Pacifica High School (Oxnard, California)

Infobox_School | name = Pacifica High School


|150px
motto = Home of the Tritons
established = 2001
type = Public
principal = William Dabbs
faculty = 130
enrollment = approx. 3,400 (07-08)
nicknames = "The Jail House"
free_label = Colors
Mascot
free_text = Black, Green and White
Triton
location = 600 East Gonzales Road
Oxnard, CA 93036
country= USA
information = 805-278-5000
website = http://www.phstritons.comExpand|date=May 2008Unreferenced|date=May 2008

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. During the 2007-2008 school year, the school had nearly 3,400 students enrolled, 1,000 more than its original capacity of 2,500, making it the most populous school in its district. The school his fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

History

Pacifica High School was established in 2001, with only a freshmen and 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.

Technology and design

Despite the enrollment issues, Pacifica High School is a state-of-the-art facility that has pioneered a variety of technological advances, including a number of computer labs and foreign language labs as well as a full-service culinary arts classroom. The school was designed in an "East Coast" style, with nine buildings and sixteen portable classrooms. Visitors' first impressions of the school range from "higher education facility," to "correctional facility." Pacifica, designed as a Performing Arts Magnet School, boasts an impressive Robert Q. Valles Center for Performing Arts, as well as the large Steve W. Stocks Gymnasium. The school was designed by WLC Architects.

Mascot and school colors

The school's mascot is King Triton, and the school colors are black, green and white.

Marching Band

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

Athletics

Pacifica's football team has proved they are no longer the "new kids on the block." During the 2007-2008 season, the Triton fooball team made it to CIF for the first time. The boy's water polo team has been three time league champions with team mascot, Michael Dallape. The school's wrestling team has also showed their strength in securing several CIF championships and one of the school's first league titles in history, not to mention the girls wrestling team, which won third place in the CIF Southern Section.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.Also, 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.

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.

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

Publications

The school's award winning newspaper, established during the 2005-2006 school year, is entitled "Currents;" and a semi-annual newsletter is entitled "The Wave." The school's yearbook also won awards and it's theme is The Odyssey; Don't Judge a Book by It's Cover.

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.

chool trivia

* The school's total "price tag" was close to $67,000,000 ($67 million).
* The First Day of School was August 28, 2001.
* Pacifica High School is the largest school in Ventura County.
* Rapper Soulja Boy performed at the school during lunch on October 31, 2007 after winning a local radio station's text message contest.
* As a guest speaker during Black History Month, actor Sean Blakemore, encouraged students to continue their strong performance in school.

Gallery

External links

* [http://www.wlcarchitects.com/portfolio/educational/high_school/96201_pacifica_hs.html WLC Architects' Portfolio]
* [http://www.phstritons.com/ Official ASB Website]
* [http://www.ouhsd.k12.ca.us/sites/phs/School%20Profile%20&%20Dicipline/PROFILE_2006_2007.pdf School Profile]
* [http://www.ouhsd.k12.ca.us/ District Webpage]
* [http://www.ouhsd.k12.ca.us/sites/phs/phs.htm School Sponsored Website]
* [http://www.ci.oxnard.ca.us/about_oxnard/schools.html City of Oxnard Education]
* [http://www.q1047.com/PhotoWall.asp?id=33710 Soulja Boy performance]