Jump to content

Amador Valley High School: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 37°40′08″N 121°52′27″W / 37.6689°N 121.8743°W / 37.6689; -121.8743
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
[pending revision][pending revision]
Content deleted Content added
Rescuing 1 sources and tagging 0 as dead. #IABot (v1.3.2) (Feminist)
Rescuing 3 sources and tagging 0 as dead. #IABot (v1.3.2.3) (Cyberpower678)
Line 222: Line 222:
|publisher=Character Education Partnership |date= |accessdate=2009-06-29}}</ref> and a two-time [[National Blue Ribbon School]].<ref name="blue ribbon school"/> Performance results for 2008 show Amador Valley with an [[Academic Performance Index]] (API) of 10 on a 10-point scale.<ref name="2007 sarc"/> ''[[The Daily Beast]]/[[Newsweek]]'' ranked Amador Valley High School 171st in 2013, and 238th in 2012, in its list of the Best High Schools in America.
|publisher=Character Education Partnership |date= |accessdate=2009-06-29}}</ref> and a two-time [[National Blue Ribbon School]].<ref name="blue ribbon school"/> Performance results for 2008 show Amador Valley with an [[Academic Performance Index]] (API) of 10 on a 10-point scale.<ref name="2007 sarc"/> ''[[The Daily Beast]]/[[Newsweek]]'' ranked Amador Valley High School 171st in 2013, and 238th in 2012, in its list of the Best High Schools in America.
<ref>{{Citation|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2013/05/06/america-s-best-high-schools.html |title= '13 America's Best High Schools - The Daily Beast |publisher=The Daily Beast/Newsweek |date=2012-05-06 |accessdate=2012-05-14}}</ref>
<ref>{{Citation|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2013/05/06/america-s-best-high-schools.html |title= '13 America's Best High Schools - The Daily Beast |publisher=The Daily Beast/Newsweek |date=2012-05-06 |accessdate=2012-05-14}}</ref>
<ref>{{Citation|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2012/05/20/america-s-best-high-schools.html |title=America's Best High Schools 2012 - The Daily Beast |publisher=The Daily Beast/Newsweek |date=2012-05-20 |accessdate=2012-06-12}}</ref> In 2008, a team of Amador Valley students won the national [[UNICEF]]-sponsored [[Junior 8]] Competition. The team traveled to [[Toyako, Japan]] to attend the 2008&nbsp;[[G8|Group of Eight (G8) Summit of World Leaders]] to collaborate on solutions to world problems.<ref name="J8">{{Citation|url=http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/usa_44803.html |title=At a glance: United States of America&nbsp;– J8 Summit widens the horizons of participants, including a 16-year-old US delegate |publisher=The United Nations Children's Fund |date= |accessdate=2009-06-23}}</ref> Eight of Amador Valley's teachers&mdash;Mark Aubel, Debbie Emerson, Jon Grantham, Tom Hall, Debbie Harvey, Brian Ladd, Marla Silversmith, and Eric Thiel&mdash;have been recognized as a [[Pleasanton Unified School District]] teacher of the year; one of those honorees, Brian Ladd, was also designated an [[Alameda County]] teacher of the year.<ref name="acoe teacher">{{Citation|url=http://www.acoe.k12.ca.us/acoe/Home/AboutACOE/News/ToY|title=Castro Valley and Pleasanton Teachers Selected 2006–2007 Alameda Teachers of the Year|publisher=Alameda County Office of Education|accessdate=10 January 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|url=http://pleasanton.k12.ca.us/pub/sarc.pdfx|title=AES 1999–2000 School Accountability Report Card|publisher=Alisal Elementary School|accessdate=10 January 2010}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref><ref name="aubel">{{Citation|url=http://www.pleasanton.k12.ca.us/Amador/faculty/arts/aubel.html|title=Amador Valley Fine Arts|publisher=Amador Valley High School|accessdate=10 January 2010}}</ref><ref name="pw 2009g" /><ref name="pw 2002c" />
<ref>{{Citation|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2012/05/20/america-s-best-high-schools.html |title=America's Best High Schools 2012 - The Daily Beast |publisher=The Daily Beast/Newsweek |date=2012-05-20 |accessdate=2012-06-12}}</ref> In 2008, a team of Amador Valley students won the national [[UNICEF]]-sponsored [[Junior 8]] Competition. The team traveled to [[Toyako, Japan]] to attend the 2008&nbsp;[[G8|Group of Eight (G8) Summit of World Leaders]] to collaborate on solutions to world problems.<ref name="J8">{{Citation|url=http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/usa_44803.html |title=At a glance: United States of America&nbsp;– J8 Summit widens the horizons of participants, including a 16-year-old US delegate |publisher=The United Nations Children's Fund |date= |accessdate=2009-06-23}}</ref> Eight of Amador Valley's teachers&mdash;Mark Aubel, Debbie Emerson, Jon Grantham, Tom Hall, Debbie Harvey, Brian Ladd, Marla Silversmith, and Eric Thiel&mdash;have been recognized as a [[Pleasanton Unified School District]] teacher of the year; one of those honorees, Brian Ladd, was also designated an [[Alameda County]] teacher of the year.<ref name="acoe teacher">{{Citation|url=http://www.acoe.k12.ca.us/acoe/Home/AboutACOE/News/ToY |title=Castro Valley and Pleasanton Teachers Selected 2006–2007 Alameda Teachers of the Year |publisher=Alameda County Office of Education |accessdate=10 January 2010 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903060556/http://www.acoe.k12.ca.us/acoe/Home/AboutACOE/News/ToY |archivedate=3 September 2011 |df= }}</ref><ref>{{Citation|url=http://pleasanton.k12.ca.us/pub/sarc.pdfx|title=AES 1999–2000 School Accountability Report Card|publisher=Alisal Elementary School|accessdate=10 January 2010}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref><ref name="aubel">{{Citation|url=http://www.pleasanton.k12.ca.us/Amador/faculty/arts/aubel.html|title=Amador Valley Fine Arts|publisher=Amador Valley High School|accessdate=10 January 2010}}</ref><ref name="pw 2009g" /><ref name="pw 2002c" />


===Programs===
===Programs===
Line 289: Line 289:
[[File:Amador Valley We the People.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Five high school students in suits and name tags face left. They are seated on the same side of the table and smiling.|Students of Amador Valley We the People team testify in a simulated [[congressional hearing]].]]
[[File:Amador Valley We the People.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Five high school students in suits and name tags face left. They are seated on the same side of the table and smiling.|Students of Amador Valley We the People team testify in a simulated [[congressional hearing]].]]


