Mira Costa High School

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Mira Costa High School
Home of the Mustangs
Location
1401 Artesia Boulevard
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 Satellite Image
Information
School district Manhattan Beach Unified School District
Principal Julie Ruisinger[1]
Enrollment

2,323 (as of 2005-06)[2]
Faculty 98.0 (on FTE basis)[2]
Student:teacher ratio 23.7[2]
Type Public high school
Grades 9 - 12
Nickname Mustangs
Color(s) Green and Gold
Yearbook Hoofprints
Publication La Vista (Newspaper)
Reflections (student created work)
Mustang Morning News (student-run newscast)
Established 1950
Information 310-318-7337
Homepage School website

Mira Costa High School (MCHS), (Costa) is a four-year public high school located in Manhattan Beach, California which first began operating in its city in 1950.

Mira Costa was ranked 214th on MSNBC's Best 1000 High Schools' in the United States. It is the only high school in the Manhattan Beach Unified School District. The school's athletic teams are known as the Mustangs and the school colors are green and gold.

Mira Costa is located on the corner of Peck Street and Artesia Boulevard. Residents of Hermosa Beach may choose to attend Redondo Union High School of the Redondo Beach Unified School District or Mira Costa.

As of Fall 2006, Redondo Beach residents living in the 90278 zip code were allowed to attend Mira Costa. Previously, MBUSD policy didn't allow Redondo Beach residents living in the 90278 ZIP code to attend MCHS.[3]

As of the 2005-06 school year, the school had an enrollment of 2,323 students and 98.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student-teacher ratio of 23.7.[2]

Contents

[edit] School Information

Ethnic composition:[4] American Indian/Alaskan Native: 0.1%
Asian: 6.3%
Pacific Islander: 0.4%
Filipino: 0.6%
Hispanic/Latino: 6.6%
African American: 2.2%
White: 67.7%
Other/Declined to State: 16.2%

[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

Mira Costa's student-run newspaper is distributed on campus to students, faculty, and staff as well as several hundred subscribers every three weeks during the school year. It has won several national awards, including some from Columbia University.

[edit] Beach Cities Robotics

The robotics team works with Redondo Union High School to create "team 294: Beach Cities Robotics." The club participates in the organization FIRST[1] (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), a national organization that fosters the advancement of science and technology by sponsoring programs for all grade levels and holding robotics competitions internationally. The premier event, FIRST FRC competition, gives teams six weeks to design, build, and test a robot according specifications set for that years competition. Students participating in the robotics club gain hands-on experience in engineering, physics, math, programming, public relations, teamwork, and many other skills.

Beach Cities Robotics has won numerous awards since starting in 1997, including 1st place at the international finals in 2001 against more than 50 other teams from around the world. For more information and contacts please visit http://www.bcrobotics.org[2]

[edit] Mira Costa Model United Nations

The Model United Nations program allows students to debate world issues in a structure based on the workings of the United Nations. The team has won many distinguished awards and travels nationally and international to attend conferences. The program hosts the annual Los Angeles Invitational Model United Nations Conference (LAIMUN) and is run by Robert Timberlake, who teaches geography and government, and Wayne Knutson, who teaches economics and history.

[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. 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 includes 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 Mr. Carlson. The marching band is known as the 'Marching Mustangs' and they perform their field show at home football games. 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, Secretary, Historian, and Librarian. The Mustang band teaches unity, respect, musicality, responsibility, and promotes fun. During the second semester, most members of the marching band participate in either Concert Band, Jazz Band or Wind Ensemble. There is also a new group created in the 2006-2007 school year called the "Winter Drumline" that is a group of percussionists that performs independently from the wind and brass sections of the band.

[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 with 6 foot tall flags and an experienced portion of the guard also preforms with mock rifles. After marching season, winterguard season starts. They travel around Southern California to compete.

[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 9, 2006, the choir performed Handel's Messiah at Carnegie Hall. The 2008 Golden State Competition was hosted at Mira Costa High with the Vocal Ensemble taking 2nd place in the small group division. Sandra Schnieders left in 2007 and was replaced with Michael Hayden from Indiana

[edit] Drama Program

The Mira Costa Drama Program is a well respected program in the south bay. This last spring the Mira Costa Drama Department put on Seussical The Musical and was largely successful. The show was directed by Nicole Thompson, choreographed by Anna Rubin Schutte, and produced by Carol Mathews. In the fall of 2007, the Drama Department put on the musical Assassins. The 2008 musical production, Beauty and the Beast, opened on April 18th and was the most successful show in the department's history. The MCHS Drama Department also attends theater festivals to compete against other schools with scenes and other "teams." The department is head by Ms. Carol Mathews.

[edit] Cheer Team

The cheerleading program is run by head coach Jay Watson and assistant coach Maria Crawford. The team consists of both JV 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. Cheerleading is one of the few all-year sports at Mira Costa.

In the spring, the cheerleaders compete in both the Small Varsity and JV divisions. The Varsity team won the title of first place National Champions at a competition in Palm Springs.

[edit] Young Democrats of Mira Costa High

The Mira Costa High School Young Democrats Club is a politically-active organization with the primary goal of promoting political awareness and activism on our campus and high schools throughout the region.

