verdugo hills update · 2013-06-24 · verdugo hills high school was ranked against other...

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www.verdugohs.org (818) 951-5400

June 7, 2013 Vision is...the ability to see beyond our present reality, to create, to invent what does not yet exist, to become what we not yet are. It gives us capacity to live out of our imagination instead of our memory. --Stephen Covey

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE With this month, I conclude my second year at Verdugo and my first complete

year, having joined the Verdugo family in October, 2011. As we close out the year and prepare for 2013-14, we have so much to be proud of and so much to look forward to. We have met challenge after challenge and have continued to come out ahead. Fifteen years ago when our school needed to improve academic outcomes for our students, and under Dr. Gary Turner we changed the bell schedule to a Copernican Block schedule and increased the rigor of our classes and the professional development of our staff; our Academic Performance Index has now increased 220 points to 748, ninth of all of the comprehensive high schools in LAUSD. When the need arose for a more comprehensive arts program, we started three vocal

groups, more AP arts courses, and brought in a new drama teacher who took our drama program to the next level. When we needed more control over our budgets and other decisions, under Dr. Diane Klewitz we proposed a plan to the district for local autonomy. We soon became a pure “per-pupil funding” school and our autonomy plan became one of the first submitted to the district leading to new language in the teacher’s contract and a formalized process for schools seeking local autonomy. We will become part of this process when our revised plan is submitted to LAUSD in the Fall. When our enrollment was on a downward trend and we were displacing several teachers a year, we launched an enrollment drive and proposed a new magnet which was approved by the school board to better meet the needs of our students and bring local students back “home” to Verdugo. Our enrollment continues to grow and this year we were able to hire three new teachers and not displace any

Verdugo Hills Update

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classroom teachers! Next year we have much more to look forward to including the launch of our new Visual and Performing Arts Magnet, submitting and having our plan for local autonomy approved, and another full year of everything you come to expect from Verdugo: outstanding classes and programs, a great arts program, award-winning performing groups, champion sports teams, and a connection to our local community which is second-to-none. You can stay in touch with Verdugo on our website (www.verdugohs.org) or Facebook Page (linked on the website).

Senior Awarded AAPA Scholarship Congratulations, Jamie Ho (2013),

the recipient of this year’s Association of Asian-Pacific Administrators Scholarship. Jamie was one of only a handful of students who were awarded scholarships from AAPA. Winners were also given portraits at the awards dinner. Pictured with Jamie is her math family, her math teacher, and her principal.

Jr. Glee, Jr. Cheer, and Jr. Football Camps Return This year the Jr. Cheer, Jr.

Football and Jr. Glee Club camps return to Verdugo! The camps are an outreach effort of Verdugo to our local community to strengthen the K-12 arts and athletics program and to help support part of our core mission of building community partnerships. In preparation for the camps, members of the Glee Club, Cheer Squad, and Football Team visited and performed at several elementary schools in our area including Plainview ES, Apperson ES, and at Our Lady of Lourdes School. Jr. Cheer and Jr. Football Camps are July 8-12 and Jr. Glee Camp is July 22-26.

Verdugo Hills High School Los Angeles Unified School District

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Verdugo Student Awarded JPL Internship This summer Andrew Lizerraga (2014) will be a rocket scientist. Literally.

Andrew was accepted into the prestigious internship program at Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena. Congratulations!

We Love Our Mt. Gleason Students The annual Articulation Roadshow to

Mt. Gleason Middle School was on May 13. The event featured Verdugo student performers and guest speakers including presentations about and from athletics, Comedy Sportz, music and drama groups, and more.

Asian Pageant Returns Another Verdugo tradition is the Asian Pageant where we celebrate all things Asian! The multicultural event on May 3 featured a diverse collection of performances from fan dances, to vocal solos, to Hip Hop dancing, a video game skit, and a martial arts exhibition. It was, as usual, amazing!

Band Instrument Donation Thank you LAUSD Arts Branch Coordinator Dr. McCarthy for facilitating the donation of new band instruments to Verdugo Hills HS! The band members are trying out the new horns here under the direction of Ms. Lopez.


Thank You to All of our Sponsors We appreciate what you do with us and for us!

