ticket window, restrooms, and storage for pool equipment.
The contract for the pool was awarded to Viola Constructors, Inc., in the amount of $4,928,000. Viola Constructors, Inc., based in Oxnard, CA, is the firm currently building the new theatre at Dos Pueblos High School.
In addition to Mr. Elings and Ms. Wells, invited guests include representatives from WLC Architects of Rancho Cucamunga, the project architect; Viola Constructors; Hoffman Associates, on-site project management and inspection; representatives from the fundraising aquatics group; Santa Barbara School Districts’ Board of Education; Measure V Bond Oversight Committee; plus school site and district office personnel.
Plans are that the old pool will be filled and the space converted to a concrete area that can be used as a basketball court or a staging area for aquatic activities.
To access the groundbreaking site, guests are advised to take Cathedral Oaks to Alameda Avenue, passing by the front entrance to the campus, and continuing on several feet, before turning left on the service road that bordes the edge of campus. The service road will terminate at the groundbreaking site. Visitors need only follow the sound as the Dos Pueblos High School Marching Band will be on hand to welcome guests to the event.
Applications Now Being Accepted for Santa Barbara School Districts’ 2006-07 (FREE) Universal Preschool Program
Parents of preschoolers are encouraged to apply now for the Santa Barbara School Districts’ free Universal Preschool pilot program for school year 2006-07. Open enrollment is currently underway for three- and four-year-old preschoolers from families of all income levels at McKinley Elementary Preschool. The free Universal Preschool Program, operated by the districts’ Child Development Program, has space in both morning and afternoon half-day sessions for fall 2006.
Applications can now be picked up at McKinley Elementary School, 350 Loma Alta Drive, Santa Barbara.
Universal Preschool offers many age-appropriate activities to develop language and cognitive skills. A high-quality staff delivers the program.
For more information about the program, contact the Child Development Program, Santa Barbara School Districts, 965-4633, extension 264.
Santa Barbara School Districts Prepare to Celebrate 140 Years of Public Education
Beginning on 2:45 p.m. on Tuesday, June 6, the Santa Barbara School Districts will celebrate its 140th anniversary at the District Office, 720 Santa Barbara Street (between Ortega and De la Guerra streets), Santa Barbara, CA. The district was established June 6, 1866.
The event will begin with song; first graders from the Santa Barbara Community Academy will perform “Elbow Room” and La Cumbre Junior High School theater students will perform selections from “Oliver!”
Ms. Sally Fouhse will share information about the first school in Santa Barbara, established in 1795 to serve the Presidio. It was the second school in Alta California (the first school was established at the Presidio in San Jose in 1794).
Superintendent Brian Sarvis will talk about the early days and rich traditions of the Santa Barbara School District. For example, the district has the distinction of having the first kindergarten in the state and a downtown Sloyd School served the district’s young learners.
Linda Mitchell, president of Santa Barbara Teachers Association, and Brian Tanguay, president of Chapter 37 of the California School Employee Association, will speak to the role of certificated and classified employees.
Following the remarks, there will be performances by Santa Barbara High School’s A Capella/Madrigals, Franklin Elementary School’s Ballet Folklorico de las Aguilas, and Goleta Valley Junior High School eighth-grade students Rachelle Clark and Christina Li.
A powerpoint presentation about today’s 21 district schools will be displayed in the Board Room. Look closely and visitors will see a picture of Santa Barbara High School’s nine-member class of 1889 above a photo of district graduates of the class of 2000. Visitors will be encouraged to take self-guided tours throughout the building as displays will be posted with news of 1866 as well as the history of the districts, the latter based on the 1963 University of Southern California master’s thesis of former district administrator Robert Nelson Christian.
Cake and coffee will be served.
Read more about the history of the Santa Barbara School Districts.
Santa Barbara School Districts to Celebrate 140th Anniversary on June 6
The year was 1866. Andrew Johnson was president. Dostoevsky wrote “Crime and Punishment.” The Atlantic Cable was successfully completed, allowing trans-Atlantic telegraph communication for the first time. Wagon trains were still making their way along the Oregon Trail. On June 6, 1866, the Santa Barbara School District was established. Fast forward to the year 2006 and on June 6 the district will celebrate its 140th anniversary, beginning at 2:45 p.m. at the District Office, 720 Santa Barbara Street, Santa Barbara, CA. The public is invited.
The program will include remarks by Sally Fouhse, Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation; Ms. Fouhse will share information about the first school in Santa Barbara (it was the second school in Alta California), established in 1795 at the historic Presidio. Superintendent Brian Sarvis will share information about the early days of the school district, drawn from thesis research done by former administrator Robert Christian. Guest speakers will also include Linda Mitchell, Santa Barbara Teachers Association, and Brian Tanguay, California School Employees Association.
Performance by La Cumbre Junior High School’s cast of “Oliver!” Santa Barbara High School’s A Capella/Madrigals, and a folkloric group from Franklin Elementary School are confirmed; additional student performances are being finalized.
Read more about the history of the Santa Barbara School Districts.