North San Diego County School News Briefs: Sierra Madre plans open …
North County Times – Escondido,CA,USA
Encinitas residents included: pre-biology major Sarah Augustine, Spanish
major Nicolle Durand, pre-business economics major Alexandra Liparidis, …

SAN MARCOS — Sierra Madre Academy will hold an open house for prospective students and parents from noon to 3 p.m. Feb. 24 on campus, 1605 W. Mission Road. Attendees will have an opportunity to view the school’s curriculum, meet faculty members and students and tour classrooms.

The coeducational Catholic school serves students from kindergarten through high school. It is a member of the National Association of Private Catholic and Independent Schools and Western Association of Schools and Colleges. The academy provides a complete education that adheres to the Catholic faith and offers small class sizes and personal attention. Its standardized test scores rank it in the top 8.9 percent of elementary schools and in the top 9.5 percent of high schools nationwide. Students are offered six core subjects per year that meet University of California requirements and offers advanced placement courses. Extracurricular activities include work on the yearbook, Associated Student Body, a Spring Formal, the Drama Club and California Scholarship Federation. Sierra Madre also has an expanding CIF program.

For more information about the school and Open House, call (760) 744-8505 or log on to http://www.sierramadreacademy.com.

Vallecitos scholarships offered

SAN MARCOS — The Vallecitos Water District, in collaboration with the San Diego chapter of the California Special Districts Association, invites all local high school seniors to participate in its scholarship program to win one of five regional $1,000 grants to apply toward college.

The program, designed to expand special district awareness, requires all participants to draft an essay that best describes special districts and their role in local government.

Applicants are encouraged to research the topic through internet and library research, attending a special district board meeting or interviewing special district employees or officials. Criteria includes community involvement or volunteer service, letters of recommendation and a minimum 2.5 grade point average.

Applications are available at high school counseling offices. Packets are due by 5 p.m. March 9 at the Vallecitos Water District office, 201 Vallecitos de Oro, San Marcos. All entries turned in to district will be viewed by the Vallecitos Board of Directors, with the winners being forwarded to the association for an opportunity to compete in the regional competition. Winners will be honored at the San Diego chapter’s quarterly meeting on May 17. For more information, call (760) 744-0460.

San Elijo fundraiser set

SAN MARCOS — San Elijo Elementary School will host a spring fundraiser, Madri Gras Madness and Casino Night, from 5:30 to 11 p.m. March 10 at the Lake San Marcos Country Club.

The event will feature a jazz band, disc jockey, casino tables, and silent and live auctions. The school is partnering with Live Oak Elementary School in Orleans Parish, La. The kindergarten through eighth-grade school is in New Orleans’ Hurricane Katrina recovery district and has more than 400 students. The campus was devastated during the hurricane and is still struggling to recover. Ten percent of proceeds from the fundraiser will go to the school to help with rebuilding efforts. In the spirit of giving, San Elijo students will soon exchange e-mails and collect art, music and other supplies for students at Live Oak.

Tickets for the fundraiser cost $60. Admission includes a welcome reception, entrance to the silent auction, dinner, dessert, coffee, live auction participation, dancing and $100 in casino money. A no-host bar will be available as well as the opportunity to participate in a raffle. Most of the proceeds will support technology, music and art programs at San Elijo Elementary. To buy tickets, fill out an order form in the school office, call Angie Triana at (760) 492-3818 or e-mail angie.triana@cox.net.

San Marcos residents earn honor

Three San Marcos residents recently made the dean’s honor list at UC Santa Barbara. They earned the honor by attaining a grade point average of 3.75 in the College of Letters and Science or 3.50 in the College of Engineering. They are: Michael Baker, an English and philosophy major; Corey Price, a pre-psychology major; and Jessica Villalobos, a business economics and Spanish major.

High Tech High meeting set

SAN MARCOS — High Tech High School’s future San Marcos campus will open in September with 150 ninth-grade students in its inaugural class. In addition to core High Tech High curriculum, there will be opportunities for students in areas including life sciences, engineering and multimedia.

For admissions information, log on to http://www.hightech high.org and attend an information session from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Feb. 27 in the Community Room of the San Marcos Civic Center, 3 Civic Center Drive, San Marcos.

For more information, call (619) 243-5025.

San Marcos woman is college grad

Megan Dwyer of San Marcos recently earned a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from Virginia Tech. The school is the largest university in Virginia.

