El Diamante High School

Infobox_School
name = El Diamante High School


imagesize = 150px
motto = Go Miners!
established = 2002
type = Public
affiliation =
district = Visalia Unified School District
grades = 9-12
president =
principal = Mike Waters
head of school =
faculty =
staff =
enrollment = Approximately 1,700
athletics = swimming, softball, baseball, basketball, soccer, cross country, football, golf, tennis, track, water polo, wrestling, volleyball
conference =
colors = hunter green, navy blue and white
mascot = Miner Ed
location = 5100 West Whitendale Avenue Visalia, CA 93277
country = USA
information = Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
website = [http://visalia.k12.ca.us/eldiamante/ El Diamante web site]

[http://www.minersoccer.com/ El Diamante Girls Varsity Soccer]

El Diamante High School is a high school in Visalia, California, in Tulare County. It was established in 2002 as Visalia's fourth comprehensive high school.

History

While only having been built in 2002, El Diamante has already started several traditions, like Senior Sunrise, an annual morning party during which any senior may attend. It has also adopted traditions from other schools, such as the well-known senior ditch day. The graduating class of 2006, which was El Diamante's first, combined efforts to construct an area on campus dedicated to seniors, known as the senior court. The first graduating class of El Diamante has set a great foundation with the help of staff.

Campus

Since El Diamante is a new school, its architectural design is modern, innovative and unique. For example, the library's roof has an unusual angle and the upper portion of the north, east, and south sides are tiled glass. The same unique structure can be found in other buildings, like the cafeteria (called the "Pick & Shovel") and the gym ("The Mine Shaft").

Curriculum

El Diamante is different in the fact that it has innovative classes that offer experiences that can let them explore and expand their knowledge. These classes are rare or non-existent in the rest of the Central Valley. Several of these classes are listed below.

Graphic Arts

This class is headed by art teacher Mr. Watamura and computer teacher Mr. Harrell. Graphic Arts is a culmination of art and computer graphics (as the name implies). The two teachers' classes have been merged into one, creating a class that helps teach students mainly about Adobe Photoshop and its workings. In the class, the students complete assignments that provide gateways to what professional graphic artists are able to create. These assignments are, but not limited to: jewel case designs, postcards, business cards, digitally recreating a photograph, creating posters and more. It is currently running its second year and has so far been a successful class that has helped expand the learning area.

Business Enterprise

Business Enterprise is a collaboration of three teachers, Mr. Harrell, Mrs. McKee and Mr. Sill. It began in Fall 2006 and is the only school county-wide to offer it. Most schools have a virtual business in which each participating student manages their own virtual company, selling a set quota of products per day and having a preset quota of expenditures per day. El Diamante's Business Enterprise class, headed by Mrs. McKee, is a real business, specializing in t-shirt sales, sports programs and the school's new online web store. Still in early development, it has only conducted business locally, but is in the process of branching out further.

Video Department

The video department, headed by Mr. Sill, contains three classes, Introduction to Video, Advanced Media Broadcasting and Digital Film Production. One of the main things that the department boasts in is their Apple certification. Both Mr Sill. and the learning center are certified. What makes El Diamante's video department unique is the fact that students have access to equipment which is more advanced than most other schools in the Central Valley. One of the most accomplished work to date is a partnership video with Friday Night Live, a program dedicated to reducing the number of deaths and injuries caused by teen motorists driving under the influence of alcohol and other drugs. The concept of the video is primarily aimed towards Alcopops. (Alcohol that resembles beverages of soda pop and lemonade.)The Video consists of student interviews, student-ran research about Alcopops, and two reporters, Nikki Bautista and Kayla Jacobo, narrating the video. The video was presented to the State of California Senate in San Diego and to raise taxes on these specific Alcopops.

Music Department

Music is a timeless element that will continue to offer students the opportunity to learn and grow. By working together to make beautiful music, friendships have been built that will last beyond the confines of the music room and ultimately suffice to bring success and happiness to the program in all the years to come. Despite only being around for a short time, the El Diamante Music Program has shown that they're a force to be reckoned with although they did not make it to the second day of the WBA. El Diamante's Award-winning band is lead by Mr. Tackett and Choral program by Mr. Sorber

Miner Choir

When El Diamante became a complete high school, it is unbelievable how the choral program has surpassed its initial goals. The large mixed choir, known as the Miner Choir and created by audition only, is the heart of the program with nearly one hundred twenty students. They are always singing, always working hard and always having fun and have received a lot of superior ratings at festivals.

Chamber Choir

The 07-08 El Diamante Chamber choir consists of 28 students. It is the most elite choir of the choral department, and the music is quite advanced but still fun to learn and perform. The Chamber Singers have won countless awards for the beautiful music they create. In the fall of 2008, this group will be traveling to Vienna, Austria for a choral tour.

Marching Miners

In the fall of 2006, the Marching Miners won many awards, including:

*First Place, Class AAAA - Modesto Invitational
*Grand Sweepstakes - Visalia Invitational Band Review & Field Show
*First Place, Class AAAA - Sierra Cup Classic
*Grand Sweepstakes - Garces Memorial Band Review
*General Effect Sweepstakes - Folsom Fall Festival
*Finalist - WBA Championships

Winter Percussion

In their third year of competing, El Diamante's Winter Percussion Group won a 2nd place at the first competition and finishing out the season with four consecutive first place finishes and taking home the Open Class Championship. Their show, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIEJqkHYXC0 Psychoanalysis] , tied with Clovis East High School for first place in SJVCGPR Finals.Fact|date=June 2007 [cite web|url=http://www.sjvcgpr.org/|title=SJVCGPR] The show consisted of music by Danny Elfman and Thomas Newman and was arranged by Steve Maldonado.

Students

* European American - 49%
* Hispanic - 41%
* Asian - 3%
* African-Americans - 3%
* Native American - 2%
* Filipino - 2%

[ [http://muninetguide.com/school.php?school=411601070354 El Diamante High School - Detailed information, student demographics, Google map, class sizes ] ]

References

Notes

External links

* [http://visalia.k12.ca.us/ Official Visalia Unified School District web site]
* [http://visalia.k12.ca.us/eldiamante/ El Diamante web site]
* [http://eldiamante.revtrak.net/ Official El Diamante Web Store]