August/September, 2010

Principal’s Message

by Dr. Craig D. Rocha

By the time you read this message, our Steele Canyon High School, A California Charter School, will already be in session for the 2010-11 school year––with approximately 2,222 students––which is one of the largest student populations in our school’s history.  We are opening once again with our hopes high and with all efforts focused on enhancing our foundational charter work since the 2007-08 school year.

This is our school’s fourth year of operation as an independent charter school.  I call this year the beginning of “Charter Phase 2,” as Phase 1 ended during last school year when the Grossmont Union High School District (our authorizing agency) approved a five- year renewal of our charter (through school year 2014-2015).

Now, I can report to all community stakeholders and parents that Steele Canyon High School was recently listed as a “Top 1600 High School in America” using Advanced Placement data as criteria. Just over 1,600 schools—only 6 percent of all the public schools in the U.S.—made the list. (See <http://www.newsweek.com/feature/2010/americas-best-high-schools/list.html>.)   Steele Canyon placed #956 on the list, with community school Monte Vista placing at #1293, Valhalla at #1242, West Hills at #1685, and Grossmont placing at #1700.

We invite all school stakeholders to meet as needed with any of our grade level team support staff so that we can maximize the involvement of community and family members to support our students.  And, of course, I ask that you work directly with our instructional and support staff as we coalesce our efforts this year to perfect the education of your student.

Reminding us all of the five “lenses” that comprise the major areas of focus at our school for all school stakeholders, I list the following:

q  Academic Excellence

q  Fiscal Responsibility

q  Quality Staff Retention

q  Community Engagement

q  Leadership Development

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Now, as I am wont to do each edition in my messages (this is always the best part!), I wish to call your attention to the following accomplishments of so many Steele Canyon school family members at the end of last school year:

NATIONAL ENDANGERED SPECIES DAY ART CONTEST WINNER:  Congratulations to current Sophomore Laura Allen, who was named a national age group winner and a national semi-finalist for her pastel drawing of a “San Joaquin Kit Fox” in the event sponsored by the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Endangered Species Coalition, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and the Ogden Museum/University of New Orleans.  Laura won a plaque and a certificate acknowledging her achievement and also won a showing of the movie “Furry Vengeance” for her art class.

GOLDEN ARTISTRY JEWELRY DESIGN WINNER:  Congratulations to current Senior Danica Tsuchida for winning both the Grand Prize and the People’s Choice awards in this jewelry design contest sponsored by Golden Artistry Jewelry Design.  As the winner, Danica received a cash award of $200, a $1000 scholarship to the California Institute of Jewelry Training, and an internship with Terry White of Golden Artistry.

SCHOLARSHIPS TO ATTEND SUMMER PROGRAMS:  Congratulations to current Sophomore Alexandra Blue who was selected to attend summer programs at both the U.S. Naval Academy and the U.S. Navy’s SPAWAR command.  Alex received full scholarships to attend both of these prestigious programs.

NATIONAL YOUTH LEADERSHIP FORUM ON MEDICINE:

Cheers to current Junior Haley Moss who was nominated by Ms. Gonzalez last year to attend the Forum on Medicine at UCLA in July.   The Forum for outstanding high school students challenges them to learn about a broad range of topics, including educational requirements, career options, clinical practice and complex ethical and legal issues facing the medical profession today.

URBAN LEAGUE HONORS STEELE CANYON STUDENTS:

Sixty-nine Cougars representing all four grade levels were recognized by the Urban League of San Diego County on June 5, 2010, at the 19th Annual Golden Pyramid Scholars Awards & Health Exposition in Balboa Park.  Special thanks go to counselor Judith Goodloe and academic advisor Shaun Harvey for their initiative and support of our students in this endeavor.

DRAMA DEPARTMENT A DOUBLE WINNER:  Congratulations to teacher Dena Roncone and her Drama Department for receiving two different acknowledgements toward the end of last school year.  In a letter and Certificate of Recognition, the San Diego Shakespeare Society recognized and complimented Ms. Roncone for her patience, dedication and time in preparing her students to participate in the Student Shakespeare Festival that was performed on stage at the Prado in Balboa Park.  Ms. Roncone and the theater program were also the recipients of a “Bravissimo” Distinguished Theatre Program Award for Excellence in Theater Education at an awards ceremony at the La Jolla Playhouse on May 10^th.  This latter award was sponsored by the San Diego County Office of Education in partnership with the San Diego Educational Theatre Association, the La Jolla Playhouse, and the Old Globe Theatre.

ROP CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS AWARDS WINNERS:  Congratulations to graduated Seniors Ryan Emerson and Eduardo Gahbler––as well as to current Senior Jeremy Hollingsworth––who were winners at the “ROP Champion of Champions Awards” reception in early May.  Ryan and Eduardo won awards in the area of Multimedia Production, while Jeremy’s award was for Computer 3-D Design/Animation.

