- DiGiorgio Elementary School
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Di Giorgio Elementary School Motto "Educating Children since 1897." Established 1897 Type Public Elementary School Principal Lomar Paul Boatman Students 209 Grades K-8 Location 19405 Buena Vista Blvd,
Arvin, California, USADistrict Di Giorgio Elementary School District Colors Gold and Blue Mascot Dragon Yearbook The Dragon Phone (661) 854-2604 Website http://www.digiorgio.k12.ca.us/ Di Giorgio Elementary School is a small public elementary school located in Arvin, California.
Its student body derives from portions of Arvin, California and from the unincorporated, rural Di Giorgio, California.
Contents
History
Founded in 1897, Di Giorgio Elementary School is the oldest elementary school in Arvin. Two versions of the campus exist: a old, discontinued building alongside a basketball court, and the modern 33 acre campus. [1] The two are right across the street from one another.
Prior to being named Di Giorgio, the campus consisting of the discontinued building (single room schoolhouse) carried the name of Rockpile School. Following the first years of operation, the school would close eight years after its opening due to low attendance rates. [2] However, it would later open again. Enrollment would then "triple" during the 1930s. [3]
Following the burning of the original schoolhouse, agricultural entrepreneur Joseph Di Giorgio would donate $150,000 dollars and 40 acres of land on Christmas Eve, 1945. [4] Rockpile school would then change its name to Di Giorgio School to honor the gift.
Today, Di Giorgio Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 200 students, taught by eight teachers, and supported by 22 staff members in total. [5]
Air monitoring station
Controversy arose when the California Air Resources Board(CARB) moved a air monitoring station to the school in November 2009, where, when compared with the original Bear Mountain site, had reportedly cleaner air.[6] The original Bear Mountain monitor would later shut down in late 2010, with the Di Giorgio school monitor becoming CARB's sole monitor of Arvin's air.[7] The findings prompted the Committee for a Better Arvin to allow residents to take matters in their own hands and implement a "bucket-brigade" system, which will be placed around critical parts of Arvin, providing a more thorough analysis of Arvin's air quality.
Traditions and fun facts
- Agricultural entrepreneur Joseph Di Giorgio, founder of the DiGiorgio Corporation, is responsible for the schools current name.
- Hosts an annual soccer tournament with nearby small, rural schools: General Shafter, Sunset Elementary School , and Maricopa.
- Steve Murray, founder of Murray Family Farms, is a board member.
- Annual Egg drop experiment. (Grade 8)
- Annual PeeWee Olympics consisting of grades 1-5.
- Annual Spring BBQ.
- Staff at DiGiorgio take pride in their students and strive to meet the needs of each student.
Coordinates: 35°14′17″N 118°47′14″W / 35.23806°N 118.78722°W[8]
References
- ^ http://wwwstatic.kern.org/gems/digiorgio/DiGiorgioSARC200910EnglishFi.pdf p.4
- ^ http://lamontparentcenter.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=115&Itemid=79
- ^ http://lamontparentcenter.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=115&Itemid=79
- ^ http://www.silvertips.org/History_Local/DiGiorgio%20History.htm
- ^ http://www.digiorgio.k12.ca.us/staff
- ^ http://www.bakersfield.com/news/local/x965388806/Trying-to-clear-the-air
- ^ http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/07/05/2454074/arvin-air-monitoring-station-moved.html
- ^ "DiGiorgio Elementary School". Geographic Names Information System, U.S. Geological Survey. http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=gnispq:3:::NO::P3_FID:241480.
Categories:- Elementary schools in California
- Education in Kern County, California
- California school stubs
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