Parent’s Club to meet

ESCONDIDO — The San Pasqual High School Parent’s Club will meet at 8:30 a.m. Feb. 15 in the school’s multipurpose room. The purpose of the group is to enhance academic excellence at San Pasqual High School; provide service to the school; promote cooperative efforts between parents and the school; and provide good communication and an interest in sound education among district administration, San Pasqual High School teachers and staff, students, parents and the community.

Classical Academy plans open house

ESCONDIDO — The Classical Academy, a California public charter school with campuses in Escondido and Oceanside, will hold an open house at its Escondido campus from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 20. The school is at 144 W. Woodward Ave.

The Classical Academy, which uses state-of-the-art technology in the delivery of curriculum and resources, offers a unique blend of independent study and the traditional classroom experience.

At the high school level, students are issued laptop computers and a iPod as part of the program. Students in elementary level classes have access to a computer lab and receive technology instruction.

To R.S.V.P. for the open house or for more information, call (760) 546-0101.

Parent workshop planned

ESCONDIDO — A free workshop designed to help parents help children who have trouble reading and learning will be held at 5:15 p.m. Feb. 21 at 1299 Pennsylvania Ave., Suite B. For more information, call Marcia at (760) 743-6540.

Disney memorial auction set

ESCONDIDO — The Orange Glen High School Athletics Boosters Club will host the 11th annual Dick Disney Memorial Auction from 6 to 10 p.m. March 10 in the school gym.

Proceeds will benefit Orange Glen’s athletic teams. Auction donations include a Shawne Merriman Autographed Football and other sports memorabilia, a 32-inch Sony Plasma Screen TV, theater tickets, restaurant certificates, rounds of golf, resort vacations, amusement park certificates and a Hornblower cruise.

Tickets can be purchased from any athletic team player or by calling (760) 291-5000. Donations to the auction are welcome. Call Ron Duke or Kevin Brown at (760) 291-5000.

Escondido students accepted by college

ESCONDIDO — Three seniors from Calvin Christian High School have been accepted by Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa for the 2007-08 academic year.

They are: Dan Tiersma, the son of John and Bianca Tiersma, who plans to pursue the field of business; Mark Veldkamp, the son of Arnold and Theresa Veldkamp, who plans to pursue the field of architecture; and Jennifer Brouwer, the daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Brouwer, who plans to pursue the fields of business or nursing.

Dordt College is ranked 11th among colleges in the 12-state Midwest region by U.S. News and World Report’s college guide. This year, undergraduate and graduate students from 31 states, seven Canadian provinces and 12 other foreign countries chose to attend the college.

Poway resident recognized

Alex James Tarzy of Poway recently was cited for outstanding academic achievement at Dartmouth College. He is the son of Neil and Mary-Ellen Tarzy. Members of the Dartmouth faculty are invited to submit citation reports only when a student’s work is sufficiently distinguished to merit special recognition. Such citations are rare, and typically only a few undergraduates receive citations each term.

Escondido native makes honor roll

ESCONDIDO — Kelianne Montalvo of Escondido was named to the Rhodes College honor roll for the 2006 fall semester. To qualify for the honor roll, students must achieve a grade point average of at least 3.85 and be enrolled in at least 13 credit hours of academic work. Founded in 1848 in Memphis, Tenn., Rhodes is a private, coeducational college of liberal arts and sciences.

VC resident makes dean’s list

Alicia Harrison of Valley Center, a student at UC Santa Barbara, recently earned a spot on the dean’s list at the college for her academic achievements.

Local educators honored

VALLEY CENTER — KGTV’s 10News recently honored Principal Mary Ann Donohue and teacher Michelle Parada, founders of the All-Tribes American Indian Charter School on the Rincon Indian Reservation. The charter school was developed to help curb dropout rates among Native American students in San Diego County.

Donohue is a former police officer and city attorney investigator who left the city of Escondido after 17 years to pursue a teaching career. While studying for her master’s degree, she wrote her thesis on the high school dropout rate among American Indian students on local Indian reservations. The high dropout rate concerned her.

Parada grew up on the Rincon reservation. Entering Orange Glen High School, she was one of 13 American Indian students in the class of 1984 and was one of only three American Indian students to graduate.

Under the supervision of the Valley Center-Pauma Unified School District, Donohue and Parada founded the All-Tribes American Indian Charter School and structured the education to accommodate students’ extenuating circumstances. Classes begin at 9 a.m. to keep students from being tired, and the majority of school work is done in class with the assistance of the classroom teacher who promotes group learning. Classrooms have a maximum of 20 students to allow more one-on-one attention between teachers and students. The smaller class sizes and individual attention has led to a rise in self-esteem and self-confidence among students.