KEY CLUB RECOGNIZED:  Steele Canyon’s Key Club and its faculty advisor Jennifer Malanga recently received two different forms of recognition for their community service programs.  Key Club International awarded Steele Canyon’s Key Club with a Distinguished Service Award that acknowledges all of our club’s creative service projects exemplifying Key Club core values.  The club also received a Letter of Appreciation from The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society acknowledging Key Club’s highly successful participation in the “Pennies for Pasta Campaign” that raises funds to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s Disease and Myeloma while also improving the quality of life for local cancer patients and their families.  Ms. Malanga received special recognition for her positive impact on the local community and our student body.

COMMENDATION FOR COUNSELOR JUDITH GOODLOE:  Councilmember Anthony Young, of the City of San Diego’s Fourth District, presented a Special Commendation to counselor Judith Goodloe on the occasion of her being honored by Southeast San Diego Women, Incorporated as a 2010 Woman of Distinction. The commendation states that her “…dedication and contributions toward the African American community in San Diego are truly exemplary…” 

DISTRICT ART SHOW WINNERS:  Steele Canyon Fine Arts students did extremely well in the Grossmont District Student Art Show held at Parkway Plaza in mid-May.  Cougar artists won a total of 15 individual awards, more than any other high school, including four first-place awards and one prestigious “Judges’ Choice Award” won by graduated senior Jessica White.  Our award winners include graduated Seniors Elizabeth Arden, Victor Bagdasar, Christopher Davis, Ewelina Giba, Alyse Grier, Josh Morrison, Kristian Podzunas, Marcos Ramirez, Cody Ruhle, Dylan Suffield, and Jessica White––and current Seniors Brookelynn Goodrich, Trevor Schneeman, Easton Simmons, and Taylor Wolzen.

STUDENT-ATHLETES AWARDS:  Graduated Senior Christie Hendel was recognized as All-San Diego Section, 2^nd team, in Girls’ Soccer….   Current Senior Gabrielle Beasley was the recipient of this year’s CIF “Unsung Hero Award” for “service before self” and superior leadership skills in Girls’ Basketball….  Steele Canyon student-athletes won four league championships during the Spring 2010 sports session: Boys’ Track and Field won League for the 4^th consecutive time; Girls’ Track and Field won League for the 3^rd consecutive time; Boys’ Tennis won its 4^th consecutive League title; and Boys’ Golf was once again League champions.

Spring 2010 sports teams placed 112 Cougars on the San Diego Union-Tribune’s list of student-athletes.  Steele Canyon had eighteen student-athletes named to Grossmont Hill League All-League teams:  in Baseball, current senior Clayton Royer was named to 1^st team and current senior Jesse Jenner received 2^nd team honors; graduated Senior Cole Tyler received 1^st team recognition in Boys’ Volleyball; in Boys’ Golf, graduated Senior Victor Bagdasar and current Junior Matt Borja received 1^st team honors while current Junior Max Reynolds and current Sophomore Kevin Cline earned 2^nd team honors; Boys’ Tennis was well represented by Grossmont Hills League Player of the Year––current Sophomore Adam Ferguson, who also received 1^st team recognition along with teammates current Sophomore Chris Kolegraff, current Juniors Corey Bosvay and Chris Sirkis, and graduated Senior Alex Torres.   In Softball, current Sophomore Molly Hutchinson and graduated Senior Lorena Klopp were named to the 1^st team, while current Senior Michelle Beasley and graduated Senior Nicole Randall received 2^nd team recognition. Graduated Senior Lorena Klopp capped off her senior year by being named softball’s Player of the Year for the Grossmont Hills League. 

Steele Canyon also had two student-athletes who received recognition in Gymnastics:  graduated Senior Kaitlin Walsh and current Junior Mechelle Negrete each became CIF champions, winning gold medals in balance beam and optional vault, respectively.  In addition, both young ladies were named to the All-Section team for the San Diego section of CIF, while Mechelle also received All-League 1^st team recognition.  Moreover, Mechelle received special recognition for her accomplishments in both Gymnastics and Track and Field in a May 26^th articles in the Union-Tribune’s High School Athletes of the Week section.

Whew!  Very impressive!!

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In closing, I am confident to state that my former professor in graduate school, the late Dr. Max Lerner, would approve of what we have assembled this year as a powerful team of teachers, support staff, and involved community members who are helping develop a new synergy at Steele Canyon High School.  I submit to all community stakeholders the following famous quotation from Lerner, and I hope that all of us––educators and parents––remember its significance:

"A good teacher––whether at home, at school, or on the job––heightens the energy field around him {or her} and makes the life force in everyone flow more strongly."

––Max Lerner, 1976