The Democrat Club includes an active membership of roughly forty students. It has assisted in the re-election campaign for Assemblyman Ted Lieu and has conducted the first political endorsement process ever on the MCHS campus. It attracted local media and was featured in numerous articles in South Bay papers.

[edit] Dance Team

The Mira Costa Dance Team is a varsity team. They perform at football games, basketball games, competitions and pep rallies.

[edit] Mira Costa Key Club

The Mira Costa Key Club is a community service club that is the High School subsidiary of the Mira Costa Kiwanis. The Key Club does many activities throughout the year, from beach clean ups, fundraiser event for various causes and feeding the homeless.The key club also helps run the kiddie corner of the Manhattan Beach Home Town Fair, each year. The Key Club advisor is Lisa Claypoole, teacher at Mira Costa as well as member of Hermosa Beach School Board.

[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 multiple national awards from organizations such as the Student Television Network and 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 two broadcasts a week by the end of 2001. Podcasts of the MMN can be viewed at http://www.mustangmorningnews.com

[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.[5] 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 2004-2007)[citation needed]
  • Marching Band
  • Girls' Golf (2005 CIF SS Champions)
  • Girls' Cross Country
  • Boys' Cross Country (ranked #856 in the country by USA Today from 2005-2007)[citation needed]
  • Girls' Tennis
  • Boys' Water Polo 2001 CIF SS DIV III Champions 2002 CIF SS DIV III Champions(2006 CIF SS Div. IV Champions, featured on episode 406 of "The OC" entitled "The Summer Bummer")
  • Color Guard
  • Football (1997 CIF Champs)
  • 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)
  • Mira Costa Boys Tennis Team (1974 and 1975 CIF Champions)
  • Boys' Volleyball (2008 CIF Champions)
  • Swimming
  • Badminton
  • Boys' Lacrosse
  • Girls' Lacrosse
  • Equestrian Team (new for 2007)
  • Competition Cheer

[edit] Musical Groups/Artists

[edit] Notable alumni

[edit] In television & film

Mira Costa High School is a common filming location for the popular television series "The O.C."[12] and CSI:Miami.[13] In 1981 portions of the film "Midnight Offerings"IMDb starring Melissa Sue Anderson were filmed on the campus. In 1979 many students, most notably members of the football team attired in their green and gold uniforms, were included as extras in the film Rock 'n' Roll High School. Recently, the administration building of Mira Costa High School was used as the high school for Disney TV show Hannah Montana starring Miley Cyrus.

[edit] Facilities

The newly built Administration Building, often referred to as the "Taj Mahal".
The newly built Administration Building, often referred to as the "Taj Mahal".

[edit] Sports

  • Indoor gym
  • Swimming pool Outdoor
  • 2 AstroTurf Football Fields
  • All-weather track
  • 2 Weight training facilities
  • Volleyball Courts
  • 2 baseball fields
  • 2 soccer fields
  • 12 tennis courts
  • all 12 hard courts

[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)
  • Auditorium

[edit] Vocational shops and other resources

  • Wood shop
  • Library
  • College and Career Center
  • Photography Laboratory
  • Language Lab (Room 49)
  • La Vista Room (Room 6)
  • Costa Lingo

[edit] Faculty

[edit] Administrative staff

  • Principal: Mrs. Russinger
  • Vice Principal: Mr. Hinsche
  • Vice Principal: Ms. Mallires
  • Teacher on Special Assignment: Mr. Harris

[edit] References

  1. ^ Mira Costa High School - Staff Directory
  2. ^ a b c d Mira Costa High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed January 5, 2007.
  3. ^ North Redondo Beach attendance agreement
  4. ^ Statistics
  5. ^ http://www.ccsso.org/projects/National_Teacher_of_the_Year/National_Teachers/156.cfm CCSSO: 2000 National Teacher of the Year
  6. ^ a b Spurrier, Jeff. "DESCENDENTS HANG OUT IN NEVER-NEVER LAND", Los Angeles Times, January 5, 1986. Accessed January 10, 2008.
  7. ^ Fletcher Dragge at IMDB.com. Accessed February 26, 2008.
  8. ^ Fonoimoana at bvbinfo accessed 8 January 2008
  9. ^ Jim Lindberg at IMDB.com. Accessed February 26, 2008.
  10. ^ Peterson, Lauren. "Resemblance is striking; Stanford-bound 6-foot-5 hitter Klineman has a Walsh-like effect on top-ranked Mira Costa", Los Angeles Times, December 2, 2006. Accessed January 6. 2008. "'When you see somebody like [Alix Klineman], where she's built like [Kerri Walsh] and she kind of looks like Kerri, who happens to be one of the best volleyball players on the beach or indoors to ever play the game -- and Alix has two inches on her -- I think it's exciting,' said Holly McPeak, a 1987 Mira Costa graduate and AVP tour veteran."
  11. ^ Smith, Michelle. "LB Okwo trying to spark Stanford", San Francisco Chronicle, September 27, 2006. Accessed January 10, 2008. "Okwo, a Redondo Beach native who attended Mira Costa High, would very much like to go home to Southern California and get a win against UCLA on Saturday night."
  12. ^ The O.C. Filming Locations
  13. ^ http://www.us.imdb.com/title/tt0362359/locations Filming Locations of The O.C. and CSI

[edit] External links