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Beauty and the Beast Rock Verdugo It was spectacular, the next evolution in the wonderful drama program at Verdugo. Beauty and the Beast, with 100+ cast, orchestra, and tech crew, took Verdugo by storm April 13-20. From the first notes from the pit orchestra to the final curtain, audiences were mesmerized by the talent of our performers, the artistry of the costumes and sets, and the musicality of everyone who sang and played. Josette (Belle) and Wayne

(Prince/Beast) proved that you can perform a professional-level musical at the high school level without missing a line, a note, or a step, and move your audience to tears with your musicianship and artistry. Gabriel (Maurice), Alex (Mrs. Potts), Delmi (Cogsworth), Arthur (Gaston), Virginia (Chip), Kevin (D'Arque) and Amanda (LeFou) showed us that we have talent in so many of our students we have just started to discover. Tessa (Babette), Josie (Silly Girl), Beth (Silly Girl), Jena (Silly Girl), Branko (Lumier), and Lily (La Grande Bouche) showed us you can really be funny AND sing and dance! Craig (Baker/Young Prince), Chris (Bookseller), Irene (Storyteller), Kloey (Enchantress/Ensemble), and Ray, Ryan, Rebecca, Wendy, Orianna, Joey, Alice, Elton, Kelly, William, Sienna, and Calista (Ensemble) showed us we have a very bright future in store for our drama program.

Brooke, Jessie, and Faith showed us that, even as young performers, you can hang with the best high school kids around and really bring something special to a high school production. Ms. Lopez (Orchestra) showed us that with hard work, it's possible for high school musicians to learn professional-level, musical theatre literature. And, Ms. Fitzpatrick (Director) showed us that with vision, hard-work, perseverance, faith, and a belief in kids, anything, really anything, is

possible. Thank you all. You make every one of us in the Verdugo Hills High School community proud!


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Llama Day, 2013 Our second annual Llama Day was Friday, April 12. The llama posed for

students in our art classes so they could have experience drawing with a live model. Thank you Mr. Mcbride for arranging the visit and thanks to Charlie and his trainer!

JROTC Awards The annual awards night for the amazing Verdugo Hills

HS Dons Battalion was on May 3. The Dons JROTC program is one of the leaders in the district capturing 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place honors in most competitions! We are super proud of our JROTC! They are awesome!

Dons are Nationally Ranked by US News and World Report Verdugo Hills High School was ranked

against other California high schools and nationally in the new survey by US News and World Report. The Dons were ranked 328 out of all California high schools and 1418 nationally earning a Silver Medal.

Senior Awards, Breakfast, Grad Night An important part of any student’s high

school career are all of the activities they may participate in as seniors. In addition to the Prom, Verdugo seniors enjoyed the Senior Awards Night (May 29), Grad Night (May 10), the Senior Breakfast (June 5), and, of course Graduation (June 6).

Trashion Show 2013 One of the great Verdugo traditions is the annual Trashion Show.The Trashion Show on May 17 was an

homage to film director Tim Burton. Congratulations designers, models, performers, and director, Ms. Staley!


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Prom

Anyone who thinks that public education is in bad shape or that the traditions of their childhood have been lost just needed to be at the Verdugo Hills HS Prom on April 13 to prove them wrong. It was everything a high school prom should be, and more. There were NO issues and though everyone was searched at the door, the worst contraband that was found was a pair of scissors one girl forgot to leave at home after hemming

her dress! The girls and boys, really women and men, were beautiful and handsome. The venue was amazing and the work that went in to making the night a special one was clear to everyone. Thank you so much to Ms. Heerman and Ms. Stringer (Senior Class Sponsors) and their team of the Senior Class Council and student volunteers (many who were not seniors), all of the parents, staff, staff member's spouses, and community volunteers, the great DJ, White Studios who were the photographers, the Odyssey Restaurant for the beautiful space, delicious dinner, and hospitality, and Candice Bavetta and her daughter Lindsay ('13)

who provided the decorations and center pieces. It really was a team effort and I'm sure there are more thank yous that are due. As I looked over the dance floor and saw our super nice kids dancing to music from salsa, hip hop, country line dancing music, and everything in between, I had a powerful feeling that everything was right with the world. This is what a prom should be. We are so lucky to have the best students, families, staff, and school to work with on a daily basis. Thank you, all. You make it all worthwhile. Dons Pride forever!


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Cheer Takes Nationals Congratulations to our fantastic Cheer Team who came in 1st Place in the Sharp International Cheer Competition in Las Vegas on May 20th to be named NATIONAL CHAMPIONS! We are sooo proud of you!!! Special thanks to all of the parents and supporters, Coach Meraz and Sponsor, Ms. Duran!

Dons Color Guard is the So. Cal. Champs Congratulations Verdugo Hills HS Color Guard. On April 20th our amazing team took 1st Place----That's 1st place in all of So Cal beating out such schools as El Camino Real Charter HS and Mater Dei HS. Wow! We are so very, very proud of our team! Way to Go! Thank you Ms. Lopez and her team of coaches, assistants, and

captains! On April 27, the team had an encore performance at their first Color Guard Showcase at Verdugo which featured Verdugo’s team as well as squads from Bell High School and Crescenta Valley High School.

Alum Author Starts Book Tour at Verdugo Diana Paz came to VHHS on April

18 to talk with the Book Club about her new novel, Time Spell.

