Monroe High School (Los Angeles)

For schools with a similar name, see Monroe High School.

James Monroe High School
Established	1958
Type	Traditional
Principal	Chris Rosas
Dean	Mr. Constantino
Location	9229 Haskell Ave., North Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA
Colors	Red, White, & Blue
Athletics	CIF Los Angeles City Section
Website	Official website

James Monroe High School (JMHS) is a high school in the North Hills area of Los Angeles, California, belonging to the Los Angeles Unified School District. Its address is 9229 Haskell Ave., North Hills, CA 91343. Home of The Vikings (mascot). It is home to Small Learning Communities (SLCs) and 2 magnet schools.

History

The school selected the team name Vikings after a movie of the same name starring Tony Curtis. The Multipurpose room was named Odin's Hall. The Annual was named Valhalla. Going with the President James Monroe theme, the newspaper was named the Monroe Doctrine. The school no longer has an official newspaper.

Monroe High opened in 1958.

The opening of Panorama High School in October 2006 relieved overcrowding at James Monroe High School.

In 2010, James Monroe was ranked 420 in Newsweek.

Smaller Learning Communities (SLCs)

• 9th Grade Academy
• Arts, Media, & Entertainment
• Public Service(Fire Academy)
• Engineering & Design (including the Monroe SAS)

*Magnet (Law & Government and Police Academy)

SAS (School for Advanced Studies)

The Monroe School for Advanced Studies formed in 2001 under the leadership of Todd Tyni. After his departure, Dr. Leigh Clark became the new director, with Greg Schiller as the co-coordinator. Although the program does not necessarily have a specific academic theme or focus, due to its small size, it belongs to the larger SLC of Engineering & Design in C-Track. Attempts have been made to try to make SAS its own Smaller Learning Community; however, it is too small (somewhat ironically), with only about 175 students. Its goal is to expose students to higher-level learning opportunities, prospective colleges and career paths, and simply: education for education's sake.

The SAS boasts a small, close-knit group of teachers and students, as well as a unique, personal and challenging course. Although the SAS provides students with a "basic plan" of classes to take, which meet or exceed high school requirements and college prerequisites, many students choose to modify their schedules to suit their interests and needs. The program also stresses Advanced Placement classes, offering opportunities to take courses in AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Environmental Science, AP English Language, AP U.S. History, AP Calculus AB, AP English Literature, AP World History, AP U.S. Government and Politics, AP Psychology, and AP Spanish Literature.

SAS students have gone on to create the SAS club to plan, coordinate and fund-raise for the program, and the SAS Drama Club, which has produced Werewolf's Curse or: Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow by Billy St. John,The French Have a Word For it by Georges Feydeau, and Rumors by Neil Simon. SAS students have opportunities to take part in other school clubs and classes; many belong to programs such as JROTC, Cheerleading, Volleyball, Yearbook, Leadership, Basketball, Fencing, Christian Club, Key Club, and Karate Club.

The Magnet Schools in JMHS

Monroe High School offers two Magnet programs for students. Their programs are made to prepare people who want to pursue careers in law, police science, criminology, forensics, and related fields. [1] Advanced Placement and Honors classes are offered in Biology, English, Calculus, Government, Physics, Foreign Language, and Chemistry. Their campus also features state-of-the-art courtrooms, law libraries, and access to the latest technology and field trips to LAPD crime labs, Los Angeles Courts, and conferences with related organizations. They also have guest speakers.

Monroe Law and Government Magnet

• Established Program Since 1991
• Activities like mock trials, debate team, internships, Junior Statesmen of America membership, and invitations to events by local politicians.
• Graduates accepted at top universities including: Harvard, Stanford, USC, UC Berkeley, UCLA [2]

Monroe Police Academy Magnet

• Established Program Since 1996
• Special Phys Ed class with an obstacle course to help prepare students.
• Police Academy Graduates are LAPD officers and over $30,000.00 in scholarship money was awarded to their senior cadets [3]

Speech and Debate Competitions

The James Monroe High School team has won seven state champions, including two in expository speaking, one in Original Oratory, one in Dramatic Interpretation, two in Original Prose and Poetry, and one in Thematic Interpretation. Students from the team have gotten into schools such as Harvard, Yale, Brown, Wellesley, Vassar, UCLA, USC, UC Berkeley and many more. The team often has people rank in the top 18 in the state in various events. The team has established statewide dominance and has come a long way since its humble beginnings in 1995, when Chante Griffin – a former Miss Teen of America – was Monroe's sole qualifier to the California State Finals. Controversially, Monroe no longer fields a policy debate team due to the longtime coach's opposition to the recent trends in high school competition in that event.

