Ramping up in May

Warrior Weekly

May 19, 2014

 

 As May marches on, May ramps up with events and celebrations for the end of the year. Here's what has been going on in Warrior Land for the last couple of weeks. 

YVHS Swing Dance!

The Jazz Band’s long hours were not wasted Friday night in the YVHS Annual Swing Dance. With a bunch of old timey swing tunes, slow songs, and plenty of swing dance experience, the energy was high and the Jazz was great. (Who are we kidding? Jazz is always great.) Special thanks to the YV Jazz Ensemble for putting in so much work to supply the dance with a great two hours of music! Can’t wait for next year’s dance!

Senior Game for Lacrosse Ends in a Great Win

With the final home game for the Girls Lacrosse team, the seniors were eager to score big for their final home crowd! And they did just that, winning the game against Alhambra 11-6! Congrats to the team for giving the crowd a great game to watch! To the seniors, you will be missed next season! Great job Warriors!

Boy’s Baseball Win feeds NCS Hopes

The YV Baseball hoisted a whopping win over the Mount Diablo Baseball team, 9-1. With this win, the boys had hoped to increase their chances in being selected for the upcoming NCS Playoffs. Nineteen teams competed for sixteen spots, and unfortunately, the Warrior season ends on that win, as they will not be advancing. Congratulations to the team on a great season, and to coach Sean Morrison on another respectable finish. 

Vincent Ly Awarded John Muir Scholarship

Congratulations to Senior Vincent Ly for being awarded a $4000 scholarship by John Muir Medical Center! Vincent volunteers at the Medical Center, and is a senior in our health academy, volunteering hundreds of hours for our athletes as part of the sports medicine program as well. He will be using that money to help subsidize his education pursuits next year at UC Irvine. Go Anteaters!

 

Room 509 Quilt

Room 509 is a Special Needs class. Our main teacher, Mrs. Hepner-Martinez, broke her wrist in January and we have missed her dearly. The class decided to make a quilt for  her as a Math problem. They worked on it for two weeks in April during math class, with the students learning how to sew by hand iron + sew a button on; all life skills. Each student decorated a 10x10 square with hand prints or a family crest. The staff bound it together during spring break. We are very proud of the finished product + we hope she loves it.

Multi Cultural Show

The CARES After School Program put on an outstanding multicultural show last Friday, featuring dances in the latin genre, Middle Eastern dances, Tahitian and Polynesian dancing, and more. The turnout and support were great, and YV's multiculturalism was celebrated well. 

Rossmoor Scholarship Winners

This year, Ygnacio Valley had more Rossmoor honorees than any other high school in the area, with a whopping 8 students receiving scholarships from the generous organization. 

The students and Mrs. Santos, our College and Career Advisor, attended the Rossmoor Scholarship Foundation awards ceremony last Sunday and each student received $3000 or more in scholarship funds. The recipients were Marissa Sozzi, Annalisa Romero, Isabella Romero, Daniel Pardo, Stephanie Martinez, Daipeng Yang, Vincent Ly, Jennifer Ly and Stephanie Martinez. Congratulations Warriors! 

Two Warriors Honored by the Contra Costa County Office of Education with Scholarships and Awards
Two YV students were given $250 scholarships from the CCCOE for their excellence in their respective ROP programs. Malena Martinez was honored for her contribution in ROP Sports Medicine, having volunteered more than 100 hours to our YV sports teams and competing at the State Leadership Conference for Sports Medicine. Eddie Maldonado was honored for ROP Teaching, after serving an internship his senior year for Cambridge Elementary School.
Congratulations Warriors!

A Walk on the Moon - 2014 Junior/Senior Prom

A great time was had by all this year at the Prom, where students took Charter buses to the Chabot Science Center in the Oakland Hills. The venue was beautiful, and the dresses were gorgeous. Congratulations and thank you to Ms. Stobing and the ASB Leadership Senior Class Officers for putting on this wonderful event! 

YV Warrior Sarah Jones Earns 5th in the Nation Title with Club Rugby

YV Sophomore Sarah Jones competed with her Club Rugby team and the team is now ranked 5th in the Nation! Congratulations to the Jones family! 

Back in the Swing- May Begins!

Back in the Swing- Just in time! 

So much to catch up on, it has been a busy couple of weeks in Warrior-land! 

Here's what's been happening... 

Speaking of Swing... 

The Warrior Jazz Band is hosting their annual Swing Dance this Friday May 9th in the MU! Proceeds from this event will help the Warriors in their quest to get to New Orleans next year- come hear some great music and get your boogie on! 

 

Blood Drive a Success

Warriors again step up to the plate for a great cause and donated their arm for an hour, but their blood for a life... 48 to be exact. 

Ribbon Cutting on New chemistry Labs

KRON 4 came out to do a news report and Warriors celebrated as we opened our state of the art Chemistry labs with our Superintendent Dr. Nellie Mayer, Parents, Students, Teachers and Alumni coming out to support. The new labs feature state of the art equipment, SMART Boards, and all of the chemically safe cabinetry you would find at a college level lab setting. We are proud to open this wing of the school and look forward to some great hands-on learning to take place there! 

