Corona Del Sol High School
Encyclopedia
Corona del Sol High School located in Tempe
, Arizona
, United States, was established in 1977 and is a part of the Tempe Union High School District. It was expanded in 1986. It was expanded again in 2001.
and TerraNova
test scores as well as student pass rates are consistently above its district and state averages, as is its graduation rate (99%). Corona is also among the top schools in the state in the number of National Merit Semifinalists produced each year (16 in 2006). These and other achievements are recognized by the school's NCLB rating of "Excellent" for the past three years.
Despite high tensions, April 20 passed without incident, exactly as the administration predicted. Still, the false alarm from April 19 as well as the coincidental Virginia Tech shootings earlier in the week served to magnify fears that had already been raised by the unprecedented repetition of the graffiti threats. Although Corona has been threatened every April for the past several years, this is the first year that 4 messages have been found in succession making the same threat. Few classes had over 50% attendance, and it is estimated that over 2000 of the school's 2900 students took Friday off.
The administration and faculty were unfazed by the threats, but troubled by the exaggerated rumors that the threats spawned and occasionally inaccurate media reporting. The threats were taken seriously, and extra police were deployed to Corona pending completion of the investigation. A monetary reward for information leading to an arrest has since been increased to $5,000. Tips may be directed to the Tempe Police. The school and Tempe Union District are soliciting donations to increase the reward further.
Tempe, Arizona
Tempe is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, with the Census Bureau reporting a 2010 population of 161,719. The city is named after the Vale of Tempe in Greece. Tempe is located in the East Valley section of metropolitan Phoenix; it is bordered by Phoenix and Guadalupe on the west, Scottsdale...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, United States, was established in 1977 and is a part of the Tempe Union High School District. It was expanded in 1986. It was expanded again in 2001.
Campus
As of 2010, Corona del Sol is an open enrollment school. Corona enforces a closed-campus policy. Students attending through grades 9, 10 and 11 may not leave campus without an adult checking them out for the day. Seniors are only permitted to leave campus with a special ID which can only be obtained with a signed and notarized parent permission form.Academics
Corona's AIMSArizona's Instrument to Measure Standards
Arizona's Instrument to Measure Standards is a standardized test administered by the state of Arizona. AIMS is a standards based assessment aligned to the Arizona Academic Content Standards.-Test contents:...
and TerraNova
TerraNova (test)
TerraNova is a series of standardized achievement tests used in the United States designed to assess K-12 student achievement in reading, language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, vocabulary, spelling, and other areas. The test series is published by CTB/McGraw-Hill...
test scores as well as student pass rates are consistently above its district and state averages, as is its graduation rate (99%). Corona is also among the top schools in the state in the number of National Merit Semifinalists produced each year (16 in 2006). These and other achievements are recognized by the school's NCLB rating of "Excellent" for the past three years.
Arts
Corona del Sol has a large music and fine arts program, with three concert bands, a percussion program, an award winning marching band, a concert orchestra and chamber orchestra, as well as five choir classes. Piano, Guitar, and World Music (Steel Drums) are also offered. Other fine arts that students may enroll in include Intermediate Dance, Advanced Dance, Dance Performance, Photography, three Levels of Drama, Film Study, Stagecraft, Ceramics, Basic Art and Design, Drawing and Painting, Culinary Arts.Choir Program
The Choir Program has about 300 students involved in the program. There are 5 choirs (listed from most advanced to least): Jaztecs, A Capella, Encore, Men's Chorus, and Women's Ensemble. Their website: http://www.cdschoir.com/Band Program
The Corona del Sol band and percussion program has over 250 students enrolled. There are 3 concert bands (listed from most advanced to least): Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Concert Band. There are 4 different classes of Percussion with similar performance skill classifications. The school also has an award-winning marching band, 5 jazz ensembles, and a large steel drum band. The Corona del Sol Band Program is considered one of the best in Arizona, earning consistent "Superior with Distinction" ratings in Marching Band and Concert Bands for the past 25 years. However in recent years, the Corona Del Sol Band had deteriorated in rating from a "Superior" to an "Excellent". The Marching Band placed 2nd in the Fiesta Bowl National Band Championship in January 2000. The Band has a parent fundraising arm called the Band Booster Club. Band Booster club websiteActivities
The school has over 100 clubs and activities including an award-winning school newspaper and yearbook, various sports teams, speech and debate, and a plethora of community service organizations. Other clubs also include Monday Mythology Madness, the Random Acts of Kindness Society, and a ping pong team.Clubs
- Acatecs — A club primarily for gifted students (although open to all students) that organizes AcaTutoring sessions and provides advice to students.
- Animal Rights Club
- Anime Club — Holds weekly meetings on Thursdays to watch animeAnimeis the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
(Japanese animation) movies and TV shows. - [cdstv] — The production of the Advanced TV Production class taught by Mr. Forbes. Broadcasts are brought to classrooms on occasion- covering news, events and sketches about Corona del Sol. [cdstv] won a 1st place "Best in Show" award by the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA) for their best works for the 2008-2009 school year.
- Sol Buddies - A club for the development of relationships and support for students with special needs.
