Graduation Rate Increases, Dropouts Diminish
Capistrano Unified School District (CUSD) graduated 97.3 percent of its high school students in 2008-09, the best graduation rate among the state’s large districts. Statistics released by the California Department of Education show the percentage of CUSD high school students who graduated in 2008-09, the last year for which graduation and dropout data has been compiled, increased from 95.7 percent the previous year. The District’s dropout rate also declined. For the class of 2008, the District had a four-year dropout rate of 3.7 percent. The rate dropped to 2.4 percent for the class of 2009, the second lowest rate in the county.
Trustees Take Office, Elect New Leadership Team
The Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees elected a new leadership team this week after five members were sworn into office. Trustee Jack R. Brick, who previously served as Clerk, was elected president. Trustee Dr. Gary Pritchard will be the vice president and Trustee John M. Alpay will serve as Clerk. Trustees Pritchard and Alpay were elected to the Board in November and sworn in at this week’s meeting. Trustees Ellen Addonizio, Anna Bryson and Lynn Hatton also took the oath of office.
New Principals Named for Oak Grove, Aliso Viejo
Aliso Viejo Middle and Oak Grove Elementary schools will be led by long-time Capistrano Unified School District educators, the Board of Trustees announced this week. Jennifer Garrett-Smalley was appointed principal at Aliso Viejo Middle School and Jill O’Connell-Bogle was named to lead Oak Grove Elementary School. Both have long histories as teachers and administrators in the District and are scheduled to begin their new assignments on Monday, Jan. 3, 2011.
Middle School Surfers Hit the Waves in Contest
Hometown waves were kind to the Shorecliffs Middle School surfers last week. The Shorecliffs team scored 258 points in the Scholastic Surf Series contest held at the San Clemente Pier, defeating the second place team from Bernice Ayer Middle School by 147 points. The boys and girls from Shorecliffs took the top spot in each category, and the boys claimed the top six positions in the shortboard competition.
Former SCHS Coach Selected for Rose Bowl Honor
Former San Clemente High School assistant football coach Brad Budde will be inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame at a ceremony on Dec. 30 in Pasadena. Budde, a graduate of USC who won three Rose Bowl games as a player, coached the offensive line for San Clemente from 1995-2005.
(949) 234-9308
http://www.capousd.org
33122 Valle Road
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
JACK R. BRICK
President
DR. GARY PRITCHARD
Vice President
JACK M. ALPAY
Clerk
ELLEN M. ADDONIZIO
ANNA BRYSON
LYNN HATTON
SUE PALAZZO
SUPERINTENDENT
JOSEPH M. FARLEY, Ed. D.
