Tag Archives: Eleanor Roosevelt High School

Dance Like Nobody’s Watching

By En yu Chang

“It takes ten years of practice for one minute on the stage” a piece of melodic music, a beautiful dance, a set of accurate expressions, plus the audience’s applause, this is dance. Since I was a kid, I’ve loved dancing, especially aerial yoga, and K-pop dance.

After successfully setting up a dance workshop for small children at our church, I soon realized that I enjoyed teaching children to dance as much as I enjoyed dancing. Especially during the pandemic, when most children became languid and inactive in isolation of varying degrees, I relished the reward of watching children break out of their shells and have fun. Introvert children and those who were the only child in their families took more patient coaxing and empathic listening. Still, when they got into the music and paid attention to unison and formation, my sense of accomplishment and joy was all the sweeter. We turn no one away.

As the President of Dancing With The Kids Club, I’m inviting the church, kindergarten, and elementary school educators to kindly open the door and allow us to come to sign up for dance sessions. We can work out the arrangements. The sessions will culminate in a performance show funded entirely by our club’s fundraising drives at no cost to your school.

The following is my contact information: Remind: @erhsdwtk; Instagram: erhs_dwtk; Website: https://erhsdwtk.web.app/; and Email: erhsdancingwiththekids@gmail.com

I might not be the best dancer this side of Twice, but I’m a very good dance teacher.

Three years of working with children and learning choreography have served me well. Our children are urged in my workshop to dance like nobody’s watching, but they will always be comfortable knowing that whenever they dance off or even goof off, I’m there watching and admiring.

Banners Go Up For ERHS Seniors

Staff Reports

Eastvale – The Eleanor Roosevelt High School Class of 2021 has officially graduated! Banners were recently displayed to honor the seniors that will be attending college next year.

The City partnered with ERHS to install 45 graduation banners along Scholar Way and Citrus Street for the seniors that were accepted to a 4-year college or university. Funds for the banners were approved by the Eastvale City Council in April 2021 to support the ERHS graduation banner program.

“In addition to being an important fundraising activity for the high school, the grad banners serve as a source of inspiration for the younger, school age children in in our community,” stated the City on a social media post.

In a separate post, the City showed their excitement for the graduating class. “We wanted to take a moment to congratulate all of our Eleanor Roosevelt High School graduating seniors and say how proud we are of the dedication, perseverance, and strength these seniors have shown during this this past year,” stated the City.

“We also want to congratulate and acknowledge all the other students who promoted at our intermediate and elementary schools!”

Eastvale Coach Arrested

ERHS Athletic Coach, Jose Robles (age 36) was arrested
for having multiple sexual relationships with students
as young as 14.

By Michael Armijo

Eastvale – An Eastvale coach was arrested for multiple sexual counts involving current and former students last week.

Joe Robles Jr, an athletic coach at Eleanor Roosevelt High School, was arrested at his home last Saturday in Ontario for a number of crimes which include “sexual assaults against multiple former students,” confirmed Riverside County Sheriff’s Department (RS0) Sgt. Ernie Esquibel. Robles was booked on suspicion of unlawful sex with a minor and rape of a minor under 14 years of age. His bail was set at $1 million.

On September 26, officials from the Corona-Norco Unified School District informed the RSO that a school employee possibly having inappropriate relationships with former students, Sgt. Esquibel confirmed.

An investigation confirmed Robles, 36, had multiple sexual relationships with students who had previously attended the school and was having contact with several current and former students via social media connections, Sgt. Esquibel said.

Investigators are seeking more victims and information. Please call Investigator Patrick at the Jurupa Sheriff’s Station at 951.955.9234 if you have any information regarding the case.

Congratulations to the ERHS Class of 2019!

Photos Courtesy: Eleanor Roosevelt High School

The ERHS Class of 2019 graduates celebrated at their graduation ceremony which was held at the Citizens Bank Arena on Tuesday, June 4th.
ERHS Principal, Dr. Jeremy Goins, gave a memorable speech at the graduation ceremony. Many students are now fondly referring to him as “DJ Goins” because of how entertaining his commencement speech was.

