May 8, 2007

School Scene

Campbell FFA Boosters show off Westmont’s new $1.8 million Ag building

Open House draws dignitaries and alumni

Campbell Union High School District Superintendent Dr. Rhonda Farber, CUHSD Trustee Diane Gordon, Campbell Councilmember Jane Kennedy, and Pam Parker pause to pose on a tractor.

Tours of the new $1.8 million Agricultural Sciences Department classroom building at Westmont High School was the main draw of the Campbell FFA Boosters Open House and Farm Fun Fest held on April 28, which drew local dignitaries, former students and local families.

“It was a great day,” said Westmont parent Janet Ghanem. “The event went very well and it was well attended by the community too. Many families with toddlers came and later in the day former students representing almost each decade [the farm has been open] dropped by. The ceremony was well done by the students and several dignitaries spoke at the event.”

Those who spoke included Campbell Councilmember Jane Kennedy, San Jose Councilmember Pete Constant, Campbell Union High School District Superintendent Dr. Rhonda Farber, CUHSD Trustee Diane Gordon, former teacher Mr. Crabtree, Westmont Principal Owen Hege, and the architect and the builder of the project.

Last year the 40-plus-year-old classroom was demolished to make way for a new, state-of-the-art building using green, environmentally friendly principles paid for by bond money passed in 1999. With its separate laboratory and lecture rooms plus shop with three welding stations, movable workstations and office space, versatility is number one.

“It was a great day,” said Westmont parent Janet Ghanem. “The event went very well and it was well attended by the community too. Many families with toddlers came,” she said, such as those pictured above.

The 4-acre facility includes a swine unit for 30 hogs, a sheep/goat unit for 18 animals and a beef unit for 8 steers. There are also poultry pens for turkeys and chickens. The farm has a fully automated production greenhouse, practice arenas and grooming areas. There are lockers in barns, tack bins and full feed barns. Student projects include agriculture mechanics fabrication and animal husbandry for commercial and fair-show animals. Students produce horticulture projects and agriculture business placement is a focus of the program.

The Campbell FFA Chapter turns 74 years old this year. Its focus is on developing student’s potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success though agricultural education. The Campbell FFA Chapter #126, chartered in 1933, is the last active chapter in the San Jose metropolitan area from among 16 that were active in the intervening years.

—Photos by Janet Ghanem

Rolling Hills Middle School Band earns top rating in regional competition

The Rolling Hills Middle School Advanced Band gave an outstanding performance at the California Association for Music Education Music Festival in Gilroy on April 28th. In fact, the performance earned the group a rare “Unanimous Superior” rating from the judges.

The Rolling Hills group performed two musical selections in concert and sight-read a new piece of music very well, according to Band Instructor Mike Rawlinson. “This group of kids has worked very hard all year long, and their successful scores were quite a nice reward. They gave it their best and really impressed the judges.”

A Unanimous Superior is the highest ranking a group can achieve because it means the scores from every single one of the four judges added up to a Superior rating even after scores are averaged together. “The fact that our Superior rating was unanimous is quite an honor,” said Rawlinson.