Mira Costa High School
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Name |
Mira Costa High School |
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| Address |
1401 Artesia Blvd., Manhattan Beach, California 90266 |
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| Established |
1950 |
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| Community |
Suburban |
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| Type |
Public |
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| Students |
2306 students |
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| Ethnic Composition |
Statistics |
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| Grades |
9 to 12 |
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| Principal |
Julie Ruisinger |
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| Nickname |
MCHS, Mira Costa High, Costa, MiCo |
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| Mascot |
The Mustang |
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| Colors |
Green and Gold |
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| Publications |
La Vista (Newspaper), Reflections (student created work), Mustang Morning News (student-run newscast) |
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| Yearbook |
Hoofprints |
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| Website | ||
Mira Costa High School (MCHS), (Costa) is a secondary school located in Manhattan Beach, California which first began operating in its city in 1950.
Mira Costa is ranked as the 214th Best high school in the United States according to MSNBC's Best 1000 High Schools. This school is the only high school in the Manhattan Beach Unified School District. Their athletic teams are known as the Mustangs and the school colors are green and gold. The school is located on the corner of Peck Street and Artesia Boulevard.
Mira Costa serves all of the city of Manhattan Beach. In addition, residents of Hermosa Beach may choose to attend Redondo Union High School of the Redondo Beach Unified School District or Mira Costa High School. Alumni of Mira Costa have noticed that in their early years of their high school career, many of their fellow peers transfer to Redondo Union High School, who then finish their high school years at Redondo Union. [1]
As of Fall 2006, Redondo Beach residents living in the 90278 zip code will be allowed to attend Mira Costa again. Previously, MBUSD policy didn't allow Redondo Beach residents living in the 90278 ZIP code to attend MCHS. [2]
[edit] School Information
[edit] The Alma Mater
All hail Alma Mater,
School that we all hold dear
We're proud to be a part of you,
We're prouder year by year
We sing your praises always,
Sing of your victories bold
We laud your honored name,
Mira Costa, Green and Gold!
[edit] Programs and People
[edit] La Vista
La Vista, Mira Costa's student-run newspaper, is distributed to all 2300 Costa students as well as several hundred subscribers every three weeks during the school year. The newspaper staff, composed primarily of upper classmen, tracks down stories and then works on the paper after school in room six. English teacher Michael McAvin presently serves as the advisor for the paper, but recently retired English teacher Jeanne Henry served as the advisor before him. The paper is entirely student run and has received numerous awards from various institutions, including several Gold Awards for journalistic excellence from Columbia University. La Vista also happens to be the oldest on-campus student organization, as it has been in existence since the school's opening in 1950, although Redondo Union's newspaper, the "High Tide" has been in existence since 1920.
[edit] Model United Nations Debate Team
Mira Costa High School sports its own Model United Nations team. In order to participate, students are required to take a class and attend several conferences throughout the year. In the past, Mira Costa Model UN (www.mchsmun.org) has travelled to conferences hosted by UC Berkeley, Georgetown University, Brown University, and Princeton University, as well as to the National Model United Nations Conference (held in the actual UN building in New York City), and several other high school and university conferences. It has also travelled internationally in 2002 to Berlin, and in 2004 to Montreal to attend conferences.
Robert Timberlake brought the program to Mira Costa in 1989. Model UN quickly grew in popularity and now has become one of the largest and most prestigious co-curricular programs on campus. Students represent various countries in UN committees (General Assembly, UNESCO, ECOSOC, Security Council, etc.), international organizations (OAS, EU), and historic bodies like the League of Nations. There they debate on wide variety of issues pertinent to the international community (genocide, nuclear proliferation, cultural erosion, etc.) from their assigned country’s point view, caucus, and pass resolutions to “solve” the problem.
Mira Costa's model United Nations debate team has won many distinguished awards and has been overseas many times to participate in international debates. Mira Costa's Model UN program hosts the annual Los Angeles Invitational Model United Nations Conference (LAIMUN).
[edit] Beach Cities Robotics
The robotics club at Mira Costa High School works with Redondo Union High School and Santa Monica High School as well as other southern California schools to create the Beach Cities Robotics club. The club participates in the organization FIRST[3] (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), a nation wide organization that fosters the advancement of science and technology through several different programs for all grade levels holding robotic competitions year round internationally. During the main event, FIRST FRC competition, the team has six weeks to design, build, and test a robot according to a challenge that changes each year. Students participating in the robotics club will gain knowledge in engineering, physics, math, programming, public relations, teamwork, and many other skills. Stephan Brown is among the best robotic controlers. Stephan is notorious for sporting crazy facial hair, that many people find offensive.
