By Connie and Lynn Baer | Foothiller Footsteps
It’s our favorite time of the semester as we share our pride in Foothiller achievements over the past few months.
Varsity Athletics
Boys Volleyball: Hills League Champion
Boys Tennis: Valley League Champion
Boys Lacrosse: League Champion
Boys Track: Valley League Champion
“Thank you to all the student-athletes that made the 2017 Grossmont Track and Field Team such a success,” said head track and field coach John Mozerka. “Your hard work and dedication paid off!”
With their undefeated dual meet record, the Varsity Boys Team added 2017 to the 24 previous league championships!
GHS Club Green
The club planted a magnolia tree outside the Social Science building on Arbor Day, Friday, April 28.
They are hoping it will eventually provide shade to that area and plan to make planting a tree on campus an annual event.
Academic League
The GHS Varsity Academic League Team finished in second place out of 12 teams with 10 wins — their one loss to first-place team Santana High School was by one point.
What an amazing season!
Pathways
Automotive Technology: May 6, at Cuyamaca College, the Automotive Department held their 38th annual Skills Day competition. A total of six Foothillers competed in the Basic and the Advanced Divisions, which tested the students’ technical expertise.
“The winning students each won approximately $700 in tools,” reported teacher Jordie Lehr.
Congratulations to Advanced Competition winners Matt Rempel (first place) and Jacob Byerline (second place).
Pitch fest: In March, all 210 English for Business students participated in the Junior Achievement Company Program.
Students worked in teams of three to five, and each team created their own business, which included a 12-part business plan, a commercial, a physical brochure or advertisement, and a pitch to a panel of business members, similar to the TV show “Shark Tank.”
Of the 24 total teams in the competition, four from Grossmont were chosen to advance to the final countywide competition on April 20 at the Junior Achievement headquarters in Mission Valley. One team from Grossmont (Daniel Alvarez, Jessica Hurtado, Jonnathan Salazar, and Haiasy Kendall) took third place in the competition for their company, The Bigger Picture, an app.
Hacking competitions: On March 25, the all-star Foothiller hacking team of eight students took third place at the SoCal Cyber Cup finals at the UCSD Super Computer Center and received a $2,000 check.
NJROTC
Sophomore cadets Cynthia Cortez and Calista Zaenger, members of Grossmont’s Marksmanship Team, qualified for and competed in the Civilian Marksmanship Program’s Western Regional Championship April 6–8 in Layton, Utah.
Both fired their highest scores of the season. Cadet Zaenger fired her best overall score (493) and her best prone score (187). Cadet Cortez broke (500) on both days and posted a season high, personal best, and team high (521) on the final day.
Teachers
Congratulations to two outstanding teachers who were recognized by their students and fellow teachers.
Golden Apple Teacher was awarded to Spanish teacher Mercedes Joyce, who was selected by the students.
“I always look forward to going into her class because I know that am going to learn something new and exciting,” said junior Klara Adwer.
Senior Arlin Herrera describes Señora Joyce as very helpful and understanding. “Whenever I needed help with homework or anything, she was always there,” she said.
GHS Teacher of the Year is English teacher Daemein Patterson, chosen by his peers to represent Grossmont. Patterson was selected as one of two GUHSD teachers to compete for 2018 San Diego County Teacher of the Year.
—Connie and Lynn Baer write on behalf of the Grossmont High School Museum. The museum is open noon-3:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 7 and by appointment. Email [email protected]; call 619-668-6140; or visit foothillermuseum.com for more information.