At All-Tribes, American Indian culture is infused into the curriculum. For example, the native language Luiseno is offered as a second language. Donohue and Parada encourage students to focus on graduating from high school, pursuing college and looking at all their options. Inspired by Donohue and Parada, a number of teachers from other San Diego County school districts quit their jobs to work at All-Tribes. In June 2006, All-Tribes produced its first high school graduating class. Donohue and Parada were honored during a recent 10News broadcast.

Civil War clothing sought

ESCONDIDO — Heritage K-8 Charter School will hold its second Civil War Day on March 3 for seventh- and eighth-graders.

The day will include cooking in a camp kitchen, visiting an “field hospital, demonstrations of 19th-century music and instruments, “rifle” practice and the firing of “cannons.” That evening, students will dress up for a Blue and Gray Cotillion and perform dances of the era to a live band. Contributions of prom dresses, ball gowns and other items that can be used as ball attire are welcome.

To make a donation or for more information, e-mail history teacher Christian Hendry at chendry@echs.org.

Students support UNICEF project

CAMP PENDLETON – This year, students and staff members at San Onofre School were presented with a challenge to make a difference.

Making a difference comes in many forms, from helping a classmate who is struggling, to participating in a community outreach project, to fighting for the freedoms of many around the world.

For the fourth- and fifth-grade students in Emily Just#’s class, it came in the form of UNICEF, an organization developed to promote health, education, equality and protection for children around the world.

There was not a dry eye in Room 17 following a UNICEF video that highlighted the struggles of children around the world to find clean drinking water, get properly vaccinated, receive a proper education and just survive.

Students were left with a wide range of feelings and emotions, but perhaps most importantly, they were left with questions. They all found themselves asking what they could do to make a difference for children around the world, and so, their partnership with UNICEF began.

After reviewing all the items that could be purchased with mere pocket change, the students decided that the most important thing they could provide for children was fresh dinking water. The price for a clean-water pump was nearly $1,400, but students decided that it was also important to be able to provide kids with necessary vaccines and school supplies, so they set a goal of raising $1,500.

Their fundraising kicked off with Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF. Each student received a little orange box that would accompany them on Halloween night as they asked their neighbors for candy and donations.

Jasen Dawson decided that this year he was going to sacrifice for his cause and not accept a single piece of candy the whole night. Dressed as a pirate, he proudly went door to door with only his little orange box in hand.

Jasen’s mom Andrea Dawson said: “The people (Jasen) encountered were awed by his commitment and so proud of (his) class. I am sure that he will never forget it and I know I never will.”

That night, Jasen raised $67, which helped bring the class total to nearly $300. With quite a bit of fundraising to go, the students are now working on organizing a car wash and a dinner night at Italian Cravings. To help get involved with the class project, contact Emily Just at ejust@fuesd.k12.ca.us.

School fields to be improved

PALA — In an effort to ensure that the entire community is afforded first-class facilities, the Pala Band of Mission Indians has donated $5,000 to the Fallbrook Girls Softball League’s Field Improvement Project.

“The tribe is honored to play such a critical role in assisting FGSL with its mission to raise $10,000 so that it might purchase a $15,000 grant from Major League Baseball,” said Robert Smith, chairman of the Pala Band of Mission Indians.

“This project is about more than just upgrading fields; it is about instilling a sense of place and supporting youth programs throughout the region.”

FGSL is a nonprofit, fast-pitch softball league that serves more than 200 area girls between 4 and 15 years old. The money will be used to improve two fields at La Paloma Middle School, a field at Frazier Elementary, two fields at Live Oak Park and to install a batting cage at the Boys & Girls Club.

“The tribe is committed to supporting causes that promote life-long learning,” Smith added. “Softball is an activity that is open to those of all ages and backgrounds and promotes the values of teamwork, leadership and community spirit. It is our hope that these upgrades will provide our children, family and friends with exceptional facilities that can be enjoyed for years to come.”

The Pala Band of Mission Indians consists of 867 members with 600 living on the reservation along the Palomar Mountain Range, located along 5,000 square miles of California’s desert and approximately 30 miles northeast of San Diego on Interstate 15.

Pala Casino, a 185,000 square-foot, $115 million casino, entertainment and dining complex owned by the Pala Band of Mission Indians, opened in April 2001.

For information about donating to FGSL, contact Field Operations Chairman Gary George at (760) 723-7591 or glgeorge@roadrunner.com.

