Saturday, May 19, 2012
The baseball coach says he's leaving to tend to family matters.
Calabasas High boys' baseball coach Ed Edsall won't be returning next season, the Los Angeles Times reports. Edsall made the announcement to the Coyotes at the team's 5-2 victory and season closer against Thousand Oaks on Wednesday, according to the Times. In an e-mail to the newspaper, Edsall said his wife is about to give birth and that he would be devoting more time to family matters. The Coyotes finished the 2012 season with an 8-19 record.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
A look at the many noble whims of youth activist, Michael Lewis.
Like most high-achieving students, Calabasas High School senior Michael Lewis wears a lot of hats. Named salutatorian of his class, the 18-year-old’s repertoire includes a diversity of accomplishments such as learning Mandarin Chinese, being in an a cappella ensemble, theatre productions, varsity cheer and strumming on a ukulele. But one of his activities is especially personal: fighting for Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer-Questioning (LGBTQ) acceptance. Lewis is openly gay and vice president of his school's Gay-Straight Alliance club. His interest in LGBTQ issues was sparked by the 2008 shooting death of Lawrence King--a 15-year-old gunned down by a peer in a middle school classroom in Oxnard because he was gay. Lewis was in 8th …
Monday, May 14, 2012
A local cable show takes a look at the under-construction performing arts center.
Calabasas High School's new performing arts center is featured in the latest episode of CTV's Your City, Your Issues. Host John Loesing takes viewers on a virtual tour of the new facility, which includes a 650-seat main theater and a smaller, more intimate 100-seat black box theater. He also interviews several performing arts students who share their excitement about the new venue, slated to open next January. Your City, Your Issues can be viewed on CTV's website. Also, tours of the theater during its construction are open to the public.
Friday, May 11, 2012
Calabasas High students are recognized for their musical talents in Reno and Washington, DC.
The Calabasas High School Music Department recently celebrated bicoastal musical honors by receiving top awards at the Reno Jazz Festival and at the Heritage Music Festival in Washington D.C. On April 26, 65 members of the high school's jazz bands traveled to the University of Nevada for the Reno Jazz Festival, one of the country's leading jazz festivals since 1962. The three-day event attracted some 9,000 participants including the best school bands in the nation for competitions, concerts and workshops with professional artists. The Calabasas students were honored with a plethora of individual and group awards with the Jazz "A" Band placing third in its division of 15 bands, the Jazz "B" Band winning fourth in its division of 15 bands, …
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Calabasas High School was rated along with 22,000 public high schools in 49 states and the District of Columbia based on state proficiency standards, how well they prepare students for college, and other factors.
Calabasas High School is the 122nd best high school in California and the 654th best in the nation, according to the U.S. News & World Report. The rankings were released Tuesday in the publication's 2012 Best High School rankings. It was not immediately clear how many California schools were included in the rankings. The annual list ranks schools based on student performance on standardized tests as well as student participation in Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) programs. MHS was analyzed alongside 22,000 public high schools in 49 states and the District of Columbia. U.S. News says it partnered with the Washington, D.C.-based American Institutes for Research in developing the ranking methodology. In addition U.…
Monday, May 7, 2012
The elementary school plans on hiring a new counselor with some of the money.
A online auction to benefit Bay Laurel Elementary raised a little more than $41,000, which will be earmarked for various resources at the school as well as the hiring of a new counselor. The auction ran for a week, ending last Thursday, and had an initial goal of generating $25,000, said Principal Susan Wachtel. "We are very grateful to all the parents who worked on the auction, donated items, bid on items, and spread the word to their families and friends," she said. The additional $16,000 raised by the auction will go toward hiring a new part-time counselor for the 2012-13 school year, Wachtel said. The counselor would work about six hours a week and focus on spending time with emotionally distressed students, she said. Wachtel said that…
The district is asking parents to fill out the 2012 school calendar survey in order to determine future school year schedules.
The following was sent to district parents in both a phone call and email blast: This is Dr. Dan Stepenosky, Deputy Superintendent with Las Virgenes Unified School District. The district has convened a school calendar committee. The goal for the committee is to develop school calendars for 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16 school years so that staff and families can make future plans. The committee takes input from staff, parents and students and makes a recommendation to our Board of Education. The committee would greatly appreciate your perspective on key issues as we develop these calendars. To gain your perspective we have developed a nine question survey. This survey does matter! The committee is closely reviewing some significant changes …
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Win prizes while raising money for a local elementary school.
An online auction to benefit Bay Laurel Elementary ends at 9 p.m. Many items are up for bid, including 2 VIP tickets to the Ellen DeGeneres Show, tickets to the season finale filming of Project Runway and a vacation to Antigua. As of Thursday morning, the auction has raised $30,143.
Friday, April 27, 2012
The fifth grade teacher is a good role model, according to two moms who helped him earn the nomination.
Students and faculty members at Round Meadow Elementary were keeping a secret from fifth grade teacher George Hees until Friday morning. During a special assembly, Hees was shocked when his name was announced in a pool of nominees in this year's Top Teacher Search during a broadcast of LIVE! With Kelly. The instructor at the Hidden Hills school is one of a dozen teachers throughout the country that viewers can vote for once a day in an online poll ending at noon on Monday. Two moms were also at Friday's assembly. Anna Diamond and Nazy Arbuckle call themeslves Hees' biggest fans and wrote the letter that earned him the nomination. Both women are widows and each have a son in Hees' class. They wrote that the teacher has been an inspirational…
Thursday, April 26, 2012
The boys basketball team won its first CIF regional title in March.
The Calabasas High boys basketball team was commended by the City Council Wednesday night for delivering the best season in the school's history. The Coyotes finished with a record of 28-4, won their first ever CIF Div. 3AA championship and made it to the quaterfinal round of the CIF state tournament. "I think this is the greatest sports team in the history of Calabasas," said Mayor Pro Tem Fred Gaines, adding: "This was a team, really, without stars, everyone played a role." Each team member was presented with a written commendation. Head Coach Jon Palarz shared a few words, saying that the season was dedicated to Assistant Coach Joseph Frazier, who remains in a coma following a hit-and-run accident last August. "Coach Frazier's accident …
Heather
2:03 pm on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Leann and Carol, Why would you post such comments on this story?.. Instead of getting into a personal debate that has NOTHING to do with the article- why not comment on this amazing young man! Michael is leading by example with his actions to curb bullying and hatred aimed at gay teens, kids who already feel alone, and under severe pressure, he has led quite an effort for change and acceptance. … more ›