Glee Club & Math Club Thank you VHHS Glee Club for performing at the Math Club Fundraiser on April 27, 2013 at the Comfort and

Joy Cafe in Tujunga! Bob Lizarraga was the organizer of the event which also featured The Garage Band and Simply Loud.


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Students Honored by CASP The Committee for Armenian Students in Public Schools

(CASPS) student recognition event honors students of Armenian descent with a GPA of 3.5 or higher in LAUSD. 20 students were honored from Verdugo on June 4 at this year’s celebration including Nora Niazian, this year’s top ranking valedictorian who had a GPA of 4.389 and will be attending Princeton University in the fall.

Verdugo Awarded Grants Thank you to all of our staff who prepared grant proposals and were awarded grants for the

coming year! We received the California Common Core Capacity Building Planning Grant (Trevino-Swanson, Kevin Frost, Cheryl Minke), the Sound Body, Sound Mind Facilities Maintenance and Improvement Grants (Michelle Roth-Daniels and Jared Gibson), and one of only two Parent Center Facilities Grants (Lourdes Cabral).

National Musical Theatre Awards Congratulations to Josette Robertson and Wayne Remington who performed at the National Musical Theatre Awards on May 19 in Hollywood. The annual competition features select performers from Los Angeles area high school musicals who played leads in their school musicals this year. This year Josette played Belle and Wayne played the Beast in the Spring Musical, Beauty and the Beast.

Performing Groups at Poetry Reading

Verdugo’s Creative Writing Club and Book Club presented a student poetry and performance

showcase at Barnes and Noble Books at the Americana on May 31. The event featured student authors and poets, drama performances, and performances from the Jazz Choir, A Cappella Voices, and Glee Club. Thank you to Ms. Buchanan, club sponsor, for organizing the event.


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Karyn Buchanan Named Teacher of the Year Congratulations to Karyn Buchanan

who was selected by LAUSD as one of only 21 LAUSD Teachers of the Year! Ms. Buchanan was one of only 2 teachers selected from Educational Service Center-North which covers most of the San Fernando Valley as well as Sunland/Tujunga and surrounding areas! Ms. Buchanan teaches English at Verdugo Hills HS, is a Co-English Department Chair, a Humanitas teacher, and has been a Humanitas Lead Teacher. From KM, a student: "Mrs. Buchanan!!!! The best teacher in the entire world! Knows what she is talking about, helps you out, and gets you to love writing! A must take teacher in Verdugo Hills". Ms. Buchanan will be honored at an event in September. The Verdugo Hills community is proud of her accomplishments and lucky to have her work with our kids!

National Poetry Month Assembly and Events On April 5, we welcomed three

nationally recognized poets including the Poet Laureate of Los Angeles to Verdugo to read their work. Thank you Ms. Cheby for organizing the event. It was amazing! Thank you Eloise Klein Healy, Douglas Kearney, and the

other poets! As part of National Poetry Month, we also hosted a poetry reading contest on April 9. Congratulations to all of our poets who read! They were awesome! Thank you to Lisa Cheby, Teacher-Librarian, who was the National Poetry Month sponsor.

Senior Recital and Concert The annual Senior Recital (May 29) and Spring Concert

(May 30) closed out the year for the Verdugo music ensembles. Congratulations to the many performers who including soloists and the orchestra, band, jazz ensemble, salsa and hip hop dancers, and the Verdugo Voices Glee Club, A Cappella Voices, and Jazz Choir.


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Spring Sports Round-Up It was a wonderful Spring Sports season. We are so proud of our athletics program and our many scholar-athletes and coaches. Thank you so much for hundreds of hours spent in practice, strategy sessions, and at games. Thanks also to the parents, friends, and supporters who drove to games and

practices and supported our athletes at every step of the way. Our Baseball team was Co-League Champions. Our Swim team had many swimmers who went to the CIF City Championship. Our Boys Volleyball team was league champions. Our Boys Golf and Boys Tennis teams completed another fantastic season. Our Softball team did not fail to impress. On June 5 many of our teams were honored by the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), Los Angeles City Section for the highest Grade Point Averages of all the Spring Sports teams. In fact, out of 12 awards, Verdugo won an unprecedented 4 awards for Boys Golf, Girls Track and Field, Boys Swim, and Boys Volleyball. Congratulations to all!


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Student-Directed Plays Finish the Year

On May 24-25, our amazing drama program closed out their year with

several student-directed plays. Congratulations to all of the student directors, actors, and director Deidra Fitzpatrick!

Relay for Life Verdugo hosted the 4th Annual Relay for Life event on April 21 to raise money for cancer research. The

event is sponsored by the American Cancer Society. Thank you to our Dons Battalion and everyone involved in the event including the student performers, the Verdugo Voices Jazz Choir and Glee Club, and selected cast from Beauty and the Beast. We are proud of our growing visual and performing arts program

which added several new groups and classes this year including Jazz Choir, A Cappella Voices, AP Music Theory, Social Media Photography, and is planning the new VAPA Magnet to open in the Fall with more ensembles and more classes!!

