Californian School News

By: The Californian - | Sunday, March 4, 2007 10:06 PM PST ∞

Class Notes, Student Standouts

Students from Murrieta Valley High and Hemet High were among those competing in mock trials at the Southwest Justice Center Tuesday.

Teams from seven Southwest County high schools began competition Tuesday in the Riverside County Mock Trial competition. A total of 27 teams are competing for the county championship.

Southwest County schools competing are Chaparral, Great Oak, Murrieta Valley, Paloma Valley, Temecula Valley, Temescal Canyon and Lakeside.

Through Thursday, Murrieta Valley Black, Great Oak Red and Temecula Valley were all 2-0. Chaparral, Great Oak Blue, Lakeside Gold, Temescal Silver and Murrieta Valley Red were 1-1 and Paloma Valley, Lakeside Green and Temescal Blue were 0-2.

The teams were to compete again Saturday (which was after the deadline for this section) with the top eight teams advancing to the county championship on Wednesday and Saturday in Riverside. The winner there will advance to the state competition March 24 in northern California.

The teams serve as the prosecution and defense in arguing the case of People versus Campbell, which is about an attempted school bombing.

Police hold poster contest

TEMECULA ---- The Temecula Police Department is holding its annual Bicycle Safety Poster Contest at all 19 elementary schools in the Temecula Valley Unified School District.

There are contests for kindergarten through second grade, and third through fifth grade.

Winners of each group receive a bicycle and helmet and the second-place finisher receives a helmet.

The program is sponsored by Temecula City Councilwoman Maryann Edwards and Better World Together Foundation.

Day dancers win at Sea World

TEMECULA ---- The Express Dance and Drill Team from James L. Day Middle School brought home two top awards at the Sea World Showcase of Champions on Feb. 24. The squad took first place in the Drill Team division and earned the Master Champion trophy for accumulating the most points overall.

Day is the only middle school in Temecula to offer a dance and drill team. The 33-member squad, led by instructor Maria Morales, has been in existence for the past three years.

Team members are: Brianna Provost, Danielle Giesy, Jasmine Lutzke, Courtney Baker, Jessica Eckhardt, Lizette Joaquin, Analise Moinet, Jackie Maldonado, Catherine Helm, Taelyn Contreras, Courtney Klopf, Miranda Gauss, Brittany Tremonte, Alejandra Freer, Jessica Ruetz, Jessica Mendez and Rachyl French.

Also, Victoria Kirsch, Deven Flores, Taylor Bishop, Katrina VanDyke, Tiffany Romero, Divinia Cosio, Back Row ---- Brianna Bowers, Kirby Gordan, Savannah Brown, Olivia Eliseo, Madisen McDermott, Julia Blake, Cassie Sokach, Amy Coalter and Amanda Juarez.

Students of the Month honored

Students of the month for January and February from local high schools were honored by chambers of commerce.

The Lake Elsinore Valley Chamber of Commerce recognized: Elsinore ---- January, Hendrik "Henk" Brands and Angelica Barragan; February, Cody Crippen and Silvia Lemus. Lakeside ---- January, Derek Sachs and Amy Lesneski; February, Parker Morris and Fatima Cruz; Temescal Canyon ---- January, Andrew Zapata and Rosie Chuong; February, Kevin Johnston and Jorlyn Pallera. Ortega ---- January, Robert Ehret and Roxanne Duarte. Tri-Valley Community Day School ---- February, Victor Morales and Monica Lopez.

Murrieta Valley Chamber of Commerce students of the month are: Murrieta Valley ---- January, Marie Forney and Thomas Scher; February, Nicole Hall and Thomas Russo. Vista Murrieta ---- January, Nicolette Jonkhoff and David Legg; February, Erin Smythe and Ryan Gochee. Creekside ---- January, Christine Mitchell and Ryan McCarthy. Tenaja Canyon Academy ---- February, Stephanie Casagranda and Selest Alvarado.

Perris Union High School District students are honored by the Perris and Menifee Valley Chambers of Commerce. The students of the month include: Paloma Valley ---- January, Tyler Stickney and Haley Nash. February, Christian Vinluan and Nancy Velgara. Perris Lake ---- February, Nicole Seaton.

The Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce students of the month are: Chaparral ---- January, Shafat Sirajee and Shawnee McQuain; February, Zachary Fuller and Laura Ptacek. Great Oak ---- January, Brendan Lopez and Bianca Szczesniak; February, Ryan Kikuchi and Rebecca King. Linfield Christian ---- January, Robb Fahrion and Sara Bennett; February, Beau Knechtel and Amanda Ritchart. Temecula Valley High School ---- January, Drake Fages and Emily Childs; February, Kyle Good and Karyl Bacon. Rancho Vista High School ---- January, Derek Slevin and Rhiannon Hinton. Rancho Santa Rosa High School, February, Connor Lassey and Ashley Gaskill.

CLASS NOTES

School to host health, fitness expo

LAKE ELSINORE --- Hoping to connect students and families in the Lake Elsinore Unified School District with healthy activities, Canyon Lake Middle School will host a health and fitness expo from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday .

There will be a raffle, speakers and demonstration, vendors and silent auction throughout the day. Some Los Angeles Lakers cheerleaders are also scheduled to appear.

Funds will be going to the school's physical education department to purchase permanent shade tarps and other equipment.

The school is at 33005 Canyon Hills Road. For information, call Georgia Zermeno at 244-2123 or e-mail georgia.zermeno@leusd.k12.ca.us.

Kohl's to honor caring kids

Kohl's Department Store is seeking nominees for its annual Kids Who Care scholarship program, which recognizes teens and youth for their volunteer efforts.

To nominate a young volunteer, pick up a nomination form at any Kohl's store or at www.kohlscorporation.com. There are Kohl's stores in Temecula and Murrieta.

Nominations must be turned in by March 15. Nominees will be judged in two age groups: 6-12 and 13-18.

Two winners will be selected at each store ---- one from each age range ---- to receive a $50 gift card. Those winners will go on to compete for one of 148 regional scholarships worth $1,000 each. Regional winners will compete for 10 national scholarships. In addition, Kohl's will contribute $1,000 to a nonprofit organization on behalf of each national winner.

Murrieta Valley choirs to perform

MURRIETA ---- The choirs of Murrieta Valley High School will perform their annual Spring Concert at 7 p.m. March 16 at St. Catherine's Catholic Parish.

Tickets cost $8 for adults and $6 for students and seniors. Priority seating ticket sales are available online at www.gomvhs.com or they will be available at the door.

There will be a bake sale at intermission. Proceeds will go to the choir program.

The concert will be at 41875 C St., Temecula. For information, call 696-1408.

Chaparral seeks swap meet vendors

TEMECULA ---- The Chaparral High School Education Foundation is seeking vendors for its annual community swap meet, which will occur from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 14 in the school's parking lot.

A wide array of vendors, crafters, antique dealers and garage sale items will be available.

The foundation provides scholarships and grants for teachers at Chaparral High School. For information, please call Cheryl Eckard at 699-3210.

Host families needed for students

World Heritage International Student Exchange is seeking volunteer host families in the area to house international exchange students.

World Heritage International has students from Italy, Australia, France, Germany, Thailand, Japan, Russia. China, Switzerland and Denmark.

Host families provide room and board for the students .

Interested families should contact Bodil Dencker at (949) 310-5612 or visit the agency's Web site at www.world-heritage.org.

STUDENT STANDOUTS

Students earn academic honors

n Amber Renee Lundgren of Temecula was named to the autumn quarter dean's list at Seattle Pacific University. To make the list, students must attain a grade-point average of at least 3.5 with a minimum of 12 units.

n Arlene Forney of Murrieta and Abigail Richardson of Temecula were named to the dean's list for the fall 2006 semester at Saint Mary's College in Notre Dame, Ind. A student must achieve a grade-point average of at least 3.4 to earn academic honors.

n Jeffery L. Braun of Temecula has been included on the honor roll for fall semester 2006 at Montana Tech in Butte, Mont. To achieve honor status at Montana Tech, students must be enrolled full-time with a minimum of 12 credits and a grade-point average of at least 3.25.

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