Simi Schools News Notes

We’re starting a new feature this week. News Notes is designed to share with our readers the things that have recently happened around our district. There are so many wonderful  things going on in our schools and this feature will allow us to share even more than we already do.

SIMI VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL:
Simi Valley High School concluded its Spirit Week last week by raising $1,655 for needy families in our community! That money will be used to purchase $5 gift cards (331 total) which will be distributed by the District office to the families. Last year, this effort raised about $600 between Royal and Simi Valley High Schools. The difference this year was that Simi Valley High School made it a competition among students to raise the most. WAY TO GO SIMI STUDENTS!!! The link HERE is to a delightful YouTube video the students put together of Spirit Week. 

ROYAL HIGH SCHOOL:

Eleven business students from several classes at Royal befriended 10 visiting students from Brazil and together they competed in a week’s worth of real-life business marketing competitions. The competition culminated on Jan. 14 at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum with the blended student teams presenting their Marketing Plans to a panel of judges, who work at participating businesses including WalMart, Best Buy and Honda, to name a few. The Royal students participating included: Christian Crum, John Gerber, Hayley Hunt, Courtney Knudsen, Jenna Ohler, Robert Ota, Oge Pena, Chantel Petty, Jordan Rivera, Sierra Schraml and Jacob Solzberg. The winning team included Robert, Jacob and Jordan, along with Brazilian students Andrea Madureira Simoni and Gabriel Severo Rios.

Four students from Royal High School were honored this month for recent band achievements. Three, Chris Bucci, Jeffrey Hinkle and Jorge Preciado beat out several thousand auditioners to land spots on the 2015 Tournament of Roses Parade. And Luke Pacifici was selected as All American Drum Major and participated in the Queen’s Parade on New Year’s Day in London. Way to go!! 

DISTRICTWIDE:
Every Simi Valley school will offer various events on their campuses to introduce new families to the schools. Whether a child is just entering kindergarten or transitioning into middle or high school, or even moving into the District, there is a school that fits every child’s needs. Go to the link HERE for a flier with a complete list of events.

On Jan. 23, six people connected with Simi Valley Schools were honored for their work at the annual Lew Roth Awards dinner. Dan Houghton, Assistant Superintendent of Personnel, was named for Management; Melissa Albertson, a teacher at Santa Susana High School, was named for Certificated; Paul Schott who works in maintenance at the District office was named for Classified; Cathy Perry, who works as a paraeducator at Royal High School, was named for Special Education; Annette Morgan, who currently works at Berylwood Elementary School, was named for Volunteer; and retired district superintendent, Dr. Kathryn Scroggin, was given the Lifetime Achievement Award. These awardees were chosen from nominations received from coworkers, friends, family members and students.

SANTA SUSANA HIGH SCHOOL:

Congratulations to Karen Hazelwood of SSHS who was named January’s Teacher of the Month by the Simi Valley Education Foundation!

SIMI VALLEY EDUCATION FOUNDATION:
The SVEF will host Movie Magic: Celebration of Education on Sat. Feb. 28. The annual gala is the Foundation’s main fundraiser for the year. All proceeds earned are given back to our public schools through teacher grants, scholarships and special projects. Please consider attending this wonderful event! For more information, go to http://www.svef.org. 

UPCOMING EVENTS

CRESTVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL:
Crestview’s Cougar Chorale will host a Winter Concert on Thurs. Jan. 29 at 6 p.m. Featuring singers from grades 1-6, the concert is free and open to the public. Crestview is located at 900 Crosby St. For more information, call 520-6715.

SANTA SUSANA HIGH SCHOOL:
SSHS will host “An Evening with Four American Heroes” on Wed. Feb. 11 at 6 p.m. Working with the Walter and Leonore Annenberg Presidential Learning Center, the Ronald Reagan Library and the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation, SSHS’s School of Accelerated Academics will hold this second Distinguished Speaker Series event in the Performing Arts Center. Speaking will be Lieutenant Colonel Alfred Rascon, Captain Thomas G. Kelley, Sergeant Gary B. Beikirch, and Command Sergeant Major Gary L. Littrell, Congressional Medal of Honor award recipients. These officers are among the 76 living Medal of Honor recipients. The powerful event is free to the community. Students, parents, and other community members are all invited to attend. Seats are limited and cannot be reserved in advance of the event. The school is located at 3570 E. Cochran St.

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