El Modena High School
Encyclopedia
El Modena High School, also known as called El Mo (or "ElMo"), is a traditional 4 year public high school located in the El Modena
neighborhood in the eastern portion of the city of Orange
in Orange County, California
.
The school celebrated its 40th anniversary during the 2006-7 school year. El Modena High is part of the Orange Unified School District
and competes in the Century League.
Club applied to be a recognized student club, the board of the Orange Unified School District
denied the application. The board demanded that the club change its name and agreed to limitations on speech of the club members. The club and Anthony Colín and Heather Zetin, the club's founders, sued the district in federal court based on the Equal Access Act
(Colín v. Orange Unified School District, No. SA CV 99-1461).
In February 2000, the judge for the case issued a preliminary injunction ordering the district to allow the club to meet while the lawsuit was pending. In September 2000, the board settled the lawsuit out of court by agreeing to adopt new rules governing student clubs. The Gay-Straight Alliance gained the same rights as any other campus club, was allowed to keep their name, and had no restrictions on their speech.
In March 2000, school district punished the new club president, Heather Zetin, by having her falsely arrested and removed from the school. She was later declared factually innocent in legal proceedings.
" Sex Offender Registry, as well as the federal Adam Walsh Act. Three of the cases resulted in guilty pleas, while one case resulted in a guilty verdict by a jury trial.
In 2007 Vinny Pisani a junior won CIF, was a Masters Champion and went on to take 5th at State.
In 2008 Vinny Pisani a senior won CIF and was CIF MVP, became a Masters champion once again and went on to win state in the 135 lb. weight class.
In 2008 Kevin Barton a junior won CIF , took 6th in Masters
In 2009 Kevin Barton a Senior won CIF and was CIF MVP , took 4th in Masters
1-0 in 13 innings, they moved on to beat Edison
3-4 in the bottom of the 8th. They made it to the CIF
quarterfinal round against Long Beach Wilson
, but lost 2-0. Wilson
went on to win the CIF
championship.
El Modena's Varsity boys baseball team won the Century League (Division I) championship in 2008 capturing their second consecutive league championship by defeating rival Canyon High School on the last game of the 2008 season. El Modena entered the CIF
play-offs as the Century league's number one seed. After defeating Aliso Nigel High School 6-1 they moved on to face Orange Lutheran High School in CIF
round II.
El Modena boasts a national award-winning yearbook titled Escena, which means "scene" in Latin. The yearbook is annually sent to a national competition and has received a Gold Standard award for its book in the year 2007. In 2011, El Modena's yearbook staff received 12 individual and group awards before the publication of their book even began.
El Modena, California
El Modena is an area around El Modena High School in the city of Orange, California. It is located near and east of the intersection of Hewes Street and Chapman Avenue...
neighborhood in the eastern portion of the city of Orange
Orange, California
Southern California is well-known for year-round pleasant weather: - On average, the warmest month is August. - The highest recorded temperature was in 1985. - On average, the coolest month is December. - The lowest recorded temperature was in 1950...
in Orange County, California
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
.
The school celebrated its 40th anniversary during the 2006-7 school year. El Modena High is part of the Orange Unified School District
Orange Unified School District
Orange Unified School District is a public school district headquartered in Orange, California.Orange USD serves the cities of Orange and Villa Park, the unincorporated land of Silverado, and parts of Anaheim, Garden Grove, Santa Ana, and an unpopulated area of Yorba Linda...
and competes in the Century League.
The Gay-Straight Alliance
In 1999, when the Gay-Straight AllianceGay-straight alliance
Gay–straight alliances are student organizations, found primarily in North American high schools and universities, that are intended to provide a safe and supportive environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth and their straight allies .-Goal:The goal of most, if not all,...
Club applied to be a recognized student club, the board of the Orange Unified School District
Orange Unified School District
Orange Unified School District is a public school district headquartered in Orange, California.Orange USD serves the cities of Orange and Villa Park, the unincorporated land of Silverado, and parts of Anaheim, Garden Grove, Santa Ana, and an unpopulated area of Yorba Linda...
denied the application. The board demanded that the club change its name and agreed to limitations on speech of the club members. The club and Anthony Colín and Heather Zetin, the club's founders, sued the district in federal court based on the Equal Access Act
Equal Access Act
The Equal Access Act is a United States federal law passed in 1984 to compel federally-funded secondary schools to provide equal access to extracurricular clubs...