Three Roosevelt Athletes Sign Early With D1 Schools

By Anthony Saude

Eastvale – Roosevelt high school, in Eastvale, had 3 students from their varsity football team sign early letters of intent on December 21 the theater on campus. There were between 700-1000 people in attendance and Coach Tommy Leech was the master of ceremonies for the day. Jeremy Moussa, played quarterback for the Mustangs and signed with Hawaii. Head coach Tommy Leach said, “Jeremy had multiple offers, but ever since Hawaii came to see him I kept hoping for him to go there”. Leach said that when they first saw him throw the football ball they loved him. Hawaii told me “he can really sling the ball” Leach said. Chase Williams played both ways for Mustangs; he played both wide receiver and defensive back. Leach said, “When I arrived at the school to coach two years ago I asked Chase if he wanted to play defensive back or wide receiver”. Chase said “I am a wide receiver coach”. Leach asked him while he was on the stage, “What position do you play now”, “defensive back coach”, answered Williams. Chase had committed to Nebraska earlier in the year but when their coach, Mike Riley, was terminated Chase terminated his commitment to them in the face of uncertainty. Chase didn’t tell anybody what his choice would be until signing day. He presented everybody in attendance with his decision by revealing a USC shirt after a 10 second countdown.  Andrew Koch played defensive end in high school but signed with Utah State to play offensive line. Leach said that Koch “loves to grind and told his college coach that he wouldn’t wait until the fall to go to school because he wanted to start the grind as soon as possible”. Leach praised each of them, Chase and Andrew, for “keeping an open mind about positions to give each of them the best opportunity possible to play at a great school. Leach gave high praises to all three young men for their commitment to the team, the school and their future. Leach said, “each one of these young men showed exceptional leadership abilities and desire to be the best example they could be to all the other players on the team. Fox news was in attendance along with the press enterprise and other publications. The Mustangs had a winning season this year and these three guys were a huge part.

STEM Academy Ceremony in February!

By CNUSD

              The Eastvale STEM Academy Ground Breaking ceremony will be held Friday, February 3, 2017 at 10 a.m. in Eastvale. The E-STEM Academy is built on three founding principles: Access, Collaboration, and Partnership. E-STEM focuses on preparing students to be college and career ready in the STEM fields upon graduating through partnerships.

Eleanor Roosevelt High School is set to become the district’s second STEM school. The Eastvale STEM Academy building is scheduled to open in 2018. Students enrolled in the STEM program will be exposed to a learning environment which requires critical thinking, problem solving, innovation and collaboration. These skills will be integrated into the STEM curriculum of real-world science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The address to the E-STEM academy is 7447 Scholar Way, Eastvale, CA 92880.

 

Local Church Sponsors Family Night

By Michael Armijo

Eastvale, CA – VantagePoint Church in Eastvale sponsored a family night last Sunday, September 4th, at the Eleanor Roosevelt High School campus. The evening, which was titled “Flicks and Food Trucks”, was a night for families to come out and enjoy nine food trucks and a free movie playing on an inflatable movie screen set up in the schools amphitheatre.

The evening was also capped off with a visit from “Belle” of the “Beauty and the Beast,” “Spiderman”, and from one of the “Storm Troopers” from the “Star Wars” movie franchise. All characters are church goers who donated their time to ensure the kids had a great time during the night.

“We didn’t want to be just another church. We wanted to be a missions outpost in the community,” stated VantagePoint, via their website. “We are going to be an aggressive church that went after the lost, let down, and looking. We wanted to make the Inland Empire the hardest place in the world to go to hell. We wanted the people of our church ‘to be living proof of a loving God.”

VantagePoint periodically hosts community events welcoming every family from any denomination. The goal is to bring community together. Earlier this year Vantage Point  hosted an Easter Egg hunt which brought out almost 5,000 people in attendance. They also host many other events during Halloween and Christmas, in addition to donations to local charities and missions. They’ve had speakers come and share their story, such as Bethany Hamilton, the girl who lost her arm to a shark attack. A few years ago, before his death in July of 2014, VantagePoint  hosted Louis Zamperini, the Olympic Gold Medalist who was caught and tortured in WWII. Another guest speaker was “Blair” from the 80’s hit sitcom “The Facts of Life”. The comment element of these speakers was that they all were challenged within their life and through faith and God they survived and living examples of a loving God. If you would compare their backgrounds you will see the variety of their lives.

