February 17, 2005

SCHOOL SCENEin Almaden Valley

The hottest ticket in town

Dads and daughters dance the night away at Castillero

By Kymberli W. Brady
Staff Writer

It’s no secret that the bond between a father and daughter is powerful, but put more than 120 of these dynamic duos on the dance floor and you’ve got the hottest ticket in town.

Castillero Middle School was the place to see and be seen last Friday night, as fathers strutted their stuff with their daughters during the standing room—or dancing room-only—father/daughter dance.

Last Friday, the halls at Castillero Middle School rocked, as the second annual father/daughter dance got underway, an event said co-chair Greer Todd that worked to bring the Castillero community together while raising much-needed funds for items such as math calculators and multi-media equipment. Last year, The Education Foundation raised more than $3,000 and preliminary numbers put the total somewhere between $4,000 and $5,000 this year.

“For a lot of dads, it’s the first time they get to see their little girls’ friends’ dads,” explained Todd, who co-chaired the event with Gina Muncie. “A lot of them went out to dinner prior to and they’re making a whole evening out of it. It’s very cool.”

The evening offered plenty of dancing, refreshments, and raffle prizes. But the most popular item—evident by the long line—was the digital portrait taken of each couple in to forever preserve the memorable evening, especially for those who knew it was their last.

“We’ve come both years,” explained David Atala, who attended the dance with his eighth grade daughter Kimberley. “It’s the only time we get to spend together, but this is the last one. She’ll be going to Pioneer next year and won’t go with me, I know that.”

Of his dancing abilities, Kimberley admitted that he wasn’t “doing so bad.”

“I’ve seen worse,” she noted. “Actually, he’s a pretty good dancer.”

“That works for me,” he said with a laugh.

Seventh grader Natalie Toland poses for a photo with her dad Kevin before heading back to the dance floor. “It’s fun,” she said, even though she said he danced “really badly,” both agreed that the evening was not one they would soon forget. “I dance appropriately for my age,” he argued. “She keeps ditching me though.”

Across the room, a large red mass swayed back and forth to the music. Attached to it was eighth grader Jane Tenboer, who was dancing with her father, Mark. Although admittedly not her true hair color, she said she seized the unique opportunity to don the bright red do—one of many seen circulating around the room—courtesy of Castillero dad and professional DJ Curtis Backich.

“It’s uh—quite a touch,” Mark stated tentatively. “But we’re having a great time. We haven’t been dancing this much in…forever.”

For seventh grader Natalie Toland, it was all about having fun with her father Kevin and both agreed that the evening was not one they would soon forget, even if he father danced “really badly.”

“I dance appropriately for my age,” he argued. “She keeps ditching me though.”

According to foundation member Julie Hartman, last year’s success served as the motivation to hold the dance for a second year and possibly offer it as a standing event every year if the popularity continues to grow.

“Last year was enormous,” she said. “This year we decided to repeat it and we’ve had a great response. It’s so much fun to see the dads out on the dance floor and I’m thrilled with how much fun the children are having.”

A blue and ‘golden’ cause

20th annual fund-raiser keeps Leland programs alive

By Kymberli W. Brady
Staff Writer

Whether you went to bid on nearly 200 auction items, kick up your heels on the dance floor, or catch up with old friends over dinner and drinks, Cinnabar Hills Golf Club, home of the Leland Blue and Gold Auction, was the place to see and be seen last Saturday night.

With the evening almost over, Leland Booster Club President Karl Kato, left, and his wife Terrie stand by with Parent’s Club President Charles Tate and his wife Ginger for numbers they hope will end up in the $40,000 range.

Celebrating its 20th year, the event has grown to include 50 volunteer members from the auction committee, the Leland Boosters, and the Leland Parents’ Club, who devote nearly eight months to planning what has been their largest fund-raiser in two decades.

It was so eagerly anticipated that tickets sold out before the invitations were printed and 270 people arrived with wallets and pocketbooks in tow, ready to bid on sports memorabilia, portraits, vacation packages, health club memberships—even ballroom dancing lessons.

The more adventurous kept watch over the police department helicopter ride-along and horseback rides in Half Moon Bay.

