“to inspire and educate the Mira Loma Community through

Volume 2, Number 1 ! !
!
What’s Inside the
2013 Winter Edition:
What makes Mira
Loma amazing:!
IB, AP, and IP
Matador Profile:
Matador Capers’
Founder Len Frizzi
Mira Loma’s second
Principal Toby Johnson
reflects on ML
Join today for free!
MLAF
“to inspire and
educate the Mira
Loma
Community
through
membership,
communication
and fundraising
for the benefit of
Mira Loma High
School”.
!
!
!
Winter 2012
We’re pleased to bring you this third newsletter since the inception of the Mira Loma Alumni and Friends Association. We hope that you enjoy the updates about the school, descriptions of our current activities, and various articles that hopefully take you down memory lane. If you missed any prior editions of the newsletter, they are available on our website: www.miralomaalumniandfriends.com !
This past year has been a busy one for your Board of Directors. We’ve established our structure, formed a few pivotal goals, and have recruited to the board some fantastic advocates of the school from its various periods and constituents. !
Our Mission Statement -­‐-­‐To inspire and educate the Mira Loma Community through membership, communication, and fundraising for the beneJit of Mira Loma High School—serves as the guiding principle of all or activities and plans. We are a 501(c)(3) organization, so all donations to the association are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law. We invite you to make a donation through our website at anytime. !
Right now we have ambitious plans to host a school-­‐wide barbecue in September 2013 as well as a ladies luncheon this spring. We hope to bring to you a series of events that will enable you to connect with friends from the school’s various eras. !
Like all volunteer organizations, we continue to look for committed alumni and friends to join our board or to work on one of many committees. This is a great way for you to meet new people from all eras of the school, to help alumni reconnect, and to support the school at the same time. If you are interested in joining the board or serving on a committee, please contact me at 916-­‐488-­‐0660 or at margaretkane@earthlink.net. !
Please encourage fellow alumni and friends to join us at http://
www.miralomaalumniandfriends.com/join.html. Remember, we are a dues free organization and everyone is welcome. !
-­‐-­‐-­‐Margaret Kane President Parent, Class of 2012
The Golden
Voice of
Mira Loma
contributed by
Michael Frizzi
Len enthusiastically
announced the
Basketball and Football
seasons
1976
I
t’s hard to think of Mira
Loma High School in the 60’s,
70’s, and 80’s without thinking of
Len Frizzi. Len was born and
raised in Hollister, CA and
graduated from San Jose State
University, where he met Nellis,
his wife and best friend of 62
years. They moved to Sacramento
in 1950, where Len taught Social
Studies, Journalism, and coached
baseball at San Juan High School
from 1950-57, and at La Sierra
High School from 1958-60. In
1960, Mira Loma High School
opened and Len set up shop in
Room C-1, where he would teach
US History for the next 30 years.
He also taught Journalism, was the
founder and editor of Matador
Capers, and coached JV baseball.
Among his players was current
Grant High School football coach,
Mike Alberghini, and among the
sports reporters of the Matador
Capers, two of them made a career
in sports---John Baer, who has
been a reporter and announcer in
Iowa and Idaho for many years,
and Mike Sando, who is an ESPN,
NFL correspondent.
In addition to his teaching, Len
was the Chairman of the Social
Studies Department and announced
football and basketball games for
the Matadors for over 30 years. He
!
!
!
Len Frizzi ’83
fondly recalls that in the late 60’s,
70’s, and 80’s, Mira Loma was the
top school in the area for athletics,
academics, and school pride and
spirit. For many of those years,
!
!
!
Mira Loma was the top
ranked school in baseball, football,
often both, winning many CVC
championships. Other sports such
as track, cross country, and tennis
also achieved success during those
decades.
!
One of the funniest stories of Len’s
announcing career happened when
Encina High School came to Mira
Loma for a basketball game. Mira
Loma had a good team and was
expected to win. Since there was
no shot clock during that era, after
winning the opening tip, Encina
held onto the ball whenever they
had possession, in order to shorten
the game without shooting. After
three quarters, Len put down the
microphone, took out a portable
razor and began shaving. Mira
Loma won the game 8-2.
