Cerritos High School

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For other uses, see El Cerrito High School.
Cerritos High School
Address
12500 E. 183rd Street
Cerritos, California 90703
Information
School board ABC Unified School District
Superintendent Gary Smuts
Principal Jeff Green
Vice principal Vanessa Landesfeind, Le Wentz
Administrator Sam Bisogno, Melissa Chan, Holly Roehl, Debi Silber
School type Secondary
Grades 9-12
Language English
Area [562]
Mascot Don
Team name Dons
Color(s)                     Black, Gold, White, Red
Homepage Cerritos High School web site

Cerritos High School is a public school in Cerritos, California, serving grades 9-12. It is part of the ABC Unified School District, which also oversees Artesia, Gahr, and Whitney High Schools. The current principal at Cerritos High School is Jeff Green.

Contents

[edit] History

Cerritos High School began its history by sharing the campus of nearby Richard Gahr High School. A rapidly increasing student population during the 1970s prompted the construction of its current campus, located across the street from the Cerritos library and city hall. Since then, Cerritos High has become the main public high school for the City of Cerritos with a student population of approximately 2,500 students. Though the original mascot was the donkey, the school mascot has since been changed to the don, or Spanish lord. The school colors consist of black and gold, and to a lesser extent, red and white.

[edit] Extracurricular activities

Cerritos High School has many programs such as clubs, leadership, and sports. The Model United Nations program offered at Cerritos High is a program where students play the role of delegates representing a country in the United Nations, debating real-life topics of international importance. In addition to "MUN," the school offers a broadcasting program called "C-High TV." The Cerritos Model UN has won several awards and is one of the best schools in California. For example this year they won the Award of Excellence. Students are given the chance to videotape special events at school and then using these events, the student will make a creative video so that students, staff, and teachers may view in the first five minutes of their homerooms. Other activities offered are the National Champion Song and Varsity Yell Pep Squad, Dance Drill Team, the All-Male Hip-Hop Team, Drumline, Marching Band, Colorguard, Drama, Yearbook, Journalism, and the Associated Student Body.

[edit] Sports

Cerritos High wins many Suburban League titles in sports such as girls' volleyball, girls' basketball, badminton, swimming, boys water polo, track and field, boys and girls tennis, golf, and boys volleyball. Their football team won it's first and only league title in 2001, but it is striving to win its next league championship this year with new head coach Mark o'Neil. The teennis team winning its first cif championship ship this 2008 season with only 3 veteran player and 3 freshman

Fall Sports (Boys): Cross Country, Football, Water Polo

Fall Sports (Girls): Cross Country, Golf, Tennis, Volleyball

Winter Sports (Boys): Basketball, Soccer, Wrestling

Winter Sports (Girls): Basketball, Soccer, Water Polo

Spring Sports (Boys): Badminton, Baseball, Golf, Swimming, Tennis, Track, Volleyball

Spring Sports (Girls): Badminton, Softball, Swimming, Track

[edit] Annual Activities

Senior Hill, where most Senior gifts and perks are handed out annually.
Senior Hill, where most Senior gifts and perks are handed out annually.

Each year there are several annual events organized by the ASB and sometimes aided by school clubs. Some of the events more noted by the student body include:

Project Diversity: Project Diversity is an anticipated annual week-long event, run by the commissioner of multi-cultural affairs (Anthony Chatmon), during which clubs and classes gain the opportunity to present their cultures and heritage to the student body. Clubs such as Rangoli Club, Chinese Club, and Chikara have their own segments during lunch, and their displays often come in the form of dance and music. On the more competitive edge, classes compete for spirit points with acts based on the theme for that year. First place is given to the class which gives its performance with the best mix of comedy, fluidity, and presentation of the theme in the promotion of diversity.

International Food Court Day: An enter-by-ticket event, also run by the commissioner of multicultural affairs (Anthony Chatmon), (usually costing $4.00) held in front of the North entrance of the school where a long row of food is set up. Each ticketholder is given a plate and then he or she goes in a line being served food from various cultured clubs, hence "International" Food Court Day. Although most of the participating clubs are culture-based clubs, a few are just some normal clubs that enter to receive recognition and notice by ASB.

Club Day: Where every club is given an area, somewhere around the school, to set up their booth or table to try to reel in possible members as well as to make a good impression on Freshmen. Usually the most recently-created clubs and the most popular clubs are given a spot in the center of the quad. Some clubs that are offered include: CSF, Space Settlement, Magkaisa, JSA, Math and Science, Visual Arts, NHS, Wings of Hope, Spanish Club, Red Cross, Antidote International, Chikara, L'image de France, Key Club, Rangoli, JNHS, Kids Helping Kids, Octagon, Habitat for Humanity, Project Lifeline, Ni Hao, Girls League Association, Pu'uwai, Saviors of America (SOA), and Shauri.

Yearbook Signing Party:

The 2006 Staff Vs Student soccer game.
The 2006 Staff Vs Student soccer game.