Amador Valley's main [[Speech and Debate]] teams places a heavy emphasis on public speaking skills. The school's [[Mock Trial]] team represented [[Alameda County]] at the California State Championships in 2007,<ref name="ti 2007"/> and competed as the wildcard in 2009.<ref name="ave 2009-03-15">{{Citation|url=http://www.amadorvalleyptsa.org/AVExpress/2009/15MAR09.html#LETTER.BLOCK18 |title=Congratulations To Mock Trial! |work=Amador Valley Express |publisher=Amador Valley PTSA |date=2009-03-15 |accessdate=2010-01-08}} {{Dead link|date=November 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> The Mock Trial team has perennially been Alameda County finalists in this Constitutional Rights Foundation sponsored competition, holding the finalist title five of the six years from 2004–2009.<ref>{{Citation|url=http://www.oaklandnet.com/parks/news/060104j.asp |title=News & Events |publisher=Oaklandnet.com |date=2004-05-28 |accessdate=2009-06-23 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080706080143/http://www.oaklandnet.com/parks/news/060104j.asp |archivedate=2008-07-06 |df= }}</ref><ref name="pw 2005a"/><ref name="ot 2006"/><ref>{{Citation|url=http://www.acoe.org/acoe/Home/AboutACOE/News/MockTrial |title=Amador Valley High School Wins Alameda County Mock Trial Competition &#124; Alameda County Office of Education |publisher=Alameda County Office of Education |date= |accessdate=2009-06-26}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|url=http://www.acoe.org/acoe/Home/AboutACOE/News/mock |title=Piedmont Comes in Second at State Mock Trial &#124; Alameda County Office of Education |publisher=Alameda County Office of Education |date=2008-04-04 |accessdate=2009-06-26}}</ref> Alameda County [[Superior Court]] Judge George Hernandez, who presided over the final county round in 2007, praised the level of preparedness of Amador Valley's Mock Trial team.<ref name="ti 2007"/>
Amador Valley's main [[Speech and Debate]] teams places a heavy emphasis on public speaking skills. The school's [[Mock Trial]] team represented [[Alameda County]] at the California State Championships in 2007,<ref name="ti 2007"/> and competed as the wildcard in 2009.<ref name="ave 2009-03-15">{{Citation|url=http://www.amadorvalleyptsa.org/AVExpress/2009/15MAR09.html#LETTER.BLOCK18 |title=Congratulations To Mock Trial! |work=Amador Valley Express |publisher=Amador Valley PTSA |date=2009-03-15 |accessdate=2010-01-08}} {{Dead link|date=November 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> The Mock Trial team has perennially been Alameda County finalists in this Constitutional Rights Foundation sponsored competition, holding the finalist title five of the six years from 2004–2009.<ref>{{Citation|url=http://www.oaklandnet.com/parks/news/060104j.asp |title=News & Events |publisher=Oaklandnet.com |date=2004-05-28 |accessdate=2009-06-23 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080706080143/http://www.oaklandnet.com/parks/news/060104j.asp |archivedate=2008-07-06 |df= }}</ref><ref name="pw 2005a"/><ref name="ot 2006"/><ref>{{Citation|url=http://www.acoe.org/acoe/Home/AboutACOE/News/MockTrial |title=Amador Valley High School Wins Alameda County Mock Trial Competition &#124; Alameda County Office of Education |publisher=Alameda County Office of Education |date= |accessdate=2009-06-26 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100413073952/http://www.acoe.org/acoe/Home/AboutACOE/News/MockTrial |archivedate=2010-04-13 |df= }}</ref><ref>{{Citation|url=http://www.acoe.org/acoe/Home/AboutACOE/News/mock |title=Piedmont Comes in Second at State Mock Trial &#124; Alameda County Office of Education |publisher=Alameda County Office of Education |date=2008-04-04 |accessdate=2009-06-26 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205014112/http://www.acoe.org/acoe/Home/AboutACOE/News/mock |archivedate=2008-12-05 |df= }}</ref> Alameda County [[Superior Court]] Judge George Hernandez, who presided over the final county round in 2007, praised the level of preparedness of Amador Valley's Mock Trial team.<ref name="ti 2007"/>


The national [[We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution]] competition takes place each spring in [[Washington, D.C.]]. The Amador Valley "We the People" team has represented the state of California at the national competition more than a dozen times since 1992.<ref name="pw 2009b"/><ref name="pw 2009e"/> The team earned the national title in 1995, and took second place in the 1996, 2006, and 2007 competitions, in addition to placing third in 1994.<ref name="pw 2008b"/> In 2008 and 2009, the team placed fourth and third in the national competition, respectively, and then took second place again in 2011, 2013, and 2014. Congressman [[Jerry McNerney]] and Speaker of the House [[Nancy Pelosi]] congratulated the 2009 team on [[Capitol Hill]].<ref name="pw 2009f"/>
The national [[We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution]] competition takes place each spring in [[Washington, D.C.]]. The Amador Valley "We the People" team has represented the state of California at the national competition more than a dozen times since 1992.<ref name="pw 2009b"/><ref name="pw 2009e"/> The team earned the national title in 1995, and took second place in the 1996, 2006, and 2007 competitions, in addition to placing third in 1994.<ref name="pw 2008b"/> In 2008 and 2009, the team placed fourth and third in the national competition, respectively, and then took second place again in 2011, 2013, and 2014. Congressman [[Jerry McNerney]] and Speaker of the House [[Nancy Pelosi]] congratulated the 2009 team on [[Capitol Hill]].<ref name="pw 2009f"/>

