Yosemite High School honored
BY EARLENE WARD - SPECIAL TO THE SIERRA STAR

EARLENE WARD
Yosemite High School trustees, administrators and staff members who wrote the Distinguished School application and the Exemplary Career/Technical Program application were in Anaheim May 20 to receive the awards. Pictured are (left to right) Trustee Linda Olson, Trustee Bert McSwain, Superintendent Bill McCabe, Gael Irizarry, Deborah Brown, Linda Robison, Jane Raupp, Principal Steve Raupp, Sharon Miller, Bob Miller, Bob Collins, Suzi Dooman and Dave Dooman. Not pictured is Earlene Ward.

Yosemite High School was among 192 middle and high schools honored May 20 as “the best of the best in public education,” at the 20th annual California Distinguished School Awards Ceremony.

California Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell presented the awards during an afternoon reception and then, later at the awards banquet, congratulated the recipients, telling them they were the best of the best and their schools were places “where students are put first and where everyone works as a team.”

Yosemite High School Principal Steve Raupp and Yosemite Joint Union High School District Superintendent Bill McCabe accepted the Distinguished School Award and the Exemplary Career Technical Education Award on behalf of the school.

Board members Bert McSwain and Linda Olson also attended the ceremony along with some of the staff members who were on the teams that wrote the two applications.

YHS was one of only 12 schools statewide to receive the Exemplary Career Technical Program award.

O’Connell said distinguished schools are ones that stress accountability, rigor and high standards for all students.

He said the schools honored that day were responsible for increased student success “and I enjoy running up and down the state taking credit for your hard work.”

In his address at the banquet, O’Connell said “distinguished schools are teams working together to ensure student success. When an entire school puts the focus on student success, the sky’s the limit.”

There are three new R’s in education today, he said: rigor, relevance and relationships. “We can no longer afford to just prepare our college-bound students,” O’Connell said. “Our students must be offered real choices and be given the opportunity to succeed no matter what their career path.”

In this context, he had praise for the exemplary career technical programs because they are going the extra mile to offer all students opportunities to succeed.

“Those schools chosen as ‘distinguished’ are shining examples of best practices, exemplary leadership and a strong commitment to students, families, and community. Distinguished schools have successfully set their sights on the ultimate goal: The graduation of well-rounded, motivated and self-assured young people who are ready to tackle their next challenge whether they attend college or enter the workplace,” said O’Connell.

This is the second time YHS has received the four-year award. The school was honored in 2001. The school will now be recognized as a Distinguished School through 2009.

Yosemite Joint Union High School District News