- Chess Club — This club is a place where people can play chess without being judged. All skill levels and all grades can come. In addition, the first semester. This club goes to chess tournaments every other Saturday and, along with China Club, hosts the annual Chinese Chess Tournament.
- China Club — Experimental organization to raise awareness of Chinese and other Asian culture and runs the annual CdS Chinese Chess Tournament along with the Chess Club. Recently changed to the Asian Student Union (ASU).
- Computer Clubhttp://cdscc.sf.net
- Corona Conservatives Club
- Cricket Club
- Fishing Club
- Hip Hop Coalition- A club where different age groups gather after school to show and experience different styles of dancing, and to compete in different competitions throughout the valley. Dancing styles include popping, breakdancing, ballet and a whole lot more of other different types.
- Language clubs — the French Club is the extracurricular counterpart to French classes, explores French culture, holds an annual cheese tasting event. The is also a German analogue of French Club. The Spanish Honor Society is similar to the other language clubs, but with community service requirements, where the volunteering must be Spanish related.
- Math Club — This is a club where people who enjoy doing math come and socialize with each other. There are weekly problems and several contests throughout the year, most prominently the AMC (the entry stage of the USA Math Olympiad).
- "Men's Lacrosse" - A chill club that learns the sport of lacrosse and competes all over the state.
- Model United Nations
- Music Appreciation Society
- Music For Cure — This club is for those who are able to play an instrument and/or sing, they practice music to play at hospitals, hospices etc. This club deals with Music Therapy.
- National Art Honor Society
- National Honor SocietyNational Honor SocietyThe National Honor Society is a recognition program for high school students in grades 10-12 in the United States and in several other countries...
— The CdS chapter of the national organization. Members must have a GPA above 3.7 and complete 24 hours of community service per year. Officer selection process uses written applications which are blind-read by the sponsor and other faculty. - Mythology Club — Holds weekly meetings to talk about myths and legends, and watches videos on the subject.
- Outdoor Science Club- Advanced Biology Club Run by Mr.Trimble. 148 Members in 2009 school year. Club trips include : Survival Trip, Catalina Island Marine Institute (Snorkel Trip), and the Scuba Trip.
- Philosophy Club — A discussion group where people can talk and debate each other about almost anything.
- Ping Pong Club
- Random Acts of Kindness Society
- Robotics Club — Formerly the Society of Future Engineers; advanced to the FIRSTFirstFirst or 1st is the ordinal form of the number one.First or 1st may also refer to:* First , minor summit below the Schwarzhorn in the Bernese Alps in Switzerland* First , mountain in Bernese Alps in Switzerland...
FRC Robotics national competition as the 1st place rookie team in 2007. Placed 2nd seed at the Arizona Regional in 2008. Website - Speech and Debate — The CdS forensics team which meets frequently and participates in both speech and debate competitions in the area, occasionally traveling out of state. The debate division is one of the best in Arizona and its members have won many of the local tournaments in the past two years.http://coronasd.org
- Style Club
- Sunrise Newspaper -Award winning newspaper program, ran by advisor Kris Urban. Website
- TheaterWorks — Affiliated with the Drama program at CdS, performs several stage plays in the CdS auditorium each year.
- Trivia Club — The successor organization to the CdS Brainstormhttp://www.cox.com/Arizona/cox7/brainstorm/ team, which participates in the Arizona Cox CommunicationsCox CommunicationsCox Communications is a privately owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises providing digital cable television, telecommunications and wireless services in the United States...
quiz show, now in its second season. Corona won the first season of the show. The team appeared twice, defeating opposing teams from Notre Dame Preparatory and Buena Vista High School (episode airdate: Nov. 28, 2007 6:30pm) and Fountain Hills and Desert Hills High Schools (episode airdate: May 14, 2007 6:30pm). - Video Game Club
- Writer's Guild - A forum for young writers of all genres to meet and share their work with fellow students.
- Young Democrats Club — The club aims to promote liberal ideas and regularly volunteers for democratic politicians by performing a variety of activities, including canvassing, phonebanking, and literature dropping. Past guest speakers have included United States Congresswoman and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Congressman Barney Frank.
- Youth In Government — A discussion group with a focus on politics and government related issues. This group discusses current issues, different kinds of government, as well as controversial issues that are represented from different sides that effect the student's everyday lives.
Community service clubs
- Aztecs for Soldiers — community service club, founded by Shihiayah Young in 2007
- Cancer Community — community service club focusing on cancer causes such as Race for the Cure
- Interact Club — community service plus an annual trip to the Model U.N. program at New York
- Key Club — community service club; CdS chapter of Key Club International
- March of Dimes — community service club affiliated with, and focusing on fundraising for, March of DimesMarch of DimesThe March of Dimes Foundation is a United States nonprofit organization that works to improve the health of mothers and babies.-Organization:...