Revision as of 14:07, 25 May 2017

Amador Valley High School
Location
Map
1155 Santa Rita Road
Pleasanton, California 94566

United States
Coordinates37°40′08″N 121°52′27″W / 37.6689°N 121.8743°W / 37.6689; -121.8743
Information
TypeComprehensive public high school
MottoSchool of Champs
EstablishedMarch 14, 1922 (1922-03-14)
School districtPleasanton Unified School District
SuperintendentJim Hansen (interim)
CEEB code052495
NCES School ID060002009282[1]
PrincipalMichael Williams [2]
Faculty108.63 (on full-time equivalent (FTE) basis) (as of 2010–2011)[1]
Grades9–12
Enrollment2,591 (as of 2010–2011)[1]
Campus size39.27 acres (15.89 ha)[3]
Campus typeSuburban
Color(s)   Purple and gold
MascotThe Don
NewspaperThe Amadon
Feeder schoolsHarvest Park Middle School, Pleasanton Middle School, Hart Middle School
Websiteamador.pleasantonusd.net

Amador Valley High School is a public high school in Pleasanton, California, United States, a city east of Oakland. The school was founded as Amador Valley Joint Union High School (AVJUHS), which graduated its first class in 1923. The school has been named a California Distinguished School, a National School of Character, and a National Blue Ribbon School. Amador Valley is one of four high schools in the Pleasanton Unified School District, along with Foothill High School, Village High School, and Horizon High School.

As of 2009, Amador Valley offered its 2,500 students 20 Advanced Placement courses, 23 varsity sports, a program to study local aquatic wildlife, and vocational training. A monthly school publication, the Amadon, reports on athletics, academic and extracurricular issues, and news of the school and community. Amador's location allows it to be the launching point for parades and to host the site of the Amador Theater, Pleasanton's central performing arts facility for more than 60 years. The Amador Theater has remained a part of the Amador Valley campus since the 1930s, despite major school construction in 1968, 1997, and 2004. Amador is the rival of Foothill High School, across town.

Student groups, including the Marching Band and Math Team, have toured out-of-state after achieving high rankings in Californian competitions. In national competitions such as We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution, the Amador Valley team has ranked in the top four places from 1994 to 1996, 2006 to 2009, 2011, 2013, and 2014. Similarly, the Amador Valley Robotics Team, AVBotz, is recognized nationally as the best performing high-school team in the autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) competition hosted by the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI).

History

Region and districts

Amador Valley High School, originally Amador Valley Joint Union High School,[4] was named for its location in the Amador Valley (part of the Tri-Valley area of the San Francisco East Bay). The valley's namesake was a wealthy Californio rancher, Don José María Amador.[5] The school was founded on March 14, 1922, as part of the Amador Valley Joint Union High School District (AVJUHSD), out of concerns of overcrowding and transportation for students traveling to nearby Livermore High School. Amador Valley's first class graduated in 1923.[6][7]

From 1922 to 1988, the school was part of the AVJUHSD.[4][8] Originally this district also taught students from nearby Dublin and served the local rural community.[9] In the late 1930s, the Amador Theater was added to the main campus building. The "original" campus building (c1922) was taken down in 1968 leaving only the theatre towards the front of the Amador Valley High School campus. The theater hosted school plays, band concerts, performances, lectures, and assemblies, and was the former home of the successful community theater group Cask and Mask, now known as The Masquers.[10] The Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956 led to the building of a series of freeways in the region, which led to increased population and an increase in student enrollment.[11][12]

Squares and rectangles are around the lab. They are labelled with classroom numbers. Towards the back of the image is an oval with a track around it signifying a football field. To the top and right of the map lays quarter circles that represent baseball fields. A parking lot is illustrated to the left and bottom of the image.
Student-drawn map of current school campus

In 1988, voters approved the unification of several school districts in the region. On July 1, 1988, the AVJUHSD merged with the Pleasanton Joint School District to form the Pleasanton Unified School District.[13][14] As of 2009, the district contained two comprehensive high schools (Amador Valley and Foothill), two continuation high schools (Horizon and Village), three middle schools, seven elementary schools, and an adult education program.[15]

The school grounds are bordered on the east and southeast by Santa Rita Road, a Union Pacific railroad track on which the Altamont Commuter Express runs, and Arroyo Valle.[16] To the north are several businesses and residential districts lie on the western border. The school is the launch point for the annual Pleasanton Hometown Holidays Celebration Parade and the annual Fall Festival Parade, a part of the Alameda County Fair since the 1940s. The Fall Festival Parade, which features bands, floats, balloons, horses, and antique cars, starts on the Amador Valley parking lot, travels down Main Street, and ends near the fairgrounds.[17][18]

Court battle

In 1978, the AVJUHSD challenged the constitutionality of California Proposition 13, which placed a cap on county real estate taxes. The proposition limited property tax assessments to the 1975 standard, eliminating $7 billion of the $11.4 billion in property tax revenue collected each year. According to the Washington Post, the "severe" limitations this imposed on state funding forced local governments and most school districts in California to make "drastic cutbacks".[19] Furthermore, an article in the Los Angeles Times noted that Federal aid money for Californian schools, worth about $98 million each year, may be reduced if state-funded programs are cut. A recent Congressional report had found that Proposition 13 would not result in any major "local spending" cuts. In order to receive Federal aid, the state needed to maintain present levels of spending on local programs or secure local matching funds. However, the enforcement of this spending was "flexible in many programs" and the Federal Impact Aid program for schools was therefore in jeopardy.[20]

The district held that the measure was "so drastic and far-reaching that it was 'a revision' of the state Constitution and not a mere amendment". Ultimately, the district was unsuccessful in its suit. In their ruling, the judges distinguished between "amendment" and "revision." The court confirmed that an initiative cannot "revise" the constitution; Proposition 13, however, was an amendment to the California Constitution and not a "revision".[21] In 2009, Amador Valley was cited by dissenting Justice Carlos R. Moreno in arguing the non-constitutionality of California Proposition 8.[22]

Development

Beige building with red roof. Grassy field in front and tree-covered hill in the back. A group of students sits on a bench facing the building.
School campus with the Pleasanton Ridge in the background

The first class of eight students graduated in 1923, and the school quickly became known for its municipal bands and sports teams, along with their cheerleaders.[23] The school selected the Don as its mascot, in honor of the title used by Amador;[5] Don is a Spanish term used as a mark of high esteem for a distinguished nobleman or gentleman.