While some bid on diamond jewelry, custom class rings, and announcements for their soon-to-be- graduates, others—especially those with late sleepers—bid on VIP campus parking permits and junior prom packages.

At the end of the day, no matter what was purchased or for what reason, the proceeds will go a long way in furthering the enriched Leland High School environment, including the aging 30-year-old campus. Jean Rummelhoff, who co-chaired the auction with Karen Zimmerman, felt confident they would reach their enthusiastic projections.

“Last year we put this together with a skeleton crew and netted $20,000,” Rummelhoff admitted. “This year we hope to double that. I budgeted in $30,000, which was my goal. But I would love to make $40,000.”

“We’re going pretty strong,” agreed Booster Club President Karl Kato. “We’re now putting about five times the amount in our budget than we were when I started two years ago.”

In the two years since Kato and Parent’s Club President Charles Tate took the helm, attendance has grown from 130 to 270 and proceeds are four times higher—good news as the funds are disbursed to support athletic, after-school, and extracurricular activities.

Junior Ashley Bandanza and sophomore Lindsey Beckelhymer model an 11-carat diamond bracelet and 2-carat, heart-shaped diamond necklace, two of the consignment jewelry pieces offered by Willow Estates Jewelry, valued at nearly $22,000. Bandanza’s father, Jim Shore has been the auctioneer.

As a result, the Parents’ and Booster Clubs hand out $3,000 in scholarships for most outstanding male and female athletes in a given sport and all-around, as well as the addition last year of the Pat Tillman Award, which recognizes exemplary leadership and personal characteristics that mirror those of Almaden’s hometown hero.

“We’re looking to build on that, but also the infrastructure,” Kato added. “The school is 30 years old.”

We had excellent response,” exclaimed Gary Rummelhoff. “We didn’t have to send out a single invitation and sold out. We had really good buzz early on and that made a huge difference.”

While Kato admits his older children attended private schools before transferring to Leland, it’s a comparison that he says helps him see the value from a broader perspective.

“We’re one of the few public high schools that are comparable from an academic standpoint,” he explained. “I think that’s just outstanding and I want to make sure that Leland gets its fair share of athletes as well as great students. Pat Tillman for example, is the epitome of what we want to turn out in student athletes.”

The Parents’ Club, according to Tate, focuses more on the academic side by spending time in the classrooms and providing funds for projectors, Bunsen burners, on-campus counseling, and classroom assistance for the teachers.”

“What I’m looking for,” he said, “is participation—for people to come to the after-school events. That’s so critical as it plays into the success of the school, the students, and the athletes. I want parents out there watching their kids play and cheering them on. To me, that’s how we teach the kids to be well-rounded adults.”

“People here are anxious to have the best school experience for their kids,” added Kato. Whether it’s putting more money into the parcel tax, putting money into more events, or putting their own energy into athletics and parent involvement. It’s a great bargain. We’re paying for a great education.”

A campus in need of repair
One of the larger expenses hit recently with a $10,000 price tag [shared in part by other teams that use the gym] to replace the original 30-year-old scoreboard.

Former Blue and Gold auction proceeds were also used to put the school’s logo on the gym floor, as well as the football field, which, according to Kato was not covered under district funding.

Waiting for the Leland Blue and Gold live auction to start are, from left, Sharon Hall, Robert Garner, and Robin Beresford. Standing: Jim and Debbie Mori.

“The only thing Measure F funding paid for was ‘safety improvements,’ which was placing the turf on the field and the track,” he explained. “Everything else we had to come up with and that’s why we raise these funds.”

While some community members have questioned the need for multi-million dollar football fields in the midst of school closures, consolidation, and class elimination, Measure F funds can only be spent on capital improvements. It cannot be passed on to teachers, administration, supplies, and other necessities.

A bond is very restricted,” explained Tate. “It’s a matter of state law. A parcel tax is not. That’s why many parents are in favor of it.”

However, the need, according to Kato is dire, as Almaden holds one of the top spots for highest percentage of field use per capita.