(continued on page 7)
!
IB Coordinator Dave Mathews reflects
on Mira Loma
!
It’s hard to believe I’ve been teaching at Mira Loma for twenty years – they’ve literally flown by, filled with great joy and wonderful students. I o@en think that I’m the luckiest teacher I know because I’ve been part of this incredible learning community that is Mira Loma High School. Here are a few highlights of my twenty years as a Matador. I’ve watched the IB program grow from nine diploma students in my first year to over eighty diploma students as a normal sized group. Our first year had only thirty-­‐nine tesIng students, this year we have three hundred and five. In my first year I disInctly remember having every IB senior’s phone number in my speed dial so that I could call them at home when they didn’t show up for zero period Theory of Knowledge class. Eventually I brought a coffee maker into the classroom and that helped a bit geNng students to school on Ime (this was before you could find a Starbucks on every busy corner in Sacramento). As the program has grown larger it’s also grown to be much more inclusive. It was quite rare in the early years to have a student take only one or two IB diploma level classes – now it is a common thing. Several of my favorite students over the years have taken only one IB class – Theory of Knowledge. Over the years I’ve had wonderful IS students, wonderful special ed students and wonderful IB students in the room together sharing their insights and experiences. One year we had a discussion of “success” that I’ll never forget. One of my students, Kasa, lived in the apartments not far from campus. Several of his classmates lived in affluent suburbs and talked about six figure salaries, or traveling with their family to Europe in the summer as measures of success. Kasa disagreed – to him success was not geNng jumped a@er school that day. Success was geNng out of his apartment complex, going to college and never looking back. We all learned something much bigger than IB that day. The other aspect of Mira Loma that makes me feel fortunate is the incredible group of teachers I’ve known over the years. Ken Waterstreet, Sharrie Lord, Smokey Murphy, Polly Jones, Cindy Suchanek Dean Karagianes, Russ Hood – these people are all superb educators. Their intelligence, dedicaIon and humor set a standard around here that everyone sIll feels, even though they are almost all reIred now. These are people who show up around here on weekends, who offer Saturday review sessions for IB exams and AP tests, who get involved in their students’ lives in the best possible way and who believe in what they do. They taught me that Mira Loma is much, much more than simply a place where I happen to work; Mira Loma is a community where every member contributes to making a be^er world. Did you
know?
The International
Baccalaureate
Diploma Program
(IBDP) is a two-year
educational program
primarily aimed at
students aged 16–19
that provides an
internationally
accepted qualification
for entry into higher
education, and is
recognized by
universities
worldwide. It was
developed in the early
to mid-1960s in
Geneva (SUI) by a
group of international
educators.
The Birth of
Mira Loma’s
International
Baccalaureate
Program
I
The site of the now
closed La Seirra
High School.
A well maintained El
Camino High School.
n the late 1970s and early ‘80s, “fundamentals.” In short, becoming declining enrollment was a stark schools which emphasized discipline, reality for SJUSD high schools, did away with smoking areas and especially those located in the open campuses at lunch, and adopted western end of the District. At the an enrollment-­‐through-­‐application-­‐
time, Mira Loma’s enrollment stood at only process. Early indications were 1100, and El Camino’s was just above that Mira Loma would become the 1000. In addition, other high schools Jirst fundamental school, which would at this end of the District were losing necessitate the Jiring of all its students. In response, District teachers and rehiring only those who administrators formed a committee of wanted to teach at a school with this 30 whose task it was to recommend kind of emphasis. The prospect of the closing of a high school. Schools Jiring teachers did not appeal to Liz under consideration were El Camino, Hoffman, the principal at Mira Loma, La Sierra, Mira Loma, and Rio and she expressed her reservations to Americano, although the latter the District administration. In seemed a less likely choice because of addition, many Mira Loma students the impending inJlux of students from feared that if ML became the Gold River. From all indications, it fundamental high school, they might appeared that the committee would lose teachers they respected as well recommend El Camino, primarily as classes in music and the arts, so because of its location and that it was they attended a Board meeting to the oldest building. But to everyone’s express their feelings about not surprise, the District decided to close wanting to become the District’s Jirst La Sierra. fundamental school. As it turned out, Prior to the decision to close La Sierra, the SJUSD Board had made it known that it wanted schools to have a focus with as emphasis on by the late 1970s, it would be El Camino adding the word Fundamental to its name. (continue on page 8)
Mira Loma Robotics Team Ranks #1!