Vantage Point has purchased, and is in the process of paying off, 10.5 acres of land on Archibald Ave in Eastvale. Once they pay off the property, they will build a church and school complex to serve the needs of the community. For now, they meet each Sunday at 8, 9;30, and 11 am at Eleanor Roosevelt High in the theatre auditorium. Its located at the corner of Scholar Way and Citrus, one block west of Hamner. For more information about the church and the many free family events they hold, sign onto www.vantagepointchurch.org.

“Join us today in answering the call God has placed on our church,” the site concludes.

 

ERHS Cheer Team Wins Nationals

Photo courtesy: Facebook ERHS Cheer Team wins National Championship

Photo courtesy: Facebook
ERHS Cheer Team wins National Championship

Eastvale – Congratulaitons to the Eleanor Roosevelt High School Cheer Team, who won the National Championship in their division at the All Star Cheer Jamz Nationals at the Orleans in Las Vegas on February 27, 2016.

 

Former ERHS Students Sign with NFL

Photo Courtesy of CNUSD ERHS Alumni celebrate their NFL signing (L-R: Superintendent Michael Lin, Austin Hill, Tyler Slavin, Josh Mitchell, and ERHS Principal Jeremy Goins.)

Photo Courtesy of CNUSD
ERHS Alumni celebrate their NFL signing (L-R: Superintendent Michael Lin, Austin Hill, Tyler Slavin, Josh Mitchell, and ERHS Principal Jeremy Goins.)

Courtesy of CNUSD

EASTVALE– Gleaming smiles and new NFL hats were proudly worn by three former Eleanor Roosevelt High School students from the class of 2010, all of whom have signed with teams in the NFL. Austin Hill signed with the Seattle Seahawks, Josh Mitchell with the Indianapolis Colts and Tyler Slavin with the St. Louis Rams.  This marks a significant moment for Roosevelt High School, its football program and the entire CNUSD community. Josh, Austin and Tyler are Eleanor Roosevelt High School’s first athletes to play in the NFL.

During the students’ football career at ERHS, all three players made First Team All-League.  Austin Hill was awarded Riverside County Player of the Year and Most Valuable Player.

The three Roosevelt Alumni were the first graduating class to attend Roosevelt all four years. “When Austin, Josh and Tyler joined the football team, Roosevelt HS football stadium was still under construction, causing them to practice at Harada Park and go to Auburndale Intermediate for weightlifting”, recalls Coach Stacy.

“I am honored to have coached them and it is an honor that they have turned out to be such great young men,” said former ERHS Football coach, Coach Stacy.

Eastvale: New Attendance Guidelines for ERHS

Staff Reports

EASTVALE– Eleanor Roosevelt High School has revised its attendance policy.  Effective January 11, 2016, parents will no longer be able to sign their child out of school early, including lunch time release, via email.  Parents must release their child in person or speak directly to an attendance clerk by calling (951) 738-2148.  Adults must show a valid photo ID and be listed on the child’s emergency card. In addition, absences and tardies must also be called in to the ERHS attendance office.  Voicemails will be permitted, but emails will not be accepted.  Also effective January 11, 2016, children will no longer be released within the last 30 minutes of the school day, and ERHS is asking that parents plan appointments accordingly.

“Parents on Point” Sheds Light on Teen Issues

By Emily Aguilar

EASTVALE – Eleanor Roosevelt High School held its first ever Parents on Point event on Tuesday, Oct. 13. The purpose of the evening was to inform parents on issues concerning teenagers such as bullying and social media usage. Cindy Cole, the parent of an ERHS freshman, was inspired to organize the event by her cousin, who has dealt with adolescent suicides in the San Diego area. Cole believes the city will benefit from the program because it will educate parents on the difficult conflicts their children confront every day.

Before the introductory announcement began, parents were welcome to browse the booths set up by representatives from Planned Parenthood, CNUSD Tobacco and Vapes, Hope Collaborative, and a booth that provided ultrasounds for teenagers. Many parents took the time to pick up brochures and ask questions about the programs.

