Los Feliz Ledger [ micheltorena street school ] By Dorit Dowler-Guerrero Ledger Guest Writer Micheltorena Street Elementary School has a new principal and steadily rising test scores. New principal Susanna Furfari brings a wealth of knowledge from her tenure at Eagle Rock Elementary School. Additionally, Micheltorena continues to be one of the top most improved schools in LAUSD showing a 38 point gain in this year’s California Academic Performance Index tests (API). It was the greatest gain of any Silver Lake area school, placing their score at a respectable 721. This gain in API is partially attributable to a relief in overcrowding. Formerly a year round school, Micheltorena is now on a traditional calendar with the average class size of 19 and a manageable student body of 448. The school also has a progressive arts program, an orchestra teacher, a vocal teacher and after school programs including Hollywood Art Council, LA’S BEST and an all grade after school gifted program. New programs for this school year include dance classes from the California Dance Institute, a science lab and enhanced PE programs that include yoga and meditation. Also, the school will introduce, this year, a PTA and the Friends of Micheltorena (FOM)—a parent, teacher and community non profit organization focusing on fundraising and community outreach. [ king middle school ]
King Improvement Projects in the Works By Anahit Muradyan Starting this month improvement projects will be taking place all over Thomas Starr King Middle School. Some of the projects are replacing old flooring in the auditorium, the boys’ and girls’ gym and a few classrooms. The cafeteria was recently painted and there are plans to add “healthy food� murals to encourage students to eat healthier. Areas of the school will be repaved, which is estimated to take up to six months to complete. King students will also play an important role in the improvements through the gardening club offered by LACER (Literacy, Arts, Culture, Education and Recreation), an after-school program. The gardening club plans to plant flowers in and around the amphitheatre. The changes will be going on throughout the 2007-2008 school year, so keep your eyes open for an improved Thomas Starr King Middle School. [ immaculate heart high school ]
Los Feliz Has New Mom’s Club LOS FELIZ—Over 20 mothers and their children gathered in the play space behind Dragonfly DuLou, for the first time in September for the first ever Los Feliz Mom’s Club.
The group will operate under the Mom’s Club Corporation, a national non-profit, founded in 1985. With the area changing, some local families saw a need. “We moved in about 10
Pictured from left: Karen Prendergast with son, Dillon; Carol Gardener with daughter, Silvia, and Christine Blackburn with daughter, Alabama.
years ago and there were no families here and now we have thousands of children here in Los Feliz and Silver Lake,� said Lana Chirco Baltz, owner of Dragonfly DuLou who lives in Los Feliz with her husband and children. All the more reason, says Blackburn, for the group to establish a strong presence in Los Feliz to support the local neighborhood and businesses. “There are some issues that need to be addressed in Los Feliz and as we grow in numbers our political clout can grow,� said Erica Chapman who attended the group’s inaugural meeting with her son, Wyatt. Contact losfelizmomsclub@ gmailcom for information.
Become a Champion at RibĂŠt Academy College Preparatory School
Grades PK – 12th LA County & State Science Fair Champions National Debate Champions LA County Mock Trial Champions Marine Biology Program and Lab Gold Key Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Congressional Art Competition 1st, 2nd & 3rd Place Championship Athletics National Champions in Cheerleading, Dance and Hip Hop Visitation Day Wednesdays October 3rd, 17th & 31st see website for details 2911 San Fernando Road Los Angeles, CA 90065
(323) 344-4330 ext 123 www.ribetacademy.com
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IH Welcomes New Class Members By Lauren Aleman and Heidi Slojewski, Class of ’10 Sisterhood is celebrated every year at Immaculate Heart High School and this year was not an exception. On Sept. 7th, students continued a beloved school tradition by greeting the freshmen for “Welcome Day.� The four classes of Immaculate Heart performed skits, songs and dances dedicated to the Class of 2011. Tenth graders kicked off the special event with capes, sunglasses and the color yellow. As “Super Stunna Sophomores,� they informed classmates of their super-hero intentions to “save� the freshmen from any harm, as demonstrated with a Spiderman-themed song sung in their name. Next up were junior class members, sporting berets and striped shirts for their French theme. Known as “J’taime Juniors,� they presented a skit based on the Madeline story, featuring ballet. They also sang their Freshman-themed version of “Spectacular� from Moulin Rouge! Not to be upstaged, the seniors dressed as “Sixties Seniors� – complete with beehive hairdos and 60s attire. Class members did their take on the musical Hairspray, offering their song to the freshmen by singing “Welcome to IH!� As the fourth and final class, freshmen introduced themselves to the school as “Fitness Freshmen� and dressed their part with spandex, shorts and hair-bands. They sang and danced to “Push It,� from the Disney Channel’s Jump In! As a surprise bonus to the day’s performances, the IH faculty became the “Sesame Street Staff� in a clever skit designed to educate Elmo on the benefits of attending Immaculate Heart High School. Later, the students gathered on the quad to share potluck lunches and then dance to music in preparation for that evening’s “Welcome Day� dance on campus. October 2007
www.losfelizledger.com
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SCHOOL NEWS
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