.

Warrior 9th Grader Honored by County

 National College Signing Day
Seniors were invited to come out and "sign" their letter of intent on National College Signing Day May 1st, declaring their schools of choice- these included University of Oregon, Oregon State, UCLA, UC Davis, Berkeley, Columbia College in Chicago, BYU, University of Nevada Reno, Cal Poly, and of course DVC- Students celebrated their exciting prospects and proudly wore their future school colors.

Warrior Bands go to CMEA - California Music Education Association Festival
Our Wind Ensemble and Orchestra both competed at the annual festival and came back with accolades in all categories, including Wind Ensemble earning 'Excellent' ratings in concert, and a 'Superior' rating in Sight Reading.
Congratulations Warriors!

Carolyn Moore Opens a Display
Our own resident photography teacher opened up a new display of her own at the StudioOne Art Center landscape show. Congratulations Carolyn!

 

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
-Christine Lee, Class of 2002

Christine Lee, Pharm.D.; Class of 2002

What was your Major in College or What did you study after high school?  Technically I did not have a major because I did not get a bachelor's degree. I was assigned "pre-pharmacy" when I went to college, and then was accepted directly into pharmacy school where I earned my Doctor of Pharmacy degree, or Pharm.D. 

What is your current work and why do you love it? I am currently an inpatient pharmacist and I love it because I help people every day!  

What advice do you have for YV students today? My advice to YV students would be to develop good study habits early. Yes, high school is a time to have fun and be social, but working hard now can provide opportunities for your future (I was accepted into the accelerated pre-pharmacy advantage program and received a $20,000 scholarship based on my grades in high school). Also, if you think you may be interested in a particular field, find ways to connect with people who work in that area and ask them whatever questions you have to see if it is something that you wish to pursue.  I personally cannot think of things I wasn't ready for, but from sharing some of my friend's experiences they were not ready for the freedom that comes with being a college student (no curfews, parties, availability of alcohol and drugs) and they got so distracted from their studies that they dropped out and never finished. I would encourage students to be prepared for these kinds of pressures and not allow them to detract from the end goal.  

What were your favorite classes at YV? There were many classes in high school that I enjoyed - the sciences especially: physics, physiology, and chemistry. My favorite elective was definitely drama.  

How were you involved with the school when you were here? In high school I was involved in marching band, honor choir, plays and musicals, the Christian club, cross country, and others. None of these prepared me for my chosen field, but I feel these extra curricular activities helped develop me into a well-rounded person. I think it's important to gain a variety of experiences and also make time for activities that you enjoy. It helps keep you sane when work is crazy!    

A Break is coming...

Warrior News

April 14, 2014

Rossmoor Scholarship Winners

YVHS Students were the top recipients of the Rossmoor Scholarship this year, the most of any school in the area with 7 Recipients!! Each recipient receives a $3000 scholarship at the Senior Awards Night on June 3. 

Congratulations and GO WARRIORS!

First game under the lights! 

This Thursday April 17th marks the FIRST GAME to be played under the lights, with Girls Lacrosse vs Newark Memorial! The girls Lacrosse team got off to a great start this season with 4 wins, and they look forward to making history on the Warrior field! Come join us at 6pm for this occasion! 

Legally Blonde closes with biggest weekend yet! 

 Legally Blonde the musical has been touted as the school's best endeavor in musical theater yet! The cast had heavy hearts as they said goodbye to this show, and the audience was on their feet for the last three performances. Congratulations to everyone involved in producing this one! 

Health Academy takes the USS Hornet for a day

The Ygnacio Valley HS Health Academy Sophomores were treated to a living history lesson when they boarded the USS Hornet Museum for a tour of the medical facilities on board, as well as the historical reference points, getting talks from war vets about the War in the Pacific and the role that aircraft carriers had in the US ultimately gaining an advantage in the fight. It was a great day for the Warriors to hear and feel history in a very  tangible setting. 

 

Spring in Swing!

Legally Blonde Is a Smash!
The wait is over! Legally Blonde opened with a bang, and has received rave reviews from show-goers all weekend! The show features a large cast, a huge dog (and a tiny one too), energetic dance numbers, great music, and a heartthrob UPS man.. and more! The CC Times featured a snippet about the show, and we are expecting even better attendance this weekend. Don't miss out on what many are calling YVHS' best musical in years! Show this Friday at 7:30pm, Saturday 2pm and 7:30pm. Tickets available at the door. See you there!

Indoor Soccer Tournament
ASB Leadership for the last week has held and indoor soccer tournament, for all who would want to come and participate! The soccer tournament had a tremendous turnout, and plenty of teams were ready to play!

Teachers get Honored in the District Teacher of the Year celebration
Two teachers from Ygnacio Valley High School were sent up for Teacher of the Year at the District level and honored at a recent school board meeting.

Shannon Carr is in her 8th year at YVHS and is the lead teacher for the Health Academy. She teaches English and has in the past coached Basketball as well.
 