After a brief overview, parents were sent to the F Building for a two-part session. In both sessions, parents had the option to attend a half hour presentations dealing with social media awareness, adolescent education, eating disorders, substance abuse awareness, suicide, parenting, or bullying.

Each presentation was lead by parents, current or retired law enforcers, or representatives from an organization; in other words these presenters had the right information to shock and educate their audience.

Parents were enthralled by the astonishing statistics, videos, and stories regarding the topic. They constantly interrupted presenters to ask questions or express disgust.

“I had no idea how easy it is for kids to lose their way,” remarked Paula James after Brian Nissen’s presentation on bath salts. “At least, [the schools] want to solve the issues!”

By far the most intriguing presentation was Jesse Winkler’s social media presentation. The room was flooded with intrigued parents struggling to listen to Winkler’s presentation from both inside the densely packed room and in the hallway. In his presentation, Winkler focused on social media’s negative effects on adolescents. While he defended social media for its benefits, Winkler argued that social media has turned teenagers against one another and has put them in danger, to which parents responded with disappointed sighs and terrified expressions. In fact, while talking about an app called “Burnbook,” which is used to anonymously post rumors about classmates, parents were silent upon learning that the app triggered suicides and fights across campuses.

Winkler, much like other speakers, assured parents that they should not “crack the whip” on their kids after this presentation. He told the audience to assure their children that they are “in your corner,” meaning that parents and children must have proper communication with each other in order to help them, and possibly save them.

“I’m definitely gonna let my girls open up to me,” stated Andrea Byrne on her way out.

Eastvale: ERHS Student Receives National Award

Photo Courtesy: Hamilton Friends 2015 Hamilton Award Winner, Emily Lundberg

Photo Courtesy: Hamilton Friends
2015 Hamilton Award Winner, Emily Lundberg

Staff Reports

Eastvale – Emily Lundberg, a student at Eleanor Roosevelt High, has received the national Alexander Hamilton Citizenship Achievement Award for superior community service and achievement.  Hamilton Awards are given annually by The Alexander Hamilton Friends Association (Hamilton Friends) of Seattle, Washington.  Winners receive a scholarship, commemorative certificates, memorabilia, and acceptance into the extensive Hamilton Leaders Academy.

Lundberg is one of 38 students selected for the award, the purpose of which is to recognize high school students for their academic, personal, service and entrepreneurial accomplishments and to select students for the Hamilton Leaders Academy.  Winners are high-achieving, service-oriented, high school juniors with significant financial need.

“This year, the award was very competitive.  We received 609 applications from 48 states.  Winners represented 18 states,” said George T. Cox, Founder and Senior Director of Hamilton Friends. “Our goal is to identify young people who have set high standards for citizenship and success in their lives.  We are very excited about Emily’s potential for future greatness.  The Eastvale Community is lucky to have Emily as a resident,” concluded Cox.

When Emily’s achievements are reviewed, it is easy to see why the judges were so impressed.

Hamilton Friends is named for Alexander Hamilton, one of the most important American founding fathers.  He was born out of wedlock in the West Indies.  When he was 9-years old, his father abandoned the family, leaving young Alexander, his brother, and their mother, Rachel, without a penny.  Hamilton’s mother died only a few years later, when he was 13.  Yet within seven years, and barely out of his teens, he was appointed as an aide to General Washington, and later became the visionary that laid the foundations of America’s current national banking system.

In its first ten years, Hamilton Friends has recognized over 500 young people for superior service and achievement.

“These young people give us tremendous hope.  With proper attitude, support, experiences and inspiration, I have no doubt they will achieve great things in their lives,” said Cox.

For more information about The Alexander Hamilton Friends Association, visit their website at http://www.hamiltonfriends.org.

Eastvale: ERHS Student Named Athlete Of The Year

Jasmyne Graham is California Girls Track & Field Standout

Photo Courtesy: City of Eastvale

Photo Courtesy: City of Eastvale
Gatorade Track & Field Champ, Jasmyne Graham

Staff Reports

Eastvale – In its 30th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with USA TODAY High School Sports, recently announced Jasmyne Graham of Eleanor Roosevelt High School as its 2014-15 Gatorade California Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year. Graham is the first student at ERHS to be selected for this honor.