Parents of Amador Valley students became involved with student activities. In 1927, Pleasanton mothers decided to start a school lunch program to provide students with a better environment for learning. Parents donated pots and pans, and a newly hired cook prepared lunches, to be eaten at new tables and benches. The tables and benches were constructed by the custodian and the music teacher from wood of horse stalls formerly on the campus. This project led to the formation of a Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) chapter at Amador Valley in the late 1920s.[24]

Much of the original Amador Valley High School building was demolished in 1968 leaving only the theatre to which a community fund raising effort restored. The following year, the school reached its maximum capacity, about 1,895 students. To accommodate the larger student population, Dublin High School was founded. Both schools held classes on the Amador Valley campus during the 1968–69 school year.[25] A continued influx of families to the Pleasanton region prompted the foundation of another high school, Foothill, in 1973.[6]

On the left, a beige two-story building with large windows. The front of the building says "Library Media Center." On the right, a smaller beige building and a large tree
The library and media center is the tallest building on the Amador Valley campus.[26] According to former Amador Valley Librarian Ellen Bell, the building was designed to be "open, spacious and exciting."[26]

Starting November 3, 1986, Amador Valley teachers went on a rolling strike to "protest a breakdown in negotiations for a new contract."[27] The school brought in substitutes to replace the picketing teachers.[27] Amador Valley teachers are unionized under the California Teachers Association and the National Education Association.[28]

In March 1997, the city passed Measure B, which granted the school district $69 million to replace old and crowded facilities and modernize the school campus.[26] The renovations revived one of the school's last original structures: the Amador Theater, the city's most popular performing arts facility.[6][10] The measure enabled the addition of renovated science classrooms, a multipurpose room, a library and media center, and a sound-proofed music building. The parking lot and central quad were expanded, with more than 550 parking spaces in the new lot, and classrooms were equipped to be more energy efficient.[29]

In 1999, responding to a directive from the California Superintendent of Education, the district identified character education as one of its goals.[30] As selected by the community, six character traits (responsibility, compassion, self-discipline, honesty, respect, and integrity) were listed as "expected behaviors" for Pleasanton. In 2004, Amador Valley and the school district won national recognition (National School of Character) for its program emphasizing the Community of Character.[14]

In 2004, a new two-story building was completed, containing twenty-four new classrooms. The following year, the Charles "Chuck" Volonte Aquatic Center was built for Amador Valley's swimming, diving, and water polo teams. Lighting retrofits were added in December 2004 for improved energy efficiency and illumination.[29] In 2005, Amador Valley High School was the first high school to join the worldwide Go Green Initiative. In the same year, Pleasanton was selected as the "Go Green City of the Year."[31]

Academics

As of 2012, Amador Valley operates on a 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. schedule. Most students do not take first period, with their schedules starting at 8:00 a.m. This includes seven periods of instruction, a lunch, and a brunch.[32] Amador Valley is a closed campus; students are not allowed to leave school supervision during school hours.[3]

Enrollment

In the 2011–12 school year, Amador Valley High School had an enrollment of 2,623 students and 170 faculty members, for a student-faculty ratio of 15:1.[33] The student population at Amador Valley is predominantly White, with a large Asian minority and Hispanic and Latino Americans and African American minorities.[34] Seven percent of Amador Valley students are involved in special education, three percent qualify for English language learner support, and two percent qualify for free or reduced price lunch.[3]

Awards

President George W. Bush and Japanese Prime Minister are on the right of a high school student. The high school student speaks. In the background are more high school students and important political figures.
President George W. Bush and Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda talk with an Amador Valley representative at the 2008 G8 Summit.[35]

The school has been deemed a three-time California Distinguished School,[36] a National School of Character,[37] and a two-time National Blue Ribbon School.[38] Performance results for 2008 show Amador Valley with an Academic Performance Index (API) of 10 on a 10-point scale.[3] The Daily Beast/Newsweek ranked Amador Valley High School 171st in 2013, and 238th in 2012, in its list of the Best High Schools in America. [39] [40] In 2008, a team of Amador Valley students won the national UNICEF-sponsored Junior 8 Competition. The team traveled to Toyako, Japan to attend the 2008 Group of Eight (G8) Summit of World Leaders to collaborate on solutions to world problems.[41] Eight of Amador Valley's teachers—Mark Aubel, Debbie Emerson, Jon Grantham, Tom Hall, Debbie Harvey, Brian Ladd, Marla Silversmith, and Eric Thiel—have been recognized as a Pleasanton Unified School District teacher of the year; one of those honorees, Brian Ladd, was also designated an Alameda County teacher of the year.[42][43][44][45][46]

Programs

Three high school students stand beside a beautiful creek. Two hold a net in the stream, the third points towards the water.
A group of Amador Valley students study aquatic wildlife with Project Creek Watch at Arroyo Valle.

