Students of the MONTH

Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Getting into the WORK.

Classes have settled in and settled down to some real work now here at YVHS, and we have had some amazing events to start the year! Let's take a peek... 

Fall Sports are Up and RUNNING
Our fall teams are striving towards great seasons, with athletes working hard in tennis, volleyball, football, cross country and cheer. Not to mention our outstanding competitive marching band! 

Football started off with a bang, in new black uniforms with the throwback Columbia blue and gold, on a brand new turf field that was replaced over the summer. Looking great, the Warriors fell in their first game, but went on to defeat Elsie Allen the following week. The team has struggled a bit with some turnovers, but work hard and never quit when they're down, fighting back until the last seconds of each game. All three teams have seen success this season, and play their last pre-season game this week, with Freshmen football enjoying a bye week, while JV and VAR face off against Skyline at home this Friday. GO WARRIORS. 



Volleyball has some new coaches helping them out this year, and the team has gotten off to a great start, with a recent win over Mt. Diablo last week. 



With the start of sports, Sports Medicine has made their way to the fields as well, serving internships helping our sports teams with injuries, injury prevention, and game management. 

Sports Med Alumni giving back

The New Sports Med Team



Marching Band
Our Golden Warrior Marching band has had a busy season already, with appearances at the football games, performances and competitions at the Annual Walnut Festival and the Antioch Band Review. Most recently, the band competed in Antioch at the Band Review and with a large new group of Freshman musicians, the band rallied and scored a third place win! (They also earned a third place win at the Walnut Festival) Congratulations Golden Warriors, and congrats to Claire Rader our Drum Major and Zach Pattison our Band Director! 


Golden Warriors performing at the Welcome Back Rally
 ASB Puts on an Amazing Welcome Back Rally
The ASB Leadership class worked hard and pulled together a welcome back sensation in basically four short days, with a Music Festival Theme. Posters were hung (though the newly painted slick walls rejected them quickly) and skits performed, so that all Warriors got back in the swing and the mood of the Warrior Spirit. 



Prep time- the senior poster

Sophomore Erica Stevenson sings for the crowd






Wednesday, September 9, 2015

AAAAAND We're OFF!

The new school year at YVHS has started in a fresh new way, 
and the Warriors are feeling the love and pride early on. Let's take a look...

First and foremost... Here's to our new Principal!! 
(and the crowd roars) 
That's right, Efa Huckaby, who served as a vice principal for YVHS for 7 years, accepted the position to come lead the charge as we head off in new and exciting directions in Warrior Territory! Staff, students, alums and parents have all chimed in with their support, excitement, and thanks to the district for this outstanding hire. 
We're looking at you Mr. Huckaby! #alwaysawarrior




Link Crew Preps for the Class of 2019
Shirts are ready.. even for the coordinators kids- future warriors! #startthemearly
Under the direction of coordinators Nathan Vasarhely, Erica Huie, Kelly Cooper and Corissa Stobing, the Link Crew leaders broke off from their summer early to come in and get trained to run activities with the crews on the first day of school. Armed with new curriculum, leadership skills, and a reminder to Go Big, the leaders were excited to welcome the class of 2019 on Sept 25th! 


Leaders taking a Krispy Kreme break during training


YV Staff working on Culture and Climate with the incomparable Phil Boyte
In preparation for a new school year, Principal Efa Huckaby brought in the big guns to help prepare staff and talk about campus climate and culture. Phil Boyte is coincidentally the founder of Link Crew, and has written several books about a variety of subjects, with his latest project about this subject in particular. What a great start to the year for the staff to get energized and re-focused! 




















Pimp My Ride ASB! 
Our amazing ASB Leadership class starts school spirit off right with a car paint party, painting student and staff cars to get the word out in the community about sweet Warrior Pride. Keep looking for great things to come from this award winning program, under the direction of Corissa Stobing! 



AND NOW... Let's Go. Week of Welcome
This year, YVHS staff worked diligently to prepare a unique experience for the Warriors in their first week back, with the goal being to prepare the campus for a positive and productive environment, where goals are set, and expectations are laid out from the beginning. Warriors are given the tools to success from the get go, and we hope that this fantastic opening leads to an amazing year for everyone! 

So to begin- 
Class of 2019! Welcome to YVHS! 
The freshmen were escorted to the gym for some team building, inspirational messages, and some small group time with their upperclassmen leaders, to build connections early on and start them on the right foot. Thank you LINK CREW! 




Then it was time to party- CARNIVAL! 
The amazing cafeteria staff, led by Joyce Hsi, our food services coordinator, put on a FREE BARBECUE for every staff member and student! Then the big games came out, and students were treated to some slides, some jousting, sumo suits, and more, while vendors and services, like our outstanding After School Program, led by Allyn Monzon came out to educate all about what was available to them. 


Lunch for EVERYONE! 