“Wow. This is big! So excited for Ms. Graham and her family.  Great job to the staff at Roosevelt for keeping her on task both athletically and academically.  Great job!” said Corona-Norco Unified School District Board of Education member, Bill Newberry.

The award – which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the track – distinguishes Graham as California’s best high school girls’ track and field athlete. Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year award, Graham joins an elite alumni association of state award winners in 12 sports, including Allyson Felix, 2001-02, Los Angeles Baptist HS, CA; Derek Jeter, 1991-92, Kalamazoo HS, MI; Candace Parker, 2001-02, Naperville Central HS, IL; Abby Wambach, 1997-98, Our Lady of Mercy HS, NY; Mark Sanchez, 2004-05, Mission Viejo HS, CA; Lolo Jones, 1997-98, Roosevelt HS, IA; and Bianca Knight, 2006-07, Ridgeland HS, MS.

The 5-foot-2 senior won the 100-meter high hurdles with a time of 13.17 seconds and the 300-meter intermediate hurdles in 40.73 at the state meet this past season, leading the Mustangs to fifth place as a team. Her 100- and 300-meter hurdles times at the state meet each ranked as the nation’s number one prep performance in 2015, and among the 15 fastest performances in U.S. prep history at the time of her selection.

Reginald Thompkins, who is an Administrative Director for CNUSD, as well as CIF State President, said, “This is a great accomplishment that the Eastvale community can be proud of.  It really is a huge recognition for Jasmyne.  It’s one of my duties as President to hand out the awards to these awesome athletes; it was very special to be there, witness her performance and give her this award.”

Graham – who is also the Citrus Belt Area Athletic Directors Association Female Athlete of the Year – chipped in by running the opening leg for the eighth-place 4×100-meter relay quartet that finished in 47.54 seconds, as well as the second leg of the ninth-place 4×400-meter relay squad that crossed the line in 3:49.90.

Graham has maintained a 3.14 GPA in the classroom. In addition to donating her time as a running instructor and guest speaker for youth track athletes, she has volunteered on behalf of the Black Coal and Red Roses mentoring program for girls.

“Jasmyne is the most fierce high school competitor I have seen,” said Eleanor Roosevelt coach, Aaron

Photo Courtesy: Reginald Thompkins

Photo Courtesy: Reginald Thompkins
Jasmyne shown with Reginald Thompkins, Administrative Director at CNUSD and CIF State President.

Shires. “Her parents have instilled in her the discipline, desire and commitment to excellence that John Wooden would be proud of in an athlete. The reason Jasmyne can take over a race the way she does is because of her preparation. She attends extra training sessions; she treats her body properly with the right nutrition and sleep. She lives a life that is not just committed to being great at track, but [to] being the best she can be at anything she does.”

Graham has signed a National Letter of Intent to compete in track and field on a scholarship at the University of Southern California this fall.

The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track and field – and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by the Gatorade high school sports leadership team in partnership with USA TODAY High School Sports, working with top sport-specific experts and a media advisory board of accomplished, veteran prep sports journalists to determine the state winners in each sport.

For more on the Gatorade Player of the Year program, including nomination information, complete lists of past winners, and the announcement of the Gatorade National Player of the Year, visit www.gatorade.com/poy.

ERHS Standout Named Gatorade California Girls Track & Field Athlete Of The Year

Courtesy of the City of Eastvale

 

CHICAGO — In its 30th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with USA TODAY High School Sports, today announced Jasmyne Graham of Eleanor Roosevelt High School as its 2014-15 Gatorade California Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year. Graham is the first Gatorade California Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year to be chosen from Eleanor Roosevelt High School.

The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the track, distinguishes Graham as California’s best high school girls track & field athlete. Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year award to be announced in June, Graham joins an elite alumni association of state award-winners in 12 sports, including Allyson Felix (2001-02, Los Angeles Baptist, Calif.), Derek Jeter (1991-92, Kalamazoo HS, Mich.), Candace Parker (2001-02, Naperville Central HS, Ill.), Abby Wambach (1997-98, Our Lady of Mercy, N.Y.), Mark Sanchez (2004-05, Mission Viejo HS, Calif.), Lolo Jones (1997-98, Roosevelt HS, Ia.) and Bianca Knight (2006-07, Ridgeland HS, Miss.).