On the day the yearbooks are given out after classes, the school is open to let students pick up their yearbooks as well as go around to mingle with new people and hang out with their friends to exchange and sign yearbooks. The yearbook, named Sin Igual, has usually been color for Senior photos, which are slightly larger, and for extra pages focusing on advertisements and school sports and events. The rest is usually black and white, including the class pictures of Juniors, Sophomores, and Freshmen. However the 2006 yearbook, Volume 35, was completely in color for the first time.

Staff vs Student Soccer Game A soccer match between willing teachers and the junior varsity soccer team, it is mostly for the enjoyment of the teachers and students who participate as well as to promote better interstaff relations. The game usually takes place in the large field behind the school.

Electives Day: Starting in March 2008, CHS will be holding an "electives" day. Much like club day, different elective classes will showcase the point of the class and why students should join.

[edit] C-High TV

CHS students eating lunch and hanging out.
CHS students eating lunch and hanging out.

[C-High TV] was founded in late 2003 by Carla Gilmore. It became an official class in the '04-'05 school year and aired an episode to the entire campus for the first time in March 2005. [C-High TV] seeks not only to provide hands-on experiences in the video production field for its members, but also to bring into focus the normally overlooked activities on campus and to raise awareness about recent events and world issues. A new episode is aired daily to the entire student body.

From late August (starting with a one-week "Camp") to March, the C-High crew covers and broadcasts school activities, such as dances, concerts, tests, student shoutouts, and sports updates. Throughout the first semester, in addition to creating daily episodes, students learn the mechanics of prestigious computer programs such as Final Cut, a video editing program that has been utilized in the creation of many motion pictures.

After March, C-High switches its focus and begins (un-aired) work on the Spring Supplement DVD, which since 2005, has taken the place of the paper supplement that accompanies the school yearbook. The DVD is free for any Cerritos High student who purchases a yearbook, and it consists of features such as spring sports, extracurricular activities, and the most memorable of all, senior focus. From March to June, C-High continues to cover various school activities but does not air them, saving these episodes for the DVD and instead broadcasting more non-news-based segments such as original storylines and student shoutouts that were produced in previous years or by contemporary media students. In addition, students are invited to aid in producing an episode about a topic they feel should be introduced to the student body.

Starting March 2008, C-High will be taking a new "live" approach. Live Groups will present tri-weekly live episodes featuring weather, sports, and school events. C-High will now be implementing the Newtech Tri-Caster which is a $10,000 broadcasting System that is run by current studio/live manager Chris Boulos(sophomore). Other managers in Chightv include production managers Vivek Shah(Senior) and Joy Yi(Senior), together these three managers help provide leadership roles in Chightv.

[edit] Ranking

Cerritos High School is ranked the 236th top U.S. high school, according to a ratio devised by Jay Mathews: the number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and/or Cambridge tests taken by all students at a school in 2007 divided by the number of graduating seniors. This places the school among the top 5 percent.

[edit] Alma Mater

The spirit of Cerritos High Her legends yet untold We'll always sing her praises And wear the black and gold Cerritos High All hail to thee Our guardian shield and guide And from the heart of California Sing of Cerritos High.

[edit] Notable alumni

The quad
The quad
  • Ben Howland, class of 1975 - UCLA Head Basketball Coach.
  • Ed Delgado, class of 1977 - California State Wrestling Champion, United States Wrestling Federation.
  • Lela Rochon, class of 1982 - Actor, most notably in the films Waiting to Exhale and The Chamber.
  • Marcelo Balboa, class of 1984 - US Men's National Soccer Team.
  • Eddie Soto, Pro Soccer Player, Assistant Coach UCLA.
  • Jorge Salcedo, Pro Soccer Player, Head UCLA Men's Soccer Coach.
  • Roger Lodge, host of Blind Date.
  • Alex Camargo, Head Coach Long Beach City College Women's Soccer.
  • Toby Henderson, Pro BMX Rider, inventor of the Henderson Hop, and ABA (BMX) Hall of Fame.
  • Brian "Bogi" Givens, PRO BMX Rider.
  • Eddie Lewis, class of 1992 - US Men's National Soccer Team, Derby County Football Club.
  • Jody Peterson, class of 1991 - Actress, Growing Pains
  • Tony An - Korean Pop Singer, former H.O.T member
  • Jessica van der Linden, Former Florida State Softball Pitcher/Outfielder and 2004 NCAA Player of the Year. Member of the Puerto Rican and USA National Softball Teams.
  • Brad Montgumry - Fox Weatherman, El Paso, Texas
  • Kristina Campese - Singer, Reality TV Star.
  • Han Ye Seul - Korean Singer, Actress, Model
  • DJ Melo D - Hip Hop DJ / Member of the Beat Junkies.
  • DJ Rhettmatic - Hip Hop DJ and producer / Member of the Beat Junkies.
  • James "Whiteboy" Page - Actor and Blues musician

[edit] External links