Principal Elected as SHSPO President and to ACSA State Board of Directors Congratulations to Verdugo’s principal, Dr. Edward Trimis, who was elected to the State Board of Directors for the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) beginning in July, 2013 representing Los Angeles (Region 16). ACSA represents school administrators from all over the state. Dr. Trimis is also the president of the LAUSD Senior High School Principals Organization (SHSPO), is a member of the Education Council for the Performing Arts Center (Music Center) of Los Angeles County, and is a certified consultant for the College Board.


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Graduation 2013 Congratulations Class of 2013. It was an amazing graduation. We are proud of you! From Dr. Trimis’ graduation reflection: ” I love graduations! It’s the chance for me to shake every student’s hand, the chance for me to be with them at the moment they become high school graduates and start the rest of their lives, and the chance for me not only to give them a few final words of advice, but hear their reflection of high school from a few lucky ones. Really, after the ceremony is one of my

favorite parts of the evening. I got to meet many parents for the first time and say good bye to those parents I knew. I was able to pose for many pictures with many kids and personally talk with lots of graduates to give them final words of advice, wish them good luck in college, or let them know how much I appreciated working with them and say final goodbyes. It was a time when we heard lots of “this was our last student to go through Verdugo” or “we have three more on the way to you, get ready”.

From Dr. Trimis’ Commencement Address: “As the ceremony comes to a close and you leave Verdugo, I hope you will remember you will always be a Don. We will continue to be here for you, support you in any way we can, and continue to carry on the traditions and excellence you have upheld in your years at Verdugo. I also hope you thank the people who helped you get here. Your friends, your parents, your family, your teachers, your counselors. Really, without them you wouldn’t be where you are. We all rely on other people and that’s OK. The most successful of us realize

this and surround themselves with talented people. Please take what you have learned, your experiences, your lessons, your own moments in time, and have them help you make your future. I believe we all control and make our future happen and you now have a good start to see that through. You are ready. You are able. Now it’s time to make it


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happen. Keep the faith. Don’t give up. Stowe tells us: “When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hang on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.” Like the song says, “it’s always darkest before the dawn.” And lastly, as you move forward, make a difference in the world. Make every moment count. You can

do so much to help others and really make our neighborhood, our city, our society, a better place to live. You can do this. You have that power. It’s in you.” Autonomy Proposal Seeks Stakeholder Input

LAUSD Central Leadership Team Verdugo Hills Leadership Team

Dr. John Deasy, Superintendent Dr. Edward Trimis, Principal Michelle King, Deputy Superintendent Arturo Barcenas, Kevin Marie Frost, Hector Ornelas, Cheryl Minke

Assistant Principals Dr. Jaime Aquino, Deputy Superintendent Dr. Earl Perkins, Assistant Superintendent Debbie Trojhan, SPED Coordinator

Byron Maltez, Interim Superintendent ESC-N Christina Trevino-Swanson, Magnet Coordinator

Juan Flecha, Operations Administrator Susan Turner, Testing Coor. Dr. Marcel Van Baal, Tech Coor. Dr. Margaret Kim, Instructional Director Lisette Duran, Title One Coordinator Evae Silva, EL Coordinator

Please send any questions or comments about the Verdugo

Hills Update to Edward Trimis, Principal at [email protected]

Verdugo Hills High School 10625 Plainview Ave. Tujunga, CA 91042 (818) 951-5400 www.verdugohs.org


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The Verdugo Hills High School community is in the process of examining several different options LAUSD has to implement charter school-like autonomies at Verdugo. Based in part on the Reform Plan submitted to LAUSD in 2010, the WASC Action Plan, and the Single Plan for Student

Achievement, the autonomy plan will outline the school’s efforts to increase student achievement for all students including every sub-group such as English Learners, Students with Disabilities, Gifted and Talented Students, and students from families of every income level, nationality, and ethnicity. Some autonomies being looked at include local decision-making authority over staffing, curriculum and assessments, professional development, schedules, and more. The plan will encompass, embrace, and add to our major school goals including improvement in math and English/language arts for all students as measured by standardized tests and an increase in parent engagement. The plan will also support and build upon our culture of academics, arts, athletics, and community.

Calendar Aug. 6, 2013 Freshman Orientation 8 am-12 pm Aug. 7-8, 2013 Program Preview Days (10th-12th) 8 am-12 pm Aug. 13, 2013 First Day of School/Classes Begin 7: 50 am

Verdugo Hills High School 10625 Plainview Ave. Tujunga, CA 91042 www.verdugohs.org


verdugo hills update · 2013-06-24 · verdugo hills high school was ranked against other...

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