Grant High School (Los Angeles, California)

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Coordinates: 34°10′46″N 118°24′57″W / 34.179332, -118.415773

Ulysses S. Grant High School
Location
Valley Glen, Los Angeles, California
Information
School district Los Angeles Unified School District
Type Public
Grades 9-12
Motto What we are to be we are now becoming
Mascot Lancer
Color(s) brown, orange, white
Established 1959
Newspaper The Odyssey
Yearbook The Shield
Homepage

Ulysses S. Grant High School is a secondary school in the Valley Glen neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, in the east-central San Fernando Valley. It is located adjacent to Los Angeles Valley College.

It is part of District 2 of the Los Angeles Unified School District. The school serves several areas, including Valley Glen, much of Sherman Oaks, and sections of Van Nuys [1].

Its mascot is the Lancer and the school colors are brown, orange, and white. The school motto is: "What we are to be we are now becoming."

The school newspaper is called the "Odyssey" in reference to President Grant's first name - Ulysses - the main character in Homer's epic "The Odyssey." There is a school tradition that, on or about April 1, a satirical issue is distributed called the "Oddity" and it contains comical and irreverent articles. Past "articles" have been about finals being canceled, the school being closed, rats infesting the cafeteria, clothing optional P.E. classes, etc.

The school yearbook is called the "Shield" .

Connected to Grant High School is a communications/technology magnet which emphasizes smaller class sizes and communications technology electives including film/video production, broadcast journalism, computer technology, graphic communications, and performing arts.[2]

Contents

[edit] History

Grant opened in 1959.

In 2006, Grant was relieved of many 9th and 10th graders by the opening of East Valley High School, which planned to phase in grades 11 and 12 in the following two years [3].

Grant was featured in Newsweek magazines April 17, 2008 cover story about 25 years of divorce in America; Grant was chosen as a prototypical suburban high school and the article featrued members of the class of 1982 and their marital stories[1].

[edit] Filming location

Grant High School has been featured in a number of film and television productions. This is due to the long strip of road (known as "Lancer Lane") that runs between the eastern boundary of the school and a scenic greenbelt, walking path, and the Tujunga Wash, and the availability of ample parking -- combined with the ease of moving equipment around. Grant High School is also recognized as among the best high schools in the country for its film/video productions made by students of the communications/technology magnet.

Among the professional film and television productions that have utilized Grant High School as a filming location:

Many music videos including:

  • NERD's Rockstar video
  • Deftones - music video Back to School (interior and exterior shots)
  • Three Doors Down - music video Loser (hallways, teachers lounge, class rooms, and exterior shots)
  • IMA ROBOT's - Creeps Me Out (All shot at various parts of the school)
  • Hellogoodbye - Baby It's Fact
  • P Diddy-It's All About the Benjamins (used auditorium)
  • Escape The Fate - Situations

[edit] Academic and Artistic Feats

In the late 1960s, a local L.A. television station aired a game show called It's Academic, which featured competition among L.A. area high schools in a quiz show format. Grant won the competition both years that the show was on the air.

In 1977, students at Grant achieved a listing in the Guinness Book of World Records for playing the world's largest musical chairs game (record since broken).

Grant students are also credited with helping to paint one of the largest murals in the world - the Great Wall of Los Angeles - in the Tujunga Wash that lies on the border of the campus. The mural, which depicts southwestern U.S. history from prehistoric times, is 2,754 feet (840 m) making it the longest mural in the United States.

[edit] Film Program

Grant has a highly regarded film program for students either considering a career in that field or for students who just want to engage themselves in a fun hobby. The film teacher, Mr. Alex Hakobian, was a graduate of the UCLA School of Theatre, Film, and Television who spent 18 years of his career in the film industry as an actor/gaffer/writer, and an additional seven years as a writer/project developer with Ivan Tors. He is in his 22nd year of being a film teacher.

Students that have completed his program have earned numerous awards such as certificates, CINE Golden Eagles, trophies and other means of recognition. The students are allowed to freely create stories of their own.

[edit] Los Angeles City Athletic Championships

  • 1974 Boys Tennis
  • 1986 Boys Baseball
  • 1993 Girls Soccer
  • 1994 Girls Soccer
  • 1996 Girls Gymnastics
  • Retired numbers: #13 Rod Beck (Baseball), #21 Nevil Vega (Baseball) #25 Gilbert Arenas (Boys Basketball)

[edit] Notable alumni

[edit] Alma Mater Song

All hail alma mater we sing with a vibrant cry. To pledge our allegiance to Grant, our senior high. We vow this forever in every endeavor, we'll proudly uphold our fame. With brown, orange, and white as the sign of our might, we're faithful to Grant's glorious name

[edit] References

  1. ^ The Divorce Generation Grows Up | Newsweek Culture | Newsweek.com
  2. ^ CD Baby: VARIOUS ARTISTS: Evil Fuzz - Davie Allan Tribute
  3. ^ http://www.socalhoops.com/prep01/1101/gilbert1120.htm
  4. ^ http://www.socalhoops.tierranet.com/archive/prepnotes/1098/grant1005.htm
  5. ^ Barry Carl - Biography
  6. ^ Mike Curb - Biography
  7. ^ http://www.brokenwheelranch/bobbydiamond.htm
  8. ^ Moosie Drier - Biography
  9. ^ "Never Enough..." The Official Micky Dolenz Website
  10. ^ TAXI A&R Interview: Lonn Friend, Arista Records
  11. ^ Bringing Glory To The Valley : Watts Tops List Of Area Stars Who Left A Mark. - Free Online Library
  12. ^ 1966 Houston Astros Baseball Draft
  13. ^ Freckles and Filigree - TIME
  14. ^ The Divorce Generation Grows Up | Newsweek Culture | Newsweek.com
  15. ^ Roger Cobb's House - The Official Site for the House Movies
  16. ^ MySpace.com - Mike Porcaro Fan Side - Rock / Fusion / Jazz - www.myspace.com/mikeporcaro
  17. ^ Danny Nucci Biography - Yahoo! Movies
  18. ^ Jeffrey Porcaro, Toto's Drummer, And a Studio Musician, 38, Dies - New York Times
  19. ^ Jeffrey Porcaro, Toto's Drummer, And a Studio Musician, 38, Dies - New York Times
  20. ^ Jeffrey Porcaro, Toto's Drummer, And a Studio Musician, 38, Dies - New York Times
  21. ^ SHO_062907.indd
  22. ^ CNN Transcript - Larry King Live: Tom Selleck Discusses 'Running Mates' - July 21, 2000
  23. ^ http://mikesimpson.com
  24. ^ 1971 Baseball Draft - Round 2
  25. ^ TAXI A&R Interview: Lonn Friend, Arista Records
  26. ^ Post, Mike Biography: Contemporary Musicians
  27. ^ Hip Historians | Community Briefs | Jewish Journal
  28. ^ CD Baby: VARIOUS ARTISTS: Evil Fuzz - Davie Allan Tribute

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[edit] External links