BY VOLNEY DUNAVAN
DUNAVAN@NETPTC.NET
A special portion
of the agenda for the May 11 meeting of the Madera County Board
of Education was item 4.2.1, the Award of Excellence
given to various schools and students in Madera County. Prominent
among these were the Distinguished School recognition presented
to Dr. Michael MacChesney for the Bass Lake School, to the
Yosemite High School Academic Decathletes and to the Yosemite High
School Mock Trial team.
Distinguished School recognition is given to educational institutions
considered to be strong, well-rounded community schools.
According to its mission statement, Bass Lake Joint Union Elementary
School District promises to “provide an education that emphasizes
reading, mathematics, communications skills, fine arts and a broad
based exposure to many academic disciplines.
This education will be achieved in an environment which enhances
integrity, respect, responsibility, and compassion for others.”
Bass Lake Elementary is a kindergarten through fifth grade school
that provides quality education for 72 students.
Dr. MacChesney is both the principal of the school and the superintendent
for the school district. Fewer than 400 elementary schools in the
state are recognized in the annual awards.
Both the Academic Decathlon and the Mock Trial teams at Yosemite
High School were honored for winning in the County of Madera and
representing it and its students at the statewide competition.
California Academic Decathlon promotes a rounded educational experience
through a team competition format. At present, over 500 high schools
in 42 counties and districts participate. Each team must include
three "A" students, three "B" students and three
"C" or below students. Team members are tested in economics,
art, music, language, literature, mathematics, science and social
science. They also give both a planned and an impromptu speech,
and have to write an essay.The Yosemite High School Academic Decathlon
nine-member team is Patricia Amick, Michael Cole, Domenic Di Tomaso,
Matthew Fullerton, Michael McCarty, Andrea Mowrer, Jennifer Munn,
Kimberly Usher and Elizabeth Zielins.
Team coach is Steve Browning.
Coach Browning documents 212 hours of classroom time alone spent
by each team member on study and practice.
The Mock Trial program is a project of the Constitutional Rights
Foundation. According to its website, the program was created to
help students acquire a working knowledge of our judicial system,
develop analytical abilities and communication skills, and gain
an understanding of their obligations and responsibilities as participating
members of our society.
Each year, CRF creates and produces a new set of Mock Trial materials
based on an important issue facing America's youth.
The Yosemite Mock Trial team is Caitlin Blum, Brittany Bohner, Bree
Boyd, Christine Casner, Melanie Deto, Jessie Fischer, Angela Gerow,
Landon Grossi, Amit Gurnani, Jason Koczanowiz, Kristin Lukan, Gabriela
Ripley-Phipps, Amanda Schotke, Veronica Stewart, Paige Turpen, Jessica
Tyson, Alexandra Watt and Valerie Woolard. Coach is James Lee. Other
Awards of Excellence went to Distinguished School Webster Elementary,
Gold Star Award Winner Laura Aguilar, and the Madera High School
Coyote Theatre Company which was named the Outstanding Play at the
Cypress College Shakespeare Tournament and the Valley Invitational
Theatre Festival at Fresno City College.
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