As of 2009, Amador Valley curriculum offered 20 Advanced Placement (AP) classes, the most popular of which are AP Psychology, AP English Language and Composition, AP Calculus, AP Government, and AP United States History.[29] Nearly half of Amador Valley students participate in the school's AP Program. The average participant takes 4.3 exams per year and 87.5 percent of students receive at least one score of 3 or greater.[47] The school offers the complete range of AP courses in the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, mathematics), as well as AP Language courses and their literature complements in English, French, German, Japanese, and Spanish. Amador Valley also offers AP courses in social sciences and visual and performing arts.[29]

The school offers specialized instruction through vocational education as part of the valley-wide Regional Occupational Program. Courses offered include computer-assisted drafting, electronics, welding, medical training, and auto body repair.[48]

The Amador Valley science department initiated Project Creek Watch in 1994. The project provides students with resources for the long term study of Arroyo Valle; these resources include information about the chemistry in the creek, images of the creek, a guide to flora and fauna, and student projects on aquatic species. "The goal is to let kids realize there are a number of different physical and biological components that allow these organisms (in the creek) to coexist," said Eric Thiel, an Amador Valley Biology teacher and a co-founder of the project. "I hope they walk away able to see how complex ecosystems are."[49] In 1999, the project received a Golden Bell Award for excellence in education from the California School Boards Association. Research projects about the creek and other topics have won first place awards at the Tri-Valley Science and Engineering Fair.[50][51][52] In 2001, Thiel and the school received a National Semiconductor "Internet Innovator Award" for the Project Creek Watch website.[53]

Extracurricular activities

Athletics

A female high school basketball player dribbles the ball towards the camera with a focused look on her face. Behind her trail basketball members from her team and the opposing team. All are running towards the camera.
The Amador Valley varsity girls' basketball team faces rival team Foothill High School.

As of 2009, the school offered 12 varsity sports teams for boys and 11 varsity sports teams for girls. These sports are run under the Amador Valley Athletics Boosters and include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, spirit squad, swimming/diving, tennis, track, volleyball, water polo and wrestling.[54] Amador Valley competes in the East Bay Athletic League and has won four East Bay Athletic League Championships.[29][55]

The Amador Valley Booster Club also has hosted East Bay Special Olympics basketball tournaments, track meets, and volleyball competitions at Amador Valley High School since 2004.[56] The school coordinates parent and student volunteers, donates proceeds from snack sales, and provides facilities free of charge for three Special Olympic events: basketball, track, and volleyball. In 2006, the Amador Valley Booster Club won "Volunteer Organization of the Year" from Special Olympics Northern California.[57] In 2009, the Booster Club provided over 200 volunteers to help with the logistics of the competition.[58]

The Amador Valley varsity boys' and girls' basketball teams both host an annual eight-team basketball tournament, the Amador Basketball Classic (ABC), in the first two weeks of December. The ABC brings high school basketball players and teams from within the state and outside of the state to play in Pleasanton. Each team plays four games between Wednesday and Saturday.[59] Taking place every year since December 1961, the ABC is the longest-running eight-team basketball championship in California.[60] The girls ABC tournament has been held since December 1994.[59]

Band and Color Guard

Two color guard members dressed in togas spin flags with fire designs in the middle of the DVC football field. Surrounding these color guard members are flute and saxophone players standing still and playing. They are dressed in a purple jacket and black marching pants and are wearing shakos.
The Marching Band and Color Guard perform "Heroes, Gods, and Mythical Creatures" at the 2008 WBA Championships.

Amador Valley's music program was founded in 1928 by Harry Tripp, a native of England. Tripp, the director of bands at Amador Valley, established an orchestra and a glee club, and recruited performers for parades and numerous operettas.[61] The Amador Valley band program is now the largest student activity on campus[62] and hosts the annual Campana Jazz Festival, named after Jim Campana, who led the band from 1959 to 1979.[63]

Amador Valley's band program consists of five concert bands: Wind Ensemble I, Wind Ensemble II, Wind Symphony Purple, Wind Symphony Gold, and Symphonic Band.[64] At the annual California Music Educators Association Band Festivals, all four of Amador Valley's concert bands regularly earn "Unanimous Superior" ratings.[65]

The Marching Band and Color Guard compete in the Western Band Association (WBA) circuit. The band practices a competitive field show, performed at football halftime shows and competitions. The Marching Dons are classified into WBA Class AAAAA.[66] The Amador Valley Marching Dons have received sweepstakes (highest score in combined AAAA and AAAAA classes) and first place awards and earned sixth place in 2008 at the WBA Championship.[67][68]

In 2006 the marching band competed in the Bands of America Regional Competition for the first time, and placed fourth in the 2007 competition. In 2005 and 2009, Amador Valley was invited to perform at the annual London New Year's Day Parade.[69]

In 2014, the Amador Valley Marching Dons earned fourth place at the WBA Grand Championships with their program, "The Forest," receiving a school-high score of 93.15.[70]

In 2016, the Amador Valley Marching Dons earned third place at the WBA Grand Championships with their program, "The Garden." Due to rainy conditions, the band was not able to perform at finals.

Math Team

39 students stand on a staircase and face the camera. In the background is foliage.
The Amador Valley Math Team as part of the Pleasanton Math League won fourth place among Bay Area math teams (sixth overall of 42) at the 2009 Stanford Math Tournament.[71]

The Amador Valley Math Team hosts outreach events and participates in mathematics competitions. The Mathematical Association of America placed Amador Valley High School on its School Merit Roll for performance on the American Mathematics Competitions series.[72] The Math Team placed fifth nationally on the 2008 Collaborative Problem-Solving Contest[73] and placed in the top 25 nationwide in the 2005–2009 Fall Startup Events.[74][75][76][77][78]

Amador Valley is the first high school in California to host a MathLeague.org tournament. The tournament was run by Amador Valley math teachers with help from the Amador Valley Math Team. The event served as a qualifier for MathLeague.org's Northern California Championships and served as a tryout for the Bay Area American Regions Math League team. The math team was praised for "showing leadership in mathematics."[79]

At the 2009 Northern California Championships, the Math Team placed second in Northern California to Lynbrook High School and received an invitation to MathLeague.org's multi-state championship in Kansas City. Amador Valley High School, the first to represent California at the Midwestern event, finished fifth in the championship out of the ten qualifying teams.[80]

The Math Team also hosts the Amador Valley Geometry Bee, modeled after the Scripps National Spelling Bee. This competition invites students from Amador Valley, Foothill High School, and the district's three middle schools to compete in timed rounds. The style of the competition consists of rounds of 10 questions each, deviating from the traditional spelling bee format.[80]

The Math Team also hosts an event for parents and students, Family Math Night. This event lets parents preview course material with their students through hands-on activities run by math team members. The goal of Family Math Night is "to help parents become comfortable assisting their students with math homework."[81]

Robotics Team

Two teenagers look down at a small vehicle. The vehicle is enclosed in a clear plastic tube and the machinery inside is clearly visible. To the right, a female student holds the vehicle. To the left, a male student adjusts tubing on the vehicle. In the back, a middle-aged man is holding a harness for the vehicle.
Two Amador Valley students prepare AUV deployment at the Transducer Evaluation Center (TRANSDEC).