/WalkAmerica - Red Cross Club — community service club affiliated with the American Red Cross
2007 Columbine anniversary week
In April 2007, threats were issued for Corona over supposed violence to take place on the 20th, the anniversary of the Columbine shootings. The first message was found on a boys' bathroom stall on April 10; an olive tree was burned down and a message on the ground nearby found on April 13. Subsequent messages were found later on April 13 and on April 16 in bathroom stalls. On April 19, 2007 the school was evacuated to the stadium due to a suspicious package found in a bathroom. The box turned out to be a student's physics science project in a shoebox.Despite high tensions, April 20 passed without incident, exactly as the administration predicted. Still, the false alarm from April 19 as well as the coincidental Virginia Tech shootings earlier in the week served to magnify fears that had already been raised by the unprecedented repetition of the graffiti threats. Although Corona has been threatened every April for the past several years, this is the first year that 4 messages have been found in succession making the same threat. Few classes had over 50% attendance, and it is estimated that over 2000 of the school's 2900 students took Friday off.
The administration and faculty were unfazed by the threats, but troubled by the exaggerated rumors that the threats spawned and occasionally inaccurate media reporting. The threats were taken seriously, and extra police were deployed to Corona pending completion of the investigation. A monetary reward for information leading to an arrest has since been increased to $5,000. Tips may be directed to the Tempe Police. The school and Tempe Union District are soliciting donations to increase the reward further.
Unsolved Case of Gretchen White
On March 20, 1981, the dead body of 23-year old Gretchen White was found on the Corona del Sol campus. Sources say that at 2:30 A.M. a man was heard yelling outside of White's apartment. Neighbors had called the police who arrived 10 minutes later to find her apartment empty. When White was discovered, she was wearing only a bathrobe and had appeared to be strangled, raped, and run over by her own car. Her car was found back at her apartment, but in a different parking spot. Thirty years later, her killer has yet to be found. White was a textile major at Arizona State University and belonged to a sorority. People who knew her say she was a reserved woman who "never got into trouble and didn't seem to be associated with people who did".Notable alumni
- Andrew "Scooter" Molander - Collegiate Quarterback at Phoenix CollegePhoenix CollegePhoenix College is a community college located in Phoenix, Arizona, USA. Founded in 1920, it is one of the oldest community colleges in the country....
(Div.II), Colorado StateColorado State UniversityColorado State University is a public research university located in Fort Collins, Colorado. The university is the state's land grant university, and the flagship university of the Colorado State University System.The enrollment is approximately 29,932 students, including resident and...
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-Played in Arena Football League (AFL)- Current Head Football Coach for Brophy College PreparatoryBrophy College PreparatoryBrophy College Preparatory is a Jesuit high school located in Phoenix, Arizona. The school is currently limited to all-male enrollment of approximately 1,200 students. It is operated independently of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix...
, (Phoenix, AZ) - Pat Kirch - Drummer of the band The Maine
- Derek Lull - 2008 Tempe Mayoral Candidate
- Jared Monaco - Lead Guitarist of the band The MaineThe Maine (band)The Maine is an American rock band from Tempe, Arizona. They were formed in January 21st, 2007, they released EP Stay Up, Get Down in the same year. On December 11 2007, The Maine made their debut with a five song EP called The Way We Talk produced by Matt Grabe...
- Mike PollakMike PollakMichael David Pollak is an American football guard for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Colts in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Arizona State.-Early years:Pollak graduated Corona del Sol High School in Tempe,...
- NFL Player - Indianapolis Colts - Ade Obayomi - Finalist on So You Think You Can Dance (season 5)So You Think You Can Dance (season 5)So You Think You Can Dance is a United States television reality program and dance competition airing on the Fox Broadcasting Company network. Season five premiered on May 21, 2009, with Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy returning as permanent judges and Cat Deeley returning to host...
- Keilana Valdez - Professional Junior Surfer
- Ashley Hansen - second baseman for USA Softball Team
- Freddy LockhartFreddy LockhartFrederick Douglas Lockhart is an American comedian, actor, writer, and producer. In 2006 he became known for his popular internet series on Superdeluxe known as Mixed Media, and in 2008 was cast alongside Frank Caliendo on the TBS series Frank TV.Lockhart was born in San Antonio, Texas...
- Actor/Comedian Comedy CentralComedy CentralComedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
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and star of Frank TVFrank TVFrank TV was a sketch comedy show starring Frank Caliendo, Mike MacRae, and Freddy Lockhart. Frank was the host of the show and performed in sketches in full makeup as characters he impersonated. Frank joked he "wanted the show to be called The Chappelle Show, but the lawyers wouldn't allow it"...
on TBSTBS (TV channel)TBS , stylized in the logo as tbs, is an American cable television channel owned by Time Warner that shows a variety of programming, with a focus on comedy. TBS was originally known as WTCG, a UHF terrestrial television station that broadcast from Atlanta, Georgia, during the late 1970s... - Eric Halvorsen - Bassist of the band A Rocket to the MoonA Rocket to the MoonA Rocket to the Moon is an American rock band. The band was founded during 2006 in Braintree, Massachusetts by Nick Santino, lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist...
- Michael Sawitzke - Guitar player for the band EelsEels (band)Eels is an American indie rock band formed by singer/songwriter Mark Oliver Everett, better known as E...