To further their goals, both groups are gearing up for an aggressive capital campaign to raise $3 million over the next three to five years in an effort to replace the bleachers, build a snack shack and restroom facility at the track site, and offset further improvements in the gym that fell short of falling under the Measure F funding umbrella.

Both Kato and Tate say they hope to be well underway with the campaign to offset phase II Measure F projects that call for the re-sodding of the practice fields.

“We want to put in synthetic turf,” said Kato. “Otherwise, because those fields get so much use, that they’ll be worn out in a year and a half.”

“So we’re looking to make things happen over the next few years,” said Tate.

Kato agreed.

“While everyone else is having these hard sob stories, we’re starting to build very strong.”

Pioneer ‘Wrecking Ball’ pays PAC homage

Performing Arts Center to undergo overhaul following devastating fire

By Justin Petersen
Staff Writer

Pioneer’s storied drama department celebrated life’s cycle Feb 12 with a “Wrecking Ball” held in honor of its Performing Arts Center (PAC), which the school will be demolished as a result of an arson fire that rendered the building inoperable in December 2003.

Sophomore Teresa Biviano sings with friends Danielle Camp and Lauren Grometer with direction from music/vocal expert Jeremy Harris.

“The Wrecking Ball was to celebrate knocking down the old PAC and the soon to happen reconstruction of the new one,” said Department Chair Steve Dini. “It’s sort of our way of saying thanks to friends of Pioneer Performing Arts and a way to raise some money for our programs.”

Approximately 80 guests attended the event Saturday.

Clad in hard hats and dangling tool belts, teachers, supporters, alumni, and current students joined members of The Glue Factory—a performance troupe comprised of alumni and staff who collaborate each fall to perform a musical fund-raiser—to pay homage.

Items that encompassed the theater experience, including stage lights, a deer bust and other memorable props were placed up for silent auction. Guests enjoyed snacks and fellowship interspersed with the group’s rendition of several musical numbers from past productions, including “The Odd Couple,” “Annie Get Your Gun” and “Fiddler on the Roof.”

“There were a lot of good times in the PAC,” said senior sound production specialist Steve Pinheiro. “But the new center is going to be nice. We’re getting a larger stage and auditorium.”

The proposed facility, described by the San Jose Unified School District as a multi-purpose building, will have one-third more attendance capacity, an upgrade from the current 200.

“It’s going to be better than the cafeteria that we previously had,” continued Pinheiro. “Despite the fact that we’re saying goodbye to something that was good, we’re probably getting something better in return.”

“It’s like losing a friend or a place filled with wonderful memories,” said Dini. “I have been here full and part time for 12 years, growing the department from 23 in our first show to 153 in ‘Fiddler on the Roof.’ We have many dedicated kids and parents who work very hard to make this program successful.”

“A lot of the people that have been on stage, worked in there and came together as community,” said volunteer Dean Grometer. “The PAC has been a common place to get together, have a good time and make some money for the school.”

The father of two Dini drama protégés, Grometer has volunteered his professional expertise in stage construction since 1996.

“All of the hard work that we put in with different people over the years went down the drain, err…up in flames,” he continued. “It’s too bad, what we’re having to deal with now to compensate for all of that.”

Despite funds allocated from Measure F and awarded thanks to the school’s insurance policy, Pioneer will likely pay significant amounts out of pocket in revamping the performance center.

The five-alarm fire that heaved flames more than 50 feet into the air caused an estimated $2 million in damage.

“Literally, it means finding other venues for our various shows and concerts,” said Dini, who is currently in pre-production of the school’s upcoming “Fiddler on the Roof.”

The show will go on during the last week in April and first week in May. Until then, Dini’s advanced drama students can be seen touring local elementary schools with short performances of “Aladdin.”

“It’s a mixed feeling about the PAC,” said Glue Factory benefactor Leslie Hanlon. “Maybe some good will come of it. The kids will have a bigger venue for upcoming plays and activities. And the community came together because of it.”

“I enjoy waking up in the morning, knowing I am going to be on the radio or going to drama class rather than studying history or math,” summed junior Matt Hanlon.

“People came out to support us because they realize the positive impact this program has made on their lives and the lives of their children,” said Dini. “That’s rare in this world today.”