Del Oro High School

Del Oro High School
Address
3301 Taylor Road, Loomis, CA 95650 Loomis, CA, Placer County, United States of America
Information
School type	Secondary
Established	1959
School district	Placer Union High School District
Principal	Dan Gayaldo
Asst. Principal	Bridget Farren Paul Lundberg
Grades	9-12
Enrollment	1,705
School Colour(s)	Black, and Gold
Slogan	Anyone. Anywhere. Anytime.
Fight song	Del Oro Fight Song (based on the WSU Fight Song)
Mascot	Golden Eagle
Nickname	D.O.
Team name	Golden Eagles
Rival	Placer High School Rocklin High School Granite Bay High School
Publication	Eagle Claw Productions (formerly D.O. TV)
Website	http://www.delorohigh.com/

Del Oro High School is located in Loomis, California, and is a part of the Placer Union High School District. 50 Years ago (1959), Del Oro High School opened for instruction of freshmen and sophomores on Sept. 28, one week after Placer in Auburn and Colfax opened. It was founded in 1958 and currently has over 1600 students attending with its largest freshmen class in school history (over 500 freshmen students in 2009).^{[citation needed]}

The dropout rate is less than 1%^[1], which is below the California state average. Many of Del Oro's teachers are return students. The school has a decades long rivalry with neighboring Placer High School in Auburn, CA, as well as a more recent rivalry with Granite Bay High School.

Athletics

Del Oro's Division II ranked athletes compete in football, basketball, tennis, baseball, cross country, water polo, track, soccer, and wrestling.

Notable Achievements in Football

• 1989 varsity football team went 11-1. Won the schools first Sac-Joaquin Division II championship.
• 1993 varsity football team went 13-0. Sac-Joaquin Section Division II champion.
• 1993 varsity football team was ranked #1 in the state by CalHigh Sports for the Division III state level.
• 1994 varsity football team went 12-1. Sac-Joaquin Section Division II champion.
• 1995 varsity football team went 12-1. Sac-Joaquin Section Division II runner up.
• 2006 varsity football team went 13-0. Sac-Joaquin Section Division II champion.
• 1992 varsity football team went 11-2. Sac-Joaquin Section Division II champion.
• 2010 varsity football team went 10-4. Sac-Joaquin Section Division III champion.
• 2005 varsity football team went 12-1. Sac-Joaquin Section Division II runner up.

Performing arts

Del Oro's performing arts hold a strong role in the small Loomis community. The performing arts department at Del Oro currently consist of an instrumental program, choral program, theatrical program, and dance program.

Instrumental Music

The oldest and most rooted in Del Oro tradition is the "band program", currently directed by Ben Duncan. The program consists of five ensembles: marching band (fall only), concert band (spring only), jazz band (spring only), winter percussion (spring only), and winter guard (spring only). None of the ensembles run year-round (which is a relief for everyone) so it is very common that students participate in marching band in the fall and up to three of the other choices in the spring (in rare cases, a student may be able to participate in all ensembles).

The band program holds long standing traditions in the Loomis community as the host of the Del Oro Golden Eagle Spectacular (an annual marching band competition for schools in Northern California and sometimes neighboring states) and more recently its hosting of the Del Oro Golden Eagle Winter Spectacular (an annual competition for winter percussion and winter guard ensembles). The band program also hosts an annual local crab feed and performs an annual "light show" at the homecoming game where the stadium lights are turned off and the students perform wearing lights on their bodies with the marching percussion lighting up on contact.

Choral Music

Del Oro has two choral ensembles: beginning choir and advanced choir. Both are directed by Lisa Sands (preceded by Marlene Astle). Del Oro is known within the state-wide choir community for producing significant numbers of honor choir participants both on the regional and state levels.

Theatre

Though relatively new (the full program began in 2005), the theatre department has quickly become a staple in the Loomis community. The program's debut production was the American classic, "You Can't Take it With You", written by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart and directed by Jeffrey Johnson, co-founder of Del Oro's theatrical program. It opened in late-2004, prior to the completion of the new theatre facility and was performed on the campus cafeteria stage.

The school received 10 Elly Award nominations, with one win, from the Sacramento Area Regional Theatre Alliance for the performances of "The Foreigner" and "Noises Off" during the 2006-2007 school year.

Dance

The newest program started and was founded by a student named LaTasha Holland in 2006, and is directed by Dawn Kenniston who soon took over in 2007.

Fight song

The "Del Oro Fight Song" is an adaptation of the Washington State University Fight Song; in fact, the marching band plays exactly the same sheet music. The difference between the two fight songs are the lyrics.

Lyrics

The Del Oro marching band of 1999 plays the fight song (no voices).

Fight, fight, fight for Del Oro High! Win our victory!

Black and gold will always be bold.
Best in the golden west, we'll do our level best!
Golden Eagles never give in; Honor and loyalty will win!
So fight, fight, fight for Del Oro High and victory!
OLDER VERSION (Early years)
Fight, fight, fight for Del Oro High! Win THE victory!
Black and gold will always be bold.
Best in the Golden West, we'll do our level best!
Golden Eagles never give in; Honor and GLORY WE will win!
So fight, fight, fight for Del Oro High and victory!

Notable alumni

• Randy Fasani – former NFL quarterback
• James Irvin (fighter) – Professional MMA fighter
• Mark McLemore – pitcher for the Minnesota Twins
• Don Verlin – men's basketball coach at the University of Idaho
• Sally Edwards - member of the Triathlon Hall of Fame.
• Karin Morrell - Miss California USA 1971
• Paul Nelson(71)- 1st round draft pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1973

External links

• Del Oro's home page
• Del Oro on GreatSchools.net
• Del Oro Football website
• Del Oro Band Website
• Del Oro Dance Website

References

1. ^ "Del Oro High School". GreatSchools.net. http://www.greatschools.net/cgi-bin/ca/other/4139. Retrieved 2008-12-10.