Allyn Monzon talking up the ASP
Day 2 Week of Welcome
For day two, Warriors participated in workshops to learn about the Warrior Way, how to get into Google Classroom and their Homelink accounts, teambuilding by Class, and Commitment to Graduate, in cooperation with Jostens. 

Getting technology-trained
Class of 2016 (on our new turf field!) 


The class that plays together, stays together

New Warriors- Class of 2019

Freshmen try them on for size


Not too far off!! Coming soon to a stage near you...

Class of 04 alum USMC Sergeant Jose Ayala and
Class of 05 alum Alison Swick of KTVU came to talk to the Warriors
about their path to graduation and beyond. 
Day 3- Week of Welcome
Day 3 the Warriors were treated to an outstanding motivational speaker, Kevin Laue! The first NCAA Division I basketball player with one arm, Kevin had a great message about not making excuses, ignoring so-called limits, and how to make a difference in the community. He then called out Principal Efa Huckaby for a little one on one. Huck got a huge shot off in the beginning, and then was swiftly put away by the fantastic ball player. 







Day 4- Week of Welcome
Warriors visited all of their classes on this day and did some team building in each, getting to know their classmates and teachers, and getting a good feel for the Warrior family. 
At lunch, teachers held their first Lawn Chair Friday, holding court over the quad in their chairs, and celebrating each other and the campus community after a busy week! 


Math teambuilding- solving engineering problems with spaghetti and marshmallows, naturally!

Lawn Chair Fridays! 


And that is just week 1... 

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Spring 2015 and the End to a Great Year


College Signing Day
For National College Signing Day, Warriors came out in the University Gear and declared their intent for their chosen universities, from Diablo Valley College, to University of Nevada Reno, UCLA to Expressions College. So excited to move forward to their next chapter! 



Senior Nicolas Hutchins is heading off to UNR! 
3rd Annual Performing Arts Awards Night
The performing arts program celebrated their student successes from the year. Students were honored for years in the Advanced programs, Excellence in performance, choreography and composition, and crossing over into multiple disciplines. Dancer of the Year was awarded to Kayla Samuels, Vocalist of the Year went to Nicolas Hutchins, Musician of the Year went to Margo Oka, and Performer of the Year was awarded to Daniel Gonzalez and Rhyndyl Sardina for their work in the "25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee". Great recaps of performances were enjoyed by the over 200 family crowd, and everyone had a great time! 
Seniors Conor Boal and Rhyndyl Sardina perform

Madmen hit the stage one last time

Madri-Gals take the Stage

Jazz Band Rocks the Audience

Sports Med visits the Pros
The sports medicine class was thrilled for the opportunity to visit the Athletic Training facility at St Mary's College and get a great chalk talk with Dr. Tony Kearns, the Head Athletic Trainer for the University. They were then treated to a tour of the new baseball facility with DLS alum and Asst Baseball coach Dan Costanza. Afterward, the Warriors went off to the Oakland Coliseum to meet up with team doctor Will Workman, who got called into surgery last minute. So the sports med interns took the opportunity to enjoy Sonny Gray at the mound and an A's game! 




Tony Kearns talks it up with the Warriors about Sports Medicine in College

The Gaels' new baseball facility





Ms. Lamb enjoying the brisk spring air
Lady Warrior Softball Ends Strong
The Lady Warriors ended a season battle with strong play over the Mt Diablo Devils. Great job Warriors! 



 Prom 2015
Warriors were treated to a 'Night to Remember' at sea for their prom this year, returning to a boat again for the first time in a decade. It was a wonderful evening, albeit a little chilly on deck! Catered sit-down dinner, awesome DJ, and several decks of fun, including karaoke on the bottom deck. 

Seniors McKenna Duncan and Michael Mendoza looking glam



Chaperones Cooper and Stobes hamming it up 


Renaissance Leadership WOW's the Warriors with 
Student Excellence Recognition
Warriors were honored at the Spring WOW assembly for perfect attendance, GPA improvement of .5 or more between semesters, GPA excellence, and more! Performers included the top 3 performers from the Talent Show, and the assembly ended with a teacher dance to Uptown Funk that brought the Warriors to their feet! Such a fun way to celebrate achievement! 


Renaissance Crew making it happen

Nic Hutchins sings while Lauren Curtis (Junior) plays the piano

Teachers and Flash Mob get funky
Spring One Act Plays Please the Audience
The Drama club never fails to wow, and this round they dropped the comedy for a dramatic turn in the student directed, 'Flowers of Algernon' (directed by Erin McMann) What a great way to end a productive year for the thespians! 

Alums giving back
We love it when the Warriors return to give back to the new generation, and this spring was no exception- two notables were dancer 'Sarah Angel' Dougherty, class of 2010, who is now a founding member of local hip hop troupe 'Funkmode', who came back to teach Dance 3 a routine for the final rally. It was crowd pleaser! 

Also returning was Misaki Liu, Class of '84, who now owns 'One Way Studios', and installed the new sound system in the dance studio, and tuned up our system in the Multi Use Room. Thank you alums!! 




Class of 2015 - Graduated!