The 5-foot-2 senior won the 100-meter high hurdles with a time of 13.17 seconds and the 300-meter intermediate hurdles in 40.73 at the state meet this past season, leading the Mustangs to fifth place as a team. Her 100- and 300-meter hurdles times at the state meet each ranked as the nation’s No. 1 prep performance in 2015 and amongst the 15 fastest performances in U.S. prep history at the time of her selection. Also the Citrus Belt Area Athletic Directors Association Female Athlete of the Year, Graham chipped in by running the opening leg for the eighth-place 4×100-meter relay quartet that finished in 47.54 seconds as well as the second leg of the ninth-place 4×400-meter relay squad that crossed the line in 3:49.90.

Graham has maintained a 3.14 GPA in the classroom. In addition to donating her time as a running instructor and guest speaker for youth track athletes, she has volunteered on behalf of the Black Coal and Red Roses mentoring program for girls.

“Jasmyne is the most fierce high school competitor I have seen,” said Eleanor Roosevelt coach Aaron Shires. “Her parents have instilled in her the discipline, desire and commitment to excellence that John Wooden would be proud of in an athlete. The reason Jasmyne can take over a race the way she does is because of her preparation. She attends extra training sessions; she treats her body properly with the right nutrition and sleep. She lives a life that is not just committed to being great at track, but (to) being the best she can be at anything she does.”

Graham has signed a National Letter of Intent to compete in track and field on scholarship at the University of Southern California this fall.

The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by the Gatorade high school sports leadership team in partnership with USA TODAY High School Sports, which work with top sport-specific experts and a media advisory board of accomplished, veteran prep sports journalists to determine the state winners in each sport.

Graham joins recent Gatorade California Girls Track & Field Athletes of the Year Ariana Washington (2013-14, Long Beach Poly High School), Sasha Wallace (2012-13 & 2011-12, Castro Valley High School), Amy Weissenbach (2010–11, Harvard-Westlake School), Ashton Purvis (2009-10, Saint Elizabeth), Anna Jelmini (2008–09, Shafter), Christine Babcock (2007-08, Woodbridge), and Tori Anthony (2006-07, Castilleja School) among the state’s list of former award winners.

To keep up to date on the latest happenings, become a fan of Gatorade Player of the Year on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. For more on the Gatorade Player of the Year program, including nomination information, a complete list of past winners and the announcement of the Gatorade National Player of the Year, visit www.gatorade.com/poy.

Senior Award Night

Photo Courtesy: Karmen Chavez-Sam Back Row: Uriel Neis, Alex Tung, Nival Patel, Principal Goins; Front Row: Erica Chau, Valerie Kwee, Vivienne Le, and Karmen Chavez-Sam

Photo Courtesy: Karmen Chavez-Sam
Back Row: Uriel Neis, Alex Tung, Nival Patel, Principal Goins; Front Row: Erica Chau, Valerie Kwee, Vivienne Le, and Karmen Chavez-Sam

By Emily Aguilar

Eastvale – After four years of grueling work in studying, sports, and being active in prestigious clubs, ERHS Seniors were finally recognized on Senior Award Night. The event was held on Thurs., May 14, at 6:30 p.m.

Behind the stage, numerous students were cheering one another on; most of the award recipients were life-long friends.  The atmosphere was filled with love as students took selfies and congratulated one another on their awards.

While the award ceremony rewarded students with certificates for being in nationally acclaimed clubs such as CSF and NHS, or receiving anywhere from $500 to $5,000 in scholarship money, the award ceremony was more of an opportunity for teachers and staff to reflect on how grateful they were to have worked with a plethora of talented students.

There exists a rare group of teachers who rightfully believe their students will influence the rest of the world. Thankfully, these teachers can be found at ERHS. As Victor Ruelas, an AP Government teacher, presented the Principal’s Award to Shukan Patel, he began to cry as he swore that Patel’s diligence, brilliant mind, and dedication to politics will one day make him “the next president of this country.”

