On Sept. 11, the Culver City School District meeting room was filled with people eager to begin the open session. The meeting was full of positive contributors and committees ready and willing to create a better environment for CCUSD students and faculty.
The meeting began promptly at 7 pm with a presentation from the Environmental and Sustainability Committee geared towards creating a greener atmosphere for all students in CCUSD. They stressed the “three E’s”- environment, economic and social equity and planned on installing solar panels at the high school in order to save natural resources and slow global warming. Lead by Todd Johnson, the committee wants to incorporate solar education into the curriculum so students will be able to apply basic math and science skills to everyday life. In the near future, solar education may become an ROP class for the Centaurs called “Project Lead the Way” where students will be able to see the benefits of solar energy by the day and hour. In addition to, the committee proposed plans for more useful recycling of the 360,000 plastic water bottles the district buys every year. The group wants to apply for a second Cal grant this school year to fund more side by side bins around the Culver City High campus (which only has two main trash and one recycling bin.) One of the long term goals of this committee is to achieve a green school certification award.
Senior ASB vice president Kalena Kettering was the representative of Culver City High alongside psychology, sociology and health teacher David Mielke, the president of the Culver City Federation of Teachers. Mielke discussed the addition of new specialists that will aid in student development and expressed his concern over the school budget. He also mentioned the issue of large class sizes but little to no solutions of fresh, cool air to circulate the room.
Kettering spoke about the new school spirit idea of the “First Friday Welcome” where Link Crew members, ASB, administration and cheerleaders gathered in the front of the Centaurian gates and welcomed all students last friday, which was also the first home football game against Palos Verdes Peninsula High. The Centaurs went on to win that night 41-15, with a full stadium and designated Link Crew section in the stands for the freshman.
Monday, in honor of the September 11th victims and their families that attend Culver High, there was a ceremony at the Peace Garden during lunch that included the national anthem sang by senior Kaylie Mack, a poem read by senior ASB president Martin Beer and a speech by Spanish teacher Jose Montero. Next week, the Centaurs are putting on an empowerment assembly that focuses on motivating the student body to get active and join clubs, sports, ROP’s and AVPA. There is also a section dedicated specifically for the different forms of bullying in honor of Katie Simpson, the deceased mutual friend of many Culver students. Fortunately, a new anti-bullying program and training was administered this school year for all staff and faculty to try and prevent further tragedies like Simpson’s.
On a lighter note, Kettering announced the first blood drive of the school year on September 26th and back to school night on October 3rd. The next football game is away at Redondo Union High School on September 14th as well as girls volleyball at Serra High School September 13th.
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