Report card

As administrators anxiously await their “grades” from the state when

the Academic Performance Index is released Monday, one school in the

Huntington Beach Union High School District is just getting its reward

money for a job well done last year.

Westminster High School was one of the schools set to get a $25,000

bonus for having one of the greatest increases in test scores last year.

The money, scheduled to be doled out in the spring was held up by a law

suit filed against the state. That money is now on the way.

Westminster was among 30 low-performing schools statewide to be

awarded a top bonus for making the biggest gains in the state on the

Academic Performance Index, based on Stanford 9 scores. Every certified

employee at Westminster High will benefit from the bonus, said Jerry

White, the director of curriculum development for the district.

“This is a reward to the school for doing such a great job in raising

test scores,” White said. “Westminster actually has done a tremendous job

in statewide testing scores over the last four years. Principals,

teachers and counselors are in line for bonuses.”

The school’s employees, White said, have waited for news of the bonus

award for more than a year.

“They have waited patiently for this bonus,” he said. “As I understand

it, the money will be sent to the district and we will be distributing it

to the employees at Westminster.”

NFL player a pillar of support for Golden West

The Golden West College Foundation will present its 10th annual

Courtyard of Honor ceremony on Tuesday, Oct. 16, from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.

The much anticipated ceremony will take place in the newly landscaped

President’s Courtyard of Honor. A reception will follow the ceremony in

the Community Center.

The 2001 Alumni Pillar of Achievement and Pillar of Support awards

were established as part of the Golden West College 25th Anniversary

celebration to recognize outstanding alumni accomplishments. The

college’s successful alumni represent individuals who serve as role

models of inspiration and motivation to its students.

Recipients of the Alumni Pillar of Support award are Glenn Parker of

the National Football League and Craig Robison, a Superior Court judge at

Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach. The Alumni Pillar of Achievement

awards will go to business owner Timothy Spaeth, the NFL’s Van Tuinei and

entrepreneur Don Wiggins.

Parker says he’s thankful to his Golden West coaches for helping him

realize his dreams of a college scholarship and a professional football

career.

“My career began on the fields at Golden West College and I am forever

grateful,” he said.

Giving copper from their hearts of gold

Children growing up in the community of Oak View Elementary School in

Huntington Beach may not have all the luxuries, but one thing they do

have is big hearts.

When asked by the school staff to donate pennies and other coins that

would be given to the American Red Cross for relief efforts in New York,

the children responded enthusiastically and brought in more than $1,200.

Coins continue to arrive each day, said Nona Sandoval, program

director for Oak View Family Resource Center.

“It’s amazing to see how excited and proud the children are to help,

especially when most of them come from families struggling to get by

day-to-day,” Sandoval said.

A check presentation to the American Red Cross was held at a recent

school assembly.