Mira Loma's Zero Robotics team took home a
national title earlier last month, besting more than
150 teams from throughout the country during a
finals competition at the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology (Jan-24-2012)
The Matadors programmed a virtual autonomous
robot to compete against other team's creations.
Astronauts aboard the International Space Station
ran students' programs through NASA robots called
SPHERES.
The ML Robotics
Team
Team members. pictured left to right: Anish Balaji,
Preethi Raju, Karthik Raju, Ruiqi Mao (captain),
Eric Cai, and Louie Dean Tanglao Natividad
Mira Loma class of 1963
( the first graduating class)
!
will be holding its 50th reunion events in
the last weekend of Sept 27-29, 2013
!
Friday 27th: A fun gathering a Ruth Chris Steak House (Located in the
Class !!
!
of
!
63’
Pavilions Shopping center). Starting time 5pm-close. This is a no host
gathering, with happy hour pricing through 7pm!
!
Friday night: Attending a Mira Loma Football Game to get Matador Spirit!
!
(more details to follow)!
!
!
is a reserved event starting at 6-10 pm. Price includes dinner with a no-!
host cocktail.!
Saturday 28th: Official reunion Dinner at the Del Paso Country Club. This
Sunday 29th: Mira Loma Alumni and Friends
!
Class of 1983: 30th
Reunion is Sept 28 ! !
Contact Lori Calvert!
(loridcalvert@yahoo.com)! !
!
916-747-5022
!
!
all-class BBQ at Mira Loma
High school celebrating all alumni from every year. Many faculty, students
and family will be in attendance. !
If you have questions or want additional information contact John Gabriel
Miraloma63@me.com, call 916-783-0037, or visit the class website !
Miraloma63.com for additional details. !
An interview with
Toby Johnson,
Mira Loma’s 2nd Principal
!
What is a principal’s most challenging task? Mr. Jo
hnson
with L
ynn H
olton
Part II in our
series:
Toby: Keeping things together. Being sure everyone is on the same page. Mira Loma’s
Principals
Were you a teacher before moving into administration? If so, in which subjects? Retired Mira Loma
Toby: In a school built in the 1920s, I began teaching in 1947. I taught subjects such as Teacher Jack
math and science, then we went Bishing. There were about 120 kids in the school, and Pelletier
began
the
we all taught combination classes. I had an AB, then later took teaching courses at task to
all
interview
Sac State in the 1950s. of Mira Loma’s
Their What do you most miss about being a principal? Principals.
stories and
Toby: The most important thing about schools is the kids, so helping them learn is interviews tell the
something I miss. Also, the camaraderie with teachers. changes and
challenges
and Is there a particular student you remember? Why him or her? history of our great
Toby: I remember the wild ones. Occasionally I had lunch with Steve White who is now High
School.
a judge. Dave Thompson was quite a character who wrote to me from Viet Nam, and I saw him when he came home. Upon returning home, he wrote a review about being recruited and going to Viet Nam. He later wrote articles for a magazine in Peru. Sadly, he died at a very young age. !
A ?itting analogy for a principal and his secretary is that of a company commander and his ?irst sergeant in the Army. Without a competent ?irst sergeant, most company commanders are less apt to be successful. For you, Lynn Holton assumed the role of ?irst sergeant. What do you most remember about Lynn? Toby: Having spent some time in the Marine Corp, I saw Lynn as the commander. She knew her business, loved doing her job, and understood and carried out all the secretarial duties that go into making a good school. Since your days as a principal, times have changed, and with them students have changed. As a result, do you think the task of being a principal today is more or less dif?icult than when you were in that leadership role? Toby: Today there is a lot more pressure to ensure that every kid counts. We used to just group kids. Also there were no drug problems when I was principal. What is your fondest memory of your years at Mira Loma? Toby: Meeting Sue Kelly. I’d been married before and divorced in 1962. With my Birst wife I had a son who died in the Marine Corp as a result of a reaction to an inoculation. What advice do you have for a young administrator about to become a principal for the ?irst time? Toby: Don’t take the job! But if you do, don’t go into administration too early.