Mock Trial Competitions

Because of the Law and Government Magnet, Monroe has its own courtroom located in the school's F hall. The school's Mock Trial team, which competes in the Los Angeles County Mock Trial Competition run by the Constitutional Rights Foundation, has been very successful over the years. In 2008, it made it to the finals; in the preceding six years, it had been in the semifinals four times, and one time in the quarterfinals. In 2009 season, Monroe once again took 2nd place, losing by .76% to Louisville High School, private all-girls school. The following years in 2010 and 2011, Monroe succeeded in advancing to the semi-finals, placing it in the top 4 schools of the county. It has also had multiple members ranked best attorney in Los Angeles. Many of Monroe's mock trial alumni go on to successful careers in intercollegiate competition, law school, and legal practice; others have paved successful paths outside of the field of law.

Sports

Some sports teams in Monroe include Cheerleading, Song, Dance Guard (Boys and Girls), Football (Boys), Baseball (Boys), Basketball (Boys and Girls), Volleyball (Boys and Girls), Tennis (Boys and Girls), Fencing (Boys and Girls), Soccer (Boys and Girls), Softball (Girls), Track and Field (Boys and Girls), Wrestling (Boys and Girls), Chess Club, and Fencing Club

Girls Basketball

The James Monroe High School girls basketball team has progressively gotten better since Quincy Brooks took over as the head coach in 2005. Within the last six years they have won 4 consecutive League championships. Going undefeated in league play and advancing to the Los Angeles City Section Division 3 Championship in 2010. Improving upon their success in 2010 Monroe won its first girl's basketball Championship in school history and also advanced to the second round of the state playoffs.

Football

The James Monroe High School football team has been undergoing reconstruction over the last 3 years. All the hard work has paid off, and after just winning four games over the past two seasons, the Monroe Vikings ended the 2007–2008 season with a record of 7–4, eventually losing in the invitational playoffs against North Hollywood. Head coach Donald Senegal has worked and fought hard to make the Vikings a competitor, but made them even better than that. The Vikings are the team to beat in the Valley Mission league. The Monroe traditions for football are rich and are looking to go nowhere but up and make the program one of the top teams in the valley.

Chess Team

James Monroe High School has had a very strong Chess Team. The founder of the chess club is English teacher and United States Chess Federation chess master Steve Hughes. For the last five years, Mike Moreno, a former chess student of Mr. Hughes' from San Fernando Junior High, has assisted in coaching the team.

Sadly, Mr. Hughes is no longer a teacher at Monroe HS and the chess team is no longer regularly meeting.

From 1997 to 2007, James Monroe High School had a good number of prominent chess players. The chess team participated in city, state, and national championships, winning seven city and six state championships.

Many great chess players have come out of Monroe High including Santy Wong, Romeo De La Cruz, Minas Nordanyan, Arsen Nordanyan, Ryan Reyes (Cheryl Alinan's BF), Ryan Caballero, John Quach, Arturo Garcia, Miguel Contreras, Robert Zuchini, and Abraham White.

The Monroe Chess Team finished very strongly in the Supernationals I, held in Knoxville in 1997. The team captured second place in Division II, behind the performances of Romeo De La Cruz, who won the Division II title with a perfect 7–0 score, and Santy Wong, who placed third with 6.5 out of 7 points.

In the 2001, after winning the Los Angeles City AND California State Chess Championship, the team went on to The Supernationals II, held in Kansas City, where Minas Nordanyan spearheaded a strong team to its best national finish ever, twelfth place in the championship section and fourth place in the blitz championship. Minas Nordanyan finished in fourth place in both the tournament and the blitz championships. Also playing for Monroe in Kansas City were: Arturo Garcia, Arsen Nordanyan, Tongzhou Wang, Abraham White, and Sam Pogosian.

In April 2006 James Monroe High School took four players to the National High School Chess Championships, which were held in Milwaukee. The team placed 23rd in the nation in the section of Under 1500. In the Blitz competition Monroe placed 22nd. The players were: (Captain) Miguel Contreras, Roberto Zuchini (placed 25th in the U1500 section), Jesse Moya, and Marcos Perez, Farhan Majeed.

Track and Cross Country

The Monroe High School Track and Cross Country teams have been quite successful in the past 20 years. Under the leadership of legendary Head Track Coach Dean Balzarett and Coach Leo Hernandez, both Boys and Girls Track and Cross country teams have won multiple League Championships throughout the years. In 2005 the Boys Cross Country team ended San Pedro High School's winning streak by winning the 2005 Cross Country Team City Championship. In the 2006 Season, the Girls team placed 2nd in the City, winning its first trip to the State Championship in Fresno.

