Winning Students

Congratulations to Rodrigo Plaza , a senior at Soquel, who won 1st place ($300!) in the Santa Cruz Rotary Club Speech Contest. Rodrigo now advances to the regional competition. Rodrigo has also been selected as part of CBDA All State Honor Band as a trombone player.  Good work and good luck, Rodrigo!
Congratulations also to Kelly Payne (senior), who received the "Good Citizen Award" from the Santa Cruz Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. A picture of Kelly and the other award recipients was recently in the Santa Cruz Sentinel. Yea, Kelly!

Congratulations Mock Trial Team

Soquel High's Mock Trial Team placed second overall, with the most awards given to one school ever.
Austyn Caisse- Best Closing argument and Best Defense attorney in the county
Rodrigo Plaza – Best opening argument in the county
Anthony Salvia – Best Bailiff
Lindsy Hutchinson – Best Witness
Congratulations to the SHS Mock Trial Team

Special thanks to Thornton Kontz and Alyce Prudden-volunteer attorneys and Larry Hattis for mentoring this group

High School Honors Concert

On January 16, 2010, in Salinas, 15 high school students from Santa Cruz City Schools performed in the 2010 High School Honors Concert organized by the California Association for Music Education Central Coast Section. High school students were selected by audition from among Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Benito, and San Luis Obispo counties to perform in an honor choir, orchestra, or band. Participating students included Alissa Buck, Kayla Severson, Leanna Sadin, Nick Roberto, Shawn Fisher, Cole Fontes, Deanna Dawson, Moriah Quinn, Shannon Stewart, Ceres Lee, Grae Zimmerman, and Benjamin Ryan from Soquel High School.

Jim Stewart: Surfer turns band teacher through series of coincidences
Soquel High School's fabulous band instructor is the focus of a feature article in the Santa Cruz Sentinel. Check out the story about this great teacher and alumnus at the Sentinel.

SING FOR YOUR LIFE
Soquel music teacher Mark Bidelman and Principal Ken Lawrence-Emanuel accept a large check ($1,142.50) from Ed Warner, President of the Gold Standard Chorus, as a result of SING FOR YOUR LIFE, an annual fundraiser for music in our schools.

PUBLIC SPEAKING...more feared than death!!!
Congratulations to Monterey Bay FFA Sectional Public Speaking winners: Soquel FFA members Collin Taub, 2nd Place for the Freshmen Creed; Esmeralda Fregosa, 5th Place for Prepared Speech. Collin will continue on the to South Coast Regional Competition!!

LADY KNIGHTS
Lady Knights Girls JV Basketball took 2nd place in the recent tournament held at Santa Cruz High. Way to go girls!

SHS STUDENTS ACCEPTED TO CCS HONOR BAND
Six Soquel High students were accepted into the CCS Honor Band. Congratulations to Shannon Stewart, Moriah Quinn, Rodrigo Plaza, Ceres Lee, Ben Ryan and Grae Zimmerman.

SHS STUDENTS ACCEPTED TO CCS HONOR CHOIR
Taylor Boling, Alissa Buck, Kayla Severson, Leanne Sadine, Shawn Fisher, Marcos Chavez, and Nick Roberto.

SHS STUDENT ACCEPTED TO CCS HONOR ORCHESTRA
Deanna Dawsen

In order to be selected for the CCS Honor choir, band and orchestra the students must audition and are competing against students from Monterey, San Luis Obispo, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties. Congratulations to the winners.

SHS STUDENTS IN HOLIDAY CLASSIC
Several of our talented Soquel High Students will be performing in The Nutcracker ballet with the Santa Cruz Symphony Orchestra at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium for five shows on Dec. 18, 19, and 20, 2009. Our SHS dancers are seniors Emily Mullin and Callia Hansen; junior Daniella Baccaria; sophomores Courtney Jesberg, Gabbi Kamalani and Emily Scherer; and freshman Emily Rose. Tickets will be sold at the Civic Box Office and at the Studio of Classical Ballet, 479-1600. Bring your friends and enjoy the magic!