Patel, who will be attending UCLA as a political science major, was only one of students to be recognized for his brilliance. Future UC Berkeley student, Alex Tung, was showered in scholarship gifts, recognitions, and praise until the night came to a close.

At the end of the ceremony, Valerie Kwee, who had already been given a scholarship for science, was called on stage once more to be declared as the school’s valedictorian. The designation had been a close call with fellow student and friend Alex Tung, and although Kwee was excited to have received the honor, she remains humble about the title.

When asked if she felt relieved to have received the honor, Kwee said “To me, education is a process and it doesn’t just end once you receive a title. I guess you can say being a valedictorian is more exciting than it is relieving.”

Kwee will be attending Harvey Mudd College this fall to study biomedical engineering.

With the awards they have received, and the caring support they have received by peers and fellow friends, ERHS students have nothing less than a bright future ahead of them thanks to the dedicated effort they have put in place for the past four years of high school.

ERHS Student Gates Millennium Scholar

By Tara Lanning

Photo By: Tara Lanning Daliya Ross, Gates Millennium Scholar

Photo By: Tara Lanning
Daliya Ross, Gates Millennium Scholar

Eastvale– Daliyah Ross, a senior at Eleanor Roosevelt High School was recently given a bright, new future.  As the recipient of the prestigious Gates Millennium Scholarship, Ross will enjoy a full ride through her next four years of college.

The Gates Millennium Scholarship Program is funded by a $1.6 billion grant provided by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.  This grant is a 20-year commitment designed to fund the college education of 20,000 high-achieving minority students.  Individuals selected as Gates Scholars will receive funds in an amount determined by the Foundation based on financial need, as well as the cost of tuition, fees, books and living expenses – and other aid received.

For the 2015-16 academic year, 57,000 students applied for the scholarship, but only 1,000 received the award.

ERHS is very proud of Ross, who will be attending Hampton University in Virginia this fall.

ERHS Prom Drama

Photo Courtesy: Bethlehem Michael The 2015 ERHS Prom Court

Photo Courtesy: Bethlehem Michael
The 2015 ERHS Prom Court

By Emily Aguilar

Eastvale – Although many seniors at Eleanor Roosevelt High School have been accepted to their dream schools, earned scholarships, and formed close friendships, there was one thing missing to complete a cherishable memory of their high school experience: a Prom Ticket.

Chaos broke out on the week of Apr. 6, when seniors viciously fought to gain access to their dream night at the Old Ranch Country Club in Seal Beach. Although tickets had gone on sale in early March at the reasonable price of $65, many students decided to wait for the week before spring break to buy their tickets – by which time, the price had increased to $85.

In fact, on the day before spring break, there were less than 100 tickets remaining; and the competition of student vs. student began in the race to go to the Prom.

Starting at 5:40 a.m. on Apr. 6, the line to the Student Store was densely packed with annoyed and impatient students looking to get tickets. The bell had rung for class, but tensions were only beginning to mount. Classes didn’t abate those tensions at all.  Throughout the day, students had apparently snuck out of classes to get to the Student Store. Two hours before school ended, an announcement was made that additional tickets were ordered, and would be put on sale the next day. Unfortunately, the school didn’t order enough tickets, and seniors would not accept the cruel reality.

Even though a waiting list had been issued, enraged seniors and their parents tried to guilt the school into accommodating their anger.  Some criticized the school for not having ordered enough tickets in the first place (ERHS had only ordered 450 tickets, expecting a small number of students to attend); others stated that the school should have organized the Prom at a bigger venue; still another group pitched the idea of having two proms, one for upperclassmen and another for lowerclassmen.  Worst of all, students went so far as to demand that the Student Store force the lowerclassmen to give up their tickets.

In the end, the angry voices were not heard, and some students had to (reluctantly) accept they wouldn’t go to Prom.

Many have viewed this behavior as selfish.  At the age of 17 or 18, it’s immature to act as if the world is ending when one doesn’t get what they want. Then again, pop culture has illustrated Prom Night as the unofficial rite of passage from adolescence to adulthood.

“I think it sucks that everyone [the seniors] won’t go to prom…it means a lot to a lot of people,” stated senior, Derrick White.