The Golden Voice (continued from page 2)
When asked about his best
memories of Mira Loma, Len
responded quickly with “The
lasting relationships developed
with students and staff.” He is still in
contact with many former students
through phone calls and emails, and
takes great joy in their successes and
achievements. He firmly believes
that no school could match Mira
Loma in turning out successful,
quality individuals who carried the
Mira Loma experience into their
daily lives. He also remains close to
many staff members with whom he
taught at Mira Loma. They take
various outings together, engage in
card games, fantasy football leagues,
and look out for and support one
another.
After his retirement from Mira Loma,
Len continued to be very busy. He
served as President of the Dante
Club, President of the Sacramento
Chapter of the National Football
Foundation, and has been honored by
Help us find former Mira Loma
Teachers and Staff member to
share stories, interviews and
perspectives and include them in
upcoming Mira Loma Alumni
events!
We are also looking for Alumni
who are interested in representing
their year to keep their former
classmates informed, celebrated
and represented at our functions.
there are no official
responsibilities involved! Lets us
hear from you!
email info
Matador@miralomaalumniandfriends.c
om
other organizations for his
contributions, dedication, and hard
work over the years. In 2010, Len
received his greatest honor when he
was enshrined in the inaugural class
of the Sac-Joaquin Section Hall of
Fame for his work in announcing,
publication, and selection
committees, among other
contributions. He was enshrined
along with such luminaries as Dusty
Baker, Tedy Bruschi, Bill Cartwright,
Bill Buckner, and his former student,
Mike Alberghini. Although slowed
by physical ailments, Len enjoys
spending time with family, friends,
and following sports and current
events through a variety of media.
He lost his loving wife, Nellis, in
July, and to this day, you’ll find a
picture of Mira Loma on his wall.
He gave much to Mira Loma, and
Mira Loma gave much to him. Len
Frizzi will always be a Matador.
Save the
Sept 29, 2013
Date!
What: A Mira Loma BBQ in the Quad!
When: noon-4pm for a Mira Loma all Staff, all
classes
This is MLAF second annual BBQ for all
Alumni, students and their friends. The BBQ will be
in concert with the Class of 1963’s 50th Reunion
party Saturday September 28th!
The classes of 1983 with have their reunion on 28th
(Separate location)
If you are the class of 68,73, 78,88 93, 98 03 (or
other years) please consider having your reunion on
this weekend and help add to the festivities! email us
at Matador@miralomaalumniandfriends.com
The History of IB at Mira Loma (continued from page 4)
By this time, the concept of open to evaluate three magnate programs: enrollment had been adopted in the Math/Science, a 4-­‐12 Fine Arts District’s elementary schools, allowing Program, and International parents to choose where to send their Baccalaureate (IB). They were joined children. Once given this choice, by the then principal at San Juan High parents also wanted the liberty of School, Liz Hoffman, and three to four choice for middle schools and high SJ teachers including, Bob Hanson and schools. As a result, the Intra-­‐District John Phillips. Transfer Program became District policy, and school boundaries for El Camino Fundamental were eliminated, allowing the school to cap out at 1700 students. Initially, both the ML and SJ contingents were focused on bringing the Math/Science program back to share with their staffs, but the ML contingent returned with a more Once La Sierra closed its doors in the favorable impression of the IB early 80s, its 9th, 10th, and 11th grade program. Actually, this worked out students were dispersed throughout well for both schools as Liz Hoffman the high schools in the western end of suggested to Darrell Torgerson and the District, with the majority moving Ken Waterstreet that ML’s teachers to Mira Loma. However, enrollment seemed a better Jit to cover the total was still declining, especially at ML curriculum demanded by the rigors of and San Juan High, which was an IB program. devastating to staff morale because losing students meant losing staff members. In response, the District decided to send teachers and administrators from both schools to San Diego to evaluate magnet programs, hoping they might come up with a focus school program that would energize both schools and increase enrollment. To this end, ML principal Charley Berger and four department chairmen-­‐-­‐-­‐Jack Pelletier, Bob Rowell, Darrell Torgerson, and Ken Waterstreet-­‐-­‐-­‐went to San Diego Mrs. Liz Hoffman