Alumni association to meet

FALLBROOK — The Fallbrook Alumni Association will meet at 11 a.m. Feb. 24 at the home of association vice president Bill Hansen, at 502 East Mission Road.

People who graduated from Fallbrook Union High School or have ever attended FUHS are welcome to attend. For directions and/or further information, call Hansen at (760) 723-9817 or Jan Mahr Owen, president, at (951) 695-1554.

NCAL scores announced

NORTH COUNTY — Following are scores from Feb. 8 North County Academic League competition:

- Varsity Inland Division: Mt. Carmel 14, Ramona 32; Escondido Charter 68, San Pasqual 47; Poway 81, Orange Glen 31; Rancho Bernardo 114, Westview, 81.

- Varsity North Division: Vista, 81; Escondido, 47, Rancho Buena Vista 121; San Marcos 22, Mission Hills 70; Fallbrook 65

- Varsity Coast Division: Torrey Pines 152, Carlsbad 35; La Costa Canyon 105, Santa Fe Christian 16; San Dieguito Academy 112, Oceanside 5.

- Junior Varsity Inland Division: Mt. Carmel 68, Ramona 58; San Pasqual 58, Escondido Charter 16; Poway 51, Orange Glen 36; Rancho Bernardo 103, Westview 55.

- Junior Varsity North Division: Escondido 70, Vista 16; Rancho Buena Vista 54, San Marcos 44; Mission Hills 59, Fallbrook 56.

- Junior Varsity Coast Division: Torrey Pines 59, Carlsbad 56; La Costa Canyon 47, Santa Fe Christian 35; San Dieguito Academy 70, Oceanside 23; Canyon Crest Academy 79, El Camino 38.

- Freshman Inland Division: Mt. Carmel 69, Ramona 11; Escondido Charter 45, San Pasqual 14; Poway 42, Orange Glen 30; Westview 74, Rancho Bernardo 41.

- Freshman North Division: Escondido 27, Vista 20; Rancho Buena Vista 61, San Marcos 17; Fallbrook 61, Mission Hills 15.

- Freshman Coast Division: Torrey Pines 103, Carlsbad 16; Santa Fe Christian 36, La Costa Canyon 31; San Dieguito Academy 38, Oceanside 20; Canyon Crest Academy 73, El Camino 29.

OHS class of ’97 to reunite

OCEANSIDE — Oceanside High School’s class of 1997 is planning its 10-year class reunion July 13 through 15. If anyone knows an alumnus who has not yet received an invitation, e-mail Angela (Castillo) Ferrin at outlaw379@hotmail.com.

Bone marrow drive planned

CARLSBAD — A bone marrow drive will be held from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. Feb. 14 at Mission Estancia Elementary School, 3330 Calle Barcelona. The drive will benefit second-grade student Kennedy Kraus, who was diagnosed with aplastic anemia last November. She is undergoing treatment, but is very sick and may require a bone marrow transplant. For moppre information, call (760) 753-6675.

Local residents earn college honor

NORTH COUNTY — A number of North County residents earned a spot on the Dean’s Honors List for the fall 2006 quarter at UC Santa Barbara. They earned the honor by maintaining a 3.75 grade point average while taking 12 or more units in the College of Letters and Science or a 3.50 grade point average in the College of Engineering.

Leni Rakijian of Carlsbad, an undeclared major in the Letters and Science Program, received the honor; as did Noel Woodward of Leucadia.

Encinitas residents included: pre-biology major Sarah Augustine, Spanish major Nicolle Durand, pre-business economics major Alexandra Liparidis, history major Shane McDonough and pre-computer engineering major Jason Oberg.

Oceanside honorees included English major Adrian Crom, art history major Janet Groth, sociology and history major Marcos Huston, cell and developmental biology major Melissa Kennedy, English major Catherine Miserany, English major Ashley Phillips, anthropology major Nicholas Strong and English major Robert Trautman.

Other students who made the list were Daniel Douzjian of Solana Beach, a pre-biology major; Elizabeth Wells of Solana Beach, a film and media studies major; Nicole Gaskari of Vista, a business economics major; Michael Vargas of Olivenhain, a mechanical engineering major; and Mark Ninyo of Rancho Santa Fe, an undeclared major in the Letters and Science Program.

Carlsbad High 50th anniversary celebration planned

CARLSBAD — Plans are in the works for Carlsbad High School’s 50th anniversary celebration in 2008.

Alumni, community members and others interested in helping, sharing memorabilia or donating should call Ginny at (760) 439-0197 or e-mail gunanue@sbcglobal.net.