Countless seniors sat at home on Prom Night, Apr. 11, disappointed they wouldn’t be able to attend a euphoric evening to epitomize the grace of their temporary youth.

“You’re overreacting and it’s so annoying it amuses me,” joked an anonymous social studies teacher. “Prom is nothing; there are going to be better days in your life. Don’t sweat.”

Nevertheless, the school hopes to make up for the disaster on Grad Night, an event that will be held at Disneyland on June 2.

 

The Give Back Garden

Photo By: Emily Aguilar

Photo By: Emily Aguilar

By Emily Aguilar

Eastvale – Eleanor Roosevelt High School’s philanthropic Give Back Garden has dedicated itself to growing healthy foods to donate to the Corona Norco Rescue Mission. After an unfortunate event that has left the group with devastation, they are now asking for help from local citizens.

Photo By: Emily Aguilar

Photo By: Emily Aguilar

On the week of March 22, club advisor and ERHS biology teacher, Mary Neimeyer, found the greenhouse shattered and the vegetables viciously pulled out and scattered across the field.

“It’s heartbreaking to see this happen to the Garden. We’ve put in so much effort to help others, so this vandalism feels disrespectful to what me and my group want to do for those in need.”

The Give Back Garden group is looking for donations to restore their greenhouse and vegetables. A fundraiser will be held on Fri., May 1, at Yogurt-Licious, located at 6987 Hamner Avenue in Eastvale ((951) 520-0888).  You can also donate directly to Mrs. Neimeyer, who can be contacted at mneimeyer@cnusd.k12.ca.us

ERHS Choir Win

Photo By: Tara Lanning

Photo By: Tara Lanning

ERHS Choir had a very successful experience at their April competition in San Francisco.  The Men’s Ensemble took 1st Place Silver; the Madrigals took 2nd Place Silver; and the Women’s Ensemble took 1st Place Gold!  Congratulations to all the choirs and their amazing director, Esther Mendoza.

Coach Barile Recognized At UNITY Awards

Photo Courtesy: Alexis J. Barile

Photo Courtesy: Alexis J. Barile

Staff Reports

Eastvale – On Feb. 26, the 17th Annual UNITY (United Neighbors Involving Today’s Youth) Awards hosted a luncheon to recognize community members who make a difference.  One of those individuals honored, was Tony Barile, Head Football Coach for Eleanor Roosevelt High School.  Barile was recognized for his dedication to community involvement, and for being a positive influence and mentor to the youth of Eastvale.

Barile has worked with Michele Derus, Principal at Eastvale Elementary, to create a mentor program to bring their students together.  Once a week, the coach and 20 of his players visit the elementary school to volunteer in a variety of capacities, including tutoring students, leading fitness tests, and helping teachers in the classrooms.  This spring, Barile is planning to host a “Field Day” for Eastvale Elementary, which he hopes will one day incorporate all of the elementary schools in Eastvale.

For the second year in a row, Barile hosted a coed football tournament for all of the elementary schools in the Eastvale community.  His players volunteered as the referees and did a great job encouraging and teaching the students to show good sportsmanship and play hard.

Barile is also heavily involved with Vantage Point Church’s community events.  He has partnered with the church to start a “Breast Cancer Awareness” football game each October, dedicated to raising funds and awareness for this important cause.  Survivors and fighters of cancer are invited to come and be special VIP guests.  He has also partnered with another Roosevelt community group, AVID, to support students in the community with Epilepsy, raising a significant contribution and awareness for the Epilepsy Foundation.  Barile’s players also help out with the “Christmas Gift Mart,” that benefits parents who are low-income and need assistance for the holidays.

Barile works diligently to instill character, leadership skills, and academic commitment in his students, and partners with other leaders in the community to provide events like annual youth football and cheer community nights and camps, coaching clinics, tutoring sessions, and even homework centers during practice.  He also serves on the executive board for two prestigious football organizations, Southern California Interscholastic Football Federation (SCIFCA) and the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame (Riverside County Chapter).  He is also on the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) advisory committee.

What Coach Barile has already put in place in just the beginning of his vision for impacting the lives of our youth.  He is the epitome of UNITY in the community of Eastvale.