How long have you been at Yv?
8 years

How has your teaching evolved over the years?
Believe it or not, I've actually mellowed out through the years! I still value structure, but inwardly I've worked to find balance and value each student as an individual. Daily I strive to give each one my best so I can help pursue excellence.

What other teachers have influenced your style and helped you grow? My 7th grade English teacher, Mrs. Norma Griffin, and my middle school Principal,  Mrs. Marcie Brown showed me tenacity and respect for perfection. Mrs. Gower modeled indefatigable dedication to our students, the Health Science Academy and HOSA. Ms. Erin McCabe, my master teacher, taught me how to survive and thrive in the classroom, while offering students rich and engaging lessons. My mother has been the greatest model, demonstrating structure and enthusiasm.


What's your philosophy on balancing the need to have all students succeed vs maintaining rigor and high expectations?
Everyone should have high expectations for learning rigorous content. All of the strategies used to make content accessible to all learners are just that-- for all learners! It's good teaching and makes sure we strive to meet students where they are and propel them forward.

What is one of your favorite moments from the last few years with students?
Besides cracking me up in the classroom? Each year I am fortunate to attend HOSA's State Leadership Conference. It brings me great joy to see students prepare, practice and demonstrate their best with other career-focused students. Because of their determined pursuits, they prove themselves successful.

What advice do you have for new teachers?
Effective classroom management makes teaching easier! It allows us to craft our students' learning experience. Prepare yourself and your students ahead of time. Despite the whining, students respect structure. Be exacting yet reasonable. They will meet high expectations if they know we care.

Thatcher Palmer is in his 9th year at YVHS and is the lead teacher for our Education Academy. He teaches Social Science.
 How many years have you taught here?  This is my 9th year at YV.

 How has your teaching evolved over time? My teaching has evolved over the years in many ways. Specifically, I learned to focus more on the specific needs, strengths and challenges faced by students.  I no longer focus on myself as a teacher, but on the students and how they learn.

What teachers have been big influences in your teaching style? Teachers like Mrs. Hallberg (connecting to students), Mrs. Gower (creating an engaging classroom), Mrs. Cooper (dedication to students and teaching), Mr. Poppas (efficiency) and Mr. Rudy (constantly improving and perfecting content), amongst others, have each taught me different individual parts of teaching that make up who I am as a teacher.

What's your philosophy on balancing the need to have all students succeed vs maintaining rigor and high expectations?Success is different for each student.  Even the terms "rigor" and "expectations" are different for each student.  A true teacher knows when a student has succeeded, no matter what the circumstances of that student's life are.  No matter where the student starts, if they grow and improve, then success has been achieved.

What advice do you have for new teachers? My advice for new teachers is to take time for yourself and create a happy balance in your life.  Hard work and dedication are necessary to being successful as a teacher, but you are no good to anyone if you aren't taking care of yourself.  (Sometimes I have to remind myself to take my own advice.)

Congratulations to Ms. Carr and Mr. Palmer!

ASB Leadership heads to CASL and gets honored as one of the top programs in the STATE!

HOSA heads to the State Leadership Conference 

Twenty-two students attended the Health Occupations Students of America annual State Leadership Conference which took place in Anaheim, March 29-April 1. Students competed in First Aid/CPR, Medical Terminology, HOSA Bowl, Health Career Display, Sports Medicine, etc. The Public Service Announcement team of Alisa Thorsen, Audrey Boer and Nelson Flores won 4th place for their ad campaigning to end childhood hunger. The Health Education team of Sofia Campos, Kayla Samuels and Ariana Whitmarsh taught elementary students about the need to stay active; they finished in the top ten statewide. The trivia HOSA BOWL team of Patrick Valencia, Marisa Sozzi, Maria Mata and Isabella Romero also finished in the top ten. Students that also received recognition for being knowledgable about Health Care Issues and current events include Marisa Sozzi and Isabella Romero. Congratulations to Stephanie Martinez for winning gold for the Health Care Issues Exam!

2nd Annual Athletics Hall of Fame Dinner a Success! 

VP Rianne Pfaltzgraff Honored by Mountain View Elementary
 Our very own Ms. Pfaltzgraff was honored with a Make a Difference Award for her services to special education students in the district. Congratulations Ms. Pfatlzgraff! It's called a You Make a Difference Award. It's an award for making a difference in the lives of students with special needs and recipients are chosen by a team of special educators and CAC which is the parent advisory group.

Rianne was nominated along with about 80 other people in the district. Nominees were teachers, students, parents, admin, etc. and the person nominating them had to write why they should get the award. A committee reviewed the nominations and selected recipients. They selected Rianne and 19 others.

Workability Career Faire Well Attended by YVHS Hopefuls! 
Workability sponsored a career fair at YV last week, and more than 500 students arrived with copies of their resume, professional attire and a great attitude. Employers included the US military branches, Waterworld, Zachary's Pizza, Paris Beauty College, and Concord Pavilion. Students were able to speak to potential employers, give resumes and get applications for summer work.