West Valley High School (Cottonwood, California)

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West Valley High School

West Valley High School
Established	1981
Type	Public Secondary
Principal	Karl Stemmler
Students	Approx. 900
Grades	9–12
Location	Cottonwood, California, USA
District	Anderson Union High School District
Colors	Cardinal and gold
Mascot	Eagle
Yearbook	'Aquila'
Newspaper	'Eagle Examiner'
Website	West Valley High School

West Valley High School is an American high school in Cottonwood, California, 6.5 miles West of Interstate 5 near the intersection of Gas Point and Happy Valley Roads. The closest major city is Redding, California which is about fifteen miles north of the school. The school's mascot is the eagle.

West Valley is a small school of approximately 900 students. It is part of the Anderson Union High School District which is headed by superintendent Randy Palomino. The district includes Anderson, Anderson New Technology, Oakview, North Valley, and West Valley High Schools.

The high school is known locally for its academics and is a California distinguished school. It is also well-known in the North State area for its athletic programs.

1 History
2 Interesting Facts
3 Notable Alumni
4 Image Gallery
5 Footnotes
6 External links

[edit] History

Before West Valley's opening in 1981, Anderson High School found itself unable to expand in size due to topographical constraints, and a new high school had to be built within the district. As a result, the Board of Education approved a tax override measure to be placed on the local ballot. The voters approved the measure, but because of the earlier passage of Proposition 13, special legislation in Sacramento had to be introduced and passed to allow for the tax levy to be utilized for a new school. The bill passed, and land was subsequently purchased through the state's power of eminent domain, and construction of a new high school in Cottonwood ensued.

West Valley High School was dedicated on October 1, 1981. At the dedication ceremony, the Honorable Richard B. Eaton, Shasta County Superior Court Judge, remarked:

"A younger generation can go forward only if it begins, not where its fathers began, but where they finished . . . . The public school presents, in effect, a conducted tour to the frontiers of present knowledge, after which the student must break his own trail into the unknown . . . . [It is] my high honor and privilege to dedicate West Valley High School . . . in the name of those goals to whose service a public school should most fittingly be dedicated . . . to truth, to freedom, and to equality."^[1]

Photovoltaic System

In the late-1980's and early 1990's, a performing arts center was built as well as an addition to the cafeteria. A few years later, a pool, satellite gymnasium, and another classroom wing were added to the campus. During the 2005-2006 school year, a photovoltaic system was installed in order to offset the energy costs in a very high-cost area of Shasta County.^[2]

West Valley has had three principals: Richard Pangburn (1981-1995); Lawrence Perry (1995-1999); and Karl Stemmler (1999 - Present).

DUI Prevention Program

During the 2003-2004 school year, West Valley gained notoriety for a series of vehicle related student deaths, two of which were alcohol-related. These tragic events inspired classmates to create a nationally-recognized DUI prevention program.^[3]

[edit] Interesting Facts

During West Valley's first year, it had no senior class. The students who would have comprised West Valley's senior class preferred instead to finish their high school education at Anderson High School.

The first varsity football coach was Lewis Ayotte. Local legend has it that he chose the cardinal and gold colors because he was a longtime fan of the University of Southern California. This may have kept with a district Pac-10 theme as West Valley's rival, Anderson High School, dons the colors of the University of California and uses the younger version of its mascot.

West Valley's varsity football team did not win a single game for the first three years of the school's existence, reportedly tying a California state record. In 1984, West Valley finally achieved its first victory, defeating arch-rival Anderson High School.

When it was founded, West Valley became part of the West Side League (WSL). The league at that time included: Corning, Gridley, Orland, West Valley, and Willows High Schools. Later, it became part of the Northern Athletic League (NAL) which includes: Anderson, Central Valley, Corning, Lassen, West Valley, and Yreka High Schools.

In 1987, no one was allowed to wear shorts at school, yet female students were allowed to wear mini-skirts. As a result, a number of the male students one Spring day chose to wear mini-skirts to school in protest. The protest was broadcast on local television that evening and a story was published in the newspaper the next day. Unfortunately for the protesters, the administration, which had been working with the student government to allow shorts, decided to retain their no-shorts policy so as not to condone sensationalist tactics.

[edit] Notable Alumni

ATHLETICS

Olympic athletes Matthew Hamon and Nicole Teter graduated from West Valley in 1987 and 1991 respectively.^[4] Hamon also presently serves on the faculty of Evergreen State College as a visual arts and photography professor.^[5]

ENTERTAINMENT

Cindy McCormick Martinusen Coloma, author of several faith-themed novels, graduated in 1988.

Matt Logue, a 1991 graduate, has worked as a senior animator and animation supervisor for such films as The Lord of the Rings trilogy, the The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and the 2008 version of The Incredible Hulk. ^[6]

Drew Wilson, a 2003 graduate, will have a supporting role in an upcoming James Bond movie.^{[citations needed]}