Golden Bell Finalist
We are honored and thrilled to announce that ACHS was selected as a finalist for the
prestigious 2010 Golden Bell Award as a result of our Silver Stinger program! Judges will
be visiting our campus sometime prior to October 29 to validate our eligibility for this award
and talk with staff involved with Silver Stingers. The award ceremony is set for December
4 in San Francisco. The California School Boards Association (CSBA) Golden Bell Awards
program promotes excellence in education by recognizing outstanding programs in school
districts and county offices of education throughout California. The goal of this awards
program is to contribute to the development and evaluation of curriculum, instruction and
support services. Special thanks to Dr. Ray Senesac, Assistant Principal, for writing and
preparing our Golden Bell Application. Special appreciation and kudos to our Silver
Stinger staff for providing Excellence in Education to our Silver Stinger
freshmen: Darla Rice, Assistant Principal; Marisa Stuteville and Marci Pinuelas,
Counselors; and Lori Pristera, Brandae Rossini, and Irina Kennedy, teachers.
Staff and Student Recognition
FOCUS AWARDS
This week ACHS focuses on Adrienne Denny, foreign language teacher! Ms.
Denny is a graduate of OHS and was hired as a teacher with OUHSD in 1993. In 1987 Ms
Denny graduated from California Lutheran University with a BA in Spanish and then earned her CA
single subject credential, Spanish in 1990. Ms. Denny’s teaching career has spanned
approximately 22 years beginning with teaching on an emergency credential for the Migrant
Program for Oxnard Elementary in the summer of 1988. During her time within OUHSD she has
taught at three of the seven district high schools. Originally in 1993 she began at
OHS. The following year her time was split; mornings were spent at ACHS and afternoons
were at HHS during the first semester. The second semester of that year Ms. Denny taught
full time at HHS. The third year with OUHSD returned Ms. Denny to ACHS full time where
she has remained since. Ms. Denny’s sons are both graduates of ACHS. Derek
graduated in 2007 and is finishing his last year at UC Santa Cruz with a double major in Modern
English and History of the Americas and Africa. When Derek receives his teaching
credentials he intends to return to ACHS and teach. Phillip graduated in 2009 and is in
his second year at UC Irvine majoring in Political Science and Economics. Phillip plans
to study law and pursue employment in the field of politics. Ms. Denny’s motto is, “If I
open my mouth, I better be ready to follow with my foot – meaning…if I criticize, then I better
be prepared to work for a solution.” Family means everything to Ms. Denny. She
believes that professionalism is not an aspiration but a requirement on her part. Ms.
Denny stated she loves her garden and baking bread is a passion. With her sons return to
their respective universities her home is very quiet. Congratulations Adrienne for being
the recipient of this week’s Teacher Focus Award!
This week ACHS focuses on Maribel Sanchez, textbook media tech! Ms.
Sanchez is also very familiar with OUHSD as a graduate from Channel Islands High and employee
for the past three years. In fact, Ms. Sanchez has been a part of ACHS for the last three
years. She is currently attending Ventura College and taking online courses with the
anticipation of becoming a teacher. In her spare time, Ms. Sanchez enjoys reading and
spending time with her children. She especially looks forwards to Thursdays so she can
watch her freshman son (and ACHS student) play football. Congratulations, Maribel, for
being this week’s Classified Focus Award person!
SUPERB STAFF
This week, teacher Rita Neumeister and Guidance Tech Mike
Gibbs were honored as Superb Staff by our ASB Students.
Congratulations!
ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
Congratulations to our Athletes of the Week Jason Veselak, water polo,and
Erika Yoon, tennis!
SCORPION HONESTY
It was quite a week for demonstrating Scorpion character! Special thanks to four students
who turned in cell phones and even a debit credit card to the office: Alexis
Bramwell, Dasom Cho, Jonathan Foster, and Jasmine Jacquez. Principal Lipman met with
these students and honored them with Principal’s Pins.
NEW STUDENT RECOGNITION OPPORTUNITY – SUPER SCORPIONS
Thanks to Mrs. Riedmiller for constructing the Super Scorpion program to recognize ACHS
students. Once a month teachers will have the opportunity to select students who they
feel deserve special recognition. Students will receive balloons, Smarties, and a
certificate in their 4th period class. All students nominated by teachers will receive
this recognition.
SCORPION STUDENT SUCCESS - NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS
Congratulations to senior Scorpion Samantha Lewis! Samantha is one of
3,100 Outstanding Participants in the National Achievement Scholarship Program being referred
to U.S. colleges and universities. These students are in the top 3% of more than 160,000
Black Americans who requested consideration in the 2011 program. Principal Lipman
presented Samantha with her certificate on October 1, 2010.
NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP COMMENDED STUDENTS
About 34,000 students Commended Students throughout the nation are being recognized for their
exceptional academic promise. Although they will not continue in the 2011 competition for
National Merit Scholarships, Commended Students placed among the top 5 percent of more than 1.5
million students who entered the 2011 competition by taking the 2009 Preliminary SAT qualifying
test. Congratulations to the following 7 ACHS Commended Students: Kevin
Ardebili, Katie Jo Ash, Jason Bunk, Emily Galloway, Jessica Karch, Chan Kwon, and Jennifer
Zhao. Principal Lipman met with the students to congratulate them and present
them with their certificates.
BAND SUCCESS
Thanks to your tremendous support Band raised over $1,200! At last week’s car wash
fundraiser nearly 250 cars were washed! Congratulations to the awesome Jazz
Band for their win in the High School Division in the Camarillo Jazz Festival.
General
HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
Last Friday we enjoyed Fiesta Taco Day and Wednesday, September 29 the celebration continued
thanks to ASB and MEChA with music from the state of Veracruz, Mexico (where la Bamba
originated) and Mexican sweet bread with a traditional Mexican drink. These snacks were
provided free of charge. Upcoming events include Oktoberfest (which offers food
selections such as burritos, tostados, nachos, and churros), a piñata, and a guest Spanish
radio station. Stay tuned for details. Thank you Mrs. Riedmiller and Mr. Campos!
ATHLETICS
Congratulations to our amazing athletes and coaches for another great week in sports!
September 23 saw our Boys and Girls Cross Country Teams win the first Pacific
View League meet at Mission Oaks Park and Girls Volleyball beat Hart
3-1. On September 28 our Girls Tennis Team continued their winning ways
with a big victory over Oxnard. The score was 9-9 with our girls prevailing on total
games 76-66. The same day our Girls Volleyball Team swept Santa Paula
3-0. Girls Volleyball was again victorious on September 29 with their
3-0 win over Nordhoff. September 30 victories include Girls Tennis
sweeping Channel Islands 18-0, Girls Golf edged the Raiders 268-269, and
Frosh Football beat Ventura 14-8.
FOOTBALL – FORMER SCORPION, JEFF MATHEWS
Thank you to Head Football Coach Dennis Riedmiller for sharing with staff the recent story of
former Scorpion football player Jeff Mathews. Jeff attends Cornell University.
According to the Cornell story, “Freshman quarterback Jeff Mathews, making his first collegiate
start and the first start ever by a freshman in Cornell's storied history, completed 23-of-35
passes for 248 yards and a touchdown of 8 yards to Nick Booker-Tandy late in the first quarter.
It was the first college score for both players.” Although Cornell did not win the game,
the story details many of the fine football plays by Jeff. We wish Jeff Mathews all the
best the future holds! View the picture and brief caption online at www.insideachs.us.
STUDENTS AGAINST DESTRUCTIVE DECISION-MAKING (SADD)
Seven students from ACHS attended a planning meeting for SADD, sponsored by DCH. Penny
Wells, national SADD committee, facilitated a leadership training meeting, attended by DCH
corporate personnel as well as local DCH dealer representatives. Students attending
were: Tanya Newman, Leesa Blatt, Kamaran Francis, Amanda Cline, Lena Higgins,
Cory Ellis and Becky Mayper. Becky has been named to the Youth Advisory Council
as the ACHS representative. DCH Lexus of Oxnard continues to sponsor our school’s SADD
chapter and is a constant partner in projects, fundraisers and activities to promote positive
decision making on the part of all students. ACHS has been instrumental in encouraging
Pacifica High School to form a SADD chapter and they also, along with Rio Mesa, were involved
in the training on September 23.
COLLEGE AND CAREER CENTER
Oxnard College hosted a University and Career Day on September 30. COIN3 assessments for
freshmen and sophomores will be given in October. The ASVAB was given today, October
1.
CSF
The Fall CSF application period begins for grades 10, 11, and 12 on October 11,
2010 and will remain open until October 29, 2010. Freshmen will be able to
apply beginning second semester. Students may find applications on the Counselor's
Counter in the office or in the Career Center. CSF membership is a semester-by-semester
process; students must apply with each new set of grades. Life membership is a great
thing to add to a resume, plus there are colleges that offer scholarships to life members of
state scholarship societies. Even qualifying for a semester or two looks great on a
college app, especially in-state. CSF looks for achievement in depth and breadth, and
while only As and Bs get points, one does not have to have straight As or a 4.0+ GPA to
qualify. Encourage your students who do well to at least compare their grades to the
chart; they may be surprised to find that they qualify.