To be absolutely certain that an IB program would be the right Jit for ML, The Internaional
Baccureate Program
Logo (2012)
teachers Polly Jones, Nancy Maiello, and Russ Hood and principal Charley Berger made another trip to San Diego to visit three IB high schools-­‐-­‐-­‐San Diego, Vista, and Coronado. When they returned, that contingent and the Jirst one convinced ML’s staff to pursue the IB program, believing that it would draw students from throughout the District and increase enrollment. (continue on page 9)
Mira Loma High
School Logo with IB,
and IS added
In year one, ML submitted its application to the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) to become an IB school. In the Spring of that year, an IBO team visited ML to evaluate staff and to ensure that necessary funding would be provided The 2010 National
Science bowl: left to right:
Edward Lee, Andrew
Chen, Anish Khare, Russ
Islam
to get the program up and running. To this end, the SJUSD Board approved $50,000, the minimum required by of those meetings took place on IBO. campus, others were held in the In year two, ML staff developed an IB curriculum, and in the spring an IBO team would again visit to assess the school’s progress toward meeting IB standards. As a result of this visit, IBO tentatively agreed to allow ML to inaugurate the program, and the 2011 NorCal Science
Olympiad
school began recruiting students for its Jirst IB class set to begin in the fall. Although the initial goal of recruiting 30 freshmen was met, it proved a difJicult task as the SJUSD held to an unwritten rule-­‐-­‐-­‐With the exception of El Camino Fundamental, high schools were not allowed to recruit outside of their attendance boundaries. To The Cafeteria as it
appeared after Mira
Loma became an IB
School
! M
ira L
! diff
o
eren ma offe
r
t
a!s o
f 20 IB exa s 18
min
12
!
atio
ns
!
!
minimize the effect of this rule, ML teachers met with parents and students of their feeder schools such as Churchill Intermediate. While some evenings at the homes of parents, including a few located as far away as Gold River as parents invited teachers to explain the aims of the IB program, namely to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people devoted to creating a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. After the Jirst year, word of the IB program spread, especially among the siblings of that initial IB class, and recruiting became less difJicult. Within a few years, ML was attracting as many as 90 freshmen per class, and the program has been growing ever since. For example, whereas ML was hoping for 15 Full Diploma Candidates in those early years, in 2012, there were 80 Full Diploma Candidates, 33 In 2007–2008 the pass rate was 93% with a 100% diploma
attainment rate. Both statistics are well above both the
North American average (78%) and the world average
(81%) for diploma attainment.
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Want to
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www:!
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Mira Loma
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Friends!
The Votes are in!!!
121 votes yes
1 no
result:
The board is voting on behalf of the entire MLAF without
requiring our membership base to vote.
(this means you won’t be besieged by ballots)
!
The Board can now be 7-21 members to better use our talented
membership and involve enthusiastic volunteers.
twitter:
miraloma!
Alumni!
email us at:
Matador@mira
lomaalumniand
friends.com
Youtube: !
Miraloma
Alumni
What we’re working
on for the next issue
and
Friends
Board
Mira
Loma
Alumni
Margaret Kane
Francie Axtell
Leslie CarrollTipton
Mark Hoffmann
One Flew over the
Cuckoo’s nest! The
Drama Department of
the 1960’s
Now Playing!!
The Drama Departments
Spring Performance !
The History of ML
Academic programs
!
Part III of our
Principals of Mira
Loma!
Cheryl Lutz
Michael Selby
Smokey Murphy
Steve Quist
Joshua Stinson Cindy Suchanek Lynne Walline