The Amador Valley Robotics Team, founded in 1999, is the first and only high school team to compete in the Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) Competition hosted by the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI).[82][83][84] Each year, with a minimal amount of outside technical assistance, the team develops an AUV to maneuver an underwater obstacle course.[83]

The team first entered the competition in 2000 with its Hammerhead AUV, weighing 98 kg (220 pounds).[85] They placed seventh in the field of twelve.[84] According to Daryl Davidson, the executive director of AUVSI, "The Amador group really broke the ice by being the first high school team at the competition...It caught everybody off-guard and their enthusiasm was very infectious."[83]

At the 2001 competition, Amador Valley placed second to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with its Manta Ray AUV.[86][87] The Manta Ray weighed less than 100 kg (220 pounds) and featured a modular design.[87] According to Jim Bales, technical director of the competition, the technical details of the Manta Ray impressed many judges and its performance surpassed a number of university teams.[83]

The Amador Valley Barracuda line, started in 2002, "is propelled by two laterally mounted SeaBotix thrusters controlling speed and heading and two auxiliary thrusters aligned vertically controlling pitch and depth." To guide the AUV autonomously, a pressure sensor, compass, camera, and hydrophone array return navigation input data to the software. The AUV uses a Beagle Board single-board computer that runs Angstrom Linux.[88][89]

In 2008, several fundamental changes were made to the robot. The control system was reorganized and the mission control software was revamped to improve communication and to limit overhead. A low-level microcontroller-based control system was added to free up system resources. This extra processing capability will be used for mission control and image processing tasks.[89]

Speech and Debate

Five high school students in suits and name tags face left. They are seated on the same side of the table and smiling.
Students of Amador Valley We the People team testify in a simulated congressional hearing.

Amador Valley's main Speech and Debate teams places a heavy emphasis on public speaking skills. The school's Mock Trial team represented Alameda County at the California State Championships in 2007,[90] and competed as the wildcard in 2009.[91] The Mock Trial team has perennially been Alameda County finalists in this Constitutional Rights Foundation sponsored competition, holding the finalist title five of the six years from 2004–2009.[92][93][94][95][96] Alameda County Superior Court Judge George Hernandez, who presided over the final county round in 2007, praised the level of preparedness of Amador Valley's Mock Trial team.[90]

The national We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution competition takes place each spring in Washington, D.C.. The Amador Valley "We the People" team has represented the state of California at the national competition more than a dozen times since 1992.[97][98] The team earned the national title in 1995, and took second place in the 1996, 2006, and 2007 competitions, in addition to placing third in 1994.[99] In 2008 and 2009, the team placed fourth and third in the national competition, respectively, and then took second place again in 2011, 2013, and 2014. Congressman Jerry McNerney and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi congratulated the 2009 team on Capitol Hill.[100]

Student outreach

Three high-school age students sit around a round table. Two are writing letters on white paper and the third (on the right) is holding a water bottle. A packet of paper that is titled STAND sits on the middle of the table.
At the Second Annual Bay Area Human Rights Conference, Amador Valley Human Rights Club members write letters to their senators to urge them to support taking action to end the genocide in Darfur.

Amador Valley's Interact Club was founded in coordination with the local Rotary chapter, and is one of 33,000 Rotary chapters in the world.[101] Every year, the Interact Club coordinates several local fundraisers as well as nationwide campaigns in conjunction with Rotary events. Club members are a part of millions of worldwide Rotary and Interact members who work "locally, regionally, and internationally to combat hunger, improve health and sanitation, provide education and job training, promote peace, and eradicate polio under the motto Service Above Self."[101] Amador Valley's Interact Club has been praised for its efforts to "educate, advocate and fundraise for life-changing programs."[101]

The Human Rights Club is a similar sort of outreach group, affiliated with Amnesty International and STAND. The club was founded in 2007 by Amador Valley student Shelby Margolin, the California state high school outreach coordinator on the national STAND leadership board.[102] The club focuses on ways to address issues such as genocide, disease and poverty in Africa. The student group hosts educational seminars and keynote speakers in an annual Human Rights Conference in the hope of "raising awareness about and helping to end genocide."[103][104]

Other extracurricular activities

Additional Amador Valley clubs include Go Green, which encourages recycling on campus, and FISH Club, a non-denominational Christian club. Around election years, Young Democrats and Young Republicans clubs are popular. The school's Fashion Club hosts fashion shows, and the school's Flight Club introduces students to aviation and aircraft.[105] Cultural clubs at Amador Valley include Black Student Union, Muslim Student Association, and Multi Cultural Club. Other clubs at Amador Valley include Anime, Art of Movement, Astronomy, Bhangra, Book Club, California Scholastic Federation, DECA, Don Squad, Drama, Environmental, French, GO, Gay-Straight Alliance, Interact, Junior State of America, Lumberjack, Model United Nations, Political Ideals, Puzzle, Rugby, Short Film, and Students Interested in Medical Sciences (SIMS).[106]

Notable people associated with the school

Alumni

A high school student stands behind a large blue check. Behind her stand six adults in suits. The check has a National Vocabulary Championship logo in the top left and is written out to Aliya Deri for the amount of $40,000. The check is dated March 10, 2008.
Amador Valley alumna Aliya Deri is presented with a $40,000 scholarship after winning the 2008 National Vocabulary Championship.

