MALIBU HIGH SCHOOL

'Malibu High School' (MHS) is a public secondary school in Malibu, California for middle school (grades 6-8) and high school (grades 9-12). It is part of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District.

Contents

History

Facilities

Academics

Sports

Fine Arts

Publications

Campus Life

The Shark Fund

Pop Culture

Notable alumni

Notable faculty

References

External links

History

With no high school existing in Malibu, until 1995 students commuted 2 hours RT to Santa Monica to attend high school. In 1996^[2] the district converted the Malibu Park Junior High campus to its present combined middle school/high school. The high school's first principal was Dr. Michael Matthews, notable for creating a school focused on a triumvirate of demanding academics, fine arts and sports. The school population numbers roughly 1,300 students as of 2007.

Facilities

MHS's facilities include:

★ 2-story academic building

★ 2-story math/science building

★ middle school building

★ administrative building

★ 2 visual & performing arts buildings

★ 2 bungalows

★ 500-seat auditorium

★ amphitheatre

★ library

★ art and science labs

★ 2 computer labs

★ 2 gymnasiums

★ baseball diamond (named the #1 high school ballpark in America in January 2004 by Baseball America)[1]

★ American football field

★ track & field facility

★ Soccer/multipurpose fields with baseball batting cage

★ 4 tennis courts

★ 4 basketball courts

Academics

Besides regular college-preparatory, honors, and Advanced Placement (AP) courses, the school is one of a handful in California that provides extensive resources for Special Education (SpEd) students. In recent years, critics claim that the district apparently limits re-entry of SpEd students not living within the SMMUSD geographic boundary. In 2003, Malibu High became a California Distinguished School, the highest state-wide academic award given. ''Newsweek'' Magazine's Top 1200 Schools in America ranks Malibu High #184 as of 2007.^[3]

Sports

As a high school with a student body numbering less than 500 students, California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) rules classify MHS as a small school. MHS sports teams compete primarily at the Division IV level in League contests of the CIF Southern Section, except for football in Division XIII. MHS sports several competitive boys' and girls' teams, with boys' water polo and girls' tennis frequently dominating the CIF League Championships. Several individuals in boys' tennis, boys' and girls' cross country^[4], boys' and girls' track and field have historically competed at the CIF State Preliminaries, Finals, and in rare instances, the State Championships^[5]. Also the basketball team won there first league title in 2007 season. the sharks where led by senior Alex Wilson a Beast in the post and cory Bloomfeild an out side threat. The sports teams are supported to a large extent by the ABC, parent and coach volunteers who run the school's Christmas Tree Lot, snack shops, and school clothing stores.

Fine Arts

In recent years, MHS won several awards in instrumental and choral music^[6]. The choral ensemble has performed at Carnegie Hall and various overseas venues in Europe, including Vienna, Austria. The jazz band has won numerous performance awards since its inception. In 2006 and 2007, the MHS orchestra was singular in its school district to earn the highest ranking (Superior) from Southern California judges. The Arts Angels, a parent group, work largely to support all material areas of Fine Arts at the school.

Publications

The school's journalism classes provide two newspapers — ''The Current'' (high school) and its middle school journal, ''The Surfwriter''. The PTSA publishes the MHS Directory (students, parents, and faculty).

Campus Life

The school's elected student representatives, the Associated Student Body (ASB)^[7], are required to enroll in the elective class ASB, which precludes participation by many students. The ASB plans school-wide social activities, such as dances, pep rallies, Prom, Powder Puff, etc. All school clubs are approved and chartered by the ASB. School clubs with faculty sponsors range from Operation Smile^[8] to Amnesty International.

The Shark Fund

The Shark Fund^[9] (TSF) was established by parents to handle all fundraising for the school, taking over separate money-raising functions by the Parent Student Teacher Association (PTSA), Arts Angels, & the Athletic Booster Club (ABC). Founded in 2003, it garnered over $715,000 in charitable donations in its first year. A non-profit, 501(c)3 charitable organization, it ensures that MHS has enough funding to meet basic operating needs not met by the State of California or the City of Malibu. TSF expenditures are guided by a Needs Assessment Committee^[10], composed of a TSF boardmember, the school administration, the PTSA, Arts Angels, and ABC. Critics say that TSF has grown beyond its fundraising genesis to become central in planning school expenditures for the near and long-term.

Pop Culture

Scenes from the movie ''Smile'' ''(2005)'' were shot at MHS. The film is based upon the international organization Operation Smile, which the school sponsors, and portrays real-life MHS figures, such as former principal, Dr. Mike Matthews (played by Sean Astin).

Notable alumni

★ Dominique Swain, American actress, ''Lolita (1997)

★ Devendra Banhart, Musician

Notable faculty

★ Dr. Louis Leithold^[11], author of ''The Calculus'', a widely used high school and college Calculus textbook (''2005'')

References

1. Great Schools - Malibu High School
2. http://www.malibutimes.com/articles/2006/08/30/life_and_arts/art1.txt
3. Newsweek Top Schools 2007
4. Cross-country
5. State Championships
6. Music Awards
7. Associated Student Body
8. Operation Smile
9. The Shark Fund
10. The Shark Fund Needs Assessment
11. Dr. Louis Leithold

External links

★ Official Website

★ District Website

★ The Shark Fund

★ eMHS

★ MHS sports

★ Aerial Photograph from Google Maps