Pacifica High School (Oxnard, California)

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Pacifica High School
Home of the Tritons
Location
600 East Gonzales Road
Oxnard, CA 93036
United States
Information
Type Public
Established 2001
Principal William Dabbs
Faculty 130
Enrollment 3,231 (08-09)
Information 805-278-5000
Colors
Mascot		 Black, Green and White
Triton
Website http://www.phstritons.com

Pacifica High School, commonly referred to as PHS, is a public four-year high school serving grades 9-12 in Oxnard, California. The school is the newest in the Oxnard Union High School District. The school is located in a suburban residential area, part of the sub-community of West Village, which also includes an elementary school, a junior high school and 3,100 homes. The school serves this community as well as the adjacent neighborhood to the south, La Colonia and Rose Park, among others. The 2008-2009 school year enrollment is nearly 3,250, around 1,000 more than its original capacity of 2,500, making it the most populous school in its district. The school is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).[1]

Contents

[edit] History

Pacifica High School was established in 2001, with only a freshmen and sophomore class. In the following years, student enrollment increased, changing the teacher-to-student ratio significantly. The school made special adjustments to accommodate the burgeoning population, including the installation of portable classrooms, a common addition in Oxnard schools, due to the city's growing population of over 200,000. In addition, special procedures involving classroom-sharing have been arranged with the teaching staff.

[edit] Alma mater

2004 Alumnus Steven Gamboa wrote the school's first Alma Mater which is still used in the present day:

Forever our legacy endures

With honor, strength, and pride.

All hail the glorious victories

Of the Masters of the Tides.

In battle, Tritons never fail,

For there's nothing that we lack.

And all the powerful, strong, and true,

Hail PACIFICA Green and Black!

[edit] Technology and design

Pacifica High School's Media Center.


Pacifica High School is a state-of-the-art facility that has pioneered a variety of technological advances. The school occupies approximately 50 acres of originally fertile agricultural land, and was meant to accommodate up to 2,250 9-12 students. There are 9 major buildings on campus comprising nearly 205,000 square feet, including two 2-story classroom buildings, a technology resource center, a technical arts building, a consumer arts building equipped with a full-service culinary arts classroom, a media center (library), a Multi-Purpose Student Forum, an outdoor amphitheater, the Robert Q. Valles Center for Performing Arts, an administration building with courtyard, and the large 2,500 student Steve W. Stocks Gymnasium with attached wrestling room, weight room, dance room, and lockers. In recent years, sixteen portable classrooms have been added to accommodate the increasing student population. For athletic purposes, the school has a stadium with lights, a "modern" press box, and a track. Also at Pacifica are two baseball fields, two softball fields, ten handball courts, and six tennis courts. Pacifica, designed as a Performing Arts Magnet School, boasts a full service 600-seat theater, a rehearsal room, a box office, lobby, dressing rooms, and a band room for vocal and instrumental music. The school was designed by WLC Architects.[2]

[edit] Mascot and school colors

The school's mascot is King Triton, and the school colors are black, forest green and white. Both the mascot and the school colors were chosen through a school-wide election at the end of the 2003-2004 school year, the first high school in the Oxnard Union High School District to choose their mascot in this manner.

[edit] Marching band

Pacifica is home to the "Pacifica High School Marching Band"

[edit] Athletics

Pacifica's football team has proved they are no longer the "new kids on the block." During the 2007-2008 season, the Triton football team made it to CIF for the first time. The boys water polo and boys soccer have been three time league champions. The school's wrestling team has also showed their strength in securing several CIF individual championships and one of the school's first league titles. The girls wrestling team won the 2009 CIF Southern Regional Championship, the school's first ever team CIF title. The girls soccer team also attained the 2007-2008 Pacific View League Championship title, making them the first female team to ever win a league championship in the school's history. Pacifica High School's track and field continues to grow and establish itself as a force in the Pacific View League and throughout Southern California.

Due to the two schools being situated on Gonzales Road, a rivalry of sorts termed the "Battle for Gonzales" openly continues with Oxnard High School. Pacifica last defeated the OHS Yellowjackets in football in 2003 but has come close twice in recent years.

[edit] Organizations

Pacifica High School has many student organizations including Spanish Club, French Club, Art Club, Black Student Union, Key Club, Asian American Club, Polynesian Club, Mecha, Ping Pong Club, Science Club, Marine Biology Club, Chess Club, CSF, Choir Club, King Triton Blues Band, and most recently GSA Club, among multiple others. The ASB was a CADA/CASL Outstanding Student Activities Program award winner in 2006-2007 and 2008-2009, the only high school in the district to be awarded that honor. [3]

Pacifica currently has two academies: The Health Science Academy (HSA, est. 2006-2007 and California Golden Bell award winner in 2008) and the Teaching & Educational Careers Academy (TECA, est. 2007-2008). Pacifica is in the process of establishing its third academy in Culinary Arts.

2008 MESA Team

The school's MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement) team has made serious strides in its first two years and made itself "the team to beat." In 2007, Balsa Wood Bridge competitors placed second and third at the regional level, Egg Drop competitors placed second at the regional level, Team Mathematics attempting Pre-Calculus placed second at the regional level and first at the state level, Individual Mathematics in Pre-Calculus placed first (David Corona) and third (Alejandra Castillo) at the state level. In 2008, Balsa Wood Bridges won for Innovative Design, Egg Drop placed first place and third place, Team Mathematics attempting Calculus placed first and third, Mousetrap Car placed first, and Speakout(Sophomore level) placed first and third. The 2008 competition achievements were all made at the regional level due to tragic circumstances that prevented the team from reaching the competition.

[edit] Publications

The school's yearbook, titled The Odyssey, has won multiple awards in recent years, its current theme is "Overdrive." The school's other award winning publication, the newspaper, is entitled "Currents;" and a semi-annual newsletter is entitled "The Wave."

Pacifica also produces a daily televised bulletin entitled "Triton Talk" each morning, which provides the students with information, school news, and reports on various extracurricular activities and sports.

Another publication for which Pacifica High School is known for is "The Siren," its very own literary magazine in which Pacifica High School students are able to publish their poetry, short stories, and art.

[edit] Gallery

The library Media Center entrance.

Newly redesigned quad.

Pacifica's Steve W. Stocks Gymnasium.

The school's dimly lit hallways.

The Consumer Arts building houses multiple foreign language classrooms.

The school's well-maintained landscaping.

Pacifica boasts an impressive cafeteria with a volume ceilings and murals.

The school's distinctive red metal roofs.

Pacifica's classroom windows.

Stained cherry wood accents the school's media center ceiling.

Exterior materials of Pacifica's classroom buildings.

Large shades provide comfortable eating areas for students.

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacifica_High_School_(Oxnard,_California)"