Beach Cities Robotics has won numerous awards since starting in 1997, and won 1st place at the international finals in 2000 against over 1012 other teams. For more information and contacts please visit http://www.bcrobotics.org[4]
[edit] Orchestra program
The orchestra program began in 2002 after conductor Christopher Schwabe was coaxed out of retirement. It began with a single orchestra class, which then became two. In the 2004-2005 school year, the higher orchestra became the Symphony Orchestra, featuring members of the school's Wind Ensemble. The symphony orchestra was invited to Carnegie Hall to play on April 11, 2006. Schwabe also took the Santa Monica High School Symphony Orchestra to Carnegie Hall. Currently, the orchestra program consists of the String Orchestra, the Symphony Orchestra, and the Chamber Ensemble, which consists of the top players in the Symphony Orchestra. (Four violins, two cellos, two violas, and a bass)
[edit] Band program
The band program is directed by Dr. Victor Aguilar. The marching band is known as the 'Marching Mustangs' and they perform their field show at home football games. Their 2006 show was 'New World Symphony', composed by Antonin Dvorak. They also compete in various competitions against other marching bands. The marching band promotes student leadership and gives students the opportunity to earn ranks such as Section Leader, Drum Major, Band President, Brass Lieuitenant, Wind Lieutenant, Percussion Lieutenant, and Color Guard Lieutenant (currently referred to as captain), and Librarian. The Mustang band teaches unity, respect, musicality, and responsibility. And, most of all, promotes fun. During the second semester, most members of the marching band participate in either Concert Band, Jazz Band or Wind Ensemble. The Concert Band and Wind Ensemble will soon be performing in a competition at Santa Monica High School. The Jazz Band specializes in improvisation and modern musical selections. They are currently preparing the classic jazz piece 'In The Mood' and a stylistic virsion of 'My Favorite Things'. They have played at various venues such as "The Lighthouse" and "Club 705". Unlike the Concert Band, the Wind Ensemble is the audition band, and certain members of the Wind Ensemble participate in the Symphony Orchestra (which recently went to Carnagie hall under the direction of Mr. Schwabe). There is also a new group created in the 2006-2007 school year called the "Winter Drumline" that is directed by "Steve" and is a group of percussionists that performs independantly from the wind and brass sections of the band. They will soon be competing angainst other schools in competition.
[edit] Color Guard
The color guard works in conjunction with the Mira Costa Marching Band. The color guard adds a visual flair to the marching band by spinning and tossing flags and rifles. The guard currently performs wit 6ft tall flags and an experienced portion of the guard on rifles (not and actual shooting gun, it is a performance tool that is shaped like a rifle, hence the name). They have a second team during the marching off-season called the winterguard, which travels around southern california to compete without the marching band.
[edit] Choir program
The choir program is a fairly recent program that is run by Sandra Schnieders. There are three choirs: Concert Choir, Chorale, and the Vocal Ensemble. On April 11, 2006, the choir performed Handel's Messiah at Carnegie Hall.
[edit] Cheer Team
The cheerleading program is run by head coach Jay Watson and assistant coach Maria Crawford. The team consists of both JV (all freshmen this year) and Varsity. Both teams promote school spirit by attending the Varsity games for the Football, Girls' and boys' volleyball, girls' and boys' basketball, and baseball teams. The cheerleaders practice daily after school and during 6th period as cheerleading is one of the few all-year sports at Mira Costa. In the spring, the cheerleaders compete in both the Small Varsity and Freshman divisions. The Varsity team won the title of first place National Champions at a competition in Palm Springs.
[edit] Mustang Morning News
Mira Costa's entirely student-run news program airs twice a week on the school's television network under the supervision of Video Production and Broadcast Journalism teacher Michael Hernandez. The Broadcast Journalism 3-4 students run the show while the 1-2 students train to take over the following year if they choose to become 3-4 students. Students devote hours of out-of-class time to write, shoot, and edit stories for broadcast. The Mustang Morning News has received several awards, including Third Place for a Broadcast Sports Story by the National Scholastic Press Association.