(Colín v. Orange Unified School District, No. SA CV 99-1461).
In February 2000, the judge for the case issued a preliminary injunction ordering the district to allow the club to meet while the lawsuit was pending. In September 2000, the board settled the lawsuit out of court by agreeing to adopt new rules governing student clubs. The Gay-Straight Alliance gained the same rights as any other campus club, was allowed to keep their name, and had no restrictions on their speech.
In March 2000, school district punished the new club president, Heather Zetin, by having her falsely arrested and removed from the school. She was later declared factually innocent in legal proceedings.
Faculty Convicted of Registrable Sex Offenses
From 2003 to 2009, several illegal sexual assaults were committed involving some of the faculty and students at El Modena High School. Four faculty members, including a principal, were convicted for offenses under California Penal Code Section 290, or offenses that require inclusion on the California "Megan's LawMegan's Law
Megan's Law is an informal name for laws in the United States requiring law enforcement authorities to make information available to the public regarding registered sex offenders. Individual states decide what information will be made available and how it should be disseminated...
" Sex Offender Registry, as well as the federal Adam Walsh Act. Three of the cases resulted in guilty pleas, while one case resulted in a guilty verdict by a jury trial.
- Band director Jason Cawelti was arrested on Dec. 5, 2003, and pleaded guilty to various sexual conduct violations with a person younger than age 18 in June 2004.
- Principal Brent Bailey was arrested in February 2007, and pleaded guilty for lewd sexual conduct in a public park in June 2007. It was also reported that on school grounds, he would follow a young blonde student during the time he was occupied at the school.
- Another band director, Carlie Rose Attebury, was charged with sex with an underage male student on multiple occasions in February, 2008. She was convicted of four counts on November 24, 2010 by jury trial.
- Janitor Luis Mejia was arrested on June 2, 2009, for a sexual assault on a mentally handicapped student. In March 2010 Mejia pleaded guilty to six felony counts of sexual assault and one misdemeanor count of child annoyance.
Wrestling
El Modena's Varsity wrestling team won the Century League championship in 2009. They have won the Century league four times out of the last seven years. They went on to take second at the CIF Central Division wrestling championships held at John Glenn High school.In 2007 Vinny Pisani a junior won CIF, was a Masters Champion and went on to take 5th at State.
In 2008 Vinny Pisani a senior won CIF and was CIF MVP, became a Masters champion once again and went on to win state in the 135 lb. weight class.
In 2008 Kevin Barton a junior won CIF , took 6th in Masters
In 2009 Kevin Barton a Senior won CIF and was CIF MVP , took 4th in Masters
Baseball
El Modena's Varsity boys baseball team won the Century League (Division I) championship in 2007, ending a drought of nearly 16 years. After beating ServiteServite High School
Servite High School is an all-boys, Roman Catholic college preparatory high school operated by the Order of Friar Servants of Mary . Located on a campus in Anaheim, California, USA, as of 2011 it had an enrollment of about 985 and about 9200 alumni. Its mascot is the Friar and its colors are black...
1-0 in 13 innings, they moved on to beat Edison
Edison High School, Huntington Beach
Edison High School is a secondary school located in Huntington Beach, California which first began operation in 1969. It is a part of the Huntington Beach Union High School District.-History:...
3-4 in the bottom of the 8th. They made it to the CIF
California Interscholastic Federation
The California Interscholastic Federation is the governing body for high school sports in the state of California. It mirrors similar governing bodies in other states; however, it differs from some of the others in that it covers most high schools in the state of California, both public and...
quarterfinal round against Long Beach Wilson
Wilson Classical High School
Woodrow Wilson Classical High School is a secondary school in Long Beach, California. It is part of the Long Beach Unified School District and opened in 1925.-Overview:Wilson High School opened in 1925 as the second school in the city....
, but lost 2-0. Wilson
Wilson Classical High School
Woodrow Wilson Classical High School is a secondary school in Long Beach, California. It is part of the Long Beach Unified School District and opened in 1925.-Overview:Wilson High School opened in 1925 as the second school in the city....
went on to win the CIF
California Interscholastic Federation
The California Interscholastic Federation is the governing body for high school sports in the state of California. It mirrors similar governing bodies in other states; however, it differs from some of the others in that it covers most high schools in the state of California, both public and...
championship.