A planning meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. Feb. 22 in the school’s administration office.

Conversation class offered

ENCINITAS — “Making Conversation for Teens,” a class for 12- to 15-year-olds, will be offered from 2 to 4 p.m. Sundays, March 4, 11 and 18, and 3 to 5 p.m. May 11, 18 and 28, at The Grauer School. The class is designed to help teens communicate effectively and with confidence and ease. Cost is $329 for six class hours and workbooks. For more information and to register, call (760) 803-2641 or e-mail peggy@makingconversation.com.

TIP fundraiser to be held

CARLSBAD — TIP Academy, the first charter school in Encinitas and the first in California to offer a curriculum to Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) students, will hold a fundraiser, “My Funny Valentine,” at 6 p.m. Feb. 19 at the La Costa Resort and Spa. Entertainment will be provided by local comedian Mark Whitney and soloist Tracey Bondi-Pear. Tickets are $85 per person, and Gold Sponsors can host a table of 10 for $1,000 and be highlighted in the program as well as signs at TIP Academy.

Promotional materials may also be displayed at the event by Gold and Platinum sponsors. For more information about the event and sponsorships, log on to http://www.tipacade my.org.

SAT course offered

CARLSBAD — Revolution Prep will offer a SAT practice test in the theater of La Costa Canyon High School, 3451 Camino de los Coches, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 17 and 25. Students should arrive at 8:45 a.m. All juniors are encouraged to sign up to gain experience taking a full-length SAT test. Cost is $20. Checks, made payable to the La Costa Canyon High School Foundation, can be dropped off at the foundation office or brought in on testing days. There will be an information session for parents from 12:30 to 2 p.m. on both days of the practice test. For more information, call the foundation office at (760) 436-6136, Ext. 6021.

Youth art show presented

ENCINITAS — An exhibit of artwork by kindergarten through eighth-grade students from Rancho Encinitas Academy is being featured throughout February at the Off Track Gallery, 687 S. Coast Highway.

A reception for the show, titled “Color Studies on Paper,” will be held from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Feb. 2 at the gallery. The Rancho Encinitas Academy League will host the reception and provide refreshments.

Academy art teacher Debbie Schaefer encouraged students to explore shapes and lines, and repeat patterns and color combinations including warm and cool colors to create their designs.

Some of the designs will be chosen for publication in the school’s annual calendar. For more information about the Off Track Gallery, log on to http://www.offtrackgallery.com or call (760) 942-3636.

Rancho Encinitas Academy is a private, preschool-through- eighth-grade school founded in 1995. REA strives to provide a child-focused education that emphasizes the process of learning in conjunction with a strong academic foundation. For more information, visit www.ranchoencinitasacade my.com.

Oceanside resident earns college honor

Andrea Kelcey Ridings of Oceanside earned a spot on the fall 2006 semester honor roll at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kans. She is a senior at the school and is majoring in liberal arts.

ELAC meeting planned

OCEANSIDE — The English Language Advisory Committee at Mission Meadows Elementary School will meet at 6 p.m. March 14 in the school’s multipurpose room. Parents who would like to help with the school’s multicultural event on June 2 are invited. For more information, call (760) 630-7884.

Foundation to host golf tourney

VISTA — The Rancho Buena Vista High School Foundation will host the seventh annual Stampede Golf Classic on March 12. The scramble-format tournament will be held at the Shadowridge Country Club in Vista. The event will include a buffet-style banquet, and silent and live auctions. Early-bird registrants will be entered into a drawing to win a new driver worth $450. For more information, call tournament director Mike Stanicek at (760) 758-8889 or e-mail marks@proinc.com.

Girls’ Empowerment Conference seeks support

OCEANSIDE — El Camino High School will host its first Girls’ Empowerment Conference on April 14.

The purpose of the event is to empower high school girls to develop positive self image, self worth and respect for themselves. At the event, teachers and administrators will host about 300 girls for a day of workshops, guest speakers and team-building activities. Organizations and businesses are welcome to help the school support the future women of Oceanside. Financial donations, services and items that can be donated for the event include gift certificates and cards, raffle prizes, folders and artificial flowers.

For more information, call (760) 802-9093.

El Camino aluma graduates from culinary school

Maria Iman, the daughter of Daniel and Jeanne Iman of Oceanside and 2003 graduate of El Camino High School, recently graduated from the Culinary Institute of America with a Bachelor of Professional Studies in Baking and Pastry Arts Management. She will soon begin her career as an assistant pastry chef in Boston.