El Modena High School

Infobox_School | name = El Modena High School


imagesize = 180px
established = Opened September 1966, Graduated first class June 1968
type = Public
principal = John Briquelet
faculty =
enrollment = 2177 [ [http://www.greatschools.net/modperl/browse_school/ca/3924 El Modena High School - Orange, California - CA - school overview ] ]
mascot = Vanguard
location = 3920 Spring St. Orange, CA 92869
country = USA
information = [phone]
website = [http://www.orangeusd.k12.ca.us/emhs/ El Modena High School]

El Modena High School, sometimes 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.

Controversies

The Gay-Straight Alliance

In 1999, when the Gay-Straight Alliance 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. [http://www.lambdalegal.org/cgi-bin/iowa/cases/record?record=121] [http://www.lambdalegal.org/cgi-bin/iowa/news/press.html?record=696]

In March 2000, school district punished the new club president, Heather Zetin, by having her falsely arrested and removed from the school. [ [http://www.ocweekly.com/ink/01/34/civil-tsang.php "‘I Didn’t Do It’:Teen’s suit says she wasn’t principal-biter"] Daniel C. Tsang, "OC Weekly", April 26, 2001] She was later declared factually innocent in legal proceedings.

Principal

On December 27th, 2006, the principal of El Modena, Brent Bailey, was caught in a Fullerton park conducting a "lewd act" with another male. Bailey pleaded guilty to lewd conduct and is serving 3 years informal probation. [ [http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/homepage/abox/article_1714846.php News: Ex-principal pleads guilty to lewd act - OCRegister.com ] ]

El Modena Sports

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 Servite 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 leagues number one (1) seed. After defeating Aliso Nigel High School 6-1 they moved on to face Orange Lutheran High School in CIF round II.

Softball

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.

Notable Alumni

*Wyatt Knight (1973) - Actor
*Milo Ventimiglia (1995) - Actor
*Christine Baumgartner (1993) - Married [http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1095354 Kevin Costner is dad for fifth time] [http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,702154,00.html Kevin Costner Marries Girlfriend in Aspen] to American Actor Kevin Costner
*Mikey Day (1998) - Actor/Comedian
*M. Shadows (1999) - Lead singer of Avenged Sevenfold
*Robby Gordon - Nascar, off-road, Indycar Driver

References

External links

* [http://www.orangeusd.k12.ca.us/emhs/ Official school website]
* [http://www.ElModenaAlumni.org El Modena High School Alumni Association]