SILVER STINGERS
The mandatory Saturday School tutoring component of the Silver Stinger program begins this
month. Thanks to our Silver Stinger team for doing an outstanding job with our at-risk
freshman students! The Silver Stinger team is made up of the following staff:
Darla Rice, Assistant Principal; Marisa Stuteville and
Marci Pinuelas, Counselors; Nichole Pinedo, Personal Growth
and Development Teacher; and Lori Pristera and Brandae
Rossini, English and math teachers respectively.
PARENTS PREPARED AND PARENT PROJECT WORKSHOPS
Parents Preparedand the Parent Project Workshops will be offered in English
and Spanish. Parents Prepared is for “soft parenting” skills and academic
information (how to read a transcript, credit recovery, school resources etc). Workshops
will be offered at ACHS on Thursdays starting October 7thru December 9 from 6:00-8:00 pm.
Parents must sign up with Marisa Stuteville by phone at 484-6233 or via email at
marisa.stuteville@ouhsd.k12.ca.us.
The Parent Project is for parents with difficult or defiant teenagers and covers
topics such as drugs, alcohol, and gang affiliation. Workshops will be offered at 3 sites
(District Office, Channel Islands High and Pacifica High). Interested parents can sign up with
Hilda Gomez by calling 486-1809. Classes for the Parent Project are Tuesdays starting on
October 5.
PTSA
It's never too late to turn in your volunteer form, membership envelope, and armchair
fundraiser donation. We thank you for your support, whether it be your time and/or financially.
All forms are available in the office or visit www.ACHSPTSA.org. Thanks again! Mark your
calendars! On September 25 and October 16 ACHS PTSA and Revolution Prep are hosting
full-length Mock SAT and Mock ACT as fundraisers. Students have the option to take the
Mock SAT and/or the Mock ACT. This is an excellent opportunity to practice or simply to explore
which test might be right for you. Each student will receive an on-line score report with
detailed performance analysis, including written feedback on the essay. Please note:
the Mock SAT/Mock ACT is only a practice test, not the official SAT/ACT
exam. The cost is $10.00 and all proceeds benefit the ACHS PTSA.
The mock SAT was September 25. To register for the October 16 mock ACT, please visit
https://www.revolutionprep.com/store/confirm/10577.
PROGRESS 1 GRADES
The window for Progress 1 grades is open until October 5.
Teachers: Please be sure to input a grade for every student on your
rosters. Parents: Progress reports are expected to mail
on or around October 8.
PSAT TEST
PSAT testing is October 13. All juniors should take this test. The cost is
$20. Please take payment to the ASB bookkeeper.
YEARBOOK
The last day for seniors to have their portraits taken by visual is October 8.
DRAMA PRESENTS
ACHS Drama Department proudly presents the thrilling Agatha Christie mystery "And Then
There Were None." Show times are October 28, 29, 30 and November 4, 5, 6.
Curtain is 7:30 pm for each production. Admission: Adults $10 Students
$5. We encourage everyone to attend and support our students!
STAFF NEWS
- Please join the Climate Committee and help us plan events like the
Holiday Party, End of Year Lunch, and honor our retirees. Future meetings are the
4th Tuesday of the month at 3:15pm in F-1.
- Flu shotswere onsite on 9/28/10. Thank you to our teacher
librarian Evelyn Smith! If you missed this event, there are two more opportunities
coming up. Flu shots will be available at the D.O. Board Room located at 220 S. K
Street in Oxnard on October 7 and 15 from 1:30 to 4:30pm on both days. There is no
sign-up required. First Come, First Serve. NOTE: This is a
2-in-1 vaccine for the seasonal flu and H1N1.
- Graduation Gowns: If you need a graduation gown, please plan
ahead and let Julie Riedmiller know.
- Business Cards are expected mid-October. Thanks for your
patience!
- Paper Recycling pickups are every other Tuesday. Thank you to
everyone for their participation this week. Contact Susan Thee or Christie Bruggman
with questions or to acquire bins for your classroom paper.
- Aluminum & Plastic Recycling pickups were September 24 thanks to
the efforts of Chris Quinn. Special thanks to Mr. Quinn as he is trying to put as
many 5 gallon cold, filtered water tanks in teacher classrooms as he can. So far a
handful of teachers who are participating in this recycling program have received
them. If you are interested in receiving a recycling container for plastic and
aluminum, please contact Chris Quinn.
- Congratulations to Joe and Monika Carroll who welcomed their second
grandbaby, Connor John, this week.
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