Students Compete for Trip to New York

Norwalk~Cerritos College's Automotive Technology Department will host the 11th Annual Los Angeles County High School Auto Tech Competition on Saturday, January 30^th, at Cerritos College, 11110 Alondra Blvd., Norwalk, CA 90650; starting at 9:00 a.m. 

This event is sponsored by the Southland Motor Car Dealers Association (SMCDA) and the Greater Los Angeles New Car Dealers Association (GLANCDA).

GLANCDA and SMCDA will each sponsor one winning team representing each of the association's regions and send two team members to compete in the 2010 National Automotive Technology Competition.  This Final competition will be held at the New York International Automobile Show in April. 

• Jan 26, 2010

Los Coyotes Assembles for La Mirada Symphony Ensemble

La Mirada~On December 10 the students from the GATE program at Los Coyotes Middle School in La Mirada were presented a performance of a wind instrument ensemble as a special music enrichment treat for this Holiday Season.  The students were introduced to the Flute, Oboe, French horn, Bassoon and Clarinet demonstrated and played by members of the La Mirada Symphony Orchestra in a program of various styles and musical genres.    

The instrumental ensemble visits are a part of the Enrichment Programs for Youth that the Orchestra makes available upon request to bring fine music to the students to enhance the school's music curriculum.   

Other programs include: two free daytime concerts open to private and public schools in the area; opportunity for Honor Band students to play on stage with the orchestra at the student concerts and at the Matinee POPS concert for the community; and, participation in a competition for instrumental students to be awarded the opportunity to perform at the student concerts.  

Further information about the La Mirada Symphony and its Enrichment Programs for Youth may be found at www.lamiradasymphony.com or by calling 562-941-5779 or 562-921-9300.

• by Pat Ruiz
• Dec 18, 2009

News From El Camino High School

La Mirada~New club on campus! Positive Alternative Outreach Program with Advisor Mr. Oscar Diaz, who is sponsored by the Living Faith Church.

Community events for the month of December:

1. Toys For Tots Annual Toy Drive-working with the Los Alamitos Marine Base. Toy contributions are being taken through Dec. 18th. at El Camino High School. Volunteers are needed at the Los Alamitos Army/Marine Reserve Base, from 8am to 2 pm on December 19th.

2. Canned Food Drive was a big success! It ran from December 4th through December 16th. All food and can contributions will go to Living Faith Church, who will then distribute the food items to the community.

The last day of school before Winter Break is Friday, December 18th. Students will be dismissed at 12:30 pm. This is a minimum day for all students. School will resume again on Monday, January 4, 2010.

• Dec 18, 2009

News from El Camino High

La Mirada~

-State Model Continuation High School-El Camino High School has qualified for a state visit in an effort
to extend the Model School designation for another five years.

-144 graduates in the Class of 2009 at El Camino High School. This is a new school record.

- El Camino High School has an 80 point API increase over last year for a total of 594 points.

- The senior students of El Camino High School had a campus tour at Cerritos College yesterday. It was a "hands on" event and was very successful. The tour is to expose those "at risk" students to the college and get them interested in attending college after high school. Another campus tour will be scheduled in the spring. This is a yearly event. However, beginning this year, it will take place 2 times-once in the fall and once in the spring.

- NHRA Career Day At the Races - Student Field Trip  On November 13, 2009, El Camino High School students will take a student Field trip to the Pomona Raceway. Students spend time visiting Career and educational focused partners. All students also attend a 30-minute panel discussion on careers and educational opportunities. They also receive a free ticket to the NHRA finals and the Open Pit Policy of the NHRA also allows students to network with race teams and manufactures. This event takes place once a year and is a very popular field trip with our students.

• Nov 11, 2009

La Pluma Hosting Scholastic Book Fair

• Sep 16, 2009

New ID Policy at La Mirada High Begins Today

New ID policy has some concerned

La Mirada~Students attending La Mirada High School beginning this year, will be required to wear an ID around their neck at all times, while on campus.

The lanyards, with a plastic badge holder attached at the end, hang around the students neck to display their ID.

Incoming La Mirada freshmen Julian Hernandez and A.J. Aiello show off their new ID lanyards.

Michelle Millan, Executive Secretary to the Superintendent of the School District told us, " This is a school-based decision.  La Mirada is the only high school out of the four, to implement such a policy at this time".

Ron Carroll, Assistant Principal/Discipline at La Mirada, sat down with us recently, "The ID must be appropriately displayed at all times. This will help us with daily operations. The purpose in having students display their ID is to assist in providing our students with a more safe and secure environment."

When asked what the student's response has been, Carroll replied, "Very positive".

Seniors seem to be having the biggest issue with it, since they have went three years without having to wear something around their neck, and now they have to. A lot of students are expressing dismay, but that is usually the case when there is change.

"This is actually nothing new. We have always had an ID policy in place. Students have always been required to carry their ID's on them", said Carroll.

Some wonder if this is an impossible policy to enforce, fearing the school administration will be spending much of their time dealing with lost and forgotten ID's.

"I have heard those concerns", said Carroll, "but we are confident after a period of time, everyone will settle in. There is a demerit process-that has always been in place-for violators".

Most parents we talked to seemed to be in favor, "Anything that makes my son safer, or give the perception he is safer, is ok by me", said parent Maria Perez.

According to the student handbook, the policy will allow school personnel to easily identify those who should be on campus and those who are unauthorized.

I asked Carroll if there was an issue of not having enough security to handle the huge student population, and this was just a way to make securities job easier. "Absolutely not, the security personnel at La Mirada have always had complete control. This just gives them another tool"

At this time the school is "requesting" that teachers wear the lanyards. The school is looking into union/legal complications of requiring the teachers to wear them.

Carroll did not indicate whether the ID's would be required at after-school events.

• by Tony Aiello
• Sep 10, 2009