Staff

References

Notes

  1. ^ a b c "Search for Public Schools - Amador Valley High School (060002009282)". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved 2012-11-21.
  2. ^ "Meet the New Amador Valley High School Principal". Pleasanton Patch.
  3. ^ a b c d AVHS 2007–2008 School Accountability Report Card
  4. ^ a b Pleasanton Weekly, October 12, 2007
  5. ^ a b Wainwright 2007, p. 77.
  6. ^ a b c Wainwright 2007, p. 124.
  7. ^ Long 1989, pp. 30–31.
  8. ^ Pleasanton Weekly, March 23, 2007
  9. ^ Wainwright 2007, pp. 15, 92.
  10. ^ a b City of Pleasanton – About Amador Theater, Ci.pleasanton.ca.us, archived from the original on 2009-06-11, retrieved 2009-06-23 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ Pleasanton Weekly, October 12, 2007
  12. ^ Wainwright 2007, p. 109.
  13. ^ Long 1989, p. 2.
  14. ^ a b Pleasanton Weekly, December 9, 2005
  15. ^ PPIE – Pleasanton Partnerships in Education Foundation, Pleasanton Partnerships in Education Foundation, archived from the original on October 22, 2009, retrieved 2009-07-27 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  16. ^ Wainwright 2007, p. 92.
  17. ^ Valley Times, June 21, 2007
  18. ^ Parade Participant Dropoff Instructions (PDF), The City of Pleasanton, retrieved 2009-06-30[permanent dead link]
  19. ^ The Washington Post, June 14, 1978
  20. ^ Los Angeles Times, August 3, 1978. Note this article was published by many conservative newspapers which supported the Californian "tax revolt". See for instance The Australian, August 12, 1978.
  21. ^ United Press International, August 11, 1978; United Press International, September 23, 1978
  22. ^ In the Supreme Court of California (PDF), California Women's Law Center, 2009-05-26, p. 152, archived from the original (PDF) on 15 April 2010, retrieved 20 November 2009 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  23. ^ Wainwright 2007, p. 93.
  24. ^ Long 1989, p. 66.
  25. ^ Long 1989, p. 96.
  26. ^ a b c Pleasanton Weekly, September 27, 2002
  27. ^ a b "Pleasanton Teachers Begin 3-day Walkout", Mercury News, San Jose Mercury News, 1986-11-03, retrieved 2009-07-30
  28. ^ Pleasanton Joint Elementary School District and Amador Valley Teachers Association, CTA/NEA (PDF), State of California Decision of the Educational Employment Relations Board, 1977-09-12, retrieved 2009-09-04
  29. ^ a b c d e AVHS 2005–2006 School Accountability Report Card
  30. ^ Character Education Plan, Pleasanton Unified School District, 2003-06-18, ISBN 0-404-55695-7, archived from the original on 2005-02-08, retrieved 2009-07-26
  31. ^ Helping the World Go Green, Go Green Initiative, ISBN 0-919856-12-8, archived from the original on 2009-05-29, retrieved 2009-06-23 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  32. ^ AVHS website
  33. ^ "Viewpoint-Don Days 2012". Amador Valley High School Yearbook.
  34. ^ "School Level Enrollment Reports – DataQuest (CA Dept of Education)". Data1.cde.ca.gov. 2009-05-26. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
  35. ^ President's Trip to Hokkaido Toyako Japan, Georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov, retrieved 2009-06-26
  36. ^ California School Recognition Program Distinguished School Awardees 1984 Through 2008, California Department of Education Policy and Evaluation Division, retrieved 2009-06-29
  37. ^ 2004 National Schools of Character Winners – Character Education Partnership, Character Education Partnership, archived from the original on 2006-03-22, retrieved 2009-06-29
  38. ^ California Department of Education 2008; California Department of Education news release, September 22, 2006; Pleasanton USD press release, October 2006
  39. ^ '13 America's Best High Schools - The Daily Beast, The Daily Beast/Newsweek, 2012-05-06, retrieved 2012-05-14
  40. ^ America's Best High Schools 2012 - The Daily Beast, The Daily Beast/Newsweek, 2012-05-20, retrieved 2012-06-12
  41. ^ At a glance: United States of America – J8 Summit widens the horizons of participants, including a 16-year-old US delegate, The United Nations Children's Fund, retrieved 2009-06-23
  42. ^ Castro Valley and Pleasanton Teachers Selected 2006–2007 Alameda Teachers of the Year, Alameda County Office of Education, archived from the original on 3 September 2011, retrieved 10 January 2010 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  43. ^ AES 1999–2000 School Accountability Report Card, Alisal Elementary School, retrieved 10 January 2010 [dead link]
  44. ^ Amador Valley Fine Arts, Amador Valley High School, retrieved 10 January 2010
  45. ^ Pleasanton Weekly, May 29, 2009
  46. ^ Pleasanton Weekly, September 27, 2002
  47. ^ Amador Valley High: Best High Schools, USNews.com, archived from the original on 2009-05-03, retrieved 2009-06-23 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  48. ^ Long 1989, p. 52.
  49. ^ Pleasanton Weekly, September 22, 2000
  50. ^ STEP Science on Saturday: Lecture Five, Lawrence Livermore National lab, retrieved 2014-02-15
  51. ^ Oakland Tribune, June 3, 2009
  52. ^ Hirschfeld, Bob, Lab-sponsored science fair winners take home awards at international and state competitions, Publicaffairs.llnl.gov, archived from the original on 2010-05-28, retrieved 2009-06-23 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  53. ^ Pleasanton Weekly, November 2, 2001
  54. ^ Amador Valley Athletics, Amador Valley Athletics Boosters, retrieved 2009-07-14
  55. ^ EBAL School Sports, eLivermore.com, retrieved 2009-07-14
  56. ^ Amador Valley Dons, Amador Valley Booster Club, 2008-05-03, archived from the original on 2011-07-14, retrieved 2009-07-26 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  57. ^ 2006 Volunteer of the Year Awards, Special Olympics Northern California, archived from the original on August 20, 2008, retrieved 2009-07-30 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  58. ^ Pleasanton Weekly, April 17, 2009