El Modena's Varsity boys baseball team won the Century League (Division I) championship in 2008 capturing their second consecutive league championship by defeating rival Canyon High School on the last game of the 2008 season. El Modena entered the CIF
California Interscholastic Federation
The California Interscholastic Federation is the governing body for high school sports in the state of California. It mirrors similar governing bodies in other states; however, it differs from some of the others in that it covers most high schools in the state of California, both public and...
play-offs as the Century league's number one seed. After defeating Aliso Nigel High School 6-1 they moved on to face Orange Lutheran High School in CIF
California Interscholastic Federation
The California Interscholastic Federation is the governing body for high school sports in the state of California. It mirrors similar governing bodies in other states; however, it differs from some of the others in that it covers most high schools in the state of California, both public and...
round II.
Softball
The El Modena Vanguards won the final five games of the regular season, including a 1-0 triumph over Canyon High School in the regular-season finale to capture their second consecutive Century League title in 2008. The Lady Vanguards beat top-ranked Kennedy in the 2008 CIF Semi-finals with a home run in the 8th inning and moved on to the championship game to defeat Glendora 12-4. This marked the first CIF Championship for El Modena's softball team.Vanguard
A vanguard, used as the school's mascot, is a soldier in the foremost division or the front part of an army. Vanguards are the troops assembled in the front line when going into battle, which is why the school newspaper is titled the The Frontline".Marching Band
The El Modena Vanguard Marching Band and Colorguard is a state-recognized performing ensemble, competing in the Western Band Association circuit. They placed 5th in state in the A division in 2009 and 3rd in the AA division in 2010.Yearbook program
Yearbook-El Modena boasts a national award-winning yearbook titled Escena, which means "scene" in Latin. The yearbook is annually sent to a national competition and has received a Gold Standard award for its book in the year 2007. In 2011, El Modena's yearbook staff received 12 individual and group awards before the publication of their book even began.
Notable alumni
- Wyatt KnightWyatt KnightWyatt Knight was an American actor, best known for his role as Tommy Turner in the Porky's trilogy.-Career:...
(1973) - Actor - Jimmy HodsonJimmy HodsonAmerican actor, narrator, and television host Jimmy Hodson was born in Orange, California, April 16, 1962. He has been the announcer on the long running syndicated TV show Divorce Court since 1999...
(1979)- Actor/TV Show Host/Announcer - Milo VentimigliaMilo VentimigliaMilo Anthony Ventimiglia is an American television actor best known for his role of Peter Petrelli on the TV series Heroes...
(1995) - Actor - Mikey DayMikey DayMichael William "Mikey" Day is an American actor, comedian, writer, director, and improvisational performer.Day was born in Orange County, California. He graduated from El Modena High School in Orange, California as an honors student in 1998, where he was involved in the drama program...
(1998) - Actor/Comedian - Robby GordonRobby GordonRobert W. "Robby" Gordon is an American racecar driver who currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series as an owner-driver, driving the No. 7 Speed Energy Dodge Charger for Robby Gordon Motorsports, and also competes part-time in the Nationwide Series...
- Professional racer; NascarNASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
, Championship Off-Road Racing, IndycarIndyCarIndyCar is the trade name of an American-based open-wheel auto racing sanctioning body. IndyCar sanctions three racing series, the premier IZOD IndyCar Series with its centerpiece Indianapolis 500, and developmental series Firestone Indy Lights and the U.S... - Ronnie CreagerRonnie CreagerRonnie Creager is an American professional skateboarder from Orange, California who primarily skates street, and more specifically flatland technical skating.-Life:...
- Pro SkateboarderSkateboardingSkateboarding is an action sport which involves riding and performing tricks using a skateboard.Skateboarding can be a recreational activity, an art form, a job, or a method of transportation. Skateboarding has been shaped and influenced by many skateboarders throughout the years. A 2002 report... - Freddie FreemanFreddie FreemanFrederick Charles "Freddie" Freeman is an American professional baseball first baseman with the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball.-Professional career:...
(2007) - MLB First BasemanFirst basemanFirst base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
for Atlanta BravesAtlanta BravesThe Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997.... - Michael LevittMichael Levitt (producer)Michael Levitt is an American television producer of award shows, reality shows, game shows and specials.Among his programs include Season Five of the reality series Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List, The TV Land Awards, The Scream Awards, Ask Oprah's All Stars, America's Money Class with Suze...
- Emmy AwardEmmy AwardAn Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
-nominated television producer