"MENS VARSITY TEAM HONOURS"

• League Champions for Cross-Country: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
• League Champions for Track & Field: 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011
• Cross Country LA City Section Titles( 1st Place): 1973, 2005, 2008, 2009,

(2nd Place): 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002,

"GIRLS VARSITY HONOURS"

• League Champions for Cross-Country: 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011
• League Champions for Track & Field; 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011
• Cross Country LA City Section Titles(2nd Place) 2006,

Notable athletes include:

• Richard Nance- Holder of the Boy's Varsity 1600 meters record with a time of (4:10 mins)
• Cesario Marquez- Holder of one of the fastest prep times on the Pierce College Course (14:50 mins). The fastest time was done by Ian Alsen of Granada Hills in a dual meet against Van Nuys in the fall of 1987. Boy's Varsity City Champion (9:05 min) city record at the time.
• Manuel Ruiz- Holder of the LA City Track Record for the Boys' Varsity 3200 meter (8:55 mins)
• Gabriel Guzman- Track City Champion in the Boys' Varsity 3200 meter as a Sophomore, Cross Country City Champion as a Junior. Current record holder for. frosh/soph 1600 meters (4:30 mins)and, 3200 meters ( 9:50 mins)
• Tim Quinn- All American High School Pole Vaulter in the 1970s
• Jeff Nadeu- Former Track City Record Holder in the High Jump
• Pedro A.L-Smallest runner in the team and able to placed 4th in Rotary invitational.
• Alexandria Fortuna- Current record holder for the girls varsity 3mile (18:24 mins) and 3200 meter LA city Track Champion as a sophomore
• Jorge Mendez- Captian of the 2009 cross country team became one of the best teams in the history of the LA section.

In June 2007, Coach Dean Balzarett (nicknamed Daddy Balzarett) retired after 41 years as Coach of the Track and Cross Country Teams. He was awarded one of the 2006 California Coaches Association High School Coach of the Year awards. He remains one of the greatest coaches in Monroe History. He now Coaches the Granada Hills Charter High School Cross Country and Track and Field Team.

In November 2008, the Monroe Boys Cross Country team attained its third All-City Cross Country Championship. Under head Coach Hernandez, the team collectively outscored top-tier schools such as El Camino, San Pedro, and Granada High School to finish first in the Los Angeles City Section. Placing first to Granada Hills High School.

The Following year Monroe Boys Cross Country clutched their way to win the 2009 LA City Section Cross Country title, beating the Birmingham High School Patriots. Which gave them another ticket to State.

In the Fall of 2010 the School sports moved from Valley Mission to East Valley League, and in the Spring of 2011 The Girls Varsity Track Team Defeated the 6 year undefeated East Valley Champions Verdugo Hills High School.

Attempted name change

In 1972 one teacher on the History staff, Marvin Katz, challenged his class to "make history". Two of his students, Douglas McBride (deceased 1997) and Peter Hess decided to make a case for changing the name of the school to Marilyn Monroe High School. The two students circulated petitions and made tee shirts with Marilyn's image and the words "Monroe High". The students pitched their idea to the school staff and community wherever possible. They touted that the school would be more relevant using a modern era person instead of a President no one knows much about and promised to replace the bust in the library with a much more interesting one. The students decided they had succeeded making history when UPI called Mr. McBride one evening to interview him about the effort. As with so many high school projects it was soon dropped.

Notable alumni

• Guy Benjamin - NFL Quarterback for the Dolphins, Saints, and 49ers.
• Brandon Browner – NFL Football player
• Larry Cedar - TV character actor
• Doug DeCinces – Former Major League Baseball player
• John Ennis – Major League Baseball player
• Hopsin - Rapper
• Jimmy Keegan - Drummer for Spock's Beard, Santana and Kenny Loggins
• Wayne Massey – Actor, recording artist, musician, music producer, CEO – Varsity Baseball Pitcher for Monroe and drafted by Los Angeles Angels
• Kevin Mitnick - computer security consultant and convicted hacker
• Steve Wapnick - major league baseball player
• Debra Winger – Academy Award-nominated actress

References

1. Monroe High School website
2. Monroe Magnets website
3. School Profile Page
4. Monroe Police Academy Magnet website
5. Monroe Law and Government Magnet website

External links

• Monroe High School website
• Monroe Magnets website