  59. ^ a b Pleasanton Weekly, November 29, 2002
  60. ^ Pleasanton Weekly, November 28, 2003
  61. ^ Long 1989, p. 36.
  62. ^ Amador Valley Express – April 15, 2008, Amador Valley PTSA, 2008-04-15, archived from the original on June 14, 2008, retrieved 2011-03-11 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  63. ^ Long 1989, p. 63.
  64. ^ Amador Valley Express – February 1, 2008, Amador Valley PTSA, 2008-02-01, archived from the original on June 14, 2008, retrieved 2009-06-23 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  65. ^ Who's in it, Londonparade.co.uk, archived from the original on 2011-07-26, retrieved 2009-07-14 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  66. ^ Western Band Association, Western Band Association, archived from the original on 2007-10-09, retrieved 2009-06-29
  67. ^ Amador Valley High School Band, Amadorband.org, 2008-01-24, archived from the original on 2008-01-24, retrieved 2009-07-14
  68. ^ Western Band Association, Westernbands.org, 2008-11-23, retrieved 2009-07-14
  69. ^ Oakland Tribune, December 23, 2008
  70. ^ Western Band Association, Westernbands.org, 2014-11-23, retrieved 2014-12-05
  71. ^ Stanford Math Tournament Results 2009, Stanford University Mathematics Organization, archived from the original on 2010-07-23, retrieved 2009-06-29 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  72. ^ Learning Mathematics Through Meaningful Problem Solving – The 58th Annual Summary of High School Results and Awards (PDF), The Mathematical Association of America, archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-07-14, retrieved 2009-09-20 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  73. ^ 2008 Collaborative Problem-Solving Contest Results, National Assessment & Testing, 2008-08-21, retrieved 2012-01-12
  74. ^ 2005 Fall Startup Event Results, National Assessment & Testing, 2008-08-13, retrieved 2012-01-12
  75. ^ 2006 Fall Startup Event Results, National Assessment & Testing, 2008-08-13, retrieved 2012-01-12
  76. ^ 2007 Fall Startup Event Results, National Assessment & Testing, 2008-08-13, retrieved 2012-01-12
  77. ^ 2008 Fall Startup Event Results, National Assessment & Testing, 2008-10-13, retrieved 2012-01-12
  78. ^ 2009 Fall Startup Event Results, National Assessment & Testing, 2008-10-13, retrieved 2012-01-12
  79. ^ The Independent, December 10, 2009
  80. ^ a b The Independent, June 4, 2009
  81. ^ Competition math team to host Family Math Night, Pleasanton Unified School District, archived from the original on April 15, 2009, retrieved 2009-11-16 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  82. ^ The San Diego Union-Tribune, August 8, 2005
  83. ^ a b c d Pleasanton Weekly, May 18, 2001
  84. ^ a b San Francisco Chronicle, August 11, 2000
  85. ^ AVHS Robotics Team 2000 submission paper
  86. ^ Pleasanton Weekly, July 4, 2008
  87. ^ a b AVHS Robotics Team 2001 submission paper
  88. ^ AVHS Robotics Team 2002 submission paper
  89. ^ a b AVHS Robotics Club 2008
  90. ^ a b The Independent, March 8, 2007
  91. ^ "Congratulations To Mock Trial!", Amador Valley Express, Amador Valley PTSA, 2009-03-15, retrieved 2010-01-08 [dead link]
  92. ^ News & Events, Oaklandnet.com, 2004-05-28, archived from the original on 2008-07-06, retrieved 2009-06-23 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  93. ^ Pleasanton Weekly, March 4, 2005
  94. ^ Oakland Tribune, February 18, 2006
  95. ^ Amador Valley High School Wins Alameda County Mock Trial Competition | Alameda County Office of Education, Alameda County Office of Education, archived from the original on 2010-04-13, retrieved 2009-06-26 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  96. ^ Piedmont Comes in Second at State Mock Trial | Alameda County Office of Education, Alameda County Office of Education, 2008-04-04, archived from the original on 2008-12-05, retrieved 2009-06-26 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  97. ^ Pleasanton Weekly, February 9, 2009
  98. ^ Pleasanton Weekly, April 27, 2009
  99. ^ Pleasanton Weekly, February 11, 2008
  100. ^ Pleasanton Weekly, April 27, 2009
  101. ^ a b c Pleasanton Weekly, March 20, 2009
  102. ^ Oakland Tribune, June 14, 2009
  103. ^ Pleasanton Weekly news digest, January 30, 2009
  104. ^ Pleasanton Weekly news digest, May 9, 2008
  105. ^ Pleasanton Weekly, March 24, 2006
  106. ^ AVHS website
  107. ^ Oakland Tribune, June 7, 2009
  108. ^ Valley Times, July 18, 2009
  109. ^ Ballistic United Soccer Club, Busc.org, 2009-04-28, archived from the original on 2009-06-11, retrieved 2009-06-23 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  110. ^ Reuters, March 10, 2008
  111. ^ KODAK: Paul Korver Interview, Kodak, archived from the original on 2009-06-02, retrieved 2009-09-20 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  112. ^ New York Daily News, November 1, 2009
  113. ^ The New York Times, December 27, 2008
  114. ^ King, Jason (2009-06-16), Laues drive can't be denied – College Basketball – Rivals.com, Rivals.yahoo.com, retrieved 2009-06-23
  115. ^ Long 1989, p. 108.
  116. ^ Scott Peters, Nfl.com, 1978-11-23, retrieved 2009-06-23
  117. ^ Bonagura, Kyle (May 20, 2009). "Piscotty lives up to top billing for Amador Valley". The Oakland Tribune. Retrieved May 17, 2013.
  118. ^ Long 1989, pp. 109–110.
  119. ^ Long 1989, p. 34.
  120. ^ The Daily Californian, November 15, 2000
  121. ^ Civil Wars, California Magazine, September 1992, archived from the original on 2007-06-10, retrieved 2009-08-16.
  122. ^ Pleasanton Weekly, August 22, 2003

Bibliography

Online resources