Monday, May 21, 2012
Of the state's 1,000-plus school districts, 188 have this dubious distinction.
Thirteen Orange County school districts face almost certain financial jeopardy, including Capistrano Unified and Saddleback Valley Unified school districts, according to the state superintendent of public instruction. There are 28 school districts in Orange County, not counting community college districts. No other school districts that serve Orange County Patch readership areas appear on the danger list. State Superintendent Tom Torlakson released Monday the list of districts across the state that may not have the funds to get through this year or the next two years based on multiyear projections. There are 188 school districts that fall under this category, and they are responsible for the education of 2.6 million children, according to …
Saturday, May 19, 2012
CVCS holds its first annual burger cook-off on Saturday and the competition is strong, but Team Big Dog Daddy grabs first place.
It was an all-out burger war as three teams competed at Capistrano Valley Christian Schools' burger cook-off on Saturday. As the competing teams prepared their entries, attendees enjoyed tasty treats from several catering trucks offering burgers, corn dogs, funnel cakes, popcorn and ice cream. The winner of the burger throwdown, based on taste and originality, was the "Rock-n-Rojo Burger" prepared by Team Big Dog Daddy. Second place was awarded to Team Lady Lindsey's creation, "Burger Blues." Third place went to Team Flyin Hawaiian's "Burger on the Beach."
Students from schools across Orange County showcase their art at the Orange County Green Fair.
Paint, paper, bottles, aluminum and used tea bags were just a few of the materials transformed into art at the Orange County Green Fair's art walk. Created by students living in Orange County, every piece of art on display represented the artist's views on "Going Green." While some of the art displayed messages of conservation and sustainability, others used recycled items to create something new and original. Check out the slideshow from the student art walk above.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Three weeks into the program, and 62 Viejo Elementary students are signed up to continue their studies after school hours.
What does the average kid want to when he gets home from school? Well, if he lives in Village San Juan, he may be one of 62 who meet at the community's club house to study. Yeah, I said it. To do homework. Together. The program is part of the Gang Reduction and Intervention Partnership, a collaboration of the Orange County Sheriff's Department, school officials, charities and the business community to do just what the name says, dissuade youngsters from a life in gangs. Initially, GRIP initiatives were found on campuses, but lately, they've branched out to the bus stops in Las Villas and the Village neighborhoods. And two months ago, it launched an after-school program at the Village. Tutors from Academic Learning Labs in Dove Canyon join…
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Before converting to Christianity, Waffen SS Lt. Werner Langer fought for the Germans in World War II and shook Hitler's hand. On Monday, he spoke with a Rancho Santa Margarita classroom.
He's 87 years old, one eye is mostly closed, and he's wearing an American flag lapel pin. His accent is strong, his humor self-deprecating and his message is clear. Lt. Werner Langer fought for the Germans in World War II. On Monday in a Santa Margarita Catholic history class, Langer fought the stereotype. He wasn't exactly what the kids expected from a former Hitler Youth and Nazi soldier, a caricature they had seen only in movies. Yet, for the better part of an hour, Langer regaled the mostly senior class—primarily boys, a handful of girls—in Scott McIntosh's class, which devotes one semester to the Civil War and another to WWII. As an officer in the Waffen Secret Service—which Langer likened to the Marines—he fought against the Russians…
Monday, May 14, 2012
If voters shoot down a November initiative to temporarily raise taxes, school districts statewide would face $5.5 billion in cuts, about $700 million worse than what the governor estimated in January.
Gov. Jerry Brown continues to lay his hopes for state fiscal soundness on a November tax initiative, but if it doesn’t pass, schools will face additional cuts that could chop three weeks off the next school year. On Monday, Brown revised the 2012-13 budget he first released in January. Called the May revise, his new figures reflect tax revenues that have fallen far short of earlier predictions. “It’s a difficult budget,” Brown acknowledged in a press conference. If voters approve his temporary tax hike measure, Brown’s revised budget would actually increase funding for schools by $15 billion in four years, or $2,500 per student. Brown called the tax initiative reasonable. “I think it’s fair, and I think it provides a reliable source of …
Friday, May 11, 2012
For teacher appreciation week, young artists whipped up their interpretation of their instructors. How close did they get in capturing the true essence of their instructors?
Teacher appreciation week is wrapping up Friday, and while the flowers and the gifts abound, perhaps most special were the artistic renderings San Juan Elementary students offered their teachers. There were depictions that showed their teachers in action – at school and some more imaginary settings, such pulling apple carts while riding giraffes. Most captured the essense of the teachers' smiles, if not their exact likness.
Find out who the big winners were.
The local Elks recently gave out $4,000 in scholarships to Mission Viejo's outstanding students, as well as savings bonds and certificates. Some of the students are heading to such top schools as UCLA, Stanford and Harvard. Mission Viejo Mayor Pro Tempore Rhonda Reardon was there to honor the outstanding students, too. Here are the top scholarship winners: John Dellos also recognized a sixth student, Karli M. Thompson, Rancho Santa Margarita, Trabuco Hills High School, who was awarded an $800 scholarship at the state level competition. "I was astonished by the tremendous academic and community service accomplishments of the foregoing student scholars," Dellos said. "It is not surprising that have been accepted at such prestigious …
33.59871
-117.65729
Mission Viejo Elks Lodge 2444
25092 Marguerite Pky, Mission Viejo, CA
/articles/outstanding-students-win-elks-scholarships
2053792
/locations/6984737
Thursday, May 10, 2012
The Annual ROP Distinguished Student Awards ceremony awards scholarships in five career majors as well as a select number of special scholarships funded by the ROP staff and community partners.
When students earn awards through the Capistrano-Laguna Regional Occupational Program, a whole audience gets to hear their praises from the teachers who shepherded them along. The nominating teachers used words like "passion," "vision," "intensity," "achievement," "outstanding," "driven," "talented," "remarkable" and "inspirational." The audience hearing these adjectives were with well-dressed students, supporting family members, sponsoring business partners and many representatives from the Capistrano Unified and Laguna Beach Unified school districts, who filled the theater at San Juan Hills High to the brim Wednesday. The ROP honored outstanding students who enrolled in specialty classes which focus on career-oriented instruction, …
33.499263
-117.621446
San Juan Hills High School
29211 Vista Montana, San Juan Capistrano, CA
/articles/rop-awards-ceremony-recognizes-outstanding-students-who-are-nominated-by-their-instructors
1755430
/locations/6993336
Officials fence off the dugouts, saying they may not have been built properly.
By Brittany Christensen EDITOR'S NOTE: This article is written by a student journalist from San Juan Hills High's The Express newspaper. Worried about student safety, Capistrano Unified School District officials fenced off the baseball dugouts at San Juan Hills High on April 23, just before one of the more important games of the season – and they have remained off limits ever since. The Stallions have their last game of the season Thursday. Officials have been curious about the dugouts since December, according to Principal Tom Ressler, but left them alone until shortly after the pool dedication ceremony, when Interim Deputy Superintendent Tim Holcomb ordered the dugouts closed until further notice. Later, workers hammered out two holes in…
Penny Arévalo
7:05 am on Tuesday, May 22, 2012
See the complete list here: http://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/fi/ir/first1112.asp more ›