The Mustang Morning News first aired in the 1999-2000 academic school year. Starting as a weekly broadcast that was to be aired during homeroom (2nd period), the program quickly excelled and expanded to 2 broadcasts a week by the end of 2001. Currently the program resides in room 108, which prior to renovation was home to the ceramics program. For more information and to view the newscast, go to www.mcmediaarts.org
[edit] National Teacher of the Year
In 2000, Marilyn Jachetti Whirry, Ph.D., (January 12, 1935 - September 2, 2005) a 12th grade English teacher was selected as the National Teacher of the Year.[1] Dr. Whirry had taught at Mira Costa between 1967 through 2000.
[edit] Sports
[edit] Fall sports
- Girls' Volleyball (ranked #1 in the country by USA Today from 2004-2006)
- Marching Band
- Girls' Golf (2005 CIF SS Champions)
- Girls' Cross Country
- Boys' Cross Country
- Girls' Tennis
- Boys' Water Polo (2006 CIF SS Champions)
- Color Guard
- Football
- Equestrian Team (new for 2007)
[edit] Winter sports
- Wrestling
- Girls' Basketball
- Boys' Basketball
- Girls' Soccer
- Boys' Soccer
- Girls' Water Polo
- Marching band
- Color Guard/ Winterguard
- Equestrian Team (new for 2007)
[edit] Spring sports
- Baseball
- Girls' Track
- Boys' Track
- Softball
- Boys' Golf (2005-06 CIF Champions)
- Boys' Tennis
- Boys' Volleyball
- Swimming
- Badminton
- Boys' Lacrosse
- Girls' Lacrosse
- Equestrian Team (new for 2007)
- Competition Cheer
[edit] Musical Groups/Artists
[edit] Notable Alumni
- Eric Fonoimoana-Olympian, Professional Volleyball player
- Robert Hecker - 1983, Lead Guitarist for the band Redd Kross
- Roger Avary - 1983, Writer (see Pulp Fiction), Director, Producer
- Michelle Tafoya - 1983 (from Aviation High School), Sports television reporter
- Jim Lindberg - 1983, Lead Singer of punk band Pennywise
- Kelly Vitz - 2006, (actress in Sky High)
- Holly McPeak - Olympian, Professional Volleyball player
- Bill Stevenson - drummer for notable punk rock bands the Descendents, Black Flag, and ALL (band)
- Milo Aukerman - singer for punk rock band the Descendents
[edit] In Television & Film
Mira Costa High School is a common filming location for the popular television series "The O.C."[2] and CSI:Miami. In 1981 portions of the film "Midnight Offerings"IMDb starring Melissa Sue Anderson were filmed on the campus. In 1979 many students were included as extras in the film Rock 'n' Roll High School.
[edit] Facilities
[edit] Sports
- Indoor gym
- Swimming pool
- Waller Football Stadium
- All-weather track
- 2 Weight training facilities
- 12 Tennis Courts including:
3 clay courts 3 grass courts 6 hard courts
- Volleyball Courts
- 2 baseball fields
- 2 soccer fields
[edit] Arts
- Video production facilities (Room 108)
- Macintosh laboratory
- Video editing stations
- Broadcast studio
- Darkroom (Room 101)
- Ceramics (Room 107)
- Ten throwing wheels
- Electric, gas, and raku kilns
- Fine arts facilities
- Digital media
- Band room (Room 2)
- Choir room
- Orchestra room (Room 109)
- Drama room (Room 1)
[edit] Vocational shops and other resources
- Wood shop
- Library
- College and Career Center
- Photography Laboratory
- Language Lab (Room 49)
- La Vista Room (Room 6)
[edit] Faculty
[edit] Administrative staff
- Principal: Julie Rusinger
- Vice Principal: Herb Hinsche
- Vice Principal: Jennie Mallires
- Athletic Director: Bob Fish
- Educational Advisor: DaeLea Aldrich
- Educational Advisor: Denise Anderson
- Educational Advisor: David Beck
- Educational Advisor: Corrine Lee-Iwai
- Educational Advisor: Sue Bertran
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.ccsso.org/projects/National_Teacher_of_the_Year/National_Teachers/156.cfm CCSSO: 2000 National Teacher of the Year
- ^ http://www.us.imdb.com/title/tt0362359/locations Filming Locations of The O.C. and CSI
[edit] External links
- MCHS Site
- Mira Costa Model United Nations
- MCHS Cross Country Site
- MCHS Cheer Team website
- Beach Cities Robotics
- Mira Costa Orchestra Site
- Mira Costa Media Arts Site
- Mira Costa Football Site
- Mira Costa Media Arts Foundation
- Mira Costa Marching Mustangs Site
- Mira Costa Lacrosse
- Mira Costa Class of 1967 Reunion Site
